Train chugging down the tracks of life!

My wise mother always says, "When it rains, it pours!!" (a little different from the title of the book I am reading lately!!!) She´s right of course, as mothers tend to be; and I find myself running from one thing to the other, finding that everything tends to happen all at once! I am meeting all array of demands and delights that seem to be connected like the wagons of a train chugging down the tracks of life!

My dh and I have been involved once again, in a yearly retreat we help organize for missionaries & pastors. This requires all types of coordination and preparation with our main role centering on leading worship.

We updated our repetoir with several new songs, which required some designated time before hand to do that, but which is a occupation that I enjoy! I love this retreat, because I love being involved in blessing others.... It´s so amazing that God allows us the priviledge of being his hands and feet to those around us, even more so to those serving the Body of Christ.

All 3 kids were placed in 3 diffrent homes, with their 3 different suitcases and information as to our whereabouts and contact numbers in case of emergencies!!!! That required major organizational skills on the part of my brain, which often isn´t up to par! That aside, everything went well and without hiccups and we returned Sunday evening tired but fulfilled from our four days away.


Now I have two days to unpack, wash clothes (from all 5 of us!!!) , plus prepare some meals for when I am away and re pack to leave Wednesday for GUERNSEY with my sister to celebrate my brother´s 25th Wedding Anniversary!

I am soooooooooooooooo excited. It´s been a year since my last visit and even though we will only be there for 6 days I am going to soak up the local colour like it´s going out of style! I will also get to be with a bloggy friend that I haven´t seen for years as well as my pastor and his wife which is going to be so great!

Choosing clothes to take on any trip is always a challenge for me... the actual packing is the easy part. Feeling comfortable in my skin is one thing, feeling comfortable in my clothes is entirely another! So tomorrow I will face that mountain! I have some final errands to run and a horseriding class for No 3 so tomorrow should be a busy day!

Actually no3 stayed home today, because she had a tummy ache and her foot started hurting again. I do believe though that she was feeling anxious about me leaving again after just being away, and I figured that there was a little of "Mummitus" going about too. So we cuddled together to watch Ice Age on the sofa and play a good game of Monopoly to fill up our emotional tanks!

I find having many activites back to back somewhat disconcerting, espeically the days in between activities. It leaves me feeling a little lost and like a person in transit at the airport. Especially if the acitivities have a high level of emotional and spiritual content. I am trying to just walk through it with peace and consistency and keep focusing in on God, that He is the same, no matter which wagon I am jumping into next!

Looking forward to catch up with you all again soon!

Flying Again

The desire to fly is an idea handed down to us by our ancestors who,
in their grueling travels across trackless lands in prehistoric times,
looked enviously on the birds soaring freely through space,
at full speed, above all obstacles, on the infinite highway of the air.
~Wilbur Wright

I couldn´t leave the topic of flight go with just one post.....It´s way to intricate and expanse to be covered with one strike! Needless to say that the explanation of "lift" and the "why" planes fly is complex beyond measure and somewhat outside of my realm of expertise:an area I would rather leave to the experts!

No, outside of my romantic notions of flying biplanes across the plains of Africa, planes are very much a part of my family life. My husband, who works for an airline, assures that the bellies of the aircraft are packed with all shapes and sizes of cargo that travels right underneath the passengers unbeknownst to them.

While the passengers are on their way to exotic destinations to fulfill the vacations of their dreams or on business travels to snatch the deals of their lives..cargo is being transported from here to there to provide the necessary staples of common life every day and we don´t even give it a thought. You would be amazed at "what" is being transported every day under your very nose...or feet or body...whatever and just how much work it takes to organize such transport down to the very last detail.

Outside of my husband´s profession, airplanes and airports represent something deeper.... and that is the possibility to be "incognito" just another "face" in the crowd. At the aiport, every person, passport and country is valid and it doesn´t matter who you are or where your from... if you have a ticket... you can fly! The airport provides a place of "sanctuary" for the person whose parents are from one culture, who grow up in another country and often then move again to another country..... commonly known as the "Third Cultured Kid." My husband is one, my kids are and well I am too to a certain degree one myself!

The whole object of travel is not to set foot on foreign land; it is at last to set foot on one's own country as a foreign land. ~G.K. Chestert

So airports and planes provide for us a place to be "just like the rest." A place where we don´t stand out and a place where the issue of citizenship isn't the bottom line for establishing relationships!

What you've done becomes the judge of what you're going to do
- especially in other people's minds.
When you're traveling, you are what you are right there and then.
People don't have your past to hold against you.
No yesterdays on the road.
~William Least Heat Moon, Blue Highways

So as you can see.... planes are an interesting & inseparable part of our build up....and maybe that´s why I love them so much!