Now home from Orientation for almost two weeks, I'm still finding myself mentally scattered. Part of me is still in Austin, part of me is racing ahead to get ready and to be in China, and the other part is trying to go about my usual routine of work, church and social life. The house is a complete shambles and it just keeps getting worse. I have resolved that on Saturday I will go to the dump. So much trash and recycling has accumulated in the garage, it may take two trips! I do hope that concrete activity will spill over into my spiritual life . . .

PS My daughter, Dylan, sent me a fabulous book of photos of China. It's huge; I can barely lift it. Not a coffee table book, but rather, a coffee table!