thirty

 I’m thirty years old now, and of course it has me reflecting on my twenties. 

I set out to post a photo from each year of my twenties, but there's just too much even within each year to hold in a single picture. 

Teaching my own English program in Beijing - learning Mandarin and some Tibetan, making lifelong friends, growing a vibrant faith, having an adventure of a lifetime. 

Getting my bachelor's degree at Trinity Western University in Applied Linguistics and Biblical Studies - getting involved in everything on campus, forming such a special community, going deeper and bolder spiritually. 

Losing Dad - world shifting, foundation shaking, gut wrenching. 

Getting my master's degree in Biblical Studies - diving deeper, having incredible opportunities, loving academics. 

Faith changing  - wondering if I'm still a Christian, grieving the loss of certainty, fear and alienation that led to a new courage. 

Nate - talking, meeting, falling in love, getting married. 

Becoming a stepmom - pouring myself out, taking everything one step at a time, finding joy and fulfillment, homeschooling, being so honored to hold this role. 

Becoming mom - pregnancy and delivery, nursing, marveling at watching him grow. 

What a decade. What a journey I could never ever have predicted. So much pain, and so much joy. So much growth. So much love. 

I couldn't possibly find one photo to represent a decade. But this one comes close: wearing my coat from Beijing, on a ferry in Canada, looking forward to what was to come.