Getting to Know You...

I've recently grown in my appreciation for getting to know someone new. Anyone who knows me knows that meeting knew people is NOT my favorite thing. At all. It terrifies me, stresses me out, causes me anxiety. I'm horrible at small talk and can never think of anything to say or any questions to ask. My mind just goes blank!

BUT

Once the initial first meeting is over, I've realized that I can enjoy getting to know someone and making a new friend.

I've realized that getting to know someone is kind of like reading a new book for the first time. You have a whole story to explore and learn and get lost in! A new person is the same way, they have a story that they'll start to share with you, and as you get to know them and know their story you start to find things in common and relate and get invested in the person, like you would a book.

When I liken it to books it's not nearly so scary  : )
And of course, any excuse to show a clip from a musical should be taken advantage of.

5 am Musings

So it's one of those nights, I'm just not supposed to sleep I guess. There are so many other things I could be getting done, so many things to think about, so many prayers to pray. So, 4 hours of sleep it is! Let's get this stuff done!
In some ways, I love being the only one awake in the wee hours....everything is so, quiet. I love the silence. There are no distractions. The computer and cell phone are off, the lamp is low, and my Lord calls me to my knees. It's been an amazing morning.
We'll see how I feel around 2:00 this afternoon, but for now, I'm flying high, reveling in the silence and peace that only my Heavenly Father brings.

Great is His Faithfulness

Isn't it amazing how God can turn something horrible and depressing into a blessing?

This weekend was a crazy whirlwind that totally did not go as I had planned, which, for anyone who knows me, knows what a problem that can be for me. But God took my plans and after throwing them out the window into the blizzard turned me onto the path towards His plan. You'd think I would learn by now, but it seems this is one lesson I'll have to keep learning....and repeating...

I was supposed to go to Maranatha Bible camp this weekend for an annual worship conference. Churches from several states and denominations come together for a weekend of workshops and worship and fellowship and refreshment. It's also a reunion of sorts for me, since my dear dear friends,the Braddy family, who used to live in Kearney but moved to Wyoming, are there and it's wonderful to get to catch up and spend time together. Overall it's a rejuvenating and revitalizing weekend, and one that I look forward to all year.

So naturally Nebraska would go all winter with hardly any snow and then choose this one weekend to blizzard on us.

I held off making a decision on whether or not I would make the hour and a half-ish drive to camp come sleet or snow or ice or wind, but Friday morning came and it was clear that the storm wasn't going to blow over like I had hoped, and I decided it would be best to stay in Kearney. I felt like I had been punched in the gut and had a good little cry in my office once I had officially decided to stay. I couldn't help but be upset and frustrated with God. Why would He deny me the one opportunity I would have to see this family I haven't seen in eight months and an opportunity to spend a weekend growing in my worship to Him?

I couldn't see it until after the weekend was over, but my heavenly Father had some wonderful things planned for me for the weekend, and I am so grateful that I was able to spend the weekend in Kearney, doing what I ended up doing.
It still hurts, not being able to see people I had been hoping to see and don't know when I'll see again, but there was a lot of good that came out of the weekend and I am thankful that God chose to bless me as He did.
When will I learn to trust my heavenly Father with my life and plans? I don't know that I'll ever fully get there, but I hope to get better at it, through Him and His strength. I want to be able to completely trust Him with everything and it's what I'm constantly striving for.

Great is His faithfulness, His steadfast love endures forever. Amen!