I've been home a week, and I've got a lot of things to be thankful for, but probably not what you would expect.
Of course I'm thankful for the normal things, I always have been!
-clean water, that comes from my tap
-hot showers (okay, that one's new!)
-health care
-not having to worry about being bitten by a mosquito that is going to give me malaria
-Food. Especially nourishing food
-shelter
-clothes
- a bed. Although, I realize how spoiled I am now...I love my bed! Next time I want a new one, I'm just going to go away for a few months, because I will appreciate it when I get back! (And, because now you are thinking that I was sleeping on a bad bed, I was not. It was a good bed! It's just always nice to be home in your own bed....that a lizard doesn't poop on)
Anyways, the list can go on and on. I'm thankful for many things.
But this year, I'm thankful for my last 2 months.
I'm thankful that God put me with 3 people that I could be comfortable with, be myself with (my REAL self), share with, admire, listen to, and learn from. I laughed harder in the last 2 months than I have in a long time! I'm telling stories of people who were there for a short time...and were all "most" appreciated or got rabies...and people who were there for my entire time! Each person impacted my life in a different way. I learned from everyone I was around, and it was incredible!
I'm thankful that my time was just not living a dream, but it was a true sabbatical! I feel rested, reenergized, and ready to go! I feel validated in some of my decisions, or how I handle certain situations, I feel encouraged, I feel thankful!
God did a great thing (of course He did!) by sending me to the Village of Hope!
I was prepared to return home with a longing to go back. I've been struggling with that longing for 13 years, and as I got home this time, I realized that I feel like it has been fulfilled. I feel at peace! For the first time in 13 years, I feel at peace!
Now, don't get me wrong, I still want to go back, and I'm sure I will be talking about getting a team together before you know it, but it's going back in a different way.
Right now, I don't know what the future holds, but I know I'm in it for the ride! If God calls me back full time, I'm ready to go! If He doesn't, I will stay! I'm just happy to be living in the peace of God right now. And for that, I am thankful!
I'm thankful that I can look at pictures from my time at VOH and not cry. Yes, I miss the kids, but I realized that before I left, so I took every opportunity that I could to hug on them. I didn't miss a chance. And, I hope that I will see them again someday! I would love to return, and to watch them grow! And if I start saving now, that could happen!
I am thankful for so many things! But mostly, I am thankful that God sent me to VOH for 2 months. 2 months that weren't at all what I thought they would be, and ended up being so much more! God really knows what He's doing when we let Him be in charge!
And with that, I'm home! It is one week today, I'm still fighting jet lag, still catching up and will hit the ground running on Tuesday when I return to work. (I kind of did this week with the retreat and session, but I still went to bed early and took naps!) I'm looking forward to spending the day with my family, and going bowling tonight! Sunday I am preaching and having a Bead party/tell you all about my time in Uganda party at my house (Contact me for more information).
Today I am thankful for...
friends and family who have been driving me around this week, since I didn't feel safe on the road (and rightly so, since I couldn't figure out how to get out of the car!)
an incredible church family to return to
being able to spend time with my family, and my sweet nephews who welcomed me home!
A week of sunshine, because we know that usually doesn't happen in November, and it has made the transition much easier!
That you are willing to read this blog that jumps around a bunch, and has random thoughts, especially since I'm not fully awake right now
And so much more!
I'm thankful for many things! But mostly for a God who knows my needs better than I do, and takes care of me!
Now for some pictures...
I'm thankful that I can look at this picture and laugh, not cry! This is one of my favorite pictures! Daisy, Faith, Aber, Esther, Remi, Brenda, Faith, and Trinity (who is holding a grasshopper)
I'm thankful that this was mashed potatoes and not posho. Although, to be honest, the posho was better than these mashed potatoes were! And to be completely honest, I still like posho!
I'm thankful to come home to this incredible group at CPYA! I love them and had missed them! (also missed those who weren't able to make it to CPYA, but I hope you know that!)
I'm thankful to come home to a dog who doesn't growl at me (just kidding! I miss Tiger!) I am also thankful that she was only like this for a day!
I'm thankful for such an adorable nephew who comes up with new ideas for beads! There you go, Janelle! Here's a new idea! "Look I'm a bug!"
I'm thankful for parents who love me and surprise me with "welcome home" flowers!
I'm thankful for a sister who loves me so much that she takes advantage of "the girl who is already having crazy dreams due to the Malaria meds" and hides my biggest fear IN my bed! I slept with it by my head for 3 nights! Three nights that it could have come out and killed me in my sleep!
Thanks.
And lastly, I'm thankful that Daisy warmed up to me within a few days!
I hope to see you all on Sunday...well, those of you who are in the area!
PS I am thankful for so many more things, and to so many more people who took care of things while I was gone, and who made this trip possible. I can't thank you all enough! I feel loved, supported, covered in prayer, and grateful!
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