Do you ever get texts like this from your family? (pre-text: Mama asked me to help find some craft ideas for VBS.. over an hour ago....)
Since you are surfing, look for a teepee over a bed instructions
Um, HUH??
Monday, May 30
we moved
In what was really more of a non-event that I thought it would be, we moved on Saturday. We got up with the intentions of taking more stuff to Bluffton...then we thought about that some of our "sold" furniture would be gone on Monday, so we might as well just move on. So that's what we did.
Now, don't take that as everything is out of the house and into the church house, because that would not be the case. There is still some random hodge podge items that are going to need to be moved and there are several pieces of furniture that are going to be making their way back to their original owners... and a few items that we'd still like to sell.
I would like to point out that in the process of just up and deciding to move between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m., that we may have encountered some minor adventures... such as getting everything packed up to realize that neither of our children were clothed and that their clothes were beyond reachable in the vehicles...ahem, so we may have strapped them in and drove them to the new house in nothing but a pair of panties and a diaper. To which after being in the car for 3 minutes Hayley may have just asked her daddy "Where my clothes at? I not have any clothes on!" to which he got to explain that mama had lost her mind packing everything up and not paying attention to whether anyone in the house was actually dressed before doing so. Ahem.
I also may have, in the same likelihood, realized that all my clothes were packed up as well and my red stripped pajama pants and brown tank top were my forced attire for stopping to get gas because the fuel light was on. Ahem. I have never been so grateful for pay at the pump.
Overall though, it was a pretty good day. I am still accepting volunteers to deep clean the house so we can get it ready to sell... and also taking volunteers to baby-distract at the new house while I attempt to get everything unpacked and put away.
I'd also like to note, for what I beleive to be the first time since we had children, that all clothes that belong to us are clean. As in, the laundry baskets are empty. EMPTY I say. I think we've washed about 10 loads of clothes and towels and sheets in the past 2 days. The great thing about moving is that we've adopted the "if there's no place for it, we don't need it!" philosophy. So by getting all the laundry done we can purge that 500 haphazzardly thrown in a box baby hangers that we don't need... and can purge out things that will never again fit over these 2 babies set of hips, you know, like shorts that I had in college... which was, oh, FIVE years ago now. Really, its time for them to go.
My ultimate goal is actually to purge my entire closet of things I don't love (which is all but about 5-6 items) over the next few months/year and replace them with clothes that I do love. (which in my head means I can have a smaller closet because I won't keep things that I don't really like but have to wear because I don't have anything I do like... make sense?) I've been pretty much wearing the exact same things for the 3 years I've been working and I'm a little burned out on most of them. So, combine that with the fact that we have a dress code and I don't shop often and my closet is pretty much a source of contention. BUT! It will get better.
I ordered 3 new dresses this past week for this summer. I just love a maxi dress since short dresses and small children lead to akward moments and positions. So I got THREE! Mama says I shop like a little old lady buying one of every color when I find something I like. And. I. DO. ha... but I am hoping that these will fit since I ordered online. And I am hoping that they make it in before my 2 June weddings to attend!! And I hope to be able to find a little sweater or something that will work with them for the fall or for church since its always negative ten in our sanctuary. I'm not kidding. I keep a snuggie there. A snuggie that one of the church ladies gave me so I'd quit taking a baby quilt out of the nursery to cover with. Yes, you read that right.
Anywho, happy holiday!
Now, don't take that as everything is out of the house and into the church house, because that would not be the case. There is still some random hodge podge items that are going to need to be moved and there are several pieces of furniture that are going to be making their way back to their original owners... and a few items that we'd still like to sell.
I would like to point out that in the process of just up and deciding to move between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m., that we may have encountered some minor adventures... such as getting everything packed up to realize that neither of our children were clothed and that their clothes were beyond reachable in the vehicles...ahem, so we may have strapped them in and drove them to the new house in nothing but a pair of panties and a diaper. To which after being in the car for 3 minutes Hayley may have just asked her daddy "Where my clothes at? I not have any clothes on!" to which he got to explain that mama had lost her mind packing everything up and not paying attention to whether anyone in the house was actually dressed before doing so. Ahem.
I also may have, in the same likelihood, realized that all my clothes were packed up as well and my red stripped pajama pants and brown tank top were my forced attire for stopping to get gas because the fuel light was on. Ahem. I have never been so grateful for pay at the pump.
