Mountains

SO... yesterday I posted about mountains, even praying that she'd have a "mountaintop experience" while she's there. This morning I didn't hear from her, so I assumed she'd already gone to bed. At around lunch time here I got the following email from her:

"Hey Mom, this is Bethany. Sorry I didn’t Skype you earlier. Its 1:20 am here and we just got home from climbing a mountain. Long story."

I can't wait to hear her "long story" later when she gets up!

Sounds like she's having fun! (And I just might cross the "mountaintop" thing off of my prayer list...)

"I love technology..."

Anyone who overheard me on my cell phone in the grocery store this morning probably thought I was crazy. I was standing in the frozen food section at 9:00 AM saying, "Have a good night sweetie! I love you. Call me in the morning if you can! Sleep well! Night-night!" The connection was crackly, and there was a 5 second delay, but there I stood, talking to China! Bethany sounds great. The three bags that didn't initially make it with the team made it yesterday, so now they have all of their supplies. It's been pouring rain there for the past 3 days, but apparently it was really needed so no one minds. I've talked to her 3 times so far, and each time she is bubbling with excitement over what they're doing and anxious to hear about the Mavs.

Kyle has spent the first part of his first sisterless week playing with friends, doing school, going to tennis, watching Mavericks games, going to the library, and watching "Batman Begins" with mom. He's making it. :)

We used to sing a song in church that said, "The prayers of a righteous one can move mountains, and I need a mountain moved." Mountains of fear and worry have been moved. A mountain of luggage made it to the right destination. There's a 5 week long mountain ahead for me, and by God's grace I'll climb that thing! Thank you to those of you who have prayed in the weeks leading up to this trip and are praying now. Today someone asked me how I felt, and I said... "Prayed for!" Oh, how I pray this will be a mountaintop experience for Bethany.

Well, she's getting up now. Time to make sure my speakers are turned up on my computers and my phones are at my side... just in case. :)

Have you seen this suitcase?

Well.... she made it to China, but one of her suitcases did not. Apparently she was able to see it from her window onboard as it sat on the luggage train and didn't get loaded onto the plane!

Despite having two phones strapped to me and the volume on my laptop all the way up (so I could hear the "You've got mail!" from anywhere in the house) I missed her skyping/instant messaging me this morning on our main computer in the study. I can't believe it! She was about to go to bed, so she said she'd call/ IM when she got up. Her IM said, "I know once you see I skyped you you're going to be sad you missed me!" She has no idea...

Hey-if you find a flip-flop suitcase somewhere in the DFW or Los Angeles area that contains puppets and Honey Nut Cheerios, send it to China!

Time Flies

This was Bethany's first airplane flight in 1997 when she had just turned 4. I swear, that's exactly what she looked like to me yesterday as we said goodbye at the airport for her to depart on her first journey without us. She called just after midnight last night to let us know they were in L.A., and as I write this she is somewhere over the Pacific. She is traveling with a good friend and with a wonderful team of college students, and when she arrives at her final destination in China sometime in the middle of the night tonight (our time) she will be greeted by our precious family friends in whose care she will be for the next 5 weeks. Most of all, she's in the care of her Heavenly Father who has given her a heart for the nations.

Please pray for her. Please pray for her team and the work they'll do in the weeks ahead. Please pray for her mother.

The Upward Call

My baby girl is leaving for China in a day and a half. She is SO excited! As sure as I am that she is definitely supposed to go, and as excited as I am for her... it's killing me! I heard this song today and bawled all the way home.

"Find Your Wings" by Mark Harris

It's only for a moment you are mine to hold

The plans that heaven has for you

Will all too soon unfold

So many different prayers I'll pray

For all that you might do

But most of all I'll want to know

You're walking in the truth

And If I never told you I want you to know

As I watch you grow

I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams

And that faith gives you the courage

To dare to do great things

I'm here for you whatever this life brings

So let my love give you roots

And help you find your wings

May passion be the wind

That leads you through your days

And may conviction keep you strong

Guide you on your way

May there be many moments

That make your life so sweet

Oh, but more than memories

I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams

And that faith gives you the courage

To dare to do great things

I'm here for you whatever this life brings

So let my love give you roots

And help you find your wings

It's not living if you don't reach for the sky

I'll have tears as you take off

But I'll cheer as you fly

I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams

And that faith gives you the courage

To dare to do great things

I'm here for you whatever this life brings

So let my love give you roots

And help you find your wings.

(She took these pictures out of the airplane window last year on our way to China.)

What's in a name?

C	Complicated
Y	Young
N	Normal
D	Dignified
I	Intelligent

Name / Username:

Name Acronym Generator
From Go-Quiz.com

I kept doing it until my "n" was "normal" instead of "nerdy!" (Is that normal?)

Refreshed and Renewed

We had a wonderful trip to Maryland last weekend. Osprey Point looked just like picture I posted before we left. We returned Tuesday night, and I've spent the week pondering the lofty issues we discussed: globalization, religion in the modern world, integration vs. fragmentation, exclusiveness vs. syncretism, and alternative modernities. When I get it all sorted out, of course, I'll post all of my conclusions. (Don't hold your breath!) There were 18 of us discussing these issues and hearing lectures by Dr. Os Guinness in a beautiful house on the Chesapeake Bay. It was fabulous! We met some wonderful people and feel like we've made some real connections with folks with whom we want to maintain contact. One couple that we've come to know and love during the past year even got engaged there last Sunday! It was a precious time.

Now that the rental car company has Fed Ex'd our camera back to us (thanks Thrifty!), I can post some pictures. :)The Four Amigos

Precious, Godly Women

Luke with the happy couple. He is sporting a Super Bowl ring worn by one of the other attendees!

Great discussions!

A wonderful barn with a basketball court in the loft!

The library (left) and the chapel (right)

We thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Dr. Guinness.

It was truly a set-apart time. It was a great combination of mental exercise and physical rest, something we needed more than we realized. God is faithful!

A Week "Away"

Here's where we'll be for the weekend:

http://www.ttf.org/index/academy/events-detail/academy-weekend-away-may-2006/

Here's an excerpt from the link:
"A Week Away . . . An opportunity to get away to a scenic resort on the Chesapeake Bay for stimulating learning and personal conversation with some of the top Christian thinkers in North America. A Week Away is designed to offer thoughtful people of faith a vacation with a purpose. Each program enables participants to get away from the pace and pressure of daily life and work without putting their minds—or their faith—on hold.
Each day offers times of vibrant worship, engaging talks and discussions, delicious meals, personal reflection, and plenty of rest and recreation. The number of participants each week is kept small to foster an intimate atmosphere at this getaway location and to guarantee the opportunity for interaction with the speakers. If you enjoy meaningful conversation, magnificent sunsets, and Maryland crabs, consider spending A Week Away at the Trinity Forum Academy."

Doesn't that sound great? It does to me. As I re-read the above, I am reminded of what I first thought a few months ago when Luke asked me if I'd like to go...

"You had me at 'away!' "