That’s what I thought the famous New Year’s Eve song was about when I was a kid. I used to puzzle over it, trying to make some sense of it, and somewhere down the line I learned the proper name. “Auld Lang Syne” is loosely translated as “long, long ago” or “days gone by”. Usually only the first verse and chorus is sung now but it has several verses, two in particular that sum up the last few months since my last post.

We two have run about the slopes,
and picked the daisies fine ;
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,
since auld lang syne.

Above is the third verse. I definitely feel like I’ve my share of carefree daisy picking. Let’s face it. I haven’t had a job since last June. It’s been great to move to a new city and have the freedom to not only settle in, but spend lots of time getting to make new friends. It has been very important but also very appreciated. 

Mixed in with the daisy picking has been times of weary travel emotions-wise. I have sincerely missed my Life Church family and the automatic ease that comes with spending your days surrounded by friends who have seen you at your best and your worst.

The most tiring thing was the decline in my mother-in-laws health over the last 4 months. In October she was so ill we didn’t think she’d make it to November. We were wrong. She lasted until January 4th to be exact. In the last weeks she was sometimes aware of who her sons were but more frequently not. We had a blessed time a week before she passed when she was completely with us, had great conversations with all of us, for which we can never thank the Lord enough. We buried her on the 8th with songs and prayers and joy that we will all see her again.

This next verse is the most poignant for me:

We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine ;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.

We now have a sea between us and Mom, although in the spiritual it is but a stream. Life here is in a rhythm which means we are wearing our regular glasses most of the time, rather than our rose colored ones. But that’s okay and life needs to be met head on. And the longer you are away from your old friends, the phone calls, texts, and emails come less frequently because, well, we are all meeting life head on.

Did I mention I am looking for a job? I had two different job interviews this week, and I have a 2nd interview Friday for the job I really want. Fortunately it only needs to be part-time. I’m still doing that writing mentoring class which keeps me ever busy. We are also just now starting to look for a house to buy, so I guess this whole Fresno thing is permanent. When I told Evan that we were going to look for a house to buy he asked.”Do we get to look inside now?” We hadn’t realized what a drag it had been for him as we drove up and down streets, checking out neighborhoods to see if they would be to our liking. It’s like that sometimes when we are waiting for God to give the green light on the next adventure. The praying, the wondering’s, the imagining-what-it-will-look-like’s gets old. We want to burst through the door. 

Here’s to all of you. May you burst through the door of this year’s God adventure and unpack the dreams he has given you.

I have 1,000 words to write before Friday. Normally I could crank that out in a jiffy but this is different. It’s an assignment, with set topics. The topics are not of my choosing which makes the assignment more, shall we say, challenging.

Wait a minute! I forgot that I actually like challenges. Yeah, I remember now. Get creative, stir up the ol’ brain juices, put on the coffee and gooooooooooo!

I was checking out my friend Serenity’s blog this evening and was pleased to see she links to my blog in her sidebar. The only problem was it was one of those links that tells how many days it has been since the persons last post. My number was 27. Which I cannot even believe. Oh wait. I can totally believe it has been that long. So just to insure that number doesn’t roll over to 28 at midnight tonight, here is my random catch-up post.

I have so gotten out of any remote semblance of routine since we’ve moved here that the days of the week have become amazingly fluid. Also, my husband has been working Saturday’s and having Sunday and Monday or Wednesday off. My weekends don’t really seem like weekends because of that. A couple of weeks ago I sat myself down for a stern talking to. “Lori, you must get into some sort of schedule otherwise when you do go back to work it will be near impossible to adjust.” I nodded my head somberly and promised that the next day I would get up at a reasonable time, and set aside hour long blocks to do things that need to be done. 

And then we had a family member go into the hospital unexpectedly, which threw me off. Next we realized Harold would have 4 days in a row off so we zoomed off to see my parents, whom we hadn’t visited since we got here. That trip threw all of us out of sync. So here I am making promises to myself for tomorrow’s activities. Sigh.

Random Thoughts:

I wonder if there are any more openings for actress/model jobs? I think I’d like to explore this option for my next career move. I can guarantee I’d be scandal free although how I’d look on camera is anyone’s guess.

I follow @omgfacts on Twitter. They have the most bizarre bits of info and I’m always amazed at what they come up with. Today’s fact is that there’s a lightning storm in Venezuela that has been going on since at least the 16th century, every single day! You can’t make this stuff up people! 

