As I was getting ready to write this I realized they’re pretty formulaic (maybe you’ve noticed too)…trip+work+home. So, guess what? This will be more of that because that’s pretty much my life.
My last update was about my trip to Bulgaria (with mp.org), at the same time I was surely quitting my job and coasting, so I lived it up. The end of June I flew up to Calgary where I joined in on about week 4 of my sister’s family’s summer RV trip. We went to Banff and Jasper, which are surly some of the most strikingly beautiful places in the world. And what’s not to love about being number 7 in an RV for a week. Here are some pictures (mosquitos not included).
I think I was back about a week and then went with my friend Cathy to Hong Kong and Taiwan (or as I like to call it “china-lite”) for 10 days. The first 5 days were in HK and we had been encouraged to meet up with some friends of friends and had a wonderful time of fellowship and amazing hospitality being whisked from restaurant to mall to restaurant to mall. Hong Kong’s amazing skylines and bright lights were quite the interesting contrast to the Canadian Rockies, which are known for their dark skies and low light pollution, but beautiful nonetheless.
The second half of the trip we spent in Taiwan and after meeting one local friend the first night we were on our own. We were mostly in Taipei and I loved exploring at bit of a slower pace. My highlight was going to “fish eat foot” and getting dead skin eaten off my feet by these little (and not so little) “dr. fish.” Also I thought their food was amazing, the dumplings and things they can do with bamboo…wow. And the public transportation was so clean and convenient!! In Hong Kong too. They had bathrooms at the metro stations with plants in them! I mean really, when was the last time you were impressed by the accessibility and cleanliness of a public restroom.
Since I didn't take a picture of the bathroom (I was tempted), here's a random picture of me at a night market trying to find money to buy delicious roasted mushrooms.
On that note…while in Taiwan I got an offer letter for a new position at Clean Harbors. It was not what I was expecting and put a damper on the last few days. But, I was able to go back to the clarity I had in February, remembering that it was OK with quitting. Maybe the offer was God’s push, or MAYBE I just expect things to go perfectly THEN I’ll accept them as God’s will – I’m still working on that one. Anyways we worked it out and I’m still employed and got a new title as of some time in August, I think. Unfortunately the other part of me quitting…getting out of my current responsibilities…still hasn’t happened. We hired someone…he quit in June and then the next person they picked might start training the week after next.
To go along with that, I actually have work to do currently too, so that’s been different (I haven’t even put up my office Christmas decorations yet). So for my new job (Regional Admin Manager, West Coast) I pretty much told my boss I can’t do anything she’s asking of me because I don’t have time…I’m getting off to a great start. I’m going to Boston on Tuesday so maybe then I’ll find out what the expectations are. I do know that one of the expectations is to not wear jeans while in the corporate offices and I have a feeling that also means I can’t wear grandpa sweaters or my puffy jacket that has tape on it to keep the stuffing in, so did a little non-thrift or Costco shopping in preparation.
Too much info? You’re used to it.
I moved! My parents have a backhouse that my brother’s family was living in and they moved out, leaving their chickens and orange tree, and I moved in, and now own chickens and an orange tree.
You can come visit and I’ll feed you eggs and oranges…and pretty much only eggs and oranges. You know that scene where person B is at persons A’s house and catches a glimpse of the cupboards and realizes person A is really destitute and person B then intervenes and I don’t know…Santa brings groceries or something. In this story I’m person A, except not destitute just somehow get away with not prioritizing grocery shopping.
Some of the food in there, like nuts, don't even belong, my mom just put them in there as filler.
I can’t even say I don’t have time because, I did have time to get a Christmas tree. Like I said, priorities.
But all kidding aside, if you came to visit I would buy groceries. Or run to my mom’s house and snag some food. And I have a guest room and just bought a new vacuum.
There are other recent things too, lots of constant reminders of God’s love and the peace He’s willing to give if I get over myself and accept it. I’ve been reflecting some on Psalm 36:7-9 some, “God, Your faithful love is so valuable that your people take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. They are filled from the abundance of your house; you let them drink from Your refreshing stream, for with You if life’s fountain. In Your light we will see light.” May we be those who readily partake of His abundance and see things with the light He gives.
How are you?
Love, joy
