Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion’s starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don’t see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often, it’s not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it’s always there – fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know, none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge – they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I’ve got a sneaking suspicion… love actually is all around.

-Love Actually (opening lines)

Well, I have some pretty exciting news…

…I’m officially coming home to visit in October. I debated announcing this to the world and even considered keeping the whole trip on the DL, but that’s just ridiculous. I’M COMING HOME TO VISIT FOR 2 WEEKS AND I’M STOKED ABOUT IT! :) I’m flying into Asheville, NC on October 7th and Eric is picking me up at the airport and driving me home to Chattanooga. So yeah, I guess I should include a side note here: I kinda have thing for Eric…I think he’s great…and he is my boy. So there, I said it. :)

So pull out your calendars ladies and gentlemen…I’ll for sure make a Cleveland visit or two, and I’ll fly back to Bangkok on the 22nd. And no worries…though it will absolutely suck all over again having to go through the list of goodbyes, fear not my friends. I love my life in Bangkok, and I’m already preparing myself for the post-October blues mentally, emotionally, and most of all spiritually. God knows what He’s doing, and I have to daily surrender everything to Him. Like I always say, God’s timing is crazy…I just love being along for the ride and watching His plan unfold day by day. You know how they say that hindsight is 20/20; well, I can for sure confirm that…because I love looking back on my life and seeing how God’s pieced each thing perfectly together to continuously create my “big picture” and write my “story.”

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.

-Romans 8:28

Well, I love God, and I know that He’s called me to do His work in Thailand right now…so, I think I’m pretty much set. Life really is a divine conspiracy, you know. So all that to say, I think I’m gonna be just fine when I have to hug and kiss my stateside world goodbye and fly back. I’m learning how to appreciate my new life here, embrace opportunities, and keep pressing on toward that goal…strive for that prize to which I was called. Even with the thoughts of missing you, with God’s help, I got this on lockdown.

…and I must say, I’m getting used to living off X’s and O’s.

I’m out. //Cwalk.