today is the coldest day in quebec yet. thankfully, it is my very last. i woke up & my weather app declared it was -8*C but it felt like -15*C. yeah, well, newsflash at that temperature you can’t feel anything — so who decides these things? after scraping ice off my windshield and yanking on my frozen door until it opened, i was ready to start the drive to montreal from quebec city.

those two hundred and thirty kilometres on the road seemed like twenty. i had all the necessary ingredients for a beautiful drive: i had the sun shining. i had 85% dark chocolate in the glovebox. i had an apple in my purse. i had great music on my iphone. most importantly, i had some really impressive dance moves when israel houghton was singing. it can be fun to be alone.

when i arrived in montreal late this morning, i had to try just one more cafe recommended by a friend. that’s where i am writing this now: empty coffee cup beside me [that formerly held a long pour espresso] and a half-full glass of water. bon iver playing over the speaker system. i checked in online for my morning flight & answered some emails. now, i’m off to enjoy one last afternoon and evening here before home. oh, beautiful home.

[embarrassing fact: i have never liked the song "home" by michael buble. earlier on the drive i was listening to his album and found myself singing along and loving it. turns out i like that song after three weeks away. when i'm home i think it's sappy & dumb. wow, i am learning so much about myself here, hey?! hahah.]

this is the only photo i have of myself from all three weeks here. kandise emailed it to me. ;)

i am bad at waiting for things: this character weakness of mine is well known.

a beautiful eighteen-days in quebec thus far, but if i could transport home tonight, i think i would. the longer i am away, the farther away the faces i love seem to be. however, i know that in all things, God has perfect timing. impeccable really. He has my days written & the very best plans for me. as silly as it may sound, i believe it applies to “just two more days.” i am constantly reminded to not run ahead of His plans — why wish for home when God has me here? what can i do in this moment, where i am right now with what i have right now? they are good questions. i want to ask them more — about any today i am given.

may these next two days be full of everything i came to quebec for: experiencing God’s creation, digging into my Bible on a newer, deeper level & praying about the things my heart is desiring. tuesday will come at the perfect time.

eleven mornings in a row, i have woken up excited to be in quebec. not that i don’t miss my life, my family, my church, my friendships back home — quite the opposite.  travel reminds me to be thankful that i have much to miss. oh, i have much to miss.

it is a neat feeling to be in the middle of three weeks’ travels alone. for the majority of my time, i made a plan to not make plans. i knew one thing about why i was leaving home & flying across the country: to learn more about Jesus. i had a desire to go somewhere and spend hours alone: i wanted to read my Bible, i wanted to pray, i wanted a retreat. i didn’t know what that would look like — but i was ready to go.

i have been refreshed by the Word of God. the more i read the Bible, the more i crave to know. it has been the biggest blessing to have unlimited free time: three, four, five hours a day to read the BIble. i love that God’s promises are true! when i have drawn near to Him, He has drawn near to me. He has given me a love for His Word & it is ever increasing.

eight days from now, i’ll be back in vancouver. a tiny part of me looks forward to that — but a much, much bigger part of my heart is thrilled to be right here, right now. i am desperate to continue living these three weeks fulling pursuing Him in such a unique season of my life.

it’s funny. i honestly imagined i would be working/brainstorming/writing more as i traveled… and reading more books… and “getting things done” — but turns out all i want to do is spend time with Jesus.

life can wait.