Giving Thanks #103

Giving Thanks #102

A sweet use of light.  This wall was in a Budapest cafe.  Gotta say, this is one of the coolest ways to light a room!  The center of these flowers are simple light bulbs, with the ends painted a reflective silver, which helps the light bounce back onto the flower, causing this awesome effect!

Giving Thanks #101

The smell of clean laundry.

Giving Thanks #100

Well we've made it to #100, 10% down and so many more things to be thankful for!!!  So to celebrate? I'm doing a "contest" of sorts!!  

To Enter: Follow my blog & comment on this post what is one thing you are truly grateful for.

What you'll Win: A free copy of my e-book "Walking, Stumbling, to a Home not yet seen" I will then send each person a link to the free download.

Details: You need to both follow & comment on this post.  This will also only be available from 8/27-9/3! So hurry up & write up what you're thankful for!!

Giving Thanks #99

Giving Thanks #98

Once our group was greeted by this little old woman in a village.  She spoke in Romanian, quite muffled, and stuck her hands into very full pockets.  When she pulled them out, she held many plums that she offered to us with a big toothless grin.  Okay, I think she had ONE tooth, but still.  It was such a neat moment, who knows what her story was, but she had sought us out to give us this gift.  It was a great moment, from what we imagine was a great lady with an even greater story.

Giving Thanks #97

Giving Thanks #96

Messages in unlikely places.

Giving Thanks #95

Sitting on the front step, watching people, cars, life go by.....reading a book, saying hello to neighbors, watching the wind blow. It's all great from your view on the front step.

Giving Thanks #94

When you come to a dead end and look up to find that God has opened up another possibility for you.  This is a reliving feeling, and a comforting feeling, knowing that all the times we get stuck, God was already looking out for us, setting things into motion to give us a new way through.  It's sometimes hard to see, and if you don't look up to Him you might miss it....but when you do look for Him in the situation, isn't it awesome??

Giving Thanks #93

Gnarly trees that loom above.

Giving Thanks #92

A moment of complete unashamed breakdown.

Giving Thanks #91

Letting your little sis drive, and feeling okay in the passenger seat....and not crashing. :)

Giving Thanks #90

Finding a new thinking spot. :)

Giving Thanks #89

The feel of sand under your feet & in your toes. :)

Giving Thanks #88

Giving Thanks #87

....realizing you're your own biggest distraction. And coming back in to focus. I'm thankful for those moments.

Giving Thanks #86

So this one time......my family and I climbed up a very steep almost mountainous hill.  At the top, there was a ruined castle.  It was old. VERY old. And super worn down but also VERY cool.  I love ruins like this.  Anyway, I took lots & lots of pictures. LOTS.  I also took one with my parent's camera....who knows why.  When we were "walking" down the hill....we heard some bells coming from the other side of the hill. Suddenly, a horse & baby came running around, neighing, & doing everything that almost wild horses do. It was surreal.  Anyway, we got into the car to go home, and I was winding my film.....yes, winding my film......and when I opened the camera.......there was NO film. None. I hadn't had any all day. None of the pictures I took were there.  None. I cried. It was horrible. I felt SO awful. A once in a lifetime adventure, and no film.  This is the only picture that I have from that day.  It is my favorite. :)

Giving Thanks #85

Just reminded again of the heroic acts that our firemen & police officers performed without a second thought on September 11th.  Makes me think about what I can do to live a life like that.....selfless, giving, & sacrificially loving others.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU.....

Giving Thanks #84

Giving Thanks #83

#83....being above the clouds.  At the top of the Schilthorn Mountain in Switzerland, you're not at the highest peak....but you can see it from there! ;) It's crazy to walk around at the top and be higher than the clouds. Pretty spectacular!

Giving Thanks #82

On our way driving down the mountain, Janelle and Tiffany were almost asleep in the car, and I saw this waterfall just off the road.  I couldn't help myself, and pulled over as quickly as I could (about half a mile down the road).  I jumped out, whispering....come if you want! ;) They did. We hadn't had cold water hardly at ALL on our trip, and our thirst was getting the best of us.  We reasoned that this waterfall was coming from the snow on top of the mountains, so how bad could it be? We were right. This was the BEST & COLDEST water ever. AHHHHHHHH. If only we could have another taste!

Giving Thanks #81

You see the little "bigger" dot here on the line? That was what we rode to the top of the mountain in.  Believe it or not, there's probably 30 people in that car....and as the line seems to disappear into the clouds, it felt that we were going to never emerge when we were IN the clouds. It was pretty sweet then to end up above the clouds, looking down. What an incredible ride!

Giving Thanks #80

I snapped this little shot on my walk back from the lake in Interlaken.  This bird was my guide. :)

Giving Thanks #79

On our last morning in Switzerland, I decided to take a walk to find one of the lakes of Interlaken.  It was a still & quiet morning....just perfect for watching the sun rise behind the alps and be reflected on the lake.

Giving Thanks #78

One night in Budapest, our mission team saw that they were hosting an organ concert in St. Stephen's Basilica.  The tickets were cheap, so us girls decided to take in the show.  During the beautiful music inside, there was a huge thunderstorm going on outside.  We couldn't hear it much at all, but thanks to all of the windows on the dome, the music was enhanced by flashes of light coming in from the dome.  It was a wonderful way to accent the beautiful music.

Giving Thanks #77

Laughing so hard you can't breathe.  This was taken at my cousin's wedding.  I can't remember what was said, but.....apparently we both thought it was uproariously funny.  This is still one of my all-time favorite photos.  :) Love you Chels!

Giving Thanks #76

For Tanya's Birthday today, my thankful thing today, is for friends who will make you go on an adventure that you wouldn't have chosen yourself.  This was us last summer, on the island of Kauai, where Tanya took Liz, Crystal & I out to a zipline adventure.  I was so nervous......did not want to go.....but at the end, I really enjoyed it.  :) THANKS TANYA!! Happy Birthday!

Giving Thanks #75

Giving Thanks #74

A few years ago, I took an early morning walk through a small Romanian village.  This steeple was so beautiful, reflecting the sun so brightly that it barely looks real.  A few days later, visiting my brother's biological father, I told him about the village we had just been to.  He recalled that he had painted a steeple there years ago.  I immediately pulled up this photo, showing it to him and asked if it was this one.....it WAS!  How cool is that?!?!