gash

Even though I am on vacation, I was up by 6 this morning. Actually that's sleeping in for me, since the kitty usually comes in and wakes me up before 5. Even so, I miss having her around. :-(

Regardless, I had a beautiful quiet time watching the sun rise over the ocean. Fishing boats were coming in, people were hauling their fish to the shore. Not many other foreigners were out.

I had some time to think as I waded and walked. Bringing 12 years of work to a close makes you want to reflect and analyze. Well, it makes ME want to reflect and analyze, at least.

Why did we hit so many dead ends? Brick walls? Rough patches? I am realizing that we came with 1. expectations, 2. assumptions, and 3. an agenda. Some of it wasn't really our fault; the organization we came with had all those things and it was our job to carry them out. Only a few years into it, we realized things weren't working and tried to turn things around. Unfortunately we ran into resistance from all sides.

It seems like we've been fighting battles on so many fronts. We're just tired. We no longer fit into the picture others have for our work here. I hope we're better people for having taken this stage of the journey.

If we were to do it again, I would simply come and live life, live Jesus. Let Him draw them to Himself.

All that insight before 7 am in the morning. No breakfast, no coffee.

Back at the cabin I decided to shower and shave my legs before breakfast. (Going to be wearing swim suits and shorts you know.) Shower accomplished, I slung my leg up on the sink and got one leg shaved. Unfortunately, as I swung that leg down my heel caught on the corner of the counter, which, again unfortunately, was not matched flush, and so there was a jagged, sharp edge sticking out. My heart sunk as I felt the corner slice deeply into the back of my heel. I looked down to see a gash over an inch long, just gushing blood.

Really? The FIRST DAY of vacation? A huge slash in my foot. That goes REALLY well with sand, salt water, and chlorine. :-(

I hollered out to Mr. and told him I had cut myself. "While you were shaving?" he wanted to know. Yes, but not like what you're thinking.

He brought in all the first aid stuff  (he was a boy scout, you know) and helped me doctor it. I bled through one bandaid and then one gauze pad in the next hour or so. Everyone else went out swimming after breakfast, and I opted to stay in, change my bandages (again!) and took a nap. The bleeding gradually slowed.

The rest of the afternoon was  rather quiet, until we took off for town at about 3:30. Our friends' youngest son turned 13 today, and the evening was all about him. The party started at the local pizza place, then moved on to bowling. We finally ended up at Swensen's for an ice cream cake, candles, and birthday presents.

We all got back here full, tired, and satisfied. I think our birthday boy felt well celebrated. Bed is forthcoming. Ahhh.