The heart of children

Today was Mother's Day. Maren had been gone for the past 4 days and got home late this afternoon. She decided on Chipotle for her dinner (mmmmm, Chipotle!). While there, the discussion arose as it often does about traveling to India. While Maren was gone for the past few days, one of her friends suggested that Nana and Papa travel to New Delhi with the kids when we are to arrive there during the second week of our trip (thank you Carol T.). This would cut down on expenses while still allowing the kids to experience some of India and still meet their sister in her birth country. We shared this idea with the kids at dinner as a possibility. Of course, they were quite excited that this is something to consider. They were beginning to relegate themselves to the idea that they may not be able to travel. After hearing this idea, they shared some stunning news with us. The kids have been secretly stashing away a bunch of cash from their birthdays, babysitting, and allowances and have accrued $133 to be used for the trip as a way to help offset our costs and allow them to go! Their heart and generousity brought tears to my eyes. I knew they had been gathering some of their toys and other things to have a yard sale to help with the costs, but I had no idea they were saving like this as well. On one hand, $133 is a drop in the bucket for airline tickets that may cost in the neighborhood of $10,000, on the other hand, how do you discount something like this? Almighty God, we pray that you would see fit that our whole family could travel with us for the entire trip as we continue to form our family.