Process

I've really started to understand the word "Process." Life is a process. Growth is a process. Sometimes the process is good and fun. Sometimes the process just plan sucks. The thing is, it's all a process. Meaning that the way it is now is not the way it will always be. The process changes and so we much change with it. Fighting it only makes that moment of the process last longer. In the first part of 2007, the process of my life was at an all time high. Life was great. I felt close to God. Vinnie and I were having alot of fun. I felt like my life was at a really great place. But almost in a matter of days, everything changed. The last part of 2007 and the first part of 2008 my life's process felt like a train that had disappeared into a long dark tunnel with no end in sight. I remember asking Vinnie, "How can you go from a highest mountain top to the deepest valley over night?" I learned tonight that Richard Foster calls this "A Dark Night of the Soul." 

Weird thing, I felt just as close to God in the tunnel as I did when I was standing in the sunshine. I've lived long enough to build a little history with God. I know that He never leaves us or forsakes us. So I know He is always with me, no matter where in the process I am. When I was younger and traveled through the tunnel, I had to believe that God was with me, but there was no evidence that He was. So I just had to believe in what I had always heard. But this time, I knew that He was with me. I didn't have to believe. I knew it for fact. "Faith is the evidence of things not seen." That's what the process of past tunnels has taught me. My last tunnel had evidence.

I say my "last" tunnel because I really believe that I'm coming out. This new school year will not be like my last. My train is going back up the mountain. And I'm not looking back. The tunnel had it's place. I learned things about myself that I never knew before. The tunnel stretched me in ways I've never been stretched. And I'm hopefully a better and stronger person for having weathered the dark cold tunnel. But now, with all my new knowledge and strenght, I'm going up. I'm expecting the next 12 months to be the best of my life. It has to be. It's the way of the process.

Currently Listening Jesus Is By Hillsong London see related

Where in Europe are Vinnie and Jenny?

ok, we are now in london...thank God! if i ever go back to paris, it will be too soon. (and venice for that matter; it was pretty but more tourists than disney world) sorry to all those who like the french, but i've been to the city three times now, and every time it gets worse. maybe it wouldn't be so bad if we could stay away from the parisians, but that seems impossible. they must really hate americans, because i had a couple who were really ugly to me today on the metro; two different people, two different times. nasty, nasty people.

but, we are in london now. we have tomorrow (sunday) and monday in london, then we fly home on tuesday. it will be weird to be in a plane after so many train rides. you haven't lived until you travel by train, especially an over night train in a sleeper car. it's so great. train is definitely my favorite way of traveling. i wish we could do it more in the US.

here's a list of other things i would love to incorporate into my life in the US:

1. using a cloth line to dry clothes.
2. kissing on the check when you greet a friend. isn't that what the bible says to do anyway.
3. being so socially/community focused. ex. taking evening walks just to greet all your friends who are also walking. going to the cafe because you know you'll probably run into someone you know. etc.
4. having fresh food markets on every corner.
5. working to live rather than living to work.
6. taking time to cherish the beauty in the arts.

one thing i will NOT miss about europe: SMOKERS!!!! to be european, i think it's required that you smoke. yuck! i've enhaled more second-hand smoke in the last five weeks than in the last five years combined!!

tomorrow we are going to church at hillsong, london. i'm so excited! we are expecting it to be a great time. then tea at kensington castle. it should be a good day.

sorry, still no pictures, it looks like i won't be able to post anymore until we get home. the good thing about having a digital camera is that you can take as many pictures as you want. the bad thing about having a digital camera is that you can take as many pictures as you want. for those of you who have looked at the close to 1600 that i've posted so far, there's still alot more to go. pictures have really helped to document what life has been like for the last five weeks. so, for those who care, there are still about 1000 more to go, of italy and the trip home. check back next week. that might be all for now.

ok, so this is beginning to feel like the vacation that just won't end. it's fun, but traveling is exhausting. being in the sun everyday and moving around alot and carrying 20lbs on your back is exhausting. but what an opportunity of a lifetime! vinnie and i have both felt like this trip would be a turning point in our life. that may not make sense right now, but to us, it does. it is marking a change in our lives. it will be fun to see what the next few months hold.

we just arrived in florence, italy. we'll be here for two nights then one night in venice, then back to london for three nights, via paris for a day. only one week left. even though it feels like we've been gone along time, i can't believe it will all be over in one week.

more pictures soon, hopefully!

Madrid, Spain - http://picasaweb.google.com/jenmosque/E07Days1718?authkey=IgtM_ycE_N0

Valencia, Spain - http://picasaweb.google.com/jenmosque/E07Days1920?authkey=rqz5YSPIUcM

Avignon & Nice, France - http://picasaweb.google.com/jenmosque/E07Days2223?authkey=wWlrWq4w7uE

by the way, the hike was worth it!!