Art Camp: VA Style

August 19-22, 2013

What better way to explore the non-traditional ways of art then with a cracker-jack group of girls?! By the end of our four days of creating, we were sad to see them go. Our ride back to PA was filled with plans to make next year even better!

New Home…..for Now

August 11, 2013

After spending the night in Lancaster, PA at Aletheia’s old place, we worked most of the day getting everything packed and loaded. About an hour later, we arrived at our new home --- for now. The few certainties I have gathered thus far is that the location where we are to call home is only temporary. I cannot help but be grateful for anything at this point! I went into this knowing I had a place to lay my head. It didn’t matter that it was in someone’s basement.

When we arrived, I was shocked to see how what I envisioned this basement to be was far from the reality of it.  After surveying the 15 acres of land that surrounded us and peaking through the window to get a glimpse of the inside, I was struck my the realization that this was one of the nicest places I have ever lived.

You might be wondering how I came to this place? Well, it was all Aletheia’s doing. Her network of people is 10 times the size of mine, which lead to her connection with the Millers. With an amazing heart for helping people, these empty nesters felt the call to offer this place for people in transition. With the allotted time to live here three months, I took a quick tour of the fully furnished living room, kitchen, bathroom, and bedrooms and new instantly it would was going to be hard to leave.

The Road Ahead

August 10, 2013

The one picture that I took to commemorate my move represents my life better than I expected. When I first looked at it, I was rather disappointed that it was blurry, as the opportunity to capture the moment was once in a lifetime. However, the visual result of the picture truly parallels the amount of clarity in my life: 

• I have a vague understanding of where I am headed but can’t quite make out all of the detailed information. 
• I follow Aletheia (literally in the photo as well) to a place that she is familiar with trusting that my role will reveal itself in due course. 
• It is inevitable that detours and construction will be along the way, but the exact place and time is unknown. 

So I continue to move forward in faith. I have confidence in what I already know how to do, and trust that the unknown elements of the future will come into focus exactly when they are supposed to.

Durham Farewell

August 9, 2013

This is it, my final evening in Durham, NC. To some this may seem as quite a shock. For me, I started contemplating this idea many months ago. With my physical state of health still preventing me from “doing my job” at Duke, I had to start thinking of other courses of action for my life. I feel myself getting stronger every week, but timing is everything. The speed of my recovery hasn’t been matching other’s expectations. The reality of that I can do nothing about, and I have made the choice to accept it.

With the amount of times I have moved in the past, this transition is familiar. Some might find it a bit un-nerving. I will admit I used to. However, now I have learned the importance of closure, which requires so much attention that fear doesn’t have anything to hold on to.

This week has been a whirlwind of tasks and events that revolve around leaving well.   A checklist of things I must do is always part of the deal, but this round had some tailored events reflecting my efforts to be involved.

Ice cream with my roommate Ting 

From a flower-making party to lunch with co-workers to ice cream with a roommate, I have never experienced such a full social calendar! When I think about leaving, this is one of the hardest things to cope with. I often think about those relationships that have just begun that won’t have time to be nurtured. I know the temptation to keep people at arm’s length because of it. The wonderful moments that I have experienced this week would have never come if I had decided not to risk it, to invest in relationships without knowing the outcome. I am thankful to all of those who took the risk with me. You will be missed.

Flower making with the Grace ladies

Members of the Scarves for Moldova crew

Servolution Reprise

August 5, 2013

As it ended up – the 4^th of July was only the start of the events I got involved in.
Here is a great recap of the month’s events: