Dear, Wonderful, Amazing Friends...

Philippians 1:3-6
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

A Bit From Belgium - Week 2

~ Psalm 3:3-5 ~

Bonjour Dear Friends & Family!

Week 2 of my Belgian Adventure has passed! I'm doing much better this week and am happy here. (But don't worry, not so happy that I won't want to come home to my friends and family when the time comes! :-) 3 months seems like a long time sometimes, but the days are going quickly and I'm happy, comfortable, and at peace here. I am enjoying for the most part the changes, culture, life, and LOTS of learning that I face throughout each day here! And best of all, I am being carried by the prayers of you all and am so encouraged by it! Thank you!!!!
I've continued to be physically well. I don't have much control over that, but I am very grateful for it, especially after my last "out of country" experience! I can't help but eat well here, and yes, I'm still loving the Belgian foods! The sleeping well has been a blessing too. I usually don't sleep well in new places because I'm a light sleeper, but I think I've been tired and comfortable enough that I've been sleeping hard most nights. It is still strange to have it be so light so late (still pretty light until about 10:30 p.m.), and get light so early. (Birds start singing at 5:00 a.m. and the sun follows closely behind! :-)
I'm learning so much every day here. I just love the little "quirks and perks" about Belgium and Europe that I have never known, thought about, or experienced until now! (You can read about some of those at my blog)

On to my Belgium Bits! ...
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Thursday - July 19, 2007 -
BEAUTIFUL day! Took two long walks: one for fun... and it was! The second walk was into Genval to find the post office, which had been shown to me by car the day before. Hmm... walked for about a half hour and found the bank (all 2 of them), as well as the little food supermarket, but could not find the post office! Oh well. When I got home, I found out I had walked right past it apparently, because in order to get to the supermarket I had to pass the post office. Hee-hee! It's fun to explore this small town and find (or not find) something new every day. It's really a lovely little town. They have two whole stoplights and several roundabouts. It's mostly residential, and of course most of the houses and gardens around them are beautiful as well!

Friday - July 20, 2007 -
First rainy day here. It's pretty gray, but warm. It stormed for a while, which was nice. I like thunderstorms, and the sound of the rain on the skylights is wonderful! A rather sleepy day... I made "forgotten cookies" last night, which are made and then left in a turned-off oven overnight. I was a little worried about how they'd turn out since I don't know this oven very well, but happily they turned out well... I think. We haven't tasted them yet, but they look normal anyhow!
Addendum - Okay, so we tried the "forgotten cookies" after lunch one day, and they were gone by dinner. Hmmm... guess they turned out! :-) I've made the cookies three times since Thursday night because they've disappeared so quickly each time. I guess they really did turn out okay?! :-) Thanks Mom for sending the recipe!

Saturday - July 21, 2007 - Belgian National Holiday (like our 4th of July) - Lots of parties around the town, almost all stores closed, and fireworks and loud music tonight...
Another lovely day! Today I went for a walk to Lake Genval! It's a large lake that's just a few blocks away. (Maybe 10 minute walk?) It's very pretty and has a nice walking path and many little restaurants around it. (Chinoise (French for Chinese), Italian, ice cream, etc.) I took some pictures and walked all the way around it and back home (app. 3 miles)! Like I always say, if I don't know how far I walked until after I've walked it, I won't be tired! :-) There were a LOT of people walking dogs today, which was neat and made me smile. I think I know where I'll be spending some of my free time! :-) Saw a sheltie, lots of parson russell terriers (previously known as jack russells), a doberman, fox terrier, aussie-ish dog, and some others. One lady with a parson russell named Bubba (pronounced Boo-buh) stopped and tried to talk with me. Between my itty-bit of French and her itty-bit of English, we were able to carry on a little bit of a conversation. Most people here do not acknowledge passersby or even make eye-contact when you're out walking, so this lady was an exception! I don't mind that most people aren't conversational though, since I don't have much I can say or understand and would give away my "American-ness" right away! :-) The lady did think I was from London when I told her I speak English... you don't think I have an accent, do you?

