We have so much to be thankful for.

Today I am thankful for an afternoon with friends who have faithfully served us, loved on us and blessed us as our PAC (Prayer Accountability and Care) team.  So, our thankful tree is filled to overflowing! And so are our hearts!

 As you know we are on "home assignment", sometimes called home service or furlough.  We usually cringe when we hear the old-school label of furlough.  According to one dictionary, furlough is " temporary leave of absence or vacation, a temporary layoff from work". Moving our family back and forth across the ocean, adjusting to new schools and a new church, setting up a new house and traveling thousands of miles to visit supporting churches, prayer groups and family just does not seem like a vacation in my book.  Usually the first 2 months of our home assignment I am asking "Why on earth do we do this?" with thoughts of "Is this  really needed and worth it all?" and in my weaker moments "I will never do this again!!!".

But there is an aspect of rejuvenating and refreshment that comes from leaving our demanding ministry in Asia behind.  The weight of ministry is slightly lifted and a  change of scenery and surroundings reloads us for the journey ahead. Just walking in and sitting through a worship service in English where we don't have to preach, lead music, pray aloud, check the sound system, fix the power point, play guitar, make announcements and lead Sunday School feels like a vacation in and of itself.  In Japan we usually we leave for church as early as 7:30am and get home at 4pm or later.  Sunday afternoons and evenings find us spent and exhausted.

I have loved having some extra time to breath, think and be creative. I have finally had the time to figure out how to use Pinterest, take some extra photos and decorate my house.  Most of all, we have time to just be...and to just be with friends.  With the sound of a football game in the background, nothing is better than catching up with friends over a steamy pot of bean soup on a cool autumn Sunday afternoon….and with energy and time to spare!!  I savor these furlough moments and just sit back and thank Jesus for these extra blessings that He gives.