Overall though, it was a pretty good day. I am still accepting volunteers to deep clean the house so we can get it ready to sell... and also taking volunteers to baby-distract at the new house while I attempt to get everything unpacked and put away.
I'd also like to note, for what I beleive to be the first time since we had children, that all clothes that belong to us are clean. As in, the laundry baskets are empty. EMPTY I say. I think we've washed about 10 loads of clothes and towels and sheets in the past 2 days. The great thing about moving is that we've adopted the "if there's no place for it, we don't need it!" philosophy. So by getting all the laundry done we can purge that 500 haphazzardly thrown in a box baby hangers that we don't need... and can purge out things that will never again fit over these 2 babies set of hips, you know, like shorts that I had in college... which was, oh, FIVE years ago now. Really, its time for them to go.
My ultimate goal is actually to purge my entire closet of things I don't love (which is all but about 5-6 items) over the next few months/year and replace them with clothes that I do love. (which in my head means I can have a smaller closet because I won't keep things that I don't really like but have to wear because I don't have anything I do like... make sense?) I've been pretty much wearing the exact same things for the 3 years I've been working and I'm a little burned out on most of them. So, combine that with the fact that we have a dress code and I don't shop often and my closet is pretty much a source of contention. BUT! It will get better.
I ordered 3 new dresses this past week for this summer. I just love a maxi dress since short dresses and small children lead to akward moments and positions. So I got THREE! Mama says I shop like a little old lady buying one of every color when I find something I like. And. I. DO. ha... but I am hoping that these will fit since I ordered online. And I am hoping that they make it in before my 2 June weddings to attend!! And I hope to be able to find a little sweater or something that will work with them for the fall or for church since its always negative ten in our sanctuary. I'm not kidding. I keep a snuggie there. A snuggie that one of the church ladies gave me so I'd quit taking a baby quilt out of the nursery to cover with. Yes, you read that right.
Anywho, happy holiday!
Thursday, May 26
Family Tradition
(this should be a button to Proud Mama Moments... )
Yesterday I instilled in Hayley a family tradition that I often give my mother grief about... you see, when we were growing up, and the smoke alarm went off, we did not exit the house, we did not declare a safe meeting space like the mailbox, we did not count heads and exit the house... we got a dishtowel, or a pillow, or maybe even a broom, and we fanned the detector until it went off.. Real safe practice there I assure you! I mean really, aren't smoke detectors supposed to denote "emergency! smoke! leave the area!" oh not, not in our house, it meant... "hurry, run and fan so it stops beeping!"
Yesterday, I did the same thing in our new home...only to realize, I've become my mother. My 2.8 year old now knows to run wave a dishcloth at the smoke detector when Mama's cured porkchops smoke up the kitchen.
Sometimes family tradition truimphs safety...what do you think???
Wednesday, May 25
carry on
Oh, poor blog, you are so neglected! I will try to do better, I will, I will!!!
Things are semi-settling down but not entirely and the week of June 6-11th is going to be CHAOS! But we're all in for the ride. We are still steadily moving things and selling things that we won't need at the new place (nursery sets, kitchen table set, bookcase, random toys, washer/dryer, anything else you may want that you don't have but are willing to buy from us) and we are getting down to the minimum so I'm thinking we are going to have to bite the bullet and plan a day to move the final things and get back to living in one space. Once we get all moved then we plan to yard sale whatever is left and do a deep clean at our house before putting it up for sale...that's our first hope, to sell it, landlording doesn't seem like a venture I'm ready for at this point. But that's just one cup of tea!
Hayley starts swimming lessons next week and has them for two weeks Monday - Thursday nights. I'm excited for her to become more of a swimmer than a jumper with no support skills. She really is not super afraid of the water so I hope she does well with learning to swim, holding her breath and those type things. Michael and I hope to go with her for the first week, but we'll be helping with a VBS the second week so we are trying to get that squared away with respective family members taking care of her traveling to and from swimming lessons while we're VBS volunteering.
The week of June 6-11, is the VBS, the second week of swimming lessons, plus we have a wedding 4 hours away on Friday and Bowen's birthday party on Saturday afternoon so we will be all kind of scrambled by that Sunday, which will also be the night that we talk about Costa Rica at church. Whew!
