Homeward Bound

Even though writing about it now, it is still difficult for me to imagine my time here being almost over. It's like that "upcoming event" that is always upcoming, so much so that you never imagine it to arrive. When it finally does, you don't know what to do, you only anticipated the anticipation and are at a loss with what to do with the arrival.

The Formans left this Monday for a 2-week holiday to England. It was hard to say goodbye to them, knowing I may never see them again. I gave them a few gifts after we watched our last night of X-Factor together. In the morning, I got up a little earlier and sat in my usual spot on the stool in the kitchen, leaning my head back against the refrigerator and chatting with Jan about whatever came into my head or hers as she bustled about getting ready for their trip. It was a sweet memory to leave on, one I've had many times since being here. Yet, the day quickly picked up with its usual array of activities, and before I realized it, I was swept up with the "next phase." I wonder if the rest of my goodbyes, though initially dreaded, will end up being that way? I realize this doesn't mean that I didn't care about the people, but rather that life is full of a continual stream of "hello's" and "goodbye's" and that you have to invest where you are as you can but then be prepared to move on to the next. Some respond to this pattern by never planting down roots and never investing emotionally because "they can handle it without that investment" or "it hurts too much otherwise." This isn't right either, however. God provides us with what we need to plant, root, and uproot over and over again because it isn't those relationships that sustain us anyway. This makes me grateful for long-distance communication. I'm sure I'll still keep in contact with the Formans, and I am content for my 3 months with them to remain as a memory: a wonderful and joyful time.

Heidi is still at home, working full-time at Starbucks. So, I'm doing most of the dinner cooking this week and am having fun with it. Last night I made orange chicken over rice and mixed pomegranate and clementines for a fruit salad dessert. Tonight I'm going to make a herb grilled potato/chicken/vegetable medley, I believe. Lots of olive oil, garlic, onion, and rosemary. Mmmm. One thing I really look forward to baking back in the states is homemade bread. That's always been my favorite thing to cook and I've missed it.

The week, otherwise, has been a little slow. Because I'm not teaching, I've had lots of time to enjoy some pleasure reading and entertainment. I just recently finished Till We Have Faces by C. S. Lewis and thought it was amazing. Though, I'm going to have to re-read the last few chapters because it got very deep very quickly and completely went over my head.

I'd like to request prayer for my flight home. I normally feel completely comfortable flying and getting around, even when I don't know where I'm going. But, this time for the first time, I feel angst about it. I've had some flight switch-ups and hope that I still have the 3 flights I need; I have to mess with claims, checked luggage switches, and going through customs; I have a rather short layover in Paris and am slightly concerned about making my flight (Paris is big and poorly designed - confusing!). So I'd appreciate your prayers for smooth and safe travel.

The first 10 things I'm going to do in the states:
1) Hug my parents and dog
2) Tackle my sisters
3) Drive a car while talking on my cell phone
4) Eat at Panera Bread and listen to the surrounding English conversation
5) Throw all of my trash in one garbage can (there are 3 types of required recycling here)
6) Push a shopping cart around Walmart aimlessly
7) Eat half-price appetizers at Applebees
8) Meander for hours through shops without ever leaving the building (aka the mall)
9) Go to an English bookstore
10) Read every sign and printed matter with perfect understanding and clarity.