Traveling with Phil

Sir is this CARRYON?!?!?!?!(platinum perks)

Phil keeping current with Sports! 

Wintery Chicago!

Most of the time over the last few years,
Phil has traveled alone, today I got to travel
with him to Chicago.  Today we have a meeting with our Mission bosses, and tomorrow I get to go to Trinity Christian College with him as he has meetings and recruits. 
The snow flurries yesterday were a lovely
change for us.  Heavy skies, but clear roads, salt everywhere to keep ice at bay, but nothing can keep that freezing, biting wind from getting to you.
I prefer to travel light!  Just carry on when possible.  That is challenging when you are lugging promo materials.  Paper is heavy, another good reason to go paperless! :)
It is fun to see this huge part of Phil's life and world, but I have no idea how he has the energy he does.  He makes the energizer bunny look limp and apathetic. 
I am struck by the reality of our being empty nesters now, except for our little inherited kitty cat, Anastasia, we are pretty free to up and move around.  Free as far life stage, I am processing and praying through what this looks like for me, and for us together at this stage of life. 
I wrote before we left in the "Reflections" post about how to be quiet on the move.  Yesterday,

International Teams Headquarters, Elgin, IL.

was a tremendous experience of that for me.  Christ is IN ME, and travels WITH ME, and so I rested in that, trusted in that yesterday.  We had some tight connections, and instead of fretting about that, there was peace, a sense that God was in control, and had things in hand. 
It was good to get to be at our mission.  To be reminded that they are there.  Sometimes on the field, you can feel disconnected from the "mother ship," whether that is the Mission Org. or your sending church, or supporters who are individuals from all over.  Staying connected is a challenge.  I desire to learn and grow in how to do a better job of balancing "wherever you are, be all there" which allows you to engage deeply wherever God has you; and then the other part of that, remembering where you came from, and staying connected and communicating with that world! 
It is not always clear how to manage multiple worlds as a finite being.  I am on a journey to learn more about technology and how to use that to help.  However, technology presents challenges of its own too.  People expect constant availability, immediate responses, and short pithy thoughts that convey depth in 2 sentences or less!  Sermon on the Mount wouldn't make the cut, neither would most of the rich heritage of sages and writers from our

Snow on the ground and serious windchill here! BRRRRR!

past.  Is faster, shorter, pithier always better?
So, today I am in Chicago, tomorrow I will be back in California.  Phil will go on to Grand Rapids tonight, then Omaha on Saturday.
Next Thursday we will meet back in Chicago and get our flight to S. Africa.  :)
Pray for ongoing quietness in my soul through these travels and amazing opportunities. 
Enjoy your week.  Count those eucharisteos--grace gifts from God--they are everywhere.  Go on that hunt!  Check out Ann Vos Kamps blog "A Holy Experience"!