Daily 5 - Year 2, Day 210

Today's Daily 5:

1. reading Deuteronomy 8:3-13 and the words coming at just the right moment
2. a surprise connection with a friend, and some encouragement that came from that
3. Vietnamese food from the little place on the university campus
4. using time easily and well
5. watching the finale of The Bachelor tonight online with a friend
6. a day, that despite some very heavy questions and hard decisions that are sort of constantly on my mind, managed to be mostly good.  not stellar, but not bad, and sometimes that's really all I can ask for.

Japan - Before and After

A friend emailed this link to me last night.

I found it incredibly helpful.

I'd been watching the coverage of the earthquake off and on since it happened, and had been struck by the devastation, but was struggling to truly grasp it, since I had no concept of what things had looked like before.

For those of you who didn't click through to the link, it's a series of overlaid satellite images.  The exact same area before the earthquake/tsunami, and again after.  It gives an incredible depiction of the destruction that has taken place.

And, as is so often true, moves my heart to pray more deeply.

Lord have mercy.

Daily 5 - Year 2, Day 209

Today's Daily 5:

1. Listening to friends share about their ministry this morning
2. Lunch wraps with veggies and chicken
3. good conversations with a few long-time friends at dad's church this morning
4. watching The Amazing Race
5. some surprising moments of talking with God today
6. Coincidences that were sort of above and beyond normal
7. Friends who listen and love and encourage
8. chicken fingers and french fries - a comfort meal that I haven't had in ages
9. marking a whole bunch of things off of lists today
10. not having to move much.  being able to accomplish most of what I needed to do from the comfort of an armchair, with my laptop propped on top of me.  this was a huge blessing on a day where I literally had no energy at all.

Totally Random

I really, really want to buy these.

Because how fun is it that they can be used in the middle of a page, instead of just on an edge like a normal punch?  The options for making cards would be endless!

Odd Day

This has been an odd sort of day, full of pondering, spinning thoughts, a few tears, and just general exhaustion.

Not bad, just odd for what has been normal lately.

I've spent a lot of time lost in thought, just generally feeling disconnected from what's happening around me, while sort of lost in my internal landscape.

I'm thinking about travel.

About the future.

I'm listening and praying and and waiting.

I've done some homework in the midst of that, and I have a bit more left to do.

I'm making lists and plans.

I like practical steps.

I'm thinking about things I've been reading and listening to.

And just at this moment?  I'm taking a break.

Since mom and dad are out for the evening, I'm taking advantage of the rare opportunity to watch The Amazing Race as it airs, instead of a day or two later.

I'm pausing to laugh at the sight of my favorite team, the cowboys Jett and Cord, saddling a yak in Kunming, China.

I'm watching as one team who is Chinese uses their heritage and language a bit to their advantage.

I'm resting in one of my favorite ways.