One week

     Trent has been gone to Africa for one week now. Longest. week. ever. Two more to go. I'm torn in the middle between not wishing time away because I know God is using him and his team in a special way in Busia (Busia is located here) and wishing it would hurry so Trent can be back home. I'm trying to fight flesh on this one, but one thing is for sure, I miss that man more than words. So, I am respectfully counting down the days. 

We haven't been able to talk except a few minutes last Saturday and a few sentences shared in Facebook messages. Occasionally his team is able to blog, so I am encouraged every time I see the work they are doing. (By the way, you HAVE to check out their blogs - so refreshing!) TC is with a pretty incredible team of students and I know this trip will be life changing for all of them.

I've been blessed by many good friends and a wonderful family who have helped to keep me busy and distracted. In fact, this is the first time this week I've even been able to sit and write about this experience. But God is good. The extravert feeler in me needed just that (tears come a little to easy). I am thankful for such wonderful people in my life - the kind who start their day praying with you (for you, your husband and his team), let you crash in their spare room, let you tag along as the third wheel, and meet you in the middle even though they have a lot on their to-do list.

Missing all the silly little things and counting down the days...

Love Lately

I've been reminded of or discovered several things I love lately. Being more intentional about my friendships. Monday night girl's night. Remembering the little things. Cards and hand written letters. Plays without microphones. Talks with my sister. Surprise visits. Reunions. Booking vacations. Late night talks with my husband. Experiencing city culture. Supporting the community. Inside jokes. The perfect date - not too hot not too cold. Finding a song I love enough to put on repeat. Checking things off the to-do list. Air conditioning. Appreciating people for who they are. Thanking people for what they've done. Skype. Phone dates.   

It's been a long, but good month, and summer is right around the corner. Spring stayed around a little longer than expected, but probably was not appreciated as much as it could have been. However  the above kept me pretty busy in a really good way. I'm still learning life's little lessons and I've gotta long way to go.

Monday Mornings

I read a note posted by Jon Acuff via a picture on Twitter a few weeks ago that has been pretty encouraging to me on Monday mornings since. I wanted to share it with you today in case you faced the same kind of Monday I know many of us did. The note said, "Fear only bothers you if you're doing things that matter. So if you find fear waiting for you at the front door of this week, congratulations. You're doing things that matter."
It's a challenge, an encouragement, and a reminder. A powerful statement declaring you as a difference maker - even when it doesn't feel that way.

And for those who are feeling extra zealous and would like to "go the extra mile", try playing an intramural soccer game to help relieve the worries of the day... The left over ache is pretty distracting. (Yes, I played soccer this afternoon. And now my legs feel like jello).

Philippians 1:4-6 "In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

Sick day

I'm not really one for the sick days, but being around people today would not have been beneficial for anyone. Sleep, Theraflu, HGTV, knit boots, and soup from my husband have been exceptional aids. Mom is bringing soup for dinner too. I know rest is what I need so I am over this quickly...Typically, I tend to push it, not resting, and only end up delaying recovery or relapsing into whatever it was ailing me. Never pleasant. The couch and I have been buds all day. And it's a raining day today. Perfect resting weather - dark and dreary.


In between naps I'm envisioning travel adventures. Talking with friends over the weekend about our vacation plans has me daydreaming about mine and TC's next journey. Last July, we enjoyed our first married vacation in Seattle. We went for our best friend's wedding, but the incredible generosity of our friend's family allowed us to tour Seattle and Mt. Rainier National Park. The rainy weather here always makes me think of Seattle now. I have yet to make a photo album of that trip, but it is high on my to-do list. For Christmas, I made mom and dad an album of all of our home videos converted to DVDs. The process reminded me and TC how diligent we want to be in documenting our adventures - both in photography and video. So before I get too far behind, I have some editing and creating to do. The only problem with going to Seattle your first year of marriage is the bar gets set pretty high. I'm learning to be realistic about what we can do this year, but I learned from my mother, a traveling pro, that you can vacation well and not break the bank. For now, I will research and patiently await a cost efficient trip agenda.

I feel I've been bolted down for a few weeks. The travel itch is getting bigger, though I am sure it's something a quick road trip could cure (at least temporarily). I love to travel. The world is too big and too exciting to settle for a few city blocks...

Down Seattle from Kerry Park

I want to expand this collection ASAP.

Fruition

My favorite word lately. I love when plans, dreams and goals come to fruition. The hours of diligent effort paying off. The endless whirring of thoughts now patiently processing. The revelation of a good thing accomplished. This is a good feeling. I welcome fruition. I hope it knocks on my door often. I hope the path to fruition is always appreciated and valued. And I hope the motivation to work hard is always as strong as the dream.

"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
Philippians 1:3-6 (NIV)