They're Back!!

John's parents are missionaries in São Paulo, Brazil. They are wonderful, loving people and we have been blessed by their presence with us a lot this year. As John's health has required additional support at home, they have come to lend a hand. They were here from the first of December until the end of February. They were home only a few short weeks when this recent valley appeared and we felt the need for their return. They are at this moment en route by plane to O'Hare, here in Chicago.

Anticipating their return, I thought I would share a few of the things I look forward to about their visits. When the Fawcetts are here, I feel like I live in a hotel. The only thing that is missing... and I mean the ONLY thing, is a little mint on my pillow at night.

I hope you enjoy these snapshots in the lives of the Fawcetts at the Fawcetts.

These are the tell tale signs that Bill and Mary have arrived!

Playing with the children.

Attack of the Sea Monster

Celebrating Birthdays

Making treats for a Tea Party.

Butterfly sandwiches are a must!

Home Repair

Fixing Charlotte's Kitchen

Hanging Pictures

Washing Dishes

A Shiny Sink to make The Flylady Proud

Complete Home Organization! Tupperware lids labelled to match containers!

All kinds of new appliances.

Thanks for the new toaster and convection oven...

and the phone system.

The many aspects of good nutrition

Organic fruits and veggies for cooking and juicing.

The Breakfast of Champions

Veggies prepped for juicing

The nutritionally savvy can find a way to make a delicious pecan pie using whole wheat flour, organic pecans, Sucanat and brown rice syrup. Mmmmm.

And then there are the vitamins.

Vitamins are a big deal with the Fawcetts. As a kid, John could swallow 16 at a time.

The vitamins are piled in groups.

Bill makes daily vitamin packets.

We find these packets of vitamins on the table each morning.

And then there's the laundry. My laundry hamper gets lonely with no dirty clothes to keep it company.

I have never seen a stack of ironed pillowcases. Have you?

My linen closets are stuffed and orderly. Not even Martha Stewart can boast a linen closet like this!

I wasn't kidding about the mint on my pillow. Doesn't that look inviting?

Did I ever tell you the story about making our bed when we were first married? I made our bed and then John came in and "taught" me how to make a bed. "There is an art to bed making, you know." I burst into tears and felt he could feel free to make his own bed ever since! Hospital corners are a big thing with the Fawcetts.

If you want to keep things moving along in ordering a home and caring for an ill person, make a list for morning and evening chores.

Another sign that the Fawcetts are in town is that one of Mary's four siblings often makes an appearance. Because Mary lives out of the country, her siblings try to see her when she is in the states. The above photo is her brother John. The photo below is John's twin Bobbi and her husband Dave.

Last, but certainly not least in the Chicago area is snow shoveling.

Here is Mary helping me dig out in order to get the van into the driveway. It is comical that I have a picture of Mary shovelling. She did it this one time and poor Bill, who probably shovelled fifty times, didn't make the photo shoot!

We love you so much Bill and Mary, Mother and Daddy, Mimi and PawPaw.

Thank you for everything and welcome... home.