Loose Ends

We leave today to begin our Summer of Suitcases!  We are traveling all over to visit family and friends.  On the schedule this summer…Arkansas, Texas, Tennessee, California, Washington, and Colorado.  I am not sure what my Internet access will be like, so I may be missing for a few weeks.  But, there are a few things I wanted to share before we hit the road.

• We have a new mini-van!  It’s a 2008 Toyota Sienna.  There’s a long and exciting story that goes along with this blessing.  Maybe I’ll blog about it later when I have more time.
• We have been welcomed back to the US with open arms by our family and church friends.  We have been blessed financially and relationally.  Thank you!!!  Again, I am collecting many cool stories of God’s provision and love.  
• If you leave a comment on my blog- check back to see if I’ve left a comment on your comment!  My friend, Katrina, showed me how to do this awhile ago, but I’m not sure if anyone is aware of this change.  My comments are in italics after your comment in the same comment box.  Cool, huh?
• I have a new digital camera, so I will be posting more pictures soon.  Yeah!

Blessings to you and keep in touch!

Decisions, decisions, decisions

I’m learning more about myself everyday in my new environment.  Yesterday, I had an “aha moment” about making decisions.  In Togo, most decisions were made for me mostly due to a lack of choices.   For example, if I wanted to buy cereal, I had two or three choices.  Of course in America the choices for cereal take up an entire grocery aisle.  I knew that choices were plentiful in the US and that making decisions would be challenging before last week….that’s not the “aha”.

The eye-opening insight that came to me was that I am being called to grow spiritually in a different way.  In Togo, I had to make the best of many difficult situations.  It was my attitude that I could adjust and make the best of things.  But, in the States it’s still true that I need to have my attitude in check, but I am making decisions and then living with their consequences in a more responsible way.  In other words, I feel more responsible for the way I spend my money or where I live, etc.  The only other way I can think to describe is that in Africa I felt more passive and in the States I feel more pro-active when it comes to decisions.  I feel more “in control” here of my lifestyle, but I think with that “control” comes a great responsibility.  

Does this make sense to anyone else?  I’d love to hear your feedback.

Swiss Tidbit

Since so many of you (three!) have requested more stories…

During our time in Switzerland we treated Andy’s family and our family to a dinner at McDonald’s.  Guess the total amount…

$91.00 US

Have you ever heard of the Big Mac Index?  Switzerland has the second most expensive Big Mac in the world. Norway is #1. 

Was it worth it?  Well, not to me, but the kids LOVED it!  So, I guess that counts for something.  We’ve since gone to McD’s in the US and paid only $25.00.

Parking Between the Lines

I already have too many things to share with you for one post.  I will hit the highlights of the last week and if for some reason you want even more information then you’ll need to leave a comment requesting more!

My sister, Jenny, was a lifesaver this past week.  Seriously, without her help I would’ve gone crazy.  Here’s what she did:  She was just fun to hang out with.  We watched TV shows and laughed at all of the same parts for the same reasons.  She helped me make decisions when we went shopping.  She watched the boys so Bryan and I could run errands.  

The errands included : 2 hours at the Texas Department of Public Safety waiting to get a new driver’s license, comparison shopping for a wireless company (we chose at&t), and visiting CarMax to check out what else…cars!  (As a side-note I enjoyed my wait at DPS!  I knew there was an orderly- albeit slow- system in place and that I wouldn’t have to sweet talk or bribe anyone to get my license!) Oh, I also got a haircut, highlights and a pedicure last week.  I feel a little more “American” at least on the outside.

Yesterday, at our home congregation, Preston Road, we were welcomed back nicely.  The preacher called us up on stage and thanked us for our time in Togo.  The church stood up and clapped for us for quite a while.  I was tempted to start pointed to the sky like Christian rock-stars do when they come on stage.  I decided in the end that that in itself would be too showy.  Anyway, anyone who has served on the mission field knows that any good that comes out of the time served is because of God and God alone.  He deserves ALL of the glory for the work in Togo!

I’ll close this post by sharing pictures from our time in Switzerland.  Unfortunately, our camera is not working at the moment so I don’t have any pics from the US.  Oh well, Switzerland is more beautiful than Texas anyway.

 

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