love, nomadic wren's adventures and discoveries

An eclectic and quirky collection of my ramblings, creations, and adventures.

[joeywren]

{ we need never be hopeless because we can never be irreparably broken } | Rome was an absolute dream with its beautiful merriment of foliage + architecture, and its perfect juxtaposition of old + new! ✨ It was the ideal place to catch my breath while sipping a macchiato. And the memories + sights continue to inspire me. . . The way nature reclaims the ruins of ancient civilization is equally humbling and encouraging that beauty does grows from ashes. That when we feel broken, there is a hope waiting to redeem all the fractured pieces. And that brokenness can be breathtakingly intertwined into our stories if we just give it time. . . Until we meet again, 🇮🇹! 💛 // #RomanHoliday #WhenInRome #tbt (at Roman Forum) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnFvnQ2jRHZ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1ulm0xvpnzm26

[joeywren]

{ I love being in cities with lots of other people because I am reminded that there are billions of people like me, and we are each stuck inside of our minds, feverishly trying to make connections with other people } | I may not be a city-girl at heart — however, Chicago will always hold a special place in mine. 💛 It is no secret that this introvert 🙋🏻 prefers the serenity of nature over the bustle of city-life. 🌿 But there is something undeniably magical that happens when that golden light dances between buildings and sparkles across the water. ✨ (at Chicago, Illinois)

[joeywren]

{ t w o ! } | Happy Birthday, Abilene! May your hugs always be healing, may your curiosity encourage you to dream, and may your sweet personality continue to light up this world! Auntie Do-ah and Uncle Brian love you oh so much, Leney! ✨💛 | #abilenemaered #loneyliseyleney #lovebeinganauntie (at Aurora, Illinois)

[joeywren]

{ we are still kids but we’re so in love fighting against all odds I know we’ll be alright this time. Darling just hold my hand I’ll be your girl, so please be my man. I see my future in your eyes } || N I N E years ago I vowed forever with you by my side — for 108 months I’ve been learning + growing in what it means to be your wife — in 3,287 days we have shared the joy-filled mountaintop experiences and the deepest valleys of pain — over 4,733,539 minutes I’ve fallen more in love with you — and for every one of the 284,012,334 seconds I consider it life’s greatest blessing to choose you as my person. @b_have I know our life looks different than we may have planned, but one thing remains the same — I have loved you for all of our yesterdays, and I will continue to love you for all of our tomorrows. ✨💛 || #bhavenandmsbhaven #lovebirds #june28

[joeywren]

{ if you wanna make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make a change } | We live in a beautifully chaotic world that ebbs+flows like the changing tides. There is so much in this world that is beautiful. And there is so much in this world that is broken. It is filled with reasons for hope + causes for fear. It is inhabited by people who equally have the capacity to love + the ability to hate. And it is intertwined in such a way, that every single person's life causes a ripple effect in their world. . 🌊 The ability to change the brokenness of our world, lies within our willingness to change — to recognize our need for personal growth + healing. To realize we are all a work in progress. To accept that Love came down to heal this broken world—starting with me, + you. The world doesn't change from the outside-in, but rather the inside-out. When we begin to allow what is within ourselves to change, the world around us is impacted. We aren't going to fix the world or change peoples heart's—only Jesus can do that. But we can show people Him by changing our live's to reflect His Love, and not blocking Him by our opinions. . 🌿 But somewhere between graduating + adulting, we stopped celebrating personal growth. We started associating words like growth or change with a connotation for imperfection. And we believe the lie that imperfections are failures, as opposed to a reality of humanity. We are all on a journey of becoming someone. And who that someone is, is decided in our everyday choices. Are we becoming love? Or are we becoming impenetrable by opinions + fears? . 💛 As for me, I'm starting with the [wo]man in the mirror. I'm asking her to change her ways. I'm choosing to reflect on the things of this world that irk me, that break my heart even—and intentionally choose to become love. To set my opinions + fears + judgements aside, and replace them with humility + grace + understanding. It is a lofty ambition —one that does not come naturally + requires me to be mindful of my words and actions— but it is possibly the only change that can break through the noise + offer a glimpse of Hope to the brokenness of our world. And hope is a beautiful thing.✨ (at Leucadia, California)

