Loose Ends

When we were in Georgia last summer, we spent time planning on how to get all the work done before we left for Kenya. We have done a pretty good job keeping up with our tasks except Jeff and purging. We are supposed to purge 3 hours a month. We are 4 1/2 months into getting ready to go and Jeff has purged 4 shirts, 3 pieces of plywood, and some old warped melomine. So that leaves him 13 hours 27 minutes and 18 seconds behind in his purging efforts. 

Last week, however, he did get rid of his left hip. He's got a brand new model! The recovery process is going well, in fact, great if you compare it to hip number one done in 2013. Don't even get him started on the benefits of anterior v. posterior hip replacement. He is a convert. Jane on the other hand has been keeping up with her purging and may be a bit ahead of scedule. She will never be a guest on American Hoarder.

One of the things we do now is talk about what we will be doing this time next year. Thanksgiving was the definition of bittersweet.  We had a great time with about half the family. Missed Ben, Christina and their kids. Also bitter because it is the last time we will spend Thanksgiving with family for the next couple of years Lord Willing. (Did you get that mom Boeve?) It seems like all the loose ends being tied up intensifies the initial call.

You ask yourself, is this barrier worth the effort? Most barriers are yes, without a doubt. Even the hip was a bit a head of schedule. Needed to be done but Jeff would have preferred to wait. Others, such as issues with the visa, make you question and reconfirm your committment and the call burns in your chest. It is not easy to tie up loose ends regarding gratifying and "called to" professions such as the two of us have cherished. Each step we take toward Kenya draws us one step closer to tying everything into one final messy bow.  We pray it will pleasing to our lord.