So many things...

:le sigh:

What a roller coaster this has been! But I'm finally home. I don't even have time to write a decent blog about recent events, but I needed to write something.

So, we just got back from a week long mission trip with our youth group, and it was insane. Nothing went as we had anticipated, things changed daily, and even still, it was amazing.

But, while I hope to update more on how that went and the goings on of the trip later, I'm just sitting here thinking about all sorts of random things. Seriously, I feel as if my mind might explode with all the things I'm thinking. It's entirely possible that I'm completely unaware of all the thoughts flowing through my head because there are just so very many. Haha.

One thing I'm thinking about right now is about our next home. I feel treacherous at being so grateful to collapse in the safe harbor of our current home, only to "daydream" as it were about our future home. But there are so many good things that will come from moving...namely a slight increase of free time. I'm sure that we will easily be able to fill that time with more things and more busyness, as we seem so expertly gifted to do. But I guess the reason I'm really thinking about it is that we're looking at a house tomorrow. Much earlier than we had anticipated actually looking, as we were hoping to have this one on the market/sold before really starting our house search...but one of the houses that I had my eye on is going into foreclosure. Bad luck for the folks who owned it, but potentially good luck for the hubby and me. We're going to see it tomorrow to see if we like the layout, if it's in good condition, and if we'd be interested in pursuing getting it. As always, life seems to have a mind of its own and can't take a leisurely pace at anything. But I'm looking at it as a potentially huge blessing. I'm just trying to keep my optimism and excitement in check as I try to remind myself that it might not be what we're looking for...while simultaneously attempting to subdue my to-list-making, paranoia, project-list, and borrowed trouble murmurings to a minimum. No reason to over-plan and worry about something that hasn't happened yet. I'm really trying to learn that.

So, wish us luck...or pray for discernment and the Lord's leading that we might know for sure what we're supposed to do. I especially get so excited about stuff like this that I have the tendency to want to jump right in...when, obviously in this case, it's a major purchase and will effect many things to come.

Now for a few things I am thankful for. Unfortunately, we're just going to say that these count for the last three weeks, even though there aren't many, and they're not dated. I'll just try to do better about posting...though, really, it has been an exercise in looking for blessings, which has been an interesting challenge :)

21. Safe travel. I'm so grateful that we made it to and from our trip in whole pieces. Traffic was horrific, and we saw several accidents. I'm so thankful that everyone was kept safe.

22. Amazing music. I just saw Tenth Avenue North perform at our conference, and they were incredible! What an awesome way to worship!

23. Truth. Ben Stuart preached this past week, on the book of James, and about finding joy in pain. It was truly phenomenal, and gave me a lot of things to process as I try to continue growing as a person and, more specifically, spiritually.

24. Warm feet. I really really REALLY hate to have cold feet. So I really appreciate room temperature feet. Not HOT feet...just comfortable, non-cold feet

25. Life in general. I'm so fortunate to be breathing, living, feeling, and experiencing. I always kind of marvel at our contentment to settle for less than what we want from life. We only get one, and there are so many things I think each person wants to do, and yet most of the time we fill our schedules with busy and forget that we have dreams to follow. I'm trying to remember that...trying to remember what life's about...to make the most of the time I have, the gifts I have, and to appreciate the people I come across.

26. Christmas lights. I know, I know, it's July...but I still love Christmas lights...or, twinkle lights if you will. They make me feel like I'm in a fairyland.