heading for home...

No soul is desolate

as long as there is a human being

for whom it can feel trust and reverence.

~George Eliot

...as I sadly say good-bye to my beloved family in Georgia and head for home, I am truly grateful that I have loved ones to miss... I am grateful for time spent with them across the many miles... and I am grateful for a Father Who keeps us in His tender care while we are apart...

accent from "home"...

Yesterday at work I was talking with our auditor, whom I had just met, and a few hours into our day, the subject somehow turned to where we were originally from-- where was "home"? I am originally a Michigander (as we would call ourselves!). I was born and lived most of my childhood in the lovely state of Michigan. Two years ago, however, I reached the "equal time in both states" point and have now lived in California longer than I have in Michigan.

The reason she asked me the question, however, was because of the way I speak-- my "accent," if you will. Now, we Michiganders say we have no accent, but, well, we must begrudgingly admit that we do. It mostly has to do with the pronunciation of the short sound of the letter "O." It's a Midwest thing, and it definitely sets us apart from the West Coasters. There are also words or phrases that are part of the "accent." Words like "pop" (yes! that IS what it is, folks! no matter how many of you call it "soda"!!!) and ways of pronouncing words like "eggs," "bag," "measure." (or so they tell me!)

Now, after living almost 23 years in California, I've lost the pronunication accent. I go home to my family in Michigan, and they tell me I talk funny. I do, however, still use (at least in my head!) the word "pop" and I guess some other phrases or mannerisms in speaking that peg me as "not Californian." This was what started the whole conversation about it yesterday.

It made me start thinking, though, about my other home. Heaven.

It is said "Home is where the heart is." And, heaven is where my heart is. It is where my future lies. It is where my Father is waiting for me. And though I miss my home state of Michigan, the place for which my spirit grows most homesick is my true home. It is this place for which my heart truly longs.

That makes me a stranger here. Oh, not just in California, but in this world, period. We who hold our citizenship in heaven are strangers and aliens in this world (Hebrews 11:13b), and as a stranger, I would expect that I may look and sound like a stranger. There must be some kind of an "accent" from my homeland which sets me apart, by which those who encounter me can identify me as "from somewhere else." Something about my way of speaking and living--the words I use, the mannerisms, the attitude and ideas, how I behave--should set me apart from others here. For I am not of this world. (John 17:16)

I hope that my accent here on earth is not just the left-overs of my Michigan upbringing but first, and foremost, that of heaven, my true home. I pray that others, right from the first moment of meeting me, will "hear" my accent of heaven--that they will be curious and intrigued by it and will ask me where I'm from and what's it like to "live there." And I pray that as I speak and live, they will see the beauty of my homeland and the wonder of my Father... and will desire to live there, too.

So, I don't mind having an accent--a heavenly accent. I hope I keep it always and that it stays fresh and real. I hope it will always clearly identify me as from another place-- a lovely place, a joyous place, one I'm proud to be from, and one about which others want to know.

the season of thanksgiving...

I have a pet peeve. Yes, it's true; I do.

You see, I love Thanksgiving. It's one of my very favorite holidays. It is a time for being with family and friends, for eating delicious food, for a four-day weekend... but most of all, it is a time for being thankful. For expressing that thankfulness. For celebrating God's goodness and our so-very-many blessings!

My pet peeve, however, is the way Thanksgiving is hastily skipped over. Since it's not a money-making commercialized holiday, it doesn't get the focus it really deserves. The minute Halloween is over, the stores immediately move to decorate for Christmas (if not before!), and the gimme-gimme-buy-me commercialism is everywhere we look and listen. (I used to boycott any store playing Christmas music before Thanksgiving, but now that's almost impossible!)

Suddenly, everything is all about what we want and must have instead of focusing on what we already DO have! Thanksgiving is treated as a springboard for the biggest shopping day of the year --Black Friday. And now, that shopping day has been joined by Cyber Monday, which is supposedly one of the biggest online shopping days of the year. Eat up that Thanksgiving dinner so you'll have energy to arise at 4am and head out to the sales!

