Hunkering Down

This pictures some of the contrasts of my life.

What does that mean exactly? I am preparing mentally to go back to Mongolia. I am on a personal journey, not just a physical one.

It is a journey that I am thankful for because it has caused me to grow in so many ways, but it is not necessarily a trip that I have enjoyed.

I live in Mongolia- not a place that I would even vacation, but I live there. I live there amongst the cows and sheep and goats; more than that though, I live at my house. I don’t have an exciting life of ministry outside of my home. I wake up and go to bed and all I see is snow or the brown landscape of winter and the inside of our fence for eight months of the year.

I battle. I battle the dirt, the slow pace of life, the different culture, and at times my own children. But more than that, I battle myself. I battle my laziness, my complaining heart, my discontent.

When I battle alone I fail. When I battle with Him at my side and as my strength, I win. The battle pushes me, shoves me to Jesus.

That is why I like the battle, I have come to embrace the battle of this wonderful life. Dare I say I actually enjoy this international life?

I couldn’t say it before, but now I can. I enjoy this life.


PS- I really missed blogging... so glad to be back. I think all day and writing here really helps me. Thanks for reading.

date night

Peter and I get about one date a year, and last night was that night. I really wanted to rent a moped and I talked Peter into it. We rode down our nearly deserted beach road, wobbling away and a little scared of the road that was rushing below our flip-flopped feet! We were going so slow that it took us a long time to catch up with a woman on a bike. :)

Then Peter sped up a little and I said, "we should slow down." We had just reached 30 mph! So we slowly drove down the coast together and drove back and returned the bike at dusk. It was so fun!

Then we got our favorite drinks and walked down the beach some more. We ate at a different resort with a nice view of the ocean and discussed life without the constant interruption of our wonderful children. It was nice.

Then we walked back to our hotel and found our kids all snuggled in watching a movie in the big bed with nana and papa.

Life is good!