Sunday - July 22, 2007
A very relaxing Sunday. Got to sleep in this morning. The weather was nice, as it has been. Cooler, but sunny with clouds and a few small rain showers and storms passing through. Enjoyed spending time with the two Susannah's, who are so much fun! We watched a movie together this evening (The Illusionist). Overall, a quiet, relaxing day. I've been doing a bit of grooming on Maddie the puppy. The older two dogs got nicely groomed last week, but Maddie just needs some little trimming because of her puppy coat, so I've enjoyed getting to do some of that as well. She's such a puppy and continues to be a blessing to me!
I tasted some Belgian cherry beer that one of the Petries' guests bought to share. Interesting tasting, but definitely not something I would enjoy drinking a full glass of... ugh.
I continue to be very happy and comfortable here. THANK YOU for your prayers!

Monday - July 23, 2007
A rainy, sleepy day. It seemed like everybody was tired and had to work hard to stay awake and productive today. :-) Not much new to report in fact. Pretty much stayed around the house and did the usual. I remain content and well. Am reading about 6 of the 7 books I brought with me. Perhaps I should settle down and try to get through one at a time? Naw.... :-) I've been going for walks around Genval or just around the block every day or two or three as well. It's beautiful walking weather, lovely country to admire, and it feels good to get some exercise. It's a bit hilly here, so the walking feels great on my legs too! :-) Today our friend opened up his Belgian rasberry beer to try. (Good thing I'm 21... but then again, legal drinking age here is 14 anyhow...) I tried a few sips. Better than cherry, but still not something I could get excited to drink. Wines are very big here and apparently very good, but thus far the few sips I've tried haven't convinced me. Oh well, I don't mind... cheaper that way! :-)

Tuesday - July 24, 2007
The weather was very cool today, in the 50's and 60's (10-15 Celcius I think). We had sun and rain showers scattered throughout the day. Rebecca has been spending a lot of time working on a book she is going to have published. Two good U.S. friends of the Petries have been visiting these last two weeks and helping with the editing and pre-publishing work. It's kept things pretty busy around here! Susannah C. and I have enjoyed spending time talking together and watching a few movies together as well. She has really helped me settle in here and I will miss her when she leaves in a few weeks! Thursday will be my first "day off" since I've been here. I plan to sleep in and rest some, and if the weather is nice, hope to spend a few hours at the lake with a book...or two or three. :-) It will be nice to rest for a day, although the "work" here continues to be mostly enjoyable for me.

Wednesday - July 25, 2007
Another BEAUTIFUL day! Today we had a birthday party for a friend of the Petries. (I don't know if I'd mentioned him before, but he has lived practically all over Europe and can speak French, English, German, Italian, Latin, and I think a few other languages. He's also an amazing artist!) What a feast we had! We started with crackers and cheese, peanuts, and champagne (tried the sweetest possible kind... just had a few sips. It was better than the beers, but still not "tasty" or appealing for future sips...) Following this we had turkey, stuffing, potatoes, peas, salad, and French bread and butter. After that we had chocolate fruity cake and carrot cake followed by the serving of coffee (I didn't have any). Did I mention that we eat well here? The fellowship was wonderful too. There were something like 12 people here (I like that number for a group of people ;-), and it was a very festive, fun, and beautiful party. Tomorrow will be my first day off... I wonder if I'll know what to do with myself? I called home this afternoon (morning their time) and got to talk with Dad and several of the kids. It sure is nice to hear their voices! They sound great. :-) I miss you guys!

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Blessings in Belgium:

* Another full week gone by smoothly and happily
* The peace and comfortable-ness (new word :-) I have felt here since the first few days
* My wonderful friends and family who have been keeping me updated on life at home with pictures, letters, cards, and stories (Thank You!!!)
* The beautiful weather and town to walk in and admire. What a neat place to get to live for 3 months!
* The French I am gradually picking up and enjoying practicing (please don't ask me to say anything though... it's so Frenglais! :-)
* The faithfulness of God every day... His mercies are new every morning!

Prayer Requests:

* That I would continue to enjoy my time here and take in everything there is to take in and learn
* That I would be open and willing to submit to the molding, shaping, and stretching that the Lord is and will have in store for me
* That I can be humble and serve the way Jesus has taught and demonstrated
* That I will continue to go to bed each night and waken each morning thankful for this unique and priviliged opportunity and not dwell on what I've left behind, but on what lies ahead!

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Thank you for your prayers and support and for even daring to ask for updates from me! Sorry they're so long!

Please have a wonderful rest of your week!

