Happy Anniversary to Me!

Today is my anniversary. Exactly two years ago today, I moved to this wonderful city of Hamilton. It’s crazy to think of all the things that have happened in those two years and to see how different I am from then. I have no plans to officially celebrate this anniversary… I don’t think other people realize how much I love marking ridiculously random special days in my life… but I couldn’t let the day go by without acknowledging it. Now, I have a sermon to finish.

Rain, Rain

I don’t like it when it rains all day. You know, the days that are grey and chilled and the sun doesn’t shine. I especially don’t like it when these days happen one after another after another. I do, however, like storms. I would say, in fact, that I love storms. There is something about the sudden onset, the quick rolling clouds, the thunder and the lightening that reminds me of God’s awesome power. During the downpour, and directly after, I frequently want to put on my rubber boots and play in the puddles. When the sun comes out again I search for rainbows. It makes me happy.

Perhaps this says something about my life. The most difficult (but likely true) thing anyone has told me this year is that I don’t like it when things are hard. It is true. I spent a lot of time trying to make it sound like it wasn’t… but it is. I can handle momentary storms of crisis, but I don’t like having it rain day after day after day. I am not overly patient, nor am I good at perseverance. It’s something I’m learning in this whole waiting for a house process. I keep coming to places where I’m ready to give up, I call out to God for direction and He simply tells me to keep chasing the dream He’s put on my heart. I went out to look for a rainbow after the rain just now but there wasn’t one. I guess we don’t always get a rainbow.

Latest Newsletter

It took me a whole half-hour but I got my computer to convert files to pdf again.  Here’s the latest issue of my newsletter.

august-08-newsle

Life, in Light of the Weekend

I highly suggest taking a day to escape life every once in a while. While last Wednesday’s impromptu snow day did not solve all of my problems, it, paired with getting away for the weekend, has given me a new perspective on things. The weekend was wonderful. I had forgotten so much of what I love about being outside. I haven’t stopped to look at stars in too long so it was nice to be surrounded by beauty for an entire weekend. We swam a bit. I went for a walk each day. We read a lot and played lots of board games. I think I played two or three games of Scrabble, which I am horrible at but I love. We also had a campfire each night, which included marshmallows and hot dogs being cooked and consumed. I had a great time.

This week has also looked better in light of getting away for some time. I had some difficult but good conversations with Eric and Timmy early this week that God is continuing to use in shaping me. I realized on Tuesday that I haven’t been doing a great job lately of pursuing the best God has for me. Often I get so overwhelmed with the day-to-day that I start responding to people as problems to solve or crises to manage, instead of objects that deserve real love and have the potential to shape and change me. I think I do this most when I don’t know how to love them… because I know it doesn’t happen all the time. One more thing to learn about love I guess. Sheesh, don’t I ever get to know it all?

We are still looking for a place to live. Please pray for that… we know we won’t be homeless if we don’t find a place by September but the thought of moving more than once doesn’t really appeal to us. There is also one more girl who is interested in living with us. She seems pretty great. I am excited to get to know her more and I think she has a lot to teach all of us about practicing community.

Well, I should get back to work. I’m trying to spend the day finishing up a summer newsletter and preparing for my exit interview which is on Monday. I thought a little blogging break was due… hopefully now my brain can return to newsletter mode. Expect something to be out by the end of the day… if I can remember how to convert files to pdf.