The Week Before It All Begins

Well, it was an exciting weekend. Let me tell you about it!


Friday night mom and I began our journey. Mom got off work around 5 pm and I had a few precious moments to spend hugging dad and saying goodbye. He had been gone all week on a business trip and rushed back for one last hug. He came with a gift for my birthday and a goodbye (A great North Face Jacket!) I was never one of those cool kids before ;) I kind of feel like a poser, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE the jacket! it fits perfectly and it's brown so I'll wear it often! 


Anyway, so we of course stopped one last time at my Starbucks before we drove out of town. It was good to see everyone one last time before I left for awhile.


On our way through we stopped to give Grandma and Grandpa one last hug and spent a few minutes visiting before we continued on.


We drove and drove and arrived in Yakima around 11 pm. It was a long day and knowing we had to get up early made it even worse. We crashed. It was quite an interesting visit because neither mom or I had been to the house in such a long time. It was wonderful to see Grandma Marilyn again... I miss her so much and to be in the house was so strange after so long. We slept in grandpa's room and I went to bed remembering sweet things about him and how much he meant to me. I was always a little sad that he didn't know me as an adult. I think we would have had lots to talk about. He was an incredible man though I know far far from perfect.


We got up EARLY the next morning. 5 am and we were out on the road by 5:15 am. We stopped for gas and hoped for coffee. No such luck. We drove for hours before we saw a sign for Starbucks. We raced to get there and when we drove for 10 minutes away from the highway and saw no more signs we gave up and turned around, with the caffeine headache starting with both of us. We were pushing my poor little car as fast as she would go.


We were aiming to get to Airdrie, a little town outside Calgary in time for a Haiti Arise Appreciation dinner that Marc and Lisa had begged me to try to get to. We knew we would probably be a little late because it was an 11 hour drive plus an hour time difference against our favor. We were rushing and rushing and then came the border. Ugh. They pulled me in and after 45 minutes demanded I pay $150 US for a Religious Work Visa which the YWAM base in Medicine Hat assured me I didn't need. Bummer bummer but I am so grateful for my mommy who had a good attitude....


So, add that to our already tardiness, we were afraid we were going to entirely miss the dinner! And yet we pushed our way through the Canadian terrain to a world unknown to mommy. The beauty of Banff and the surrounding areas on the road to Calgary. It really is beautiful this time of year. The colors just beginning to change for autumn. Gorgeous. I was blown away by the reality that I am really here. I am going to live here for the next few months.

Mom and I had some great talks on this trip... I was so grateful for our time together. I know it will be something I will remember and hold dear in my heart for the rest of my life.


So with my new found map reading skills (thank you so much Lisa!) we navigated our way through the hills to the Roberts' Ranch in Airdrie. We walked in during the middle of their thank you speech and of course the entrance was at the front where everybody watched us walk in. We were so tired and had to use the washroom so bad! LOL. But we made it and I was overjoyed to see friends I had made while in Haiti and with Lisa last spring when Jasmine was born.


As soon as it was over we made the 30 minute trek back to Calgary. So tired we wanted to cry and me so excited I could hardly stand it. Again thanking Lisa for her map lessons we found our way with the map to our “hotel”. It was to say the least the scariest hotel experience of my life. We had to park on the lower level of the hotel and the elevator was broken. I had to carry all my stuff in from the car which was full, because I didn't want to get broken into during the night so we had to pack it all AROUND the block and UP a hill to get into the lobby. We got a cart once inside but when we exited the lobby and entered a SCARY elevator we really got nervous. We got to our room. The light flickered and shocked me a tiny bit, the floor looked like it hadn't been washed in ages. There was a white spot and all I could think was shows like NCIS and CSI where there is blood on carpet and they attempt to clean it and you could see residue – ya, that's what it was like. SICK! We unloaded the cart and tried to be happy to just be settled and together. It was a tough night. Mom hardly slept at all and I was so tired I couldn't think about it anymore. I got into bed with the feeling of being bitten by little bugs. Ew!

The next morning mom got up and we tried to get ready in the tiny bathroom. We just wanted to get out and forget we were staying there. On the way out of the room mom REALLY got a shock in her arm and said that's it. I have to talk to them. She told the front desk clerk what had happened. He apologized with fear in his eyes and offered us a King Suite in the newer side of the hotel. It still was not glorious but at least there was a full bathroom sink and cleaner environment. Ack, it was horrid though.

That next day we drove to Medicine Hat to see the ranch and meet the people. This has almost been the highlight of the trip so far. I got to meet the directors and we got some questions answered. They are amazing! I cannot wait to be there later this week. The ranch is incredible and I know it is going to be an amazing experience. I think mom felt better too knowing who was going to be working with me and what it would look like. I am a little nervous about my poor little car. We'll see how it does in Alberta weather during the winter! They say Medicine Hat is pretty mild. We'll see who's lying or not! LOL. I was of course excited to see too that there are 2 Starbucks in the city and it's only a half an hour drive there. :)
The next day I tried not to think about how I had to say goodbye to mom. We drove toward the airport and grabbed a bite to eat at Earls (a great restaurant, PS) and then sat at my not so favorite place, Tim Hortons, because there was no Starbucks close by. We tried not to cry while we sat and knit together for an hour or so. Trying to be cheerful. Trying to be happy. It was not so successful. But then the moment came...we had to say goodbye. We cried and held each other knowing that something about this DTS is different than my other adventures. I don't know how and I don't know why but I do know that it is different. I wonder what will happen.


I got my composure and drove to Didsbury for Generation Group, a small discipleship group with the pastors and some dear friends I made last spring and of course my dear Bekah and Joe who were in Haiti with me the year before. It was a good time and very encouraging!


Then came time with Marc and Lisa. It was wonderful to see them and catch up... it was short and sweet and then they were gone. I was grateful for time with Claire and Nelson, Marc's adopted Canadian parents. So encouraging and a time full of love. I am grateful to have so many friends here in Alberta :)


And now I am sitting in a coffee shop in Didsbury thinking about the past days and dreaming about the coming ones... Wondering what God will do. Who I will become and who I will meet. Trying to be content with where I am in life and wondering when God will sweep me off my feet next... I feel quite happy and though I am sad to be away from family and friends in Washington I am excited to see what will happen today and tomorrow and the next.


For now all, if you've read all this, you're amazing. The ramblings of a young and adventurous disciple of Christ... blessings...