I've discovered that I am not a very faithful person. I guess I should restate that: I am faithful to people almost to a fault, but I am almost never faithful to projects.
Take this blog, for instance. When I began it, I though, "Great! I have always loved to write and, especially, journal, so this should be great!" And then I post 3 items and ditch it for months.
Now, I do have some excuse. Edward and I, after waiting and waiting (as the last post made quite plain), have moved almost all the way across the country for a one year post at Gonzaga University. We found out about it shortly after the last post. It was a whirlwind, really.
Here's how it went: on Tuesday, I got a letter under my door from the real estate agent who helped our downstairs condo neighbors sell their place which said, essentially, "Hey, heard you might move and I have a few people interested if you want to call me." Wednesday, Ed had a phone interview at GU at the end of which he was told he would hear from them in a week or so. Thursday of the same week, they called him back and wanted him. He had a week to decide, and, of course, he took the entire week and gave a yes that next Thursday. We met with the real estate agent on Wednesday and she posted our place right away- calling us back that night with a request for a showing on Friday. The offer was made Saturday, as we were staying at Ed's folks, ready to leave for Traverse City after Church the next day. During Sunday school, we met the Realtor at the Buck to sign some papers and counter offer. She called us Monday in TC and said the offer was accepted. Whirlwind!
We spend a beautiful week in TC- kayaking and having lots of family (especially Baby) time. Then we began packing. I kept working until the weekend before we moved. There was a lot to do- find a place to live, find a store to transfer to, debate over how to move our stuff, chat with GU about the reimbursement offer, train my replacement at work, spend time with everyone I could in my small amount of spare time. It was exhausting, but good.
We started on our adventure on July 28- Ed's 35th birthday. We drove from Grand Rapids, MI to Madison, WI to spend the first night with out friends there. We went to a wonderful outdoor concert by the Madison symphony on the capital lawn and ate peach pie (Ed's favorite and a tradition of ours) afterward. The next morning we were off to the Badlands- amazing! We camped on the plain and drove through deep fog the next morning on our way to the Black Hills, Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, and Custer St. Park. We hiked a 5 1/2 hour hike to the top of Harney Peak and then camped, exhausted again. Next morning we were off to Yellowstone where we were caught in a traffic jam caused by buffalo. I think they knew I had eaten one of their buddies for breakfast! We set up camp in the pitch black- not fun. Next morning it was through the Grand Tetons (yes, I know that is south and GU is north, stay with me), turned in Jackson and drove through Idaho, some of Montana and back into Idaho to spend the night in a hotel in Coeur D'Alene. Then we actually got showers! Let me tell you the surprising beauty of north Idaho! Next day we drove to our new home in Spokane, WA.
So, my summer was a little crazy- but I really have little excuse for neglecting this for so long. But then again, knowing me, I can't really promise to write on a regular basis now, either. First of all, you never know what will happen next. Even though the position here is a year, even that is not a guarantee of tomorrow. The future is totally unknown to everyone... and sometimes that is a really good thing.
I am currently reading "Choosing to SEE" by Mary Beth Chapman. It is written very honestly by a woman who lost her 5 year old daughter in 2008. I have been a fan of her husband's work since 1989 but haven't paid much attention to what is going on in Christian music or much of pop culture for the past few years. When I read the summary of her book on an ad, I was shocked and had to Google the event immediately. I cried over the story and began praying for their family. My husband prayed for them that night (we have a ritual of praying in bed just before we go to sleep- actually, just before he rolls over and I demand, "Where's my kiss?" and then we go to sleep). He is such a wonderful man and knew that even though we heard about the situation over 2 years after the fact, the family still needed prayer- would for a long time. But the point is, this book reminds me how much we don't know about our own future, and how that can be a blessing. Even not knowing about good things is a blessing- that way they are a pleasant surprise.
Coming to Spokane has been a little heartbreaking. Hm, I feel almost foolish using that term when I have just been talking about a truly heartbreaking event in another family's life. But heartbreak comes in different forms. Our heartbreak is that of lost community. Not that we have lost the love and prayers of our family and friends, but that we are isolated by distance. I know that the world is a lot "smaller" now than it was in pioneer days (and I can't imagine how homesick they felt), but building a new community takes time and effort at a time when we feel lonely and weak. I write a lot of letters and, so far, my most faithful correspondent has been my youngest sister. Granted, of all my friends, she has the most time on her hands, but it is so wonderful that she spends some of it on me. I miss everyone back home and, while we have joined a church and keep pretty busy, we wish for visits and more communication from those who are closest to us.
But that only reminds me of my own unfaithfulness to projects. One of my projects was to join a book club and a crafting club and to go to small group at church- none of which I have done. People constantly praise me for being so good at making friends, but it is feeling harder this time. Not that the people here aren't nice! Let me tell you all that Spokane is one of the friendliest places I have ever been! But the fact that we will most likely only be here a year and the fact that I am now supporting a husband emotionally, makes it a little harder (not that I am blaming him at all! This is one of the best jobs I have ever had, being his wife and support, and I would not trade it for the world!). I know we will get through and that God has been holding us the whole time- and He made the move the smoothest I have ever had! I would pray that he would make me more faithful- of course, if I had to choose between people and projects, I choose people every time.
