Monthly Archives: February 2014

GRATITUDE!

Chris cropped

GRATITUDE!  That is the word that continues to fall from my lips every time I think about, talk about, or dream about this sabbatical.  How grateful I am, we are, for this remarkable GIFT!   When Erik and I were dating I said to him, “I need you to know that I want to have a family, and someday I plan to take my children overseas to live for a while.”  (Just wanted him to know what he was getting into, should this relationship continue!)  Now, seventeen years later, here we are, our family poised on the threshold of this magnificent adventure!  God has blessed us so richly, and we are grateful!!!

When I was a child I lived in Nigeria and Ethiopia for five years.  That experience shaped my life in profound and lasting ways.  I have always been grateful to my parents for giving me this remarkable gift!  On our final journey home to the States our family took three months and traveled through the Far East.  How excited and thankful I am that now my own two children, Kai and Naomi, will get to have a similar experience of traveling abroad for several months of their childhood, experiencing different cultures and taking in all that awaits us on this journey!

My dear friend Neil, life-long family friend and experienced world traveler, in response to my query about what were the most essential things to take on this trip, said, first and foremost, “curiosity and a sense of humor.”  He then added a number of other very important things, including “patience by the boat load — not a row boat or a ship but an aircraft carrier full,” and “respect and admiration for the people we will meet along the way.”  Thank you, Neil, for your words of wisdom!  We know they will serve us well as we begin this journey of a lifetime!

So with these things added to our “Sabbatical Toolkit,” we set off, hearts full, hands open, and spirits ready to encounter all that God has in store for us!  Blessings and love to all of you, dear friends and family!  Thank you for all you have done to support us along the way, and all you continue to give by being present in our lives!

March 4-16

Our journey begins with a flight to Boston on March 4.  Our base for the month of March is the home of Erik’s sister and husband, Randi and Albert Siu, in the town of Carlisle, Massachusetts, where we will mark Ash Wednesday and the beginning of our sabbatical journey at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sudbury.  This is a time of decompression, disengagement, and recreation as we establish our new sabbatical rhythm.  Visits to friends, exploration of early American historical sites, faith communities, and other activities will be the focus of these days.

Hey guys, Kai here

Kai 2I can’t believe we’re actually going!  I’m very excited for the trip and I can’t wait to see the Eiffel Tower–at night!–not to mention all the ancient castles.  I’m going to try picking up Italian, and I’m looking forward to eating the original pizza!  I’m really going to have fun biking, especially in the Loire Valley in France.  I’ll have my own camera along and so you can check back in now and then for new photos and comments.  If I manage to spot Nessie (AKA the Loch Ness Monster) on our way through northern Scotland, I’ll be sure to post the picture right here!

Ciao for now!

 

Hi, this is Naomi

NaomiHi, I’m Naomi.  We’re going on sabbatical and I’m really excited because it will be fun to speak all kinds of different languages.   I’m really looking forward to finding out if we can see any caves and I’m really looking forward to seeing the Eiffel Tower of Paris.  We’ll be traveling on planes, trains, gondolas, ferries, trolleys, busses, bicycles, and cars—oh yeah, and feet, too.   If you want to, you can follow this blog and I’ll write more along the way.

Hi to all my friends at Pathfinder Elementary and my teacher Jennifer!