Back in Charlotte

Well, it's a bit surreal, but we're back in Charlotte. We spent the first year of our marriage in this beautiful city and have somewhat idylic memories of our time here. The home whose basement we are occupying is in a cute, older neighborhood close to all the areas where homes are being renovated and remodeled- the kind of homes we dream of owning. I think Charlotte, unlike any other city, tempts us to return from the mission field and grow a nice family here where there is Trader Joes and IKEA and parks and seasons. But, our love for Bolivia and the strong call God has on our lives will lead us back when the time is right.

So, we are busy doing the "settle in" thing and I got a jump start to our first day by hitting Aldi. If you don't know about Aldi, it's a discount grocery store that saves money by not having the standard display shelving, but just keeps their stuff in the cardboard boxes it came in. You pack your own groceries to take home in those same cardboard boxes- no plastic bags. It's simple and pure and I have no idea where the stuff comes from, cause only 11% are recognized brands, but I love it. However, they do not accept plastic. This is a detail I had impressed somewhere in the less-used regions of my brain, and happily cruised to the store with the hope that my Visa would do the trick. As I'm filling my cart and loving this first major grocery trip we've taken since returning (thank you Parents for buying all our groceries), an old friend calls. We met her and her husband at our SIM training close to 4 years ago and parted ways after that- them to Africa, us to Bolivia. We are back at the same time and thrilled to be reconnecting. So Jen calls, I happen to mention I'm at Aldi, she throws out that it's a bummer they don't take credit cards. What?! So, it's true? I look at the mountain of generic, cheap groceries that are about to topple over the edge of my cart and wonder how foolish I will look trying to unpack them onto the shelves. However, God had a plan for that phone call and Jen offers to drive over to bring me some cash. Awesome. That works out great, I meet their new son, we make plans for them to come over to our place...perfect.

So, something else that isn't as cool and is just more weird happened today while we were out. While Scotty is getting Natty buckled into the carseat, I trot over to a Thai restaraunt that is next to the store we were just in, hoping to find a take-out menu. I'm looking at the front door to find out the hours when I hear a man's voice behind me say, "Are you Lisa?" Yes, I say. He says, "Hi! I'm Matt." Oh, Matt! (Was I supposed to meet this guy here and I forgot? Is he someone from our church in town that I never met but recognizes me from our prayer card??)What was your last name again? "It looks like we're a bit early to the restaraunt- I'm pretty sure it doesn't open for another 15 mins", he mentions. Click. I think he must be on a blind date. Oh! So you were meeting a Lisa here? I ask- somewhat embarassed by the fact that when he told me his name, I acted like I knew him. "Oh" he says looking confused. "You must be a Lisa also..." What are the odds??? I tell him I am, that I was not here to meet a Matt, and I hope his dinner is nice. Walk quickly away and jump into the van and try not to look over to where he's standing. Has anything so random and strange ever happened to you?