Whirlwind Stop through Chi-town

We're in route on our way back to Brazil.  The first stop has been a whirlwind trip through Chicago to return our car and visit our supporting church.  Monday we fly out to the west coast.  It's been a few visits since walking around downtown and visiting Moody, so we went for a trip Thursday morning.  

We met up with my "little" cousin Jon who goes to Moody and went to chapel.

 I put "little" in quotes because as you can see it is no longer the truth!

 It was super fun getting to go to a worship chapel at our old school and visit Jon.  So much has changed to keep Moody up with the times, but it is still the same in so many ways...still that awesome passion for training the next generation for ministry.  It's so encouraging to see that.

After chapel we walked around downtown for about a half hour or so.  It's hard to do too much with a baby in tow, but it was a beautiful day so that was a plus.  

Elijah and me...love the ladybug cow "crawling" up the building.

Jeyson and Elijah in front of the new Trump tower...a new addition to the skyline since our Chicago days.

 This if a far too familiar scene lately as we've been doing a lot of traveling and much more to come before arriving in Brazil in January.

 While we've been in the US we've been buying a few essentials that we don't have in Brazil or are way more expensive and/or bad quality, such as a toddler car seat.  I can not even begin to tell you how overwhelming all of the decision making has been!  I mean, looking through options can be hard even for Americans, but coming from Brazil where we often have 2-3 choices, shopping in the US seems like an extreme sport to us!    It just boggles your mind to compare all of the options, prices, etc.

 We've been staying this weekend with my old college roommate and her husband.  It's been nice and encouraging to see them.  It has also been nice to get into the Christmas spirit too since we didn't get to decorate in Ohio (since we were leaving town).  So it's been a nice little perk in route.

Elijah and Clara (their daughter)

Helping to cook at Katie's house

And a double duet with Katie and Dan who are both musicians

 As fun as it all has been though, I would greatly appreciate prayer for travel grace.  I know it sounds like I meant to say travel mercies....referring to safety along the way.  Yes, we would like prayer for safety, but what I really mean is travel grace....the grace to make it through all this traveling!  I have enjoyed every one of our stops, but I am SO ready to no longer be living out of a suitcase.  I want my socks to be a in a drawer, not a zip of my suitcase! And oh how I long for a routine and no more changing time zones!!!  And based on the way things are looking at this moment, the "fun" has just begun.  More on this in a blog coming soon, but plans are coming together to move to a different base as soon as we get to Brazil.  So please pray for us, for travel mercies....and travel grace!