Catching up

It's snowing outside. Finally! 

To find ourselves here in Colorado without any major winter storms at the end of February is not a good thing. In fact, Jody and I tried to go snowshoeing last weekend. We drove all the way up to Echo Lake at the "base" of Mt. Evans... and there was no snow. Ok, maybe an inch or two, but not enough to make snowshoeing a reality. Seriously? We had to turn around and come back home. But thankfully we've had two storms in the past week, and it's helping a bit. We had 4 inches of snow on Wednesday, and today's storm 'Rocky' is expected to dump 6-12 inches by the storm's end. When I look at the steady snowing outside, I'm thinking we'll hit the higher end of that estimate. Praise God. I hope it only continues!

So, church has been cancelled, Jody is asleep in bed, and the pups and I are relaxing out in the living room. Finally I have time to process all that has gone on in our lives the past few months.

Forgive me for my silence on the blog. It's not because a million blog-worthy experiences or thoughts haven't crossed my mind. It's just that I have not had the time. Seriously.

But so much has happened that I must finally sit down and write about each of these special events.

1. Big News.

My youngest sister, Anna got engaged on December 28, 2012! Yes, to Mr. Nate Clarke - a special young man that she met in youth group several years ago. They have been dating for a few years now, and so this development is not a total surprise. :) Nonetheless, we are so excited for them both. Since they're both still in college, I think the wedding is set for May 2014. 

Then... while I was in Panama, I found out on Facebook some other big news.

2. Other Big News.

My brother Chris proposed to his girlfriend Rebekah Millian. Yay! After traveling all over the US in sales, Chris has finally landed back in Richmond, and he met Rebekah at our home, when she was hanging out with my family. They're a perfect fit, and we are all celebrating this new development. We love Rebekah, and we're thrilled she's officially becoming a Clementson. So, we now have two Rebekah Clementsons. Hahaha.

This wedding is happening a little sooner. They've got the date set for May 18, 2013. Yay! Just this week I purchased airfare for Jody and me to fly out to Virginia for the big day.... which leads me to news development #3.

3. Mark your calendars. We're coming to VA. 

We'll be in Virginia May 16-21 for Chris & Rebekah's wedding, so if you're nearby, we'd love to see you! Yes, you W&M friends... I would love to see you. :) I miss you. God has brought wonderful people into our lives here in Colorado, but nobody will ever replace my dear college friends. I miss each of you dearly.

4. Panama was great.

I had a great time in Panama. In fact, I couldn't have asked for a better experience. For almost four years now I have been preparing teams to head out of the country, and it was truly worthwhile for me to make the trip myself. We had no trouble getting the medicine crates through customs. We served 500+ people at the Mountain Indian Conference, where Indian Christians gather together once a year. Then we traveled out to the Chirique Bay and served 5 different villages. 

We traveled by plane, bus, car, boat and foot to serve these precious people who are made in God's image, and here's what I learned.

1. There are still people today who spend their days subsisting. [Clean water and a balanced diet is not available. Education is a unavailable and - in some villages - unwelcome. Outside influence is viewed with suspicion. Trust must be earned. Slowly. ]
2. But you and I can do something about it.
3. Juan's ministry is doing something about it. I should invest in ministries and organizations that are doing something about it.
4. There are lots of cool people who step out in faith and offer themselves and their skills to serve. I met 10 new friends (my teammates). I like each of them. We ALL (yes, all) enjoyed spending time together in close, hot quarters. That's saying something. :)
5. I'm still very American. Personal space matters to me. 
6. Panama is hot and humid.
7. I'm still an introvert. I love my alone time.
8. Panamanian coffee is really good. :)
9. Even though I had a headache, it mattered to me that I got to see the Panama Canal. Yay for seeing one of the Wonders of the World!
10. My husband loves me very much. When I came home from Panama, I came home to this:

I am so blessed!

South Carolinian Charm

I am slightly jealous. Last month my sister Sarah and her boyfriend Justin were able to take a trip to South Carolina. They got to see my mom's side of the family (who live in Aiken, SC), and they got to see beautiful Charleston, where mom lived for a short season. When I see pictures from their trip, I get a little homesick. Now, I've only been to South Carolina a few times in my life. However, there is no mistaking the beautiful, lush green. The older architecture. The snippets of Southern culture that are even more accentuated in South Carolina than they are in Virginia.

I love the West. I love the mountains... these beautiful Rocky Mountains are just breathtaking. And I love the clear air. And no bugs. And the sunshine. And the snow that melts a day or two after falling. And the outdoorsy, laid-back atmosphere.

But I love the East Coast, too. And pictures of it remind me of my torn affections constantly. So, Justin is a FANTASTIC photographer, and he captured a few shots from their trip. Here are sampling (click on each picture to enlarge).

For more of Justin's pictures, visit his blog posting about the trip.