[joeywren]

{ in wilderness lies the h o p e of the world } | I love the mountains.🙋🏻‍♀️ They are humbling in reminding me how small I am — in this grand thing we call life. And yet, the Creator of the mountains and oceans, in all their beauty, didn't think the world would be complete without me—without you! ✨To be created with intention, for a purpose, in this time, gives me a reason to pause + reflect on the importance of that calling. . 🏔 As I rested in the beauty of this scene, I was inspired by the example mountains give of how the rule of nature is to serve one another. The mountains slope to collect rain water + melted snow to form rivers. The rivers run for the trees to grow + animals to drink. The 🌳s provide shade so the rivers don't run dry, + animals can take shelter. And the sun shines to nurture the trees and melt the snowcaps. . 🌿 Oh, how much we can learn from nature on how we ought to live our lives — serving one another in love. 💛 (at Lookout Mountain)

[joeywren]

{ you’ve given me everything that I need } | I turned 30 this year, the age you were when you had me, and I quickly learned something. I will never stop needing you like Lorelai needs ☕️! And I count that fact as one of life’s greatest blessings.✨ You have taught me how to dream big. You have showed me how to fearlessly pursue my calling, one step at a time. You have been a constant example of how to gracefully ride this roller coaster called life, throwing my hands in the air every now + again. And you have challenged me to lean into my weaknesses and allow our Creator to show Himself strong. Happy Mother’s Day @mom_milano! I love you like Emily loves to party-plan, like Luke loves to rant, + like Rory loves to read. 👈🏼 That’s a heckuva lot! 💛 (at Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve)

[joeywren]

{ what cannot be said will be wept } | I have wept a lot this year as grief has been an uncomfortable constant. . Ten years ago, I met Tsihoo in this very spot. This little lady quickly stole my heart. We spent three days hula-hooping + making friendship bracelets. She taught my heart how capable it is to love in an instant. . 10 yrs ago, Brian met Mekdes here. She shyly slid her hand in his + led him around the grounds showing him her classroom. . Our photos together have been in every home. Not a season has gone by without us longing to return to 🇪🇹—to these girls. We met before pocket-sized technology or social media, so had no way of remaining in contact. I searched online for an address to send 📬—to no avail. I applied for many trips to Addis, but none ever worked. So for years, I prayed. I prayed for the girl's safety, health, + for each girl's heart to know that she was deeply loved. . One year ago today, we FINALLY returned to the place I left my heart. To the place my mind wanders. To the place I visit in my dreams. It took 9yrs of 🙏🏽 + 1wk of navigating the unnamed streets of Addis to find those blue gates. When we we finally arrived, I had all but lost hope of reconnecting with the girls. . The Sisters warmly welcomed us and informed us that "Tsihoo aged out last year." A lump caught in my throat. Where is she? All she knew were the walls of this orphanage. Is she safe? A year ago? I am a year too late! — In one sentence, grief tangled with guilt latched onto my heart.💔⠀ . 300 children call this place home. Only the 14yr old girls were on lunch break during our visit. We quickly counted the birthdays. Could that be her class? In a city of 3.5 million, could we really find one little girl — without google maps, without texts, without any plan?! . When we shyly heard, "seme Mekdes naw" — there was no denying God's miraculous hand. Another lump in my throat. I tried to swallow. Tears immediately swelled my eyes. In one sentence, hope mixed with grief found a resting place in my heart. . She hugged me tightly and whispered "iwedishalehu" in my ear. Sweet Mekdi, you have altered the way my heart beats.✨💛 . February can't come soon enough! (at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)

[joeywren]

