almost there

Travel delays to Palau.
We had a bear of a time even getting to Houston.
When we arrived at the airport in Rochester to head to Houston, we were told that the flights from Cleveland were delayed and that we wouldn't be able to make the connection to Houston.
Then we were told to go to Newark. And they began to reticket our luggage and reissue boarding passes. Then we were told that maybe the Newark flight wouldn't depart either...
Yadayadayada.
We ended up staying on the Cleveland flight, making our connection, and arriving in Houston late and tired on Tuesday night but at least we were there.
Then, the next morning, we got to the Houston airport and were told that there was a mechanical problem with the Honolulu flight and that we wouldn't make our connection from Guam to Palau. We could either stay in Houston and try the next day or go on to Honolulu and either overnight there or in Guam.
We ended up going to Honolulu, making the Guam connection, and then arriving in Guam to what amounted to chaos.
The Continental gate agents at the Guam International Airport (bless their hearts) don't communicate very well with one another. We were told to go from the gate to the ticket counter. We did. No one there. We went back to the gate and were told to go back to the ticket counter because someone would be there. We did. No one was there. By now, a pack of people had gathered because there were folks heading for both Palau and Manilla who were going to overnight in Guam and needed vouchers for the hotels.
The crowd was getting restless.
And an almost mob mentality was developing.
Wonderful hubby and I kept our cool. I found a Continental flight attendant away from the other people and asked if she could possibly help me. She found a supervisor. The bottom line was we finally got our vouchers, were taken by van to the Marriott hotel in Guam (arrived around midnight,) slept for 7 hours, had a nice breakfast, got bathing suits from the giftshop (don't even ask...mine could fit in the coinpurse of my wallet,) spent 2 hours poolside, took a short walk on the beach, cleaned up, had a nice lunch, and are now biding our time in the President's Lounge at the Guam International Airport. We walked through the incredible Galleria Duty Free Shopping Area but kept on going since we didn't really need anything, especially with our new bathing suits ;)
The week before departure went really well. I made my lists each morning and dealt with what needed attention. I managed to fit in a yoga practice almost every day which helped immensely. And my mat is in my suitcase so I will be continuing my yoga in Palau. The lunch with Bishop Mhogolo was a wonderful success and my commitment to the Carpenter's Kids program is cemented. I look forward to my visit to Tanzania in July and am hoping to develop friendships that will span continents and decades--much like the relationships I have developed in Palau.
A couple of months ago, I was at a meeting where someone was challenging me on how to do the mission work that I did in the area where they lived.
I responded that I couldn't--their area wasn't my stretch of beach.
I was referring to the story that you all have probably heard of the little boy who is walking down the beach throwing the washed up starfish back into the water. When challenged by an adult who said he couldn't possibly make a difference because of the vast number of starfish, the boy responded, "yes, but for this starfish I made a difference."
We all have a limited amount of beach.
What we do with it is up to us.
Peace,
RevMutha

Getting ready for Palau

8 days from now, God willing, darling hubby and I will be on a plane bound for Houston, Texas. We overnight in Texas and then begin our long treck westward on Wednesday morning, March 10. We fly from Houston to Honolulu, Honolulu to Guam, Guam to Yap, and Yap to Koror. We leave at 9 a.m. Wednesday and arrive at 10:20 p.m. local time in Palau on Thursday. I still can't wrap my mind around the whole international date-line thing--I'm just glad we'll be getting there!
And my schedule is pretty nuts in the next 8 days. I'm making sure to get in my yoga practices because it keeps me focused and more calm. Which is a good thing. Next Monday, I am honored to be welcoming the Anglican Bishop of The Diocese of Central Tanganika to our home for a luncheon for him to tell some local folks about the Carpenter's Kids program. I'll write more about that later.
In the meantime, It's off to dinner with the wonderful couple who will be tending to our home and the little reds while we're in Palau. God bless folks who are willing to help us so that we can take time off together and be adventurous. I promise to repay this favor when people need me to...
And, of course, this Sunday night is THE OSCARS!!!
I'll post my pics later this week.
In the meantime, if you haven't seen the documentary "The Cove," see it. Heartbreaking but also powerful. People who want to change the world for the good change my world. And make it better. And make me want to work harder.
Love, love, love,
RevMutha