In great news Bowen is consistently sleeping through the night. Praise God! My babies aren't good night sleepers but it looks like my toddlers will be! Hoorah!! She also, however, is showing no interest in walking unaided, and let's be honest here, sometimes she flat refused to stand on her own feet when you put her down. She also has Z.E.R.O. interest in drinking from a sippy. As in none. She thinks its a toy that is great for banging on the table, throwing as far as possible and laughing about it.
In what seems to be a late onset of the terrible two's, Hayley has become a whining, crying, total meltdown of a girl... and its only for us evidently. Even ShaSha said something yesterday about "what a put on!" because she had not been that way at all at daycare and fell to PIECES when we walked in to pick her up! Its a bit much! I'm not really sure how to deal with it as I'm spending a large portion of my time counting down from 10 in my head to keep from losing my cool with the constant whining about every.little.tiny.not.even.close.to.important thing!! Or she's asking "why?" five hundred million bajillion times an hour. It usually goes something like this:
Hayley: "Can I have some milk please?" (at least she starts off on the right foot)
Hayley: within 2 seconds "I want some milk" (meltdown begins, que whiney voice)
Me: I'm getting your milk, you have to be patient and give me time"
Hayley: Why you open the fridgerfrater?
Me: "because you said you wanted milk"
Hayley: "why?"
me: I don't know, why do you want some milk?
Hayley: "hold me"
Me: I can't hold you, I have to use two hands to fix the milk
Hayley: Why?
Me: so I don't spill it and make a mess
Hayley: Why?
me AAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH (of course, that part is in my head, mostly)
Things are semi-settling down but not entirely and the week of June 6-11th is going to be CHAOS! But we're all in for the ride. We are still steadily moving things and selling things that we won't need at the new place (nursery sets, kitchen table set, bookcase, random toys, washer/dryer, anything else you may want that you don't have but are willing to buy from us) and we are getting down to the minimum so I'm thinking we are going to have to bite the bullet and plan a day to move the final things and get back to living in one space. Once we get all moved then we plan to yard sale whatever is left and do a deep clean at our house before putting it up for sale...that's our first hope, to sell it, landlording doesn't seem like a venture I'm ready for at this point. But that's just one cup of tea!
Hayley starts swimming lessons next week and has them for two weeks Monday - Thursday nights. I'm excited for her to become more of a swimmer than a jumper with no support skills. She really is not super afraid of the water so I hope she does well with learning to swim, holding her breath and those type things. Michael and I hope to go with her for the first week, but we'll be helping with a VBS the second week so we are trying to get that squared away with respective family members taking care of her traveling to and from swimming lessons while we're VBS volunteering.
The week of June 6-11, is the VBS, the second week of swimming lessons, plus we have a wedding 4 hours away on Friday and Bowen's birthday party on Saturday afternoon so we will be all kind of scrambled by that Sunday, which will also be the night that we talk about Costa Rica at church. Whew!
In great news Bowen is consistently sleeping through the night. Praise God! My babies aren't good night sleepers but it looks like my toddlers will be! Hoorah!! She also, however, is showing no interest in walking unaided, and let's be honest here, sometimes she flat refused to stand on her own feet when you put her down. She also has Z.E.R.O. interest in drinking from a sippy. As in none. She thinks its a toy that is great for banging on the table, throwing as far as possible and laughing about it.
In what seems to be a late onset of the terrible two's, Hayley has become a whining, crying, total meltdown of a girl... and its only for us evidently. Even ShaSha said something yesterday about "what a put on!" because she had not been that way at all at daycare and fell to PIECES when we walked in to pick her up! Its a bit much! I'm not really sure how to deal with it as I'm spending a large portion of my time counting down from 10 in my head to keep from losing my cool with the constant whining about every.little.tiny.not.even.close.to.important thing!! Or she's asking "why?" five hundred million bajillion times an hour. It usually goes something like this:
Hayley: "Can I have some milk please?" (at least she starts off on the right foot)
Hayley: within 2 seconds "I want some milk" (meltdown begins, que whiney voice)
Me: I'm getting your milk, you have to be patient and give me time"
Hayley: Why you open the fridgerfrater?
Me: "because you said you wanted milk"
Hayley: "why?"
me: I don't know, why do you want some milk?
Hayley: "hold me"
Me: I can't hold you, I have to use two hands to fix the milk
Hayley: Why?
Me: so I don't spill it and make a mess
Hayley: Why?
me AAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH (of course, that part is in my head, mostly)
Thursday, May 19
more Hayley talk
"gento was his namo!" (that would be bingo!)