'Til the next,


~ Mary Beth
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"Having the reality of God's presence is not dependent on our being in a particular circumstance or place, but it is only dependent on our determination to keep the LORD before us continually." - Oswald Chambers "My Utmost for His Highest" (July 20)

Week 2 Pictures

Hey, look it's me! I staged this picture as I was getting ready to go for a walk. Sorry it's not candid, but I did take the picture myself! :-)





This is Genval, Belgium at 10:18 p.m., facing the west. I wasn't joking when I said it doesn't get dark here until late this time of year!



What do you do in your free time? Okay, so I don't quite look like this, but I am reading about 6 books right now, just not at the same time. :-)







This is a picture of a very small part of Lake Genval. I love the fountain in the middle! You can actually feel the spray from the fountain if you are walking in the right place and the wind is blowing the right direction...



Here's a more expansive view of Lake Genval. It has a lovely path all the way around it and is a very peaceful, pretty place to walk and relax.

Learning More About Belgium...

*** The water here is very high in calcium, so while it is safe to drink, it is apparently rather unpleasant, so we drink only bottled water.

*** Belgium is made up of primarily two groups of people, the Dutch speaking Flemish in the north and the French speaking French Belgians in the south. There is a lake near here called Lake Genval, and interestingly, it falls right on the line of the French and Dutch speaking parts of Belgium. On the northern half of the lake the road names are all in Dutch, and on the southern half, the roads leading away from the lake are in French. Talk about fascinating!

*** Speaking of Lake Genval, the lake itself is interesting as well. Apparently nobody is allowed to fish in the lake unless you are of specific "notable" families. Only these families have the right to fish there.

*** Wine and tea are most definitely the drinks of choice at least in this part of Belgium and Europe!

*** Practically EVERYTHING here in Belgium is taxed, including rain downspouts and televisions. There is even a TV police who come and count your TV's to make sure you pay the tax on each one. Yes, I'm serious.

*** Traffic updates in and around Brussels, Belgium will come on in your car radios (which are also heavily taxed, by the way), interupting whatever was on previously, and even coming on over CD's or tapes you may have playing in your car.

That's all for this week's lessons from Belgium! :-)

I love learning about new cultures! Even ones that aren't that different from ours are still incredibly fascinating and have plenty of little things that make them unique!

~ MB

Link To More Pictures

Some of these pictures you've already seen... some you haven't!

Enjoy!

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8CbMnLhqxbMcC

~ MB

A Bit From Belgium - Week 1

~ Psalm 138 ~

Greetings Dear Friends! Bonjour!

How are you? How has your week been? I am praying for you! Please let me know if you have any specific requests that you'd like me to join with you in presenting before our Lord. It would be a shame if I were praying the wrong thing for you all this time! :-)

I am sitting at my computer at a small table in my 3rd floor bedroom in Genval, Belgium. The sun is shining in a very blue sky (the same one you're sitting, standing, or lying under!) and it is beautiful here. It has been a week since I left my home in Ohio... WOW... what a week!

It has been a good week, but not an easy one. I am doing well. Physically, I feel great. The food here is fabulous! I'm afraid American "French" bread, cheese, and chocolate just won't taste the same to me anymore. :-) The weather has been gorgous, as well as the houses, cities, towns, and countryside! Belgium is a unique and beautiful place!

Spiritually, mentally, and emotionally I am being stretched. It's been tough and sometimes painful, but good for me I think. I am already grateful for some of the difficult things I've gone through since being here, and I am hoping I can continue to allow myself to be molded and shaped... and stretched, into the person God wants me to be both here and when I return home. I'm learning and growing, and hopefully for all of your sakes it's for the better! :-)

