Hi-ho, Hi-ho, Off to Michigan I go!

I just took down my beautiful Christmas tree. It was definitely dead, but felt like plastic as most of the needles stayed put while I ripped the lights off the branches. Still have to clean the kitchen, pay some bills, finish laundry, and pack a suitcase before bed. I drive to Michigan tomorrow. Yipee! I only wish it were going to be restful. But I'm excited to catch up with friends and family. Hope to see some of you there!

My favorite things

These are a few of my favorite things.....at Christmas!
~ The Divine Family, the Hertzog Family, and the Fisher Family and all the fun memories with them during Christmas 2006
~ Lookout Mountain Church Christmas Eve Service with the glow of candle light in the sanctuary during Silent Night
~ Each person holding their own candle during Silent Night, even when the wax drips down and scalds your fingers.
~ Candy Cane flavored Christmas Coffee from Walmart
~ Dan Fisher's new membership in the Scotch club and he even shares with me!
~ Children opening their presents so fast you can't tell who got what!
~ Everything peppermint!
~ Families coming home to Lookout Mountain and being able to say hello to people you have not seen in years.
~ My stainglass houses and fresh greens & hollyberries decorating the house.
~ The angels telling the shepherds to not be afraid.

Back by not so popular demand

So there really are people besides my mother who read this blog! Thanks for the recent messages urging me to get writing again (all three of them). Life has been lots of fun since I've last posted which has left me little time for the computer. The fun has brought some friends to Chattanooga including my best friend from college Michelle and her kids, and also my best friend from Scotland, Agnes. Yes, the one my car is named after. I'll try to post some pictures of our adventures but I always seem to hit some snags doing that.

In the meantime, here is my funny little adventure today. I can barely handle Walmart since returning to America for a myriad of reasons, but mostly because it is just too overwhelming. Today I was acquiesced to stop at Wallyworld to pick up envelopes and address labels for Christmas cards. The alternative was going out to the Hamilton Place Mall area which, at this time of year, I call "Hamilton Hell". While I walked the ailes with a glazed over look on my face I suddenly remembered that I needed to buy toothpaste. This was all too exciting because I have been waiting to buy toothpaste for months. The last time I bought some at the grocery in Glasgow there was a two for one deal and the same boring flavor has lasted me most of the year. A couple months ago I had to pick up some toothpaste for Stacy at the store and was amazed at the choices. It may not seem like a big deal to you, but I've been looking forward to buying a particular brand and flavor of toothpaste for a couple months.

So today was the big day for buying toothpaste. To say I was completely overwhelmed in the toothpaste aisle is an understatement. There were way too many brands and flavors and I could not find what I wanted - the very toothpaste I had picked out months ago. I was in shock that one store could have so many kinds of toothpaste and as I stood in awe I began to count the different containers! I stopped when I got to 119! I had yet to count the kids flavors and the special denture stuff. There was another woman there who was obviously very overwhelmed as well. She turned and me some magazine said that Colgate's Luminous Enamel Strengthening toothpaste was rated the very best so that is what she was getting. So I got it too. Now my teeth will be luminous and my breath will smell like Crystal Clean Mint! I really hope this is the last "I'm back in America learning how to shop again...." experience I will have. They have big stores in Britain. It's just that nothing compares to Wallyworld. 119. All I needed was one.

PS. Since I just checked this with spell check, I now know how to spell toothpaste. There is no "e" in the middle!

Autumn in Chattanooga

Can I drive you to Chattanooga
Where the city in October looks like fire
Changing lanes on this restless highway
Between this living and desire



These lyrics are from Sandra McCracken's new album Gravity Love. Every time I hop in the car I turn up that song and marvel at the autumnal beauty this year. The leaves on the trees have been especially vibrant hues of yellow, orange, and red. Now that the colors have reached their peak, the mountains really do appear to be on fire. In a matter of days it will be over, but for now I soak in the beauty and think about the creativity of the creator. He must love all these colors he chose to splash our city this time of year. It is all so majestic and grandeur. And to think that He loves me even more.

