The Best Vegan Cookies E-V-A-H!

Hey guys :) Happy Sunday! Today I'm enjoying the peace and calm by doing some baking with my Mom. Have you ever made vegan cookies? Because this recipe is going to knock your socks off!

This recipe was featured in the November/December 2011 "All Animals" Humane Society magazine. We used to receive the Humane Society magazines from our good friend, Rose, who passed away this past spring. We thought of her as we made these, and we look forward to continuing to share the fruits of our kitchen with friends and family just as she did with us. 

This recipe is originally from Vegan Family Meals, Real Food for Everyone by Ann Gentry. One of the great things about this recipe is that you can always eat the batter! Yep, vegan means no eggs, so when you bake these with kids it is a real treat to let them eat away as you prepare the cookies (and, let's be real, I love to eat healthy cookie dough too). 

Now, before I give you the recipe and pics, I do have to give a shout-out to my dear friend, Charity, who I almost accidentally sent to the hospital with this treat. You see, Charity has a nut allergy. And, blonde as I am, I always seem to think of peanuts when I think of nuts, and I forget that almonds are just as bad for her. So, one weekend when we were roommates in Atlanta, I offered her one of these cookies. She was like, "Are there nuts, Kaelin?" and I was totally chill about telling her that they were fine...until she was about to put it in her mouth and I suddenly remembered that they are CHOCKED FULL OF ALMONDS. I remember a flurry of yelling for her not to eat it, grabbing it out of her hand, and thanking God that He had kept me from committing an enormous blunder and risking her life. Charity - thank you for laughing it off and forgiving me :D Everyone else - make sure there aren't any nut allergies before serving these treats.

Making the dough (and eating some too).

Creating the cookie balls with an indention for the Rasberry Jam.

Adding the yummy centers.

Pre-baking...

After baking! 

Almond-Jam Thumbprint Cookies

Ingredients: 

2 1/2 cups raw whole almonds (we actually purchase almond flour at the Farmer's Market and forgo the process of blending these almonds into a flour)

1 1/2 cups oat flour

1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour or barley flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

1 cup pure maple syrup

1/4 cup apple juice

1/4 cup neutral cooking oil (such as canola, grapeseed, safflower, or sunflower...we use canola)

2 teaspoons almond extract

About 3/4 cup raspberry preserves, apricot preserves, or apple butter

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line two heavy baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. If you have the raw whole almonds, pulse the almonds in food processor until they form a fine flour with some small speckles of nuts still visible. Leave some small bits of the almonds for a nice crunchy texture.

3. Stir the ground almonds, oat flour, pastry flour, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Whisk the maple syrup, apple juice, oil, and almond extract in a medium bowl. Stir the wet ingredients into the flour mixture until blended. (At this point, we add a little bit more whole-wheat flour to combat the stickiness of the batter. We don't want it dry, but just a good texture for handling).

4. Make 1-inch balls of the dough using a teaspoon and place them 1-inch apart on the cookie sheet. Make an indention in the center of the cookie. 

5. Either spoon the preserves into the indention (with them mounding just above the level of the cookie as they will melt down a bit while baking), or put into a pastry bag and pipe into the cookies.

6. Bake the cookies until they puff and become pale golden on the top and bottom, about 25 minutes. Transfer the baking sheets to cooling racks and let cool.Cookies will keep for two days, stored in an airtight container at room temperature (our family sticks the cookies in the fridge). You can also save your parchment paper from your cookie sheets and use them between your layers of cookies in the storage container. Enjoy!

For more recipes like this one, go to humanesociety.org/recipes.

Also, let it be known that my family can't talk about anything vegan without quoting Kelly MacDonald's character, Katie, in the movie Decoy Bride: "I've gone vegan...man vegan" (*in a Scottish accent, no less*). Promptly puts us in a fit of giggles every time.

The Next Chapter: Going Back to Istanbul

Hi everyone,
 Thanks for following my adventures for the past year or so. I strongly believe that God has an adventure plan for each and every one of us, and it has been fun to be able to share what He has been doing in my life with you.

This week I submitted my application for a student visa for Turkey. Yep, I'm going back at the beginning of October. I'll be taking intensive Turkish language classes for the first 10 months or so, and then we'll see what happens. If you've been following the blog for a while, you know that God has a way of re-shaping the plans that I have for my life, and I'm continuously learning to be flexible and wait for His timing and His plans. It's an exciting and anxious time, and I really appreciate your prayers.

 As I move into this next chapter, I won't be using Faithful Nomad as much for updates. I will, however, still be posting to @faithful_nomad on Instagram. It's been a joy to post on Faithful Nomad, and I really appreciate everyone who has kept up with my journey through this.

Love you all!

