biological weathering

Yesterday was my last day of teaching here in Scotland and tomorrow will be my last Sunday at church and Monday I'll take my last drive through Aberdeen on the way to the airport. Our future plans are unknown, so we may be back here for a Ph.D program, or we may be moving to one of eight different cities in the United States. Although I am excited to be back to the place that is home, I am so very sad to leave this beautiful country and people. It is especially hard to do so when you don't know when or if you're coming back.

One of the final lessons I taught yesterday was on weathering. Weathering is the decomposition of the Earth's rocks, soils, and minerals through direct contact with the atmosphere. Weathering isn't a bad thing...it is this process through which soil is created with the materials that are left behind. And soil is what brings life to the Earth.

Biological weathering is caused by the activities of some sort of living organism. Tree roots are probably the most significant agents of biological weathering as they are able to pry apart rocks by growing into cracks and joints. As I was teaching this portion of the lesson we came across a photo from the textbook that looked quite similar to the one above. It was taken on one of our first walks through Old Aberdeen.

I realized that Darren and I were those rocks and that Scotland was that tree and that the people that we have met here are those roots.

We moved here with cracks...materialism, doubt, selfishness...but the tree roots have grown into those cracks and shown us a different way. And as the weathering process continued a substance that wasn't there before was created.

The thing is about the people we've met here is that they are so wonderful. They are so generous and welcoming and accepting. From my colleagues at school to the people we go to church with there has been such an outpouring of love and support that I feel no way to express just how much I've been blessed to be here. Just when I feel full to capacity these Scots offer more. More help, more rides, more storage in their garages, more cards and baby gifts.

Saying goodbye at work yesterday was almost as hard as it was when I left Orem Junior. There was this 'warmth' in the faculty room that people who were strangers to me just one year ago were people who genuinely wanted the best for me. Who were genuinely excited for us to have a baby. And who genuinely cared that we were safe and cared for.

And that's just how everyone has been, especially the friends that we have made at church. They are dedicated and obedient and faithful. And they have been the best examples of true Christ-like love. In an embarrassment of riches some of the ladies threw a surprise baby shower for me last night and I was full to capacity again. I feel so blessed to have met these wonderful people, to have served with them, to have LAUGHED with them, to have loved them.

Darren said last night that per capita Scotland has the best people. And it's true. They are generous of spirit and love and strength.

And as we head westward, I know that we have this same love waiting for us at home. But I think that you will find us weathered and I hope that you can feel the new substance that the Scots have left behind.

(Sorry, I know this is cheesy...I'm pregnant, just humor me.)