Painful.

A few weekends ago a bunch of people got together to play a 5 v 5 indoor soccer tourney. It was a friendly set of matches. HOWEVER, even friendlies have their moments of competition. It is in those moments one ends up with a toe that looks like this:

I feel like the pain, discoloration and eventual loss of my toe nail all reflect the deeper struggles of the last few weeks.

I set out on this new journey of life thinking I was moving forward on the path that had been set before me. I believed that I was where I was supposed to be. Things fell into place so perfectly. The job fit me so well, the location was amazing and I already had plans to grow and deepen friendships. It was a dream come true and a chance to do something that satisfied my soul’s longing to have an impact among a people I love.

The trauma of having my heart smashed – just like getting kicked – has left a big, ugly bruise. You know the kind where even the lightest of touches makes you scream in pain. It’s the kind of bruise that makes you hobble around for days and gets bigger and darker with each passing moment. Honestly, it is the kind of bruise that I might usually show off in pride because I had lived through the large amount of pain necessary to cause such a bruise. Right now there is no pride in my bruise. I cannot stand in a Rockyesque pose with my arms lifted in victory because it still hurts to lift my arms.

As the discoloration of my dream sets in the hardest question has been how could I decide to move on to something else? I was so sure this is where I was supposed to be going. It was where I wanted to be going … yet even in the changes I know I am where I am supposed to be. I know I did not take a wrong turn on the road forward. Nor will I speculate what I missed because I do not think I missed anything. It just appears that the Land of the Scots will not be my first stop; the ancient Celtic language will not be my third language.

The eventual loss of a toe nail is the body’s response to healing the brokenness and riding the body of impurities in order for new growth – the change in plans and my response to those changes is part of my soul’s own refining. It is a chance for new growth in faith, strength and dependence on my Father above. I look forward to the day when my heart once again matches where I am … just as my toes will match again, looking normal and healthy.

Victory.

Winner, winner chicken dinner!

Yes, that is J and I drinking a hot beverage ever so graciously provided by my friend, H. Brilliant, I know.

Heavy Load.

I took a class this week that was a bit heavier on content than I expected. I am not sure I can accurately describe what is going on in my mind, yet I feel the need to try. Almost as an exercise of walking myself through the thoughts I am thinking and the implications those thoughts, expectations, desires and commands will have on my life. Or maybe it is because I need to give a voice to the heaviness that I feel.

The eight hour class focused on the idea of persecution. Persecution for faith and because of faith. What struck me most throughout the entire class is the perception that those in persecution have of life. They see and understand the Bible in a completely different light than I do. They understand the power of prayer in a way that I do not, the discipline they have to know and digest the Word is something I cannot quite comprehend, they are not afraid of the daylight or the darkness and what is most evident to me – they are free.

After sitting through nearly the entire class, God turned up the heat on me. About an hour and a half before the class was over, the speaker looked right at me (in truth he did not look directly at only me – but it sure felt that way) and said, “You can only take into persecution that which you have built before the trial.” He then went on to outline what living a victorious faith in the midst of persecution looks like over and over again in the people he talks to and interviews. The prevailing themes are so simple: learn the power of prayer and fasting, learn large portions of the Bible so that you can recreate the Bible from memory, get a “heart song” a song that you can sing to The Father, a song that you can stand on daily, by the hour or even by the second if needed, lose your fear and know where your freedom comes from.

