Namaste, India!

 I picked up my malaria meds yesterday and am current on my typhoid immunization. So....I guess I am really doing it. I'M GOING TO INDIA! I have actually known this for several months, it just seemed too far away to be real or relevant. But...as I am looking at my packing list, I am realizing it is just around the corner.

Darn year of yes. Michael came home from church this winter and mentioned that this woman spoke about two mission trips she had taken to India. She is a nurse and during the trips she set up a medical clinic and treated the kids at the orphanage. Her time had been very rewarding but she only wanted to go back as part of the mission if she could get more medical staff to come along. There are just too many kids to see and education to provide for one nurse.

From the moment Michael told me about her, I had a pretty good feeling I would be going to India. I have tried to be more open this year to challenges and opportunities that have come my way. It started with my birthday last year in October and a challenge from my friend, Karin. My increased openness (despite my occasional fears) has lead me to an art class, a very early morning hike, a new position at work, sunrise paddleboarding, golf lessons...and now INDIA. I met with the nurse, Crystal, who spoke at church and instantly felt a connection. I knew if she was in, I would go too...assuming the money, time off and family responsibilities all lined up as well.

I have been meeting with the India team for about six months now. Sixteen of us will be traveling to an orphanage in Buxar, India. The orphanage provides housing, schooling and love to about 480 kids. Our church has been a supporter of Open Arms India, the ministry that started the orphanage, for many years. Four of us on the team are nurses. We will walk alongside, love, play with and provide medical care to the kids and their caregivers for 14 days. I am starting to sense that I may see a lot of lice, scabies and other creepy crawlers while I am there. It makes me itch already.

I am really excited for this adventure. I am grateful that work is giving me the time off, that my family supports the trip and that Karin challenged me to be more open this year. Ironically, the trip starts October 22, the day before the technical "end" of my year of yes. Is that a sign or what? The other complete bonus of this trip? My birthday pretty much disappears with travel and the time difference. Audrey finds this very concerning. I tried to explain to her that if my birthday never happens, I am pretty sure I just stay 43. That's okay with me.

When I say my family is supportive of the trip, there is one small caveat. Michael and Mason are totally in and excited for my adventure. Audrey....well, sweet Audrey is a little worried that her mom is going to be far away for SO MANY DAYS. She is also a bit worried for my safety. I have tried to reassure her that God is in control and I will be okay. What an amazing opportunity I have to go love on and spend time with 480 kids. I have no doubt that I will get more out of this trip and living alongside these kids than they will get from us being there.

If you are so inclined, I would ask for a few things for me, my traveling companions and the kids in Buxar. If you are the praying type, our team could always use prayer - for safe travels, health, and knowing the best way to love on and support the kids and caregivers in Buxar. If you happen to be at Costco or any pharmacy in the next few weeks, I understand we could always use extra tubes of Neosporin and Cortisone cream. Our church (Countryside) is also collecting Lego's (the small ones, not in sets), small plastic farm animals and matchbox cars. Also, if you see my kids out and about while I am gone, maybe you could give them an extra hug for me (fist bump for Mason as not to embarrass him). If Michael looks a little harried and arrives somewhere late, perhaps a little extra grace.

This year of yes has turned out to be pretty awesome. Maybe it will just keep going since the official end gets lost over the Mediterranean Sea anyhow....

Back to School Palpitations

My heart walked through the high school doors yesterday. I have a high schooler. I have been looking at all the obligatory back to school photos, loving them, and feeling a bit nostalgic, excited and anxious all at once. I wonder about the stories behind all of the photos. Mine showed two exceptionally good looking, smart, excited kids (totally not biased). Mostly they are looking forward to reconnecting with their friends and getting back to some of the sports and activities they have been missing - not so much the homework. But, behind the smiles, I know there is some anxiety about the homework load, friends who may have changed over the summer and not being able to sleep in or have as much golf time as we did this summer.

I have had a few friends check in with me because they know me well enough to know that having a high schooler probably freaks me out. It does. I am more of an internal freak out person than external so no, I wasn't the mom who shed tears as Mason got out of the car. He is  a good kid. I believe he will be okay. I like his friends. He has a girlfriend that is smart, kind and loves to read. Yes, I said girlfriend. When I was texting my friend that Mason and his girlfriend went to Barnes and Noble, she asked me if backpack didn't autocorrect to girlfriend. No. it's true. I would freak out about this if she wasn't so sweet and I hadn't had two months to get used to the idea.

So. yesterday morning, I heard Mason rustling around at 6 am eating his breakfast and reading the paper. I got up and we chatted. I thought about going for a run but decided on this momentous day, I would rather make him eggs and be nervous, fidgety and a bit spazzy with him. He wasn't excited that the first day was filled with welcome activities. He told me he would rather just start his classes and get on with it. Totally my kid. We want the hard, awkward part to be over and just be in the middle of it when everything is comfortable.

I think this is the first year that I wasn't as excited for school to start. Our summer went really fast. When I look back at it, I can't remember too much that happened except A TON OF GOLF. I must have walked miles on various golf courses around the state. But, we had fun. Mason and Audrey have a good relationship and seem to enjoy each other's company. Most of the time, I enjoy being around them. Don't get me wrong, it's not all sunshine, unicorn and roses but generally, I like the people they are and are becoming. I am glad they will be at school for the simple fact that I worry more about them when I am at work and they are just at home for hours than when they are at school.

I don't know what this year holds. I am sure there will be more drama than I want and hard choices that we have to face along the way. But, as my friend Jenny quoted to me from one of our favorite writers, Glennon Doyle Melton, "we can do hard things." I believe this. I believe I can do the hard things I need to do this year. I also believe that my kids can and will too. When Mason was getting out of the car for his first day of high school he turned and said, "love you, mom." Love you, too superstar. You've got this.