Preparing to leave

By Kyle Small -

Well it is less than 48 hours until I board the plane for my eight-week trip to Germany. I was hoping to be more prepared for the language than I currently feel that I am, but isn't this always the case. I am looking forward to a chnage in pace, however. No cell phone, over-booked schedule or home projects (this month alone, Lindsay and I had carpet, vinyl and woodfloors installed, repaired the fron tdoor, replaced a doorknob, and painted the office).

I will miss Lindsay and Grover. She will keep busy with church and connecting with friends; Grover will stay busy with sleeping, barking at birds, and chasing flies. I am thankful that we will not be apart for more that 22 days, since Lindsay will join me at the end of July. We plan to visit Paris, Amsterdam and one other city.

I will also miss out church. It is good to be part of such a wonderful, encouraging group of people. I look forward to visiting churches in Europe, but I will also miss the consistent and welcoming faces of Excelsior. It is good to have a comfortable, place to worship - in the midst of life's chaos, church offers a stable dwelling place for the wondering pilgrim.

I do wish that I could have seen my parents, Kari and Eric, Connor and Carter. This will have to wait until the Fall. I look forward to the upcoming trip, and I look forwar to the joy of returning home.

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