it has not even been a week....

It has not even been a week since I went for a run as I went Monday for a run through the Methow Community Trails thinking of our 20 mile run in that same place last year that we did together and I also went  briefly with Anna through Ravenna Park on Tuesday before I headed to the airport;

but I am totally feeling it that I have not been able to lace up my running shoes this week.  I sure am wishing that I could meet you somewhere early one morning. 

But, this place is not very conducive to running here with all the wildness of traffic conditions with cows, dogs, bikes, motorcycles, cars, trucks, honking horns to dodge.  I feel like anytime I cross a street that I am playing the old video game of Frogger. 

On top of that, I asked my friends here if they know anyone who runs, and while they did not think I was totally crazy because they know of the races I've run in the last few years, they told me that they don't know anyone who is a runner here.  I know that I pulled off running in a dress as Glinda, but I think that wearing a sari would provide some additional challenges. :) 

Just know that I'm thinking of you there in Malawi wondering if there are some places you might find as some running routes. 

My muscle memory is missing you.... :) 

bird songs

Dear Elizabeth,

This morning, I am up very early as I cannot seem to sleep. While I have adjusted to the time zone here in Rajamundry, I just woke up at 3:30 am and could not seem to fall back asleep. I sat up in bed and began to journal for a while and to read.  And now around 5:30, I am hearing the birds outside greeting the day.  I think of you when I hear the birds because of the early spring runs that we did together when you tuned my ears to hear the birds back in Seattle. I had not even noticed them, but when you remarked on how loud they were, I began to pick up on their sounds.  I am praying for you right now from my little corner of the world in India for you as you are settling into life in Malawi for the birds to greet you this morning with their songs. May God give you an awareness of his mercies and goodness today.

Much love to you, my friend…

Love,

Emily

p.s. and of course… hugs and kisses to Bill, Liam and Micah too!

Happy 28th!!!

I am so confused with so many different time zones that I have crossed. Here in India, it is the morning of the 29th, but back at home in Seattle, it is still August 28th.

No matter what day it is there in Malawi, I am sending you a big hug to celebrate today, Micah!!!

celebrating every little bit of you today Micah!!! 

hugs to you from India 

bittersweet

I have just landed in London for my short layover here, and I am experiencing the time warp that international travel is. While on the flight to get here, when I was not watching movies since I could not sleep, I was reading this book called Bittersweet. I have loved the way Shauna Niequist writes as she gives meaning to our own mundane and profound stories. 

The following chapter is about friendship, and I cannot deny that I was certainly teary as I read this on the plane and as I was thinking of you all. 

Here are several of the lines that jumped out at me: 

"That when you allow someone past all the doors you were taught to keep closed, what you find behind those doors is a kind of friendship I didn't even have a category for." 

"And every time I told (her) the truth, or asked for something difficult, or opened a scary conversation, when I thought she would back away, she walked forward. And by walking forward, she changed me...." 

I am getting called to board now so I will write more later from India! :) 

traveling companions

Just as you will think of me when you zip up your bag.... 

I will be thinking of you with the protein bars you gifted to us. Even though they were rejects in your casa, know that they will be keeping me going with my international travel! :)

XOXOXOXOXO

a prayer as you go...

I don't know a better prayer to send you off with than this one: 

Prayer Offered for Marathon Runners at Trinity Church in Boston (4/14/13)

O Lord and giver of life and strength,

Be with these your sons and daughters

as they prepare in body and mind

to run this race.

Guide their feet and hearts.

May they feel your delight in each stride.

Encourage and refresh them

through the cheers of those who will witness

their running tomorrow.

Lord, we see your glory revealed

in the human person fully alive.

Strengthen each of us to show forth your glory

today, tomorrow, and always.

Through Christ our Lord.

we love you all so so so so so so so so so so so so much! 

XOXOXOXO

a look back....

Blue Lake 

August 24, 2013 

 our hike today to Blue Lake... 

August 25, 2014 

rain started at the lake after we arrived which then led to lots of hail--

quite an adventurous hike back down the mountain! 

just a few pictures to let you know that there are reminders of you everywhere we turn.... 

(and I know that there will continue to be so many reminders of you each day in so many places and circumstances for the next 10 months...) XOXOXOXOXO

an email exchange...

-----Original Message-----
From: tatkins <tatkins@u.washington.edu>
To: Elizabeth Hutchinson <hutch.ec@gmail.com>; emily huff <emilyjasonhuff@aol.com>
Sent: Wed, Aug 20, 2014 10:29 pm
Subject: the oats have become granola...

and we are heading to bed.

thankful for:

deep, meaningful, hilarious, life-giving relationships

years to grow internally and with companions alongside

watching and waiting as friends boomerang out and come back, to and from places 
like malawi and india--the hopeful anticipation of experiences worth waiting 
for, hearing about the vastness of the world and appreciating the gifts that you 
are bringing to others from our little corner of it, and the anticipation of 
knowing that when it's the right time, you will be coming home to roost and 
share all you have seen, heard, done and experienced.

godspeed, dear friends--one for the short term, and one for the long term...

can't wait to be all together again.
elizabeth, we will miss you 4 sorely.

much love,
t

Tamara Z. Atkins, MD
Family Practice
UW Neighborhood Clinics, Shoreline
1355 N 205th Street, Shoreline, WA 98155
206-542-5656

-----Original Message-----
From: Emily Huff <emilyjasonhuff@aol.com>
To: tatkins <tatkins@u.washington.edu>
Sent: Thu, Aug 21, 2014 12:00 am
Subject: Re: the oats have become granola...

giving thanks for such rich community... and even for the extreme ache in my heart tonight as it is a manifestation of the depth of our friendships.... and for the fact that Anna and I had such a sweet and deep conversation about friendship and love as I was putting her to bed... We talked about the Little Prince and about his relationship with his rose. If you don't remember, here is an exchange about it: 

“The little prince went away, to look again at the roses.
"You're not at all like my rose," he said.
"As yet you are nothing. No one has tamed you, and you have tamed no one.
You're like my fox when I first knew him.
He was only a fox like a hundred thousand other foxes.
But I have made a friend, and now he's unique in all the world."
And the roses were very much embarrassed.
"You're beautiful, but you're empty," he went on. "One could not die for you.
To be sure, an ordinary passerby would think that my rose looked just like you
–the rose that belongs to me. But in herself alone she's more important
than all the hundreds of you other roses:
because it is she that I have watered;
because it is she that I have put under the glass globe;
because it is for her that I've killed the caterpillars
(except the two or three we saved to become butterflies);
because it is she that I have listened to, when she grumbled,
or boasted, or even sometimes when she said nothing.
Because she is MY rose.” 
― Antoine de St. Exupery


You all are my roses and I am so very very grateful for the garden we have tilled together in our friendships. 

Much love, 

Emily 

to Malawi with love...

Bill, Elizabeth, Liam and Micah- 

As you go to Malawi, I've started a blog to send you thoughts, prayers and encouragement along the way. Your first post is being sent to you today after your going away party so that you will know that you have lots of people cheering for you in this final stretch during this next week.  When in doubt, scroll through the pictures below to see a glimpse of some of the people gathered as your home team... 

to Malawi with love, 

Emily 

Mt. Rainier peeking out at Green Lake...