Nathan Update

It's slow going over in Iraqi-Kurdistan.  So far, Nathan and M.B. are capturing footage for their first "webisode" to show perspective governmental entities.

Apparently, WiFi is all over the place; so I have been blessed with messages every day, as well as pictures.  On Monday, Nathan was able to call me!  He downloaded some sort of app that allows him to call for free. (At least I hope it's for free).  Unfortunately, this had the added side effect of making me more worried than ever.  They were unable to go paragliding, which has they guys pretty frustrated, but hopefully things will start picking up there.  They are still in country for 16 days.  A lot could happen.  My prayer is that it is all good.  They have started traveling around the country now, instead of staying in Erbil.

Nathan has been getting time-lapses from rooftops.

Moving Back Home

Living with the in-laws can be difficult, especially if you are used to living on your own.  It's a different dynamic; you aren't a child, to be told what to do and you also aren't a guest, to be catered to.  Not that I want to be catered to, but I'm not.  I am also no longer in charge of my own home, don't even technically have my own space anymore.  It is hard.  I grew up in a big family, and all I ever wanted was to be able to have my own area that no one could infiltrate.  I'm sure most everyone feels this way.  I love my family, but I need somewhere that is just for me, you know?  It is hard to have that in big families.

A Lonely Celebration

Today marks our first year anniversary.  A year ago today I was joined in marriage to the most remarkable man I have ever met.  It should be a time of joy and celebration.  But what lonely celebration.  On a day like today, a day in celebration of 'us', not 'I'; it is very difficult to feel joyful.  At 2am this morning, I contemplated the ever rising sun; how it would soon bring the morning and with it, the need to get up and attend church.  But as I woke again, (this time at an appropriate-ish hour), I decided against it.  Nathan and I spent almost our entire first year intimately connected to Antioch Church.  It was a place where we were always together; always their at the same time, always working side by side... Now I'm not trying to be dramatic, I just kind of am.  Born that way.  In the blood.  Must be the Indian side.  But I know, if I go to that church today, on our anniversary, I'll just be all sorts of annoyed and, dare I say, pissed off.  In a bad mood anyway.  It is better for all involved if I just sit at home and read romance novels.  (Not the icky ones, the ones actually about love.  We're not talking Danielle Steele here).  And maybe here, God will be able to sidle over and slap me upside the head.  Who knows?  All I want is to hold the man who shares this day with me.  But he is, quite literally, beyond my grasp.  Even so, I am so blessed to call Nathan my own, and I am forever thankful that the Lord brought him into my life.  Though we spend this first anniversary apart, I am confident that we will spend many more together. Many more. :)

Oh and P.S.

Nathan's parents' anniversary is tomorrow.  24 years!  It is such a blessing to get to see their love lived out every day.  As far as role models go, they're pretty good. ;)

Friends Indeed.

One of the hardest things about moving back home was leaving all of my friends.  I was a pretty introverted teenager, with a very extroverted twin brother.   Most of my friends were only friends with me because they were friends with my 'super-cool' brother.  I didn't really mind, but after high school we all went our separate ways and lost touch, as is the way of things.  Since then, it has been hard for me to make, and keep, friends.  In college my only friends were my roommates and their friends, and I was too busy missing Nathan to really try at those relationships.  Plus, we didn't really have much in common.  That's what happens when you feel like the only sane Christian at a very secular school.  It wasn't until moving to Bend, and living there for a couple months; that I really started to form friendships with people that were all my own.  And it wasn't until I had formed those relationships that I finally understood what it meant to be a friend, in the original sense of the word.

Aaaaand He's Off!

Today, shortly after the sun rose behind low, gray clouds; I said good bye to my best friend.  (This sentence actually brings forth giggles because it sounds so much worse than it actually is.)  He is off to Northern Iraq.  His mission: secure our future for the next half year.  I won't get to see his remarkably handsome face for 29 days (a leap year month).  I can already tell that this month will be harder than his last month-long trip last summer.  As I buried my face in his pillow, I realized just how much I'll worry about him.  There's just no getting over the fact that Iraq is no South Africa.  He could encounter any number of dangers over there...

Our "Practice" Child

Miss Marley Mae

There are those who joke about dogs as "practice children", but those who joke obviously have never owned a dog.

Onward Ho!

The ball finally seems to be rolling with the Middle East trip.  My husband and I have the chance to work over in Northern Iraq for a year, doing video work. (That's what my husband does, and he's dang good at it!)  This would be an amazing chance for us, giving us valuable experience as well as helping out the economy over there.  We would be working on bringing tourism from around the world into Iraq.  Contrary to popular opinion, Iraq is not all desert.  This is the Fertile Crescent, contested land for centuries and probably where the Garden of Eden was.  Somewhere in the area anyway.  The mountains and river valleys are beautiful.  I have not been there myself, (yet), but the photos are amazing!

First Year in Recap

In just a few weeks, Nathan and I will celebrate our 1 year anniversary.  What a year it has been. God asks many things from His children, but in particular He has asked us to walk by faith, not sight.  We do not know what our future holds, nor what direction it will take; but we continue to follow His calling on our lives and trust in Him, not ourselves.  This year has been a year full of following Him and waiting on the Lord.

Shortly before our marriage, we started a year-long residency program (internship) with Antioch Church in Bend, OR; which has deepened our knowledge of both Scripture and ourselves.  Along the way we have had some adventures, made new friends, and discovered hidden gifts.  I believe the most significant gift the Lord has been endeavoring to instill in me is patience.  It is still a daily struggle; forcing myself to not worry about finances and the future, but God continually presses me to trust Him, to have patience and wait on His call.