Georgia or Bust

After I got my car all packed for my road trip, I went through each room of the house trying to figure out what important item I'd forgotten. I never did find that illusive item, but there on the floor by my bed was a quarter. I hesitated a moment, before reaching down to see what was on its back -- Georgia.
I posted my destination on facebook, then headed off.

My first and last stop on every road trip is Pennsylvania, where I stop in to visit with a dear friend. I always leave there refreshed -- emotionally and spiritually. We spent hours sharing, laughing, and, of course, eating a wide variety of yummy desserts. This time around, we also spent a lot of time side by side on our matching Toshibas working on our doctoral coursework. She's a year ahead of me -- and she'll be my hope that I can do this.

When I was finally able to drag myself out of that safe spot, I headed south -- through Pennsylvania, Virginia, and North and South Carolina. I visited the US Army Heritage and Education Center, drove along skyline drive in the Shenandoah Valley, took lots of pictures, and ate a lot of snacks. Then last night I met my first goal and arrived in Georgia where I'm hanging out with a friend from boarding school in Africa.  Tomorrow we're having breakfast with another friend. That's a seventh of my graduating class!

It's amazing the neat ways God works. From a misplaced quarter on the floor by my bed, to revisiting old friendships and bringing them into the future.
Time to find another quarter...
(By the way, I forgot my pillow.)

Road Trip

Yesterday I began my road trip.

I got up early, after staying up late packing, and began loading up my car with food, clothes, and other supplies. I was a bit nervous (aka, stomach-aching afraid) that I was making the wrong decision. Should I really be driving off alone across the country again? Maybe I should be staying home and getting the house clean for Mom and Dad's return. Or working on my doctoral studies. Or... Finally I stilled, sat on the couch and asked Abba, "Is it ok that I'm going on this trip?" But then I was up and off before He'd answered. I had to get the car packed before the first service at church...

As I was rearranging the supplies in my car, working around the knot in my stomach, I slowly became aware of the steady stream of conversation my neighbor was keeping up with her dog. In a calm, steady, love-filled voice, she was saying, "...You're stressing out too much. It's no big deal. What are you stressing out for? You're stressing out too much..."

And I got it. Again. 

And I relaxed.

I made it through Connecticut (stopped at Dinosaur State Park), New York and New Jersey bumper to bumper traffic, and into Pennsylvania. Now I'm hanging out with a dear friend, her husband and daughter, and, of course, our Abba.

Dinosaur State Park

Freedom

I am free.

Freedom means

            I don’t need to be afraid.

I don’t need to hide.

I don’t need to impress.

I don’t need to please.

I don’t need to run.

I don’t need to cling, long, or wish.

I don’t need to demand.

I don’t need to overcome.

I don’t need to compensate,

                        Or overcompensate.

I don’t need to escape.

I don’t need more, less, something else, someone else,

                                                                        Or something different.

I don’t need.

I am free.

Not because I have You,

But because You have me.

Live

It's been a while since I've last blogged. Perhaps that's because I've been so busy living life, that I haven't had a chance to sit down and think about it in a while. Hmmm. What have I done since I last posted?
I celebrated 5 years as a cancer survivor. I finished writing my book. I started my doctoral studies. I watched my little boy graduate from highschool with a 4.85 gpa... Seriously, could life get much more full that that?
Tomorrow is the last day of the 2011-2012 school year. My classroom is almost all wrapped up in newspapers and trash bags. The last report cards of the year are stuffed in their blue envelopes and resting in the children's cubbies. I just have to go  in, pass out the medals won at our mini-olympics, give 21 hugs and wipe away liters of tears, eat a celebratory end of the year drumstick at the staff cookout, and then --
Well, I haven't really decided what then.
I might go on a three week road trip out west to points unknown. I might hole up in my house and begin writing my sequel. I might head out to porch swing with that pile of books I've been hoping to get to.Or go to the beach with a friend. Or maybe I'll go look at puppies.
I don't have to decide today. I just have to live today. :)