It's been a year....

Wow! A lot of stuff has been squeezed into the past 366 days, and a lot of stuff has just been there of its own accord too. It's been good, it's been fun, it's been challenging and there have been heartaches, but so many joys as well...

I'm not a hugely goal-oriented person, as I've mentioned before, but I do like to think ahead and plan. This year the Lord has worked some amazing things in my life... some were things I knew I wanted to work on and others were a suprise. I'm glad to be able to look back at 2008 and see that He really has grown me in so many ways and that to me is so much more than being able to check off a list of goals!

Christ has drawn me closer to Him this year through some difficult personal times and I'm thrilled to be where I am. He continues to pursue me and show me how much He loves me and I'm blessed for it. I've also been able to gain some self-discipline with His help and have done much better this year with spending time in His word, and with being more moderate in my eating habits. As a result of both of these, I've lost about 20 pounds since June, and continue to eat less and in a much more healthy way.

I've been blessed as always to do some traveling and even managed to keep up my stint of international travel (once a year for 4 years now) with my Thanksgiving trip to Mexico. I enjoyed a beautiful week with my parents out in Utah and Wyoming - always love being in the mountains. And have just returned from a long-awaited week with the whole immediate family for Christmas - the last time all 6 of us were together was Thankskgiving 2005.

God has blessed me with expanding my "Nashville Family" by placing me in the best (IMHO) singles Sunday school class in the area. We have an unusually close group of folks who would do just about anything for each other and we function more like a family than any group I've been part of in a long time. We grow, serve, live and laugh together throughout the year and it's humbling to be part of this giving group of folks.

And certainly not the least of my blessings this year has been having my parents back stateside! It was really hard to believe when they returned in February that they had already finished 3 years of foreign service. They've been traveling the US since their return and begun planning the building of their house (to start next fall). It's been great to have them in and out here, as well as being able to go out and meet them wherever they happen to be. I've enjoyed being able to introduce them to my new "family" members too. If you want to check in and see what they've been doing you can connect to their blog (Twotravel) in the margin to the left.

I hope you too, have had a great 2008 and can look back and see all the blessings the Lord has given you. It brings to mind this little verse by Rick Warren that I keep posted on my bulletin board by my desk at the office...

"Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.
Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.
Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.
Painful moments, TRUST GOD.
Every moment, THANK GOD."

And when you look back...
it all comes down to that...
memories...
of moments...

Thank Him for your "moments" of 2008 and submit to Him the "moments" to come in 2009 and may He bless you richly for it.

'Twas an Abaco Christmas

Well, I don't get to go this year... but my mind is there part of the time anyway. It's been 4 years which is twice as long as usual and I'm really longing for my "time away from the world", but will have to wait another year. However, thought I'd share this just for some memories. A friend and I wrote this together back in 2000... hope you enjoy!

‘Twas an Abaco Christmas

'Twas an Abaco Christmas and all down the beach,
White sand stretched as far as it could reach.
The flippers were hung on the balcony with care,
In the hopes that Santa soon would drift there.

The Texans were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of Key Lime pie danced in their heads.
Bahama mama in her grass skirt and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long tropical nap.

When out in the night there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my hammock to see what was the matter.
Away to the screen door I flew like a flash,
Tore open the curtains and let out a gasp.

The moon on the water, how it did glow,
Giving a luster of midday to palm trees below.
When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature yacht out past the pier.

With a little old captain so lively and quick,
I thought for a moment, "Could it be St. Nick?"
More rapid than the waves, the dolphins they came
And he whistled and shouted and called them by name.

"Now Flipper, now Moby, now Sebastian and Willy,
On Flounder, on Orca, on Jaws and Charlie -
From the end of the pier to our port 'o call,
Now swim away, swim away, swim away all!"

And then in a twinkling I heard on the beach,
The chirping and chattering and splashing of each.
As I redrew the curtains and was turning around,
Through the front door St. Nicholas came with a bound.

Dressed in his trunks with a Kalik in his hand,
His feet were all covered with snow-like white sand.
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a tourist just opening his pack.

His eyes - how they twinkle, his dimples how merry,
His cheeks were sunburned, his nose like a cherry.
His droll little mouth cracked a big smile,
The goatee on his chin, showed he could be kinda wild.

The snorkel he held tight in his teeth,
The mask it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a red face and a sunburned belly,
That shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly.

Trunks and a cold “Gold”, a strange old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself.
A flash of the peace sign and a nod of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the flippers, then turned with a jerk.
Now laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, out the door he goes.

He sprang to his yacht to his team gave a call,
And away they swam past the lighthouse and all.
But I heard him exclaim as he traveled out of sight,
"Christmas in Abaco, now that's doin' it right!"

-- Nick Campbell & Debby Midwood

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

Anyone who knows me well, knows that this time of year I go around singing this little refrain in my head quite often....

In fact, it really becomes a prayer, more than a phrase from a song....

And it doesn't usually take much to satisfy my longing for the white stuff...

Usually once a year God answers my little prayer - even if it doesn't stick and even if it doesn't last for 24 hours....


Last night He sent a love note just to me (OK, maybe for some others too, but I don't know many of them)....

I sat on the floor inside my front door (yes, I changed from screen to glass a week ago while Dad was here to help me) for over half an hour just watching it come down and praising God for the beauty in His creation of all things....

I've been learning lately, that He pursues me and loves me and yearns to spend time with me, as well as longs for me to seek Him out and long for time with Him. It's a concept that doesn't seem all that difficult, but in reality is much deeper if not different than anything I've experienced before. He really and truly is my first and best love and sitting there last night watching it snow was just like having Him next to me and wrapping His arms around me and whispering, "see how much I love you and enjoy seeing you smile, I've brought you next to me to enjoy you're own snowfall in peace and quiet. Rest in me." What a blessing....