Advance

Well, actually I'm heading out with the little reds to a retreat.
Although I hope we all advance.
I'm leading the retreat for a church in Virginia. I'm not used to working for churches that have lots of financial resources. This one obviously does since they're paying for all three of our plane tickets, accomodations, meals, and also giving me a hefty honorarium. Suweet!
The theme of the retreat is "Landscapes, Languages, and Love." I will definitely give them their money's worth. I'm really excited. Lots of cool activities planned for them.
I'll let y'all know how it goes.
Interesting to lead a retreat at a Hilton Hotel in the Outer Banks...
Yes, we will be advancing while we retreat.
Peace,
RevMutha

p.s. I got up and went to yoga at 6 a.m. When the alarm went off I thought "Oh no. Not happening. God, if you want me to go, get me out of this bed." And then I got up. I'm still astonished. And grateful.

from 40 days to 40 days

I finished my 40 days to personal revolution on Saturday.
Today the 40 days of Lent begins.
I believe that my Lenten discipline will be to continue the yoga practices cause they seem to be working for me. Stronger, more flexible, more open.
21 days til I leave for Palau. I am praying that the trip gives my precious hubby time to totally heal.
In the meantime, life goes on.
Peace,
RevMutha

My how things change

I wrote my last blog entry on Tuesday.
Wednesday night, my precious hubby was admitted, via the emergency department, to the hospital with a perforated diverticulum. I spent Thursday morning in the hospital with him and then he insisted that I go to my Lifestyle session. As I was driving to the yoga studio, I was thinking about everything that was happening and how I really had revolved...Normally, I would have gone into overdrive and started making lists of what to do if...if hubby needed major surgery, if we couldn't go to Palau, if I couldn't find child care, if I couldn't make it to church on Sunday cause I needed to be at the hospital...
But I didn't do any of that.
I thought about it but thought that it would be wasted energy. I will know what I know when I know it. I will make the decisions I need to make when they need to be made. Acceptance. Breath. Find space. Breathe.
And making my vision board was a cool experience. I'm not finished with it (poetic) but I will keep working on it.
Hubby has made miraculous recovery. Seriously miraculous.
So thank God for antibiotics, good physicians, and answered prayer.
I go to my celebration Master Class at 6 p.m. then I'll come get hubby from hospital and take him home. We will curl up in our bed and watch the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics.
At least that's my plan. But we all know how plans can change.
Shanti, gentle readers.
RevMutha

Last days of revolution

3 in-studio yoga sessions, 2 at home practices, and 1 lifestyle session to go. This week in the lifestyle session we are making vision boards. We have to bring magazines so we can cut out pictures. My initial reaction was "That's cheesy." And I'm sure it will be if I want it to be. Or I can embrace it like I've chosen to do with other aspects of this program and think about how I see myself keeping the changes I've made. I think I'm going to choose to just go with it and see how the experience is. I'll do my lifestyle session on Thursday at noon so I'll let y'all know how it goes.
There has definitely been some revolution. I am much more flexible, I am stronger, I am more relaxed, I've made some wonderful friendships, and I've learned how to make chinese dumplings!
So the program has been successful for me.
Peace,
RevMutha

Who Dat

This has been a long time coming!
I was born in New Orleans. I remember my mom's crush on Archie Manning when he was the Saints Quarterback. I have a fleur de lis tattoo.
You get the idea.
I am so damn happy this morning that I can hardly stand it.
Usually, I enjoy the super bowl but have no real vested interest.
Now I know how FANS feel when their team wins. Especially when their team is the underdog.
I think there was even more excitement with the Saints victory--thinking about everything that New Orleans has been through in the past 5 years--the awesome spirit of generosity and hope that Drew Brees and his wife brought into the city--it just meant a whole lot to a whole lot of people. New Orleans got a break.
Some funny quotes: "Hell has frozen over and the devil is serving hurricanes!"
I don't know about that, but I know that dis is one good ole day fo sho! Who dat say dey gonna beat dem saints? Dis here year our year! Dem Saints has done marched in so go grab another plate and another drink and laissez les bons temps roulez!
Geaux, Saints!
RevMutha