A sunny evening...

at Chambers Bay Golf Course with the Thomas Family:

My Birthday in Photos

The weekend before my birthday I went down to Vancouver, Wa to spend time with my best friend Stephanie. We enjoyed the local art walk & framers market, visited & hiked around Skamania Lodge near The Gorge, and ate dinner at an Ethiopian restaurant in Portland.























June 10th was my actual 31st birthday...it was a blessing to celebrate with my dear family and friends in Tacoma, Wa! Here are some photos from the days events:















In the morning I went to my favorite donut shop with Annamarie (8 months pregnant) and Jonathan & Alaina.















Then we met up with Britlese & her girls for lunch at the Spaghetti Factory. The photo of Kesley above with spaghetti in her hair displays our fun, but chaotic lunch with 4 kids under 4 years old.












In the evening I hosted a small dinner party with my closest girlfriends...















The theme was sparkle so everyone came wearing something shinny. I wore my mom's old home-coming tiara (which I hadn't worn since my senior prom).















After much champagne, laughter (& singing!)...I went to bed very blessed!

Thank you to all of you who sent emails, texts, facebook messages and singing phonecalls!

Another year of faith & adventure lies ahead...

Celebrating Our Heritage

"Syttende Mai" (17th of May) is Norway's Constitution Day. Each year, the Seattle neighborhood of Ballard has a large parade attracting thousands of Scandinavians from miles around. I have fond memories from my childhood of getting dressed up and coming to Ballard to wave our Norwegian flags. This year, as I am now living in Seattle, I attended the event with the Thomas family and my Papa...he looked so handsome in his traditional costume called a "bunand". My nieces Kesley and Abigail also had national costumes on which were gifts from their proud Norwegian 'MorMor' (my mom!). It is important to celebrate who we are and where we have come from. Many of my great great grandparents made the long journey West to America a hundred years ago. I am grateful for their pioneer spirits (which obviously runs in the family).

A Move to Seattle & A Visit to Ohio!

I'm sure many of you around the world are wondering what have I been up to...well, forgive me for the silence, my only excuse is not making the time to sit down and write! As you can see I have had to sadly change the title of my blog from “Adventures in South Africa” to “Adventures...” once I know whats ahead and where I will be planted for this next season I will certainly let you know!

I had an incredible 2 months 'house-sitting' for my parents in Tacoma during February & March (while they were in Southern Africa doing what they do best: loving, serving and encouraging those working with the poorest of the poor). The majority of my time was spent investing in family and local friendships...as well as organizing peoples homes (gotta pay the bills!), volunteering in my Aunt Cindy's 2^nd Grade classroom, doing admin for my parents 501c3, and also setting up another blog to share some of my photography (which can be purchased as greeting cards...take a look www.brynasphotography.blogspot.com).

In the few months that I have been back, one of my dearest friends Melisa, has become engaged to a blessed man named Troy Bass. It has been an incredible joy to be present during this special time in her life. I will be attending many weddings this coming summer, which is a real answer to prayer! In June I will travel to Washington DC to attend the wedding of one of my closets friends from high school, Brock...it will be a real reunion of sorts since graduating in London 12 years ago!

My parents returned at the end of March and we had the privilege of spending our first Easter together as a family in 3 years.

My biggest news to share is that on April 5^th I moved up to the 'big city' of Seattle...where I graduated from college 8 years ago. Since moving back to Washington State from South Africa, I have been praying about what is next and kept thinking about this city I loved many years ago and wondered if God would open up a door of opportunity here. My decision was solidified when I received a surprising offer to stay with dear friends, Troy & Alexis Phillips (and their two kids Gavin (7) and Angela (5)), for a few months while I find my feet. I have known Alexis since I was ten years old as she lived with my family for many years, then in 2002 when I moved back to London, Troy & Alexis lived with us there for many months and even had Gavin in that stay. Also in 2007 when I was a preschool teacher in Tacoma I had Gavin as one of my students. So needless to say, it is an immense ease and joy living life with this precious family, whom I have shared a rich history with! You can see in the pictures below that I was welcomed with open arms, and even a banner in my new room.

My first week up here was filled with familiar emotions: faith, excitement and uncertainty! I was back wrestling with my 'learning to be and not do' mindset...for I was ready for God to plant a new job, community, church, ministry and friends in my lap right away...but as I know well, these come in time! I did begin to look into part time work at local preschools and even applied for a job at an after school care program that I interviewed for, and got...but in the end didn't take it as it wasn't quite peaceable. I am also wanting to explore work in international ministries and community development. God continues to burn my heart towards Justice! If you live in the area and anything comes to mind let me know. I am networking and putting feelers out there and trust the right doors will open at the right time. In the meantime I am connecting with many old friends from my past...and just being me!