-K

Expert Tips for Study Abroad & Exchange Students

Studying in Istanbul, Turkey last fall changed my life in more ways than one. In the next few weeks many students (and maybe even you) are heading off on international adventures, whether to do study abroad, exchange programs, or working abroad. Here are some expert tips from students who have gone before and conquered the road less traveled. They fought through visa applications, bought plane tickets, moved into cities where they may not have known the language, and took every day as a challenge and an adventure to soak in a culture other than their own. Their advice is great for knowing how to get the most out of this crazy and amazing experience.

Aileen -  Chicago, Illinois -> Istanbul, Turkey for an exchange semester
Expert Advice: Make a purposeful effort to ignore your inhibitions in communicating with other people, whether with other locals or your study abroad mates. Aileen says - "I think it is really about mindset and opening yourself up to opportunity through communication."

Case in point: Aileen shared a story with me about travelling to another city in Turkey with several exchange students that she had met at her Turkish university. They wanted to rent bicycles, so they all walked into a homey-looking bike rental shop and found the shop owners sharing in Turkish breakfast (which is a very important meal in Turkey). She noticed that they were eating menemen (a delicious dish made of eggs, butter, and cheese), which was one of her favorite dishes. She used that as a conversation-starter and started talking with them about how amazing Turkish breakfast is. As soon as she remarked on their menemen, they immediately asked her to try some of theirs (the foundation of great Turkish hospitality is based on sharing what you have with others). This is where her advice kicks in. She says - "I ignored my very American mindset of rejecting the offer out of courtesy and I instead tried their food, and of course it was incredible. It was a very surprisingly intimate thing to eat a stranger's food, but I did not let that stop me and I'm glad I didn't!"

Karen - Atlanta, Georgia -> Madrid, Spain for a Study Abroad Summer
Expert Advice:
#1 - Guard your belongings, and travel with as few things as possible. Keep valuables (money, phone, passport) out of sight, as some places you may travel may have pickpockets.
#2 - Learn about cultural differences before you go and be open to experiencing them. She notes, "Many people try to live as Americans abroad, but if you embrace the culture you learn a lot more."

Emily - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania -> Berlin, Germany for Summer Language Study
Expert Advice:
#1 - Don't underestimate what you will learn from other expats. Emily had roommates from Finland and Russia, and also made friends with a girl from Macedonia during her stay in Berlin. She enjoyed learning bits of their languages and learning about their cultures as well.
#2 - Keep looking for chances to interact with locals, especially if you are there for language immersion.

Brian - Atlanta, Georgia -> France with the European Council program, Valdosta State University
Expert Advice: Keep an open mind. Brian found that it was important to "Just try to explore what is around you and don't be so quick to judge if something seems strange." Those are the experiences that make study abroad adventures so unique.

Maeve - Atlanta, Georgia -> France with Georgia Tech Lorraine program
Expert Advice: Try to become fully invested in where you are living. Maeve noticed that "Too often, I've seen students flock to places like Pizza Hut because it reminds them of home when they could be exploring new, exciting places." She also found that getting lost in new cities is the best way to explore.

My advice? Get to know local students at your university and in your community. Yes, it is really hard sometimes because of the language barrier, but it is totally worth it. I made several great friends in my classes in Istanbul, and their friendships mean the world to me. They helped me when I needed advice and guidance, they shared meals (and lots of tea and coffee) with me, they helped me learn new Turkish words and phrases, and they have become life-long friends. 

Special thanks to all my friends who contributed their expert advice!

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Climbing the Tallest CTO Distillation Tower in the World!

Today the interns of Arizona Chemical got to climb the (alleged) tallest Crude Tall Oil Distillation Tower in the world! It's called T-4 and has an excellent view of Savannah. Plus, we got a great leg work-out climbing up and down all of those stairs!

So glad to have gotten to share the intern experience at Arizona Chemical with these guys! It's been an amazing summer :)

Getting ready to head back to college?

Here are my Top 5 tips for college students to have the best school year yet, save some $ along the way, and make a ton of life-long friends:

#1 - Get your list of school books from the college bookstore, along with their ISBNs, and then order them as used books from Amazon or Half.com. Click the banner below to get free shipping!

Better yet, at the end of the semester, sell your books right back to other students at your college bookstore during Buy-Back, or on Amazon or Half.com. You'll end up having paid close to nothing for your books. Way to go!

#2 - Look up the events happening around campus during the first week back. You'll probably be able to score free food every day of the week, plus meet really cool people who are involved on campus and get involved yourself! My first week on campus at GA Tech, I wrote on my calendar all of the free events I could find. My favorite from that week: I got a free BBQ dinner at BCM one night and made new friends on campus.

*How do I do this? Look up the events calendar on your school's homepage, keep an eye out for flyers and signs, and ask the kids in your classes if they are involved in campus organizations. Make sure to hit up the campus gym as well and see if they have events planned.

