Two Weeks To Go

Two weeks from right now we will be at the Airport leaving with our friends for Israel. We are doing all the typical last minute things: making sure clothes are ready, putting some back and getting others out. Friends are helping by telling us where they have found things that travel well. I am looking through my notes and pictures from the METS trip to remember things about the sites we will visit.

This week and next are long walk weeks. First to just get used to the walking long walks but also to take the time to think about what this all means. This trip is the result of years of work, study, learning, growing and celebration. It is because of God's call on my life and the knowledge that my answer, YES, is why I am taking this trip to Israel. Ordination- ordained in the United Methodist Church as an Elder to serve, to preach, to teach, to perform the sacraments and to order. What an incredible joy.

Today I celebrated my ordination with a group of friends who walked with me along the way. Sometimes pushing me, sometimes lifting me over the speed bumps, sometimes laughing with me, sometimes crying with me or holding me when I cried alone, but always encouraging me to keep going. Ever since that day in 2001 that I knew this is where God called me to be it has been joy. Now the joy continues. I am happy that you are along with me.

Blessings for your week.

C. Kay

Luggage

With all the new luggage limits the luggage itself becomes an issue. Do you pay more for luggage that weighs less so you can carry more? Do you get luggage that will last but means you can carry less? I opted for the latter - but the neat thing is the luggage has a built in "overweight" indicator built in by the handle. It will show me if the bag is over 50 lbs. Now that is great engineering. I will still need to be fugal about what I take, so if you see me in the same clothes in many of the pictures ---- well that means I was very frugal, not that they are all taken in the same day.

I think I am going to like the blogging thing. Today was a great day. I ordered a special drive to download all my pictures while we are on the trip so the card in my camera can keep taking more. That means you all will get overloaded with pictures when we return.

Today I tried to figure out luggage. With the new weight restrictions it means I need the biggest lightest piece I can find and then I will still need to put back about half of what I planned to take. Oh well, you will see me often in the same clothes.

Planning for Israel

In just a little over two weeks we will be off to Israel. I get so excited thinking about seeing things again and showing them to Mike for the first time. I know I will see them in a new way because my life is in a different place now than five years ago. Then I was preparing for ministry, now I am there with all that God has called me to be and do.

This week I preached about what happens in the world when we fail to be what God designs us to be- there is hole in the fabric of life, a weak place that needs to be strengthened by our presence. I am so happy I heard God's call and am filled with joy to do what I do each day.

I'll post our travels here, hopefully with some pictures.


C. Kay