the avenger

I was propelled safely by the avenger, Dodge that is, throughout my southeastern travels for the past 2 weeks.
My journey started by taking a long, beautiful train ride to San Diego where I was welcomed in by a dear friend, Leigh and her family. Can you get much better than wonderful company and veggie lasagna?
From there I flew eastward. The Farish-Willifords anxiously awaited my arrival to stay the weekend and catch up on life that has moved so quickly in the passing months since my last visit. They make up one of my many 'homes.'
The next week I stayed within North Carolina until the next weekend spent with Kerri Ann - who I've realized in a real way, is a kindred spirit. It might have been her mother that declared it so, and I whole-heartedly agree. It was a long overdue visit. The following week I continued southward, far enough to meet my 3year-old third cousin, McGinnis - ok, let's talk about overdue...
If you've read some previous blog posts of mine, I believe this idea has been a topic before so bear with me... Experiencing someone's home changes your relationship greatly. I will take that back and speak for myself, changes our relationship greatly.
Leigh in San Diego, F-dubs in Danville, Rachel in Asheville, Dee in Banner Elk, KA (and company) in Greenville, Cousin Marsha in Spartanburg, Aunt Gail in Aiken, and new friends Kaitlyn & Erica in Boiling Springs :)
When I get to see where someone lives, chat with them about real life, face to face, and rest in a place they've made home for me, if only for a night, I gain perspective. Their lives seem so much closer, more real in a way, and have an added specialness that we can share. With that said - I know I live transiently, but that's not to say that I (and my housemates) wouldn't love to have you over. Join us.
Speaking of joining folks - one of the many new relationships God put into my path is with a sweet professor at NGU, Bob. Bob has a dream, a vision if you will, for a future community-made family sharing life together and this caught me. Things like - bringing in foster children, growing necessary food, loving one another, and creating a place for growth and compassion let me know that we'll be in touch again in the future. Maybe he and his wife, along with myself and others will create this beautiful community in the mountains of North Carolina. I've had a few tastes of living in community, and am continuing that currently in a wonderful way, and I have to say that I believe in what I've found. The body of the Lord looks like this.

Enough for now... maybe more highlights from the road later in the week followed by a near future outlook :)