Time Travel

It’s amazing how deeply memories are lodged in our minds and hearts. What I’m about to describe will make no sense to some of you; others will nod and smile and think I’m a little weird; and then there’s the few of you kindred spirits who will know exactly what I’m talking about and feel, like me, that you can never really explain it to those who don’t “get it”.

This weekend we went back to Cedarville for homecoming. That’s the college where Heath and I met, and this year was my 10-year reunion. We got to see a few of our good friends (the loyal ones who came back—you know who you are). We got to visit the old “stomping grounds,” show Ethan and Jesse all around, see some favorite professors, and do a lot of fun things.

A lot of things didn’t work out, though: my roommate who’d been planning this with me for months was unable to make it, we didn’t see a lot of people that I’d hoped to, and we didn’t get to spend nearly as much time with people we did see as I would’ve liked. We didn’t do anything spectacular, the kids were way overtired, and our hotel was crappy. And yet, it was an absolutely amazing weekend.

I’ve been lying in bed, unable to sleep, just pondering how amazing it is that I still feel so connected to the people I went to school with there. Even though only a few of our friends could make it, there were so many familiar faces. We could walk up to people we hadn’t seen in over a decade, hug, and be so glad to see each other. And now I feel like I never left—the memories have come back so strong. It feels like I just saw “him” in class yesterday, I just ate lunch with “her” this afternoon, and I spent all weekend hanging out with “so and so”. It’s like the last 10 years never happened. (But the multitudes of offspring and the very young-looking current students are proof that they did.) I don’t know if it’s just sentimental me, if it’s something about Cedarville itself, if it’s a spiritual connection with brothers and sisters in Christ, or something purely psychological. But it amazes me how quickly I was transported back in time.

But now I’m back home, back in present-day life, back to the regular routine, back to being in my 30’s. I enjoy this stage of life—I am so blessed to have a wonderful husband and children, and I certainly don’t miss the long hours of studying from a decade ago! But I miss my old friends, acquaintances, and even the strangers whose familiar faces this weekend took me back to my college days. It’s not that I really want to go back to that time, but there’s a piece of my heart missing for each stage of life that I’ve left behind.

I think these emotions that I really can’t adequately explain are just proof that we are created as eternal beings. (I didn’t come up with that myself; I think it was C.S. Lewis who first taught me that.) There’s a longing for permanence, for not having to say goodbye, for concurrently experiencing all of life’s blessings (friendship especially), without leaving any behind. Sin has made our lives temporary and temporal. We’re not supposed to have to live in time—we’re supposed to live eternally, in perfect fellowship with God and people. I am so thankful that Jesus redeemed us, and that we are not doomed to this temporary world. I long so deeply for that day when, not only will we meet our Savior face to face, but we will be together with our loved ones, and the fellowship and celebration will last forever, with no more goodbyes and no more stages of life to leave behind. We will experience the eternal “now” and live always in that perfect present.

Like I said, this probably only resonates with a few of you. Most of you are probably a lot better than I am at living in the present and making do in this temporal world. But this weekend of “time travel” was really special for me, and I had to write it down, mostly just to process my own thoughts and feelings. Thanks for reading all the way to the end. Now I’m going to go back to bed and try again to get some sleep.

We have TA!!!!!

Thank you, Lord Jesus!!!!!!!

Our agency just received our Travel Approval from China today!! This is China's official permission that we can come to adopt Tabitha! =) All that's left is to confirm the date with China. But, wouldn't you know . . . they're closed October 1-5 because of holidays. Gotta love the timing. :-P

Our agency has put in our date request, and should most likely have confirmation by next Thursday. If the date request is approved, we'll be leaving October 21st (Ethan's birthday) and returning probably November 6th (day before Jesse's birthday). =)

I can't believe I have to wait another whole week before I can write those dates on the calendar! (Man, this whole process has been a serious test of my compulsive need for planning ahead!)

We're headed to Cedarville's homecoming tomorrow, and getting back on Sunday. It's pretty amazing that we may be leaving 2 and 1/2 weeks after that!

