the unseen

Christmas was wonderful- full of relaxation and chocolate, etc. the good stuff :) It was nice to have some decompressing time after traveling so much- we made it out of Europe after our flight was canceled in Brussels... took a chance and just went to the Amsterdam airport. Got home earlier than originally planned- lovely.

We saw this beauty before leaving NYC : Robert Rauschenberg show at Gagosian - by far my favorite show to date. Nothing said will suffice; I love his work. It makes me want to sit and pray or make things or dance. It's perfect.

Wow what a wonderful time we had in Amsterdam. It was a very full week, but still restful. That is ideal, I think. A week certainly was not long enough to feel at home there, yet there was a definite peace or normalcy for both us (I found that strange, but I guess it does make sense). What a story He is writing for us. This trip is somewhere in the beginning of that story, the beginning of a promise fulfilled or perhaps even the birth of that promise He has planted in Josh and me (This still all feels mysterious to me, but I am becoming more comfortable with the unseen). For now we are here, in Columbus, content to be here for as long as I can be.

The unseen... is it really there? I am learning faith yet again in this long journey that has only just begun. Seriously, it has only just begun. I am going to live forever! Praise Jesus :)

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Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.


- II Corinthians 4:16-18

loved the signage over there

peace

a canal after the taxi went through

last night here... It has been a peaceful couple of days because I have been sicky- nasty sore throat, fever etc. so staying warm inside mostly, then venturing out for food. I'm sure it's just because I have been trotting all over this wonderful city very mucho. We take a very early train out tomorrow, then fly from Brussels to NYC. Please pray that the weather wouldn't prevent us from getting home- definitely need some Divine intervention in this area, as well as peace peace peace in the storm.

It was quite sunny today, though: beautiful and mostly enjoyed by me through the window :) Time inside has certainly allowed me to slow down (always needed). Processing ensued of course but that's not nearly done.

somebody lost their shoe...

cigarette bouquet

cigarette bouquet

red light district, psalm 23

Surely goodness and mercy will follow me, all the days of my life, all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord. Forever, forever, forever amen!  ( I sang that to you)

With Jesus we lack nothing, so no more striving or anxiety about performing to be good enough or reach the next level. Ew, no more of that. God loves me!

We rested quite a bit today (He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside still waters) and then went to the Tabernacle. That is the prayer room in the Red Light District of Amsterdam, yes a prayer room amidst all the women in the red-lit windows. How beautiful to worship and intercede amidst all of the confusion in that place. It is very right to be there. For me, I am struggling with wanting to know the real stories of the women who work as prostitutes... Do they want to be there? Were they forced into it? I have heard so many different opinions even since being here. I want to know their stories. I just want to have conversations with them.

At the Tabernacle we also prayed for the current child pornography cases to expose the industry, as well as interceding about the underground sex trafficking industry.

It is so refreshing for all of this to be more of a reality for us. To be here feels very normal, like we have taken it in stride. No fireworks or big kaboom clouds, no pressure. Both Josh and I are interested in what normal life here could look like. We shall see. For now He is blessing us with being here together and soaking it all in.

Love you all.

He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness.

here we are

we are in amsterdam...

relics of the industrial age

hub

Lucy from Lakewood (beautiful hands), upstate New York


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We took the train from Cleveland to New York City's Penn Station yesterday. Thirteen hour journey: very hot (even for me), but lots of relics from the industrial age set to the soundtrack of the rhythmic train. This was romantic for about the first two hours I was actually awake (we left quite early).

Today we went romping about in the city for a bit (very rainy and windy). Saw Rockefeller and that big ole tree (very lovely). Ate pizza. AND I, mostly alone because counterparts weren't as stoked, perused the Chelsea Antique Garage Flea Market= Annie's heaven. Twas glorious.

And we're off tomorrow... should be in Amsterdam by evening... afternoon Ohio time
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Also, it has been so encouraging to hear from people about our trip. What a gift. Many blessings have come even in the past week of preparation. Especially from people who have walked through this part of our story with us from the roots. God has been reminding me of moments I hadn't thought about in a long while... promises that others remembered, things He spoke to me while I was with a friend. What a story He is writing. We are truly blessed to feel so supported and covered in prayer, surrounded by people that hold us up. Thank you. Thank you for reminding me even more of this beautiful story and Thank you for going before us in prayer. 

ruin is a gift

There's a scene in Eat Pray Love when Julia Roberts is in Rome, exploring the Augustenum...


"It's one of the quietest, loneliest places in Rome. The city has grown up around it over the centuries. It feels like a precious wound, a heartbreak you won't let go of because it hurts too good. We all want things to stay the same. Settle for living in misery because we're afraid of change, of things crumbling to ruins. Then I looked at around to this place, at the chaos it has endured - the way it has been adapted, burned, pillaged and found a way to build itself back up again. And I was reassured, maybe my life hasn't been so chaotic, it's just the world that is, and the real trap is getting attached to any of it. Ruin is a gift. Ruin is the road to transformation."


This sounds about right to me. Lots of life's pieces are currently in ruin, and not in one of those beautiful ways where I can see the light and the redemption. I don't see it, but I KNOW that it's there; and I know there's even more on the way. How can I expect to know God more deeply without being transformed? 


I want to be fully alive- thriving in joy and abundance. There have been many moments of this, even long seasons of thriving and visible purpose. I knew the fullness of God in my capacity at the time of those moments... and now there's more- more life, more fullness because the Lord loves to love us and loves us to know more of his love that awaits us. 


Today I embrace ruin, because I know this is creating me new again [again]. This life is rusty and rundown today, yet I know there is more waiting for me through this season of ruin and fire. It's not about achievement though. It's not about work or obligation. It's about love and knowing the Father that created me and wants me to be with him more fully, where I belong. It's about being myself, who I was created to be, more fully. I want that! so Praise the Lord oh my soul, Let all that's within me praise his Name. 

It's a faithful Hallelujah today.




...

when i was young i INSISTED on being called Dorothy...

there's no place like home.
there's no place like home.

and i believe it. everything takes me back to this place (which is really who i am with). and it is a good one.

there is a lovely thread that runs in my family: childlikeness. i am rather fond of it. life is really fun- an adventure in fact...[especially when i forget about what other people think]. i see this thread in so many of those close to me. my grandpa would just break out in song, songs that i had never heard (he loved lawrence welk). his belting was always enough to catch me offguard and make me laugh in surprise and wonder. my mother is the same way. i hope i am too.

everyone's life is a masterpiece-

regardless of how messy and imperfect it may seem. my favorite paintings are really collages with everydayness combined to create a beautiful and depicting image. [rauschenberg]

my grandmother passed away on friday. she was lovely and old and lived a full life. i treasure the moments we had together because she was my connection to the past, to the good ole days. i don't know if they were real, but i want them to be. i so long for heritage and tradition- to know where i came from. i think it helps me see myself.

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appropriately- one of my favorite fashion blogs posted this today: http://www.thecherryblossomgirl.com/