Houston, the Hilton, and a pack of cigarettes

I was originally going to take this plane ride to try to summarize my time at Woodleaf.  Or at least talk about it.  And maybe I’ll do that.. but first I’ll let y’all know what has happened since I left camp.

Spent two days in Rocklin packing, playing all of my new country music, and powering through the fourth season of Friday Night Lights.

Flight from Sacramento to Houston was smooth, but I knew I had a quick turn around in the Houston airport so my nerves were relieved when we landed early in Houston.  Unfortunatly the plane at our gate was running behind schedule so I was actually late...

thus I missed my flight to London by about 15 minutes.  I was given food vouchers and a free night in the North Hilton.  I spent about 2 hours sobbing in the airport as I waited in the office to request my luggage and retrieve it.  A young couple from Humboldt, CA befriended me as I was sniffling in baggage claim.  They were on the same flight and had missed their connection to Zurich.  We got on the shuttle together, got to the Hilton as we watched the beautiful Texas sunset out the windows, and ate dinner at the restaurant in the hotel.

I took a bath in the nicest hotel room I’ve ever been in and watched a little more Friday Night Lights.  I was feeling pretty awake due to the time difference and decided that I was going to walk to the nearest gas station and get real American..

got a pack of Marlboro cigarettes and smoked under the Texas flag.

After that success, I realized that on the jog back from the gas station I had dropped my debit card.  Focusing hard on not panicking, I got my flashlight and retraced my steps there and back from the hotel to the gas station. 

No luck and I’m sure I looked completely absurd on the streets of Houston at 11:30pm staring at the ground, sweating more than anyone should ever sweat at that time of night because Texas is so damn HOT!

Got back to my room, called my incredible parents who took care of me and then skyped a dear friend until 2:30am (thank you).

Woke up, went to look for the card one last time before canceling it.  Once again, I sweat more than anyone should ever sweat at that time of day.  A nice southern man in his truck asked if I needed help.  But no card.  Used my vouchers at the breakfast area in the Hilton.  The sweetest waitress saw that I didn’t have much money and offered for me to get whatever I wanted from the buffet I didn’t pay for.

After that I needed to cancel my card but had no money to pay for the minutes it would use on the hotel phone.  The joyful man at the concierge desk offered me the use of his iPhone.  After a successful cancel and re-order I thank him as he told me to “keep smiling”.

I am even more convinced now that I do not ever intend to make my life in California.  Say whatever you like about their reasoning, but southern people are just nicer and I want as much of that in my life as I can get.

And it has been just fine ever since then.  I am on the flight to London in a row all by myself.  Heather (another Westmont student) is on the flight with me and we will meet up with Kyle in Heathrow airport and take the tube together (something I REALLY did not want to do alone).

I am truly thankful for all of this.  Not that I wanted it to happen, but I have been completely taken care of and blessed by God and the countless strangers he placed in front of me.  I have been completely assured this entire adventure that Jesus is taking full care of me and that I am and will be perfectly fine. 

Somewhere during this summer I learned a great deal more about not worrying.  I didn't give it much thought, but during this entire time I've been fully convinced that I could not have done much to change my situation and worrying would be a waste of my time and thoughts.

That is not like me.  That has not been who I am.  So can I just praise Jesus for allowing me to learn that?  And praise him for giving me the opportunity to practice that before I even arrived in Europe.

Yeah!!

I realize this is quite long.  But I figured it was worth telling.  Now I will return to drinking my airline coffee and watching Hot Tub Time Machine (this better be worth it because it looks ridiculous).

And more of Woodleaf is to come because believe me, it’s worth writing/ reading about.

Blessings y’all.