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....