Books I'm Reading

Current Reading:
To Own a Dragon: Reflections of Growing Up Without a Father, by Donald Miller
Words in a French Life: Lessons in Love and Language from the South of France, by Kristen Espinasse
Real Sex, by Lauren Winner
Confessions of a Shopaholic, by Sophie Kinsella

Recently purchased but still on the shelf:
Seeing Through Cynicism, by Dick Keyes
Instruments in the Hands of the Redeemer, by Paul Tripp
Salvation Belongs to the Lord, by John Frame

Chapel Nerd Lives

When I was a Covenant student I was a secret chapel nerd. I say secret because it really wasn't cool to love chapel. We were required to attend chapel everyday and were allotted a certain number of skips each semester. I usually had a few leftover each semester. Now that I work at Covenant I get to go to chapel whenever I want! (And I even get paid to do it now!)

Today and tomorrow D.A. Carson is speaking in chapel for the Reformation Day lectures. This morning I was telling my work study student how excited I was about hearing him speak. I actually got giddy about it and then embarrassed. But it really was awesome! He taught from Psalm 1. I was surprised at what a smooth speaker he is - easy to listen and process what he is teaching as he digs deeply in the scripture. I've been blessed to hear some great teaching from great minds, but most of the time I feel like I have to work very hard when listening to their teaching. Carson was intellectually stimulating and spiritually encouraging. My soul felt refreshed "like a tree planted in streams of water."

Fireside family time

Anna called me a little while ago to invite me to join the family outside. They had made a fire and were roasting S'mores! Yum! It was the perfect fall, err winter, evening. (It feels as though winter arrived last night and it was only 37F when I left for work this morning.) So I bundled up in layers and a scarf to join the family. We roasted marshmallows and squished them in between chocolate squares and graham crackers. We laughed at Anna's ghost stories and relished the warmth of the fire and tilted our heads back to stare at a sky filled with bright stars. It was all very lovely.

Ramblings after Philly

Last weekend I visited my friend Monica in Philadelphia. It was an awesome weekend filled with sweet fellowship with new and old friends, visiting churches, and walking around the city. Monica works for World Harvest Missions and it was great to talk with her about missionary work in Europe.

A conference at Westminster Seminary was the main reason for my visit. The Women in the Word conference is a take off from the Proclamation Trust Conference in England that I have attended. Both conferences are designed to sharpen Bible teasching skills. This time I prepared a 5 minute talk on Joel 3 - yikes - prophecy! It was hard to get my head into it but I think I got it. With only 5 minutes I decided to forgo the illustrations in order to give more careful attention to the thrust of the text. In our first meeting I found out that my group leader puts great emphasis on using illustrations and even teaches pastors how to develop illustrations in their preaching! Oops! Through these conferences I sharpened my skills in studying/teaching an epistle, O.T. Narrative, and now prophecy. So I wonder what will be next - poetry or gospels? After prophecy I'm more confident to dable in a new genre.

Scare in the night

When I lived in Glasgow I was always hopeful to fall asleep on weekend nights before the pub traffic picked up on the streets. If I was fast asleep then I could probably sleep through the party that continued on Alexandra Parade after the pubs closed. Last night I was just sleep when I heard a noise that made me jump about five feet high! There was a Teh! Then Teh, Teh, Teh, Teh, Teh, Teh on my roof. Who knew that little acorns could make so much noise as they roll down the roof! Finally I fell back asleep only to be awakened 2 hours later by crashing thunder. I laid in bed and counted the seconds between the lightening and thunder (1 second = 1 mile, count 1 mississippi, 2 mississippi, 3....). It was three miles away. Don't think the lightening will hit my little mountain house. And then back to sleep I went.
Acorns and thunder. Quite a change from neds yelling in the street.

Dum Dums and Smarties

The other day I was waiting for something at the bank. I spotted a big basket of Dum Dum suckers (lollies) in the waiting area and proceeded to fish out my favorite kinds. I was so excited because the suckers brought back fond childhood memories of going to the bank with my mom. We always got Dum Dums from the teller and it was the highlight of the day! I started thinking about how Dum Dums at the bank are an American tradition and wondered if they provoke such enjoyment for others. If so, I thought they would be the perfect candy for the basket in our office. I was recently given the responsibility of picking up some candy. I wanted something unique to our office and something that I would not be tempted to eat all day long since the candy basket sits on my desk.

