thoughts on a long awaited visit

This trip has so many elements that have effected my experience. The hardest part of the trip is being in all the places where I used to have a doodle bug and recognizing her painful absence. From the empty seat in the shopping cart, to the missing dancing body dancing with the children at church. My heart carries this intense longing to have her with me. When we went to our old house I stepped into her newly painted room and took in a deep breath as I tried to take in the moment. It was the first safe room she ever slept in. I remember her sweet screams as she ran around the yard with Parker and Lucy. She is deeply missed.
Tucson has a feel and smell that warms up my soul with a remembrance of so many good things. I love the small homes with cacti growing all over and the additions that don't match and the yards filled with tables and chairs for evening events. I love the straight roads...so straight you can see for a mile ahead of you. I love the dirt, yes, even the dirt in my toes. I love the Tusconians, who in the 60 degree weather have thick winter jackets and go around commenting on how cold it is. :) I love sun beaming down as it awakens the night.
Staying at the Seneca House is also such a blessing. I have had so many conversations about the brokenness of our world of our community and of ourselves. I love how they encourage me as I walk into who God is making me. I love how they ask the really deep questions that make me ponder before I can respond. I love their honesty. I love their attempt to not live as this world asks.
I think the thing I need to remember is that God is offering me good things wherever I am. Enjoying my time in Arizona is a gift. But life right now is in Ann Arbor. It's Monday night dinners with Hannah and Micah, Bible Studies, Small groups, Thursday night potlucks...it's snow and grass and leaves and warm jackets. It's lots of water and great walks.
So yeah...those are my thoughts thus far.

SUN

We have arrived in Nogales! Yesterday was a very looonnngg day. We were 5 hours late getting into the air, 3 of which we were sitting in the plane, so we missed 2 flights to Tucson, but were able to catch a later flight and get in at 6:35 PM. David's father greeted us with warm hugs and good conversation on the quick hour drive down to Nogales. I awoke as the sun was rising and the sky was filled with warm orange and red colors. Wow, I miss this place.
Today we will be going to church in Mexico with David's family and then driving up to go to church in Tucson tonight. I am soooo excited :).
Know we are safe and very happy to be in Arizona.

me, the manipulator

So I went to the grocery store this afternoon to buy ingredients for homemade spaghetti and meatballs. (Don't you wish you were here???)

I bought my products, walked to the bank to make a deposit, and drove home.
About an hour later I am cooking away and the recipe says, add ground beef... I look around and I can't find it anywhere! I walk out to the car, just to make sure I didn't leave it in the car.
So then I found my receipt and call the store. At this point I am so mad at the cashier. She wasn't friendly and careful. It's her fault my grocers didn't all make it home.
So the man answers, I explain my predicament...he puts me on hold...2 minutes later he gets back on the phone. "I am sorry, we don't have the meat, it's not here." (He says it in a way like he doesn't believe me...or like I need to check my house again." I say, "Ok, but I don't have the meat, what should I do." "Well, you can bring in your receipt and we will get you what you need." By this point I am mad at him. He is treating me like a liar. So I check my car again, come back inside, turn off the stove, and go to the checkout line I was in earlier. The girl says, "You're here for the meat aren't you? It's over there in the cooler." So they're both there....the cashier and the phone answerer. And really I am not mad at either one since they're both in my presence....but if it had been him alone I might have mentioned she wasn't careful nor friendly...and if she had been alone, I might have mentioned he was rude on the phone and thanked her for saving the meat.
There isn't much to say about my actual reaction. But inside I was burning up. I was so angry and I was thinking of all the ways to manipulate the situation so that I had no fault...I wanted to place all the blame on everyone else.

I left the store feeling ashamed.

What to say when you don't have the answers....

so here are the main the points for my talk tonight

One of the biggest questions is: If God is God, why is God like this in my life?

Does pain and suffering evolve because of our choices?
Look at Job 1 and 2
Read John 9: 1-3

Do not preach to those who are in pain...COMFORT
Isaiah 61:1-2
2 Corinthians 1:3-5
Ephesians 4:32-5:2
Colossians 3:12
Why does it look like when we do preach and not comfort? What are we saying?

Pain produces growth
Romans 5:3-5
James 1:2-4
Philippians 1: 29-30
1Peter 2:20-24


Conclusion....
End with my favorite verse on this subject...
Isaiah 25:6-8
That's such a short briefing...but gives you an idea. Thanks for your prayers...or for all the help I received

speak again

So Chris asked me to speak again on Sunday since he is in Mexico visiting the area where the youth will serve next summer. This time I HAVE NO IDEA what I am going to talk about.
Ideas?

what does this mean?

So David and I were checking the weather for the next couple weeks...and by the way...it's 8 degrees right now. No, I didn't forget a number...it's definitely 8!

Well we came across this symbol:

What does this mean???????????

Oh and the symbol was on another day when it's so supposed to be VERY cold.
So what is it called at 8 degrees again?