Reflections

It has been a little over a month since I left my job at ACU; and I have to say I have had a lot of mixed emotions. At first, I was sad because I left a lot of people I love and a job that I enjoyed. I was sad for the reasons that I chose to leave, and not thrilled about the fact that I did not know what was next and I was moving home. The first 2 weeks were rough and frustrating.

Then I left for 2 weeks to visit friends and family in Lubbock and Colorado, and that was a huge blessing! I was able to help Kayla celebrate her birthday, go to Colorado to visit one of my best friends who just moved there and recently had a baby. It is so incredibly beautiful there and the air was clean. It was wonderful to hold and play with Miles and spend time with LeeAnna-I just love her. We met on my very first day at LCU while we were getting ready to leave on the chorus retreat-she was sitting to my right, and I introduced myself-she also ended up being my neighbor (for the first 6 weeks and then I had to change rooms-which is a whole other story). We stood next to each other in chorus & had a blast, and probably should have gotten in more trouble than we actually did ;) When she graduated college and moved to Fort Worth-she began going to my home church, Altamesa-so I was able to keep in touch with her and see her that way. We would not talk extremely often, but when we did-we always seemed to be at the same kind of stage in life or dealing with the same issues. It is always such a blessing to talk to her, because our conversations can be so real, and we can totally understand each other-without any judgment and with lots of encouragement. I know it is one of those lifelong friendships that will never end, and will only continue to grow with time-which I know are precious, and I am extremely grateful for.

When I would go home to Burleson, she lived fairly close and we would meet for dinner-sometimes with her husband Lucas (whom she met while going to Altamesa-which I give myself partial credit for their meeting!) ;). He took a job in Colorado a few months ago-right after baby Miles was born...and we were talking one day after I knew I was going to leave my job and be off for awhile, and she encouraged me to come visit. I thought-why not? I love Colorado and would love to go spend time with them, so I hit the road...and what a gorgeous drive it was!!

This is sweet baby Miles:
We went to the "Garden of the gods" and it was beautiful:

I LOVE this shot:
I went back the following day to get some additional pictures, and while I was hiking around, I met this lady who was sitting on the rock, reading her Bible and enjoying the beautiful day and view, and she really encouraged me...

Her name is Tina, and I felt like God led me to her-she quoted me a scripture she had found and it really encouraged me:

If the Lord delights in a man's way, He makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with His hand. ~Psalm 37:23

I had been standing around the corner, looking onto God's beautiful creation and silently praying about my search for the job and asking God to guide me and show me the way. I had seen her on my way in with her Bible, and when I rounded the corner to go back, I felt like I needed to say something to her, and I was really glad I did! Isn't it amazing the way God works? :)

Here is an amazing picture on the drive home:
When I returned from my trip, we went up near Amarillo where Melany's mom's sister live in a community out on a lake, and it was a blast!! :) We went tubing on the lake:

...I played golf for the first time EVER, and I really enjoyed it!! I did really well, too-they could not believe that I had never played before...I told them all of that Putt-Putt practice had paid off!! ;) Of course, when I woke up the next morning-between the tubing and the golfing my arms felt like lead!!

It was really nice to be able to get away and visit with everyone, and have some time to relax. I definitely do feel more rested, less stressed, and more at peace about things. Yet, I am ready, ready, READY to move on to the next phase. I love my family, but I am tired of living at home. I have not heard anything from the places I have applied, and it is definitely frustrating...but I know that God is faithful and in control, and I have to keep trusting in that. Patience is just not one of my best virtues! But, I have to keep this in mind:

If the Lord delights in a man's way, He makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with His hand. ~Psalm 37:23