I HATE Good-byes. It sounds so final. When my very good friend Randy was battling stage four Melanoma, there came a point in time when I knew I wouldn't be seeing him anymore in this life. As the time came for me to leave his side and drive back home I looked him in the eyes and said: "I'm NOT saying good-bye because this isn't the end...so...see ya later!" That thought has shaped me over the last few years. For those who are following Jesus, there isn't a good-bye, just a see ya later! One word enters my heart with this truth: PEACE!
Our time is coming to an end here in Australia. In three short days we will board a plane and make our way back to the United States. As I think back over the last two years many fantastic experiences and dear friends come to mind. Saying good-bye isn't needed because I KNOW I will see them again, either by way of us visiting OZ or by those who make their way to the U.S. However, if neither of those options don't materialize, I KNOW I will see many of these dear ones again after this life is over! So, it is with a grateful and full heart I say: SEE YA LATER to those Aussies who have loved us, done life together, and enriched our lives in so many ways. We won't forget you or your beautiful country. You have a special place in our hearts.
Love ya HEAPS,
Marty & Ruthann
March Madness has begun and I'm in a time zone that is upside down when the dance has started. That could be classified as torture according to International Law. I have a suggested legislation the House and Senate should take up. Since not much seems to be happening in D.C., I think they need to declare the first weekend of March Madness (Thursday through Sunday) as a National Holiday! In South Australia there are 10 full and 2 partial days that are public holiday's. In America we have 7. This would bring the total to 11. Anyone out there with me on this...write your legislator today!
Beyond that, have you filled out your brackets? This has become a family tradition for us. Now, instead of doing a paper bracket we're filling them out on-line. This should be interesting this year since Ruthann has discovered what the numbers beside the teams mean! I guess my "expertise" in bracketology may take a hit this year.
Happy Madness,
Marty
Last Friday, February 21st we left Adelaide, South Australia at 12:15pm for a flight back to the U.S. We arrived in San Fransisco, California on Friday, February 21st at 10:58am! I can say without hesitation, "I'm a man ahead of my time." I wonder if we were created for such travel. Think about it, if we were to travel the same distance at the pace of a car, our bodies would be able to adjust to the many times zones crossed. With air travel, the shock to my body of traveling half way around the world where night is day and day is night takes quite a while for my body and mind to catch up with the reality of the time zone I'm currently in! Some say that for every hour the time difference in travel, allow one day for your body to adjust. So, with there being a 16 !/2 hour time difference from South Australia to Indiana we should be adjusted by March 11th! The only problem, by that time we will be back in OZ readjusting all over again. The trip back will result in us loosing a day but jumping ahead in time. So, I guess you could say we'll be heading Back to the Future!
Happy Trails,
Marty
