My New Vocation for Today and Many to Come

Time Off

I realized that I had not blogged in a while now. I have been distracted by many good things.

I am loving my time off this month as I've had time to do things that I never have a chance to truly enjoy. I've read books again for fun. I've had long lunches with friends. I've gone to church with my husband without being in charge. I've had fun weekends with friends without the stress of what is next. I've enjoyed baking Christmas cookies. I took a road trip on a Monday morning.And, I've been very thankful for my husband who has supported me in this time, knowing how much I've needed a break as I prepare for the next big thing.

People have said to me that I'm literally glowing with happiness and I think it is really true.

It is good to remember my passions again. It is good to have time to breathe. It is good to know that life can go on without being in charge. It is good to rest and enjoy people around me.

It is good just to be (and trust me I'm not bored, either). I know that not everyone gets breaks like the one I've experienced this month. I know I'm living with an amazing gift of time. But, all of us have moments of rest available to us even if we are working crazy schedules.

I think the biggest lessons that this month has taught me is to be more mindful of myself and my surroundings.

It is never a bad thing to STOP and take care of yourself for a while so that you can care better for others in the future.

Yea for December!

Gotta Love Buenos Aires

Upon further reflection of what I loved about our adventures in South America, I thought I'd share some of my favorite things here.

1. You can spend an entire afternoon in a cafe without anyone thinking you are lazy. (Below is a girl's lunch a day before the wedding where we drank lots of water, coffee and had tasty afternoon treats).

2. Catching a taxi and affording a ride in one is easy and cheap. (A trip all the way across town costs only $10!)

3. The pace of life is slow, but the traffic moves fast. You certainly can get anywhere you want in a hurry (especially if you are in a big car-- big cars rule the world there).

4. Everything is served with jamon y queso. While by day 10 of your trip you begin to think you can't possibly eat another dish with ham and cheese in it, there is something endearing about feeling like your life depends on consuming this seemingly national dish.

5. The beef is awesome! Need not say much more. You can get a mouth-watering hamburger or steak for half the cost in the US.

6. Uruguay is nearby. If you get tired of all the traffic and noise in the city, the chill environment of Uruguay is only an hour boat's ride. (Plus, having an extra stamp in your Passport is never a bad thing in my book!)

7. Train travel is cheap! We took a day trip to the delta region of the area, Tigre, going by train. The entire cost of the whole trip was 4 pesos which is a little over one US dollar.

8. The pharmacy techs are at your local Farmcity (Argentina's version of CVS) are some of the nicest people that you will meet. I developed allergies while I was there and Kevin a skin irritation. To get some useful meds, all we had to do was describe our symptoms and a purchase was easily made.

9. I sound like a broken record here . . . Lunch can easily take three hours! One of my favorite memories of the trip was enjoying a 5 course meal (very inexpensive I might add) that literally took three hours. It wasn't because we were sitting there talking for a long time after the meal, but because the food came so slowly. It is just the pace of life there. It is so anti-American culture and I loved it!

10. Tango dancing is everywhere. Truly it is a magical and there are plenty of people to watch whenever you feel like it.

With our new friends in this country, I suspect that we might visit this great city again in our lifetime. I don't think this would be a bad idea. Going to Buenos Aires was the most normal out of country experience I've ever had (maybe because my international travel roster includes places like Rwanda . . . ). I would recommend this country to anyone looking for a European experience at half the cost.

What Saying Goodbye Looks Like

These are scenes from my last week of work. These were bittersweet events. Yet, I was glad to get to have occasions to spend with such dear people that had intersected my life during my tenure at this church. Some of my favorite "senior" adult friends who became my adopted grandparents. Much love for them!

The office staff takes me to lunch at one of our favorite Greek places.

A girl who I worked with on becoming a Christian who came forward to be baptized on my last Sunday.

A great night out with a group of youth at a local diner.

Hanging out with two other youth after having girls afternoon getting pedicures.

There are many sweet memories that will carry me on to my next place of service!