Yep. He did it, folks! To Middle Earth he goes! 🧙♂️
I got my courage up, did a final check in with the Big Guy, and I sent my money to United Airlines.
After a little visit to Utah, on October 25th, I’ll hop a plane to SFO, and then on to New Zealand, arriving on the 27th, and skipping the 26th entirely.
To the future!
Currently scheduled return date will be April 20, 2026.
If I were a pot smoker, it’d be a dream day, as I think my April 20th will last about 42 hours, or so. 🙃
Before I leave, my goal will be to have found a self-contained vehicle to inspect and purchase as soon as I get there, and then I’ll get it registered to me, and then I’ll be on my way. 6 ish months in my Middle Earth paradise.
Better prepared for the sand flies this time. 🙃
I’ll also be arriving just a few days before a cousin of mine, so we’ll be able to hang out together for a little bit.
Fun. 😊
And then I’ll dig in pondering, praying, researching, and writing my book–Education for Eternity. And I’ll have two localish temple options for Temple Tuesday, Auckland and Hamilton, so that’ll be super cool. I’m arrive on a Monday, so assuming I can get a vehicle on day one, I’ll be good to visit the temple the next day for TT. 🤞
Anyway, so… I’m nervous and a bit excited. It’ll be my longest foreign trip of my life, and I’m going to be interested to see what comes of it, why I’m going, if it’s to help me focus on this book, other stuff, who knows.
Anyway, got up, did some dailies, listened to/watched some uplifting videos, ate breakfast and started catching up on journal entries.
Got my laundry together, my sister offering to do my laundry at the laundromat for me. I don’t dirty baby clothes because I reuse them again and again, rinsed off in the creek, but I hadn’t done any laundry since the fiberglass debacle, so… I think I sent along some clothes that were “clean” but maybe contaminated?
Don’t know. Didn’t see any fiberglass shards, so maybe the vacuum took care of them fine.
Spent some time disassembling the braces that Hans and I spent time removing yesterday, so all the bolts and screws are out of them, so the boards can be repurposed for other things.
Spent a good little bit of time beating apart the concrete spills that were around the foundation. We’re starting to feel like real progress might be happening soon, so that’s super cool. 😊
Watched/Listened to a lot of videos today, rewatching most of the new channel’s series on tough LDS issues that dropped a couple days ago.
Super interesting.
Took care of the dog and horses evening meals. More journal catch up. Had six entries to write today to be caught up. I’m writing today’s right now but still need to write yesterday’s to be completely caught up.
Gratitude to My Father:
- I’m grateful for my relapse nightmare. I’ve asked Heavenly Father for the gift of being able to learn what I need to learn through dreams, so that 1) fewer people will need to be on the receiving end of my less effectiveness, and 2) So I can maximize my time on mortality.
- I’m grateful for all the effort people put into making informative YouTube videos.
- I’m grateful for AI, which makes it much easier to find primary sources to fact check claims.
- I’m grateful I was able to get all the concrete broken up without damaging the form-a-drain this time. 🎉
- I’m grateful to be able to be helpful here, even though I don’t feel like I’ve done much.
- I’m grateful for the cooler weather. It was humid today, but cool morning and cool evening. 😊
We. Celebrate. Successes!!! 🥳:
- Hmmm… I did the hard thing and bought the plane tickets. “Keep thou my feet. I do not ask to see the distant scene. One step enough for me.”
Reflections on Where I Can Improve:
- I’m still struggling significantly to put the things I value most first. 😅
Thought of the Day:
As you walk to the boundary of your understanding into the twilight of uncertainty, exercising faith, you will be led to find solutions you would not obtain otherwise.
~ Richard G. Scott
We’re gettin’ there. Love and hugs.
Lift the world.
Bring it on.
~ stephen
Lift the World 