I know that I register on the scale for those things; the question is do I register high enough to not only survive but to be used in a mighty and powerful way? I know that God grabbed my heart today for a reason, He wants all of me. He wants me to draw close to Him and to be filled with the knowledge of who He is. Am I ready for that? Honestly, I crave that. Therein lies the heaviness of my heart. I do crave to be with my Heavenly Father, to know Him, to trust Him and I desire to lead others to Him but I cannot seem to translate that desire of my heart - of my soul - into my human life. I know prayer and fasting and I have seen God answer prayers but I only seem to know them as situational remedies. Often prayer and certainly fasting are a secondary thought after panicking about a situation. I am unsure of prayer as a constant conversation with my God. I am hesitant to have that two way dialogue spontaneously erupt in my life. How do I overcome that? What needs to change in my heart for that dialogue to begin? When I was a child, my parents encouraged and made part of my education the learning of large portions of the Bible for which I will be eternally grateful. Yet I have not taken that principle of my childhood into my personal adult life. Not that I do not want it … I just cannot seem to apply the discipline necessary. I grew up with hymns and songs that communicate my relationship with Christ. Music has always been an important part of my life and music can change my mental condition, attitude and perception of life. There are a couple of songs that have become especially important in my life and help me remain focused on my Saviour, but can I sing these songs without the music? Can I come up with other songs that can offer worship without having the words and music in front of me? I doubt that I can. All these things I know that I have a foundation in, but I know that my foundation is not strong enough to support the demands of persecution. What really got me were the ideas of a loss of fear and the knowledge and understanding of where my freedom comes from. I think that the loss of fear is a result of acceptance and understanding of where my freedom comes from. I know that I am free in Christ and nothing will take that away. But am I free in Christ deep in my heart? Am I capable of living like I know no matter what is taken from me, I will still always be free from the control of others. In the end the question is do I trust the freedom I have?

I know, I know … there are a lot more questions than answers! I cannot help but be thankful to God for the provision He has made in my life and the opportunities He has given me. He has called me to this new job. I am here. However, He did not call me to a job I was not prepared for. How successful would I be in a situation of persecution? In being unprepared before the trial would my life do more harm than good? By my attendance of this class I feel like I have been given an opportunity to prepare myself in Him to face greater circumstances in the coming days of my life.

Say What?!

Vicissitude. As in the quality or state of being changeable or natural change or mutation visible in nature or in human affairs. Like a caterpillar emerging from a cocoon - no longer a caterpillar - but now a beautiful butterfly.Okay, I seriously just picked the word vicissitude to be my “cool new word learned from someone here in VA.” Am I delusional? Have I finally gone mad? I know on the surface it is not as exciting of a word as interdigitate, but my introduction to it is cause enough for me to add vicissitude to my vocabulary. I do have to apologise that I have not given you the same introduction to vicissitude as I had – it is terribly difficult to convey the word vicissitude in the deep Alabaman accent that my friend H speaks.

A few of us were sitting around on Friday night hanging out and talking and the subject of interesting words came up (maybe we are nerds too, eh?). I shared about my post on interdigitating and H spoke up saying his favourite word “is vicissiteweude. “ “Huh? What did you say?” was about all I could say. I had no idea what he had said. After several minutes of H repeating himself and K trying his best to interpret for me, I figured out the word was vicissitude. The only thing I could think between breaths of laughter was … “man I gotta put that on the blog!”

Of course, I could not blog about a word without providing a picture description of the meaning (for you visual learners out there) and I have spent quite a bit of time trying to determine the best picture to portray the meaning of vicissitude. Turns out H has been concerned that I have not highlighted his word yet and on Sunday night inquired as to why. I tried to explain that I needed to find the right picture to put with my post. All I got in response was a quizzical look of wonder or maybe it was more a look of disbelief that I could even find a picture that portrayed the definition correctly?! Either way, it has turned into a challenge to find a picture that does a decent job of embodying the definition of vicissitude. A challenge that will end in H buying me and J, coffee when I win (or me buying H and J ice cream on the off chance I am unable to find a suitable picture). Here is your chance to make a difference in the world and more importantly, in my bank account. Do you think my picture gives an accurate visual to the definition of the word vicissitude? I think so. I will let you know what the jury here decides.

Fooled Again.

In Las Vegas when the sun is shining it means one of two things: it is either hot outside or it is chilly but still warm in the sun. After spending so many years in Las Vegas my mind understands this. Sun equals warmth on some level. Granted that warmth could really mean 115° and then it is just h-o-t, but that is beside the point. I struggle when I travel to other places because what I know at home is not always true in the rest of the world. Sometimes I am fooled by the presence of the sun.