When I bought the candy at Walmart I realized that bags of Smarties were just as cheap as the Dum Dums so I loaded up on both of them. It wasn't until I got to the office and somebody pointed out the hilarity of my purchased that I realized what I had done. Dum Dums and Smarties? So now it is a passsive aggressive stress management technique for me. When a student is annoying me I say "How about a Dum Dum?" When I'm impressed with them I say "How about a Smartie?" When they ask if they can have a piece of candy, I say "Choose wisely."

Stuck on a beautiful day

We have had a succession of beautiful days on Lookout Mountain and I hate being stuck in an office. Especially now because we are a bit slow and I seem to have a hard time coming up with more work. This morning there was a lot of slow traffic over the bridge during my commute. When I got to the bridge I realized it was because everyone slowing down to look at the stunning sunrise over the mountains.
So I was just thinking about where I would rather be on a beautiful day......I decided I wanted to be in Edinburgh Grassmarket at my favorite restaurant Petit Paris. This picture was taken there last spring. I just noticed for the first time the accordion players behind me.
I'm about to get some fresh air while I make the 30 second walk to French class. Maybe I can convince le Professeur to have class outside!

Is the weekend here yet?

Today was a typical Monday. It seemed that everyone in the office had a hard time getting in gear for the week. In addition, emotions were running high with the anniversary of September 11th. There were moments of silence, times of prayer, time spent recalling what we were doing when we heard the news, etc.

For me the real work began when I left the office. Stacy had a meeting tonight so it was me alone on the homefront with three children and lots of homework. I cooked dinner while helping oversee Anna and her math homework. (Overseeing mostly meant keeping her from killing her brother who was pestering her to no end!). Dinner was served, dishes were cleaned and two loads of laundry started. Anna & Megan continued on homework, Luke and I headed out to the little house of learning therapy. Anna followed for her therapy - both learning and vision. Then back to the big house for checking homework, preparing Anna for her science quiz, working on a rainforest project, continuing laundry, evening showers, vacuuming the kitchen, and planning for the week ahead. I collapsed at 9pm to watch the President's address. Soon the laundry will be done and I'll head to bed. I can't wait to go to work tomorrow so that I can rest!

Hear no, See no, Say no....

I've been going through pictures from Scotland and this is a favorite. We could call it "Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Say No Evil". (What exactly is Roddy doing?)I miss all three of these fine men very much.

Interestly enough, this picture was taken on a walk in Glasgow's Merchant City during the Festival of Lights. Last week my Time Magazine had a small blurb on the artist who created that light show. If I was better at this I could include a link to tel you more about him (how do I do that?). Och, who cares!

Grace, Agnes, and the little house

This is my grandmother, Grace Lamson. In July we had a lovely family reunion on Lake Huron in Michigan. I love this picture of Grandma all wrapped up on the windy beach.


This is my little house. I've completely killed the two hanging baskets that were once lush and full of tiny white flowers. Actually, they needed more sun and nothing I could do would help them. Since this picture I have a new permanent cement step and soon will have new landscaping! (And new baskets!)


This is my BIG white car named Agnes. I'm not usually one for naming cars but it was the only way I could cope with driving a car this huge. This car used to belong to my grandparents and it is the classic pensioners car in America (also the common police car). My dear friend Agnes in Scotland used to joke that she was way to young for her name. I am way too young to drive this car, hence the name.

More coming soon

Wow! It's been a long time since I posted something. I promise to write more soon. Can't write now because I have to go study for French class. Yes, I'm trying to take Intermediate French I. A class that at one time would have been a walk in the park. But 14 years after high school I don't seem to remember much of my vocab and the comprehension is a nightmare. What was I thinking?

The students are back on campus and my office is buzzing every minute of the day! I'm loving it....I feel like I have 950 potential new friends!

Laugh out loud

Luke is always making me laugh! A few days ago I told him to go in the other room to set up for Neuronet (his learning therapy program). I walk in the room and found him like this. How could you not love this super duper kid!

Mountain Top High

I started my job at Covenant College this week. I often describe my time at Covenant as a "mountain top" experience (no pun intended). I loved my years at Covenant and now I'm so thankful to be back in that community. My work mates are great and have been so patient and helpful as I learn the ropes. I went to my first staff meeting yesterday and thought it was odd that I already know half the staff or more at this new workplace. The ladies in the mail room told me that I don't look a day older than when I was a student (they're my new best friends!). And of course my favorite time of day is lunch! It is a great opportunity to catch up with mountain friends and soon I'll be making new student friends to meet for lunch.

