January 1, 2022 If your resolution is getting in the Word more this year...

If one of your New Years resolutions (Happy New Years by the way) is reading the Bible more, and that's a pretty good resolution, we have a recommendation for you.  We did this last year as a family and are starting all over again today.  Check out the One Year Bible daily reading plan on YouVersion.com.  It's simple, you can do it from your phone, iPad, PC or whatever and you can even listen rather than read (a great idea if you want to do it while driving, we dont recommend reading while driving).  This year we're reading in the New Living Translation but there are a bunch of different choices and even multiple languages.  Enjoy and God bless you in 2022.

  

December 29, 2021 After Christmas Bargains

 Hit up the after Christmas sales at the Grand Bazaar today.  No one bought a thing but fun was had by all.  That's the best kind of shopping!  

December 25, 2021 Very Merry

 

Borrowed tree complete with borrowed lights and borrowed ornaments...in a borrowed apartment BUT we have our very own stockings and more importantly one another, all seven of us.  Praise God we're very merry.  

December 15, 2021 An Even Better Feeling

 

When Uber to the airport before it's open and you walk on the tarmac in the predawn chilliness, and you search for seat 14B and there's room in the overhead compartment for your carryon and your buckle in for takeoff, doze off and wakeup in another city, now that's a good feeling.  If you happen to remember where you just landed, that's an even better feeling.  We're gateful for His travel mercies today and excited about being in the same place for the holidays.  

November 22, 2021 Insert Facepalm Emoji Here!

 

If you got our e-newsletter today, please forgive us for the technical snafu.  Apparently there was some sort of glitch (don't you just hate that word....GLITCH....yuck!) and rather than the meticulously poured over, revised multiple times and then proofread again verson isnt what was mailed out.  Instead, you opened an earlier draft complete with incoherent, jumbled up opening paragraph.  I'm sorry about that.  The good news is it doesnt happen often.  The better news is most folks just look at the pictures anyway.  God bless you guys.  Thanks for putting up with us, facepalm moments and all.  :)  

November 17, 2021 Boarding

 

This is our ride for the day.  Flying isnt quite as much fun during the virus that shall not be named but we are grateful to be boarding this Airbus today.  Prayers up for travel mercies and especially for our visas!

November 15, 2021 Quick post: Raising them Right

You know you've done something right when your thirteen year-old son goes to hang out with his buddies after school and comes home with homemade macaroons from a local street market for his mama.  Thank you #A.

 

October 8, 2021 Quickshot: Tramming

 

We are growing to love the public transportation options in our new home.  There have been blunders like jumping on the wrong metro or taking the right tram in the wrong direction, or missing stops but the convenience far aways those mishaps and usually adds a bit of humor to our days anyway. 

September 25, 2021 Quickshot: Comfort Food

Blessed to be walking around our old neighborhood this weekend.  There's just something about eating with your hands.  It doesnt hurt that it's this food.  Just dont forget to use your right hand only!  

September 22, 2021 Some new spots

 One thing we've picked up quickly is that kava (coffee) is an important staple around here.  So to fit in {wink, wink} we have been visiting some of the cafes around our neighborhood.  Good grief there are a lot of them and good grief they're all good.  Now if we could just learn how to pronounce those pastries!  Maybe it's better (healthier) to stick to kava.   

August 28, 2021 Exploring the New Hood

 

We're learning a little each day about our new spot.  For example, we apparently left one grape culture and stumbled into another one.  How about that?

August 26, 2021 Where's Waldo, EU edition.

 

The kids' first day of school was a half day. (They rocked it by the way.) This worked perfectly for us because we had to travel across the border for immigration purposes.  If it wasnt for the GPS on our phones, we'd have no idea where we are.  In all the confusion we may have discovered the cure for jet lag.  Just keep moving...and drinking lots of water.  28 hours later and we're back where we started.

August 25, 2021 Senior High, Senior Adult

 

One of these two started senior high school today.  The other person gets called a senior adult by said high school student.  Guess which is which.  

18 August 2021 things we're tired of

 Transparency alert:  If you drop by this site for inspiration or encouragement, maybe skip this post.  With less than a day until we board our flight here's a list of things we're tired of:

• A digital luggage scale that keeps showing 52.5 pounds no matter how many things we remove from the bag.
• Baggage fees 
• The Prime delivery guy that keeps bringing heavy things.
  
• QR Codes, documents that require printing, and documents with QR codes
  
• Official websites with contradicting facts
• Goodbyes. Yes, this one never gets easier.
  

All that to say, these are pretty trivial things that dont feel really trivial tonight.  We covet your prayers and are really looking forward to sharing a We're here! post.   Love, 14bf 

 

 PS  Check out this cool verse that just popped up on  the Bible app Verse of the Day: 

The LORD your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior.  He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy. 

Zephaniah 3:17

 

July 31, 2021 New Digs

Thank you guys for all the prayers.  We received the official word yesterday and we have finally gotten  the green light to travel to our new spot  That's right, we're moving to a new place  Goodbye Middle East and hello eastern Europe.  Be sure to check our forthcoming e-news for more details.  (Not on the email list? Click the green mail button on the right and we'll make sure to get you added.)

In celebration of this change, we've revamped our website as well.  We had intentions of scrapping the whole thing and starting anew but after more than a decade at this address it's sortof grown on us. Instead we slapped on a fresh coat of paint and called it a day.  Welcome back to 14beautifulfeet.com.

July 15, 2021 Unexpected Blessings

 

Seventeen months ago, as we walked down this airport corridor to board the only flight to America that day, little did we know the changes that would take place in our little world and around the world.  Much can be and has been said about the negative impact of the pandemic but what about the good things that have happened?   The kids were able to complete an entire school year, in-person, at the same school!  All seven of us were able to live under the same roof, for three months.  Then there were summer camps, VBS, beach trips and lake days, family visits and family trips...all things we had no idea we'd get to experience.  No matter how trying the circumstances may seem, there always seem to be unexpected blessings.  We just have to remember to take the time the recognize them...and be grateful.  

5May2021 Quicknote: Remodeling

 

After years and years and years it seems like now is a great time for a social media revamp.  Be sure to check back here for our new site.  Love you guys!  14bf