This seems to be especially true here in VA. Each morning I get up and look out the window to see how the day is looking and try to figure out what I want or need to wear. Since there is no internet in my room this is how I get my daily weather forecast. I believe this method of forecasting would be significantly more successful for me if I did not look out the window, see the bright morning sun and automatically equate that with warmth! Instead, I get dressed and head out to face the long walk to breakfast only to be greeted by a freezing, biting and bone chilling cold. A cold that I swear is impenetrable by the warmth of the sun. What the heck?! The sun is out – I see it! Why is it not warm? I have this same conversation with myself every morning; all whilst I am smacking myself in the head trying to beat this new concept into my mind. Sun does not always equal warmth.

With reluctance, my mind is coming around to this idea. I have not completely, nor do I believe I ever will, master knowing how to tell if it is warm or cold when the sun is as bright as ever in the sky. Even this morning, I was getting ready for a run and though I could see the morning sun greeting the day, I layered on my tights, shorts, undershirt, t-shirt and jacket. Then I had to actually step outside to determine if I needed to run with a hat, gloves and a second jacket. To my surprise, the sun was pleasantly warm and I only ended up adding a hat to keep my ears warm (and you wonder why I will never get it right)!

So this morning as I ran, I closed my eyes and felt the warmth of the sun on my face. I imagined that I was at home running with the warmth of the sun. It would have worked – except for the snot running out of my nose and freezing on my face!

A Glimpse.

Life here in VA is a strange animal.

There are rules and guides to follow, prescribed meals and meal times, demands of my mind and my time, forced interaction, mandated personal application times and required cultural education that has nothing to do with my new culture ... all without much detailed direction or information. The connection to the world around me is limited to what I can catch online or in a conversation with someone from home. 300 or so of us share the same space, air, water and time. We wait in the same lines, check the same books out of the library, use the same internet server and participate in the same events day in and day out. With all this “togetherness” and “aloneness” it is hard to distinguish between the reality of life and the fakeness of living here.

There are days when it is frustrating to try to figure out how this time is preparing me for my new job. I want to get there and to try things and do things and see what works and what does not work. Everyone keeps telling me that it is all trial and error with my new job – so let me get out there and try something! Instead, I am here.

Other days I can see clearly how the knowledge I am soaking up and the relationships I am building will carry me into my new job.

In all the questioning and confusion, struggle and frustration and ups and downs something awesome is coming out of this time … Me. I pray that as I am changing – being challenged and molded in the pattern of who The Father designed me to be, I can stand firm in the knowledge of “who’s I am.”

For Your Entertainment.

Yes, the above video is in Scot-Gaelic?! It is the Lord's Prayer. Cool, huh? Can you see me being able to do that soon? Yeah, me neither! Haha. Every time I sit down to work on my language study or I think about all the classes that I will be taking - I get a bit overwhelmed. Then I come a cross a jem like this and I cannot imagine learning any other language right now.

Whilst I know I will never be as cute as him, I hope to be able to speak Gàidhlig as clearly as him.

Look what I did.

As if I do not have enough "extra" things to do around here whilst I am training - I found something fun to occupy some time. Quilting! Cool, eh?!

Now I am not new to the idea of quilting as my Aunt K creates wonderful quilts for her friends and family (yahoo that I am in that category). I made a quilt, with one of my friends from home when I went off to college and I several of my friends Mum's are quilters. Quilts are an amazing art and I am always touched to know how much time and effort goes into making a quilt for someone. I have several quilts that belonged to my great grandparents and other long ago family members and it warms my heart to feel all the love and thought in each one. This is never more obvious than when you take the time to make one yourself.

In total I think it took me about twelve hours to make the quilt ... and I love it! I can not wait to curl up with it on my couch, or fold it neatly over the back of a chair in my living room - letting it turn my house into a home.

Say What?!

Being around 230+ people leads to loads of fun conversations and even a few new - albeit strange - words. Today was no exception.

