the browns

phil + liz = love. and my they are wonderful. their house was a refuge to me for the next 4(?) days. it was exactly what the dr. ordered. i needed to just lay low for a while. for any of you that know me well, i am a verbal processor. i need people to talk to in order to know what i am thinking and feeling. so there's a lot of verbal vomit that happens when i get together with people. and it's good. and it makes me feel normal. it's a lot to revisit living in germany and all of those emotions, so i was plumb tuckered out.

i love houses that are a home. liz and phil have one of those in this little flat in hillingdon, uk. people are in and out of that little home constantly. it is so warm and cozy, so i just decided to stay longer. it's great to not really have anywhere to have to be, or any particular time to be up, so i just hung out. i talked and laughed and showered (or didn't), and watched movies, and slept, and really didn't leave the flat much. yay! easy, no pressure friendships. i even felt more at home there than i sometimes do in kc. that's strange.

and then, there's their church. i haven't been to church in months. i went on sunday with the browns and it was good. the church community is welcoming and intimate and real. people were singing and praising and crying and hugging. i couldn't pretend to be "good". it was humbling. and god penetrated my facade. i need people, i need them to ask me how i am. i need them to just sit with. i like to be known. this church made me feel that as a visitor. god bless it. i love the body of christ. god's smart.