three saturdays back we set out at a quarter till eight to apply for passports for five young owenses. we showed up early (the mister was driving, and he is the personal ambassador of punctuality), and as we camped out at the post office a rogue herd of butterflies swarmed my stomach. something about the kids’ passports clicked a cog of reality into place, like oh yes. we are, in fact, relocating with many children to the far side of Not Here.
this is maybe actually happening.
then last sunday a whole bunch of my peeps from church cut through town and spooled out into the country for a baptism in the neal’s pond. amongst the baptizees was our small-group-friend lyndsey and our ten year old son.
M was not crazy about the actual water, but he very much wanted to identify with Christ’s death and join Him in the richness of new life.
’twas one of the best evenings in recent memory: a sloping sun, heat rising from the grass, strawberries and iced coke and pockets of people washed new. i love my church family. we’re spidery-cracked and bruised, but God is at work here and He spills out beautiful.
thankful:
-for safely-here babies
-for hours spent with people whose hearts thrum for the kingdom of God brought near
-for cattails and watercolor ponds
-for kids who love Jesus
-for a God who hands us impossible dreams and then shakes them into Actually Happening
O w e n s t o A f r i c a 
Nothing in the world like a baptism. I just want you to know: I believe in the Owenses, and that’s saying a whole great big lot.
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Such beauty in the water and the resurrection and in your words. Praying for the preparations to come.
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Wish I had time when I go to Cincy to get together w/you…
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T’was such a wonderful evening…to see your wee one choose Christ…forever. Makes my eyes well up just thinking about it.
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oh girl. nothing like sloping suns and baptizing boys and africa. what a life you’re living… it’s Jesus, poured out for many, and you’ll never regret it friend. even though it’s hard. thank you for inspiring me to do, and be, the same. love you.
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i feel it with you–the shock, the joy, the beauty. faith of children is powerful and precious. teachers to us in so many ways. simple and true believing shining jesus. thank you for sharing the wonderful baptism pictures. what a treasured moment for you and your family.
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Oh nic! You write so beautifully. I love “listening” to your descriptions and loved seeing the baptism. We have to talk soon. Can we plan a phone call after this coming week? Maybe Monday, October 1?
Blessings!!
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