Heart Attack

So I just looked at the calendar and had a heart attack. I have been thinking we have like 80 or so days until we leave, which is like 3 months. So I haven't done a few important things yet- like send off for my passport. And today, it has occurred to me that while we do not leave for Honduras until September 14, we are leaving California sooner than that. So we actually only have about 2 months until we leave. That's slightly less time to do everything...yeah. Off to make a To Do List!

Here's some pictures from the RBC project- encouraging quotes the brothers have out for us to see.

Warning- Today is a rambling sort of day

My parents are fine. *Big sigh of relief*

It's been fun being back on an RBC project full time this week. Parts of the assembly hall are getting torn down to build back up as something new. I don't really know the specifics, but it's a huge project. They are doing demo right now, which reminds me of the days in New Orleans where we just mangled and destroyed everything. I miss my sleep, but I already know so many new people. This is going to make the time until we leave fly by.

Speaking of leaving, I'm getting really nervous for some reason. Maybe because it feels more permanent this time, or because we are still unsure of how it will all work out? I don't know, but it's kinda annoying. I want to be excited. Not trepidatious. That's my word of the day. Actually, that's my word of the day many days....so my word of a lifetime I guess.

Also, there is so much to do before we go, and so little time to do it. 87 days, most of which are scheduled full already. I still have to get my new passport and do all that fun stuff that comes with a legal name change. I have to wait to get my new driver's license for a lot of it, and that went to our Colorado address, and for obvious reason, my mom has been too busy to send it to me...Anyway, there's doctor visits (but hopefully no shots this time), banking issues (like do I need to get a new bank down there and why is HSBC so fee-happy), meetings, vet appointments (I am still determined to bring the cat with us), and my favorite part- the random purging of stuff that we can't take with us (but I'm keeping my shoes, all my shoes).

Plus, we really need to sell the car. Being inexperienced in this sort of thing, we don't know if we should list it now, and chance not having a car for a few weeks/months, or list it later and possibly not be able to sell it before we leave. I've finally been talked out of driving the car down to Honduras, on the grounds that it would be a silly thing to do when we have already bought plane tickets.

I think I'm over-thinking it. I usually do.

You've done such a nice job of listening to me, I'm going to reward you with a classic Zach and Robynn picture. In case you've forgotten what we look like.

That one always makes me laugh. Here's another picture, this one of a church in St. Louis. See if you can spot the interesting feature.

Did you see it? The Tetragrammaton is written above the pillars. 

And because I've got RBC on the brain, here is a picture of me in my little-known super hero role- 

SAFETY GIRL!!! Not appearing- my sidekick BANDAID BOY!!!!

(Can you tell I've been going through the pictures on my computer?)

I have the #2 talk tomorrow, on how can a person become known to Jehovah. The research material for it is very interesting. I'm also a bit nervous about this, it's my first talk in 8 months, and it's in the front school. But I have another talk in two weeks too, so I better get over the nervousness fast.

I'm reminded of that phrase "it never rains but it pours." We had nothing going on for so long, and now everything is going on all at once.

Poor Zach, he's been without a car all week. He had to walk to the Kingdom Hall for the meeting for field service yesterday. It's only about 1.5 miles, but we have not kept up with our walking everywhere since we have been stateside. I guess it's about time we prepare for that. Although the KH in Honduras moved, so now it's closer to where we will be living.

Anyway...I think I'll go to bed now.

Colorado Fires

So just a year ago, I was writing a post about fires in Colorado Springs. Here we go again.

This time, the fire is a lot bigger, and a lot closer to my parent's home. They were evacuated a couple days ago. Many more houses have been destroyed in this fire than the one last year. It's scary that places I drove by every day for so many years are gone. When we were there last week, we saw some of the damage from the fire last year and that was pretty bad. I can't imagine what this looks like. 

The fire is finally getting contained today but there is a long ways to go. The problem with living in a high desert area is that everything is super dry. 

The mandatory evacuation was lifted on my parent's house today, but they still can't go back to stay yet. They had the visit of the CO this week, but obviously that's been messed up a little. They are hoping to have all their meetings this weekend so they don't miss anything. 

I don't know if any of the brothers' homes were destroyed, but it seems everyone got out safe, and that's what's important.

That's all I know right now. Praying everyone stays safe. 

Picture Time!

We had a very good trip back to Colorado. Way too short, but what can you do? Zach and I have decided we are getting too old for long road trips, but that's ok because we are selling the car in 3 months. 

As soon as we got to the Colorado border, we got hailed on. Then snowed on. Remember- this is June. I think it was specially for us. But the rest of the time, the weather was nice.

We got to go to the first District Convention at the new Assembly Hall in Aurora. The program was great, but I won't say anything else, so I don't spoil it for everyone.

I do, however, have pictures of the hall. 

Baptism Pool

s

And here is a picture of my dad pretending to sleep.

So, two weeks ago we had the CO visit, last weekend was the DC, and yesterday we had the Special Assembly Day. Lots of spiritual food lately. 

Plus, there is an RBC project coming up that I am hoping to help with. It would keep me very busy until we leave.

It never rains but it pours.

96 days!

Exciting News!!!!

As you probably know, the decision of when to leave for Honduras has weighed heavily on our minds as of late. It has been very difficult to tread the line of "counting the cost" while also trying to rely on Jehovah and not on ourselves. Living here in California also has made it easy to get distracted from our goals. Thankfully, we have the encouraging visit of the Circuit Overseer this week and we have been able to discuss our plans with him. He had some very good advice for us, and this helped us to make a decision. 

So....we have booked our flight for Honduras. We leave September 14.

It feels so good to have an actual plan of action now. If this plan works out the way we hope, Jehovah willing, we will be able to stay in Central America full time. 

And you know what this means. We will be down there during the super rainy season, which makes us ridiculously happy for some reason. I think we envision water up to our waists carrying us off, never to be heard from again. I don't know if it actually gets that bad, but how cool would it be, right?

Anyway...we are headed off to Colorado next week to visit my parents and go to the Convention. Should have some good pictures. Road Trip!

The last week or so has been interesting. Zach is all better from his operation and is back at work. I've been on my deathbed for about two weeks with some nasty sinus stuff, but I'm starting to get better. The only thing is- I can't hear! I've been almost completely deaf for about a week now, and it has no signs of going away. When I went to the doctor, they didn't see anything wrong with the ear itself, so it's probably related to the sickness, but it is so weird.

 We're getting closer to being able to leave, so I'm starting to do all the paperwork and such. We had been planning to take my cat with us when we go back to Honduras, but I just got all the requirements and I don't think that's gonna happen. There's sooooooo many rules.
And the other fun thing I got to do today....I finally went to the Social Security office and officially changed my last name. Yes, I know, I am the world's worst procrastinator. I just kept thinking I would do it when my passport got close to expiring, and five years later, my passport is close to expiring...so yeah.
Now to change all the other documents before leaving....fun fun.

Super excited!

Awesome day today.  We went to the local swap meet to browse and found a little taste of Honduras.  One of the stands was selling fruits that we tried while we were down there,  including the rotten brown fruit,  which I now know is called mami. And. ... they had guanabana! Our favorite!

That is all.