18/7

Christmas has come and gone, and New Years is just around the corner! My, how the time is flying by sooo fast! I had every intention of posting right before Christmas, or on the day of...but, time did escape me yet again, and I some how found myself too busy to sit at my computer for a few minutes. Weird, I know. But, to my credit, I also spent the Christmas holiday working, so maybe not so weird afterall. Regardless, to all of you - here's a belated Mele Kalikimaka.

As I write this, I am sitting at the Calgary International Aiport, waiting for my plane to take me to San Francisco, where I will be spending New Years with my little sister and some of my closest friends from Hawai'i (who now live in California). I am very excited to see some "family" before I head off to Africa. I have seen some friends who are just like family in the last few days for what will be the last time before I depart. It's still a little surreal saying goodbye (although, I like to say it's not goodbye, it's just "until I see you again".). I think it's because, even though my days are numbered and time is flying by...I still have time before I leave.

I realize now, that the next time I depart from this airport, I will be leaving the country for what looks like 8 months at this time. It's still hard to believe that I will be gone for so long, and I don't think that I will grasp the immensity of that time away until departing is something that I am no longer looking forward to. Some of my friends still speculate at the length of my trip. I guess it's harder from them to comprehend not seeing me for 8 months, especially since it hasn't been done with a most of them. At times, 8 months doesn't seem so long, and at times it does. I think that I am better able to cope with being gone for so long, because I have been waiting in anticipation for this to happen for over a year now. Not only that, but, I have now been living in Calgary for a year - and even though lots has gone on, that year still seems to have passed by pretty fast. I am sure that in a few months time, I will be speculating at where my 6 months on the Mercy Ships have gone, as I set out to visit friends and explore some of the continent of Africa.

So wherever you are this holiday season, and whatever you were doing...I hope that you were surrounded by friends and family, any of those that you would consider loved ones...or at least in touch with them, to realize that you are loved and blessed. Here's hoping that this next year, 2010, is full of wonder and adventure for you, too!

"Friends come and friends go,
but a true friend sticks by you like family."
- Proverbs 18:24 (MSG)

And, the countdown continues...

For those of you who know me, and know me well, what I have done here in this picture will not surprise you. For those of you who are just getting to know me...the title on the board says it all. I'm choosing to be aware that my days here in Canada are numbered...

Now, this may seem like a logical and natural thing to do, seeing as how it puts everything into context and gives one a timeline to work by. But, deadlines usually freak me out. I'm one of those procrastinating perfectionists...so seeing "impending doom" is something that I prefer not to address.

But, this isn't impending doom like I've known it to be in university or at work. It's something that I am working towards...trying to get everything into place, mark everything off my list (Yes, I have a list. And, it's not just a single list...but a Master List composed of many sub-lists.), and make sure all my arrangements are made. Because as soon as D-day hits...there will be nothing more that I can do. No more arrangements that I can put in place, and hopefully...nothing left to pack up. My friends tell me that as soon as I walk through the security gates at the airport (in 29 days! *insert mini-freak out here*) that I will feel a sense of relief and a sense of release. I am hoping that they are right!

29 days is all that is left. But, some how, rather than shrinking, it feels like my list is expanding. But, I work well under pressure. And one-by-one, I know that everything on my list will be crossed off.

Speaking of which...time to sort through my clothes and try to figure out what to pack for Africa, what to keep, and what to give away. Wish me luck! For a girl with nothing to wear...I seem to have a lot of clothing...


Later that day...
It looks like my closet and my dresser have thrown up all over my room...and I have no desire to clean it up...shocking...

Light It Up

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
- Nelson Mandela

Just a little something from our church sermon today to make you think about the lights you put up this Christmas season. Make sure yours are shining bright, too...