Shortly after my interview for the after care program, I received an unexpected phonecall from a family in Youngstown, Ohio. Jeff & Maggie Hedrich, and their daughter Ava (nearly 5), have been great friends of my parents for many years and supported me while I was in living in South Africa. It is definitely a God-thing when you are supported and loved by people clear across the country that you have never met. They called to bless me with a trip to come and be with them...to rest, pray and grow in friendship. So after I turned down the job the following morning I booked a ticket to Ohio...why not, what an unexpected adventure! During my stay my heart continued to be softened by Jesus...listening to his voice in new ways and being reminded of who I am and how he has created me. Maggie is Irish and used to live in London before marrying Jeff from Ohio (they have a great story), so in the evenings we enjoyed reminiscing London life with a big glass of wine! When I arrived they were acquaintances...but I left new lifelong friends!















God continues to provide for me in glorious and unexpected ways. I wrote a blog entry a few months ago with some of the fun stories. The latest one happened yesterday: As I was out for a walk early one morning, I saw an envelope in the street. It had been raining hard the night before so it was soggy. My hope was that an address would be on it so I could return the misplaced mail. However, when I turned the envelope over it just read “Daddy”. Inside was a wet birthday card from 2 young kids to their Dad...and also a $25 giftcard to Barnes and Noble Book Store! Unfortunately there were no last names or any clues to who the card belonged to, so instead of leaving it back in the street I took it as a sign that God was gifting it to me! The joy was that B&N has a cafe and I was planning on going to that very day to do some computer work. Not only did God provide me with money for a coffee...but now I can return many times in the next few weeks...and bless other friends too!

I pray that this update finds you well and healthy! Despite being so many miles away from many of you, you continue to be in my thoughts and prayers!

February & March in Pictures:

As I stated in my last blog from January I have been spending LOTS of precious time with my family.  Being based in Tacoma these last few months has given me almost daily time with my sisters Annamarie and Britlese.  They are incredible mothers & wives and I respect them so much and appreciate their friendship!

 

A few weeks ago I organized an afternoon outing to the Tacoma Art Museum...does that surprise you?

Chihuley Glass Bridge

Painting in the art room

 Near the end of February I was blessed to fly down to San Fransisco to see one of my best buddies JJ.  We were meant to join up with some of her friends in Tahoe on the Saturday but icy roads changed our plans, so we drove south to Carmel & Monterey.  It had been a dream of mine as a kid to visit Carmel...as this is the hometown of Doris Day!

Celebrating Stephanie's 30th

Birthday party for my friend Jessica's 2 girls, (friend Melisa is holding my niece Abigail)

Every Friday is Cooking Club at my aunt Jane's house in Gig Harbor.  My sisters have been doing this for a few years now but I have loved joining them weekly while I have been 'home'.

  

Creative Provision

One of my favorite books is Rolland & Heidi Baker's Always Enough. That title is so true in my life, and has especially been so these past few years...Jesus has always provided for me, and even though my finances remain tight, it is always enough!  Time and again in my life he has proved to be my intimate provider and I love sharing stories of His faithfulness.  A year ago I started a 'Provision Journal' to record the many ways that Jesus provides for me...its been a reminder to me of His power, creativity & love!  Here are some stories from the last month:

• Last month some friends gifted me with a little money that I assumed should go towards gas (petrol) or food, but what I really needed was new pair of jeans...so I just prayed that Jesus would surprise me in the week ahead.  Well, the very next day I was in Gig Harbor with my sisters and we stopped by Ann Taylor, a very nice clothing store, as they were having a sale. As we were casually looking I immediately spotted a pair of jeans...when I went to try them on they fit perfectly! The best part was that they were originally priced $70...and get this, I got them on sale for $4.98!!! God is the best shopper ever! I fully believe that he saves items on racks and shelves that I am meant to find.

• I have also been recently blessed with designer shoes! A few weeks ago my grandmother called and she had a pair of shoes from her friend who had recently passed away...they were just my size and she wanted me to try them on. 'Granny Shoes?' I thought. Ok, it wouldn't hurt to look at them and then say no thanks. However when I saw them I realized they were brand new COACH walking shoes...surprisingly cute and they fit great. Once home I looked them up online and was shocked to find they were worth $125! I probably could have resold them on ebay to make some cash...but I love walking around smiling in my shoes...laughing with the Lord at his creative ways of providing!

• Another fun story is that I was in a Thrift Store (Charity Shop) last week looking for some children's books. I was quickly perusing the CDs and saw a title that I recognized...it was called Holy by Matt Gilman & Cory Ashbury. They are two worship leaders from IHOP and I think the CD came out last year. Well, just last week Britlese was playing their music and I was commenting on how I would like to get their CD. Well here it was in front of me, and the best part was that it was brand new and still in the plastic! When I went up to pay for it, it was significantly cheaper than the other CDs as it didn't have a $2.99 sticker on it...so I got it for 99¢! Thanks Jesus...

• Lastly, last week I received a surprise card in the mail from some overseas friends, which said they were praying for my transition and included a check for $200! Little did I know then, how significant this check would be. The very next day I was meant to start working for an old boss doing admin for the month of March...however, at the last minute the job opportunity fell through.  Despite the unexpected change, I was so full of peace...and had a $200 check in hand that would cover March payments.  Jesus definitely knows what I need and when I need it!

The Lord has also provided through countless meals, free rent (as I'm still house sitting for my parents), airline tickets, gas and lots of fun hand-me-down clothes! I am blessed by the exciting faith adventure that I get to live!