
This is the night before everything changes. Again.
If there's one thing I've learned in recent years, it's that nothing ever stays the same. We weren't meant to sit too still or too quietly. So tomorrow I'll begin my journey to Ethiopia. (Or, as Calvin says, "Ethreeopia".)
This trip snuck up on me a bit, as everything important, semi-important and otherwise is prone to do. I've discovered that my best course of action is to one-day-at-a-time it. But tonight my attentions are turned toward the suitcase up on my floor (mostly packed), the love notes tucked away for the kiddies, and, most of all, the rest of it.
How does a heart condition itself for a shake-down? I know it's coming and so do you. The cool thing about it? It won't just be my heart beating faster. You get to come along with me.
My prayer, as I prepare for this trip, is that I'll share what needs to be shared. I don't know how it will happen. It seems next to impossible, a task cut for a finer writer or a surer soul.
I don't know exactly what it is I have to learn or how it will possibly be narrowed down and funneled through the wide end of four short days.
What I'm hoping is that I won't cry eight hundred times a day. I'm hoping I'll be wide awake (in the literal and theoretical sense.) I'm hoping I accept every moment with an open hand, not wishing anything away, never wanting the clock to move faster.
I'm also hoping practical things, like that Calvin's health will stay sturdy and the kids will breeze through their first week back to school. I'm hoping for a triple shot of patience for Cory. I'm hoping Silas knows for sure that his Mama's coming home.
I'll be honest, I'm hoping my hair cooperates. At least by half.
Above all else, I'm hoping for a heart-break. I'm hoping my hunch is proven yet again - that God is most accessible in the low places, that His heart builds its mansion in the improbable and wonky. I'm not sure if I'll be bowled over by the beauty or broken by the poverty. Hopefully both, in equal parts.
But I enter this adventure with the spirit of an explorer, my heart already splitting at the seams in anticipation of all I'll carry home with me. I go without assumptions. I go with deep peace.
I'd be grateful if you'd come along.
In honor of our trip, fashionABLE is giving away a Meseret scarf and a Tigist leather clutch from the brand new leather line.


One lucky reader will win both items. I have the clutch (it's gorgeous!)
and I get compliments every time I wear one of my fashionABLE scarves. (See my Genet scarf here.)
To enter, follow @mochaclub and @livefashionABLE on twitter and like them on facebook here and here. You get one entry for each follow, so please leave separate comments for each.
Thanks for journeying with me, Lovelies!

I'm first???? WOW! Why is that so exciting? :-)
ReplyDeleteFirst, know I will be praying for you AND your family. May God rock your world in a crazy, wonderful and wonky way!
I followed mocha club on Twitter!
AND...I followed fashionABLE on twitter!
ReplyDeleteAND, I liked fashionable on FB
ReplyDeleteAnd finally, I liked mocha club on FB!
ReplyDeleteThanks for taking me along. You have NO idea how much I love to travel. ( I will actually be going to AFrica in February to meet 2 of our Compassion kids! I CANNOT WAIT!)
following mochaclub on twitter!
ReplyDeletefollowing fashionABLE on twitter
ReplyDeleteliked Mocha Club on FB :)
ReplyDeleteliked fashionABLE on FB!
ReplyDeleteBlessings to you! Saying prayers for you!
Praying this week will be full of beautiful soul awakening moments - and that your hair stays manageable ;)
ReplyDeleteFollowed Mocha Club on Twitter.
Annnnnnnnd....followed FashionABLE on Twitter :)
ReplyDeleteYay! So excited for you! Can't wait to follow along.
ReplyDeleteFollowing @mochaclub
ReplyDeleteFollowing @livefashionable
ReplyDeleteLike @mochaclub on FB!
ReplyDeleteLike fashionable on FB!
ReplyDeleteNot sure that there is a finer writer than you. Following Mocha Club on Twitter.
ReplyDeleteFollowed Mocha club on twitter
ReplyDeletefollowed FashionABLE on twitter
ReplyDeleteliked Mocha Club on fb
ReplyDeleteI don't Tweet, but I followed on facebook once...
ReplyDeleteliked FashionABLE on fb
ReplyDeleteGrace and peace for your trip!
I am SO excited for you!!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to read all about it!
Xoxo!
...then twice. Blessings on your trip. Of course Silas knows. I'll be praying for your home crew, too.
ReplyDeleteLiked Mocha on FB- and I've already liked FashionABLE on FB long ago.
ReplyDeleteI'm not on " the twitter" as some older friends refer to it. ;)
Blessings on your trip. Safe travels. xo
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your adventure!
ReplyDeleteI liked FashionABLE on FB
liked mochaclub on FB
ReplyDeleteI hope your heart breaks wide open - in the best possible way.
ReplyDeleteFollowing Mocha Club on Twitter.