Here are some bits and pieces from my first week here...
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Friday - 7/13/07 -
Today's my first full day here, and I am well. It was beautiful weather and my body is adjusting to the time change amazingly well. Thank you Jesus! I slept from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. very well and tried to rest until a little later in the morning. I'm tired today, but not at all like yesterday, and I'm even hungry at the right times, but not in between, etc. Sure is amazing how quickly bodies can adjust (with the help of prayers!) It seems to stay light here later and get light earlier... maybe because we're further north? I also have a skylight in my room, so that makes it brighter as well.
I have been watching a lot and helping a little. Learning tons, but still have so much to learn... and I'm not very good at anything yet and feel bad for Rebecca because of it. No wonder she goes through a lot when they have a change of people! Rebecca is so sweet, funny, honest, helpful, and everything else positive you can think of!
I miss you guys (family and friends and everything I've ever grown up with...) so badly, and yet I really still feel this is something I need and needed to do. It's so painful and hard to leave everything and practically start life again, but that's one of the reasons I'm here, and I know it's good for me. God's working, but right now it hurts. I know I'm a little overwhelmed with everything right now as well, although taking care of Rebecca is actually amazing. She really is a joy to serve, and ever so funny, fun to be around, and beautiful. There's a lot of work though, and I don't know the routine yet, so that makes it a little harder as well. I am looking forward to getting to know her better and getting to talk with her more. She's pretty special in case you didn't already know. :-)
The Petries recently got a shih tzu puppy, Maddie, who is also a godsend. So cute, so cuddly, and fun to play with. She fills my dog need pretty well, although she sure is small! :-)
As far as the expectations, everything matches the few I had. It's beautiful, peaceful, quiet, and the people are awesome. I knew I would miss you guys as well, but I didn't realize it would hurt this much, so it may seem like a weird prayer request to pray that I don't miss you so much, but that's really what I need. I would like to be able to embrace and love my three months here. I would like to be able to actually rest in this peace and quiet, and not feel uncomfortable in it. Obviously the other prayer is that I would learn quickly what and how to do the tasks for Rebecca, (both for her sake and mine!) It truly will be a pretty full-time job while I'm here... but like I said, she's a joy to be around and serve!
Thank you for the prayers. When it gets tough, I think about how many people I know are praying and how important all this is for the Petries and also for my own growth, and I'm glad I came... even right now with the pain. :-/ :-)
Let me know if you have any specific prayer requests as well! It always seems to help to be able to pray for others!
The whole time change thing here is crazy. :-) I love thinking about the time difference and where or what you are doing. Too bad for you that I get to experience everything in these days before you do! :-)

Saturday - 7/14/07 -

No time for a long update, but I did want to let you know that I am doing well. Have slept VERY well all my nights here, and feel much more like myself again.
I was pretty pathetically homesick yesterday, but people must be praying, because today has been MUCH better, and I'm getting a hang of the routine, which helps. I'm sure there'll be days, but it sure is nice to feel like myself again and be able to savor and enjoy what's here. Everybody continues to be great. I'm thinking I'll probably try to just send weekly "big" updates, so please don't worry if you don't hear from me too often. :-) Besides, it'll probably take you all week to get through my one long e-mail anyhow! :-)

Sunday - 7/15/07 -

Thanks for the e-mails. I really enjoy reading them and hearing about what's going on at home. I am doing well, although still miss everybody badly at night and in the mornings mostly. The days are busy and fun and I'm happy then. I feel like an elastic rubber band by all the ways I'm being stretched by God. Just so many new and sometimes difficult things to deal with inside and mentally. It's good for me to get out of my comfort zone, but it sure isn't easy! Physically I'm great though, which has been a huge blessing! I enjoy taking care of Rebecca for the most part. The "nursing" type stuff doesn't bother me. I'm still learning a lot though and feel bad when I need to do things multiple times to get them right. The French lady who lives here is great with lists and schedules, and I'm now "officially" on the schedule, so perhaps my days will be a little more organized now that I'll be knowing where I need to be and when. You can keep praying that I continue to adjust to the schedule okay.
I got to go into Brussels this evening for church. It's a fascinating city! We passed a bunch of embassies on our way in. We got Haagen Daas (sp.?) ice ceam before church. It was fun to just sit and watch everything go on around me. It's funny because there are people of a lot of nationalities here, but they were all speaking French. :-) Talk about feeling like a foreigner! I like it though... it's a little helpless feeling, but neat to get perspective of what it's like for others in the US who don't speak English well. This particular church met in an almost Catholic-like building ( i.e. beautiful stained glass and pews), but consisted of mostly younger people and they sang more contemporary songs like Refiner's Fire, How Great is Our God, and God of Wonders. It sure was nice to be singing something familiar! At last, something I know from home! :-) The speaker had a very strong British accent as did most of the people there. How cool! Also met a Finnish friend of one of the Petries. It's amazing... the European countries here are talked about almost like we do with states in the U.S. Guess that's what happens when the countries are so small? I don't know whether it's because of the family I'm with or in general in Belgium (I suspect both), but politics (particularly European) are a HUGE deal out here! They're discussed like Buckeye sports at my house, if that gives you any idea. :-)

