Wow, is it 2012 already??

I cannot believe how fast time flies sometimes.  3 years ago this month we were attending a meeting in Virginia to look at our prospects of returning overseas.  We met some wonderful people, who we are still very close to, in hearts if not in miles.  The Father had done so much just to get us to that point, and He has continued to do still more. 

At that time, He had worked through others to get us from college loans that could have purchased a small house to a debt equal to that of a small car.  Over the course of the next few months, we would continue to pay down on it, to the point that we are completely debt free now with a nice sized savings in case emergencies happen.  What a wonderful feeling it was then but even better now. 

Rich had needed to get some more schooling for us to qualify to return, which he did, so that we would be considered associates.  Since we arrived here, we have been changed to permanent status but Rich is still looking forward to finishing his masters, though there may be some changes to expedite that, which would be great.

We met some friends that week who scattered to the world in the months to follow.  Some have returned to the states for medical reasons, and some have found the Father using them in ways they did not expect to reach the nations.  Some have added to their family by births or by creating new families through marriage. 

Some specific highlights of that week were playing Phase 10 with our new friends while I was wearing leopard print pajamas and fuschia high heels (I had forgotten my slippers). 

Kneeling in a group in prayer with a beloved brother who feared that saying goodbye to his father  would be the last time to see him alive, which wound up being the case a year later.  Rich who had known that feeling and the flight back was able to encourage this friend as he prepared for that. 

Breathing a sigh of relief that we knew where we were called to go while others had no idea in the world where the Father was calling them.  

Rejoicing in the fact that we were able to see some friends that we had not seen in a while and the Father only knows when we will see them again.

Breathing a sigh of relief as we were given the affirmative that we would indeed get recommended to return overseas, after being in the states for over two years.  (Of course that did not compare to the call we got two months later making it official as we were on our way to Disney World.)

Sometimes it feels like no time and sometimes it feels like a lifetime ago.  Wow a lot can happen in three years!  Thinking of my precious friends around the world.