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Transitions - Part 2

For the sake of an update, I have given my thirty day notice on my apartment - I will be out by the end of December. During this season in which people are generally getting into the "Holiday Cheer", I find myself kind of pulled away from the throng of noise and hustle and bustle. I am being forced to delve into a deep place in my spirit to find peace and genuine security and identity in the Lord. That is a good place to be. I am going through all my "stuff" - hehe, I just moved here 2 years ago but I seem to be quite a pack rat. I am getting rid of a lot of stuff - both physically and emotionally. I am laying down dreams, expectations, desires, even promises I believe the Lord has spoken to me. I hold it all with open hands. I am not shutting down my heart, I am simply allowing the Lord to sort through what I have. I am not trying to be content with less, I am believing for more - more of what He wants for me - something bigger than me, something with more purpose than I could come up with on my own. I don't feel very brave or very confident in the decisions I am making, but I am making them in obedience and in faith that He is leading me in the way I should go.

Psalms 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.

I am taking one step at a time, one day at time. Sitting at Jesus's feet in the early morning hours, not to receive direction necessarily, but to simply draw on His presence and fellowship. I am lost without Him.

Transitions...Part 1

A dear friend of mine brought a blog post to my attention today. The author of the post was commenting on a quote from a book she had just finished, entitled "Don't Waste Your Life" by John Piper. Although I have not read the book, I identified deeply with the quote.

"But if the discontent with your present situation is deep, recurrent, and lasting, and if that discontent grows in Bible-saturated soil, God may be calling you to a new work. If, in your discontent, you long to be holy, to walk pleasing to the Lord, and to magnify Christ with your one, brief life, then God may indeed be loosening your roots in order to transplant you to a place and a ministry where the deep spiritual ambitions of your soul can be satisfied. It is true that God can be known and enjoyed in every vocation; but when he deploys you from one place to the next, he offers fresh and deeper drinking at the fountain of his fellowship. God seldom calls us to an easier life, but always calls us to know more of him and drink more deeply of his sustaining grace. "

I have hesitated to write much lately due to the transition I am currently in. I know the Lord is leading me out of my comfort zone and into a what feels like a "do you have the courage to take a risk even if you fail?" zone. Sure, I would move to Uganda tomorrow without a hesitation. A three month trip to Indonesia in a few weeks? I'm there, just put me on the plane! But to do what I feel the Lord is leading me to do right now, what I can't write about yet, do I have the courage to trust Him with that? What if the idea of it really puts knots in my stomach? I am following Him down a road I have never been on before. And that quote helped me understand that it is ok for me to be searching deeply...

Blast from the Past

I was going through some pictures the other night and found some OLD pictures. Kind of entertainting...

I can still pout like this.

Me and my pup dogs

Grade school photo - First Grade???
Cricket...my first "horse". Saved my whole life to buy her for $40. Took me 6 years.

My goats...I really dislike goats now :-D

Seek First...

"Seek first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. Therefore do not be anxious..." Matthew 6:33

In the midst of transition and seeking specific direction for this season in my life, I am overwhelmed with the many "open doors" and paths that I could take. This verse in Matthew is often tritely quoted, but there is so much depth to it when embraced and applied. I am dealing with a holy frustration, and I truly want to be pleasing to Him as I make decisions and walk out this process.

Father, I pray for Your Kingdom to be established in and through me as I walk as Your daughter. My heart is set upon seeking You above all else. Even when things are uncertain all around me, You are steadfast and faithful. My hope, my purpose, my desires are all found in You. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Align my heart with Yours, may I find life and joy in Your presence.

Peach Freezer Jam

My friends have a peach tree that was LOADED with peaches this year. I didn't have tons of time to can them, but I spent all afternoon Saturday freezing them and I made a couple batches of yummy freezer jam.

Fresh off the tree...

Blanching... Ice cold water to remove the skins...
Sugar and pectin...
Jam!!! (Now I just need to make some bread...)

Room Mates

My friend, and Best Room Mate Ever, is getting married in less than two months. I am thrilled for her and her fiance. We have been here for almost two years. It has been a good season, but it is time for her to move on. She is hard to replace though. Finding a good room mate these days is kind of a challenge. I haven't really "advertised", but I have gotten the word out by word of mouth but the prospects haven't been to promising. I told my landlord too. She came over this morning and told me she "found a room mate for you, his name is so and so." I'm like, "who?". She said, "so and so". "Its a guy?" I asked. "Yeah, he is looking for a room mate cause his just moved out". I'm like, "I need a girl room mate." "O, but he is really nice." I'm like, "Uh, no thanks." I guess you have to be pretty specific with these things...