The word for today is: INTERDIGITATE. Yes, you read that right, interdigitate. As in "Do you mind if I interdigitate with you?" Haha.

I obviously have been getting quite the comical pleasure out of the word ... I hope you enjoy it as well.

High Treason.

Yes, that is my dog fraternising with a cat in public! I really have no words for this ...

A Fiasco?!

At least it was a FUN fiasco! I had to drive about two hours north on Saturday to get the biometeric fingerprints done for my visa application. I reserved a van for the WHOLE day thinking it would take quite a while to get it all done. I walked into the office and 10 minutes later it was done! It was easy, breezy and beautiful!

Sooooo ... I had the van the whole rest of the day. I knew I was close to a few historical locations and it was decided that the rest of the day would be spent driving around looking at these sites and eating a meal of fried food (translate that to chips and ketchup .... YES!). I mostly drove around the Manassas, VA area and went to the battlefield where the Battle of Bull Run took place.

After driving around and having lunch, my friend J and I decided that if we headed back we would have plenty of time left in the afternoon to get a few things done. Unfortunantally, the flat tire and flat spare tire had other plans! One tow-truck driver later we got back.

All in all, it was a good day. I was sad that Mum and Pop were not roaming the battlefield with me, but I was thankful that the visa process went so well and I even managed to laugh at the fact that there was no operating manual in the rented van!

My .. ummm ... Room.

Here in RVA I am living in a dorm type building. I never anticipated I would be living in a dorm again after graduating from college, but here I am. At least I have my own bedroom and bathroom that I don't have to share with anyone!

So Many Thoughts.

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary,

When troubles come and my heart burdened be.

Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,

Until you come and sit awhile with me.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas

I am strong, when I am on your shoulders

You raise me up.. to more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas

I am strong, when I am on your shoulders

You raise me up.. to more than I can be.

There is no life - no life without its hunger

Each restless heart beats so imperfectly

But when you come and I am filled with wonder

Sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas

And I am strong, when I am on your shoulders

You raise me up .. to more than I can be

You raise me up .. to more than I can be.

-Selah

The only way I am strong enough for this journey in on the shoulders of my Lord. As I pack up what little is left in my life, my mind wants to wander to the saddness and struggle of all I am leaving - I cannot get to far from the truth that only in Him will I have the strength and that He is faithful to raise me up.. to more than I can be.

This song is a comfort to me. I love the words and the music. It is simply powerful. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2sZuJbxi8Y.

Running the Reservation.

Me, our race buddy J, Pop

Pop has been a runner for as long as I can remember. A year and a half ago when I was cleared for physical activity with out limits, I joined him. Nearly every Saturday since then we have gone out to the detention basin near our house and run various routes and distances. It is just what we do. Together. During the week, according to our own schedules we run our miles – pounding the pavement alone. But Saturday’s are our time.

Over the past months I have challenged him to 5K and 10K races and he has helped me train for half marathons. We compare times, keep up with each other’s performance, we note mental days and the things causing them and we generally push and prod the other to keep putting one foot in front of the other.

Today we ran our last race together for a long while (unless I can convince him to come and run an international half marathon with me … hint hint). We ran our favourite race – favourite for its challenging course and incredible desert beauty. It was a tough run. We fought the wind, the hills, the cold, the physical hurt and the mental walls. It was FUN!

Even as we return to our lonely weekday runs and I move far away – in my heart we will always run Saturday's together.

Surprise!

My friend, R and her husband S were wrapping up a two week trek through Alaska and it worked out that they were in Anchorage on the same Sunday I was there speaking - so they decided to come and see me! Let me just tell you, I was shocked and surprised when I looked up from my presentation to see them sitting there. It took a moment for me to recover my brain and keep going! Haha. I nearly ran off the stage to give R a hug. Of course, being the professional I am, I managed to keep it together until the end of the service, but I am sure the HUGE smile on my face was evident to the entire room.
This was the first time I got to meet S and after a brief discussion –we have decided that we can be friends. Beyond our common like of R, we both bought our coats at Burlington Coat Factory, we have the same crushproof, waterproof, smash proof and freeze proof camera and we both love Costco. Hey, friendships have been built on less!