(as she climbs on an overturned laundry basket) "I need to change this lightbug"
Where's my puu-ick? (computer)
(as she climbs on an overturned laundry basket) "I need to change this lightbug"
Where's my puu-ick? (computer)
Sunday, May 15
done and done
Picking up where we left off... Reverse Bucket List time...
(and here I'm going to just start numbering that doesn't at all correlate to any previous numbering, so roll with it, ok? ok!)
1. travel to a foreign country
2. go on an international mission trip
3. surf (and you know, actually, surf)
4. zip line canopy tour
5. experience an earthquake
6. spend time another culture that doesn't have english as its primary language
7. realize that vocabulary retainer from high school and college spanish isn't so bad when its your only communication choice... verb conjugation, err, not so much
8. go without a hot shower for a week
9. experience a customs pat down (not as bad as they make it sound, at least, not mine
10. observe and be in the midst of divine appointments
11. leave the country with 4 bags and a carryon and return with only a carryon
12. live a week without technology or a clock or a timetable that could be redirected at any moment without ado
(and here I'm going to just start numbering that doesn't at all correlate to any previous numbering, so roll with it, ok? ok!)
1. travel to a foreign country
2. go on an international mission trip
3. surf (and you know, actually, surf)
4. zip line canopy tour
5. experience an earthquake
6. spend time another culture that doesn't have english as its primary language
7. realize that vocabulary retainer from high school and college spanish isn't so bad when its your only communication choice... verb conjugation, err, not so much
8. go without a hot shower for a week
9. experience a customs pat down (not as bad as they make it sound, at least, not mine
10. observe and be in the midst of divine appointments
11. leave the country with 4 bags and a carryon and return with only a carryon
12. live a week without technology or a clock or a timetable that could be redirected at any moment without ado
Thursday, May 5
Word to Your Mother
You never really know just how much your own mother loved and did and waited and almost went crazy for you as you were growing up until you have a little one or two..and it makes you want to go back and say I am SO sorry and you ARE SO MUCH MORE than I ever realized... especially on days when your little one, or two, are continuing the pattern of those who came before them and...
1. Asking "why?" every time you told me something...starting when I was, oh, say, 2.8 until I stopped.
2. Assuming that the bathroom was just as ideal for snacking, talking or exploring when you were, oh, I don't know, trying to use it.
3. Having complete meltdowns over nothing...like, oh, I don't know... because you put them down to pour milk in their cup after they asked for it even when we all know that mama, one hand and milk should not ever be combined unsupervised.
4. For not going to bed... on time... because now I know, the time after bedtime is when sanity is restored.
5. For never picking up toys until they were completely out of control. And then hiding them creatively under furniture to keep from actually picking them up.
6. For having a "potty radar" that requires the use and trial of any potty in a public facility, especially when its on the opposite side of the facility than where you are trying to get something accomplished.
7. All the akward moments where I said something in public before I was old enough to have a filter... or either old enough to know to use it.
8. For finding the one thing that isn't baby-proofed or age appropriate and making it my favorite toy.
9. For reading under the... NOPE, still not sorry about that one, even if you did spank me.
10. Assuming that rules or consequences or warnings were ever spoken out of anything but love, concern and protection.
It also makes you realize and truly see...
1. The patience it takes to raise 2 girls in 2 years. every single moment of every single day.
2. How good laughter and enjoying the moments makes up for everything else in the day.
3. The way they love your children is how they loved you when you were too little to realize it.
4. Any woman who cooks supper more than once a week is a hero in her own right. Even more so if she does it at the command and request of her children's meal preferences.
5. Likewise for keeping a clean house. And being crafty and creative.
6. How being there for even the little things, like field trips and class awards parties, makes a lasting impression on the greatness of childhood, even when you can't specifically remember what all those trips and parties were for.
7. How loving your spouse and marriage is a daily battle, but yet also, a daily reward.
8. That true love may appear effortless, but is rooted in deliberate choice. Others over self.
9. There is such thing as too many toys. Too many shoes. Too many clothes. Especially when you are responsible for keeping up with all these things.
10. There is nothing like the love of a mother for their child. Nothing.
And then, when you see your Mama become a grand-Mama, you see the fullness of joy and love and hope and wonder... and know that when you get to where she is, you'll be there too!
1. Asking "why?" every time you told me something...starting when I was, oh, say, 2.8 until I stopped.
2. Assuming that the bathroom was just as ideal for snacking, talking or exploring when you were, oh, I don't know, trying to use it.
