fortunately, unfortunately....

Fortunately, I remembered to pack water bottles on Thursday for our trip.

Unfortunately, I could not find our cool water filtering bottles in our garage after going through our camping box two times.

Fortunately, I remembered that I loaned them to the Hutchinsons for their trip to Malawi and was glad that I had not lost my marbles in looking for them when they were nowhere to be found.

Unfortunately, they did not have them anymore.

Fortunately, they gave them to someone who really needed them in Malawi. Fortunately, Elizabeth surprised us and scrambled on her way home from work on Thursday stopping by REI to get us a super cool water filter to take with us that she heard about from some of her medical residents.

Unfortunately, when we got it home to pack it late on Thursday night, we realized that the battery cap (a very important component to the filter) was missing so it would not work.

Fortunately, we knew that REI would probably give us a replacement.

Unfortunately, we were leaving Friday morning on a 7:30 flight and we could not take care of it before we left.

Fortunately, I called the REI in New York and they had them in stock.

Unfortunately, the REI was not just a hop skip and a jump from the hotel (because everything takes some effort to get around this giant busy city!).

Fortunately, we had our staff meeting last night and then had some free time for part of the day today before we needed to be at the airport to greet students on our team.

Unfortunately, the Air Train and the Subway took almost 2 hours to get into the city.

Fortunately, we had a great time people watching on the subway and Anna loved hearing so many languages (and the occasional Spanish words she could pick up on) in our midst.

Fortunately, we got to REI and swapped out the water filter for one that had all the parts.

Fortunately, we got to have a fun adventure checking out the SOHO district and then walking on 5th Avenue past tons of cool shops, Washington Park, NYU, the Empire State Building, the New York Public Library Building, the Atlas statue, St. Patrick's Cathedral, 

the Nike Store, and sneak a peek at Central Park.

Fortunately, the kids were fabulous sports and we had such a great day together in NYC.

Fortunately, I know we are going to sleep well tonight before we get on a plane to go to Kenya tomorrow.  So grateful for this day!!

I know we are going to have a lot of these "fortunately/unfortunately" moments in our next 7 weeks in Kenya. I am grateful that God is with us in the mix of it all and am praying for an awareness of His mercies throughout each and everyday with all of the ups and downs.

on the subway this morning

cool dude yesterday getting off the plane :)

Lego Statue of Librerty

Nike Store

the Arch in Washington Park

the New York City Library Lions

I heard a wonderful story in a sermon illustration about a man who came into a pastor's office in NYC with a mid-life crisis of sorts. He felt like his life had no meaning and wanted to have hope and purpose.  The pastor asked him to come with him on a walk on 5th Avenue. First they stopped in front of Atlas. The pastor told him that he could live his life this way- trying to bear the weight of the world on his shoulders.

He then told him to follow him to St. Patrick's Cathedral across the street.

When they arrived, they walked to the back of the church behind the altar to find a statue of Jesus holding a ball in his hands. The pastor said that this was a picture of God holding the world in his hands. This was another way he could live his life.  He was being invited to put his life in God's very capable hands and see where that led.

The man chose the latter and left that conversation with conviction and purpose.

 He became the founder of Habitat for Humanity!

God has the whold world in His hands....

May we live in light of that reality rather than living like we have to bear all things...