Where's Bailey?!

When I (Stacy) showed up to work on Monday without Bailey in tow, I was bombarded with questions about her whereabouts.  The students from my Algebra class were most upset by her absence; they had forgiven her grumpy attitude from the previous Monday and had accepted her as a legitimate member of the class.  And our school secretary was curios as to why her "neighbor" wouldn't be joining her for nap time.  

My reply?

"She's with a lady Brandon met at La Vienesa (a local bakery/restaurant)."

Jaws dropped, voices shrieked, and everyone begged for further explanation. 

Now, I wasn't lying. She was a lady Brandon met at La Vienesa, but that "lady" has quickly become a friend.  Kendra, together with her husband Kip and daughter Kira (age 3), moved to Paraguay about six weeks ago when Kip was assigned to the U.S. Embassy for training (something to do with his position in the Army).  They've been fervently looking for a house that meets the strict U.S. Embassy requirements for it's employees, but, while awaiting good news from their realtor, have been staying in a hotel just a few blocks from our house.  While I was away at junior high camp the first week of October, Brandon met the family at La Vienesa one night he and Bailey went out to eat.

Since then, we have had several dinners with the family - some at our house, others out around town - and a couple of play dates.  We even tagged along with them to the U.S. Embassy on Halloween for Bailey to trick-or-treat around the cubicles that had been transformed into Ghoulsville 2011.  

I have to admit, though, that I was hit with a twinge of apprehension as I walked away from their hotel on Monday after dropping Bailey off for the morning.  The enemy bombarded my mind with fear: "what do you really know about them?" "What if they take Bailey and disappear to who knows where?" "What if . . . ?"  Teary-eyed (and blasting Hillsong worship on my iPod) I finished my walk to the bus and claimed God's promise of protection and His sovereignty in all of our lives.  

In the end, I can do nothing but thank God for the blessing of this relationship.  I was able to go to work baby-free on Monday and Tuesday (and will again on Friday).  Bailey has a friend to play with and I have a fellow stay-at-home-mom to share time with.  Only God could take a "chance" encounter in a random restaurant and turn it into something more.  

 Snack time!

 Kira hitching a ride as Bailey pushed the merry-go-round

Post trick-or-treating dinner