Friends.

Oh how there is so much to say, it’s difficult to even know where to begin. The past few weeks have been a roller coaster of sorts, and yet in the most spectacular way. Each day is a new challenge and adventure, where I feel like I am continually questioning and re-questioning the hows, whys, whens and whats of it all. But oh what intimacy has come in the questioning, with both my earthly and heavenly beloved. I could not be more thankful for the partner I have been given in this journey, his steadfast faith and calm spirit blesses me now more than ever. And look at him – I think he looks even better across the dinner table here!

** Funny side note. Those of you that know this darling man above know that he is typically squeaky clean; he is a bit scruffy in this picture because he decided he wouldn't shave until we figured out the bus route by our house. He shaved the very next day! **

We have begun the steep climb that is language learning. It’s quite funny really, how after a few lessons we feel like we can conquer the world, only to go try out our new words and realize we have the communicative abilities of a toddler. It’s been remarkable though how a simple hello has connected us with people. It’s kind of become a game, say hello to basically anyone and everyone we pass, and then see how shocked they are that we can and would say hello. It’s great fun. We have also been blessed in already finding a few friends/captive listeners; the worker at a favorite lunch place, a lady who sells us drinks so we can break change for the bus, the kind gentleman who sells ice cream – food unites us all! We are so thankful for these patient friends, and are eager to learn more that we can know them better.

I think the greatest surprise and struggle so far has not been culture - but within myself. As I ride the ups and downs of our new lifestyle, I’ve realized my own overwhelming inabilities coupled with a perfectionist desire to succeed can become crippling. (Relate anyone?) Thankfully, I am humbled HOURLY in recognition of where my assurance and confidence must come. It has been so tender to realize in a fresh way how incompetent we are apart from HIS strength alone – I pray that I never grow weary of this sweet lesson! Thankfully we live around the corner from a HUGE and gorgeous park – so I have been able to run (GLORY BE!) several mornings and set my heart on HIS truth. Clearly the Big Man knew this time would be needed ; ).

We are so deeply thankful to be here. To be stretched in these ways, to experience these people and places is such a gift – and to think we’re just getting started! The newsletter I have previously mentioned is still the works – we’ve had to cage my perfectionism in that regards, but I promise it will come sooner or later! And yes, I will include fun stories in the future - I think a lot of these things have been swirling around in my head for a while, and I've never been one to hide behind small talk when there are greater issues at hand. Know that your emails, comments, thoughts and pryrs are such a blessing - we need and treasure your encouragement!

Oops.

Dear Ones,

Yes, I am alive. And yes, I am quite well. As you well know - just about everything in our lives has changed recently, and we are still riding the waves of transition. Thankfully, these adjustments while numerous are exciting, and we are loving discovering the ins and outs of our new surroundings. (Bought fruits and veggies at the outdoor market today for the first time - NOT in English. Yes, we are in fact awesome).

We have begun language tutoring, which has seemed to fill my brain to above its normal quota. Thus explains the silence in blogville. I am also in the process of working on our monthly newsletter - so that on top of learning to cook, speak, travel, and live in a new culture has kept me a little busy.

If you would like to receive said newsletter and have not already submitted your info for updates, please leave your email address in the comments section. I promise to return soon to our regularly scheduled program.

Thank you for your understanding and interest!

Learning to Be

Well, we’re here. (And it’s fantastic.) As expected, the cocktail of emotions didn’t hit until we were on the plane nearing our destination, when a rush of “holy crap” type feelings set in. All of a sudden everything wasn't just real, but seemingly un-doable.I was reminded of standing in the cold at a starting line of a very long race waiting for a gun to go off. . . again thinking, “holy crap, what have I done.” As I revisited these emotions, I was comforted to remember that once I took off running the nerves were left behind me, and I was free to focus on the ups and downs of the race ahead.

The goal of our past few days has been to learn how to "be” in our new place, which sure, sounds all ethereal and simple. And it might be, if we came from a culture where we were actually good at that, or if we somehow found ourselves automatically comfortable and competent in this new culture. Each day has met us with the challenges of realizing how inept we are at most things, particularly "being". Ordering food (who am I kidding - finding and identifying food is a challenge!), setting up a cell phone, getting from place to place, all of these once secondary elements of existence suddenly have become challenges.

However, all of this newness and inability has been overpowered by a deep and abiding joy. In each experience, I find myself in awe of where we are and what we're doing. Something that was spoken into us as children is happening . . . and is being birthed into something miraculous and new. And sure, I have no doubt that the months ahead are full of endless challenges, frustrations and even disappointments, but my prayer is that through it all we never lose this sense of wonder.

For today we're off to conquer public transportation and attempting to buy groceries. We have been deeply blessed in having friends living in our new city, so that has made establishing the "big" things like bank accounts and cell phones MUCH more do-able. Especially when you accidentally walk out of a cell phone store having not actually paid for the cell phone, it helps to have someone explain. ; ) We will start meeting with our language tutor tonight, so hopefully that can help us avoid any additional criminal activity!

Well, stares, buses, confusion and an overall darn good time await me - so wish us luck!

I'm getting on a plane today.

I am thrilled.

I am scared.

I can't wait.

I feel the craziest mix of emotions right now . . .

I want to run to tarmac and for the bathroom all at the same time.

I want to weep with both joy and unbelief . . . completely overcome by the adventure and opportunity before me.

