Tuesday, May 31^st, 2005  3:10pm CDT

Somewhere off the coast of Juneau, Alaska in the North Pacific –

After a two week scramble since my return, and as the culmination of a major planning effort, we got up at 4:20am to begin the journey to Taipei! Both Debbie & Brenda met us at LaFrontera at 5:00am to say good-bye. Debbie, Mariah & David Crane also helped by taking a couple pieces of luggage and the family to the airport while I drove the rental van to take our 19 pieces of luggage. After renting 4 carts and a bit of weight balancing at the American Airlines check-in desk, all the luggage passed the weight restriction, and we said good bye to the Crane family as we went thru baggage check. By this time it was 7:28am and our flight was about to board. Once seated, the kids were impressed with the first class treatment, and nearly everyone dozed off until we arrived in Dallas.

 

After boarding the direct flight to Narita, Japan, the kids once again were excited by all the amenities of business class, exploring the seats, in-flight spa package, blankets, etc. Before I knew it, Liz was conferencing calling Judy & Anne telling them of the kid’s excitement and saying final good-byes. Jonathan informed Grandma Daisy of every amenity on board. After about 5 hours of flying, everyone is sleep but Kevin Jr. & I.

 

There are still lots of things to do, details that need attention, and arrangements to make once we arrive in Taipei, but until then there is a peace & calm, I imagine similar to the eye of a hurricane, that surrounds us. Can’t check e-mail, or make phone calls, etc. until we arrive. A time to enjoy the moment and thank God for His grace. It wasn’t all the planning, or the stamina to stay up all night, it was his magnificent grace as it blossoms on us. Him arranging,… aligning circumstances, directing His unmerited favor to work together to support the command of His blessing beyond what I could think or imagine… and it’s just beginning!  This journey of Life will carry us to see many different places, people,… many different views of His Glory. It seems almost as if blessing upon blessing are stacked up high over us, awaiting the right moment in eternity to fall down to overwhelm us! One wave drenches you, yet another comes behind it, wave after wave of blessings & favor, some bigger than the one before it. Wow! Far beyond what I could ask or think!

 

With all of this grace, in a brief 2 years this time will be drawing to a close, and I want to look back and have Him say ‘Well done!’ This is a time of growing for me, and time of traveling within, out growing the workshop for a new level of living in Him. I want to immerse myself in Him, in His Word, meditating, believing, knowing the things of God, working the works of God, to the point that the great things of God crowd out my work, and the rest of my days will bring Him joy, make Him smile!  What a transformation that is built thought-by-thought, word-by-word, habit-by-habit, character-to-character, destiny-to-destiny!  To plant a seed and leave a legacy in Asia that will last until He returns! It’s morning in Asia. It’s time to take the land!