I'm still trying to help Stacy's children so I'm trying to keep a "working mom" mind set. (Great considering Luke has been telling people I'm their asst mom!) Every night I go home to help the family. These kids are busy, busy, busy. And I love being with them. Soon I'll try to have a social life too. I even got an invite to an outdoor concert last night but then the storms rolled in.

Here is a picture of the campus and building I work in (Carter Hall). The top mountain in the first picture is where I live, Signal Mtn. So I go down one mountain, across the TN river, and up another! Thank God for NPR!

If only I could find my life

I've been meaning to post some pictures from my recent family reunion in Michigan and my little house. But since much of life is still packed up I can't find my cord that connects my camera to the computer. I was delighted to find my card reader only to then find out that my card reader doesn't actually read the card in my camera! (Why do I have that card reader?)
This morning I was running around trying to get ready to go to a baby shower. I couldn't find tape or an enclosure card for the gift. Finally I found a box of stationary I pack up in Scotland only to open it and realize the enclosure cards were not packed in there. I screamed outloud. This is everyday life and is very frustrating. Much of it is my fault for not getting it all done - but I was supposed to be resting in July. Still can't find the camera cord. It may be in the last suitcase from Scotland that Fed Ex will deliver in the next few days. Then I will also have my cooking utensils which will make kitchen work much easier. And one more trip to Ikea should complete most of what I need to get things out of boxes and put on shelves, namely bookshelves....... why do I keep buying books?!

What was I thinking?

Yesterday I ran into the local Christian bookstore during a horrible thunderstorm. I've been avoiding this store since I came back to Chattanooga but I had to buy a present there for a friend. The lightening outside was so bad I thought I was safer by killing time in the store instead of returning to my car. So I perused the aisles and was reminded just how much bad Christian writing is marketed to Americans.

But in the newly released section I found a book called What Was I Thinking? Things I've Learned Since I Knew It All by Steve Brown. I know that Steve Brown is pretty well respected in my circles so I picked it up. And then I couldn't put it down. Brown describes himself as the most religious person he knows. A seminary professor, Christian radio talk show host, a minister - all of his life centers on the study of God and helping others to know God. Yet in the introduction he writes, "Theology...., a belief statement....., and propositions...... Are all useless if they don't lead us to the reality which is God and to the astonishment that ought to be a regular occurrence in the believers life." Theology builds a foundation for the life of the believer but reality of God is what teaches a Christian the tune to sing. Brown says that many know the words but few know the tune. This book was written for people who have the foundation yet struggle in their faith to sing the praises that one only has after encountering the living God and finding that He truly is the source of all delight.

I am one of those people. This past year I have struggled in my spiritual life more than ever. Life was difficult and with it came difficult questions. I could give you all the acceptable Bible answers to the questions, but none of them seemed to explain anything. I was faced with my own unbelief and was overwhelmed. I felt like Jacob wrestling with God demanding for God to reveal Himself on my terms, with means that I would recognize. Eventually I released and just trusted that He would restore my soul. And He is, and He will. I love this book because it was written for people who know all the answers but struggle to believe them in their hearts. For Christians who look for the love of God because they don't understand that He is love. And for those that know you can't confine God to the theology books but don't yet know how to sing the tune.

Favorite quote of Chapter One ~
"I often say to my students when they are especially strident about a subject, 'You haven't lived long enough, sinned big enough, or failed nearly enough to even have an opinion on that.' Well, I have lived long enough, sinned big enough, and failed enough. So I want to share with you what I know about God - which, frankly, isn't as much as I once thought it was."

Ramblings

I don't really have anything to write about so I thought I'd just ramble a bit. I got up early this morning and feel like I have accomplished so much for a Saturday. I have a temporary barking alarm clock who woke me at half 6. Soon after I started sanding the peeling paint off a rocking chair that I plan to paint red to go in my sitting room. This is one of the many projects that I need to finish before starting work. I'm also painting the wall tile in my bathroom and finishing my unpacking of books. Ughhh....I'm sick of packing and unpacking. Later this week I head up to Michigan for my family reunion. Dreading the packing for that trip, which should be relatively simple.