#3 - Sit at the front of the class. No, really, I mean it. It may seem so much easier to just slide in at the back, but I had the best experiences when I sat front and center. Your teachers get to know you and you definitely will pay more attention in class because they will notice the second you doze off. Plus, those teachers who now know your name and that you pay attention in class? They make great job references :)

#4 - Get involved in stuff outside of your major.

Quick sidebar: I read an article today about how many STEM (Science, technology, engineering math) majors don't actually end up in STEM careers. Is this a bad thing, like, did they waste all that education? No way! I firmly believe that you should get educated in STEM fields for the pure enjoyment of learning more about the world around you. Who cares what you end up doing? But, getting back on focus..

When you get involved in clubs, organizations, ministries, and activities that are totally un-related to your major, you give yourself a chance to broaden your interests and get specialty experience in other areas. Say that you are a chemistry student who loves going to the gym and training for races? Maybe down the road, you'll end up being able to interview for a company that makes products for runners, and you'll have that special interest that gives you an edge to get the position. You get my drift? Stuff like working at a restaurant, volunteering at the local school, becoming a regular at Zumba, and learning to play an instrument can all help you in whatever your future career ends up being (and it makes your life so much more fun along the way). 

#5 - Do a study abroad or an exchange program. Your time in another country will broaden your perspective on the world, life, relationships, and your future. Don't worry that it will set you back in your plan to graduate; there are so many programs that you will definitely be able to find one that allows you to take the classes you would normally be taking at your home institution for that semester. Money holding you back? Make sure to check with your International Education office to see what scholarships are available. At Georgia Tech when I did my exchange program, they had so few students apply for the study abroad scholarships the first time round, that they opened up the applications again after the deadline. I was blessed to unexpectedly get a scholarship that more than paid for my plane ticket and many of my expense (thanks GT Class of 1968!). Take the leap - you won't regret it!


After a hard day of work at school, ever want to just sit back and watch your favorite TV show? Get a free 30-day trial of Amazon Prime by clicking below!


Have any other tips for getting the most out of college? Comment below! Make sure to follow Faithful Nomad by email as well :)

You know you live in Savannah if...

#1 - You get stuck behind a horse-drawn carriage every time you try to drive into downtown.
#2 - One of the most popular destinations is the local cemetery, and people walk around every evening on twilight ghost tours.
#3 - You wake up to the sound of explosions and fanfare (thanks, Hunter Army Airfield...it's a pleasant enough sound at 6:30 in the morning...)
#4 - There are more indie coffee shops than Starbucks's...and there are a lot of Starbucks's, so that's saying a lot.
#5 - Everyone has tattoos...well, except for me, so maybe I should say almost everyone.
#6 - You have a love/hate relationship with free street parking.
#7 - Just saying "Foxy Loxy" evokes sighs of longing from every coffee-lover in site.

#8 - A walk in the park may involve running into drum circles, tropical birds, and college students dressed as genies.
#9 - Your long-distance friends mention having thunderstorms and you know that they ain't got nothin' on a Savannah monsoon.
#10 - If your brain correlates pink houses with delicious cuisine.
#11 - You have mistaken piles of Spanish moss on the road for small animals and have almost caused an accident...*raises hand*
#12 - Paula Deen is the local butter-bakin' celebrity.
#13 - The local baseball team is named after the very-annoying local pests...and the mascot has fangs!

Gnate the Sand Gnat!

#14 - Almost everything is named after the founder of Georgia, James Oglethorpe. There's an Oglethorpe Square, Oglethorpe Mall, Oglethorpe Road, and an Oglethorpe House, to name only a few.



Please leave comments below with your additions to the list! Remember to "Follow My Adventure" by putting your email in the box at the top right of my blog :D

5 Books that Every Girl Must Read!

Now, if you are a girl, stop right here, click this, and print.... Ok, now you can keep reading :)

I've been doing some thinking lately (I know, a dangerous pastime) about the books that have shaped my life. Some have been fiction that have filled my imagination with wonders and fueled my passion for adventure. Others have been stories of people who have walked the roads less travelled, learned lessons from experiences that I may never personally have, and written chronicles from which I have snatched bits and pieces of wisdom. I've loved them all, even when the lessons that I've learned have been eye-opening and soul-searching.

Now, back to that doc I had you print up. These are 5 books that have filled my life with joy and helped me keep my eyes on the purpose for life. I hope you will read them and enjoy them, and I hope that they will impact your life in the same way that they have impacted mine.  And I hope you will come back and tell me what you think about them :) Let me know if there are any more books that you would recommend adding to the list!

Now, here's the run-down.

