We made it through!

Well, this last weekend was our first (well, my first) extended time away from Hannah--our first together. Keith has been away overnight a number of times since Hannah was born, but I had only been away from her one night when we did a trial run a couple months ago. :) Keith & I decided we wanted to work at a retreat that was being directed by Keith's sister & brother-in-law, Anne & Nate, along with another family friend, Jonathon. (It was called Journey with Christ, for anyone who may have heard of that organization.) Anyway, we left Thursday afternoon, and as it got closer to the "drop-off time," I grew more & more anxious. I got that feeling in my stomach like you do when you start work again on Monday, or right before you go to the dentist, or the night before a huge exam. We got to my Mom & Dad's house and I got Hannah's stuff settled. The good thing is that she's been there plenty of times, so it wasn't like she was unfamiliar with her surroundings. We wanted to make the good-byes short, so we pretty much left within a few minutes. I don't know what I was expecting, but Hannah did not so much as shed one tear or show a turned-down lip! Meanwhile, I was gulping the huge knot down my throat & trying not to start bawling or tell Keith "Never mind." To make matters worse, my mom handed me a little note that said "Mommy & Daddy" written by "Hannah." :) It was actually very cute but it did make me tear up a little bit. Anyway, we made it to Yakima just fine and then I was pretty much okay for the weekend except for one breakdown when my mother-in-law, Theresa, specifically mentioned to the leadership group to pray for Hannah since it was her birthday. :) Then Theresa & a few others working had a little party for Hannah, "in absencia" (or however that is spelled.) It was nice to have the support on both ends!
When we got home, Hannah was busy playing with Grandma, Grandpa & Senia, and she didn't seem to have missed us at all. I guess that is good in a way, as I'm sure it gets harder to leave them as they start to actually REALIZE you are leaving!