Farwell to Nova Scotia the Sea Bound Coast...

There is ALOT to be said for that feeling of being home...
Where the dirt is Red...and not Black...and where the cows are Black & White...and not Red :) Where, when you breathe in deep you taste and smell the salt air...where your friends and family call you nick names that you haven't heard in years...like "Tiane" and "Chrissy." Where the fog is so thick you can't see past the pier, where feeling sand under your toes makes your eyes well up with tears, and where, when those eyes are full of tears people look at you with a familiar and loving smirk on their face, give you a hug and say "it's so good to have you back." :) I love being home.

As you may have guessed already...my 3 weeks at home in June was a Blessing to my soul. Don't get me wrong...I have greatly enjoyed (and am STILL enjoying) my time out West...but people...it's been 5 years!! As they say..."you can take a girl out of the Maritimes...but you can't take the Maritimes out of the girl." :)

I was able to see so many of the people that I had wanted to...had some conversations that were MUCH over due, went back in time to a youth group that only had about 3 familiar faces...besides Glen's :)...spent quatilty time with family...returned to some my most favorite places in life...such as Malagash, Peggy's Cove, and PEI. Stayed up too late watching movies with Janna, had a belated Bryant/Fox Christmas Eve party, and talked late with Jenn Spencer, had great breakfast dates with the Marsh brothers, sang at church with people I always forget I love sooo much (and of course...the eyes fill up again!).

Walked the paths at Malagash, sang by myself in the empty chapel, meandered over the sandbars...yes, crying...and praising the Lord for the years of my life spent growing in Him there and thanking Him for those who so greatly impacted me from that place...and praying the same Blessings upon the throngs of kids that would come that summer...sigh. God is SO good.

Janna and I took a trip to PEI for a few days...there is just nothin' quite like belting out Praises (or Country songs) in the van on a road trip with your Sister :) We had some memories to make in Pictou for a few hours after missing the Ferry to PEI by 15 minutes... Down town Pictou...we should have had a chaperone let me tell ya-we hit up that Sobey's somethin' fearce! ;) Had a few photo shoots...not many "keepers" in the bunch...enjoyed time with Nanny and Pappy, went to our cousin's wedding shower...then stayed up until 3am with her (eating Pappy's peanuts) catching up on life and just being rediculous...like the good old days. Payed a visit to our "Family Pride Monument"...the most beautiful Lighthouse on the Island...met even MORE family for the first time (is it even possible to still be meeting MORE family from PEI at 23 years of age!?), went to our cousin Dan's High School graduation, and were finally able to find our way to The Shephard's Farm to visit with the Cousins Family. That trip to the other side of the Island was well worth the blessing for both of us to see the kids, and catch up with the ministry news, laugh and chase bunnies in the kitchen (well, Daniel wasn't laughing after he got bit!) and just to be with them all again :) But, the adventures of Janna and Christiane were not over yet as we left the Cousins (for the second time) and headed to the ferry...as we had...yet again...missed the boad...the LAST boat. So...we laughed as only blonde sisters can and headed toward the side of the Island we'd come from in order to cross the bridge! Then phoned Mom and Dad, of course, to tell them we had "unexpected delays" and wouldn't be home until the wee hours of the morning!! :)

Sometimes it's just hard to put into words the way your heart is blessed by things so familiar...but you know what I mean :) It's so good to see that some things just never change, and hard, but good at the same time, to realize the things that do.

Really, I'm very much looking forward to the time when the Lord finally says, "Ok, Chris...go home"--as if I am some puppy in training, sitting on the floor waging my tail expectedly at the treat that awaits me, with pleeding eyes looking up to my Masters face...It'll be a sweet "treat" though-either long or short I don't know...but I do know that I will Highly enjoy it when the waiting is over :) It is a True reminder to me that this is the same way I should view Heaven...held, against my will, on this earth (so to speak), and eagerly waiting for my Master to say "Ok Chris...come home." :) But in the mean time there is much to be done...many joys to experience where I have been placed, many trials to grow me and strengthen my Faith, and many people who need to know of God's Love. Even 2 years later, after Africa, where this realization finally came to my heart, I am constantly reminded by the Holy Spirit that my Truest Home is where My Jesus is.

Favorite things from time in NS...
1) Conversation and Sunset at Peggy's Cove with Jeanette
2) Uncle David Fox filling Janna and I in on Life details, stories, and pictures (cried)
3) Seeing one of my all-time favorite campers/people Samantha...and that smile on her face:)
4) The 2 oldest Bryant boys leading the church in Worship my first Sunday back...(cried again)
5) ...That the News paper headlines were...the Mooseheads (our hockey team), Lady slippers-the official flower of PEI (which I don't think exists in the West), recent Whale Sightings off the coast, and Sunday Shopping :)