4313 Wright Street.

When I was asked to attend the Alaska Baptist Convention’s Commissioning Service and to speak in a local church, I never dreamed of what God had in store for me! What I did know is that it got exciting quick!

Mum made a few phone calls and got in communication with Pastor J and his wife BJ. Pastor J lived down the street from us when we lived in Wyoming (back in the day) and he was our pastor there. He baptized me on a cold day in February and was a part of the beginning of my story with Christ. Pastor J and BJ live and work in Anchorage … so of course I wanted to try to see them. Mum told them I was going to be in Palmer for the convention and to speak in a local church on Sunday. Well, Pastor J took the initiative and arraigned for me to speak at the church where he attends. I have been looking for partners to support me in the endeavors of my new job since I was offered the position. God had laid on my heart several options. As I pursued each option, a few worked out and some did not. It was frustrating to seek the prayer support of others and not get it as I had anticipated. After the complete exhaustion and monumental failure of my plans, I knew I was missing something. I took some time to re-focus the task of gathering prayer support, letting God lead the way. Turns out, He had a body of believers ready and willing to join me. I just had to ask. Three weeks ago I did and University Baptist became church no. 5 for me. They are more than just church no. 5 - they are a provision from God.

Sunday, before the morning service, I had the privilege to talk to some wonderful young people. They were kind and generous for their willingness to listen to me go on and on about Scotland and my new job there and I truly had a wonderful time with them. I will have to say that my favorite part of the morning was getting to eat lunch with the youth group, several parents, Pastor J and BJ and Pastor Don and his wife. It was SO much fun to be with the kids in the youth group - to hang out and visit with them beyond what was preplanned. I learned a lot about living in Alaska and was cracked up more than once as they were talking about life! It was cool to hear of a group of young people looking for Christ’s work around them and in their lives and joining Him when they saw it. I look forward to the coming years and hearing their names as they are called out to the different fields of service God is planning for them.

I love how among a body of believers there are no strangers – that is how it was worshipping and fellowshipping with the family at UBC. They were my friends before I could even say hi and introduce myself. I look forward to the opportunity to visit with them again. Thanks guys for sharing your love of Christ with me!

Wasilla/Palmer, Alaska

I have just put another X in the box on my “been there done that” list. I just spent three short days in the last frontier state of Alaska. Frankly, I LOVED it.

I cannot decide if it felt different to be in the USA without being in the lower 48 (a popular phrase up there). It was not really like being in a foreign country and just about everyone that I met was from somewhere else before Alaska – still some part of my mind comprehended the distance between the great Alaska wilderness and the lower 48.

The trip was kicked off with a security snafu in Las Vegas, meeting up with some of my favourite co-workers in Seattle and a majestic arrival in Anchorage. They could not have had more beautiful weather if I had planned it. The skies were clear and cloud free during my tour of the Wasilla/Palmer area – so I got to take in the splendor of an unshrouded Mt. McKinley. Even the sun seemed to come out to offer a bit of a buffer between my Las Vegas blood and the 48 degree weather!I had the chance to meet up with some of my parents (before children) friends, Mr. and Mrs. E. They were gracious enough to give up there Sunday afternoon/evening to run me around the area chasing the prospect of seeing wildlife and other brilliant sights, although I got the impression that I was a great excuse for them to get out. I did manage to fail at Mr. E’s visitor challenge though, haha. He challenges everyone he takes out to stick their hand in the river and see how long they can leave it there. Well, I managed to last long enough for him to get a picture – all of about three seconds! It was super cold! Mr. and Mrs. E were even able to arrange for me to see a momma moose and her calf. Haha. Mr. E will sign an affidavit as a witness to the truth of that statement, though my only picture could arguably be to rocks in the river! A bit of advice … one day of looking is not enough time to digest the beauty of Alaska (no matter how great your tour guide is).