Tomorrow is Sunday. I'm learning how to adjust to not working for the church and having more alone time on Sundays. A couple Sundays ago I went to my usual 9:30 worship service and then went out to my car to go home. I sat in the car thinking "What is wrong and why do I feel guilty?" I realized that it is the first time in 6 years that I am not working on Sundays. Most Sundays in Scotland I would go to somebody's house for lunch but that is not common here so I find myself in alone in the afternoon after church. But now I'm getting into the swing of things. I've been invited to an adult Sunday school class that I think I will like. And my friend Martha invited me over for lunch tomorrow. It is always delightful to visit with her so I am very much looking forward to it.

I'm sitting in a coffee shop typing this and there is another woman talking to her friend VERY loudly. I want to tell you to talk quieter. Does she realize that everybody can hear about her fight with her boyfriend? Americans are so loud (me included)!

I GOT A JOB! I'm the new face of the records office at Covenant College! That means that I smile at people and ask them if I can help and I answer the phones. I love the people in the office. Three of them I already know and the fourth person is British! I think they were more concerned that they got a team member that they liked than what skills I actually possess. My goal is to master the xerox machine in this office. Making copies has always been my weakest skill in office work. I'm excited to work in an office again and thrilled that it is at my beloved Covenant!

The next big decision is whether or not I should get a dog. I have my eye on a few small breeds. Any input would be welcome! All the input from Stacy's children has been very positive with many offers to help!

"Southerners speak music"

Mark Twain said "Southerners speak music". Hearing a soft Georgia lilt is almost like a song, a song that has brought me much comfort lately. But what I love most are the southern idioms like "He was as nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rockers" or "mad enough to spit nails". It is just fun to hear these phrases again. I laughed out loud the other day when I heard a kid at the pool turn to a friend and say "You swim slower than Christmas comes!"
That's my new favorite!

The melting of my heart

Because of some real struggles over the past year I've had a difficult time going to church. I won't go into all the details but Sundays became a real battle in my heart and I felt like most of the time I was losing the battle. It was difficult because for my whole life I had loved going to church more than anything else. By the time I returned to the states I felt like my heart had turned into stone - so cold and hard. But I held unto the promise in 1 Peter that after having suffered for a while, Christ himself will restore my soul.

I haven't been completely restored but I have felt the melting effect from the warmth of the Holy Spirit illuminating my heart with truth and love. Sometimes all I can do in the presence of the Savior is sit and weep. Much of the melting comes from the welcome home hugs, words of thankfulness that I have returned to Chattanooga, recognizing God's generous provision of a home church family that loves me because they dearly love Jesus.


See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone.
Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come,
the cooing of doves is heard in our land.
The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance.
Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me." Song of Solomon 2:11-13

The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17

Americans say funny things....

I've already written about the random woman who told me to go check out some shirt because she thought it would look flattering on me. It still feels odd that the people I encounter out in public want to share so much of themselves. Scots are friendly, and Glaswegians the friendliest of them all, but the average person working the till would not give you more than a 'hello' and 'have a nice day'. So imagine how uncomfortable I was during this recent interaction (my words are in italics).

I was paying for a purchase at Home Depot (B&Q to the Brits). The lady, probably in her 50's, working the till said to me "I just saw a guy I went to high school with and his wife. They were talking to me and I looked at him and thought 'You look older than dirt'. I just kept looking at him and wanted to say 'What happened to you?'" Then she continued "But I'm saved." What? "I'm saved. I love the Lord." Oh. "And I know the Lord doesn't want me to look like that so it won't happen." Well I know quite a few people who love the Lord and don't look all that great. "Well then I would wonder what they are doing to themselves to make them look like that." My purchase was complete so I wished the lady a wonderful day and left the store. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry! She obviously has a very fine line between faith and works. And in the end, santification does not cure acne!

