waiting and counting

We came to Istanbul, Turkey to wait while our Russian visas are being processed.  Due to one setback or another we have now been here for two months.  I have experienced a wide range of emotions during this period and am thankful to be able to find moments in each day that I can truly count as a gift. 

As we wait to find out if we will get our visas this week and make our flight that we have rescheduled for the umpteenth time here is my list for last week:

31. heart to heart talks with my sons
32. neighborhood kids yelling out " Hello!" and "I love you!" in English to us when we walk past them
33. sale at Cinnabon
34. praying with Tom
35. having friends who pray for us
36. all of my brothers and their wives on Facebook
37. finding stationary so that I could write to my mom
38. cashier at Post Office being so kind and quick
39. feeling Nathan’s love when I put on the earrings he gave me
40. Spencer being so attentive and caring on our hiking trip
41. watching Spencer give up his seat to a cute little girl so that she could see out the window with her daddy’s binoculars

42. learning to trust in my son, the sun and The Son
43. the comfort of a well worn hiking path

44. the incredible views when you follow the narrow paths

45. sitting in the warmth of the sun on the ferry ride back to Istanbul
46. having the strength and energy to walk halfway around the island
47. watching the sunset over the Bosphorus Strait

48. smelling the sea air
49. enjoying the time outside in the forest
50. being able to enjoy the moment and the experience that I am having right now
51. ending the day with a Chai Tea Latte at Starbucks

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