Seattle

It’s finally Thursday. I sleep in, watch a chick-flick in bed, I FaceTime with my parents, then finally pack one hour before hopping on the plane. At 2pm mom drives me to the airport just after we pick up Caleb from school. On the way to SJC we all take turns in describing step by step the making of imaginary delicious things.

At 6pm I land and meet Conrad in Seattle. It’s my first time visiting the Emerald City. I spend the whole flight at the window, left cheek kissed, warmed and reddened by the sun. It’s a gorgeous day, with fog covering low the Pacific. I can’t help but pray with joy the whole way. I talk to God and I feel so grateful and happy. I feel light and hopeful. No matter where and how our life turns, I feel at home in the present. I have lived fully and faithfully so far, and I hope and pray that God would continue to be my light and guide.

Seattle turns out to be amazing. It started with a smooth sunny landing seeing Mt. Rainier covered by snow. We spend the first evening with friends, as they went about their family routine. They are inspiring. The gentleness and kindness with which they interact with their three kids makes me smile. Throughout the evening the kids played energetically with each other ages 12, 7 and 2. Self awareness, freedom in playfulness, kindness… A willingness to help the adults, without pleading or negotiating.

This morning our host shared with me a brief conclusion from their bible study last night: changing the way we think, even when we seem alone in the process, much like the prophets of the Old Testament. We are not called to go with the flow, but to stand firm and see and follow God.

It’s our last night here. Conrad is making pretzels. I hear the boys downstairs and again, I can’t help but smile at the delight I feel getting to know them all a little better.

Seattle is wet and colder, and I love it. Makes me daydream about home this winter.

This week my parents signed the papers to buy an apartment very close to where we are moving. It’s surreal. While I know we will miss a lot of dear family, friends are nature here in California, in this new cycle Romania is pulling like a magnet.