chronicles of an international trip. Friday, June 24, 2011   Hour one: last Starbucks iced coffee   Hour two: the goods bye-bye, Grandpa bye- bye, Philadelphia Diesel 10 helps with check-in this playground in the Philly airport was, literally, a God-send Hour twelve: breakfast after the red-eye to London Hour twenty-one: staying occupied Hour twenty-six: we made it!  More or less. home sweet South Asia home.  

  day two. Thursday, June 23, 2011   He put his hand under her chin and lifted her face to his and kissed her.  ‘Happy birthday, glimmering girl.  Sorry it’s been such a hassle.’ ‘It isn’t such a hassle, really.  It’s just life—quirky and scary and lovely and immense.  The beauty to be seen from our window can’t be diminished by the dark soul that crawled out of it last night.  I wouldn’t have it any other way.’ – Jan Karon In the Company of Others The day we left for South Asia, I lay in bed at 124 Market Street and felt so panicked I couldn’t move.  I can’t…

  good-bye lititz. Thursday, June 23, 2011        

  gratitude. Monday, June 20, 2011   “Everywhere I have sought rest and not found it, except sitting in a corner by myself with a book.” – Thomas a Kempis   620. For many such corners in my in-laws’ home. Thank you, Mom and Dad G, for helping us to find rest this week before our big trip.  We miss you already.  

  breakfast on the balcony. Saturday, June 18, 2011      

  pouting. Saturday, June 18, 2011      

  this morning. Thursday, June 16, 2011   On Monday night, Alison made the biggest batch of cinnamon rolls I have ever seen.  It was the Pioneer Woman’s recipe, times two.  While we hung out in the kitchen and chatted a-mile-a-minute, she flattened out the dough and sprinkled it with sugar and cinnamon, and made counter-long roll of it.  And my mouth watered.  She put the cut-up pinwheels (seven pans’ worth) into the oven, and mixed a mountain of powdered sugar with milk while the four of us sat around the dining room table with late-night bowls of ice cream. And when I woke Tuesday morning, it was to the…

  meet the worshams. Wednesday, June 15, 2011     John and Alison Worsham and their two boys are moving to our city in August to do community health in South Asia.  We got a chance to spend the night with them in Durham on our way up to PA this week and had such a great time.  They are a sweet, fun family, and I think Joshua and Caleb might love Toy Story every bit as much as Judah and Amie do. Their things are all packed up and they are headed up to NYC in a couple weeks for the month-long training we did last year.  Their support…

  good-bye. Sunday, June 12, 2011   We leave bright and early tomorrow morning to head back up north.  We’ll take a couple days, stop to see some friends in North Carolina on the way. So once again we find ourselves saying good-bye.  Good-bye to Columbia.  Good-bye to our friends.  Good-bye to our family.  This is becoming way too familiar. And it doesn’t get any easier. But the memories are worth it all.  Thanks everyone, for making us feel very, very loved.    

  saturday. Saturday, June 11, 2011