3. Having complete meltdowns over nothing...like, oh, I don't know... because you put them down to pour milk in their cup after they asked for it even when we all know that mama, one hand and milk should not ever be combined unsupervised.
4. For not going to bed... on time... because now I know, the time after bedtime is when sanity is restored.
5. For never picking up toys until they were completely out of control. And then hiding them creatively under furniture to keep from actually picking them up.
6. For having a "potty radar" that requires the use and trial of any potty in a public facility, especially when its on the opposite side of the facility than where you are trying to get something accomplished.
7. All the akward moments where I said something in public before I was old enough to have a filter... or either old enough to know to use it.
8. For finding the one thing that isn't baby-proofed or age appropriate and making it my favorite toy.
9. For reading under the... NOPE, still not sorry about that one, even if you did spank me.
10. Assuming that rules or consequences or warnings were ever spoken out of anything but love, concern and protection.
It also makes you realize and truly see...
1. The patience it takes to raise 2 girls in 2 years. every single moment of every single day.
2. How good laughter and enjoying the moments makes up for everything else in the day.
3. The way they love your children is how they loved you when you were too little to realize it.
4. Any woman who cooks supper more than once a week is a hero in her own right. Even more so if she does it at the command and request of her children's meal preferences.
5. Likewise for keeping a clean house. And being crafty and creative.
6. How being there for even the little things, like field trips and class awards parties, makes a lasting impression on the greatness of childhood, even when you can't specifically remember what all those trips and parties were for.
7. How loving your spouse and marriage is a daily battle, but yet also, a daily reward.
8. That true love may appear effortless, but is rooted in deliberate choice. Others over self.
9. There is such thing as too many toys. Too many shoes. Too many clothes. Especially when you are responsible for keeping up with all these things.
10. There is nothing like the love of a mother for their child. Nothing.
And then, when you see your Mama become a grand-Mama, you see the fullness of joy and love and hope and wonder... and know that when you get to where she is, you'll be there too!
New Linky-link...
Y'all know I love a good "mommy" talks action...
(this button should say "Proud Mommy Moments" ... if it doesn't click here to see the link-up host site)
Well, we all know Hayley talks a million miles an hour all hours of the day that she isn't sleeping, which for the record, is most of them. Luckily, she has been pretty tame in her public encounters with people...although, we are trying to change from "What is that?" to "Who is that?... because, obviously, that changes the whole ballgame.
Anywhoo... recently on a trip to Dairy Queen (also known as "the french fry store" in our car) we were inside getting ready to order. In front of us was a middle-aged guy, hat, overalls, typical Southern attire... Hayley looks at him and says "Santa here!" and the guy turns around and kind of grins (while I am silently mortified that she used her practical application of Santa's features and compared them to this guy's, uh, same features and said so outloud).. then as he goes to speak to her, she starts spazzing out like he's going to get her... and the guy is all taken aback.
Now, obviously, there are worse things to say.. but do you just grin and shrug at the guy when its not even December anymore, and he's definitely not wearing red?!
(this button should say "Proud Mommy Moments" ... if it doesn't click here to see the link-up host site)
Well, we all know Hayley talks a million miles an hour all hours of the day that she isn't sleeping, which for the record, is most of them. Luckily, she has been pretty tame in her public encounters with people...although, we are trying to change from "What is that?" to "Who is that?... because, obviously, that changes the whole ballgame.
Anywhoo... recently on a trip to Dairy Queen (also known as "the french fry store" in our car) we were inside getting ready to order. In front of us was a middle-aged guy, hat, overalls, typical Southern attire... Hayley looks at him and says "Santa here!" and the guy turns around and kind of grins (while I am silently mortified that she used her practical application of Santa's features and compared them to this guy's, uh, same features and said so outloud).. then as he goes to speak to her, she starts spazzing out like he's going to get her... and the guy is all taken aback.
Now, obviously, there are worse things to say.. but do you just grin and shrug at the guy when its not even December anymore, and he's definitely not wearing red?!
Obviously my Easter photos were my last major upload that I can access without being on my home desktop..so bear with me yet again as I attempt buy forgiveness for my lack of posting by including pictures of the girls.
Umm... yes.
So work is insane.
Moving is going better than I thought... not quite as insane as it was a few weeks back. We are really almost completely moved other than daily essentials and major furniture.