Monday - 7/16/07 -

I got my first Belgian mail today... and not just one, but TWO! :-) Ahhh... how refreshing to hear more about life in the states! :-) It's sometimes amazing to think about how "life goes on" even when it's been so drastically changed for me here. I'm happy and content most of the time here... but do still get homesick, particularly in the mornings and evenings. I'm busy enough during the day to not think about it!
I worked with little Maddie (the 7 month old shih tzu) for the first time today and taught her shake. She is SUCH a cutie! One big, adorable hair ball, and sweet as anything! (Unusual for a shih tzu, I must say! :-)
Anyhow, just wanted to thank you for the mail and let everybody else know that it works. :-) The envelopes were postmarked July 10 and 11 and got here yesterday, so I guess it's a 4-5 day mailing time? No obligations to write, of course, but if you ever want to, e-mail me for the address. :-)

Wednesday - July 18, 2007 -

One week... wow! Today is a lovely day. I can't believe I've only been here a week. I'm picking up a bit of French, and really enjoying the mental challenge of learning it. I certainly won't be much of a French speaker when I get home, but I'll have at least picked up on a little! I got to ride around a bit of Genval this afternoon, so now when I walk I'll know where I'm walking... hee-hee-hee! It's a nice town and neighborhood to walk in, and somewhat hilly, so good exercise. There's a lovely lake not too far away that I can walk to and around sometime as well. There are lots of little restaurants and sailboats and benches. It's very pretty. The puppy Maddie now knows how to shake hands and is learning to roll over. She's a smart little girl and fun to work with! It's quite an experience for me to work with shih-tzu instead of a retriever! :-) About 60 lbs. and a whole lot of hair difference in fact!
Rebecca continues to be a joy. She brightens up the days and is just a joy to be around. It truly is a privilige to serve her, and I find that I really enjoy the opportunity to be her hands and feet and serve her in a variety of ways. She makes serving fun and a privilige! I don't know that I could ever be a nurse, but I'm finding that I really do enjoy the nursing aspects of this experience! Of course, I realize Rebecca is exceptional as well. All her nurses and physical therapists talk about how amazing she is too. :-)
Oh, and I finally tried some "cheap" Belgian chocolate today... haha... it was scrumptious chocolate with rasberry pieces. Most definitely could sell as some very high quality American chocolate! MmmmmmMMMMM! Now I know what they're talking about! Also had some Belgian waffle cookie things. MmmmmmmmMMM AGAIN!!! I would describe them in more detail, but that would be inconsiderate of me... :-)

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As I finish up my first week's "newsletter" (or book as some may say!), I just wanted to share some of the things I am thankful for this week, as well as a few prayer requests for any of you who are praying and want specifics...

I Am So Thankful For:

* Safe travels to get here
* The kind and loving treatment, relationships, and peace in this household I am in
* The relationships I am forming and people I am getting to know
* The NEW sights, tasks, experiences, people, places, foods... new just about everything!
* Surviving my first full week here without any major physical, emotional, spiritual, or mental breakdowns!
* The "heart surgery" God's doing on and in me during this time... painful, but good. :-)
* The gift of a dear family to miss
*The blessing of dear friends to miss
* A God that precedes and follows everywhere I go

Prayer Requests:

* That I would continue to settle in here and focus on savoring my short time here rather than concentrating on how much I miss everybody and everything I've grown up with
* That I would be open and willing to submit to the molding, shaping, and stretching that the Lord has in store for me while I'm here.
* That I can serve in such a way to bless and help the Petrie family and those they interact with

"I delight in a heart that welcomes My work rather than resents it. A willing, teachable spirit is all I'm looking for. A life so surrendered to Me, I can do My work unhindered..." ("Having a Mary Spirit" by Joanna Weaver)

* Oh, that I might have even a piece of a heart like this! This is my prayer and my desire!

"Jesus does not by any means disregard the sort of person we are when He calls us to do His will. He knows our frame and remembers that we are dust. He knows the weaknesses and strengths, the tastes and fears and prejudices and ignorances and experiences of each of us... It is within His power to transform. It is for us to submit to the transformation..." - (Elisabeth Elliot "Taking Flight")

* Oh, that we all might know and embrace this truth and submit to the transformation and Transformer more every day!