In church today it dawned on me that for the first time in about 15 years I can sit in a service and not be concerned if the announcements all got made or the ushers counted the offering correctly or if someone was going to come up to me after church and want to know how much money they owe the daycare. I can just be.in.the.service. It was very liberating and I’m not taking it for granted because pretty soon I’ll be back in the thick of things church-wise.

The doves outside our bedroom window have raised their babies and moved out. Talk about empty nest syndrome! I loved watching them and really miss them.

Okay, enough. Hopefully I will become somewhat disciplined and not let so much time elapse between posts. Thanks for reading!

The unfamiliar road creates all sorts of thoughts and fear in our minds. Will it be straight? Rocky? Downhill? Safe? I remember when I was a teenager my family and I were off-roading in an unfamiliar part of the desert we usually camped in. To get from point A to point B we had to conquer a steep, nearly vertical hill in our Jeep. It was terrifying, suspenseful and a whole bunch of fun as we tested out not only the Jeep’s skill but my dad’s also. It was very much like a rollercoaster ride! After a couple of tries we made it up the incline and on to our destination.

In some ways our new adventure here in Fresno as been the same. As my husband has said repeatedly, we have a chance to do something different and to spread our wings and let a part of ourselves expand in ways that may not have been possible before. For me one of the best things has been being back in my own culture, and believe me, California has its own culture! My friend Christa wrote this to me:

I am so glad to hear things are going well and that you like where you are and are at peace. It does my heart good to hear that–just because I know some of what you went through in all the pre-move transition. So the fact that what you have stepped into is a good fit and not like a new shoe that rubs places wrong blesses me. That is what I wanted for you!

She has really summed up how I feel, which in a word is comfortable. Don’t misunderstand me. I’m not saying I was uncomfortable the last 23 years in Missouri. It was, however, a place I had to learn to adjust to over time, the same as if I had moved to Mozambique.

Being a Christian, as those of us who are know, can be like living in a foreign culture at times. We try to navigate the unfamiliar road, learn the native customs, and try really hard not to offend people. There is a very popular worship song right now that makes me cry every time I hear it. It serves as a reminder to me that this world and its challenges and blessings, whether they be customs or tribulations, is not my home. I’m not meant to feel comfortable here really. No matter if I’m in familiar surroundings or not, heaven is the only place I will be truly myself and feel completely at home.

<I wake up. Sunshine fills the room, which is much bigger than I expected. The light on the ceiling is different and the walls are cream colored. Harold lies next to me softly breathing. Why is the dresser in the corner? I get up. There is a large double closet. Next to the closet is a long counter with a sink and a space where a small, padded stool is tucked underneath. A door leads to a room that contains a toilet and a roomy shower.

Through all of this we feel the continuing grace of God and are acutely aware of his presence. We have been received with such love by Bread of Life church and for that we are most grateful. Everyone has been so kind and are a big part of helping us adjust to our new surroundings. Moving to a new city is one of the most stressful things you can do but when you are surrounded by friends near and far who support you and pray for you makes all the difference. Thanks to all!

That is pretty much how we all feel. The last 2 or 3 weeks have run together so that they are blended into a frappe of images. Packing the U-Haul truck in 102 degree heat. Long conversations at the Smoyer’s as we reminisce about the last 21 years. Saying good-bye to Debbie M. and Sherry S. at the tiny Kirksville airport. Evan & I almost missing our connecting flight to Fresno because the plane got to Phoenix an hour late. (“Mom, I have to go the bathroom!” “I don’t care! Keep running or we’ll miss our flight!” We were the last 2 people on the plane.) Harold, Doug & Linda arriving Thursday and unpack the truck in 100 degree heat at 5pm but with tons of help from our new church family.

So many emotions too. The scary happy feeling you get before embarking on a new adventure. Harold & I have joined the Middle Aged Adventurers Club. Tremendous, painful sorrow saying good-bye to so many friends, not knowing if we will see them all again in this life. The confusion of finding my way around a new city when I can’t tell west from east. Happiness when we discover the grocery prices aren’t any more expensive than Kirksville so that means our budget will work. Exhaustion bringing deep sleep. Crankiness at having to unpack yet another box. Amazement at the provision and mercy God has shown us as we buy new furniture and pay cash for it, a first for us.

I’m going to upload some pictures later today and will post a link if you’d like to see them. But for now it’s off to the pool for Evan and I before it gets too hot. Supposed to be 108 today but hey, it’s a dry heat!