looking forward with joy

 Blue Mosque

 Hagia Safia

Spice Market

Our favorite moments: ferry rides from Asia to Europe

This is for real.

Every kid is awesome, but this group was especially so.

What I can't show in pictures is the mysterious and beautiful ways God has brought me his words and his wisdom through a group of people who were all strangers to me a week ago. Conversation after conversation has left me awed and overwhelmed, blessed, excited, and encouraged.

A new picture of what could be my use in God's kingdom is developing in my mind, and the sweetest lesson I am clinging to is the JOY to be had in the journey! My prayer is that rather than facing decisions and options and job prospects and all that is my future life with anxiety and fear and a desire to control, I would joyfully surrender with open arms to my God. I want to wait with excited anticipation at what kind plan the Lord has prepared for me. In many moments this week, I have tasted that hopeful expectation.