Following FashionABLE on Twitter
ReplyDeleteFollowing Mocha Club on FB.
ReplyDelete(And, could that leather clutch BE an cuter?)
Said in my best Chandler Bing voice.
Following FashionABLE on FB.
ReplyDeleteLiked on FashionABLE on Facebook. Love in real life. I left a piece of my heart in Ethiopia. But it's okay because I brought a piece of Ethiopia back with me. Happy Trails!
ReplyDeleteI followed Mocha Club on FB!
ReplyDeleteand I followed FashionABLE on FB too!
ReplyDeleteI liked Mocha Club on FB.
ReplyDeleteTake me with you! I'll journey with you through every well written word. Go ahead and bowl me over with the broken and the beautiful. I am SO ready for this, and so are YOU.
ReplyDeleteI also liked FashionABLE on FB!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait for these upcoming posts, Farmgirl.
ReplyDeletePrayers for you and for your homefront.
Are you packing salsa for the plane ride?
Hope your trip is awesomely heart breaking. I liked and followed Mocha CLub.
ReplyDeleteI also liked and followed FashionABLE.
ReplyDeleteI liked both on Facebook.
ReplyDeleteI liked both on Facebook.
ReplyDeleteI am praying for a heart changing trip for you....and joy in the journey....and a safe return to your littles and your Cory!
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to seeing this trip through your eyes. And, I liked fashionable and mucha club on FB.
ReplyDeleteI liked fashionABLE on fb
ReplyDeleteI follow FashionABLE on twitter.
ReplyDeleteI follow Mocha Club on twitter.
ReplyDeleteI liked FashionABLE on facebook.
ReplyDeleteI followed fashionABLE on twitter
ReplyDeleteI liked Mocha Club on facebook.
ReplyDeleteLiked mochaclub on fb
ReplyDeletefollowing mochaclub on twitter
ReplyDeleteMy first is from Ethiopia. Don't count on the hair part working out. We were there this time last year and let's just say the rainy season isn't easy on the locks. But your heart? It will be wrecked most definitely...in a good way of course.
ReplyDeleteI followed mocha club on fb.
It's THAT rainy, huh? Well, I packed a rain coat. Did you take boots?? (This has been the big dilemma - they're so bulky and heavy to pack!) I'm planning on just having tennis shoes. Mistake??
DeleteAnd followed fashionABLE on fb
ReplyDeleteyay! Cant wait to read all about your trip -- praying so hard for you my friend! :-)
ReplyDeleteI followed @fashionABLE on twitter
and I followed mocha club on twitter
ReplyDeleteAnd I liked Mocha Club on fb
ReplyDeleteand FashionABLE on fb too
ReplyDelete(ps - I feel ridiculous leaving all these comments)
But I got to see your and Caden's faces 4x!! :)
DeleteHave a wonderful ans safe trip! Can't wait to hear all about it!
ReplyDeleteI follow fashionABLE on fb
I also follow Mocha Club in fb
ReplyDeleteI have been a follower of @livefashionABLE for a while now on twitter and so excited to follow a long!!
ReplyDeletei now follow mochaclub on twitter as well!!
ReplyDeleteI follow MochaClub on Twitter!
ReplyDeleteI follow FashionABLE on Twitter!
ReplyDeleteI have been out of the blogging loop for awhile but I'm glad I jumped back in today! Can't wait to follow along with your trip! I'll be praying you there and back again!
ReplyDeleteI liked Mocha Club on FB. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd I liked FashionAble on FB too. I really like that clutch. A lot!
ReplyDeleteI love Fashionable scarves, and I'm so excited about the leather line! I already follow livefashionABLE and mochaclub on twitter. Thanks so much for offering this amazing giveaway!
ReplyDeletei like Mocha Club on Facebook! Barb Francek
ReplyDeletei like FashionABLE on facebook.
ReplyDeletei follow Mocha Club on twitter: @beforeverlovely
ReplyDeletei follow fashionABLE on twitter: @beforeverlovely
ReplyDeleteI follow @mochaclub on twitter!
ReplyDeletePraying for you as you go, sweet friend.
ReplyDeleteI follow @Mochaclub on twitter
ReplyDeleteI follow fashionABLE on twitter!
ReplyDeleteI also now follow fashionABLE on twitter! Thank you for that!
ReplyDeleteI like fasionABLE on Facebook!
ReplyDeleteAnd I like mochaclub on Facebook!
ReplyDeletePraying for y'all's trip! Hope it is wonderful!
I liked fashionABLE and mochaclub on Facebook. For you my dear, there are many prayers coming your way from the Sloat clan. We love you and can't wait to hear all about your trip!
