Meet Faith

This weekend, more than other weekends, was way too short. And no matter how much time I do take to take off to spend with her, it's always too short. I find myself at the airport getting ready to leave even though it feels like I just got there.

While some people may think I was crazy to fly back for two days, I don't regret one bit of it. I got to spend time with her. I got to step inside the Dean Dome once again with her. I got to see my church family. So even though I did only spend about 50 hours in Chapel Hill, it was well worth it in my book.

It's the smallest and simplest things during reunions that I enjoy the most. Watching movies together. Talking about nothing. Being goofy. And it's those things that I miss while I'm out here.

Until next time...

The Champs are Here!

My return to North Carolina this time around was sweetened by watching a UNC-Wake Forest game with Faith in the Dean Dome. The game was a blowout, as we steamrolled WFU 104-67. But the highlight of the game came at halftime. when we honored the 1957 and 1982 NCAA Championship teams by celebrating their 50th and 25th anniversaries. The members of both squads were greeted with a roaring standing ovation, and rightfully so.

If you look at the right of this picture, the last four people you see are Sam Perkins. "Big Game" James Worthy, Michael Jordan, and the legendary Dean Smith. Yes, you heard me correctly, the champs were back in the building.

Grounded.

My excitement in seeing my girlfriend this weekend was dampened pretty badly with my flight being cancelled as I was driving to the airport. I was informed by way of a voicemail recording about the cancellation and how they decided to rebook me on a route that would begin five hours later and get me into RDU at around 2:30AM, After frantically calling the 800 Delta number and a 40 minute hold, I discovered that I was rebooked to an American Airlines route that would go by way of Dallas-Fort Worth and get me into RDU by 12:50am-- two hours past my original arrival. I also discovered that there was an already-delayed flight that was departing for DFW promptly and if we arrived early or the flight out of DFW was delayed, I still had a chance to board an earlier flight that would get me in at 10PM. Although I was very disappointed about the intial cancellation, I knew that I had no other choice, so I decided to take my chances, knowing that it was a long shot to begin with.However, it was never meant to be. The earlier DFW-bound flight actually left later than projected, getting us in about half an hour after the first RDU flight departed.

So I was expecting to get to RDU at 12:50AM. But then, I was screwed over once again.

The captain of our RDU flight emerged from the jetway to inform us that there was a maintenance light that turned on, forcing me into another delay. After all was said and done, I wound up getting into RDU at 2AM, a good three hours past my original arrival time.

This is why I hate flying domestic. Regardless of the airline, the domestic fleet is always outdated, old, and one flight away from breaking down. There are ridiculous airport taxes that get attached to my ticket, which pay the TSA to "randomly" search me every time I fly anywhere. The crapshoot that they call a flight itinerary, which always seems to change. Need I go on?

Just as it should be.

After work, I went to Ray & Joyce's place to watch the UNC-Dook game at Cameron. Being the first of two rivalry games we play this season, we had high hopes of beating them on their home court for a second season in a row. Joyce (Faith's older sister and UNC alum) and I were anxious to see a blowout, since our team had improved considerable in this new season. However, the game turned out to be a lot closer than expected, with Dook surprisingly leadin until five minutes left in the game.

Needless to say, we came back and beat 'em on their floor again. I love this. It was a great night.

I haven't forgotten...

I saved this thing that my friends from my campus fellowship made for my graduating class' senior banquet last April. One of the first things I did when I moved in was hang it up on my wall. I don't know why I did it, or even why I still have it up. I guess something as simple as these notes make home feel a little bit closer.

Every so often, I take some time to re-read the notes they wrote me, and I become homesick and peaceful at the same time. So much has happened in the past eight months. I moved away from the one place that felt like home to settle into this city. And although I long to move back and enjoy the life I once had, I remind myself that I cannot live in the past. I guess that's what makes the reunions that much better...

Meet Faith.

My last 24 hours in NC were spent with this young lady, hanging out, watching movies, and being generally goofy around her. Since my move out to SF, I haven't been able to spend enough quality time.

Family picture...

This is why I miss North Carolina. And this is why I call NC home. Because my family is there, and after this trip, I know that sometime in my life, I will move back there to be reunited with them. Until then, I miss you guys.

Refiner's Fire,,,

On the last night of the retreat, we had a traditional bonfire sharing fellowship. As brothers and sisters poured out their hearts with the campfire and the picturesque lake illuminated in the background, I couldn't help be feel overwhelmed. I became humbled by the stories shared as members of our congregation opened themselves up to us, and by the end of the night, this song came into my mind.

Refiner's fire...
My heart's one desire
Is to be holy
Set apart for You, Lord
I choose to be holy
Set apart for you, my Master
Ready to do Your will...

Meet Heidi and Cheryl.

Faith and I arrived early at Camp Oak Hill to help set up for registration. While taking a break, I noticed that Heidi and Cheryl were sitting at a distance, catching up with each other after a long winter break. I didn't want to interrupt their mini-reunion, and instead decided to capture the moment from afar. The thing I love about this shot is that I think it captures their friendship beautifully. Oh and another reason is because I can totally picture them in the same position thirty and forty years down the road, sitting in rocking chairs, still enjoying each other's company...

Sitting, Waiting, Wishing...

This evening, after work, I headed to the airport to catch my flight out to North Carolina. I took tomorrow off so that I could make it to NC by Friday morning instead of Friday late night, because I did not want to miss a moment of the coming weekend.

My home church, Grace Mission Ministry (GMM), is holding its annual spring retreat this weekend: Response 2007. I had not seen most of my church family since September and some other special person since November, and so I've been looking forward to this trip for a while now. However, that anticipation was followed by disappointment when I realized at the airport that
the flight crew from the previous route was late, delaying the first leg of my flight, and ultimately forcing me to re-route and lose several precious hours. So what should have been a departure at 8 resulted in a departure at closer to 11.

However, I wasn't gonna let anything ruin my mood for the upcoming weekend. And as I waited for my flight, I snapped away...