Gratitude Reflection, the back on line edition


Wow, what a couple of days it has been. Ice storms and travel and discernment and javlina's and no access to the internet....

Despite the ice storms headed our way, and the freezing rain, our flight out on Sunday was scheduled on time. We had a bit of a delay at the last minute when a cherry picker deicing planes got stuck in the gate next to ours and the fire engines and ambulances came roaring over. Our plane was unable to get to the gate until to commotion was resolved. No one was hurt. Then our plane had to be deiced, that took another 25 minutes. So. We left about an hour late but arrived only 45 minutes late. Not too bad, all things considered. Especially since another 400+ flights were cancelled later that evening.

Our trip was lovely. I felt comfortable in the place and with the people. They were very gracious and welcoming and excited. My husband was embraced and welcomed and made to feel comfortable. The terrain is very different. Mountains, desert, cacti...rattle snakes, cougar's, and javelina's. flickerfoto. The javelina's look like pigs but are really peccary, hooved mammels from South America. They are omnivores, but generally prefer roots and vegetables. They have thick straight tusks to root around. Scary looking, we actually saw a herd of them yesterday morning.....but apparently they leave humans alone unless they feel threatened...I wonder if big barking dogs would feel like a threat?...(I think so)...

Also, while we were there, rain, fog, and snow in the mountains. They laughed and said, this is our winter, these three days you are here. Then it will be gone. We said, the weather makes us feel right at home. The church is beautiful. I could see myself there. But they have two more to interview and a few more weeks before a call is made.

I'm not sure I like being the first one. I hope they don't forget me by the time they have done this with two others...

Our trip home was more tenuous than the flight out. For two days my husband was getting storm warnings on his blackberry. We thought it would be really bad. At the airport we found out that one flight from there to Chicago had been cancelled, but two others had gone out, and ours was only a 20 minute delay. In the end we left about 35 minutes late, but we made up the time, again, in the air, and arrived early. Without incident.

I feel truly blessed by the ease of our travel. I think we were embraced by prayer and the Holy Spirit. Considering what might have been, and what was...I also feel truly blessed to have met these people. We were hosted and toasted in gracious hospitality. We were fed delicious meals and cared for by some fine people. It was a wonderful experience!

Today I am grateful for safe travel, for opportunities to discern and ponder God's call. I am grateful for the mystery of it all and the wonder. I am grateful to be home with my dogs, who missed us terribly, apparently. And with our children, who managed well enough without their parents. And I am grateful to sit in my study, blogging with you all again, and for the cat on my lap. I'm also grateful that I have a bishops visit this Sunday and do not need to prepare a sermon.

Now I pray. I won't know anything until the second week of January....

Comments

Crimson Rambler said…
(sigh) here I am without a single javlina to brighten the winter landscape! Still mulling you wise words about "redemptive media"... thank you!
Mary Beth said…
I'm so glad to hear the report and that the travel went relatively well. And ESPECIALLY that it was a good visit for you and your DH both!

Praying with you for HS's will to be perfectly clear to all concerned.
welcome back... it seems appropriate enough to practice holy waiting throughout advent, and christmas and then discover the outcome during the season of epiphany.
Terri said…
HC - exactly! And a reminder that it is not easy to wait, but it can be holy....

thanks MB - do you have javelina's where you are in texas - or you are in a big city, so none have stuck around....?

and CR...thanks! If I go there I'll send a javelina's your way...although I suspect it's too cold for them
Unknown said…
So glad to hear how it all went! And I hope the time of waiting will speed by, yet leave you plenty of time for all your Christmas preparations!
Diane M. Roth said…
yes, glad to hear you were warmly welcome. with you in the waiting...
Anonymous said…
I'm glad the travel and the interviews went well! I wonder how a javelina would do in the three feet of snow we have here? :)
Terri said…
hee hee, it seems they come out in the cool of the night, but we saw them in the morning because it was cold - which means, yikes, they could be everywhere!!!!

on the other hand, they are less than two feet tall, so navigating three feet of snow....that would be tough...

SB and diane, thanks.
Jan said…
It was funny to read about javelinas. I'd never heard of them before moving to TX--so they are in other states, too? I'm glad the trip went pretty well, especially considering all the icy weather in the midwest for travel.
Katherine E. said…
Oh, I'm glad the traveling was so easy, mompriest. You were in my thoughts and prayers...as you will be throughout Advent.

My Uncle Odelle had a javelina hog head mounted on the wall in his den. Mouth open..Teeth bared...mean looking. Oh! When I was a little girl that thing used to scare me to death.

Welcome home!
RevDrKate said…
Welcome back...you have been in my thoughts and in our prayers on Sunday congregationally for safe travel. Glad to hear it all went well and was so positive. Good to have you back among us.
Barbara B. said…
Welcome back!! I'm so glad everything went well!
Terri said…
Oh, my....I can't imagine having a javelina head mounted like that - it would be scary!

Thank you everyone for the prayers. I really felt them, felt surrounded by prayer.
Rev SS said…
Chiming in late here ... but want you to know I too am so glad to hear it went well, and will continue to pray for you during the waiting.
Grace thing said…
Echoes to everyone's comments. It sounds like something rose up within you in affirmation to this place. Exciting to see what will happen. Blessings to you in your waiting, mompriest.
Mary Beth said…
There are javelinas further south and west of us...but not up here, that I know of...

I'm in the city anyway, so an occasional opossum or raccoon is most of the wildlife we see.

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