yeah for sunset and hair in your teeth pictures.

almost exactly one year ago, we hopped into a small, dug out boat and prayed a hippo wouldn't eat us.  we gasped at the water that bubbled into the boat + started wondering if insurance would cover an accident that involved hippopotamuses and questionable transportation.

but now, one year wiser (or dumber, however you wanna see it) we climbed into the same boats, which aside from a few extra leaks and loose nails, look just about the same.

and despite the lack of hippos, the sunlight still sparkled across the water and i still felt a little bit like the lady of shalott, courtesy of anne shirley.  the lilies still started their nightly, tuck in too soon for my taste + and the water still invited me to dive in.  and i really wanted to just to see the shock on our pastor's face, but then i thought of the hippos and brain won over rebellious spirit.

out on the lake, feeling like the figurehead of our little boat with languages flying across the water behind me, from boat to boat and body to body, i felt at home.

as the flight back to the states looms before me and the hugeness of it never ceases to grow, my plans of abdicating the right to adulthood are looking better and better.  i'm excited to see what He is gonna do, and i'm looking forward to great things but staring into the unknown is scary.  and right now the future is a lot of questions and shrugs and maybe's.  and so, while i sit here in my room, surrounded by what is now comfortable and home, He reminds me He's got me.

as i'm reading through the bible this year, and searching through psalms, God's faithfulness is screaming out.  no matter what, now matter how many times david cried out to Him begging for mercy, forgiveness and grace, He always answered.  and He still does.

and so, i know that wherever i go, no matter what continent, country, state or town, He's got me.  i know because "He hems me in- behind and before; He has laid His hand upon me.  such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to understand."  i know that He's gonna bring people into my life when i need them and He's gonna hold my hand in His when i step over the big puddle that is the Atlantic.  He's gonna pick me up when i fall + He's gonna show me more of Himself everyday.

so sitting here at home, looking out at life just like i looked out across the lake, i see bits of His plan start to appear + i hold my breath, eagerly peering to see what will peak through next.