give thanks

I'm back on the boat after probably one of the best months off that I've had since I started rotating.  I not only got to see both sides of my wonderful family, but I also got to have (almost) a full 3 weeks with Chad :)  Plus it was Christmas, New Years, AND MusicFest!  

I think it's safe to say that 2015 has probably been my busiest year yet.  After 34 (or so) flights, 10 countries, and 1 job change, I am ready for 2016!  On New Years Day, we went to Nana and Papa's house for New Year's lunch to fill up on black eyed peas and cabbage with hope of good luck and wealth in 2016.  After lunch I ran to Papa's bathroom before walking home, and noticed something that has probably been there for years that I'd never noticed before.  There is a little sticker at the top of the mirror that is a verse from 1 Thessalonians.  I must admit that it originally caught my eye because the verse is 5:18 - which is my birthday (May 18th) - but it's the words that stuck...

"give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 
-1 Thessalonians 5:18

What a wonderful reminder as we kick off a new year!  I find myself so often (especially in recent years) focusing on the bad and constantly finding things to complain about.  I'm in need of a change, and this verse is just the shift I needed.  No matter where you are in life, you are right God intends you to be, which means you are right where you need to be.  This has been too easy for me to forget while on a boat in the ocean 8,000 miles from home.  I think I'll take yet another lesson from my sweet Papa and make myself a little sticker to put on my bathroom mirror!

Sadly, Chad's sweet grandmother passed away on Monday night.  I feel so incredibly lucky to have met and spent time with her over the past few years, even though on one occasion she thought I was just a super nice flower-delivery girl ;)  It kills me that I am not home, but I am thankful that I got to spend time with her and can rest assured that she is completely at peace.   

Luckily, my transition back onto the boat has been much smoother than expected.  Even though I slept ZERO hours on the flight back to work (it was a super bumpy ride), I got my sea legs in about a day rather than the weeks it took me to adjust last time I got on the boat.  I was so nervous that I was going to be seasick like I was when I got out here last time, but so far so good.  I did come back with a pretty gnarly cold and I have been loaded up on cold meds every day since I left, so I’m thinking that’s helped with the boat movement as well.   

5 days down, 23 to go!  xoxo...