It's pretty wild to be sitting on the cusp of something I know that the Lord has been preparing us for the better part of our lives. Thankfully, we don't go alone, but with the unbelievable love of our friends and family, the companionship of one another, and the empowerment of our great God.

Pray for us as we begin the looooong journey to our new home - our hearts are so ready. Pray for our sweet families that we leave behind, that they would rest secure in God's provision and presence.

Well . . . we'll give a shout out from the other side!!

LET'S DO THIS!

Picture O'Rama

My apologies for being a bit of a slacker on the blogging front, but I can get a pass seeing as how we're leaving the country FRIDAY, right? Right. Here's a not-so brief photo montage of our whirlwind pass few weeks.

First stop, me and my J-Hey Kid caught a game in the ATL where our beloved Braves SWEPT those stinkin' Phillies. Thanks guys, that was thoughtful. ; )


Even sweeter though, was time with this little angel and her parents. I seriously don't know if it gets any cuter!


Her mama and I go way back, and I am so grateful that time, distance, age & babies hasn't changed a thing!


Next, it was on to Chatty, where these girls and I just laughed and talked the night away. WHAT a blessing that time and these friends are to me! (Nice squat Courtney).


Our tour then took us to Cullman, where we had a great time with the extended Bentley clan. I am one lucky woman to have married into this family!


And this is too cute to not include - how much do I love my in laws? A LOT.


Cullman also included time with the Hometown Heroes and their offspring like this little munchkin . . . Powells, Haynes & Buster - WE LOVE YOU!


And finally was the best four hours at the Cracker Barrel I have ever spent. Lauren Brooke, I love you more than I can say, there is no one else I'd rather close down the Cracker with!

As you can see it has been a rich and FULL few weeks. We have treasured this time with our friends and family, and are so grateful for those who have walked beside us in so many different stages of our lives.

Our tour then took us back to Texas where we had our commissioning service at church this past Sunday . . . and in many ways I am still processing. The emotions and intensity were similar to that of our wedding; people from different parts of your life coming to share a hugely significant day with you, and the Lord bringing to fruition one of the deepest dreams of your heart. Overwhelming/fantastic/high & holy? Absolutely.

We fly out on Friday, and are more ready than ever to be in our new home. Please pray that we can finish well, and that our last few details and days would be sweet.

It's My Berfday.

Ten years ago I was 17.

Ten years from now I will be 37.

10 days ago I still owned a house in Texas.

10 days from now I will live on the other side of the world.

Strange . . . isn't it?

Our time in the Southeast has been fantastically full, and my dear one and I have had a sweet little birthday get away. It's been a perfect day, and a precious time with those we love (pics to follow soon - camera cord is chillin' in Texas. OOPS!).

We're in the home stretch of our farewell/publicity tour, so as you think about it say a prayer for us and our mamas, I think it's safe to say the floodgates have officially opened for business. : )

Peace!

We Did It.

We sold our house, packed up our house, sent 6 totes to the Far East, said our goodbyes to our pint-sized neighbor above (photo from a recent "guys night") and his mama, and drove off into the sunset. It was a heck of a week to say the least. But thankfully, we are on the first leg of our "Farewell Tour", relatively in one piece.

Our stuff is another issue, as many things made it here in boxes, suitcases, and trash bags. My dear husband and I realized we have a different definition of what it means to "pack". To me, it means what it always has - getting something from point A to point B, hopefully in a manner in which it can be found later. Not to Triple B, ohhh no. He had things sorted, labeled, stacked, boxed and labeled again - and needless to say he found my haphazard manner of moving our belongings less than suitable. Thankfully, we had a deadline that we needed to be out of the house and on the road - so our marriage was spared as we did not have time to re-pack and re-label things to his majesty's liking. As we've had a few days of down time to relax at my parents, I've been able to not only catch up on some much needed rest, but to reflect on the whirlwind from which we are emerging.

On Friday afternoon I found myself lingering in the empty house before we locked it up for the last time, wanting to savor every memory, meal, and laughter that we had there. So often I want to cement in my memory a place, or hold onto something significant so that it never slips away.
As we pulled out of the drive, I looked in the rear view mirror at our sweet little home with tears in my eyes, only to see the world's greatest neighbor waving us away. That is a moment my sentiments shifted, because I was poignantly reminded that our season here wasn't about a singular place or specific experience, but about the people.


Many of you know our journey to this little town in Texas was a bit outside of our expectations, but now I know that we needed it. We needed time to let all that we had learned at Truett sink in, and saturate our lives. We needed our church, to show us what it truly means to love well. And we needed the people we encountered there, to become a part of who we are and what God is calling us to. And as I was reminded Thursday evening, you know you've got good friends when they will help you sort and pack your "unmentionables". (Ladies - I adore you. Thank you for loving me even though you have both figuratively and literally seen my dirty laundry).

This realization, as well as a few days of parental pampering, has enabled us to again be grateful, hopeful, and excited. Not that those feelings ever dissipated, they just got a bit lost in the inevitable shuffle of stuff and change. (And for me, lack of sleep.) We'll begin part 2 of our Farewell Tour in the morning, and although I am not excited about the early wake up call or hours of I-20, I am excited about the sweet faces that will be waiting on the other end of the drive. What a gift when all of the stuff/crap literally gets trashed, packed and put away, and the focus of your days is about being with and loving on those who have loved you.

We may no longer own much of anything, but merciful heavens, are we ever rich.