On My Way

Here's me and my suitcases at the airport.  This is all I could take but it will be plenty.  You can buy almost everything there except Reeses. :)  I'll survive.




The airport in Chicago had these really cool lights.  I had to take a train really far to get to my terminal and I was thankful for a long connection time.



It's really freeing to be traveling without a cell phone.  I remember when it used to be like this.  I'm totally on my own; no one can reach me and I can't call anyone else.  It feels more focused and requires more trust.  I like it.  I am really looking forward to this new season where I will have an opportunity to redefine habits and and refocus on what is most important.  I know this is important preparation for the future.


On my Turkish Airlines flight all the chairs were this beautiful turquoise blue and they gave us these blankets.  It's my favorite color!  How fitting!

Goodbye Party

Some friends threw me a goodbye party and it was so encouraging to have so many people excited to see me go!  My friend May also came and I was glad she was able to meet these dear friends of mine.

My nieces

Last week I got to go to my nieces' school and see them present their research projects.  I am so proud of their hard work and I will miss being able to be there for things like that these next few years.
This is Allisyn's howler monkey report and Ashley's research on the Marx brothers.

 Ashley and her best friend who hangs out with our family all the time made me a book of all the things they'll miss about me.  I almost cried and I'm taking it with me, along with pictures of all those I love to decorate my walls.

Leaving...

I used to read in books about someone having a lump in their throat the never went away and I never understood how that could be.  But now I do.  I thought I was getting sick or something.  I have that about to cry pain all the time now.  Leaving forever is hard.  I'm ready to be done with it now.  2 more weeks to go.  And then begins the insecurity of arriving and the mountain of beginning.  Yet, 

"I have a shelter in the storm

when troubles pour upon me

When fears are rising like a flood

my soul can rest securely

Oh Jesus I will hide in You

My place of peace a rest

No trial is deeper than your love

that comforts all my sorrows

With faithful hands that cannot fail

You'll bring me home to heaven"

My migrant life

I talked to my future roommate today on skype and found out that she has family visiting the first week I will be there so she asked me to stay with our team leader for that week.  It was a surprising turn of events but I always say that home is where I sleep so I will be flexible.  It is not ironic that my first week in the country will be one of transiency and variability.  This life and job is like that.  He will not let me forget that.

I'm enjoying my last adventures in Eugene with friends and family.  It's hard to leave everyone but I know this is what I am supposed to be doing.
Saying goodbye is harder for everyone else than for me.  I am going off to a new adventure and they are staying here.  But I am immensely thankful to have so many people who care about me so much and are supporting me in this.

 My gramma came to visit this weekend.  She witnessed us moving the computer from Rose's room to mine and getting rid of more of my stuff.  My suitcases are half packed in our living room.  I want to be packed early so I can focus on spending time with people.

A Challenge

Last week I had lunch with a good friend and she told me she had a challenge for me.  She said, you need to write more, from your heart, about what's really going on inside of you, what the Father is teaching you.  People need to have a way to get to know YOU while you're gone.  "That's hard for me," I said, "but I'll do it.  I need to do it."  And it will be good.  I want to be more transparent and real.  And I want people to know, so they know what to ask for me.  Thanks to all you who do read it all.  It encourages me to write.