Grown Up

Did I tell you that my little brother graduated? He can now design houses and build them too! I'm very proud of him (and those golden cords that he is wearing around his neck!). Last weekend was the end of his college career and the beginning of being all grown up. :) 

Andrew and I (For those curious- we are 16 months apart in age)

1,135 Miles and Lightyears Away...

You don't realize what you have until it's gone...or far away.

When I left the hospital yesterday, I immediately picked up my cell phone and pushed the speed dial to call Home. It said that it had been 22 hours since I had last talked to Home.

Time to call again.

When I lived at home, I wasn't homesick.

Besides the fountain of tears when my parents hugged me goodbye at Academy, I wasn't homesick. They were just 1 hour and 15 minutes away.

In college, I had my brother and sister. Then just my sister. Then my little brother and my sister. Not to mention, cousins galore. It was a piece of home.

Now the kitchen table that I am sitting at is precisely 1,135 miles away from the family table on the farm. Too far away. As my dad says, "the umbilical cord doesn't stretch that far..."

The funny thing is, I am o.k. with being 1,135 miles away from home. I am at peace with it. Coming to grips that this world is not my home has not been easy though. Realizing that I have a larger family than my large Fisher family has been a good thing too.

If this world is not my home... then I need to call Home more often. 
I need to prepare for our next reunion- Heaven! 
If my family is God's family- then I am surrounded. 

These are comforting thoughts to me.

So, brothers and sisters, until we meet again: be faithful until the end. It's o.k. to be homesick for those you love, but let it ever be a reminder of our our real Home.

Picture taken on the "Crooked Bridge" with my family near my Oklahoma home. :) 

University of Florida

Big things are happening here.

I'm not talking about finals, college drama, football... I'm talking about something bigger.

The Holy Spirit has been at work at the University of Florida. Some of my friends are working hard too. It is their passion to share Jesus with the entire school.  This is just a snippet of what they are up to.


Baby Isaac from Omar Torres on Vimeo.

Friday in... CHATTANOOGA!

Guess what...

I surprised my brother Andrew and my friends in TN this weekend. Boy, were they surprised! No one knew I was coming. Success.

I spent Friday afternoon with Andrew (not doing my favorite activity-rockclimbing, but in good company). We cleaned his apartment (oh boy) and then I cut his long locks of hair (At least a few cm off...). Then- Friday night at Margie's! One of my favorite places to be. Delicious curry and rice. Music, oh heavenly music... I am soaking it all in.

_____

Wow. It was nearly a culture shock. I was very much sensing the difference between St. Augustine, FL and Chattanooga, TN. Probably because of where my brother wanted to spend the afternoon at. Urban Rocks. Outdooe rock climbing is best, but thunder and rain forced the climbers indoors on Friday. Our friend Big-Hair-Bobby came and climbed too. I didn't climb.

But I took a few pictures with phone!

Going up like a pro.

Bobby climbs up the wall like a gecko. Even in his work jeans and a pocketknife in his pocket. Crazy guy.

Friday Sigh

This week was my first week off of orientation. Co-workers supported me, mother encouraged me, and God sustained me. It was hard- but not as hard as I expected it to be. It will get easier.

I have two days off before I have another set of three days in a row. But let's not think about that right now.

I am calling it a productive Friday. Laundry done (new washer & dryer in the apt laundry room!). Groceries purchased. Floors mopped. Went to beach. Made hummus.

Now it's time for the Friday sigh. Ahhh.

You know you are spoiled when you bemoan the fact that you only went to the beach twice in one week.

"Give your burdens to the LORD and He will sustain you." Psalm 55:22