Home again, home again....

You know the rest of that jingle, so I will spare you. Ah, feels good to be home again. I love going to visit my family and friends, and home church, but it's also good to be back again. You all have been there, right?

My friend, Judy J., picked me up at the airport. She is such a doll to do this for me, always offering if Justin is not available. I was dripping with perspiration  by the time she got to the baggage claim area. My coat was off already but I still sported my sweater and turtleneck, in 75 degree weather, which is normally not that warm for me. It was quite humid, drizzly and damp, just like me!

On our ride home, we discussed the most recent political happenings, so I knew she was feeling better. Judy had been laid up with a wretched cold since before Christmas, and was only now feeling good enough to be up, dressed, and driving. She had made it to church finally on New Year's Eve, as she and I both love that service. It is also her birthday so she must go!

Justin met us at the elevator and greeted me while Judy wrestled the suitcase from the back of the car. Guess she is feeling better!!!! (It weighed in at exactly 50 pounds, much to my relief!) Justin had much to talk about so Judy and I will make plans for a dinner out later in the week.

Oh, I was so glad to see Justin and hug on him in his grunginess, as he had only just gotten home from work. He calls his feet his "Hobbit" feet because the tops are all black and hairy looking after work. So funny! He carted my suitcase up to our unit, after we got the mail, and put my bag on the bench at the end of my bed. It can stay there for a couple weeks, as I strongly dislike unpacking!

Talk, talk, talk! I love it! Instead of going out to dinner we decided to order in from Ming Moon. Oh, how delicious that was! Starting my New Year off right with crab meat wontons. Justin marveled that I ate every one of them, but I had only eaten a single PopTart all day. I had nothing on the planes, no Biscoff's or even a glass of soda. I was good and hungry, so much so that we ate before 7:00 pm. The habit was established when in WI to eat earlier so I asked Justin to help me adjust gradually back into my usual routine. 

Justin made me laugh with one little story: he said he nearly text messaged me in the late night hours to ask me "What have you done to me????" He had gone to bed, and heard a toilet flush somewhere above his room. And then he heard the sound of water....He was walking around the house and listening for it, just like I do!!! He eventually discovered it was a broken sprinkler head wwaayy on the edge of the property of The Club. He had to laugh at how he was reacting to the sound of the water. Laugh, and cry, at what's happened to us around here!!

*****

Something wildly cool happened for me on the flight from Cincinnati to Jacksonville. Last May when I came back from WI, I had chatted with a woman in the waiting area at the gate. As the zones were called, I started down the aisle and saw I was seated with this same lady. She looked up at me and said, "Oh good!" No one has ever said that about sitting about next to me, or any other fat person on a plane. But Kate did!

She was just returning from a mission trip to Africa, and I was reading handouts received by my friends from an evangelism seminar. How fun is that? I told her that I had wished for a highlighter while reading it but was unprepared. Before she got off the plane, she gave me hers. I still have it next to my desk, ready at hand. We talked the entire flight about matters of religion, she being a theology student and mission worker. We have since become Facebook friends, and she lives not far from me, nearer to the beach region of JAX.

So, anyway, yesterday on the last leg of my trip home, I was seated next to a handsome young man who resembled Judy C.'s grandson, David. I did not get his name or information this time. He is a graduate student attending a small theological school near my home. Wow! 

He comes from Grand Rapids, MI and is a minster of music at a Calvinist church. For his graduate studies, his congregation is paying for his tuition to this theology college, located on the property of Grace Episcopal church and school. I guess, from what he said, it is non-denominational, which I never realized until today.

This young man was telling me about gradually introducing the church year to the congregation in which he serves, having to do so a little at a time. I just marveled at him and his ambition to do so, thinking it was sad that the church was not already following this. He said he had a tough time during Advent, using Advent hymns when some of the members were asking for Christmas hymns. Boy, does that sound familiar! I found it interesting that he was now getting the theology background his job needs, but give him immense credit for doing so. 

I just love it how the powers that be (God!!) arrange the seating on the planes for me so perfectly, making that final leg of the journey such a wonderful one! Wish I had gotten his name, can't believe I let him get away!!