Ugh

I am in such a weird little funk today, and I cannot for the life of me figure out why. My only guess is that it must be a case of the post-traveling, home to an empty house, doldrums. I really wasn't expecting them this time around, though, because Justin will be back home SOON! But, it's unmistakable; I am feeling quite blah today.

I had such a fun little trip to Dover and DC, filled with kiddos and great friends! I came to be best buds with Laurel (and really wish I had a picture to post--she is such a free spirit and was not afraid of me in the least...unlike most kids, haha); had a great time catching up with Kaylie, Phill, Rachel, and Jill; and then I got to briefly meet Sophia Jane on the way home. Remember my friends Matt and Ann who caught the garter and the bouquet at our wedding and then got hitched? They just welcomed Sophia Jane into the world on Cinco de Mayo.

And she is gorgeous and perfect. And so is her mama, who does not at all look like she just spent the last nine months carrying a child in her belly. You'll just have to take my word for that one, but those of you who have seen Matt and Ann's pictures know that that's the truth.

So now all I need is a big ol' helping of patience, prayers for volcanic ash to stop hanging over the Atlantic already (because even if it doesn't affect us, it is keeping more than a few of our friends apart), and the motivation to stop procrastinating and get to work already so that I have no distractions when my man comes home!!

...

Is it next week yet?

Cheers

I've been feeling nostalgic today, which is part of the reason for my recent absence, but I've also been just plain busy. Maybe you'll hear more about that later. For now, though, I'm feeling the need for a little inspiration, which sent me looking for a forward a friend of mine sent me a number of months ago. If you cringed at the word "forward," I sympathize 100%. But don't let that scare you away this time. It's still a little cheesy, but this one meant something to me, otherwise I would not have gone back looking for it months later. Enjoy. Then call a friend you've been missing.

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person.. When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally, or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend, and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn. They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it, it is real. But only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons, things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person, and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

The realities of Gustav

I grew up landlocked in Oklahoma. Hurricanes were not one of life's realities for me. Gustav is making things personal, though, as it threatens to rage its way through Louisiana and also make its influence felt in Pass Christian, MS. Pass Christian, if I remember correctly, was the town hit the hardest by Katrina. One of my former roommates, Leah, and her family (the McBrides) have been living there for the past year, rebuilding and providing hurricane relief. They won't be going far when Gustav hits so they can be immediately available to provide relief once the storm passes.

It's easy for all of us to keep an emotional distance from this kind of devastation when we have no personal connection. I'm just as guilty of that as anyone. But just because we may not have met the people involved does not mean that they are any less valuable and loved in the eyes of God, and we should give these nameless faces more than just our sympathy. So please pray for the people in the path of Gustav. Prayers are far more than just sympathy after all; they are powerful. Pray for the safety of those involved and for the future of those who may lose their home, perhaps for the second time in three years. And pray for people like the McBrides who will be providing relief in the midst of the threat of damage to their own home. Pray that they will be safe and encouraged and a light to those in need of a real hope.

For more on how you can specifically pray for the McBrides and other rescuers, check out the website for their organization, Project Reclaim. You can also go here for information on how to provide financial support if you should decide to help out in that way in the days following Gustav. I promise you it will be money well spent, and you can be assured that every penny you give will go to the relief effort.

These two inspire me

Meet Matt and Ann (if you haven't already). We were privileged to have them stop and stay with us for much of this weekend in the midst of their traveling.

This is a picture of Matt and Ann dancing at our wedding after he caught the garter and she caught the bouquet. They weren't yet dating, but they are now engaged and planning a December wedding! Justin and I are honored to share that part of their history. Individually, they are people you can't help but love--full of talent, energy, and the desire to use all of that to serve God and others. As a couple, it is stunningly obvious how well they complement and bring out the best in each other, and I am so excited to see what God has ahead for them in marriage.

Now, I don't want to give the impression that I think Matt and Ann are any more suited for each other or that God has destined them to do greater things than any other couple. I think it's up to each of us individually to make the most of our relationships. And that is why they are a couple who inspire me--because the love, encouragement, and support they give each other seems to flow from them so easily. I know this will sound cheesy (it can't be helped, at least not by me), but couples like Matt and Ann make me want to be a better spouse and to love Justin better, in a way that will always bring out the best in him. Because bringing out the best in someone means enabling him (or her) to be full of surprises. You never know what to expect when you're headed uphill, and the higher you go, the more magnificent the view.

Whether you choose to share or not, who do you admire as a couple and why? What inspiration can you take from them and put to use to make the most of your relationships, even if it's just for today?