I went to Alaska on an invitation to participate in the Commissioning Service that would kick-off the Alaska Baptist Convention meetings. I would never dream of saying no to such an offer and the trip was a great time of meeting God through the beautiful scenery He breathed into existence and through the people who live up there. Working with other’s from my company is always a blessing and it was extra fun to get to be in Alaska with several friends from Boise. I think I spent more time laughing (laughing so hard tears were falling) than I did doing anything else. The commissioning service was a tribute to the spectacular creation of God; the worship team was awesome, the charge to the congregation deeply touching to my heart and the sharing of testimonies between each participant – it was beyond evident that only our creative and awesome God could have the foresight to bring us together at that time, at that moment.

So in reality the “been there done that box” only gets half of the X … I’ll be adding the other half after another (longer) trek north to Alaska.

My Guy.

A while back Pop and I got hooked on a Food Network show called Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (3D)! It’s the greatest show ever and we love to watch the host, Guy Fieri, moan, groan and feign over all the crazy food he eats. Guy travels around the country in his mustang trying out diners, drive-ins and dives suggested by random people or friends. He spends the show talking about the history of the place, cooking up some of the specials, and mostly just being a total ham in front of the camera. By the end of some episodes Pop and I are in tears from laughing so much.

A couple of months ago, Guy showcased a diner and a drive-in located in Virginia. As we watched I got excited that there might be a possibility that I could visit these places myself. Mum called Aunt F and she knew of BOTH places!

One morning we drove over to Wakefield, VA to eat at The Virginia Diner. All I can say, it was as great as it looked on TV! I had fried chicken, biscuits and fried potatoes and Mum had the ham biscuits (made with Smithfield Ham) and Brunswick stew. Mum and Uncle B sampled the peanut pie and the chocolate pie. Mum says the peanut pie is the way to go.

The other 3D inspired stop we made was to downtown Norfolk. To Dumar’s Cones & Barbecue. We only had ice cream while we were there … but boy did we ever have ice cream! I had a chocolate ice cream scoop on top of a fresh, handmade waffle cone and a coke-float! Hehe. I wanted about a dozen other things too … Mum had a vanilla cone and a handmade chocolate shake with bits of crushed up waffle cone in it. Let’s just say – we didn’t need too much dinner! It was fun to enjoy a real part of 3D. I was sad Pop wasn't there to enjoy it so I bought him a dozen fresh waffle cones!

5001 US Hwy. 17 South

Uncle S is the pastor of River Bend Baptist church. Several months ago, nearly right after I got my letter offering me the job, I called Uncle S and asked him if his church would be willing to be one of my partners in the endeavor. He gave me an emphatic yes … even before talking to the church body, I think! Thankfully, the members of River Bend are an awesome group of praying individuals and they jumped on board whole-heartedly. Words are not enough to convey the details of September 7, 2008. What I do know is that I experienced an awesome outpouring of Christ’s love for me … through His children.

It was a tough day to begin with because it was Granny’s birthday, which is one of the excuses we give for going to visit Aunt F. Granny was her older sister and beloved friend and Mum and I go to visit around the 7th so that we can support her on that day. I never connected what day I would be speaking at Uncle S’s church … ummm, until the night before! Oops. It was a wonderful little extra trinket of God’s provision in the story of my life to be sharing with Uncle S’s church about Scotland – on her birthday. You see, it was my Granny that planted and watered the seed of Scotland in my heart. She was a Gordon. I am a Gordon. In the presentation I have been giving to my prayer partners, I start out with the mention that I learned about Scotland first from her. I had a hard moment getting through that part of the presentation … but it was such a testimony to Grandpa and Granny Gordon to look out into the congregation and look at Mum, Aunt F, her son’s and their families – a remnant of their legacy.

