Last night Timothy, his wife Tabea, Jesse, and Thomas came over and we played poker. I hung in there and ended up getting second. Of course I had about 1/800th of what Jesse had in the end, but that is just a technicality really. Don’t get hung up on details like that, they can ruin your life. So, anyway, Innes went to a Bible Study and Charlie went to something that translates to a “fast reggae” concert - just imagine that if you will - and so I was here with Tomas who really doesn’t speak much english! I put Hanna to bed, and had to sing several renditions of Jesus Loves Me and Jesus Loves the Little Children before she finally dozed off.

Today it is snowing here, and it’s cold. You know what I really miss right now is my fan from my room - I might have to go buy one here, I need white noise in my room. I have my ipod but of course it ran out of battery this morning when Hanna was yelling for “Mama!!!” I felt like doing the same, mom.

I should let you soccer fans know that there is some really cheap world cup stuff here - Charlie and I walked by some shops and there were tshirts and other things like wristbands, etc, for like 2 1/2 Euros (which would be around $3). I didn’t buy any yet, but I might be open to taking some minor orders someday.

Final thought for now: some days it’s funny because i get to thinking that I really love God a lot. I mean, I really love Him, and He is so happy with me because I love Him with my whole heart, and we have such a special relationship, and I have just given Him my heart! And then….reality kind of hits and I realize how desperately I need His mercy because that’s absoluely not true. This is especially obvious when I’m reading a really great author like Donald Miller, or one of the Biblical authors. But, then you start to look to Jesus, and oh forget it, I don’t even begin to understand love!

(Here’s some pictures from the neighborhood, I took them on my walk yesterday)…click on them!

This morning there are 3 kids here, Dorothy (I don’t know how to spell it in German, but how to say it), Nadia, and Michael, along with the Ford’s daughter Hanna. They are pretty cute, but don’t speak English of course!

Today I think I am going to run some errands with Charlie, and possibly go to a home-improvement store with Innes and a friend, and then I can’t remember what else is tonight. I think it’s a German woman bible study.

God is continuing to reveal to me to put my entire heart into trusting Him and not into trusting to find my heart’s fulfillment in people. You know what I mean? Just knowing that nothing will ever be perfect, and that it is okay. Donald Miller’s book, “Searching for God Knows What” talks about our hearts constantly searching for what it is we’re missing since sin entered the sphere of humanity, and that we know we can never find it outside of Jesus and the Lord. These lessons can be like a constant friend walking along side of you, reminding you that only Jesus can fulfill your heart and bring you complete peace and comfort. I think I’m going to try to attach a few pictures, and then I have to go!

2 from leaving Dublin and looking outside, and 1 of my backyard view. I will try to get more up later.

I don’t have much time, but I’m here in Dortmund, Germany. It’s crazy. I keep thinking I’m going to wake up in Blair, but no, it’s real.

It’s really good, but it is very difficult also, and scary. One day at a time.

Yesterday Kate Crumb gave me the book, “Searching for God Knows What” by Donald Miller, author of “Blue Like Jazz.” I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of this, but it is a beautiful articulation of thoughts that I’ve had swimming around in my head for a long time, especially as of late, but am unable to actually express. Last night I read about 70 pages, and felt so excited as Miller softly explained and broke down the bland, boxed-up and packaged Christianity that we seem to have today. I’m tired right now and can’t explain it very well, but I feel like this man is on to something great, and I aspire to be similar. He also wrote a bit about what it must have been like for Adam to actually be with God in Eden, and the deep longing he had for a relationship, even though life was literally perfect and he was in harmony with God. Miller then guessed what it must have been like for Adam to find the mate of his soul, and how desperately thankful and beautiful his love for her must have been. He spoke about Moses breaking into poetry in the middle of the books of the Bible he’s written, and the beauty of the Bible, something I find myself desperate for, but have no idea where to find it…

Sometimes I wonder what the men and women in the Bible went through and thought about each day. We have the same God today, and infinitely more resources to get to know this God, and yet somehow my heart feels limp, bored, and unsatisfied.

I’m moving to Germany in 5 days.