Vacation

After today I will not be back at the clinic for almost two weeks. It is called "vacation". I am trying to keep my expectations low so I won't be disappointed, but I would love to accomplish something productive in these next few short days off. I am so grateful to God for my job that I love, but it will be nice to have a little break.

My birthday is in two days. I will turn 50. Wow. My brain does not feel 50, even though my body usually does. My Jubilee year. I want it to be a year of DELIBERATE. I know that's an adjective, but I would like for it to describe everything this year. Deliberate focus, deliberate action, deliberate rest, deliberate prayer, deliberate learning, deliberate love. On purpose, thoughtful. Yes.

The wanderers have returned to the nest... Last year Alex and his sweet new wife, Jessica, finished "seminary" training after their return from France, and have decided to make Ohio their home. At least while he is in nursing school...I have heard rumblings about Cambodia being a part of their future.

Amanda has returned from her year in South Africa, seasoned, wiser, higher standards for her self and others...permanently marked by the experience of seeing what abject poverty really means. My prayer is that her anger will become a healthy angry, a productive angry, and not an internalized pain.

The grandbabies are growing up. Ainsley is 6, Noah is almost 4, and Balin is an old soul, in a body not yet 2. Their mom has embraced her role in their lives with creativity, devotion, and plain old gumption. I am always amazed.

I am still fat and happy...still married, still love my job (I was born to be a nurse). I think a lot about being thoughtful, and manage to steal tiny moments of clear vision. I would love to take a month long sabbatical, in the woods, beside a body of water, alone, with books as my company. Ecstasy. A dream. One day...