Homecoming...

"A Little Home" -Rascal Flatts
I'm so excited about my Mom coming home from the Dark continent! I havn't seen her in over a year now. She will be here to visit me for about a week... which of course won't be long enough, but I think it will help to get me through another birthday, another Christmas, ...another year, away from them.

Recalculating

Undone.
That about sums it up.
Since I've been in the house a lot this week off of work, I thought I'd go out to coffee and free wifi to study my lesson for Jr. Church. I'm teaching all month and it is so exciting to be unfolding the truths of Who God Is and The First Creations of Angels. These kids are good, though a handfull, so I wanted to be sure to have a good handle on the material.
My car is in the shop so I borrowed my Aunt's. Not a bad start.
Then I got lost on the way to the bank because it was a "right" instead of a "left". I circled three times before finding it... even passing my Aunt and Uncle on the road making the loop.
(That was funny)
Got my money, and... made the wrong turn. So I looped again.
Finally making it to the cozy little spot beside the window, I come to find I LEFT MY STUDY MATERIAL!!!
Realy? Really.
So, here I sit with my large Caramel Mac killing some time and wondering what the heck I'm here for. Ya, I could go back to the empty house that I've been more-or-less stranded in and stay the night studying... but honestly, it's not going to happen.
It did make me think though.

Wow, am I lost.. Lord, I think I'm more lost than I know.. in more ways than I know.

Round and Round we go

Honestly, I'm not surprised anymore why people say

  "Money makes the world go round"

I've been juggling a lot of things including car insurance, health insurance, registration, not to mention phone bill, and a couple personal expenses.
I know it will all come together somehow, but I'm just having a little bit of a crisis with this new "Adult life" thing. First time for a lot of these responsibilities and dealing with their difficulties.
Makes me wish my Dad was here to help me wade the high water.
But...
 I know my Father in Heaven is here helping me out and sending good friends and family to help me get through.
Money may make the world go round... but I know the One that "hung the World on nothing".. and He makes all the difference. (Job 26:7)

Sinking in

Wow... who would of thunk it?

I have officially made roots for MYSELF!! Of course I've had roots because of family connections, but today I MADE roots. I became an official resident of my northeastern state. New License, soon to have new registration on my car.. I can't believe it.
 A lot is changing in the next few days.
 My best-childhood friend is heading back to college tomorrow, which is weird since I am usually the one leaving and on the road for days at a time. Now I'm the one waving good-bye as I hang pictures on the walls of what was his old room; turned my room. I'm getting settled into work a little more with the fact that there's not even enough work to keep on the temps! Most all the seasonal help has moved on now and I'm still left pending... everyone knows I want to stay, they just have to decide now whether or not to keep me.
Am I ready for this?
 Am I ready to be in this routine EVERYDAY!? I've never had this kind of "nine-to-five" job for more than a summer. Well, Hey, whether I think I'm ready for it or not, I'm gonna learn alot so that I AM ready for it. My grandmother has been reminding me a lot about blooming where I am planted. So I do believe it's about time I took some time to feel the sunshine on my face, breathing in some fresh air, and letting my colors show here for HIS glory for a while. I plan to grow here... I plan to grow a lot. Why?
 Because that is exactly what is going to happen whether I'm looking for it or not.

A New Wind Blowing

So, I was reviewing my said "GOALS" for the summer that I posted a few months ago. I had to shake my head in disappointment to see that 85% of them were not well kept.
YES, I saved money... but was unable to save enough since my lack of available overtime at work changed my financial situation
YES, I was preparing for Scotland... but realized that now is not the right timing for such an endeavour.

but.
 NO, I did not get very involved in Church ministries... except in joining that small group I mentioned earlier.
NO, I did not keep this thing updated.
and though I have met a couple new families, I have not been able to really make time to spend investing.

HOWEVER...

    These goals unfinished are not failures on my record. The beautiful thing is, I am able to re-coop and revitalize the opportunities. Now that I am no longer going across the pond, I find more time to get involved with ministries, dig into new acquaintances, and continue to save for school and Scotland next time.

It took me a while to decide to step out of the ministry team that was head east, but right away I had a quiet confidence and peace that it was the right decision. Of course there was an influx of encouraging words from friends and family. What's in store for the next few months is still a mystery and... that's okay.
This morning's service at church spoke of Abraham's faith.. how incredible it was that he was able to have such trust and confidence in the LORD's promises, that his son of laughter was on the sacrificial altar the very next day that Jehovah required him.
What is amazing to think about is that Abraham had seen God prove Himself over and over and over again, that the man really had no reason NOT to trust His promises.
I hope this can be a thread that characterizes my life from now on.
Somehow I know that this year is going to bring things I need to grow in and adventures that are going to make me into a greater man of God than I would have away in Scotland.

A Smile

Have been encouraged by the new group study I'm in on the book called "Love, Sex, and Lasting Relationships" It's starting out with a beautiful contrast between what 'Hollywood" says Love is and what God says... and how to find it with another.
Answered prayers, surprise visits from old friends, and spoken truth have all added to a week of the Lord working behind the scenes.

Slowly moving on..

Here I am again, on a Saturday evening, living like there's no change from yesterday. Still getting up at 5am for work... still getting a paycheck on Fridays that's a little under $300.... still wondering where this is all heading. Yes, I am SLOWLY making progress toward my Scotland trip. No, I did not go down to my home church and visit for a couple of weeks (yet). Things have been post-pond, people are dragging their feet with information, and on top of it all, I feel like I have no time in the evenings to do anything productive. Or maybe I'm still not using my time efficiently.
I feel like I'm starving for Truth and to be fed spiritually. My mind and heart are weak to the things of the world and I have been rarely walking in the Spirit. I'm discouraged.
Honestly, I'm hating me for not getting things underway... but there's also little I can do with what I have.
Please pray that I don't get over zealous and press on harder than I have right to or need to.
In other words... pray that I patiently wait on the Lord and depend on His timing.