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Have a wonderful rest of your week dear Friends!

Thank you for being YOU!

The Joy of the Lord is my strength,

~ Mary Beth



p.s. If you have any questions about any details I have not included in my expansive e-mail, please feel free to ask! :-)

Bits About Belgium

Some Bits About Belgium...

*** The cheese here is amazing! I'm afraid I won't even like cheese when I get home because I'll be so spoiled by these gourmet cheeses that are "typical" by Belgian standards! (The bread is amazing too, and of coures the chocolate is unspeakably delightful! :-)

*** It starts getting light (and birds singing, etc.) at 5:00 a.m., and doesn't become dusk until about 10:30 p.m. I guess it's from being further north. I guess that also means a LOT of darkness in the winter? It's been a little "interesting" on my body, but we're adjusting okay and sure don't mind all the sunlight. :-)

*** When driving, all drivers yield to the car on the right. Lane markers dividing the oncoming traffic are solid white lines, and roundabouts are everywhere! Street signs are rather different too! At least the stop lights are the correct colors. :-) Vehicles are all very small. I have seen no vans or SUVs anywhere here and only saw a few in the city of Brussels. Some of the cars are even itty-bitty one person cars!

*** Plant hedges are very common here. Most people have a fence somewhere in front, behind, or inside the bush, but most houses have at least a part of their yard "fenced" by hedges. They're very pretty! People also have GORGOUS flower gardens here... everywhere!

More Pictures from Belgium

My new home for the next 3 months...
My new house from the back yard and glorious garden...
More of the heavenly garden that is the backyard...
A very fascinating house I passed on a walk... Looks like it should be in a fairy tale?!
Couldn't resist taking a picture of this while out walking... This is probably my favorite picture so far... hee-hee-hee!

Pictures

Good Bye Columbus, Ohio!!!
Wednesday, July 11, 2007 - 5:18 p.m.
Sunrise over the clouds over the Atlantic
Thursday, July 12, 2007 - 2 a.m. Ohio Time

Flying over the North Pole... or...maybe just some cool clouds! :-)
Thursday, July 12, 2007 First good look at Europe...

Thursday, July 12, 2007 - 5 a.m. Ohio Time

11 a.m. Belgian Time My new bedroom for the next 3 months...

I Have Arriven!

Just a quickie to let you all know I have arriven (new word), safe, sound, smiling, and tired! Belgium and the Petrie's house is B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L. Can't wait to send you some pictures!

The trip was not uneventful, but also not bad at all. I'll fill you in more later, since I had a chance to write twice during the plane trip, but couldn't get onto internet to share. So that's it for now about that. :-) As you can see, the internet works here, although the webbrowser stuff is in Dutch I think, so if I want to post a new post, I click "Maken", or I can choose "Berichten Bewerken" or "Reacties". What fun this is going to be! :-) (I'm sure there is a way to change it, but at the moment I think it might be a cool way to learn some Dutch! :-)

THANK YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS!!! Please continue to pray that the transition goes smoothly. Life here is going to be VERY different than home... but I already expected that and think I need it. Please pray that I'll just be able to handle it! :-)

I have some fun stories to share about how God has already shown up along my trip and even when I arrived, but that will have to wait, because I'm off to get a shower and then make some tea for Rebecca and go visit with her some more... :-)

Did I mention it is beautiful here?!!!!

Muchas Amour,
MB

2:17 a.m. Ohio Time - 8:17 Belgian Time - Somewhere Over the Atlantic

2:17 a.m. Ohio Time - 8:17 a.m. Belgian Time - Somewhere Over the Atlantic

Wow... wow! WOW!

