Day 1 Travel Day

I can't believe it's finally here!. We leave in three hours. I feel like I did in the sixth grade as I waited for the school bus to take us to New Orleans for a field trip. You know the feeling. Nervous. Excited. A little scared.

The packing process proved to be as tricky as a thousand piece puzzle of Big Ben. I'm still grieving the lost of two sweaters and a pair of boots that didn't make the cut. It's not that I'm afraid I don't have enough to wear, it's just that they're so cute. 2 papa, on the other hand, had decided how many of each item of clothing he needed and proceeded very methodically to pack. So even when I tried to convince him to take the rust colored shirt, he said no, that he only needed six shirts. Oh, how easy it must be to be a man. But, not nearly as much fun. At one point he honestly debated about taking two pairs of shoes instead of one. Really, how could anyone survive with one pair of shoes? However, I tried to keep my mouth shut thinking my deleted sweaters and boots might have a chance. But, in the end, they didn't make it.

Since 2 papa's idea of packing is dumping it all in one big pile in a suitcase, my next job was to equally distribute the articles of clothing so the four suitcases we were allowed weighed under, or right at, 50 pounds each. That was the real challenge. Boots, coats, sweaters, vitamins, books, gifts for our English friends---everything had to be arranged and rearranged over and over again until I got each suitcase at exactly 50 pounds. I have a little hand-held weighing thing that allowed be to pick up the suitcase with it attached and weigh it. Needless to say, I didn't need a visit to the gym after that exercise. Did I mention 2 papa has a hernia and can't lift anything over twenty pounds. So, as I hoisted the four suitcases 1/2 inch off the ground, he read the weight. In case you're wondering, I did thank him for his help.

Well, as the song goes (if you're as old as we are, you'll remember), our bags are packed and we're ready to go. Our precious family gave us a going away dinner last night, complete with cookies decorated with the flag of England and handmade cards from the grand kids. Once again, we were reminded what is truly important in life--our family and friends. We've hugged them all and will miss seeing them.

I Peter 1:18 in The Message says, "Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God. It cost God plenty to get you out of that dead-end, empty-headed life you grew up in. He paid with Christ's sacred blood, you know. He died like an unblemished, sacrificial lamb. And this was no afterthought." Life is definitely a journey, isn't it? Our prayer for our life journey is the same as our prayer for the journey that starts today--that we are able to spread the love we have for God, our country, and our family and friends to all that we meet and, in the end, we arrive home safely.

Hugs, 2 mama

Perscription for Life

I hope you're not thinking 2 mama is like the little boy who cried wolf, telling everyone that she created a blog for her trip, but never going on the trip. I promise I'm really going to England. For those of you who are expecting me to be gone, I'm sorry. I know that's what this blog is for, but I'm still here--just blogging away without ever boarding a plane. Oh well, consider these practice blogs. Don't you like the word, blog? I have no idea what it means, but I'm sure it stands for something very computer-technological, which is not how it sounds, which is so...........bloggy.

Oh well, today's trip check-list included an appointment with the urologist, a shopping trip, and highlights. (No self-respecting southern woman would go across the pond without fresh highlights.) The mall and highlights sound reasonable but, Why in the world would the urologist have anything to do with your trip to England, you might say. Trust me, it wasn't exactly where I wanted to be either. But, I was recently on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic when an unexpected bladder infection knocked me to the ground as if I were standing alone on a golf course in a lightening storm, so I signed a contract with myself to never leave the country without an antibiotic for such an emergency. After a nice conversation about cameras, sight-seeing, and how his dad knew 2 papa's dad, I left with a prescription in hand and headed to the pharmacy.

There is nothing like being prepared. I've always contended that preparation can take us from frenzy to fantastic in any given situation. I took a few tests back in my school days unprepared. Talk about frenzied. But, when I was prepared. That teacher couldn't hand me the test fast enough. FANTASTIC....that's how I felt. I was so happy to be taking a test, a fire drill (the best opportunity to legally skip class) couldn't have stopped me. My trip to the urologist was one of those steps that could keep my trip, or at least a day or two of it, from total despair.

Here's my favorite "be prepared" scripture. It's from in Ephesians 6:13 The Message: "Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out."

I have to admit that many times I'm much quicker to prepare myself for the physical battles I'm sure to be up against, like an unhappy bladder in a foreign country, than I am for the spiritual battles that will surely come my way as well. I forget to fill my prescription that says, "Read God's word. Pray hard and long. Keep your eyes open." I'm definitely going to work on that one.

Oh--the trip to the mall. Just searching for gifts for all the wonderful folks in England who made this trip possible. Just feeling like Mardi Gras beads and a small bottle of Cajun Hot Sauce from Hobby Lobby won't work this time. Still looking. Have a great day.