Search for a slamming screen door

I wrote this a couple weeks ago and never posted it.....
I've become a fan of Bill Bryson in the last few years. In his book Notes From a Big Country he writes about his readjustment to American culture after living in England for over 20 years. I think I'll reread it this summer. In one chapter he writes about the sweet sound of a slamming screen door in the summertime. The kind of door with a wooden frame that creaks as it opens and closes. Maybe he says that you can only find these doors in America, I don't know. But I never ran across one in the UK. I remember the same sound from my childhood summers at the my grandparents lake house in northern Michigan. Hearing that sound usually meant that Grandpa was done cleaning the fish for dinner. I can imagine it now.....
I won't make it up north to my grandparents house this summer. But I'll search high and low for the slamming screen door and revel in the memories it invokes. I'll sit nearby and drink a cold glass of lemonade and drink in the sun.

And for the rest of the story......
IT didn't take me long to find my screen door and the good news is that it is on my house!!!! I'm in the process of moving into Stacy's guest house. I've decided to keep calling it the guest house in hopes that it will make me feel like I'm always on holiday. And now every time I enter or leave the house I will hear that beautiful creak and soft slam of the screen door. Sheer joy. Plenty of sun here, now I need to find some lemonade!

What's next?

I'm still in Michigan at the missionary renewal program. After a fun weekend in Chicago visiting my friend Sasha this week has eased up a little in intensity. I feel like I've had a little holiday taking the opportunity in the afternoons to kayak or fish in the lake. I caught 2 "keepers" the other day. My mother said they could have been very expensive fish since I was taking my chance fishing without a license! First time I've done that - nobody tell Grandpa!

Tomorrow I fly back to Chattanooga. I feel like I'm starting life again. Not exactly so, but I am starting a new phase in life. Right now I only have short term plans to tell. I'll be living on Signal Mtn in the guest house of my friend Stacy. For the summer I plan to help Stacy with the kids and catch up with friends. I'll start looking for a job but I have no idea what I want to do. (I'd love suggestions!) I thought this would be a good time to take a little break from ministry while I reevaluate, recharge, and make some plans for the future. I had hoped to start at Covenant Seminary this next year but some other training opportunities have caught my eye and I want to take some time to ponder and figure out what is the best fit if I am going to continue in ministry.

I'll be writing soon from Chattanooga - home sweet home!

Why is she talking to me?

After spending 2 years in Scotland I have become so accustomed to their public manners. Yesterday I was shopping with my mom in a department store and there was a woman standing next to me looking at clothes. Suddenly she said "You should go try on one of these shirts." and she started digging through her pile of clothing to show me a shirt she was going to purchase. I just stared at the woman with a confused look on my face. I looked behind me to see if maybe she was talking to somebody else but there were only the two of us in the area. She continued "Really, I thought this style would not look good on me at all, but I was wrong! It is so flattering and I think it would be flattering for you too. There are more right over there - go try one on!" And still I just stood there staring at her while she walked away.

You see, in British culture rarely will the sales people even greet you, much less make a suggestion like that. And she was not even working at the store. I just kept thinking "Why is this woman talking to me?"

Soon I'll post more of my 're-entry' moments that I find interesting. And maybe soon I'll actually make this blog look more like I want it to look.

Home Sweet Home.......for a quick minute

Hi friends...Here's a short update on my where abouts.
I left Scotland and flew to Atlanta on May 28th. My sweet friend MaryAnne picked me up at the airport with flowers and some chocolate. She must have known I would need more than just a smile and hug after trying to get five suitcases and a violin through customs! Worse than the luggage were the extremely annoying Americans in the customs queue complaining because they couldn't use their cell phones. MaryAnne treated me to a lovely dinner at Chili's where I ate a HUGE salad. I had been craving just that type of salad that you can only find in American resturants.

I spent 2 days doing almost nothing in Chattanooga. I only saw a couple friends and ran a couple errands. I just wanted to rest and adjust back to American life. On Wednesday morning I flew up to Kalamazoo Michigan for a missionary renewal program. I'm staying in a little cabin on a lake. No phone, tv, or email to fight for my time. Mostly just quiet in my cabin with lots of time for resting and reading. In the mornings I go to seminars and meetings and have some homework. But the point of the program in to help renew ministry people so they are careful not to over burden us.

How convenient that it is located near my family! My mom came to stay with me for the weekend. Tonight I am hanging out at my cousin's house in Kalamazoo doing laundry and checking email. My aunt and I just had a long talk on the porch while eating ice cream and raspberries. How sweet it is to be home!

