Europe, my long lost love...

It's been nearly two and a half years... Two and a half years since I last set foot on European soil. And maybe two and a half years doesn't sound like a long time, but let me tell you, it's been semi-torturous! Any of you who are fellow travelers understand the feverish itch to get on a plane and go! I know I've been blessed in many ways beyond what I deserve, and I count my opportunities to travel as a huge part of that. I have no real room to complain, honestly. But I miss Europe... Europe's just amazing in pretty much every way. I miss the sights, the smells, the food. I miss the community I had with my traveling companions and the friends I made along the way. I miss the attitudes and lifestyles I encountered, the diversity which I witnessed. I miss the adventure of going unknown places, absorbing everything I come into contact with and treasuring it for future memories. I miss it all so much!

And now, though it's hard to believe, I'm counting down the days until I'm there again. Less than two weeks to go! On Thanksgiving day, I'll be touching down in Prague, breathing European air, once again surrounded by the languages and customs of people who are foreign and yet so familiar to me. And though it will not be in the traditional way which I am used to, even though I'll be eating airline and airport food instead of turkey and dressing and mashed potatoes and my family's beloved cranberry salad, I will be giving thanks on Thanksgiving day. I'll be giving thanks for the amazing experiences I have been blessed with in the past and for the opportunity to once again embark on an adventure. I'll be giving thanks for the family and friends I am leaving behind as well as the family and friends I'll be meeting, especially Joshua and Sarah and baby Jakub Eli, who is about to make his way into this world. And above all, I'll be giving thanks for the God who has made it all possible!