Uncle S had informed me that I could take the whole sermon time to share if I wanted to! Haha. I made sure that he knew my presentation was ONLY 7-9 minutes (depending on how nervous I was and how quickly I read it)! Each time I spoke (they have two service) Uncle S tied everything together between myself and River Bend. How just as in Psalm 46, River Bend Baptist was a “river whose streams make glad the city of God” and now, I was a stream flowing from River Bend. Wow! After each of my presentations, the people who were there came around me and interceded on my behalf. I will never forget the feelings of awe I felt to have a woman kneel before me, praying for my feet as they carry the Good News of Christ; to hear the Scottish gentleman pray for me as I lived and worked among the “most stubborn people in the world;” when the music leader prayed for my heart, that God would protect it and that it would remain strong and true to the calling of Christ on my life and all the other prayers lifted up that meld into God speaking to my heart that I was truly doing what He had called me to do.

On Saturday, when I was standing on the beach looking out over the Atlantic Ocean, with her rough surge and roaring voice of agitation, I got a glimpse of what I would be seeing soon. My heart was comforted because I know that when I look out across the Atlantic Ocean again I will be looking towards a land full of people who love me, support me and lift me up. People who are willing to share in the excitement of adventure and the promise of the fulfillment of the greatest command God has given; but also intercede before me in the tough times, the sad and frustrating times and the times when life is at its darkest. I will be eternally grateful that God saw fit to bring them into my life in such a dramatic and personal way.

Snapshot Moments.

Its hard to write about my family and what I have been experiencing and doing in the days leading up to my move. On the outside these moments seem benign and mundane, but to me they are the precious moments that will see me through the tough times to come. There are moments that I will remember and even some that I envision sitting on my own front porch sharing with my children and my children’s children. As I sit here, I wonder where to start and what to say – because nothing that I say will even compare to the memories that have been stored up in my heart. Mum and I had a brilliant time in Va. Beach visiting with the “old folks!” Uncle B and Aunt F were as excited about our visit as we were … so naturally we hit the ground running! The biggest adjustment for me was the fact that Aunt F had the entire interior of the house repainted and when she did she also decided to move EVERYTHING around! Even though we got to Va. Beach at 11:45 at night, I still had to go around trying to find where she put some of my favourite things and what had been moved where. Mum was disappointed that her favourite doll was in my room (never fear … she managed to make an opportunity early on to move the doll into her room). We spent many hours swinging on the front porch, eating popsicles and watching the world go by. I got to meet Casey’s new little sister Minute (the puppies next door, whom Aunt F and Uncle B adore) and I even managed to get in my runs around the neighborhood.
Cousin T and his family came up to see us on Thursday and Friday, we had more fun swinging, eating popsicles and playing with all Aunt F’s dolls. It was so fun to get to see my three little lovelies! I cannot believe how big they are. I suppose that next time I see them they will not be “little” lovelies any more. And just so they know for sure … I love you E.R., B and K!
Mum and I decided on Friday that we needed to have yet another adventure … we needed to try to out run a hurricane! Mostly we needed to beat it to North Carolina. And we did. On Friday afternoon we packed up Aunt F and Uncle B and we headed down to New Bern, North Carolina to see the rest of the gang!
It was fun to be able to show up a day early at Uncle S and Aunt R’s house. We then had plenty of time to visit and do the things that we all wanted to do. My cousin R had come home for the weekend to see Mum and me (well, maybe it was to pick up her car?! Haha) and we spent most of Friday night getting the Skype set up so that we could talk on the internet. We even got to Skype my little brother B! Aunt F was concerned about how skinny he was – he assures us he is eating enough though. Uncle S says that he is going to get Skype too! While Skype will not replace my desire for a phone (especially since there is no confirmation about internet where I will be moving to) it will be a great way to communicate with a larger group of my family and friends while I am gone. Plus, it’s fun to make rude faces at my little brother and try to annoy him long distance! I digress ... It was fun to be there over the weekend with R because she had put in Saturday dinner request and of course Aunt R made a delicious meal for her … one that the rest of us got to enjoy! On Saturday we braved the wind and a headed out to the beach in Beaufort, North Carolina. My other uncle, Uncle F lives there with his wife J. The beach was amazing! The waves were huge, there were pools of water high on the beach with loads of seashells in them. It was crazy, even a little sad, to see most of the shells in bits and pieces – they had been tossed about by a mighty storm. All I kept thinking as I searched for unique shells that were still in one piece, was what do the shells on my beach look like? Are the pieces of me tossed about in the mighty storm of life? Smashed into a million different pieces only to be overlooked by seekers of something beautiful? Or do the different pieces of my life rest in wholeness in the peace I have from my Father? I hope that each shell that my life leaves behind is one that remains intact and shares the story of a God who offers grace in the face of mighty storms to those willing to accept it. We spent the rest of the late afternoon handing out fliers for the Sunday morning service held at the marina. Uncle F usually preaches this service, but he made arraignments to be in New Bern to support me as I spoke there. We had a good time wandering downtown, handing out as many fliers as we could. It was fun to visit Uncle F and Aunt J at their house.Sunday, was a brilliant day! I’ll get more into the details of my time with my prayer church. Lets just suffice it to say … you should really hang around for that post! It was awesome! After church was over the whole family (minus Pop and B - which was the saddest part of the whole trip) headed out to lunch and picture time! We always have a picture time at each visit and it usually goes well if M and I can keep our eyes open for the pictures!