#1 - The Bible
 I've heard people refer to it as the Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth. But I personally don't think there is anything basic about it. It is the greatest adventure story, love letter, thriller, and guidebook in the world. While we're on the topic, here is one of my favorite verses:

"God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us." Acts 17:27 (NIV)

#2 - Old-Fashioned Girl by Louisa May Alcott

Fiction

I went through a stage when I was younger where I read almost all of L.M. Alcott's books. She is one of my favorite authors because she wrote characters into being who "lived simply so that others may simply live" (yes, I just stole that quote from Elizabeth Seton). Although Little Women may be her most famous book, this one is my favorite. I just re-read it recently and was reminded of many things, one of which is that when I am having a bad day, I should make sure to do something to brighten someone else's. And Polly always reminds me that it is okay to have one good black silk dress (yeah, you may need to read it to figure out that one).

#3 - The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom
Nonfiction
You may think you know the story, and you may have seen the movie, but you really need to read Corrie's own words in this book. Reading The Hiding Place has challenged me to look out for the interests of others over my own and totally trust God, even when the world is falling apart at the seams. Read it once, read it again, give it to a friend...you get the picture.

#4 - The Blue Castle by Lucy Maud Montgomery
Fiction
Now, L.M. Montgomery is really famous for Anne of Green Gables and the Avonlea Chronicles, but whenever a friend of mine introduced me to this gem I was hooked. It is one of those feel-good stories that is really pure and lovely.And it will make you want to go have a cuddle with nature. 

#5 - Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis
Nonfiction
I started reading this book while at my favorite coffee shop in Savannah. I started tearing up before I had even finished the Foreword. God has really used this story of obedience to work in my life. More on that later, but in the meantime, you should really pick up a copy and read this beautiful chronicle of a girl who has given her all for God. It's really amazing.

Let me know in the Comments section what you think, if you have already read some of these books, and any suggestions that should be added to the list of books every girl should read. Feel free to share this list with friends, daughters, sisters, moms...all the books are appropriate for all ages!

 Happy reading!

A Morning Sketch of {Forsyth Park}

The peaceful sound of a trickling fountain gives the deafening command to stop and take a deep breath. To sit among so many trees and flowers in the midst of a bustling city is a much-welcomed homecoming from nature. The birds whistle their greetings, the wealth of fresh air rushes through me in healthful bounds, and I feel as though time really may have just stood still.



Not to say that there aren't enough people around to remind me that I am still in a metropolis. I've already heard at least a few unfamiliar languages being spoken by families to their babes as they take them on their morning strolls. Even now in the quiet corner that I have claimed, chattering passersby intervene and break up the silence. The squeaking sounds of swings come and go; children traveling to paradise and back in the length of a breath.



Walking through the market, I meet with a buzz of people with their children and pups, all crunchy with their Chaco's and beards and ink. The spice and warmth of basil coming from a nearby basket makes the open atmosphere feel as cozy and quaint as your best friend's kitchen. The farmers restock their tables: tomatoes, zucchini, carrots, cabbage. A hundred salads just waiting to reach their final destiny.




The outskirts of the commons are bordered by soaring columns, ornamental doors, vast windows of wavy glass. Houses that seem as though they should be waving the flags of some distant European nation instead of our red, white, and blue. Some stand seemingly empty, mostly forgotten. I wonder if they daydream of their past lives and hope for a new future, full of laughs and grand parties and quiet mornings steeped in coffee and crackling fires. Others still have a breath of life in them even now, strung with faery lights and colorful banners. Stray chairs sit around deserted, speaking of a recent gathering of kindred spirits.



The make-believe chattering of children can be heard on the wind. They run and skip, tossing little selfish quarrels and solving disputes in an innocent, democratic fashion. I wonder how many will remember these days, many years from now, and how many will let them slip into the cloudy, happy oblivion called childhood.



The purples, unearthly pinks, and reds of flowers send a rainbow over the green backdrop. A whisper from GOD, a poem from the Creator through HIS creation. A voice that commands a stillness, a pondering, a breath. A hope through the calm, a relief from the chaos, a song of future melodies.

An Afternoon Sketch of {Foxy Loxy}

I'm sitting in a padded, leather armchair at the head of a farm table, mismatched chairs and benches surrounding it. Like a queen with a missing court. The building next door is so close, I could reach out the window and touch it, faded white paint and old panes of glass.

The wall at the top of the stairs is covered in maps and random cut-outs, all pasted over each other like decoupage. I would stand and stare at the wall, trying to find a method to the beautiful madness, but I'm worried that such an action would put a crack in the perfect atmosphere. I shouldn't try to figure out something that so obviously isn't meant to be understood.

I want a wall like this one day.

My in-house iced latte was handed to me in a large, fat, perfectly unblemished jar. I grabbed a straw, but quickly knew that I shouldn't use it. There's just something about cold glass, wet droplets of condensation running onto the dark wooden table.

People sit in the chairs, mostly in pairs, many leaning in companionable silence over a common slice of cake. Two girls sit on low stools under a canopy covered in empty coffee bean sacks. Their table is a weathered, green travel trunk.