ReplyDeletei will be thinking of you while you're away. i will say prayers for all the reasons i know you need them, and all the ways God knows. once you told me you liked watching the roller coaster God put me on; how it was stretching me. just as much, i've liked watching your ride. be open to all that you know and all you have to learn. safe travels, my friend.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to hear about your trip! I'm praying God does just exactly the work He needs to be done!
ReplyDeleteI liked Mocha Club on FB.
I followed FashionAble on FB
ReplyDeleteI followed Mocha Club on Twitter. :)
ReplyDeleteI followed FashionAble on Twitter.
ReplyDeleteI Like Mocha Club on FB
ReplyDeleteI Like Live FashionABLE on FB :)
ReplyDeleteHey:) First I want to say that I love your blog, your cute house, and your sense of humor. The last one gets me...laughing at your words. Anyways, I just wanted to mention, Im sad you can only enter this giveaway if you have Facebook. I admit, I must be the last person on the face of this earth without a Facebook account but I still like pretty things;) Anyways, not a complaint...just a mention!
ReplyDeleteI follow @mochaclub on twitter. :)
ReplyDeleteI follow @livefashionABLE on twitter. :)
ReplyDeleteI follow mocha club on twitter!
ReplyDeleteI follow fasionABLE on twitter!
ReplyDeleteI like mocha club on facebook
ReplyDeleteI like fashionable on Facebook
ReplyDeleteI liked Mocha Club on Facebook. (Praying for you and your heart as you step into this new journey)
ReplyDeleteI liked fashionable on Facebook too.
ReplyDeleteI liked fashionable on FB
ReplyDeleteI liked Mocha Club on FB
ReplyDeleteLiked Mocha Club on FB!
ReplyDeleteLiked Fashionable on FB!
ReplyDeleteFollowed Mocha Club on Twitter. :)
ReplyDeleteAaaaaand I followed Fashionable on Twitter!
ReplyDeleteBest of luck on your journey. I'll be praying and waiting to hear all about it!
Followed Mocha Club on twitter =).
ReplyDeleteAlso followed Fashionable on twitter! Love the clutch, and so excited for you!!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to read about your trip! I will be following you all the way and keeping you in my prayers! xoxo lovey II
ReplyDeleteand I followed @mochaclub on Twitter
ReplyDeleteand I followed @livefashionABLE on Twitter
ReplyDeleteand I LIKED @mochaclub on Facebook
ReplyDeleteand I liked @livefashionABLE on Facebook!!!!
ReplyDelete(I really want to win!) :)
I neither tweet nor Facebook; just want to say oh, how I adore and appreciate you, and you're in my heart ~
ReplyDeleteWe won't miss a day!!! Who would have ever thought we would have two daughters on the continent of Africa ministering at the same exact time??? It fills my heart with joy!
ReplyDeleteLiked LivefashionABLE on Facebook
ReplyDeleteLiked MOCHA on facebook (am I doing this right?)
ReplyDeleteContinuing to pray for you and your dear family into next week. Please make sure Cory knows he can call us if he needs anything, and tell Ruby we said happy birthday!! :) P.S. I followed livefashionABLE on twitter.
ReplyDeletefollowed MOCHA on twitter
ReplyDeletePraying for your grand adventure! :)
ReplyDeleteHave a safe and wonderous journey. Will follow along...
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to reading all about this. My daughter just decided not to return to college and is applying for a mission to Kenya by herself, at least 6 months. This is all so new to me.
ReplyDeleteHope your trip is as crazy amazing as you are. Liking and following all over the place. Thanks for inspiration mixed with a dose of quirky, a heaping of faith, a pinch of humor and liberal dash beautiful creativity.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI just left you a message on your cell. I miss you! :-D XO
ReplyDeleteShannon, I am SO SO excited for you! We hope to be going to Ethiopia in the coming year as our heart is there... the birth country of our future daughter! And FashionABLE is a ministry very close to my heart as Brittany Bentley, who works there, is a friend of mine (we met through our adoptions). If you happen to meet a sweet lady named Genet, please tell her that Bobi sends her my love. I have come to know her through Brittany and Genet works at FashionABLE. Prayers for safe travels and a wonderful trip for you... can't wait to follow along! (:
ReplyDeleteAwesome! I can't wait to hear about your journey - literally and spiritually. Yours is my favorite blog I follow! I liked FashioABLE on facebook.
ReplyDelete...And I liked MOCHA on fb, too! Crossing fingers - that clutch is amazing!
ReplyDeleteFollowed @mochaclub on twitter. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteAlso followed @fashionABLE on twitter.
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking us with you. Godspeed.
Followed FashionABLE on Twitter
ReplyDeleteFollowed MochaClub on Twitter
ReplyDeleteLiked Mocha on fb:)
ReplyDeleteLiked livefashionABLE on fb too:)
ReplyDeleteI followed Mocha on Twitter.
ReplyDeleteI also followed fashionABLE on Twitter.
