.:. Ken's Live Journal: May 2010

Boatload of Memories

Being back home has afforded us the opportunity to accumulate a boatload of memories. There was the grand one at the Canyon but many little intriguing ones along the way too. I guess you could say that we are easily entertained, because some are comparable to sorting socks on a Friday evening. None-the-less here are a few of the memories we have made since arriving back in the States – seeing the wind blow tumble weed across our path while we were out west ** the girls eating caramel apples for the first time ** the sign at the Texas rest area that read “Watch for Rattlesnakes” ** eating fry bread at a Native American diner in Arizona **

getting within 200 yards of “Four Corners” only to be stymied by an under construction sign ** seeing bears at Cades Cove in the Smoky Mountain Park

The eternal “To Do List” seems to be our lot in life and at the moment it’s growing faster than we can cross things off. So if you were to take a peek at our list these days here’s a sampling of what you might see.
1. Take Vermox – there are all kind of creepy crawlies that might be in our system these days, and we want them OUT!
2. Get Inspection Sticker – our van hasn’t had a clean bill of health in over four years so it was off to the garage to have it stickered
3. Friends & Family – connect with them as fast and furious as possible
4. Krispy Kreme – still need to locate a “HOT” sign for KK and stop in for a fresh donut
5. Wedding Anniversary – June 4th marks our 22nd and we have some celebrating to catch up on
6. Small Stuff – find a house for the coming year; consider God’s calling in our lives and what’s next; travel to points between Vermont and South Carolina

While wide highways and orderly traffic is one of the things that we noticed upon our arrival home, it is by no means the only thing that grabs our attention in these first days back. In the Christian realm we are amazed at all the resources available, movements to follow, existing ministries, conferences to attend and detailed studies to read. It all stands in contrast to the spiritually parched land from which we have recently returned.

May 22nd Celebration – Christina’s Photo Journal

She waited four years for a Chick-fil-a sandwich

Reconnecting with some good friends

Mom’s Girl

Ice Cream Cakes – A long held family tradition

Girls Will Do Their Nails

I Can’t Believe I Stayed Up So Late Last Night

I…………..Can’t…………………Breathe!

It was a Narnia theme

The Birthday girl loves webkins

Our Family Goes West

We spent over 12 hours in the car on Mother’s Day in the van, eventually ending up in Albuquerque. Our plan was to have breakfast in the historic district and enjoy the adobe architecture, but instead we had breakfast at Starbucks and were on our way to Flagstaff.

Part of our trip was on historic route 66 which runs from Chicago to Los Angles and covers eight states. The girls ate at a diner for the first time on the route, complete with swivel stools, the old fashion metal milkshake machines and pancake tacos.

After four years without snow we didn’t anticipate seeing it for the first time at the Grand Canyon. The sun broke through in just a little while and added to the breath taking, stunning, spectacular view. We sat in the van at an overlook and listened to Joyful, Joyful by Casting Crowns. Listen to it here.

Mesa Verde (Green Table) was just ten miles from where we spent the night in Cortez, Colorado. This photo is the back side of a famous cliff dwelling ruin. We were really disappointed not to stop, but it would have taken three hours out of a very long travel day.

Traveling the back way to Colorado Springs gave us great opportunity to see the Rocky Mountains up close and personal. We fell in love with the Colorado country side. It was so refreshing and brought us back to our mountain roots. G. Harvey’s Reflecting His Majesty appropriately titles this area of our country.

We are at Whit’s End Ice Cream Shoppe waiting for our WodFamChocSod (World Famous Chocolate Soda). The Discovery Emporium is the Odyssey section of Focus on the Family welcome center. This ministry has been a big encouragement in our family’s life and to spend some time there was a pilgrimage of sorts.

This castle at Glen Eyrie is the headquarters of the Navigators. We spent Thursday afternoon touring the castle and the grounds. Then through a gift from some special friends, we enjoyed a formal tea there.

The tea consisted of a black tea called the Castle Blend, scones, mini quiche, fresh fruit, baby Gouda cheese, palmier and chocolate truffle. Our waitress was Jewish and pronounced a blessing, asking for the Lord’s favor upon our family. She explained that having the Lord’s favor was broader and more encompassing.

We finished up the day on Thursday at the Garden of the Gods, a National Park near Glen Eyrie. It was a beautiful drive through park with fascinating rock structures. I could only wish that we lived within sight of the Park and could take our morning walk there.

We providentially discovered Shelter Pines just outside of Colorado Springs. It’s a ministry that provides rest and renewal for missionary families. We sent three nights here and on Friday did nothing more than accomplish the purpose of the ministry. God is Good!

Let the Adjustment Begin

Make no mistake about it, the adjustment is just beginning. That is, the process of re-learning what comes naturally for 99.9% of Americans. I’m sure it will take months; just as I’m equally sure we will be blindsided by it more than a few times. This journal isn’t going to bore you with every nitty gritty detail of every little adjustment, but do humor me to draw you into our crazy mixed up world for a moment.

“The Adjustment” as we will call it is very pervasive. It catches you off guard and leaves you feeling like a cross between a three year old and the village idiot. Our first morning back and I’m standing in line to buy a bottle of water. “$1.09” the cashier says, so I reach in my pocket and pull out a handful of change. It feels funny in my hand, like the coins have shrunk. I’m caught off guard for an instant and have to stop and think, “What coins do I need to use?” It’s a weird feeling for just a moment. And so was standing amazed that people were leaving their jackets unattended and my wife not being freaked out over water splashing around the food and asking the sales lady what length the teen girls wear their jeans and…

In days of old returning missionaries had weeks if not months to make “the adjustment” as they rode the slow boat from China. The elongated time allowed them to ponder, refresh and make ready for their return. In our own way we are taking a slow boat back home. To create a family memory we plan to hang a left in Dallas and head out to the Grand Canyon before returning back through Colorado and on to the Appalachians. It’s a time to think and to adjust.

“The Adjustment” will continue as we arrive home. How will we fit in? What will others expect of us? What will our expectations be of them? Will we reconnect with friends easily? Are we supposed to tip the bag boy? How do you drive in the snow? Where do you buy Oaxaca cheese? And on and on it goes.