A Trip of a Lifetime

I am so sad today as we learned of the death of Jack, who was the first of my twenty-five first cousins on my dad's side of the family. He lost a hard-fought battle of sixteen months with cancer. No one could have asked for a more honorable person to lead the way for twenty-five young and impressionable cousins. He was a soldier of impeccable character, an accomplished athlete, a loving husband, a proud father and grandfather, and a faithful follower of God. He will be greatly missed.

Aevin is spending the night tonight. I'm trying to spend some quality time with each grandchild before the trip. We went on a date to WalMart--a child's dream come true. We bought a toy and a chocolate bar. When you're five, does it get any better than that? It's a school night so I managed to get him in bed by ten. I figure if he's asleep by 10:30 and up at 6:30 that's eight hours. Not too bad. After all, losing an hour of sleep is worth it for quality time with your grandmother. At least that's my assessment.

After I put him in bed, I thought I should do something to start getting ready for our trip. I looked around my room at the empty suitcases and thought again of Jack. We're sad and already miss him, but he's on the journey of a lifetime. No suitcases needed, as God has already prepared a mansion, fully equipped, for Jack. The suitcases are just for those of us left behind. We're the ones who will still go places that don't come fully equipped. If someone said we would need to pack a suitcase for Heaven, what would I put in it? I can't think of a single thing except my family. It's not like being chosen for survivor and getting to take three things from home. A trip to a deserted island is different. No doubt, I would take my Bible, an Ipod and Maybelline Very Black Mascara. But, a trip to Heaven. No need for a Bible; I'm sure I'll have access to the word of God. And the music is probably piped in so no IPod will be needed. Mascara...nope, I'll be quite content with my pale eyelashes. After all, Philippians 3:20 tells me, "...there's far more to life for us. We're citizens of high heaven! We're waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ, who will transform our earthy bodies into glorious bodies like his own. He'll make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which he is putting everything as it should be, under and around him." Yes, Heaven will be the ultimate vacation destination---no packing necessary. I guess I better close for the night. I'm off to sleep with Aevin and to watch Dancing with the Stars. Aevin's a kicker so I won't sleep much anyway. TV will be a diversion.

I Can't Believe I Did It

Not that I'm technologically challenged or anything, but I really didn't think doing this blog thing would be so easy. Thank you, blog people who invented this! So, here I am. Now what? Oh yeah, this is to keep all our family and friends updated on our journey to England. In case you haven't heard, 2 Papa and I have been invited to England this fall. No, it's not an invitation by the queen or anything that fancy; it's that we were invited to share our limited knowledge of things we know with the students at Oxford University. I have to admit, it's all looking a little scary right now. After all, it's been many years since we went to college and, I'm sure 2 papa took it all in stride back then, I was plenty scared. I know, I'm older and wiser, but some things never change. For me, it's mostly about what's left behind. Oh, I love the idea of adventure, but there's always the adventure at home I hate to leave. I think I'll name a few: 1. Sadie, our 12 year old granddaughter, coming over every day for a fruit smoothie. (Yea! I'm trying my hardest to get them all to eat healthier.) 2. John Luke's junior high football games and anything else he does. (Go, John Luke, Go!! I'm a proud 2-mama. Can you tell?) 3. Asa, nine year old grandson, sleeping on my couch. 4. Bella and Aslyn, both 7, picking my flowers and then selling them to 2-papa. (Quite the business ladies, don't you think.) 5. Almost eight year old, Will, and his amazing smile. (Girls, get ready for this young man.) 6. Aevin's incredible hugs. There's nothing better than a hug from five-year-old Aevin. 7. Phone calls any time of the day from Macy, Ally, and Maddox. (They live in another town, but managed to find me when I was in the Dominican on a mission trip, so England should be a breeze. Keep the phone calls coming, kids.) 8. My incredible church family who I know will keep us in their prayers while we're gone. 9. My kids, the parents of my adorable grand kids, and all the things they have going on in their lives. All the rest of my family--mom, sisters, brothers! 10. Tennis. (I know. This one isn't that admirable, but it's true. I'm too old to sit out of tennis for long. Maybe I should buy a Wii while I'm over there and swing away.) Yep, Forest Gump was right. Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you're going to get. We sure never thought we would be going to England this fall, but I am quite confident that God isn't surprised at all. He knows what we're leaving behind and knows what awaits us. This is God's Word on the subject, taken from Jeremiah 29:11 in the Message: "I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for." I didn't know that scripture like I do now when I left for college in 1971. I wish I had. Tonight 2 papa said he is so excited about the trip and that we can act like we've just met and started a new journey. I said that would be fun except it's hard to forget 38 years and I don't think I want to. Later, he agreed. It's the 38 years we shared together that make this adventure so exciting! Let the packing begin.