Daily living...?

The Lord continues to teach me about the power of prayer in the my life and in the lives of friends and family. What a blessing to have hurdles overcome, and to be presented with big new questions, like whether or not to expand a family unit in an unconventional way, what service your heart is pulled to, and where you fit into everything.

I have been praying for a lot lately. I have been praying for an ongoing legal struggle my parents finally won, for friends and their transitions into workplaces, married lives, classrooms. I have been overwhelmed by the need for everyday prayer just to get through the daily things in my life here - great fellowship, the desire for fulfillment, pursuit of employment for the next couple of years, and homesickness that lurks around the corner when I just want some lazy days, but feel kind of uncomfortable in my own skin when taking them. What a conundrum.

Last week I started attending a Bible study and coffee group through the Women of the American Church. These women comprise such an individual organization, and I think that meeting people in such dynamic circumstances - different from my own and from where they thought they would be right now, has taught me a lot about expectations.

You see, I have many too many expectations right now. Is it misunderstanding God's will to keep expectations? To pray for the desired outcome in order to realize those aspirations? Should I throw up my arms in defeat at trying to control my own game, as well as in praise? How much am I trying to read too much into what God is trying to show me? A smart friend said something interesting the other week: "Even 'I don't know' is a sign sometimes."

I am not very good at walking in snow.

Today I fell all the way down the stairs at the entrance to the train by my house. It's okay - nobody saw me fall, but they did see me taking off my coat to wipe off the various stages of frozen water and sand meant to keep people like me from falling on my butt. Oh, my poor new jeans. I was going to try really hard to keep them fairly pristine; and away from the jaws of the European washer and dryer that apparently boil your clothes and then blast them dry with temperatures from the Arabian desserts in July or something. [Enough hyperbole?]

I skinned up my ankle, have a bruise on my calf and my pride, and had to worry about my wet pants not only drying, but also not turning into a popsicle as I continued my venture to hit the sales in Paris. Yuck.

...Update.

Baggage received at 10:45p.m.

Phew!

Back in France...

After a quick hiatus to the motherland, I have made it back to Le Vesinet. However, I am short one piece of baggage, and bummed [though fresh-faced] because that bag contains my makeup, my new Christmas boots, a pack of clothes, my warmest coat, and all of my tights. Boo Air France. It was supposed to be delivered today between 4-8pm, but as it is now 10:15pm and customer service said "he's just running a little bit late," we'll see if it even gets sent tomorrow!

Vacation was much-needed and much-appreciated. I travelled with the family to Boca Grande, Florida where a few family member own homes and where the whole family congregates for Christmas. It seems to be a smart system, as everyone is located all over the country, and we're located half-way around the world; everyone has to travel, which I guess makes it fair. [And though spread out, everyone lives in cold climates so I think they all look forward to a warm-weather break.] Spending a week there was nice, and I did appreciate the pool + beach + book equation, but I was antsy to get home!

Thank you again Mom and Dad for being such sweet hosts, and for being such incredible and supportive parents. Pam, Kyle & Lois - thanks for being great friends and support [and comic relief]. Alyssa, Amanda and Hayley - I am so glad to have gotten to visit and catch up and I love you all very much. Other great friends - I am sorry I was only home a week and didn't have enough time to catch up. However, what if we threw a "Homecoming" reunion for sometime in autumn? [I typed fall, but then realized upon not knowing whether to capitalize it or not, I like the word autumn and it is so under-used!]