Treasures in my heart

I love the part where Mary talks about how she "treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart" (Luke 2:19). That is what I did this weekend :)

I went to Lubbock for the Tech game and to spend time with many friends and extended family. It was one of my favorite weekends ever. The timing was just right. It was such a blessing, and I feel like I did what Mary described: treasured everything, pondering and storing them in my heart. I feel like every time I leave Lubbock, I leave a little more of my heart behind. I feel a peace there I feel nowhere else. It is just home. My heart is there, and I think it has been since I left. I think there is a reason for that, and am doing all I can to get back there.

On the way, I got to watch Lubbock Christian High School play their last game of the season (sadly), which is always a blast. I was sorry to see their season come to an end (one game before state), but really enjoyed watching them play. Then, on Saturday...it was the Tech vs. Baylor game!!! I was really excited because I got cheap (and great!!) tickets off ebay, and invited my good friend, James to go with me. I had been wanting to go ALL season, and really wanted to see Graham Harrell play before he graduated, and it was a blast!! I loved catching up with James, who I spent the good part of the weekend with-plus the Towns', and it was all such a tremendous blessing, and just what I needed!! Then, I had an almost 9 hour conversation with another good friend on Monday who is going through a really difficult time, but is literally a modern day prophet-and spoke a lot of truth and honesty into my life. It is amazing that even in the midst of his despair that he continues to allow God to use him as an amazing tool, and I am so thankful for him while my heart truly hurts for him. On the way home, I got to talk to one of my best friends from college who I have not talked to in months, and we always seem to end up at the same place spiritually when we talk-so it is always a pleasure to talk with her, and I miss her dearly. Then...after trying to get together for a year and half (literally), I finally got to sit down and have lunch with my friend, David Fraze today-and that was another blessing.

I am so thankful that God has sent so many people into my life right now to speak truth, encourage, and affirm me in so many ways. The timing is perfect (which is always true with God!!), especially after feeling like I have been on a pretty lonely journey. I have also found an incredible community through the internet that has been blessing me in other amazing ways lately, and am so thankful for them. It really is amazing how God works-even when we doubt, question our faith, and feel like we are going alone. I am ever more grateful for each friendship and relationship in my life, and how truly precious they are to me. It also seems that so many of them have deepened and/or have been taken to a whole other level. I value each one of them, and am thankful for the new perspective and worldview this time has given me-even though it has been painful and frustrating. Even today, David said that I am not the same person he talked to 6 months ago-which is so true. I can see an evolution in who I am, who God is molding me to be, and who I am becoming. I just pray He continues to mold me into His image, even when I have to go through the fire-so that I come out refined and on fire for Him. I know He is still here, and I trust in that, and place my hope in that. A few weeks ago-I could not have spoken that, but today-even in the midst of questions-I can and have to press on.

For now, I am just pondering and storing up all of these precious gems in my heart. I am so thankful for the blessings He has poured out on me through people, and I pray that I can be a blessing in return.

Oh, and if you could-please remember me tomorrow morning, as I am having my 2 root canals, and I am pretty nervous. Thanks!! Blessings on you all~