The Plan.... as we know it

So, if you are the praying sort. We would love prayers for two big events this coming week.

So today we finally got a few details done to prep for our trip. It is amazing how much longer things seem to take to accomplish here. It's just not as possible to be a multi-tasking, highly productive. It just doesn't happen and Richard certainly doesn't work that way. So it felt really good. We opened a joint bank account and got a 1 year CD.

Sunday we travel to Tacna to get up early for a 6am flight to Lima. (and yes of course we haven't started packing)

Then hopefully if all goes well we will arrive in time to get to the US Embassy for his appt. He has to be there at 9:30am. We will no at the interview if he gets the tourist visa to the USA or not and then I will be able to relax a bit! If he gets the visa it will be for 5-10 years and will be a huge help for us to travel in the future.

Then, he has to be back at the aiport at 5pm for a flight back to Tacna. He is a finalist for a promotion and has an interview Tuesday morning at 10am in Moquegua (about an hour for Ilo).

Then, since he's on vacation and has been working so hard for the past 15 months and usually too tired to go out with friends, and I am being the understanding wife, he wants to play soccer with his bank team that night and celebrate with friends (being positive about the promotion). So then Wed am he will take a 5 hour bus to Arequipa to make it to a 12:30 flight back to Lima.

So, if all goes well with the visa we have a flight to Wash DC on Friday morning and I can't tell you how joyous I will be! I usually try not to want things in life. It is much easier and then you don't have to deal with disappointment. So, I usually try to manage this by a dose of realism, faith, but also lower expectations. I figure out what is reasonably possible and I give it my all and shoot for that. The thing is, as I said before, I have had an incredibly blessed life. So, usually one way or another I find a way for things to work out as close as possible to what I hope for and so it has caused me to believe that I can control my destiny in some way. So, this time I am completely helpless. I really, really want this for both of us and there is nothing I can do. So, surrender to "the man" and see what comes and be ready for anything.

It is amazing how maddening when you can't plan....I mean.......what do we pack? How do we pack? It's a nightmare for someone who likes to travel very organized. It's summer here and I live in as little clothing as possible and DC seems under a huge snow storm. Crazy. So......letting go. Sounds good and I am getting better at it all the time, but there are times like now that really challenge me to live in the moment, stay open to possibility, to not worry and to focus on the beauty and goodness that is and not what might be.

So, tomorrow the adventure begins. While we are in Lima there are also a ton of things to fit in and now it seems I'll be alone for most of the time to accomplish it. So, that is always a challenge. Where to go, how to get there. Lima is a huge city. I don't know the bus routes yet so I end up taking expensive taxis. I need to look into baby stuff as there is little to choose from in Ilo and I've been in contact with other foreigners who live in Lima to get secondhand stuff. I also need to do my 5 month check-up. So, hopefully Richard can sleep a lot today and get healthy and not pass it on to me, as seems to always happen. The idea is to be ready to embrace what life brings you. To walk through open doors and to accept the one's that close. It is much easier said than done, but it is the discernment of life.

So anyway, I promise I won't have all these entries be so personal. However, it really is more for me. It helps me to write my thoughts and experiences to help make sense of them. The even more hilarious part is.....if you know me well. I don't really share much about myself. I keep my personal things very personal. I don't share a lot about myself. I am very introspective and that seems to be enough for me. I learn a lot from the experiences of others. So, it is very odd, as my mother pointed out, that I am so open on this blog.

However, it must be meant to be. So, I will just say that I hope my thoughts and experiences provide something positive for your own life; however that might be. If you find an open door.....walk through it and then the next and then the next. You will be suprised to look back and see where it has taken you.

I'll be sure to keep you updated on our big week of possible life changing changes! Prayers are welcome and appreciated.