Two lovebirds stand on the outdoor porch. The girl has let her hair down, and they gaze at the passing traffic with their arms around each other. Such innocent affection, enjoyed in the best way.

I've only just noticed the rock music. It plays and fills the air space. Anyone would tell you later that the playlist was perfectly chosen, although none of them would be able to tell you what it had been.

That is because the real music comes from the whispered conversations and confidences, not meaningless gossip but real talk of life. Because the atmosphere here calls for depth. Depth of reality, depth of friendship. Depth of life.

I wrote this in one of my notebooks while at Foxy Loxy today. It's one of the only ways I have found to really remember a moment, or a set of moments.

 If you are in Savannah, I greatly encourage you to stop by and enjoy this place. I've spent hours such as this one reading books in this quiet house. Don't forget to wander up the stairs.

IDK

This week I joined the YMCA. I went to my first Sandgnats game, along with other college students from the local church I'm attending. I read my book from the public library (currently The Age of Innocence, if anyone is wondering). Overall, I'm hitting that stage that I have in each of my nomadic wanderings where I start to feel like I'm living somewhere. It's like finally being able to hit cruise control on a long car ride. Like that moment on the beach when you're all set up and can finally sit back and close your eyes.

Well, sort of. 

Because, I'm only human. And I'm already trying to figure out the next stop on my journey. I like to have a plan. I really like to have a plan. I thought I had my fall months planned out. I kept reassuring myself with the fact that, until January, I know what I'm doing. But God just smiled down at me, as I know He does when I start to think that I've got a plan. And He told me that my plan was not His plan. So, when people ask me what I'm doing after this internship, my answer is, "I don't know." But He knows. And I keep having to remind myself that that is all that really matters. 

If you wouldn't mind praying for me, this is more of a struggle than it seems. I have a lot of options that I could pursue for this fall, and a lot of them would be glorifying to God, but I just don't know which one is the one I should do! I've made lists. I've thrown away my lists. I've started over on my lists. And I've prayed. A lot. This is bigger than this autumn. I know how small moments, small decisions, can make big changes in a person's life. 

For example, one day in fall 2012, I sat in the lobby of my apartment building. I was waiting for the shuttle to truck me over to campus, and another girl was sitting on another couch across from me. She caught my eye, and I smiled. And then I remembered my mantra for that fall (Meet people!) and I started talking with her. That girl was Pelin. Because of us meeting that day, we started talking when we would see each other on the bus. And then, when she needed to move to another apartment a few weeks later, she asked me if she could move into the suite I was in. Because of that meeting, Pelin and I are now as close as sisters. Literally. Because of that meeting, I moved to Turkey for 4 months. Because of that meeting, my life has been forever changed. This is why I am sometimes really peculiar about making decisions. Because I know that the tiniest one, something that may seem really insignificant to me, could change the direction of my path. What if I hadn't spoken with Pelin that day? What if I had smiled and just minded my own business? 

So when you ask me what my plans are, expect to get a good measure of shoulder-shrugging. And a smile :) Because even though I don't know what's coming my way, I'm sure He's got something pretty amazing in the works.

Week 1 of Savannah!

This week starts off my newest adventure - living and working in Savannah! I moved into a cozy room in a quaint neighborhood on Sunday, and my amazing family was so sweet and drove down with me to move me in :) 

As soon as we finished packing, it was time to find the nearest Starbucks...which is only 2 minutes away! Cafe Espresso Frap for the win! Love spending time with my family over some coffee :)

It was nice to spend Mother's Day with Mom in Savannah. She also rode in the car with me on the way down...we talked so much that we did actually miss one of our turns (and there are only like 4 turns the entire way there...). That night, we found a great, local seafood place on the water! Pearls Saltwater Grille was delicious.

Emma is lovin' some she crab soup at Pearls Saltwater Grille.

Monday, I started my internship at Arizona Chemical. I am working in technical service in the area of adhesives (I've always loved stickers, lol). No, but really, I get to make tape! It's a lot harder and time-consuming than it sounds, but we get to develop and test different mixes to make better tape for our clients. Pretty neat. Monday night I found the mall (pretty essential task for week 1) and thank God it has a Barnes & Noble! I love me some good books!

Tuesday was the first day that I got to do hands-on work in the lab! I was able to pH adjust a polymer sample and run particle size and % solid analysis. Our amazing HR and S&T manager took us out to Tequila Town for an entry luncheon and the Mexican food was sooo yummy. I also went to Latechurch's CollegeAge group that evening! 

At The Corner (where Latechurch has their evening group meetings and hang-outs), they even have a huge Connect 4!

Wednesday, got to work more in the lab. My mentor is super awesome and has done a great job of showing me how to use the equipment. I am able to run some of the tests now with minimal supervision, and I learned how to test the viscosity and how to find the acid value, softening number, and color of the resins. Some of the resin samples look like honey...I really love honey...but I keep telling myself, they won't taste like honey! LOL :)

Friday night was the BOMB! Tybee Island has an annual Beach Bum Parade, which is a mega water gun fight!