I do have a running list of "stuff to sell" so... if you need something... sofa, washer/dryer, TV, children's toys/stuffed animals, large old school stereo deck with full-size speakers, Cocalo Turtle Bay nursery set (rug, lamp, mobile, switchplate cover, pillow-type wall hangings), or other hodge podge household stuff... please, by all means, come shop at my house...and soon!
Today is Cinco de Mayo and you can guarantee that I used this as an excuse to gather my coworkers at the Mexican restaurant for cheese dip (and carryout for those who couldn't leave the building). I may also be considering honoring the hometown Mexican restaurant for supper... I mean, its Cinco de Mayo and all!!
And everything else is too scrambled to be comprehensible.
Keep us in mind while we travel and serve and keep our girls and their caregivers in mind through the week as well.
Wednesday, May 4
Divine Appointments
Michael and I spent a week of this month in Jaco, Costa Rica serving and being ministered to by the Radical Life Ministry team and church family. It was a memorable week that words nor pictures fully captivate and communicate. It was a week of divine appointments.
Often in the lives of Christians, a “mission trip” serves as an instigator to our faith. It pushes us out of our comfort zones, it gives us purpose and a time frame for completion, it unites our hearts and actions with a team of like-minded believers serving others. There is even a time following a mission trip which has been called a “faith high” where all the good feelings and experiences from a mission trip carry over into the lives of those who went for the weeks after they return.
It is no doubt that mission trips give believers a more unique and disciplined time to serve God fully without also having to do basic daily duties, like work a full-time job, buy groceries or clean house. While those tasks may also be completed in some fashion on a mission trip, its just a whole different ballgame. Why is that? I believe it is because the heart and the mind of the traveler is more focused on what they are doing and its eternal validations. Most of the things that are done on mission trips are things that can be done in the life of the traveler at home or in their home area, or in other mission areas. The difference however lies in the state of the heart, mind and attitude of the person who is engaged in the trip.
When we were in Costa Rica we saw God make mighty connections in perfect timing on a daily basis. We never had a plan before breakfast, but our days did not waste away. We knew little of the language, but we loved fully and communicated well enough. We never met the people, but we left as friends of years in the making.
I have no doubt that God works the same divine appointments into our everyday lives wherever we call home… just like we all have different places we would consider to “missionary.” The difference in our ability to recognize and engage in those appointments is more on our instability as faith-driven actors. God is as fully present here as He is in Costa Rica. He still directs our paths. He still has a purpose and a plan and a future for all of us. He carefully weaves our days and years together. He gives us people to love and minister to. He gives us opportunities to learn and grow and serve. The difference is that our heads and hearts are often distracted at home. Oh, how I pray that we can come to daily battle distractions and seek Him in our appointments.
Often in the lives of Christians, a “mission trip” serves as an instigator to our faith. It pushes us out of our comfort zones, it gives us purpose and a time frame for completion, it unites our hearts and actions with a team of like-minded believers serving others. There is even a time following a mission trip which has been called a “faith high” where all the good feelings and experiences from a mission trip carry over into the lives of those who went for the weeks after they return.
It is no doubt that mission trips give believers a more unique and disciplined time to serve God fully without also having to do basic daily duties, like work a full-time job, buy groceries or clean house. While those tasks may also be completed in some fashion on a mission trip, its just a whole different ballgame. Why is that? I believe it is because the heart and the mind of the traveler is more focused on what they are doing and its eternal validations. Most of the things that are done on mission trips are things that can be done in the life of the traveler at home or in their home area, or in other mission areas. The difference however lies in the state of the heart, mind and attitude of the person who is engaged in the trip.
When we were in Costa Rica we saw God make mighty connections in perfect timing on a daily basis. We never had a plan before breakfast, but our days did not waste away. We knew little of the language, but we loved fully and communicated well enough. We never met the people, but we left as friends of years in the making.
I have no doubt that God works the same divine appointments into our everyday lives wherever we call home… just like we all have different places we would consider to “missionary.” The difference in our ability to recognize and engage in those appointments is more on our instability as faith-driven actors. God is as fully present here as He is in Costa Rica. He still directs our paths. He still has a purpose and a plan and a future for all of us. He carefully weaves our days and years together. He gives us people to love and minister to. He gives us opportunities to learn and grow and serve. The difference is that our heads and hearts are often distracted at home. Oh, how I pray that we can come to daily battle distractions and seek Him in our appointments.
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