Antiquity

(Victory column, Istanbul, Turkey)

Friday prayer

(Students at MKS's Bahrain National Day celebration)

We're keeping our Bahraini friends in our thoughts and prayers as the protests continue.

Montage

I have always thought that if I could have any super power, I would pick montage. Want to become an amazing ninja? Thirty second montage of trying to lift small rocks, running arduously, and being exhorted by a ninja master, and presto! Brilliant ninja skills. Need to find the cure to cancer? Shots of looking concerned, staring at stacks of paper, writing equations, drinking coffee. Add some inspirational music, and forty-five seconds later, success!

Unfortunately, I haven't managed to acquire this skill yet, so instead of montaging our way to Texas, Benjamin and I are in the middle of actually driving the distance. Perhaps a montage of past road trips would help? Let's give it a shot... You'll have to hum your own inspirational music, though.

Great Britain road trip adventure, summer 2007

Benjamin was really nice and drove for this one, so I had lots of time to take silly pictures in the passenger seat!

Bahrain, spring 2008

We road tripped to see the Sheikh Hamad Causeway and various forts around the island when Rebecca came to visit. As you can tell from the photo, we take these things seriously.
Photo: Kate Moore.

Germany, summer 2008
We got to see Germany with Ben's grandpa, who used to live there, which was awesome. This is Benjamin's "Just how many pictures are you going to take, woman?" expression.

Yellowstone/Grand Tetons, fall 2008
Our previous massive road trip of moving from Michigan to Oregon. Somehow I only managed to take pictures when we were in Yellowstone National Park.

Sahalie Falls in Oregon, summer 2009

Oregon coast at Florence, fall 2010

Phew, are we there yet?

Moving day

(Ruins in Turkey)

Today we are starting out on our move to Dallas. This will be our third move since we married. First Bahrain, then Oregon. Now Texas. We are both very much looking forward to moving near family and the prospect of better jobs. At the same time, we're very much going to miss the friends we've made here.

In honor of moving, a poem from some time ago:

Traveler
the path wound on from here
beckoning to all who came after.
there was much behind,
and much more before,
drawing and spurring the traveler on.

once again with broad hat and a sigh,
taking up staff and knapsack,
time to continue on the ever new yet familiar path.
for there is much behind
and much more before…

Antithesis

This picture is simple, calm, and uncomplicated--unlike packing for a major move and trying to sell most of our belongings on Craigslist at the same time. Tomorrow is the big day!

Seeing stars

...and hearts! To celebrate Valentines Day, I made heart and star shaped doughnuts.

Fragile

(Ancient clay pots, Turkey)

2 Corinthians 4:6-7
(NIV)

For God, who said, "Let light shine out of the darkness,"

made his light shine in our hearts
to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
But we have this treasure in jars of clay
to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

A future and a hope

Yesterday night was our last time at Street Ministry. Of everything we are leaving in Eugene, we'll miss this the most. We have made amazing friends and been weekly reminded of God's grace and goodness. The people there, both volunteers and street people, have blessed us beyond measure every week. Even though we are saying goodbye for now, the joy of leaving Christian friends is knowing we will see them again!

Spring dandelion

Everywhere and joyous,
Golden humor springing up,
An individual among the masses.
Blooming stubborn-brilliant
Amid the groomed flowers:
Harbinger of summer frolics.

Back in the day

(Mural in downtown Springfield, Oregon)

Downtown Springfield has a lot of murals on the walls of various building to pep things up a bit. I think this one is particularly fun!