whirlwinds

It feels as though it's been forever since I visited my friendly blog page. I've been touring around the Southern U.S. for the past three weeks and it has been completely crazy. Even before that, I was really sick the week before I left for home and I just didn't have the energy to form cohesive thoughts.

I'm currently sitting in the Newark International Airport, trying to kill 6 2/2 hours before my flight to London, then on to Tel Aviv and back to Jerusalem—About 26 hours including layovers and getting to/from the airport. It makes me tired to think about it, so I'm not going to.

So. How has life been for me? Well the day before I left for the states, Sandra called to say that Levi had the chickenpox. I've never had them. I spent the evening before at their house, playing with him in his most contagious period. But prayer works! I had to go to the doctor while in the states to get an HIV test—the Israeli government requires it for all volunteers—so I had them check and I'm immune to chickenpox. Yay! I don't have HIV either.

The good ol' USA! Can you gain twenty pounds in three weeks? I feel like I did, or at least should have! Everybody spoiled me rotten. How fun was that!! I spent the first week with my sweet brother, Mark, then headed out driving to Kentucky to meet up with my Aunt Darlene and Uncle Joe. We visited more relatives, especially Aunt Gladys, who has battled colon cancer and narrowly survived radiation and chemo. It was a sweet time together, although Uncle Joe likes to talk till 3:00 in the morning... Can I just say that the people in Kentucky are the nicest people in the world! I was amazed—even the people working in fast food drive-throughs.

From there it was on to Arkansas, and God worked everything out so beautifully—I got to visit with so many people and had a wonderful time with my friend Faith who was in from Colorado. I got to see my beloved Cat and the wonderful woman who has put up with him since I left. Yes, having Tovi makes me realize what a stinker Cat was. Still I loved him, even with all his persnickityness. It was a crazy week there and I went to bed crying from tiredness many nights. I went shopping, went to Tulsa, saw my accountant about taxes, went to the doctor, visited my stored belongings in the basement of my old house, shipped about 30 of my old books to myself, went to a wedding, met with the elders of my church, got a massage.... It was never boring, that's for sure!

Then it was on to Fort Worth for three very, very short days. I was so sad that I didn't get to see many of my friends there, but again, every minute was packed. On Thursday, I made the 14 1/2 hour drive back to Atlanta to rest up a couple of days before flying out.

God was so incredibly good to me in so many ways. My brother loaned me his car so that I didn't have to rent one (How cool is that—especially considering the fact that I put over 2500 miles on it!). I got to see so many people that I love. I ate wonderful food and savored beautiful moments in Barnes and Noble. We won't talk about Target and Wal-mart, except to say how incredible they really are.

Soon I will be back in Jerusalem, starting my new adventure with Bridges for Peace. Did I mention that I took a volunteer position with them as a graphic designer? I will start the week after I get back and I'm so excited about it all.

Well, that's all the trivial, factual news that I have for now. I'll get back to heart stuff later on. For now, I must go find the British Airways check-in counter and get some boarding passes before going through security again. Plus, a woman just sat down beside me with the strongest smelling hot dog in the world. I need to leave before I throw up.

bye for now