A Good Tired

I spent the weekend at the World Mission Workshop with 100+ mission-minded college students and the missionaries who were there to teach and mold the young students. There are few things more exhausting than college students interested in missions. One group that is more exhausting, though, are adults who are, were, or were raised as missionaries.

Mark and I spent a total of 5 years in Croatia in the early 1990s. Our oldest son, Boy 1, was born in the capital, Zagreb. We continue to cherish the connections we made with people and places in the country in which our marriage came of age.

14 years after returning to the States we are fully engaged in life here and find ourselves able to return to Croatia less and less often. Yet when we come across others who have experienced overseas missions, regardless of in which quadrant of the globe, we enjoy a unique connection like no other. It's not necessarily a better connection that the ones we share with our friends and family here; yet it is unique.

There are unspoken understandings among missionaries: understandings of how big and small the world is, of the brilliance of little children in other countries who so fluently speak their own foreign language, of the colorfulness of currency. With missionaries, common boundaries fade away. Differences in age, stage in life, and socio-economic status pale as we share a common bond of wanderlust and marvel at the inclusive nature of the Kingdom.

The energy that is generated by missionaries, passionate for the peoples they have come to love, as well as  for whatever ministry God has called them to in the present, is truly exhilarating. The only thing that brings that energy to an even greater pitch is the opportunity to light another heart on fire for God's mission in the world.

So after a weekend in the midst of all of that energy I am tired...but in a very good way.

Hooray!

Nearly a year ago, I began this blog as a light-hearted look at the year between my 39th and 40th birthdays. The year has taken some highly unexpected twists and turns, not all of which have been lighthearted; yet I remain committed to loving the experience of turning 40. 

To that end I have searched high and lo for a button announcing my new decade. I envisioned a black button with white lettering announcing that I'm as old as dirt. Once found, I would take that button an bedazzle it in a way that would make clear my boisterous celebration of finally reaching this long-coveted birthday.

On Wednesday of last week my search ended in a most unexpected and beyond imagination way! Lisa Jo, an amazingly gifted and crafty-in-oh-so-many-ways friend brought me a pendant which boldly proclaims: "Hooray! I'm finally 40!"

Thank you, LJ, for such a generous and perfect-in-every-way gift!

40 Minus 50

I will be 40 years old next month. Only 50 days away, the anniversary of my birth approaches steadily, and I still have not found my button proclaiming "Finally I'm 40!"

As I prepare myself to ring in a new decade, I realize this year's birthday is special for another reason: it is the same day as Thanksgiving! I love it when those two days overlap; it brings joy to know that the entire nation is giving thanks on my birthday.

I know, I know...they are not ALL giving thanks for me, but it does add a bit more joy to my much anticipated day!