P.S. I wasn't sure what would be left, but I waited to take pictures in the daylight this morning. Now as I look out my office window it's all gone, but the real gift is that my Lord did it for me and He is still right here. Many blessings upon you this weekend - don't rush through it too much to enjoy Him!

Thanksgiving in Mexico

Well, November kinda slid into December without much notice or difficulty... funny how that happens. I look forward to the holidays and then they just seem to be gone.

I did have a fantastic Thanksgiving. I enjoyed spending time with my friends, Tom and Laura, in Doctor Arroyo, Nueva Leon, Mexico. It was a week but it really flew by and just wasn't enough, though for me that's usually the case with any vacation I take (Grin!).

I flew down to McAllen, Texas on Saturday the 22nd and that afternoon we rode motorcyles around the area for about 3 hours or so. I rode behind Laura and it was different being able to see ahead of me - as she pointed out... her shoulders aren't as broad as Daniel's! We stopped in a few places and actually found a really nice small wildlife sanctuary. We also stopped along the road and picked a few grapefruit which were delicious - ruby reds, which are the ones I like the best. It was dusk going on dark when we got home and we were ready for dinner.

Sunday morning we packed up our suitcases and Tom packed up the Suburban and we headed south of the border. We also had Marvin with us, he had been hired by Dayspring to go down and do some IT/networking work in Dr. Arroyo and would be there all week as well, he had come in on the same flight from Houston with me on Saturday. We stopped in General Bravo for lunch - tacos. They are different though than what we know as tacos, they are not necessarily hard shells and taco is more of a general term in Mexico.

YUMMY! I put the onions on and used the lime juice... it was delicious. Later in the meal I even tried a slice of avocado and realized that I like it. The rest of the drive was uneventful, lots of scenery changes the further we went as we got closer to the mountains. They were beautiful.

We arrived in Dr. Arroyo after dark and stopped by the grocery store on the way to the house.

We unloaded a few things, took care of the fountain that had sprung in the bathroom, had dinner, and then took Marvin up the hill to where he would be staying. When we got back we were tired and it was bedtime.

Most of the week, Tom spent working with Marvin on the IT stuff. Laura and I did our thing and kept in touch with them for most meals and such. Monday we spent some time in the bookstore that they own and we went to the pulga which is the weekly market in the plaza just around the corner from the store. Lunch was enchiladas which again were different from what they are here, but muy bien! Monday night was an ESL class and a birthday celebration for one of the youth they know well, Tavo. He turned 17 and we got to try Tres Leches which is a traditional cake and it was delicious.

Tuesday we went to the mission house down the street (they have a Vonage phone there) and did some online stuff and then while Laura was taking care of some business with her cell phone I spent the time journaling, which is very relaxing for me. Tuesday night was another ESL class and then back to the house for dinner when we were done.

Wednesday, Tom made arrangements for Marcus to help Marvin so that the three of us could go to El Salto. I had been looking forward to this for some time, but even what they told me couldn't compare to actually being there and seeing it. It's a park about an hour and a half from Dr. Arroyo and it is full of cascading waterfalls... I've never seen so many cascades one after another in such a small area in any other place I've been... it was amazing!

We had a picnic lunch and then explored. One of the trails led 1000 meters up to the source of the falls and stream. We went up, but didn't go all the way, I really wanted to and I tried, but it was just too much and I wasn't in shape to do it. I thoroughly enjoyed all we saw though.

When we got back down to the level we started on, we followed it downstream for awhile and saw even more! The Spanish moss in the trees with the sunlight streaming through was beautiful too. We spent time just enjoying being out in God's creation.

The roar from the water was constant, and loud but soothing, not deafening. Only twice during our time there did we see another family of people, so we basically had the place to ourselves. This is definitely on my list of places to which I would go back. Given the time, I'd have enjoyed choosing a comfy spot and reading a book or drawing a picture.

Wednesday night when we got home, we started preparations for Thanksgiving dinner. We baked the pumpkin cake and the pecan pie (Tom's favorite), and mixed up the rolls. Thursday morning we put the turkey in. Then began on the other things, cleaning house, setting the table, the fruit salad, the corn casserole, the sweet potatoes, the gravy, the rolls... Marcus and Vero brought cheesecake and mashed potatoes and all the rest of the guests. We weren't quite ready when they arrived so we got out the games and played until it was time to eat.

After lunch, Marvin and Tom and Marcus went off to continue the IT projects. We did some singing with Tavo playing his guitar and Lalo, Laura and I playing here and there on the keyboard. It was neat to sing some in Spanish and some in English... a very enjoyable afternoon, but I was sorry that Tom had to miss it, I know he was looking forward to it.

Friday morning we loaded up the car and headed north. Part way out, we stopped and Marvin switched cars and rode with Marcus who was going out to the rancho where Vero is from to drop her off before heading out himself. I rode up front after that and did better. We stopped at the pollo place for lunch and I also tried a Gloria which was really yummy. Similar to our caramels, but much softer and not near as sticky. I did a load of laundry when we got to the guesthouse and went to bed at a decent time.

Saturday mornig we rode motorcycles again, this time out to South Padre Island and back before I had to catch my flight. This time I rode behind Tom and was back to peeking around a shoulder ;o) but saw plenty. It was about a 5.5 hour trip with time out to have lunch at Chili's in Port Isabel before returning. I had a blast and enjoyed every minute out it! These are the bikes - Tom's on the left and Laura's on the right.

So that should catch you up on my life. Hope you had a great Thanksgiving and are preparing for a blessed Christmas season with friends and/or family. I'm heading back south to South Padre Island for the week with Mom and Dad. I'd love to hear from you!