New York You've Captured My Heart

In 6 days — less than one week — I will be leaving for Thailand.  After a short stop in LA to visit a good friend, I will arrive in Bangkok at midnight on Friday October 26. 

It's close. And there are still so many things to do — but last week I was given the opportunity to take a break.  To stop, and enjoy a part of the United States that I had never experienced.  I received the best gift I've ever been given — a plane ticket to New York City.

NYC has been on my bucket list for years. I left early Wednesday morning to take on New York City on my own for two days.  Although a small part of me wondered if I should have talked a friend into coming along, I knew that this was an experience I would love on my own.  There was a sense of relief that I would have the opportunity to spend time unwinding, and exploring a new place with no pressure of a schedule. I didn't have to be anywhere, or talk to anyone, or do anything.  I simply had the privilege to go where I wanted to go, when I wanted to go and just soak it in.

I sat on the plane taking a quiet moment to take in the beautiful sunrise from above the clouds as I read through Ephesians.

As I flew, and watched the sunrise something within my awakened. I haven't been on a plane since 2010.  The last 3 times I flew, my immune system was so low, I had to wear a face-mask to be sure I wasn't taking in to many germs on the plane. 

I have been healed from Crohns for 8 months — that face mask wasn't even a thought when I boarded this flight.  Earlier in the week I had been doing a lot of time thinking about my upcoming trip to Thailand.  Through out the week although excited to experience a new adventure, I had been sad.  Deep to my core, my heart hurt thinking about leaving my life behind in Michigan. I have the most incredible community here.  I have the BEST friends I have ever had in my entire life.  I loved my job.  I was excited for Thailand, but I was sad to leave.

As I sat on the plane on my way to New York the passion in my heart for travel, to see and experience things that were new and different was awakened in me.  Although I knew that I was going to miss everyone here in Michigan, I began to be so excited for Thailand.  I wasn't scared anymore.  I wasn't apprehensive about going.  I was just excited to experience something new, and I knew that I could do it.

From the moment the plane landed, a grin was plastered to my face.  Kind of like this.

I took a bus into the city and began my adventure.  I literally spent the entire day walking around NYC.  I wanted to see everything that I could see.  I wanted to experience everything I could experience.  I loved the atmosphere, and the enormity of everything.  For two days I walked around soaking in everything around me, and loving every single second of it.  I have never in my life been brought so much joy from a place I've visited. It was beautiful, and eccentric, and amazing.

Grand Central Station. Everything I thought it would be and more.

Such life in the streets! The colors and sounds livened my spirit!

It was so 'New York', it almost seemed fake.  Surreal moments..

Central Park.  My favorite.  Perfection... 

Beauty.  This city exudes it.

Even though I knew it before New York, I began to realize — really realize — that I could do this.  I could move to Thailand. Even though this was going to be different than other trips I had taken, I knew that I could do it.  I was SO blessed, deep in my soul, to have such a refreshing NYC experience before I leave next week.

The night before I left for New York I was reading through Isaiah and God placed a verse on my heart that I knew was for me, in that moment.  It's something I reminded myself of in New York, and something I'm going to carry with me to Thailand.

Isaiah 41:9-12

"I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, 'You are my servant'; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all. For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you." I'm excited for this journey, and I hope you're excited to be a part of it as well! Here we go, friends...