Today's Letters

Haven't done these in a while...miss doing these, even though only like 2 people ever read them (that I know of).


Dear Summer Campers, I am really sad this is our last week together.  You have driven me crazy at some points this summer, but I have grown to love each of you for who you are, what you're going through, and you have all brought something to my life.  I hope you have had a good summer.  I am going to miss you when this week is over.  
Dear Kaitie Whopper, I am so excited to get to see you Friday!!!!!!!!!
Dear Future Job, I know God has you figured out, whatever you may be.  I got a small glimmer of hope today about some possibilities.  And although they're not exactly what I want, I know whatever happens is going to be just what God wants, and the comforting thing is that what He wants is always what's best for us...even when we don't really like it...I don't want to waste anymore time worry about you and stressing out so much over you. 
Dear Zach, You're awesome.  I can't say enough how much I admire you, look up to you, and wish I could be like you.  You're so laid back and relaxed.  Yes you stress, but not nearly as much as I do.  I'm so glad I have you walking with me through this whole job hunt madness...I would have lost my mind a long time ago if it was not for you being by my side, telling me that everything's going to work out, there's no need to stress or worry, and everything else you've told me about a thousand times these past few months :)  I love you so much and I am so blessed to have you and to be able to spend my life with you! 

Adventures in Running

So, I went "running" tonight.  As Kasee once called it, exaggerated walking :) It took me 13 minutes to run just under a mile tonight...sad, I know.  But it was the first time in a LONG time I have gone jogging.  When I go exaggeratedly walking, I go to a lake that is about a quarter of a mile from my house, maybe a little farther away, but it's close.  There are always all kinds of characters down at the lake...generally lots of creepers, not gonna lie.  My story from tonight, for once, does not involve a creeper though!  
I was on my second figure 8 around the lake when I started walking, because I was about to die...and suddenly, I was stung by a little bitty bee (he had a big bite though).  Backtrack with me for a minute - my backyard is currently infested with yellow jackets making their nests in our yard beside the house...I've been out there to check em out several times, never had one bother me, and I go to the lake and get stung by 1 little stinkin' bee...anyways.  So I stop to see if there was a stinger or anything of the sorts (there wasn't) and I kept on walking.  Well, along hobbles this cute lil old man who had been fishing.  He was "calling it a day" as he said as I walked by, and I stopped and talked to him for a minute, then went on my merry way.  
But I had this odd feeling...know what I mean?  Not a bad or weird or creeped out feeling, but one that was like hm, maybe I shouldn't have hurried off so quickly...then "God Gave Me You" came on my playlist that I was listening to.  Now, this is kinda mine and Zach's song (cue the "Aaaaawwww that's so sweet.") and it just makes my heart melt a little bit every time I hear it.  But tonight it hit me in a different way and took on a new meaning for the moment.  I had no idea who this old man was, had never seen him in my life, don't know if I'll ever see him again, but it was like God was telling me he just needed someone for a few minutes.  
I kept on walking...
kept turning around and looking to see where he was...
I saw him heading to his car...
This feeling just kept on growing in my stomach, and I was going to feel awful if I did not get another few minutes to talk to him...so I took off...sprinting...I was dying when I got back to where he was parked.  We chatted for a few more minutes, about fishing, the weather, walking/jogging outside, and then left.  


Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
-James 1:27

Like I said, I know nothing about this man, other than the fact that he only caught 2 fish today and likes fishing when the water is ripply (his word, not mine).  He had a wedding band on, but I don't know if his wife is still with him or not.  All I know is God put it on my heart to go back and talk to him tonight.  James 1:27 is one verse that is now extremely close to my heart, especially after working in Myanmar.  Kids and old people have always had a special place in my heart.  We are to love others with an unselfish love, doing whatever we can for them, putting their needs before ours, going out of our way to show them love even.  

1 John 3:1 says, "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him."  

Romans 13:8 says "Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law."

If this post means nothing to you other than this, I hope you are encouraged to love others, no matter how big or how small the act may be.  Reach out to someone who needs to see God's love this week.  It's what we are called to do.  God has given us everything and saved us, and certainly we can show our thanks to Him by loving on His people who need some love.