I would love it if we could have the Thanksgiving weekend with no other purpose but to celebrate thankfulness, to revel in gratitude. Thankfulness to God for the gift of Himself in our lives. Thankfulness to Him for the many ways He blesses us. Thankfulness for our family and our friends. Thankfulness for the less tangible blessings, like peace and joy and laughter and comfort. Thankfulness that the sun has risen on yet another day and the stars have appeared in yet another night sky.

For these, and so many more, I am thankful. And, oh yes, I do love the feasting --all the delicious taste treats-- but I know the day is so much more than the food. I want to think about and soak in all these thankful thoughts, and I delight in sharing them with loved ones.

A couple of years ago, as part of the table decorations on Thanksgiving Day, my friend put a special quote on each person's plate. My quote was about Peace :

It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart.

I pray that this Thanksgiving, you would be able to take the day to celebrate your thankfulness. And I pray for you that, even in the midst of noise, trouble, or hard work, you would find PEACE in your heart as a result of your gratitude.

draggin' a little today... or a little dragon??...

Today I'm draggin' a little, so I thought I'd share my favorite little dragon with you...

...modeling all sides...
...turn...
... turn...
And here, checking out his cowgirl friend astride her horse...

...crawling around as dragons do...

...and that's that.

~the little dragon is my great nephew in MI, B, and the cowgirl is his friend, S

• the smiles of children (118)
• colorful costumes (117)
• active imaginations (116)

homeward bound...

Today I am homeward bound, winging my way 2500 miles across the country... my luggage is a bit overweight but then so is my heart --with the memories gathered over the past week spent with loved ones and with the emotions that go with the leaving. Whomever it was who said "Parting is such sweet sorrow" really nailed it on the head! (I also carry far too many photos home with me as well...many of which I shall surely be sharing with you as soon as I am back on DSL! There are just so many photo opportunities in the country!!)

(my plane flying over Michigan)

...Enjoy your Sabbath rest and worship...

• the mystery of flight (think about it!) (108)
• colorful views from above (107)
• having family and friends to miss (106)
• coming home (105)
• memories of time shared together (104)

sunset on vacation...

The sun is setting on my time in Michigan, and I am soon to be on my way home to California. I have had a wonderful time enjoying family and fall and will be sad to say good-bye. I have one last day to soak it all in.

A couple of days ago, my mom and I took a day-long road trip across the state and ended the day on the eastern shore of Michigan at Lake Huron. We were treated to this bit of sunset on the Saginaw Bay...

Thank you, God, for family and for the beauty of Your creation...

I am grateful for both this day.

going "home"....

Home is the place where,

when you have to go there,

they have to take you in.

~Robert Frost

I like that quote; to me, it's just fun... because it can either be tongue-in-cheek or it can be reality. Home brings up a whole world (whirl?) of feelings... nostalgia, parents, family, childhood, comfort, challenges, seasons of life.... and so many more.

I work for a non-profit ministry that rescues street kids in Brazil (Hope Unlimited for Children), and our board meets twice each year to conduct the board business. I will be leaving tomorrow to orchestrate the details of and to attend the meeting, which is being held this time in Chicago. Since it is 'just across the water' from "home" for me, I will be flying on to Michigan for a week after the meeting this weekend.

Even though I've been transplanted in southern California, I do miss the countryside of Michigan and the seasons...and all the trees! There are so many trees there! (non-palm trees, that is!) And I miss being around my family. So, I'm looking forward to some time to spend not only enjoying the beauty of fall (I hope, I hope!!), the smell of the fallen leaves, the crisp coolness of the pre-winter air, the amazing colored leaves (please don't fall off til I get there!), and maybe a rain shower or two (and, dare I hope? a frost???)... but also the joy of being with family, of talking and laughing, of reconnecting, of just being together... because, when I go there, they just "have to take [me] in!"

Thank you, Father, for families and the role they play in our lives...

Thank you, Father, that they just have to take us in...! :)

• a home to go to (89)
• family who loves me (88)
• being together (87)