{ when i was your foe, still your love f o u g h t for me⠀ you have been so so GOOD to me —⠀ when i felt no w o r t h, you paid it all for me⠀ you have been so so KIND to me —⠀ oh, the overwhelming,⠀ n e v e r - e n d i n g,⠀ reckless LOVE of God } || 💛🌊✨⠀ .⠀ .⠀ I have officially lost count of how many times this song has brought me to tears in this current season of life. I don't share about it very often because I refuse to let my limitations define me, but after I was injured, I quickly realized how much of my self-worth was wrapped up in what I did. It's been a very difficult + equally humbling lesson to learn that no amount of accomplishments, or lack there of, changes the fact that He chases me down, fights 'till I'm found and leaves the ninety-nine. And He does the same for you, too! (at Leucadia, California)

[joeywren]

{ we were just kids when we fell in love, not knowing what it was } | T w e l v e years ago, @b_have asked me to take a walk along the Mighty Mississippi. Little did I know, that that walk would alter the course of my life in the best direction possible.💫 We talked four hours that day — 12 years later + we still haven't run out of things to say. 😉 I am so thankful that we found each other while we were just kids so that I could learn how to love and be loved with my person. ✨You have shared in all of my best days, all of my worst, and all the in betweens; I wouldn't trade a single one of them. Thank you for continuing to walk through this life with me by your side. I love you, B.💛 || #bhavenandmsbhaven (at Arches National Park)

[joeywren]

{ the world only exists in your eyes — you can make it as big or as small as you want } | And once you've encountered the grandness of this world, it is near impossible to ever try to contain it again.✨⠀ . ⠀ . One year ago, my dreams came true. One year ago, a nine year prayer was answered. One year ago, we finally returned to Ethiopia 🇪🇹. One year ago, God showed up in miraculous ways. And one year ago, I left a much bigger piece of my heart half way across the globe. 🌍⠀ . ⠀ . And oh, what a year this has been — desperately trying to not allow the space + time to shrink the world that I see. My life has felt fractured, like it naturally would, loving someone 9,000 miles away. And since returning, my dreams have only become larger—my prayers only more fervent. My faith + hopes for the future have been s t r e t c h e d to capacity; I'd be lying if I failed to admit that I have been wrestling with my fair share of doubts + fears along the way. As I look back on last year, God's beautiful orchestration in the details of our time in Ethiopia is undeniable. It only renews my confidence that He is present in the w a i t i n g - that He is faithful in giving us the desires of our 💛s. And that He truly has the perfect plan [even when we simply don’t get it! 🙋🏻‍♀️]. ⠀ (at Ethiopia)

[joeywren]

{ travel isn't always pretty. it isn't always comfortable. sometimes it hurts — it even breaks your heart. but that's okay. the journey changes you — it should change you. it leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. you take something with you . . . hopefully you leave something good behind. } | How has it already been a year since we boarded that ✈️to 🌍? That month in 🇰🇪+🇪🇹changed our lives. It altered our direction. And this moment, on our very last day, shattered my heart so deeply that in the months that followed I didn't know how to continue. ⠀ .⠀ . ⠀ . ⠀ I kept waiting for time to heal. I kept waiting for grief to diminish. I kept waiting for explanations to come. I kept waiting for life to feel normal again. I kept w a i t i n g. And it was somewhere in the midst of all that waiting, that I realized my waiting wasn't passive. It was active. ⠀ .⠀ . ⠀ My waiting actually looked a lot like f i g h t i n g. I was fighting to accept the grief + write it into my story. I was fighting to understand God's plan. I was fighting to learn my new normal. I was fighting to change. And, to be honest, change is oh so uncomfortable. I felt like my old skin no longer fit, but the new?—it wasn't yet my own. ⠀ . ⠀ . ⠀ I had no idea that boarding that plane a year ago, would have changed me in the ways that it has. It's been a tough year of waiting, of fighting, of healing, of changing — yet I wouldn't trade that last day of our trip for anything. My heart beats a little differently now -having given so much of it away- and I am finally okay with that. ⠀ .⠀ .⠀ . ⠀ As soon as our plane took off from Addis, we were praying for a return flight with a renewed purpose. We couldn't imagine another nine years going by before returning. So when the opportunity arose to join @thetable_world and fellow creatives in using our lens as someone else's microphone, we k n e w God was answering our hearts' prayer! While I may not know all that lies ahead for us when we board that next plane, I am beyond grateful to be returning to Ethiopia in February and to be reunited with the piece of my heart that I willingly left behind. 💛✨ (at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)