ReplyDeletefollowing fashionABLE on twitter - so excited to hear more about the trip!
ReplyDeletelike fashionABLe on FB!
ReplyDeleteFree Social Media Marketing where Every thing will be Free, Facebook Likes, Twitter Followers, Twitter Tweets, Twitter Re-Tweets, Twitter Favorites, Google Plus Followers, StumbleUpon Followers, Youtube Views, Youtube Likes, Youtube Subsribes, Pinterest Followers, Pinterest Likes, Pinterest PinIt, Free Website Visitors.
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This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteFound you on SITS and now you really have my interest. I'll be perusing your blog with great interest in the archives and for what is to come. You are a splendid writer. When I want to highlight several paragraphs, I know I love your writing. As we Irish say, "slán abhaile" (A phrase to say goodbye and safe travels home.) Literally, Safe Home.
ReplyDeleteFollowing mocha club on facebook. Thanks for the chance at this great giveaway!
ReplyDeletehttps://www.facebook.com/themochaclub.org#!/pam.ballard.313
Liked Fashionable on facebook as well! Thanks!
ReplyDeletehttps://www.facebook.com/#!/pam.ballard.313
Following fashionABLE on twitter.
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/PamBallard1
Following Mocha on twitter. Would love to win!
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/PamBallard1
Quadruple like!!!!
ReplyDeleteI am following Mocha on twitter
ReplyDeleteI am following fashionABLE on twitter
ReplyDeleteI liked Mocha on FB
ReplyDeleteI liked FashionABLE on FB and am hoping to win and praying for your trip!!
ReplyDeleteLiked fashionABLE on FB. Prayers for safety and for your kiddos back home.
ReplyDeleteLiked Mocha on FB. Hope that suitcase finds you. :)
ReplyDeleteI like FashionABLE on fb!! Cant wait to see what God does through this trip!!!
ReplyDeleteI liked mocha on fb as well :)
ReplyDeleteHave a safe trip - blessings to you. Oh, and i hope i win :)
ReplyDeleteI liked mocha on Facebook!
ReplyDeletemissashleigh at juno dot com
I liked FashionABLE on Facebook! Have a wonderful trip... I'll be praying for you!
ReplyDeletemissashleigh at juno dot com
I'm following the Mocha Club on facebook.
ReplyDeleteI'm following Live Fashionable on facebook.
ReplyDeleteI've been reading your blog for over a year, and today I saw you on my Instragram.. under the Bachelorette Emily's page! (followed her when her season was on and just never stopped...) If I remember correctly, you are a Bachelorette watcher as well! Anyway, that made me run to the blog and see if the picture was in fact you, and I found this post! Hope you have a wonderful trip, full of heart break and being filled up. Love your words, I keep coming back here.
ReplyDeleteLiked fashionAble on Facebook!
ReplyDeleteLiked the mocha club on Facebook!
ReplyDeleteLiked Mocha Club on Facebook
ReplyDeleteLiked fashionAble on Facebook. love their products and their mission!
ReplyDeleteI liked mocha club on facebook! :)
ReplyDeleteI liked fashionAble on facebook :)
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited to be following your journey and getting to hear about what happens! God bless you and the whole team as you strive to be obedient to His calling.
ReplyDeleteI'm following you and @mochaclub on twitter!
Also following @fashionABLE on twitter!
ReplyDeleteFashionable on fb? Check!
ReplyDeleteTotally looking forward to these next four days... Lots little friends if mine were born there in Ethiopia. I could go on and on about your writing, but I'm just going to encourage you to pray
Fashionable on fb? Check!
ReplyDeleteTotally looking forward to these next four days... Lots little friends if mine were born there in Ethiopia. I could go on and on about your writing, but I'm just going to encourage you to pray
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteEach time before you write... So that Christ and his heart will shine through you! I have confidence of Him in you!
ReplyDeleteJust for a minute, can we talk about the fact that you are face to face with Emily Maynrd?! Are you being awkward fan club... Or is she really just normal ;)
also, I liked mocha club on fb. I'm loving that skarf and clutch!
I'm still completely geeking out that you're in Africa!!
ReplyDeleteI already follow Mocha Club on FB!
And FashionABLE on FB!
ReplyDeleteDusted off my Twitter account for Mocha Club!
ReplyDeleteAnd FashionABLE!
ReplyDeletexo
Of course I should follow them on FB- this one for FashionABLE
ReplyDeleteAnd FB for Mocha Club
ReplyDeleteAnd Twitter for FashionABLE...
ReplyDeleteAnd Twitter for Mocha club.
ReplyDeleteI'm following Mocha Club on Twitter.
ReplyDeleteLiked FashionABLE on FB. =)
ReplyDeleteAlready like FashionABLE on FB:)
ReplyDeleteLiked Mocha Club on FB:)
ReplyDelete