3 weeks from NOW?????!!!!!!

AAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!

In the last 5 seconds I just went from elation to panic. Gotta run . . . much to do . . .

In Celebration of the First Day of Autumn

Merry Autumn by Paul Laurence Dunbar

It's all a farce,—these tales they tell
About the breezes sighing,
And moans astir o'er field and dell,
Because the year is dying.

Such principles are most absurd,—
I care not who first taught 'em;
There's nothing known to beast or bird
To make a solemn autumn.

In solemn times, when grief holds sway
With countenance distressing,
You'll note the more of black and gray
Will then be used in dressing.

Now purple tints are all around;
The sky is blue and mellow;
And e'en the grasses turn the ground
From modest green to yellow.

The seed burs all with laughter crack
On featherweed and jimson;
And leaves that should be dressed in black
Are all decked out in crimson.

A butterfly goes winging by;
A singing bird comes after;
And Nature, all from earth to sky,
Is bubbling o'er with laughter.

The ripples wimple on the rills,
Like sparkling little lasses;
The sunlight runs along the hills,
And laughs among the grasses.

The earth is just so full of fun
It really can't contain it;
And streams of mirth so freely run
The heavens seem to rain it.

Don't talk to me of solemn days
In autumn's time of splendor,
Because the sun shows fewer rays,
And these grow slant and slender.

Why, it's the climax of the year,—
The highest time of living!—
Till naturally its bursting cheer
Just melts into thanksgiving.

Our Little Cutie

We received updated information about Tabitha! First of all, isn't she adorable?! We got two new pictures of her . . . she gets cuter every time. =) We also found out some details about her. She loves to play outside, loves to read books, and doesn't like toy animals with big eyes. (I guess she didn't notice the giant eyes on the toy she's riding.) :) She speaks Mandarin, rather than a local dialect, which is a very good thing, since the little bit of Chinese I've learned is Mandarin, and I'd be absolutely useless with any dialects! She takes a two-hour nap most days and has a bottle of milk before bed. The best part is that we asked if she had seen the pictures we'd sent of our family and if she knew that we'd be coming for her soon. They said she loves to look at the photo album we sent, and the foster mom has taught her to recognize mommy and daddy in the pictures. That just melts my heart! Still no news on travel dates, but we're expecting it any day now. It's amazing to think that soon we'll be holding this adorable little girl in our arms, and she'll be ours forever. Can't wait!!

Ouch!

Last Friday Ethan got stung on the hand by something. He says it was an "orange jacket." We're pretty sure it was some kind of bee or wasp, but neither of us saw it. He was just running through some weeds at a friend's house and smacked his hand into whatever it was and started screaming. He's been stung a couple of other times and had no reaction at all. But this time was different. The next day his hand and entire forearm were swollen up like a balloon, and his hand looked all disfigured! (The picture doesn't do it justice.) He complained about pain a little bit, but not as much as I expected. (I have the same swelling with bee stings, but with tons of pain and itching. And I certainly complain a whole lot more than he did!) Anyway, after about 3 days the swelling was totally gone. And even while he was all swollen up it didn't stop him from playing in the very same field. He's one tough little man.

Still Waiting

No updates on our adoption progress, but I think God's been working on my heart since my last post about it. I'm doing much better with my attitude, and I want to thank all of you who've been praying for me! I'm posting the song I posted before, but this time it's more true. =) I know all things are in God's hands, and His timing, and we are eagerly and patiently awaiting that time.

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience

While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait

Metamorphosis

Last week we were swimming over at the Sigmon's house, and we got to talking about school projects. Aunt Carolyn ended up giving us a caterpillar to take home and watch. I told the boys about cocoons and how the caterpillar would change into a butterfly. Heath made a very elaborate cage for it, and the boys and I have been checking on it. It's actually about doubled in size since Thursday! Today Jesse and I were looking at it, and I reminded him about how it would turn into a butterfly. And, remembering all he had learned, he said in all seriousness, "But first it has to turn into a raccoon!"