Things I am excited about returning home:
Arriving to the airport with my family all wearing matching t-shirts and signs. Hint.
Getting home safely without playing cherades to a tuk tuk driver.
Cramming my entire year into a 14 minute car ride.
Sipping on my first cup of coffee in Kingwood, Tx in 2011.
Taking a guaranteed hot shower…
drying off in a clean towel and immediately putting on clean clothes.
Pulling my black curtains over my windows and
Falling into a deep coma for three days.
Eating delicious Thanksgiving foods with my beautiful grandparents.
Being reunited with the most beautiful friends anyone could have.
Riding my bike around town.
People watching.
Drinking coffee on the front porch with my sweet grandma Roberta.
and listening to ENGLISH being spoken around me.
Planting a cute little garden.
Visiting Nacogdoches and seeing all you crazies.
Roadtripping in sopapilla through the south to reunite with whoever is in my path.
Discovering the new music and movies I have missed in 2011.
Learning to play the guitar.
Getting a job at a random coffee shop.
Eating things other than rice for every meal.
Papasitos chicken fajitas.
Being the older sister and daughter I have failed at being for the past 21 years.
Christmas light judging with my siblings.
Drinking coffee all the time.
Holly Ann Sisemore.
Waking up to the sound of an alarm clock and not chickens at 4am.
The number of mosquitos being slim to none in my sleeping quarters.
Having electricity for 24-7.
The cereal aisle.
Jason’s deli salad bar.
Going to church and understanding the language.
Putting raw meat into the fridge.
Driving where I want to go.
Stick deodorant.
Spooning with my siblings.
Fitting in… not being asked for my autograph or a “photo with my child…”
Not having to travel 2 hours to get internet.
Getting lost and asking for directions and understanding.
Coffee dates with my ma in the morntings.
Putting t’s in random sentences like mornting or dinter.
Things I am going to miss as I return home in 55 days:
Getting out of going to jail by offering a keychain to the popo. I don’t think it’ll fly.
Constant intense community that calls out anything that is not Christ-like in my life.
Learning random phrases in different languages just to get around.
Riding on top of vehicles with the locals.
Meeting grandmas in every country.
Buying iced coffee for 50 cents. I could get 10 for what Bux charges.
Bartering things down… I don’t think target will appreciate me halfing the price.
asking “is this water sanitary” and “can i flush the toilet paper.”
Joining a new culture and family every 4 weeks.
Staying in janky hostels with my best friends.
Eating 40 cent street food.
Playing doctor and attempting to diagnose diseases that are really dehydration.
Eating with chopsticks.
People around me constantly picking me up and pushing me along.
Sightseeing by existing.
Sleeping anywhere and it being normal.
Wearing anything and it being rad.
Blaring Ipod worship and people joining in without a word.
working with the craziest of the crazy for the Lord.
The constant atmosphere of begging the Lord to move.
Going to bed when the sun goes down.
Packing everything I own into a tiny backpack.
Wearing the same thing for 5 days straight and it being normal.
Smelling bad and it being alright… because “everyone does”
The butterflies I get when I see someone that is homeless… or a twitty little sweet boy.
Orphaned kids begging me just for touch that they haven’t felt in who knows how long.
Just a little list that was in my journal. I sometimes find myself wishing the time away… soon realizing that as soon as I return home I will be doing the complete opposite. This year has blown my mind… and what is really going to count is letting the “shock factor” of traveling the world change into being shocked that the Lord loves me so freaking much and is so full of grace. He pulled me from my muck and put me on solid ground with the opportunity to see the work of his hands with my own two eyes. I don’t want my attitude to be based on my surroundings but what is truly in my heart.
I can’t wait to be home for real and I especially can’t wait to be home and start doing things around that I have done around the world. Like, hanging out with the homeless instead of rolling up my window. Like seeking out street boys downtown instead of dreaming of Mozambique. Or preaching with my actions instead of daydreaming of preaching in India. I can pray for the girls stuck in the sex trade in Thailand and realize there are a ton 20 minutes from my house in Houston as well. I can beg God to continue to reveal himself to all the crazy monks in Cambodia who think they are God but are clearly lost. I can curl up in my bed at night and most likely weep thinking about all my babies in Swazi that are all cuddled together trying to stay safe and warm. I can open my pantry and praise Him for letting my cup overflow. I will never let it fade. Keep me accountable.
Coffee date in two months? Cool.
It could be chill like this…
Or absolutely obnoxious like this…
take your pick 😉
Love you allllll.
Love you allllll.
