I've been asked many times here in Albania why I want to use my day off to go stay on an overnight boat for 10 hours to spend 10 hours in Italy to then get back on a boat for 10 hours to come back. I tell them:
I have three dreams in life.
1. Get married
2. Have a baby
3. Go to Italy
It's quite high on my list. People seem to understand after that. We would joke about how I could go ahead an knock out my other two just by going to Italy, the most romantic country in the world. This month has been about me wrestling with my disappointments and to be honest it has been my hardest month spiritually and emotionally.
As I walk down the streets of Bari, I felt such a joy in my spirit because Italy was even more than I imagined it would be. I asked Cabe and Kari who were with me, if this was what it feels like to get married or have kids. They said, they think not. But I felt maybe I got a glimpse into what it feels like to have a dream come true. 10 hours in Italy wasn't much, but it was all I needed to again feel overwhelmingly blessed and hope that my other dreams might be able to come true too.
On the ten hour boat ride at night – reading scripture and drinking macchiatos.
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At St. Nicolas Church
Me and Santa
And of course, LASAGNE
