One of the great things about my trip to Romania was time to journal, reflect and read a lot of Scripture. It was so wonderful and I want to create more space for it at home.
Here's a little taste of my trip, by way of the gifts I kept track of.
At times it was easy to find the gifts, at times, I had to look really hard to see.
But I'm learning. I'm learning to look. So that I see. Otherwise, I will never see. Never recognize his gifts.
And still. It's changing me.
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Kissing the girls goodnight, and leaving early enough in the morning they weren't awake, no tearful goodbyes.
Scrolling through pictures on my iPhone
Free internet in Germany at a computer sales display
A small black notebook giveaway from the computer sales display, perfect for writing gifts
Envisioning the smile on Bean's face, receiving an unexpected email
Two seats to myself on a long flight--I managed to curl up and lay almost flat to sleep for a while
The Austrian Alps from my airplane window
Munich roads winding through the countryside
Yummy soft pretzel bread w/ a cheese spread on the flight to Romania
Feeling semi-ok after 24 hours of travel
Fresh, out of the oven bread from a small bakery in a small town. No signs or indication of the yumminess inside. You have to know by word of mouth.
Delicious soups all week
An iPhone adapter to charge my phone, to play games on our many van trips, to look at photos or share photos with others.
A friend who blessed me with the adapter
Getting to bless our interpreter with the adapter at the end of my trip, because he didn't have one that plugged into the wall
Vegetables for breakfast
Lots of homemade bread
An outhouse with a hole to squat over, instead of a nasty seat to sit on
International minutes on a SIM card, getting to talk to Bean twice
Faith for healing
The privilege of prayer
Speaking spanish with Romanians who work in Spain
Seeing God touch our team
The gift of words
Important lessons learned
Life stories shared
Listening to worship on my iPhone in a foreign country
Seeing Bulgarian and Serbian countryside from a distance
Dipping my hand in the {cold} Danube River
Fingernails that stay dirty, Tired feet, sore muscles, tender hands, all saying I worked my body today
American-style pizza in Romania
Homecooked meals fit for a king
German chocolate bars
Strong European coffee
Patience practice
A van drained of the wrong gasoline, finally running on the right gasoline
Experiencing the history of Romania, the freeing from Communism, the hand of God
Free wifi at the hotel the night before we go home. Finally, outside contact again.
Family and friends coming together to help Bean care for a sick Lily
Plenty of sick hours for Bean to utilize
A husband, who cares so well for our family
Lessons of faith
A plane waiting for us
Free movies
Plenty of food and drink
More faith lessons
A short ride, to an unexpected hotel stay--thankful to at least be in the USA
A room to myself, a heavy robe and soft bed
One last set of clean clothes
One more hot shower, time to shave my legs
Medicine, calming my stomach while in flight
The pure joy of expectations
Counting hours instead of days
Library books
Christian fiction, that teaches me important spiritual lessons
As easy switch to a morning flight
Getting to the gate just in time
Starbucks Caramel Macchiato
Seats together, in an exit row, towards the front of the plane
One last book to read, to finish
Holding and kissing my loved ones once again