[joeywren]

{ every painted sky ⏤ a canvas of your g r a c e ⏤ if creation still obeys ⏤ so will i } | When He paints the sky this beautiful, you have no choice but to pull over on the side of the highway to savior every moment of it. And then you hang outta the sunroof to capture the shot to make it last a bit longer. 🌄✨💛 Dec, 2017 \\ Which I am so glad I did, because I found this showstopper in the archives of photos I've forgotten to share. Gosh, I miss those California skies! (at San Diego, California)

[joeywren]

{ be a pop of color in this black + white world } | Current Mood: I could so rant rn, b u t t it's the weekend so bums the word! [yea... I -unashamedly- went there 💁🏻] Instead, I'll leave you with this — Don't let those who can only see in black and white stifle the vibrancy this world has to offer. Life happens in the spaces in between. Live your life in color. 💛💚💙💗Happy Fri-yay, y'all! ✨⠀ (at Nairobi National Park)

[joeywren]

{ I have been bent+broken, but —I h o p e— into a better shape } | It’s hard to believe that a year ago we were mere days away from boarding a ✈️ to 🌍. Despite all my planning, nothing could have prepared me for the changes that were about to occur deep in my soul - and it's taken a great deal of wrestling to figure out how to write these experiences into my story. ⠀ .⠀ . Call me optimistic, a dreamer, a free spirit, or even naive, but I have always been a vocal supporter that one person has the ability to change the world. And I am passionately committed to documenting those world-changer’s stories. My lens is their microphone. Yet, it was as I stood in the Diid Galgalu Desert filming a story I had dreamed of filming for a decade, that I suddenly felt absolutely obsolete behind my lens. //Just a girl and her camera. "What was I really doing here?// That feeling shattered my spirit. ⠀ . ⠀ . How is my camera suppose to relieve the drought? What impact can I really make for those suffering from a famine? How in the world am I suppose to tackle a conversation like religious persecution? I thought I had prepared -as best as anyone could- to be confronted with these realities of our world, but I had no idea how to proceed a f t e r w a r d s. ⠀ .⠀ . When we returned home, I was angry for going into a creative field, instead of something useful like law or business that could actually impact meaningful change. "How selfish was I to tell stories for a living, when there are real needs going unmet in this world?" + "How much more selfish am I to care what I do, in light of what I had seen?" ⠀ .⠀ . It was somewhere in the midst of my millionth prayer begging God to show me what He was doing or tell me why He was allowing me to experience this pain that He reminded me that Jesus used stories to influence culture. He used stories to encourage, to challenge, and to teach. That stories are an integral component in shaping history. That we are all a part of a much bigger story. And yet, every personal story matters.⠀ . ⠀ . So while I've struggled with whether or not my calling is frivolous, how sobering + comforting it is to know He values each and every one our stories.✨💛 (at Moyale Marsabit Road)

[joeywren]

{ there is b e a u t y in simplicity } | All this sunshine has me daydreaming of those ocean blues! 💦💛✨ (at San Diego Bay)

[joeywren]

{ to touch the heart of a woman, you touch the heart of the family; to touch the heart of the family, you reach the whole of a community } | Meet Turu. Wife—Mother—Sister—Friend. She is the embodiment of the phrase "empowered women empower women." In eight years, she has helped Lifeway grow the women's empowerment program from 7 ladies, to now over 200! Her "desire and wish is to see all women be able to provide food for their families." And through small micro-finance loans, women are starting businesses and their lives and communities are being transformed! ✨⠀ .⠀ . I am immeasurably thankful for the tribe of women I know, both near and far, who are dreamers + do-ers, who are empathetic + courageous, who are sassy + kind, and who inspire, challenge, + encourage me and those around them on a daily basis. I am who I am because of the incredible women I know. Thank you for being a part of my story. 💛⠀⠀ (at Nairobi, Kenya)