These guys and many others lined their trucks so that they would have a steady source of water for the fight! You see those long poles? Hand-made super soakers! And yes, they do super soak (personal experience).

Madeline and I were prepared for battle! We still got completely drenched every time we attempted to cross the street...

On Saturday, I woke up at 6:15am to my alarm clock. What would entice me to wake up this early on a weekend? The Girls on the Run Celebration 5K, of course! Before the race, we danced to the Cupid Shuffle and the Wobble with all the middle school girls, and then we ran :) 

Love going on adventures with my fellow interns! Maeve and Madeline are the best :) :)

We even got massages after the race (yep, now you're getting jealous!). It was a blast.

Stay tuned for the adventures of Week 2! Thanks for reading, and make sure you comment below if you have suggestions for more fun things to do in Savannah!

A NOMAD's survival pack:
So, from all this traveling, I've found that there are some items that come in handy, no matter where I live. Here's a few...

1. Yogi Bedtime tea. This tea puts me sound to sleep. The cute little tea tags have nice sayings and quotes on them...just like fortune cookies! Or Dove chocolates! I have fond memories of drinking Bedtime tea while hanging out with my DC roomies in our comfy kitchen, as well as drinking it while looking at the Istanbul skyline from my balcony, even when the air was freezing cold and I would stand shivering as I looked out at the Bosphorus Bridge. When I'm at home with my family, a cup is always in my hands as I sit in the evenings with my Mom. And, my habits have continued in Savannah, where I end my nights curled up with a good book and my favorite tea.
2. Fingernail clippers. These are so handy! I always forget scissors, and fingernail clippers are amazing for cutting annoying packaging and even tags off of new t-shirts.  
3. Thumbtacks. So perfect for hanging banners and posters to brighten any room. Plus, they are multipurpose! I've used a thumbtack to poke new holes in a belt, and you even can use them when boiling eggs in order to poke the hole in the end of the egg.  

A Time for Everything

Last week I was at a memorial service for a dear friend. Her brother-in-law read from the book of Ecclesiastes. It's one of my favorite books of the Bible, although before this time I would have had a hard time explaining to you why. "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the sun: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,..., a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,..." (Ecclesiastes 3). As I was reading my study Bible this morning about the book of Ecclesiastes, it noted that this book of the Bible reads like a personal journal. And I realized that this may be why I like it so much. It reflects what I feel in my own life. I go through times where I can see God's plan so clearly. Other times, the daily tasks seem monotonous, and I'm left asking God what the point of all this is. Is life meaningless?  My study Bible puts it so well:

"According to the Teacher [author of the book of Ecclesiastes], life doesn't make sense outside of God; it will, in fact, never fully make sense to us because we are not God. But God has also "set eternity in the human heart" (Ecc 3:11). We feel longings for something more; pleasures that will last forever, love that won't sour, fulfillment in our work."

When I think about how I would be surviving this part of my life if I didn't have God, the picture of a drowned rat comes to mind. I don't think I'd make it, at least with any ounce of sanity left. I've lost many close friends and family over the last few months. Saying it has been hard is an extreme understatement. How do you do normal life again when this world is missing vital parts of it? This is where I find comfort in these verses. Life isn't always going to make sense. It will never fully make sense. But I know the Truth that runs this world, and as long as I keep HIM as my focus, it will all be okay. Although happiness can be hard to grasp, joy is plentiful through Christ. I know that HE died for me and felt more pain than I can ever imagine. And I know that HE overcame death because HE is more powerful than death. And I know that HIS kingdom is where I long to be. That is what gives life sense. It's all about HIM, and for HIS glory. 

If you've been wondering about life, get a Bible and sit down to read it. I've heard John is the best place to start, but anywhere will do. Just read it. I pray God shows you the Truth through it and that the Holy Spirit speaks to your heart. If you want to talk about it, let me know. If you would like to comment below with questions that you have had, or things that you have found in the Bible that you would like to share, please do. Everyone wonders about life, its meaning, why we are here. It is your job to make sure that you search for the truth. Your life depends on it.

~ Goals for Summer 2014 in Savannah ~

1.  Meet people. Make life-long friends.
2. Go swim at Tybee Island.
3. Run a 5K Race with the Savannah locals.

4. Eat a meal with friends at the Pirate's House Restaurant.

5. Find a church home in Savannah.

LateChurch on Abercorn Street, Downtown Savannah. Awesome place to worship and study God's Word!

6. Find the perfect coffee spot.

Foxy Loxy on Bull Street

7. Start an herb garden in my window.
8. Visit the Andrew Lowe home.
9. Finish a Turkish language course.
10. Eat a praline on River Street.
11. Make something crafty.
12. Listen to live music.

