Yesterday Emily and I drove down to Long Beach to pick up Sarah, who had flown in from New York.

Due to random crashes, fires, and late night tar-laying, we were on the road for 15 hours (minus a long walk on the beach and a pit-stop at In-N-Out).

Which meant we had a lot of time together. We talked, laughed, argued, cried....on the sand with the surf pulling at our legs, and in the car with the sun burning through the windows on the grapevine, where we were going exactly 7 mph for a very long time. (Mel-- I thought of you and felt your pain.)

Due to an unfortunate--or perhaps divinely orchestrated --series of events Sarah ended up staying the night here (she had intended to stay at her dad's house, where she will be living for the next 6 months).

And so this morning before I drove her to her first day of school (note the picture) Emily, Sarah, and I sat on the porch together, all snuggled up on the little flowered sofa, and prayed. It was a lovely and most unexpected gift.

Aimee joined us for lunch at JavaWava (highly recommended), and it was wonderful. Live music, veggie wraps, all three of my girls together.....Yesssss.

I see God answering prayers and moving in hearts. Thank you to all of you who have been praying.

We wait. We watch. We believe.