It's so sad.....

Ruth is a four year old in my Sunday school class. She is usually quite shy but has recently blossomed which we enjoy because she is very clever and keeps us laughing. Ruth loves to play church with her cousins. Last week she asked her granny to play church with her. After they "sang" 7 (!) psalms Ruth announced they would then have 6 prayers. And this is how she prayed
"God help all the children in Africa who have no clothes....It's so sad.
God help all the children in Africa who have no food....It's so sad.
God help all the children in Africa who have no toys.....It's so sad."

ruth's mom had recently told her about these children in Africa when Ruth was refusing to eat her dinner. I chuckled when I heard the story from her granny but later I thought about it more. How desensitized am I to pictures of the suffering children in Africa? How often do I grieve over their suffering in my prayers and feel the sadness that Ruth embraced? Not often enough.

Catching up....

OK - so I'm not too great at updating this blog. Maybe it's because life is absolutely crazy right now while I get ready to leave the UK!

First....France was wonderful! I love everything - the culture, the food, trying to speak in broken French, the sunshine, and most of all......Paris. The architecture was grand and opulent. The Eiffel Tower was AMAZING!French men flirted with me - nobody ever flirts with me so that was nice. I can't wait to go back there one day.....It's a good thing I didn't get there until the end of my Europe stay.

Now life is filled with packing, packing, and more packing. How can one person accumulate so much stuff in two years? It's sickening and makes me want to just sell everything I own (except my ipod) and become a monk. And the difficulty with moving to another continent is that I have to get rid of everything that I'm not taking. If a friend stops by for a cup of tea these days, they usually take home some treasures that would otherwise become trash.

In the midst of all the madness, my computer got a nasty virus. I got so frustrated I decided to pack it and only use the computer at the movie store on my street. I'm sure somebody in America can figure out how to fix mine.

I'll post a moving schedule soon. Bye for now - I'm going to go call utility companies and hope that some of them actually owe me money! Fat chance.

Bonjour mes amis!

I'm writing you from Lille, France. This is my last holiday before I wrap things up in Glasgow and move back to the states. A friend from Chattanooga, Tara Luther, lives here in Lille. Today we drove to another small town, Amiens, to see their cathedral. It was stunning - twice the size of Notre Dame. The rest of the afternoon we spent walking around this canal town. It was a beautiful day and I even have a little pink on my nose to prove it! Much different than Glasgow.

If I was really on the ball I would be able to post some pictures from today! But I'm not. So I'll try to post my favorites when I get home. Monday we will visit Gent, Belgium and then Tuesday we will go to Paris for three days. Can't wait.
Au revior!

What's in a name?

When thinking of a name for this blog I wanted to choose something that was tied to my time in Scotland. Dead Chuffed Life sounds morbid or angry, but in reality it means the opposite. In Scottish vernacular, dead means "very".... It's dead easy. I'm dead serious..... Chuffed means happy or pleased.... I'm chuffed about it......So translation of my blog title is Very Happy Life.

Now that you are impressed with my dead cool title, I'll confess that I stole it. A friend here has a group called the Dead Chuffed Society and I really liked the name! My best creativity is usually another man's ideas. Rob & Duplicate - skills I picked up in missionary training.

People say that America and Scotland are two different cultures with a common language. But sometimes I don't even think the language is common! I love so many of my Scottish words. Rubbish, pudding, blether, queue, porridge, nappy. I wonder how long I will continue to say them when I return to America. I think I'll refuse to give some of them up. My favorite expression I've picked up isn't a word at all.....It's the deep-throated guttural exasperation of "och".

Here is some fun for you! I'll send a prize to the first (non-Scottish) person who can translate this sentence! Good Luck.
Canty whissunday! i'mm aff tae scratcher noo! (no internet cheating allowed!)

Welcome!

Hiya!
I've finally entered the blogging world. The idea first came to me soon after moving to Scotland and I regret not starting then. But it's never too late so here it is!
In a few weeks I'll be leaving Scotland so this will be easy for keeping in touch with folks on both continents. And soon I'll think of something interesting to say....... In the meantime, here is a picture of my street. About halfway down the block there is a large purple sign and my flat is the top bay window above that sign.