Tommy Strong Benefit Concert at Forsyth Park

13. Cook a yummy meal.

From Atlanta, to DC, to Istanbul, to...

My year of being 21 was such an amazing and blessed year!

I went from Atlanta, to Washington DC, to Istanbul, and back again (make sure you check my past posts if you missed hearing about those adventures).

Ankara, Turkey - Ataturk's Mausoleum

I stepped back into GT life as soon as I arrived back in Atlanta this January, and I've been enjoying my last semester of university. May 3rd is a big day, as I walk across the stage to receive my B.S. in chemistry!!!

I am pleased to announce that I can finally answer that question that everyone keeps asking me..."What are you doing after graduation?" In February, I was able to interview for a summer internship position at Arizona Chemical. On the day I turned 22, I got the call as I was driving to celebrate with my family - I got the internship!!! What an awesome birthday present, y'all! I will be working in a laboratory at Arizona Chemical, which is a really awesome company focused on sustainability. This will be a job that will greatly enhance my skills as a chemist, and I'm excited to work in an industrial setting. An amazing perk of the job is its location (*drumroll, please*)....Savannah, GA! The next stop for this nomad is right by the beach and in a beautiful historic city, which I am pretty happy about. Since I will have 3 months in Savannah, I'm looking forward to experiencing what the city has to offer - which means that I need a new bucket list :) Anyone want to help me out? What should I do in Savannah? On another note, if anyone has recommendations for churches I should go to in Savannah, let me know! Comment below :)

*If you are on Instagram, go follow @faithful_nomad and @k_rover_explores_the_world! I post funny stuff from day-to-day life that you won't want to miss :)

Thanks for reading The Faithful Nomad!

Dear Diary

When I was in middle school, you were more likely to find me reading a Dear America Diary than playing video games with friends. And I would much rather dreamily read a Royal Diary about Queen Elizabeth than read celebrity gossip. 

My love of books that chronicled, even if fictitiously, the daily life of a girl my age led to another life habit: I started keeping my own journals. They started off with a journal my best friend gave me when I was about 10 years old. It had a special compartment with a lock and key. I'm pretty sure I only kept my cute pens in there. Then, I found that my parents' desktop computer had a journal application. Whoever thought that was a good idea, I will never know. Suffice it to say that you could make your journal password-protected, and I'm super good at forgetting passwords. And, as I should have seen coming, our old tumor of a computer was headed to the curb in a few years, along with it the ramblings of a girl who wrote about everything. I've learned my lesson (physical diaries are definitely the way to go). 

When I was a young high-schooler, a good friend who is like an aunt to me gave me a beautiful diary for Christmas. "Fill up the whole thing," she told me. And I did. From my life in high-school, to planning for my first mission trip, to getting nervous about my karate tests, it is all there. And, as fate would have it, I have continued to receive journals as gifts from friends, right after the other, so that my life story has been beautifully recorded in these precious diaries. My journalling fate, however, was not meant to stop at writing words on a page. For my 20th birthday, another good friend gave me my first Smashbook. I was in love. Smashbooks are meant to become a messy, mash-up of your life, filled with writings but also any knick-knacks, ticket stubs, Yogi tea tags (in my case), and whatever else reminds you of great memories. I wrote in my Smashbook for that year, through my first experience living apart from my family at GA Tech, and through turning the big 2-1. 

When it came time for me to start my Faithful Nomad adventure, I bought a travel-themed journal just like the last, and it now weighs about 10 lbs from all the momentos and memories stored inside. I have continued writing my thoughts and daily happenings in a journal my friend gave me when I left DC last year. And just the other day, I stopped by Michael's and picked up my 3rd Smashbook. Because, even if I am not on an around-the-world adventure right now, I want to remember each moment. Just as it happens. And just as I am experiencing the emotions and my thoughts are fresh, I want to be able to capture them for future reading and remembering. A page in my new Smashbook sums up my thoughts quite well: 

"THE TRUTH IS THAT IT'S NOT REALLY ABOUT THIS STUFF AT ALL.

IT'S ABOUT THE EVIDENCE OF LIVING, THE PROOF THAT I WAS HERE:

THOUGHT SOME THOUGHTS, LIVED SOME LIFE. 

THESE BITS ARE SIMPLY MEANT TO JOG THE MEMORY INTO REMEMBERING - AND REMEMBERING IS PERHAPS THE BEST WAY TO RECYCLE."

Every life is worth writing about. Every person has a story to tell. These bits may turn out to be a precious jewel that you hold dear throughout the years. Are you writing it all down?

Time-Traveling!