It's amazing what a little bit of time and distance will do to you! Here I sit on a very comfy plane with two open seats beside me. I've been on this plane for 6 hours already and still have about 2 more to go. This trip has truly been a trip of sitting on unmoving airplanes! :-) 2 hours in the Columbus airport onboard a plane to Philadelphia, and then another hour in Philadelphia sitting on board the plane in an airplane trafic jam. :-) Everybody is quiet and great though... even the little ones. I've heard no complaining on either flight, and the kids are quiet and cute. One little boy was roller skating up and down the aisle's at 1 a.m. :-) Another little kid has a voice like Keri... in my half-dozed state I pretended it was Keri. Hmmm... I wonder where I can adopt some little siblings in Brussels?!
Everything on the plane has been smooth. I've gotten up and walked a couple of times, but mostly just sat in my chair, listened to music, and tried to sleep. I don't recall falling asleep, although I tried for hours, however there is a big time gap that I can't explain between 1 and 2 a.m., so apparently maybe I did sleep. :-) I woke up with a jolt, and opened up my window to see, with a shock, that it was sunrise! At 1 a.m. when I last looked out my window, it was PITCH BLACK. How crazy and amazing is that?! As I look out my window I se blue blue sky and a layer of lots of clouds beneath us... way, way beneath us. I can't even see if there is an ocean below us, but I'll trust it's still there! My little 1 hour catnap re-energized me momentarily, but I'm going to need more than that to make it through the day, so I'm going to have to leave you with this for now....

You know the drill... THANK YOU and LOVE YOU!!!

~ MB

7:41 p.m. Wednesday, July 11 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

7:41 p.m. Wednesday, July 11 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

I have safely arrived at my first leg of this journey... but not without some excitement first. :-)

Had a very smooth and uneventful check-in, about an hour to savor with my dear family and a few good friends, and then said a heart-wrenching good-bye and headed through security and to my terminal. It took everything in me to keep walking towards the terminal and not turn around and come running home to everything that is comfortable and familiar. I was on the verge of crying as I walked away, but I haven't come this far for nothing, so I tried to push aside the thoughts running through my mind and pressed forward. I'm not going to Belgium for "comfortable and familiar", so I shouldn't expect that feeling anyhow! Sat in the terminal for maybe 15 minutes trying to gather my thoughts and calm myself. I wrote in my journal for a bit, which helped, and asked God to "help me!". Minutes later, a lady and her son walked up and sat down beside me... get this... carrying two animal carriers, one with a big Himalyan cat and the other with an 8 month old papillon puppy!!!! Turns out the lady was moving to Goodyear, Arizona. She brought the puppy out of the crate, and shortly thereafter the puppy was in my arms and I was being covered in little doggy licks and being softly hit with a wagging tail. How's that for some amazing provision on God's part! :-) I couldn't help but smile after that, and before I knew it, it was time to board the plane. I gave the lady back her puppy, grabbed my carry-on luggage and headed for the plane. Then the real excitement started... hee-hee-hee.. not.
We boarded the plane at 3:45, but due to some stormy weather in Philadelphia, we ended up siting on the plane in the airport until about 5:30 p.m... about 30 minutes AFTER the time I was scheduled to arrive in Philadelphia. Good thing for that 3 1/2 hour layover! Turns out my layover is only 1 1/2 hours now, as we finally safely arrived to Philadelphia at about 7:00 p.m. The flight was fine. I had my own seat with no seat next to me, and all the passengers were very quiet and mostly businessman and women. (Sorry Jessica R.! :-) We arrived to Philadelphia with plenty of time for me to call home and let the family know where I am, grab a little dinner (tuna wrap...), and sit here and type this update. Unfortunately, I can't seem to figure out how to use wireless internet that doesn't cost anything, so this update is going to have to be a little belated!

Thank you, as always, for your prayers. They're truly carrying me through this crazy, exciting, fun, exhausting, etc. day! :-)
Please pray that I would get rest tonight on the plane (I'm tired!), that I would continue to be able to deal with the reality of the long term separation from pretty much everything I know (it's good and necesarry for me at this time I think... I just have to keep reminding me of that!), and that I will be able to settle into Brussels, Belgium life okay. I'm getting excited as I sit here and hear people speaking different languages! I sure hope I can pick some new languages up while I'm away... and hopefully I don't mix them up! :-)


Hugs of the big, squeezy, encouraging kind!

~ MB

7.5 Hours...445 minutes...26,700 seconds...

Psalm 118:24 - This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!

Wow... TODAY is the day... the long, exciting, sad, amazing day I've been thinking and praying about for 10 months!!!

