{mail to Michelle}

The kids were elated to find a letter in the mail today from Aunt Michelle. There were stamps and stickers inside. And even more fun were all the foreign coins she included, from places she has visited. We got out the globe and found where each coin was from. Immediately missing my sis, I called her...
...While I was talking, Chad was getting something together to send to her. He drew some pictures, made a craft, and wrote a note on a 3x5 just as she had. He even put in a penny, labeling it "This is a penny from the USA." The next morning after Chad went to school, Jonathan and I found this in the mailbox. So sweet, I had to take a picture.
When Chad saw the picture, he asked me how the postman knew which Michelle to give it to. "Well, I added 'Hamilton' after 'Michelle.'" He wondered, "Does the postman take it all the way to Guam?" "No, Chad the letter goes to post office, gets sorted and put on a plane to Guam. Then a mail worker there takes it to her mailbox." He frowned. "Uh-oh! How will he know where her house is?" "Well, I wrote her address on the envelope too." With a sigh of relief, he gave me a big hug and said, "You're the best, mom."

{rainy day}

I've always loved the rain. Quite possibly because I have so many great memories of the rain beating down on the propanel roof of my grandparents cozy little cabin in Colorado, while we drank hot chocolate and put together a puzzle. I am far away from that cozy place. I spent my day drowning in toluenes, voltage gated sodium channels, dihydropyridine sensors, and digoxin toxicity--getting glimpses of the driving rain from the second floor of the hospital. I am in my 7th week of school, and it's already October. I feel like my mind is on overdrive and my desire to write is waning in correlation to having entertaining things to talk about. But I need a break from studying organic reactions. So I sit here and grow pensive...and an analogy comes to mind. I am a train on a track that God is laying one piece at a time. I have to keep going, and making choices, and have faith that God will keep laying the track. I don't know where each day will lead, if I will like it or not, how uphill the climb, or the speed at which I can go. I don't know who I will encounter or how I will get there, but I do know the destination. I am thankful for that. At this point, it's a good thing I can't look at the layout for miles ahead of now. God knows that would be all too daunting. Along the way, He continues to bring blessings into my life. My husband supporting me through this, my sweet kids providing snuggles and funny pictures, my friends sending me encouragement, and my study partner Brian- who has become a good friend and patiently explains the physiology processes. I will keep going. I will get back to naming benzene rings... and watch- with a smile- as the rain washes the world outside.