El Tiempo Intermedio: The Time In-Between

I cannot believe that I left New York City for a time just 10 days ago and have had the opportunity to spend such special time with my family and friends who are like my family in the time I have been given before I head off to Mexico. This also means that I have not actually been home (Racine, WI by the lovely Lake Michigan) for more than 24 hours since I have made the 13 hour drive with my dad from NYC to Racine. This transition time has been a gift as God reminds me of His goodness through faithful friendships and such encouraging conversations.

A little snapshot of the past couple days is as follows (mostly to remind me of the little things that can make you smile after being in the car for 13 hours 4 different times):

Racine to Oklahoma City: Big XII Tournament (5/22/07-5/27/07)
My dad and I headed across the midwest to see my brother, Gary, play short stop with the Missouri Tigers baseball team in the tourney. (my dad and I like to call it "special time") A little informative update is that their team finished 2nd in the Big 12 to Texas--quite an accomplishment and they ended up beating Oklahoma State their last game in the tournament 13-1 by the slaughter rule. I miss watching games! My mom flew in for the weekend games to be with the whole family and so she could drive 13 hours back home with us:) I have a new love for the electronic game "Deal or no Deal" and I am ranked 2nd to last in the family competition.

Racine to Minneapolis: Too short! (5/28/07-5/30/07)
Less then 12 hours after arriving in WI from OK, I headed via car to Minneapolis to spend time with my girls Jen and Jess from college who are like my sisters. I wish I could have spent so much more time in Minneapolis to see other good friends (all of you who are reading this that I did not see at all!) and it is such a blessing to know that I could move back in a heartbeat because of the special friendships in Minneapolis.

God's planning is so perfect as Jen just arrived to the states after spending a year and a half teaching in southern Sudan. It was so encouraging to be able to talk to her about God's faithfulness and how much more trust we need in order to live life to it's fullness with Christ leading the way. T0 be reminded that almost no one in the world lives as we do here in the States and the way that God's word is so powerful and takes on such new meaning as we live out the grace and faith that we have been given. So refreshing and timely!

I forget how much I love being outside after a fun bike ride through the wilderness of the Minnesota River and getting rained on hardcore. Jess has convinced me that a road bike needs to be purchased soon in life so we can take bike trips and they can teach me how to be a true camper.

Racine to Missouri: Baseball Regionals (6/1/2007-6/2/2007)
The day after arriving home from Minnesota, my family and I headed to the Missouri Regionals to watch the final college ball games that my brother would play. Their regional incuded: Kent State, Miami, and Louisville. It is double elimination and Mizzou won the game on Friday night and Saturday night. The games were awesome and they brought in a crowd!! My mom, dad and I left Missouri and Saturday night after the game (10:30 pm) arriving in Racine at 5:30 am on Sunday morning so that I could speak about Christ for Children International and be prayed over at my home church, Grace, for the morning services. It is crazy to see how God works all things out!!

I am missing friends, routines, the lifestyle of New York City already, but trust that if I have left something great, that the Lord must have something greater planned to do both in the lives of the children and families in Fresnillo as well as in my life and the live of others.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11