I want to live in AWE.

I want to be amazed!

So in the last few days I have read several blogs some old some new about the race, about how at this point in the race we stop being amazed about how even though we never imagined it things on the world race become routine. Something I never imagined would happen a year ago when I was sitting in my office doing the same thing for the 100th time that day.

But things do become routine:

As we crossed from Cambodia to Vietnam we once again had to get off the bus walk through passport control drive to Vietnams passport control and unload all of our stuff but it through scanners and get our passports stamped with yet another stamp

When did having 30 some odd stamps in my passport stop being exciting?

When did entering a new country become less than exhilarating.

When did I stop looking out the window of whatever bus I’m traveling in?

When did spending time in our hotel room on Wi-fi become more important than exploring the city I may only live in for these 3 weeks?

But tonight as I had dinner with my teammate Sarah an amazing friend and teammate and we looked out on the riverfront and saw the bridge all lit up and reflecting on the river that I realized:

 I want to live the next 3 ½ months in awe.(not really just the next 3 months more like the next 50 years) 

 Being excited because I have experienced the most amazing things.

I have traveled 29,648  miles  since leaving San Francisco International Airport  on January 7th

?I’ve put my feet in the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Thailand, the South China Sea.

Sarah, Doyle, Me and Mary hanging out in the Gulf of Thailand. No Big! 

I have swam with sharks in Gansbaai, South Africa(shark week is filmed there)

(Still wearing my wetsuit after Shark-diving)

I jumped off a bridge 524 ft hight the highest canyon swing in the world at the Last Resort in Nepal.

(Swinging from the highest canyon swing in the world. The Last Resort, Nepal)

I went on a Safari to Kruger National Park in South Africa where I saw 4 of the Big Five

(giraffe on our Safari at Kruger)

I made friends I know I will have for a lifetime

(Me and Cassie waiting for our bus in Phnom Penh. My WR BFF where would I be without her. Plus she's always willing to partake in my need to take selfies.)

(Me and Emma or Hemma or Memma at Month 5 Debrief sometimes we have the same thoughts at the same time and she'll even pose with my when I wear hippy headbands that she despises.)

(Hannah and on a bus somewhere between Chiang Mai Thailand and Phmom Penh, Cambodia. My partner in crime, who I go to when I need to laugh, cry, make a silly video blog with or just dance around to crazy music.)

 

(Brittney and I at the Friday Night Market in Muizenberg, SA. I will probably still call her pint size when she's 80. Full of wisdom and a prayer warrior, can't wait to see what crazy awesome stuff she does in this world.)

(Sarah and I in Da Nang, Vietnam testing out new braids. She's always up for an adventure whether is baby carriage rides in Vietnam, Shopping in Nepal, wearing fancy hotel robes in Phnom Penh or just curling our hair its always fun.) 

I have prayed for healing for more people than I can count.

God has changed me in ways I never even fathomed I could.

I have experienced Freedom in ways I never could have hoped for.

I got a tattoo in Thailand.

 

We prayed for a little girl in Cambodia who was deaf and on the last day there she covered her ears because it was too loud.

I've held babies with AIDS in my arms knowing they wouldn't make it to their next birthday.

I’ve made friends all over the world

I’ve taught English to children and adults         

 I’ve been to the mountain-top I’ve seen the glory of our God. But I’ve also seen it in the valleys.

I’ve learned bits and pieces of 10 languages including Cambodian Sign Language.

I’ve told woman in bars in the red light district they are beautiful because they are

I’ve bought flowers from children and old woman just so they could go home and sleep.

(Wally, an amazing little girl who sells flowers in the red light district of Chiang Mai, Thailand)

I have hugged orphans, widows, children who think they are forgotten.

(Dophe, "little mouse" stole my heart at El Shaddai, he started walking the first day we were there) 

 

I’ve pushed myself physically. emotionally. spiritually.

I’ve seen teenagers commit their lives to the Lord and get baptized in a river.

 

(Maya getting baptized in the river behind her house)

 

I realized that God gave me a heart for the nations.

I have traveled by bus, plane, boat, tuk tuk, moto.

I’ve cried a lot but I’ve laughed more.

 

And its not over yet I still have 3 ½ months before I step foot on American soil, I’m going back to Chiang Mai to meet up with my parents for the Parents Vision Trip, I’m going to Malaysia, Moldova, and Romania. I still have a whole other continent to experience and I couldn’t be more excited for what is here right now in this moment.