The Story of my Luggage

I want to share with you a crazy story that happened at the airport yesterday morning.

My brother, Matt, and his girlfriend drove me to the airport. I had 2 big pieces of luggage, a box, a small roller carry on and a back pack. I have status on United and so my mom told me that I get 2 bags free and the 3rd is $35.

We pull up to the curb and I decide that curbside check in is the way to go with so much luggage. The guy first looks surprised when I let him know all this luggage is for 1 person. He then proceeds to tell me that we have a problem because the 3rd bag is $100 and one of my bags is 20lbs overweight which will cost another $100. At this point I am in tears because I was not expecting to pay $200 and trying to remember what is packed where and if i could just leave a bag. I decide the first thing to do is get the overweight bag lighter. So I unzip it and start chucking things onto the side walk. 2 Binders. A bottle of Ketchup Manis. My big ESV study Bible.

Another guy at the counter is watching me do this and suddenly ask "Are you a missionary?" Who asks this anymore! Not are you a Christian, but are you a missionary. I say yes and keep searching for stuff to leave.

Another woman walks up who works there and the guy who asked the question begins explaining to her that I'm a missionary and love Jesus and have this luggage problem. She smiles at me and says, "I'll take care of it." I had gotten my bag down to 56lbs and ask if that's close enough or do i need to keep chucking. She tells me to stick everything back in and she'll take care of it. Not really believing I ask if she's sure. Yes. She obviously has some sway. She walks back in the airport to get my luggage tags printed. The question guy lets me know that I'm very lucky, or Providentially blessed, to have had her walk out at that moment. She's a very nice lady. And I owe the first guy a big tip. lol. Basically I should have had to pay $200 and didn't pay a thing.

But the story continues. I get to my gate with my small roller bag and backpack and the flight is so full they're asking people to check their carry-ons. So I checked the roller bag as well, for Free! Is my God good or what.

On the down side my phone decided to break this same day. I went to turn it on in DC (yes they sent me through DC on my way to CA). However, it refused to "boot up." It'd turn on but wouldn't actually work. Arriving in San Diego, picking up my car, and getting to where I'm staying where all a little bit a walk by faith.

I went to T-mobile today and they said there's nothing they can do. So now I am the proud owner of a new phone.

Helping my Mom Pack

Every time my mom travels I sit on her bad and help her back. Or really help her decide what to take and what to leave behind. It's a good exercise in spacial thinking, decision making, balancing cost and gain and then add in a zing of fashion. Put it all together and twala! you have a week to a month's worth of clothes stuffed in a suit case and one more mother/daughter experience completed.

The funny thing is my parents just got home last night from Budapest and the next day I find myself sitting on my mom's bed helping her pack again. This time around they're going on a two week cruise across the Atlantic. (They got tired of flying and they're celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary.) But they have another two weeks of work and travel after that.

So pack today and shop tomorrow. Shop for whatever we couldn't fanagel to work today.

Creepy Crawlies

It got warmer today. Warm and humid. I live in Florida. It's been such wonderful weather the last month or so but the heat wave is coming. When you don't dare wear jeans unless you're going to a nice enough place that's willing to blast AC. When every foot wear option is open toed. When you don't worry about tan lines because you know tomorrow is another loosing battle; or will eradicate the farmers tan you got today.

More evidence of the state I live in is the proficiency of bugs. Big bugs, little bugs, red bugs, bugs with pinchers, mole crickets, moths, and mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are the worst. I'd love to help make them extinct.

I played some sand volleyball last night. We experienced the majority of these bugs first hand. They were climbing through the sand mounds like a Navy Seal scales beach dunes. They also ran a mean offensive, flying into peoples eyes and popping up in front of them at any given time.

I also realized that Florida makes a person different. It makes them used to all these bugs. It's not abnormal to be able to name a hand full of creepy crawlies by more than their color. Or to pick them up without batting an eye.

** on another note: I'm watching the NFL draft on tv and there's a commercial for a device that cracks eggs and guarantees not shells in the bowl. good gracious!

Being in Orlando

My sleep schedule is all thrown off. I go to sleep late; I wake up late. What's the point of trying to fix it when as soon as I get on an earlier schedule I do something to throw it off again.

I feel like I'm living in an alternative reality. I'm living like a college student. Or a jobless adult. My responsibilities are minimal. My free time is maximal. My motivation is sporadic.

Part of me enjoys this, part of me feels like I'm wasting time. Part of me just lets it be.

Confused yet.

Over all I'm loving Orlando. Loving the people I'm spending time with. Loving the comfort of being in a place I know well. I'm not eager to leave. But I know this is just a stop. There's so much more to come. This isn't my destination but a scenic picture spot. But there's not enough money to put more gas in the car and move on. It's coming but not yet. And so I enjoy the view and take my pictures and thank God for the obvious blessings He is pouring out in my life.

Goodbye 2009

Celebrating the new year at San Diego Winter Conference with Alyssa Monda and a bunch of Student Venture kids.

Jael moves to SD!
Corrier Peterson moves to SD!! -->another person to explore with

My parents come visit
visiting my Grandma Cite's grave in LA

Loving my freshman small group of girls

Got my car rust painted for FREE!

Good memories with the team -- Mammoth, Super Saturday, suprise birthday lunch, self serve fro yo and fake nose rings

Road Trips
to LA to visit Zach and Carsten
to visit Janice
to Malibu with Jael
to Ontario to see Alyssa and Steph
to Forrest Home for PSW retreat

Great times with Lindsey! random times with Lindsey

Getaway in Colorado.

New Staff training with Tons of awesome people, crazy exploits, volleyball champ, a 14er and good training.

Joy's wedding in G-ville. Atlanta, Amy's wedding in Illinois. Taking on Chicago with Laura. Brooke's wedding in Tennessee.

And then we have Orlando.
Amanda, Ruth, Laura, Liz, Nicole, my family. New friends. Ultimate Frisbee. Gator games. Road trip to Tally with Joel. Amanda's engagement and then wedding planning. UPC life group. Lessons and growth through the support process.

What a wonderful year. Lots of transition. Some tension with God. Some resolution with God. Questions. Answers. More questions. Confidence built. Confidence shattered. No regrets. Hope for the future.

The beautiful unknown lies ahead.

Math and Religion

Perspective on Action

Far better it is to dare mighty things, win glorious triumphs even though checkered with failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat. - Theodore Roosevelt