Trip To San Diego

Whew! What a weekend! Its been a while since I had a good ol fashioned road trip. My brother, grandpa, mom, and I all piled into grandpa's white Buick for a 1,ooo mile jaunt down I-15 for my cousin's wedding in San Diego. 30 hours in the car over the past three days - I think I am cured of road trips for a while.

We drove to Las Vegas on Friday and stayed the night. I had never been to Vegas before, so my brother took us on a mini tour down on the "strip" and Freemont street. (Not my favorite place in the world). We left at 6am on Saturday and drove the remaining way to San Diego.

The wedding was simple but very beautiful and well worth the investment of the drive. Ian's band played softly in the background and their pastor admonished them - "God brings two together so that they can do more for the Kingdom of God together than they could ever do alone"..., "provoke each other to pursue and cultivate the will of God...", "remind him of what God has placed in his heart.." They pledged their personalized vows under the glow of white lights adorning the willow tree behind them. The reception was on the basketball court that had been transformed into a cozy atmosphere by huge white ball lanterns strung across the court. I am so proud of my cousin and his new bride. I really felt like I could stand in agreement with their decision. It was such a blessing to spend a few hours see my aunt and uncle and other cousin that had flown down from Oregon.

Bright and early at 5am we packed back up the Buick and headed 1,000 miles north, straight home. I would have liked to have spent more more time in San Diego seeing some of the sights (primarily the OCEAN), but maybe some other time....

Congratulations Ian and Julie!!!!

Yellowstone with Friends

This weekend I have been graced with the company of some very dear friends that I met in Singapore two years ago. They are missionaries to southeast Asia and are based out of Singapore. Deborah and Cornelio came to see me in Blackfoot! And since it was Cornelio's birthday yesterday, we took a surpise trip to Yellowstone National Park. It has been over 8 years since I had been to the park, so it was blast to see it again myself and to show it to people who have never experienced it before. We saw lots of critters - more than I had ever seen in previous visits. Hundreds of buffalo, several elk, deer, cranes, and a coyote.

Cornelio, Deborah, and me - enjoying each other's company.

Enjoying pita sandwiches at Old Faithful

Powder Puff Derby

This is Barbie, er, I mean Jonnie. She is my sister...



And this is my dad...
And my "little" brother...

Back to Jonnie...
This is Jonnie's car. Well, one of her cars. The other one isn't so, um, pink. And it isn't so noisey.Wow, is that rust?
And this is Jonnie's multi talented husband - Kevin.
And this is Jonnie's first crash that she didn't get a ticket for :-D

Wow sis, all those years of backing into the trash can in the driveway and hitting parked cars in the parking lot really paid off! I had no idea you were practicing for your first demolition derby! She managed to get through without breaking a nail...You go Girl! I am proud of you!

Seasons

Without knowing what hit me, September burst through the door without a warning. Not that he is an unwelcome guest, as I have always loved the crisp coolness on his breath, but I certainly was unprepared for the sudden arrival. School is back in session, the state fair is half over, and the geese are well on their way of mapping pit stops on their way south. It seems that things all around me are changing and shifting, and yet I remain still. I love the definite seasons of Idaho. The glowing intense romance of Summer always yields to the tap on the back from Autumn requesting the next dance with creation before Winter comes in silent and relentless monotony where life seems so distant. However, Spring, with her sweet song and somewhat unreliable predictability, forces new life and resurrection from the dead, as creation is once again awakened as deep calls unto deep.

Not long ago, as I was sharing my heart with the Lord, I heard myself questioning Him as to why nothing in my life changes. I confess, I have wasted much time in my life comparing myself to others, which is always a no win situation. However, this time I was honestly laying my heart before the Lord seeking Him for direction in my life. It seems, by outward appearance, that everyone around me are "moving on" with life: getting married, having kids, changing jobs, graduating, etc. People are going through their life seasons and I feel like I have been stuck in a rut for the better part of ten years. Why are the things I am believing and praying for not coming to pass? Sometimes the sheer restlessness and frustration bring me to tears.

Then the Lord, in absolute confident reply to my question, "The change is happening in you. You are the change. Continue to believe Me, for it is My work to do in and through you, and what I have begun in you, I am faithful to complete."

Fair Pictures

The EISF is next week and once again I have entered a slew of photos. Here they are!

Remember Me?

Yeah, well I am still alive. Been kinda busy all summer and have had a bad case of blogger's block. Plus I haven't been taking many pictures and those have always been my crutch when words fail to type out on the screen. Anyways, hopefully I am over this case of BB and I will keep this more up to date.....we'll see.

Riding

While I was visiting my mom the past few days, I had the opportunity to ride my horse every day :-) Man, am I sore! I forget how many muscles you have to use to ride a horse. By the fourth ride I was feeling a bit better, but then it was time to come home :-(