canoe...

So I had this experience this week that reminded me of these days (<--) in my life. When I was a little kid my grandpa, my dad, my older sister and I would take canoe trips down rivers in Michigan in the summer. They would give my sis and I bags of Cheerios and sit us in the bottom of my grandpa's historic restored hunter green canoe. The inside of this canoe is some of the most beautiful wood I have ever seen. For hours I would be mesmerized by the little swirls and ripples a properly maneuvered paddle produces.

My dad and I went out in my 'rents canoe this weekend and all that came flashing back into my mind as I saw the little swirls in the water then the drips coming off the end of the paddle creating little ripples in the water. We went back into the mangroves behind the condo and after tight passages we ended up in what seemed a magical little world in the midst of the mangroves. Then we came upon a little wooden bridge and turned to go under it. We came out into Tampa Bay on the other side of the mangroves from my 'rents house. I had no idea where we were headed the whole time we were making our way through narrow places and skillfully, or sometimes not so on my part, avoiding tree branches etc. However, when we came into what seemed a magical river trapped by the mangroves and then out into the Bay I couldn't help but feel special and loved for being taken to such beautiful and surprising places.

Now, you know this is going somewhere because I am me and well, that's how we do. But the whole time I was also thinking about being a child in the unshakable Kingdom and how He really does want to bless His kids and be made more famous through them. Often the journey seems confusing and we're asked to do things we don't understand (like reaching up grabbing a tree branch and being instructed to pull down hard because that will turn the boat the way it needs to go), but somehow when we're obedient we're led exactly where we need to be and along the way that often includes surprises that are beyond what we could have dreamed up to happen. It's time for us to look at the world, watch and be amazed! (that's from the Book!)

This is us in our neighbor's kayak a few days later. Let's just say more lessons, maybe for another day. Mostly - if you want huge muscles in your arms go get a kayak.

life is beautiful.

I was reminded today by someone that life is beautiful and our Father is good. And I have to say, indeed, that I agree. This picture is from my mommie's garden. Today was amazing outside and it was real good times for picture taking. There's a saying from Ecc. 11.7 that says, "Light is sweet; it's wonderful to see the sun!." Is that not beautiful? I have completely fallen in love with sunshine time even more over the last two months. The beautiful greens and other splashes of color when dancing in the sunshine are sweet and wonderful to see!

Other than being completely in love with my FL sunshine, which I am so excited I don't have to say goodbye to in 2 weeks - the sun is everywhere, I have been working on packing up my stuff and chilling with the 'rents. I have been learning a lot in my time in the word about patience and haste. Mostly, that there's one thing to be urgent about and I have got time to figure out the rest. The one thing? Check out the 10th section of Paul's letter to Rome!

wwweeeeeeeeeeee!

Oh yeah - went with the fam to the theme park this week. It was a great time of roller coasters, shows, animals and good food!!

My favorite ride may have been riding a camel. ;^) Does orientation ever end?!

More on life and learnings later.

HEY KIDS! I MADE IT!!! After my overnight bus from Richmond to Chinatown, NY, 2 subway rides, and a bus to NJ I have found my sister and her boy only to enjoy peppermint tea and strawberry banana cake!! =^)

We're going to hang out then road trip back to Ohio/Michigan...!

As most of you know, Amber has a hard time taking a ‘normal’ picture. I have indeed been mocked here for my goofy faces and comical pictures. However, I have faced serious competition as of late. One of the other kids up here in VA gets his game on when it comes to picture time. This was recently noted by our resident photographer when she was snapping the following pictures one day and said: ‘Why can’t you just be normal?’

Hahaha – as if that isn’t the begging question! She decided it’d be a grand idea to see if the brunette clan could mimic us in some of the silliness. So…the following collage is a result of 1-2-3 shoot! craziness a couple nights ago…
This is going to be a hard crew to leave behind. We have grown very close over the last few weeks. At the same time we know that we are heading off to do the most important thing and even these new found tight friendships are worth leaving. Ouch! It still stings. Today one of my main girls up here and I were riding in the car and neither of us even had words to describe all that. We just sort of sat there listening to random radio music and hurt beyond verbal expression with the grief of leaving yet another community. Transitions and goodbyes seem to be integrating into my life. Everyone I’ve met who works here tells me if I stick with this life I’m heading after it’s only going to become more and more a part of my existence.

I’ve also included a picture here of some of the grass time I was talking about in my last entry. We’ve had many afternoons out in the grass here reading the book and talking with Him and each other. Oh yeah, and of course there was frisbee involved sometimes too! I am from FL after all…