Deep Breaths

Regularly Scheduled Programming

Sorry the news has been a little scarce around here lately. Wedding plans continue to devour most of our free time. So let's see... where were we?

Monday, May 1, was a national holiday here (as it apparently is most places, except the U.S. - what a ripoff), so we spent the day straightening some things up around the house. I finally got the last of my things unpacked and all my empty boxes stowed away in the attic, so that was a nice feeling. We spent the evening sorting through our invitation list trying to decide who's getting invited to the "family and friends" dinner and who's just getting invited to the ceremony, AND whose invitiations we can just mail as opposed to those that need to be hand-delivered (and if it sounds to you like the whole process is WAY more complicated than in the States, well... you're right).

On Tuesday morning I went to the American Embassy to complete some paperwork that is necessary for us to get a marriage license. Let me just say that airport security has nothing on these guys. I'm a U.S. citizen and I was a little intimidated, so I can't imagine what it's like for the poor people who go there to get a visa to visit America and have to try to convince the stone-faced inquisitors that they're not terrorist threats... very eerie kind of place. Fortunately though, I got what I needed with a minimum of hassle.

Yesterday evening Leia and I went to a planning meeting of local youth leaders who are aiming to put on a large interdenominational youth event here in Nicosia sometime this fall. Then we came home and started planning our own youth meeting for this Friday, in which we intend to help give our kids a holistic overview of the biblical story – yes, we dream big.

That brings us up to today, which is Leia's 28th Birthday! (quick, everyone send her an e-card now and maybe she won't realize that you forgot!) She's at school at the moment, but later today I'm taking her shopping and then we're having dinner at a fancy Italian place downtown, so we're both very excited about having a day off to just be together.

Since the last time we posted, a very close friend of ours lost his father. Two other friends became parents for the first time. It's very difficult to feel so far removed from the joys and sorrows of the people that are dearest to us, but we wanted to let ALL of you know that you are never far from our hearts, and that the things that touch your lives deeply touch ours too. It's amazing that this collection of silly little posts and comments and replies can make such a difference in our lives, but it does. It truly has become a source of grace for us, and we want to thank all of you for the part you have played in helping it to become so. See you soon.

–John

posted by John and Leia @ 11:16 PM