Updated Reading List

Added a few titles to the reading list for 2008 in my sidebar. One of those books I've actually read twice already this year, and am in the midst of reading a third time (Echoes). One of them will get it's own post in the next week or two, as it's been vastly inspiring and challenging, and will require me to read it at least once more as well (Take This Bread).

To be lifted...

One of my friends has this as her facebook status update...

"...... is praying for heavy hearts and tired arms to be lifted."

Love that as an update. Love that she's praying for that.

Thinking I'm going to go light some candles, and lay in a hot bath, and join her in her prayers.

A List Post (To Prove I'm Really Home!)

Two lists for you today - "Things that are Making Me Smile" and "To Do List"

Things that are Making Me Smile

• clean jeans after wearing the same ones nearly every day for close to five weeks
• long shower
• the possibility of taking a shower and a bubble bath in the same day, without adversely affecting anyone's water bill (thankful for utilities included in our rent)
• Matt Redman's song "Salvation" which kind of defined chunks of my trip
• slow, lazy schedule
• an email from Shelley
• a fortune from the fortune cookie that came with my Vietnamese food last night "your lucky number this week is nine" - kind of an inside joke, but a great smile reminder anyway!
• quiet, empty house while my roommate is at work
• the prospect of purchasing a new journal today
  
• a house where you don't have to wear 5 layers of clothing indoors (no marble floors in sight!)
• central heating
• my own bed
• prospects of reconnecting with some friends and family now that I'm home
• no need for socks for sleeping (or for walking around the house) - bare feet are where it's at today
• fresh snow outside - that I don't have to go out into unless I want to, but it sure looks pretty!
• a beautiful rosary and crucifix purchased in Rome, and an icon purchased in Malta
  

Things to Do in the Next Day or Two

• go to the bank and exchange currency back to Canadian dollars
• buy a new journal
• buy a baby gift
• sort out the gifts from my trip for various people
• unpack
• burn a cd for a friend
• get over jet-lag
• buy cough drops
• laundry
• change voicemail message to indicate I'm back in the country
• call my best friend, M.
• call my baby brother, T.
• learn how to use the chat feature in g-mail
• write a blog post (oh, wait, that one's nearly done)
• cook - food that is post travel upset stomach friendly
• light candles
• burn incense
• long walk in the park
  

Home

Made it home. Finally.

Not exactly sure how I feel about that yet, but looking forward to sleeping in my own bed tonight, and not sharing a bed/bedroom for the first time in a month.

More thoughts/some pictures later.

Oh, and if you're looking for a great place to visit - I highly recommend Rome.

New Things

Not sure what to write. I leave Malta at 5:55 am tomorrow morning. I think it's going to take me a long, long time to understand the things this trip has done in my heart and life.

There are new things springing up within me. Sometimes they scare me, sometimes they excite me. Generally they feel as if they are going to bring both great pain, and great beauty. But I think that all the really beautiful things in life do that.

I had a beautiful moment in a field yesterday, with two friends. One that was just for me, and not be shared. One I've needed, full of grace and healing and peace.

Tomorrow I head for Rome for a few days, than London for a few days, before heading home to Calgary. I also head into Lent tomorrow. I'm beginning the process of having a conversation with the Lord about what Lent will look like this year. It tends to be a profound season in my life.

I'm grateful for the places, the people, the things I've experienced over the last month. But I still feel as if there aren't many words for it. I'm thankful that several of my dearest friends have been here with me, sharing the experience with me. It would be hard to have gone through this trip alone - to have no one to hash it over with upon my return to Canada and the world of day to day life.

I think transitions are probably coming when I get home, too. Not ready to give voice to those yet, but quite sure they're in the works.

I'm going home with a renewed desire to experience life deeply. To pursue the things I'm interested in.

I'm going to take yoga, and photography. I'm going to learn Spanish. I'm going to continue to dream of ways to make it possible to continue to travel like this for lengths of time. I'm going to plan a trip to Peru. I'm going to work at allowing my heart to be open to the world. I'm going to pray about a trip to Africa. I'm going to figure out what it means to walk out who I really am in the context of my day to day life, and not just in the context of a month away from my routines, on the other side of the planet. I'm going to spend time with the friends I really value, and work on developing relationship with a few that I'd like to know better. I'm going to find people in Calgary to pray with on a regular basis.

Okay... I think I'm done for now... I have a few emails to send before heading into the city to do some last minute shopping...

Internet probably won't be that accessible for the rest of my trip, so this may be it until I get home. See you in a week or so!