So, this past Saturday, I time-traveled. I lived 7pm-2am on a plane, going over Scotland, Greenland, Iceland. I watched Austenland (very funny movie, FYI) and Iron Man 3, napped a bit, and ate lunch and dinner...and then I landed in Toronto, Canada, and it was 7pm all over again. And I got to live my evening all over again, this time by running through the Toronto airport, flying over the US in a 48-seat Air Canada plane, a shaky landing to bring me back into my home city, and then...an empty international baggage claim. Empty in that my family wasn't there. And for this, I blame a well-meaning but completely out-of-her-mind customer service lady at Air Canada. You see, I didn't have a working cell phone with me because I had been using a Turkish cell phone during the past 4 months. And so my parents called Air Canada to make sure that I had made it onto my connecting flight, since I had an extremely quick turn-around of 50 minutes and US Customs in Toronto to get through. Well, thank God, I did make it to my flight, was the 2nd person to board that tiny plane in fact. But the Air Canada customer service lady evidently doesn't know how amazing God is in working things out. So she told my parents that there was absolutely no way that I was on my flight home, and that at that moment she was booking me a flight to Atlanta for the following morning. So my parents, disappointed and sad, decided to go to sleep and go to the airport in the morning when I should arrive after my long journey. And they were just falling asleep when I called, having borrowed a phone for a few moments, and told them the news that, yes, I was at International Baggage Claim in Atlanta, waiting for them. So that's how my homecoming was. I mean, no one was hurt, everything turned out all right in the end, and I'm all fine and dandy. But I do hope that Air Canada lady gets her act together so no one else has the same unfortunate experience :)

Even with that rough start, it's been a great few days back in the States. I could make a whole long list of things that I miss in Turkey, but that would be pointless because when you live a full, well-traveled life, wherever you are there will be places and people you miss. But here are the things I am thankful for today, right now, where I am:

1) My family. They truly are amazing. I am so blessed. I got hiccups within the first 24 hours of being home because my sister is one of the only people that can make me laugh that hard. I have enjoyed talking about everything with mom, and having daddy&daughter time during my morning commute to the bus with my dad. Yes, I am blessed.

2) My Atlanta friends. I had an incredible welcome back to campus on Monday, including lunch with all my Tech chemistry buddies just like old times. They watched my back as I was pretty drowsy and sometimes scatter-brained in the afternoon (jet-lag is...interesting) and made my adjustment straight into 3 chemistry courses a fun experience. All the welcome-home texts and hugs have really made it great to be back.

I almost can't even write about Turkey right now. I'm still trying to wrap my mind around my life, how it was for the past 4 months, and how it changes (and can't change) as I settle into life in the States again. If you ask me how it was, I will probably say "Amazing." Because I have given up on trying to explain something that is inexpressible in words. But if you get the chance to sit down and chat with me (and I have a double teapot and Turkish çay at home, so I am looking forward to sharing convo over tea time with many of you soon), then I can try to share with you the aspects of the past 4 months that have made it a life-affirming experience that has helped me get a glimpse into what my path through life will look like and what God has in store for me.

Also, you all know that one of my favorite modes of communication is a good, old postcard :) So, send me your address! Would love to continue to keep in touch across the oceans (or just across town) in this way. Everyone loves getting some joy in their mailbox.

Until next time,
Your Faithful Nomad

Yeni Yillar Kutlu Olsun!

The past two weeks have been a blur of celebrations, exams, lots of hot cocoa, and cozy time with friends. 

A few nights before Christmas, some of my best exchange/Erasmus girls came over for a Christmas party. We all brought small presents and stuffed stockings (aka colorful knee-high socks) for each other so that we could open them on Christmas. It was so much fun :) From playing games to chatting over pumpkin soup, I had a wonderful time getting to know them better and sharing in the Christmas spirit together. Love you all!

Our Christmas tree! Needless to say, it lasted only a few hours :)

This was my stocking. It was so much fun to open on Christmas morning!

Christmas morning I met with some friends and exchanged gifts over a breakfast of çikolata borek and çay. From an English-Turkish dictionary (from which I am trying to learn at least one word a day), to a special-delivery box full of thoughtful gifts from my best friend, to the presents that my family had packed in my luggage back in September, and so many other precious gifts from friends, the love and thoughtfulness that overflowed from these special people in my life simply took my breath away. Thank you all for sharing your lives, love, and friendship with me!

The precious gift my sister gave me - "When I count my blessings, I count you twice." <3

The weekend after Christmas, I ran away from Istanbul for a few days...to Uludag! It's a huge mountain in the city of Bursa that houses several ski resorts. We got to hang out with other expats at an amazing hotel and ski down some crazy-challenging, but ultimately even more rewarding, slopes. I seriously think this winter, I have seen more snow than I have ever seen before in my life - Istanbul, Cappadocia, and Uludag! I think this southern girl is actually starting to like it.

All suited-up and ready to go!

Arama Sonuçları

1. 
   

   Hoşgeldin, 2014! May you be full of joy, generosity, and love!

By the way, can't wait to see these beautiful faces in 11 more days! Wow, time flies, right?