Summer of Suitcases, Part 3

 

Here are the latest pictures from our journeys.  We are currently in Bellingham, Washington near Bryan’s brother, Ben and his family.  The captions tell the stories…

 

Aunt Jenny made Isaac a cake for his 10th birthday!! - Jackson, TN

Owen and Kate "Kissing Cousins" - Jackson, TN

Grandpa Curt and Me - Knoxville, TN

Hanging Out at the Sanderson's - Dallas, TX

 

Bryan and Isaac- Monument, CO

Posing for picture on a family walk. - Monument, CO

 

Say Cheese!!!

 

 

My 10 year old!!!

 

 

Owen and his new friend, Owen - Monument, CO

 

 

Our small group during the DAR retreat. - Monument, CO

 

 

Isaac and Graham's new buddies. - Monument, CO

 

 

Family Ries

 

 

Bowling! This was the first time for the boys. They loved it! - Monument, CO

 

 

Owen and his new train from Nana and Grandpa Art. - Washougal, WA

 

 

Bryan and I at the International Rose Test Gardens. - Portland, OR

 

 

Our current abode - Ferndale, WA

Colorado - DAR

I am in Colorado with the family at DAR….Debriefing And Renewal retreat for missionaries.  Let me be honest… I did not want to come this week!!  We have been traveling non-stop and I just haven’t had the time to prepare myself for talking on a deep level about our re-entry into American life.  Thankfully, the Holy Spirit has been working on my heart and I feel good about being here now.

It’s been refreshing to be with other missionary women and share what our journey has been about.  They really “get it” - the paradoxes of missionary life.  For example, I think Togo is dirty, smelly and uncomfortable, but I love the way the people are hospitable and welcoming.  It’s your classic love/hate relationship.  

I am also exploring how to deal with the ways I’ve changed during our time in Togo.  Especially in the areas of spirituality.  I have a broader view of how God is working in the world.  I wonder how my new understandings will translate into a conservative church setting.

The main reason we chose to come to this retreat was for our boys. They have an amazing program for MKs!! Today, Isaac shared through pictures and words all about his life in Togo.  He relished the opportunity to share.  Graham’s turn will be Thursday.  The boys are also learning about expectations, feelings and culture. They have already made fast friends with the other MKs here.  (But there’s still NOT a boy Isaac’s age!!)  I am looking forward to Wednesday when I hear observations from the teachers about the boys.

I’ll check in later….Blessings

Summer of Suitcases, Part 2

This post will be one of mixed emotions.  

We had a great visit with my grandparents in Knoxville.  Many of my aunts, uncles, and cousins got together for the fourth of July.  It was a great time of fellowship!  

The day after we left my granny went into the hospital for a heart procedure on Thursday, July 10th.  She unexpectedly died early Saturday morning, July 12th.  Her death was a shock - one that I am still coming to terms with.

My granny, Ruth Vivian Dickey, was simply an amazing woman.  She and I had a wonderful time conversing and sharing the last week of her life. I even “interviewed” her about marriage and faith.  She was a woman full of wisdom. On a lighter note, we went shopping (she helped me choose a new lipstick color) she also treated the boys and I to the movies. I feel incredibly blessed that I was able to see her before she died.  I can only imagine how I would be managing if God had not granted me that grace.  My granny has been there for me (and my sister, Jenny) every step of my life.  She was a stablizing factor, a source of unconditional love and a faith mentor.  

Here are the pictures…

Grandpa Curt

Owen Climbing up the Tennis Court Fence

Cousin Rebecca, Owen and Isaac

Sweet Granny Ruth

My cousin Jake and his wife Lisa and their kiddos - Caleb, Taylor and Taryn

Knoxville Zoo!

Silly Cousins

Isaac, Uncle Wilson and Mingo the kitty!

Superhero Poses

Me, Granny and Jake

Granny and Owen

Paige, Me, Deborah, Granny, Sheila, Ellen

 

Summer of Suitcases, Part 1

Hello to all of my faithful readers!  I realize that it’s been awhile since I’ve posted.  I was correct in my prediction of poor Internet access.  However, all of the forces behind good blogging have converged today….time, Internet access, photos and desire!  So, here’s a peek into our summer travels thus  far.  

 

I didn’t break out my camera for every visit or activity!  I apologize if I missed you in the photo gallery!  Stay tuned for more photos in a few weeks. 

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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America!!!

We are finally here!  We arrived in Dallas yesterday afternoon to a welcoming group of church friends and former missionaries.  It was so much fun to see everyone!  I scanned the group for my sister Jenny, but didn’t see her.  Her plane was delayed due to storms in Tennessee.  However, she got to Dallas a few hours after we did.  It was an immense joy to hug her in the airport.

We are staying with the Sanderson family for the next two weeks as we gear up for our summer of travel.  On the to do list are:  purchasing a family vehicle, clothes, toiletries, etc.  Jenny and I shopped at Walgreen’s last night and I bought some much needed things.  I am thankful that she was with me to help me make decisions.

I’ll write in more detail later for those of you who are interested.  Plus, I have lots of beautiful pictures of our time in Europe to share.  Stay tuned and thank you all for your prayers and words of encouragement.  They are felt and effective! 

The Journey Continues

I have only a few minutes to type on my brother-in-law’s computer.  So, here are the highlights…

The family and I are still in Europe.  We went to visit our old French language school in Albertville yesterday. Bryan and I, along with the rest of our team, were students there in 2000. It was neat to visit the nursery where Isaac attended.  The nursery ladies still have pictures of him and the other team kids on the wall. We also had fun taking pictures with Graham in front of the hospital where he was born.   Oh, and I got to shop at my favorite chocolate shop!

We stayed the night in Annecy and enjoyed a boat tour of Lac DÀnnecy today.  It felt like we were in a movie…the scenery was unbelievable.  

Bryan and I have commented to each other how French speaking Europe is a good mid-stop on the way to the US.  They have the same store brands (ie…Leader Price), same language, same packaging (ie…milk and juices are in boxes).  Many, many things are very different, but sorta the same too.  Plus, we have family here!  The boys have had a blast getting to know their cousins.

I promise to post pics when I can! 

Only 2 more days until America!!!