The waves rolled & crashed in rows on the water, creating a steady roaring sound. I remember watching their rhythm with a quiet reverence. I was soaking in a peace of mind that I hadn't experienced in a while. In a very long while.
Moving from Europe back to Michigan has been both strange & hard. It has stretched me & challenged my heart on many occasions over these past few months. Although I've come back to the people & places that I have always loved - I haven't really felt like myself. Like a lone piece of driftwood out at sea, I too have been a little lost.
When Dan surprised me with a trip to California to visit his family in January, I expected to have a nice time seeing familiar faces & enjoying the coast. But what I didn't expect was for God to show up in the most surprising & impactful ways. Through talks over meals, prayers on a kitchen floor, & powerful words spoken over my life with family, I have slowly started to breathe again; my lungs filling with a new hope, perspective, & calm.
As we take this year to plant some roots in Michigan soil, I will remember the spark & freedom that I experienced on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. I am determined to build our marriage, our community, & our personal ministries in Grand Rapids with a ready heart & steady pace.
I am waiting for the waves to break again; for the pages in this chapter to keep on turning.
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Photography: Eli K. Photography
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