brendon - first time pulling over at tunnel view
dubie getting some height - oh jumping pictures
today started early... well, kind of. Quarter to 6 rolled around as we woke to see of Bekah. Her car was loaded, room cleaned out, and journey completely calculated - down to the campsite reservations. After waving goodbye on the steps of base beside April and Brendon, we crept our way back to bed. I lay there letting the reality of the morning sink in. ISAS spring 2011, closing; my first semester as the program coordinator and RD, completed; one more day and a half of responsibility and then time to reflect and relax. The reflection has begun.springtime has arrived... the mosquitos are biting and folks are sneezing - thank you Oak trees. I look contentedly to the next season as I mourn the leaving of my two students and dear friends. A conversation with my boss today and the productivity of this past week has proved to be most encouraging.
The Lord gives us opportunities to trust, or grasp tightly to our own plans, to praise, or call it coincidence, to thank, or ignore his provisions, to cry out, or push away our need for him, to grow, or sit stagnantly in an easy place, to love, or contain the gift he's given us.
I choose to be in this hard place where the money's tight, the work is by the month, the numbers are low, the odds are against us, the office is quiet, and God is at work.
I ask to be put in situations that are cold, wet, painful, arduous, unknown, relentless, adventurous, scary, magnificent, awe-inspiring, and/or just plain stinky.
There are a few things my students learned this semester... if you don't get uncomfortable - you miss out on a lot of learning and growing; sure - in the midst of your adventurings, there will be times when you're wishing you were at home snuggled up by the electric heater - but really if you were at home instead you'd be wishing you were out adventuring; life goes fast - say it like you mean it and it's not worth it to pass up opportunities even if they make you stretch.
3 much needed weeks of vacation back east to come. It's been a while since I've hugged my family - I'm ready for that.
I'm also ready for a few days devoted to going off to a quiet place - I have no doubt that some alone-time is in my plans. That became clear the other day and I don't know where or when but I'm excited about it.
