And the last present.....

It isn't very often, in fact I can't remember EVER, rendering Collin speechless and teary-eyed.

As you can tell, we are going to CONGRESS!!

I know, I told the whole story below, and it didn't work out. But we just couldn't let it go. This is something that was SO important to him, would be so good for him, and he is old enough to appreciate going and to remember.

So we looked at the obstacles; money and Sam's time off. So we decided that if I took him, that cut the traveling expenses in half. I actually used our first Sky Miles and got his ticket for free! I asked some good friends of ours at Bolling AFB if we could stay with them and they immediately said YES! (Thank you sooooo much Ben and Tracy)!!! Most of our meals are covered at the conference. So besides one rather cheap airplane ticket (only $278 from Boise to DC), it will only be a couple of meals and gas money for our hosts (and maybe a souvenir or two). As for Sam's time off, now he won't need to take any. Thanks to some great friends here, child care will be covered for the work hours. Thank you in advance for the friends I haven't asked just yet! :)

After registering last night for the Call to Congress I got our VERY busy schedule.

We fly out on Tuesday, April 29th. The conference begins on the 30th at 1pm. From 3-5pm is training to speak on the "Hill." An opening formal dinner that night until 9pm. Breakfast the next morning at 7:00 am. It is going to feel like 4am our time. YIKES! Then off to Capitol Hill to speak from 10:00 - 4:00. Then back to the conference center for a recap and a formal reception. Breakfast again at 7:30 the next morning,then a closing session lasting until 10 am. We fly back that night leaving DC at 5:40 pm getting home at 10:15.

WHEW!!!!!

I am so excited to be sharing this with him. Excited to be able to see him in this capacity. Sam and I have wondered for a long time just what God is preparing for his future and this is just another big step for him.

And some MORE good news from the Smith House:

Sam was informed today that he got selected for an SOS in residence slot. That is a month long school for Air Force Captains at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. That is a rare thing for a chaplain to go. The ACC chaplains only get 4 slots PER YEAR to go, that is from ALL the chaplains in the Air Force. These guys here are obviously doing something right, as Steve Barfield also got chosen and he is leaving in a few weeks. Sam is NOT thrilled with being back in the south during the hottest part of the summer, already thinking about those 3 -4 mile runs in that intense heat and humidity, but he is honored and excited and it was something he was hoping to do.