(xaris and shalom)

July 25, 2013 Beijing Tomorrow I leave China.  Again. I keep thinking of the blog post title from the Blazing Center -- Going, Not Knowing...    And how all of life is a going without knowing, but leaving China particularly feels that way.  Because something in my heart whispers Maybe Simon is right, maybe you'll never come back.   I don't know if it's truth of things to come or just a fear... March 10, 2014 bus to Chicago ...mostly I cried because it hurts to not have a home.  There are plenty of places that I'm welcome.  Plenty of people who gladly open their homes and lives and hearts to me.  But my family and my church are in two different places and I'm in still another -- and I feel splintered, fragmented... I'm wishing for something that cannot be, for the clock to turn back. December 2, 2014 Btown I am so very bad at staying.  18 years in my hometown and then it's like I was suddenly cut loos to be carried by the wind... The thought is

I know.  It's been a while. My schedule was eaten by NaNoWriMo, and then I got to the end of the month and well over the word count, but the novel is still a work in progress.  I've appreciated the process of writing though; it's always a good platform for me to work out issues that I'm wrestling with, and it feels safer to do it in fictional stories.  So this one deals with consequences of keeping secrets, forgiveness, and family relationships as the kids grow up. Also shape-shifting, which fortunately isn't something that I have to deal with. Anyway, then came December and much schedule craziness and many MANY hours at Crumble (which really is a good thing) and apartment shenanigans.  But now I've had a few days off (in a solid chunk!) and everything is moved back into my apartment and I have my own room .  It's glorious. Also it's the start of a new year.  ^_^  And since Janeen has written a start of year post, I'm feeling extra motivatio