Day 1429. It was close to 2 am, when I joined Randy and Emmy in a double bed, so it was tight. Just before 8 am my alarm went off. We got the kids dressed, then Randy left with them just before 8:30 to go have breakfast. At 8:30 I started teaching a lesson. At 9 am they returned, 20 minutes before I was done teaching, so it became a little more challenging, as the kids kept coming to me. After I was done teaching, I finished putting everything into our suitcases, then I left with the kids to go to breakfast, while Randy started loading the car up. Of course the kids had already eaten, but they were interested in trying the Cornflakes that they had never had before. While we were eating, they could see Daddy loading the car up outside. Once I was done eating, we all walked that direction, then they got on the cart and Daddy pushed them all the way to our room, where we collected the very last items. After everything was in the car, we strapped them in, and then we finally drove off. It was already just after 10:30 am.
We had a shorter drive than yesterday ahead of us, just 250 miles. I was looking for a McDonald's with a playground along the route, and there was one in Ann Arbor. I actually have an old friend there who I had messaged yesterday to see whether he could join us for lunch, but he had not responded. After I had found the McDonald's, I messaged him again to let him know where we'd be in case he could join us. It was an hour before us getting there, and so I decided to call and let it ring a few times to make him aware of the messages I had sent. A moment later he called back and told me he'd cancel a lunch appointment to see us. What joy that I would see him again after at least 13 years, and just 10 days after my 30-year spiritual birthday, as God used him for me to come to Him.
At 12:10 we pulled up at McDonald's and walked inside. The kids and Randy went straight to the playground, while I went to the ordering board to place our order. My friend walked in, while I was working on that, then continued on to the kids. One of them needed to go to the bathroom, so my friend ended up with the other one and with Sammy right after walking in.
We ended up having a wonderful time of catching up and reconnecting, and he also did great with the kids. As for the kids, the playground was really great, but really high, and especially Emmy was really scared to climb up, Even Tammy had some fear, so there was quite a bit of screaming, as Emmy wanted attention and help. As usual they did not eat very much. There was a board on the wall with big half-balls that made noises and lit up, which was the perfect toy for Sammy - for a while.
After an hour and a half, it was time to move on. Our friend walked to the car with us, then we had to say good-bye. I felt blessed, especially given the amazing timing of our meeting and that it came to be at all.
We still had nearly 3 hours to drive, and it was nap time. Tammy fell asleep first, but the boys resisted for the longest time. I don't think Sammy every slept. Emmy eventually did fall asleep after all; I guess he didn't want to lose his tablet privileges. I myself never got to sleep unfortunately. After over an hour Tammy woke up, later Emmy did as well, and they were all on their tablets again, and doing pretty well. It was Sammy who'd had enough of it eventually, and I had to entertain him a little for the last half hour. We were driving through farmland and by farm houses; it looked really rural. And I thought this church I took a picture of was cute.
At 4:45 pm we drove up our friends' driveway. I knew them from Kansas City, but they had moved to Michigan. And what was really special was that they also have triplets. And they had them after having 7 children already.
The kids were being shy about getting out of the car, especially Emmy, who did not want to come out. They stuck to me at first, but that passed very quickly. A few hours later they were inseparable from the local triplets and were having the greatest fun with them.
We went inside and met their triplets, two girls and a boy, who showed ours their room, then they started playing with them. Even Sammy ended up having lots of kids playing with him, even though they treated him like a baby. He was laughing and enjoying it.
After our suitcases were brought in, we put their swimsuits on the kids right away, as they were eager to go into the small stand-alone pool outside. The water was a little cold, but they didn't mind. They were having lots of fun. Sammy did not stay in it very long because of it being cold. Randy then ended up staying outside with the kids and their Dad, while I ended up in the kitchen with the Mom and Grandma. I had the greatest time talking with them both; it was really a blessing. And we got to do that for quite a long time. Then Grandma said good-bye. By then everyone had eaten, and the kids had come inside and were watching a movie and eating popcorn. But not for long, as there were toys, and then they started playing together with lots of energy. They had all bonded immediately, the two sets of triplets plus another sibling of theirs who was two years older than their triplets. It was great to watch them have so much fun. We wanted to take a picture of the triplets times two, and so we did. Neither ours nor theirs had ever met other triplets before.
Bedtime had come for everyone, and as they had an unplanned trip come up early in the morning tomorrow, they all had to say good-bye to each other, which was hard. And it was hard to separate them. Our kids didn't really want to go to bed yet, but I read them a bedtime story, prayed for them, and did not give them a choice. Tammy was on a mattress on the floor next to one side of our bed, and the boys on another mattress on the other side of the bed. Sammy was clearly tired and fell asleep first, the others needed longer. I turned my computer on to start working on today's pictures and reports, while Randy fell asleep while on his phone. He then soon went to bed. As for me, I was struggling to keep my eyes open to keep working, but pushed through a low, then it became easier again. Now it's 1 am, and I also need to go to bed.
