Whirlwind-- literally

Ok, so we are back from our week-long vacation to see Allan and Christine. We had a great time and Iain thought his Aunt and Uncle were great. After we got home we spent the weekend visiting with Susan since she is leaving for college this Thursday, then I had my wisdom teeth out Monday and now we are having a hurricane. Ok, a tropical storm. Thank God it doesn't seem like it is going to be bad. We're getting some of the first bands as I type. Hopefully the power will stay on. And we only have 24 days until we leave the country! Yes, these are busy times.


Iain did great on our vacation. He barely cried on the plane at all, and managed to continue sleeping through the night most nights despite schedule disruptions. I was surprised by the heat. Nashville is even hotter than Fort Lauderdale! I was burning up because I don't have a lot of summer clothes that fit properly. All the new clothes that fit me now I bought with England in mind. We had a very laid-back vacation: we went swimming, saw a baseball game, went to a Shakespeare festival, visited some parks, and just hung out together. It was so good to see Allan and Christine again. We've really missed them since they moved away from Ft. Lauderdale.

I've been kind of bummed and stressed lately. I really hate goodbyes even as exciting as it is to move to England. So many things are changing right now-- even if we weren't moving, things are going to be very different around here. So many of our close friends have already moved or will be moving in the next few years, our church has a new pastor, we're finished at Knox, our house is being sold. I've struggled with wanting to cling to each moment before it slips away forever. But you can make yourself crazy thinking like that. So I'm trying to enjoy each day and to be content whatever my circumstances, thanking God for the blessings that He has given when I'm tempted to mourn their passing. Still, it is hard. Lately I've taken especial comfort in Isaac Watts' hymn Our God Our Help in Ages Past. We actually got to see some of his antique hymnals while we were in Nashville, which was very cool. It was another one of those little blessings from God that He uses to remind you that He is watching over you.

Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.

Under the shadow of Thy throne
Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is Thine arm alone,
And our defense is sure.

Before the hills in order stood,
Or earth received her frame,
From everlasting Thou art God,
To endless years the same.

The busy tribes of flesh and blood,
With all their lives and cares,
Are carried downwards by the flood,
And lost in following years.

Time, like an ever rolling stream,
Bears all its sons away;
They fly, forgotten, as a dream
Dies at the opening day.

Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be Thou our guard while troubles last,
And our eternal home.