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Saturday, June 28, 2008

Traveling

One of my passions in life is traveling. I love the idea of interacting with new cultures, languages, food and landscapes. I enjoy the challenge of communicating and exploring the new terrain. New places are always so vibrant and full
 of life, with new sounds and smells. Nothing is familiar. Everything is an adventure.    
 

I have loved every experience that I have had in foreign countri
es. And I wouldn't trade any experience for the world. 



Lately Patrick and I have wanted to go everywhere. To see Florence, Milan, and Rome, Italy. To teach English in China. To see Jerusalem and the Middle East. To visit Patagonia in Argentina and Chile. To see the Northern Lights in Alaska. To visit Budapest, Hungary, Dubai, and the Taj Mahal in India. To see Heidi Baker in Mozambique and Heroes of the Nations in Nairobi, Kenya. 



Our list continues to grow each day and we have a fear of not experiencing all that the world has to offer. All the aromas and spices, the landscape and architecture, the people and cultures. We have a hunger for adventure and can't wait to take the first steps of our journey together. I hope you'll join us!

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Blessed

I have now entered a completely new season of life. A season that is far more vibrant and exhilarating than the last. On May 17, 2008, I got to marry the love of my life and my best friend, Patrick. Preparing for a wedding is one of the most stressful things I have ever done. But as it got closer and closer to the Big Day, God just cloaked me with layers and layers of supernatural peace. I was no longer stressed or worried that something wouldn't come together. I wasn't worried that the photographer wouldn't catch the right moments. I wasn't worried about my shoes or my hair or my dress. I was just so content and wrapped up in the love and peace of God.


I didn't realize how overwhelmingly loved and blessed I would feel on that day. Looking around seeing everyone that has meant something to you is truly remarkable. All the people that you would rush over to see if you saw them out. All the people that you have spent long hours working through life's problems with, cramming for tests with, traveling with, or staying up late to make cinnamon/sugar/butterscotch pancakes with. I thought the love in the air and in all the rooms was going to knock me over.


Patrick and I had such a great time dancing and laughing the night away. Even through the honeymoon we were talking about each detail that was perfect. Or that one person that came from really far away just to be with us on our wedding day. There are so many details that we just enjoy remembering. We love to remember how the faces looked, what the dance floor was like, who spent all night beside us wanting to enjoy everything with us, who went above and beyond to make the day incredible... we were beyond blessed. Our lives have been perfectly grafted together by a loving God. The transition into this new life together has been effortless and flawless. Beautiful and loving, fun and exciting.


If you would have asked me if God was going to bring good out of all the mess that Patrick and I have been through together, I would probably tell you there is no way. And there are still some things that painfully linger in my memories. But if our wedding and the weeks after is any indication of how much He wants to lavish us with "good," then I would have been wrong. God works ALL things out for OUR GOOD. Even terrible things, He finds ways to knit Himself in so that as we look back, we see victories. We see huge mountains conquered. We see that love wins. Love conquers all. Because of Jesus, love is what's left after everything else falls away. Right now we feel like we are drowning in love. It is all around us and it is breathtaking. God has filled our lives and our spirits with more love than I ever thought possible. And we are set up now for an incredible journey as man and wife. To walk from glory to greater glory. From strength to greater strength. From blessing to multiplied blessing.


God is so good and so full of love. And I'm blessed to be called His child.