I went to bed around 1:45 a.m. this morning and slept LIKE A LOG! Thank you Lord! Woke up to the sound of my alarm (I think I was dreaming about puppy Jen at the moment...), at 7:30, just in time to visit a little with Josh and say good-bye (sniff, sniff), before he headed off to work. Another answered prayer: it wasn't an awful good-bye, and we got through with nary a tear! My bro is the best! I sure will miss him!

So... just about 9 more really difficult good-byes and I will be on the plane with my face "set" to Belgium!

From the words of a friend... who couldn't have put it better! "... Thankfully, security can't keep God in checked luggage or at home, so He'll be right there with you..."

THANK YOU SO MUCH for your prayers! Love ya'll!

~ MB

PACKING!!

Packing has begun in full force! What fun! The picture on the bottom shows the packing preparation, and on the left, you can see my suitcases packed and ready to go! :-)

Seriously, I did get just about everything in my suitcases already, and am very happy to say I have PLENTY of extra space and about 22 lbs. to spare in each large suitcase! I guess that means plenty of room to bring a sibling along?! :-) (I wish!)

Have a GREAT Monday!

2 days... 50 hours... 3,000 minutes...

~ MB

Answered Prayers

Just wanted to take a moment to thank and encourage you all in your prayers!!! God has been listening and much to my great joy, He has been carrying me through some difficult good-byes in an amazing way!

I dropped Jen, my CCI puppy off yesterday, and when I left she was so happy and relaxed that I couldn't feel horrible or cry about it! It's very erie without a dog or any signs of the dog (other than leashes and collars hanging on a rack by my door), but instead of feeling sad or upset, I'm actually even more excited as I realize that I'm closer than ever to embarking on this exciting trip!

Today was my last day at church until I return home, but instead of feeling very sad and gloomy, I have been filled with an unexplainable "joy of the Lord". The good-byes WERE hard, and I am going to miss everybody SO very much... but I feel, as Nehemiah said in Nehemiah 8:10, "This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

THANK YOU for your prayers, and hugs, and support, and encouragement, and words of wisdom... and the list goes on! THANK YOU!

Amour,
MB

1 week... Tough Stuff

1 week...7 days...168 hours...10,080 minutes...

Philippians 3:13-14 - "But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

Right now is a very exciting time of preparation, anticipation, cleaning, packing, writing lists, re-writing lists, spending precious-short time with friends and family, obtaining new and used "essentials", and trying to cover the hundreds of things that need finished, planned out, organized, identified, and done before I leave on this great adventure!

It is also a very sad and difficult time for me. I love greetings and change and new things... I don't love long-term good-byes and separation from my dear friends and family. One by one I am doing things for the "last time" in a long while... some things will be the last forever, and that's hard. I completed my last day at CCI yesterday, and cried on my way home. How many people cry after their voluntary resignation from work?! I was also leaving Steed, the last CCI pup I raised, for what may be the last time. There is a possibility that he will be placed with somebody and graduate while I am away, in which case I may or may not hear or see him ever again. That's hard. I finish my last day at our vet's office tomorrow. I take Jen, my current CCI puppy, to the puppy raising friends who will have her for the final 6 weeks before she turns-in for advanced training. Although I know I will be seeing Jen again, it's still not easy to think that these are quite possibly her last days here at our house. What a fun 5 months it's been with her, and what a privilige to get to work with her! I will probably cry when I leave her on Saturday, even though I know she's in fabulous hands! And sheesh... if I cry that much from saying good bye to my doggies and co-workers, I hate the thought of saying good-bye to my friends and family! ...

But that's enough dwelling on the sad stuff. It doesn't do me a bit of good anyhow. If I focus on what's ahead... an exciting trip, (I love airports, flying, and traveling!), a new country (I love new things, new cultures, people, languages, etc.!), an amazing family to live with (I love the Petries!), and so much more that God has in store that I don't know about yet (I love God's little (and big) surprises!), then it makes it hard to stay sad for long. :-)

If you happen to think of me in the next week though, please pray...

--- that I will continue to be able to focus on what's ahead with excitement, anticipation, and joy
--- that I will not focus or be overcome by the sadness of saying good-byes and missing my family and friends
--- that I will be humbled and be able to fill the servant role I desire and am going to Belgium to be
--- that I will be able to accomplish all the things I would like to get done before I leave, use my remaining time here wisely, and not forget anything too vital in my packing! :-)

Thank You! Merci! Muchas Gracias! And my love to ya'll!

His,
MB