Know that joke? “It’s my lot in life. It’s not a lot. But it’s my life.” I think it’s from a cartoon movie of some sort. Jokes always lose that special spark when they have to be explained. Too bad.

I’m having a serious blog-guilt complex. Like the clown who draws everyone to the circus with his ridiculous behavior and then leaves. I’m sorry. I want to paint my face and get shoved in a car with 23 of my best blog-clown buddies, but I just don’t have it in me. So I throw up this blog post and beg your forgiveness. After Scotland, I will return to being the blog-machine that you have come to know and love.

I tried to write a hilarious blog about getting my nails done today, but I honestly think I may have fallen asleep while typing. All I know is one minute I was typing “hierarchy” and the next minute it was hierrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

I leave for Scotland in the morning. Packing for one person for 14 days in a different climate is challenging.

Packing for that one person AND packing for an 80 person camp where all the supplies come from America because they are too expensive in Scotland and oh by the way did you get that check cashed and grab a new pair of jeans because it’s cold there and renew your driver’s license because it expired on the big 2-8 yesterday and “there’s a mouse living in our Nashville house how should we deal with THAT” and run by Kinko’s to pick up the quiet time journals and did you remember to pack the extra nerd ropes and has anyone packed a football and you left your Bible at church genius and “do you know exactly which seat I am in” and “can I bring my cell phone” and be sure to call your friends back who wished you a happy birthday and where are the camp tshirts and have I even washed my shirt and how did it get to be 11:55pm and I still haven’t packed.

Yep. That just happened.

Sorry- I may have splashed a little losing my mind on your screen. Just use a hand towel, it will come right off.

But even in all of this insanity, I’ve had two solid words of encouragement come in.

One was to REST. And I will receive it. Because this one time [at band camp- ok, not really, but I love saying that] I tried to lead a mission trip. I decided that by making NO mistakes and being totally perfect I would be a “good leader”. Not only did I almost drive my team members to heavy drinking, I literally killed a friendship that has never resurrected and I was miserable. So I know when the Lord is reminding me to REST, He’s also saying, “Rest in this- My strength is made perfect in your weakness”. So I will REST. And let the Holy Spirit lead this trip.

The other word was from a dear broseph in Christ. He left this scripture on my voicemail, and though he fits in that category of people I totally need to call back but haven’t, I give him big props for hearing God today on my behalf.

Psalms 73: 23-26
Yet I am always with You; You hold me by my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Um. Booyah. That’s my life scripture and my friend didn’t even know that. Talk about God taking a minute out of His day to remind this sister that I am always on His mind. Much appreciated, Sir. Much appreciated.

So though my mind can’t stop making lists (passport, converter, scholarship money, purse, shampoo, book, you know), I’m not worried. God has called us, He will equip us, He goes before us, He is our front AND rear guard, He is our reason. He won’t let us down- He doesn’t know how to do that.

Pray for safe travel tomorrow, pray that all our bins, suitcases, instruments, etc. all arrive with us- fifty checked bags total. [I think I just threw up a little bit in my mouth.] And pray for me, as the leader. I want to be wise and loving and encouraging and completely out of the way so that the Holy Spirit can do His thing.

I gotta quit typing before another list emerges……

Talk to y’all soon- from the other side of the Atlantic.

(What a lame ending. I feel real bad about that, too.)