Content

So sweet and cuddly.
I've thought a lot about the blog lately, wondering what I could write about that would be of any interest to anyone. I feel fairly busy and like things are happening in life but I just don't have the "umph" to write about it. Sometimes I feel like I need to have something terribly funny, exciting or new to report, but that just isn't happening in my life. What is happening is lots of time with family, watching Natalie develop little by little each day, resting, reading, jogging, enjoying comfortable Tennessee weather, good conversations with Scotty, good meals with the in-laws, etc. Have I said lately what a wonderful, adorable, beautiful, funny little girl we have? So, the Lord is being very gracious to us and blessing us with a time of rest and doing the things we like to do most. We miss our friends in Bolivia, we wish we could attend church at IBM and then beam back here, we smile when we think of those that are part of our daily lives there...but we are so content here. I often wonder what I would say if someone were to ask me, "what is God teaching you these days?" There is nothing profound, nothing new...but a constant sense of thankfulness and recognition of His goodness. I'd love to develop a better habit of prayer and a discipline of memorizing scripture while I have this free time in the states. But, for now, I am just soaking in the goodness of my Father and seeing His presence continually around me in the love of my family.

Lift-off

We've been counting down the last week to our big, month-long trip to Tennessee to visit Scotty's parents. Yesterday was the big day and came after a few days of gathering all our belongings that seemed to have been spread throughout the house, something I'm beginning to understand as normal once you have a child, and some good-byes to friends and family. But, we'll be back in December! My parents had planned to drive us half-way to an outlet mall in Georgia where we'd meet Scotty's parents, have lunch, and drive the second 4 1/2 hours or so to their house. As we set off down the interstate, there was an unplanned lift-off, of sorts, which came in the form of our car top carrier, holding Natty's stroller, new (used) hiking backpack and pack 'n play, flying from the roof of our car. It was like a scene in a movie, usually quite amusing to those watching, but a bit horrific if it's your stuff...or stuff you're borrowing from your church, in the case of the stroller. (Sorry Vineyard, we'll replace it.) We heard the pop and I immediately looked behind me to see a large, black lump being quickly approached by a large, red truck doing about 80. He managed to aim so that he didn't drive right on top of it, but couldn't help catching the bag with his underbelly, strewing the contents all over the road, into the path of a few others. By the time Scotty and my dad arrived at the scene of the crime, the only salvagable items were the pack in play, saved by the floor of the crib that you wrap around the frame and the backpack. We just realized today that the pack is also a gonner. I have to say I was very disappointed and frustrated at the extra cost that we will incur because of this accident, but as my mother in-law has reminded me, God knew this was to happen and had a reason for not preventing it.

So, we see a new chapter of the trip beginning, and the first chapter closing. Time always moves faster than you want or expect it to, but we have a lot of good memories and exciting times ahead. Natalie is getting the chance to see her cousins again and is now at an age to really enjoy watching them, even though she's a bit young to play. We're enjoying the company of the whole Miser clan together, which doesn't happen very often. Thursday we'll take another road trip to Ohio to see some supporters there and look forward to this more active segement of our home assignment.