Friday May 26th, 2005
Before sunrise we started to make our way out of the wonderful state of Florida and before sunset we found ourselves just northwest of the Smokey Mountains in Knoxville, Tennessee. It was our hope to be in our new place last night but to those who think this traveling thing may be routine - it is anything but........so when we got the call that there was a human error with the arrival of our furniture and we would have to get a hotel room for the night, I was neither surprised nor disturbed and I just said, "Never a dull moment." It has sort of been my motto for life unofficially. It is a statement of the obvious for us as travelers.

Merriam-Webster online dictionary's definition of adventure is 1 a : an undertaking usually involving danger and unknown risks b : the encountering of risks . Life is an adventure and you do not have to travel in order to live it. However, I believe that to live the abundant life it must involve risks. One of the biggest risks brings both joy and pain. It is for us to open our hearts to others.
Now, I have not been good about posting about all the wonderful people that the Lord has put in our lives. I will have to do it for their encouragement and the testimony of God's faithfulness.
.......more on that later.

Not just for "travelers" of our variety
“Maybe the way in which we travel and the attitude we have wile making our way through life is more important than reaching our destination. Or could it be that in God’s sight, the way actually is the destination? Jesus said, “I am the way….”
Don’t Wrestle, Just Nestle by Corrie TenBoom

A Taste of Tender Tennessee

Tonight we went to a small benefit concert for some Tennesseans who are preparing to go to the Dominican Republic. We were invited by a dear family, the Lees who we met last week through speech and debate.
It was a quaint country church, simple yet inviting. As I sat there listening to Eddy (Lee) share from his heart not just through his music but the introductions he gave to each of his songs. These songs were about his life, he was real and transparent. It was as intimate as being around a campfire or sitting in someone living room. I thought, we weren't invited to some benefit concert but to a chair at our Father's table and He had asked this dear brother to share: love, compassion, wonder and joy!!! I drank it in as one who had walked through the desert all day to get to this place.
Knoxville is in the foothills of the Smokey Mountains. When we walked out to the van to leave the sky was pink and purple, the sun was setting. Getting onto the main street none of us was prepared for the beauty we were about to behold.....words cannot describe it....Katie said, "Ahhh, I wish I had a camera......." "Wow....ahhhh.....wow.....I have never seen such a color" we were just in awe. The sky turned almost magenta but not quite......
Our quiet Tennessee evening was coming to a close. It started out real slow and the music was a gentle bluegrass/country (which is really outside my preferred genre) and we drove home through the hills under a breathtaking sky. Sounds like a great way to kick off our summer.
CM

Years ago some one said, "don't use your homeschool support as your church family." How compartmentalized was that statement? I believe the statement lacked wisdom and insight. I believe the statement diminished the reality of the family of God, the church. I know that "the church" is a living organism that cannot be confined to buildings made of mortar, steel, wood, a name or location. The Spirit is alive and well among God's people and residing in their hearts.

Grace and I just returned from San Diego, CA and NCFCA'S National Speech and Debate Tournament 2005. These people from around the country are our brothers and sisters in Christ. (it is afterall the National Christian Forensics & Communications Association) Whenever, wherever in whatever circumstances we find ourselves, when 2 or more gather together for any reason in the name of Jesus Christ, He is in our midst and we are called to operate as the body of Christ. This was definitely the case. I felt encouraged and I encouraged others.

Our club FUSION was there for me when I needed them. I found myself in need of prayer and I went to my sisters, we prayed together. We are a speech and debate club who are addressing life issues from a Biblical worldview in a manner that glorifies God, i.e., first we are brothers and sisters in Christ. It is not for us to leave our identity in Christ at the door; in fact, it is quite the opposite. We want that to be evident in our dealings with one another and the world we live in. I can not tell you how grateful I am to have people who love the Lord and want so much for their children to become loving truth tellers in our midst wherever we live.

Grace and I reconnected with friends we have from MA and new friends we have made this year. Competition was stiff. It was encouraging to hear people besides myself surprised that Grace did not advance into the outrounds with her Red Sox Speech. As far as originality and passion, Grace was better than at least half the people I heard in the finals. (yes, I am bias, but the others are more objective, especially those who could care less about baseball and that was reaffirming)

Overall, we enjoyed being at Nationals on a college campus overlooking the Pacific and getting to see some of San Diego, CA. I treasure these times as I see Grace's adulthood fastly approaching with her sister and brother not far behind. God is good and faithful.