Mum and I managed to get in some more porch sitting time, eating time and general together time with Uncle B and Aunt F before we headed to the airport on Wednesday morning. As we drove to the airport the sky was dark and dreary with the rain gently falling down. The atmosphere of the morning reflected what I was feeling in my heart. “This is my first real good-bye,” I thought to myself. I was headed out to the airport with no return trip planned and I knew that there was not even a possibility for one in the next two years. Where would I be in two years? Where would Aunt F and Uncle B be in two years? As the rain came softly down so did my tears. I know that God will bless and keep Aunt F and Uncle B and I will see them again … in His time and place.

We're off to see the wizard.

My luggage is now chocked full of books, books and more books. You see, Mum and I are going to get to see three little lovelies while we are in Virginia and she has deemed it the utmost importance to take all the books (plus a few surprises) she can to them! I was in agreement with this idea ... until it meant that I had to pack an extra piece of luggage just to accommodate all the books! Whew!

With nearly an entire library packed in my suitcases, we are off.

Off to enjoy a visit with my Great Aunt F and Uncle B, with their children and their children's children and their children! Okay, not quite that many children, but you get the picture! I even hear rumor that I may get to go to the beach!? Lovely!

McF Family.

Mrs. McF has been integral in connecting me to the body of Calvary and without her I would never have had the opportunity to meet with Calvary, nor would God have been able to bless me through them. It has been so cool to see God bring things full circle in my life. From my first moments of living down the street and around the corner from them to attending the same church to returning there this weekend, the McF family has been consistent participants in my life. I was thrilled to learn that their daughter R would be available to come up to Idaho for the weekend. I had been looking forward to seeing her again – and the weekend together only proved that time knows no boundaries.

I have been searching for several days now, trying to find a picture of R and me together. It was not like I was searching for that ONE picture or some picture that I was envisioning in my mind or that I remember the instant it was taken. No, I was simply looking for a picture of the two of us together where we were dressed! I am guessing that R and I must have been messy kids! Our mum’s removed our pretty dresses the Sunday we had chocolate pudding at church and on the afternoon we had watermelon in the yard and there ended up being several pictures of us during bath time! Well R, I am thankful to say that we now have a picture proper for public viewing!

We had lunch at the McF’s house after church and spent a good deal of the afternoon laughing and sharing life. I also learned how to make dolls out of lovely flowers. Mum and I had never seen them before. You know, flowers like that aren’t exactly in abundance around Vegas! Haha. However, I will be on the lookout for flowers like that in Scotland, because I now know how to make them into dancing ladies!
Even though several members of both families were MIA, catching up with the McF family while I was in Idaho was a superb highlight of the weekend for both me and my parents.