Preparation

Although I was never a Girl Scout, I have an almost obsessive desire to be prepared. Considering the multiple possibilities of every outing means I carry a very heavy handbag. There's water, in case I dry out; US and UK mobiles in case a very important call comes; hand santizer to ward off those pesky metro germs; lipstick in case I get discovered; plus the usual purse, tissues and keys. One should never be caught off guard!

Yet, day after day, I'm taken by surprise. Just when you think you're getting your head around the hows and the whats of this little trip called life, out comes a shot from the left field. What the heck...?????? I was having a lovely day today - the morning spent with Wendy (born in the year of the best vintage '73) and Lydia (ripe old age of one and three quarters) eating hot cinnamon rolls and squeaking little noses. Yes, home was still a long way away, but you know, life wasn't bad! Then I came home to a Christmas card from our God-Daughter's family. Inside was a mini card, handmade by Martha, wishing her Godparents a Merry Christmas and telling us she loved us. And there went the carpet ........ I'd come undone all over again.

I don't know about you, but I get buffeted by the wind. I imagined that by the this age my steely determination and highly trained critical brain would override my heart, but alas...

At the weekend Richard and I were marveling at how God had used the past 10 years to prepare us for this time in DC. Our personal and professional experiences and relationships have given us insight, understanding and empathy for our new community. But we could never have imagined this would be how He would reveal some of the purposes of our past. It seems God knows what He's doing - weaving it all together into finest linen.

So in the spirit of a good Girl Scout - I'm going to try to accept the surprises as part of the process of being prepared.....