The Journey

As many of you know, my parents unexpectedly passed away within 17 months of each other.    Needless to say, their deaths has taken its emotional toll on myself as well as the rest of my family.   I was left with a bit of an inheritance.  Our house was in need of some insulation.   We were getting mold on some of the bedroom walls.  I am allergic to mold and have had some sort of a chest infection the past three springs as a result.   We were able to use some of the money to do an extensive exterior renovation to our home.   We were also able to pay off our line of credit and put some money in a tax free savings account.   Mark & I both felt that God was also calling us to something different with the money.   I did give some of it away (which is always a great feeling) but we felt there was more to it. 

I have told Mark for YEARS that I want to go on a winter vacation.   We thought it would be our 15 year anniversary (nope), then we thought maybe for our 40th birthdays - that did not happen either.   I did not want to take the kids.   Well, God had something else in store.  We are doing something rather radical with some of the money.   We are going to go on a vacation and we are going to a third world country to help Somalian refugees and we are taking our children.    We have felt incredible peace about this.

Then in November, I started doubting.   Our expenses went up.   I am a planner and this what not part of the budget.   Mark & I did not want to ask people to support us on this trip - part of it may have been pride but we did not think so.   Mark is so wise.   He kept telling me not to worry about it and things will work out (this is Mark's philosophy for many things and it drives me bonkers).   You think I would learn to listen to him but ... maybe one day.    Anyhow, I found out a few nights ago that things are working out.    Our wonderful, amazing church has collected money for our trip.   The extra costs are almost covered.   We also found out that too much EI was taken off Mark's cheque this past year and he received extra money on his pay cheque today as well.

I have so much to learn.   God indeed does work in mysterious ways.   Don't get me wrong, I would rather have my parents here with me and celebrate Christmas with them in Winnipeg rather than going to Nairobi.  However, I am able to see they have blessed me and our church has contributed to this blessing as well.

I have learned a lot already and we have not even left Canada yet.  :)

Getting Ready

The countdown is on.   We fly out of Grand Forks on January 27th.   We will be flying to London and spending 4 days there and then we are off to Nairobi.    Micah & Aby are stoked to say the least.   Planning can feel overwhelming at times but we are excited.   

Mark starts his sabbatical on January 3rd.    He plans on auditing a course at Carey, enjoying 5 weeks with his family on our trip, & becoming a volunteer with Winnipeg Harvest.   Apparently, he wants to go out to a cabin for a week with the dog and watch movies, listen to music and do nothing as well.