Home for the Holidays

YEA! I am flying home in just a few short hours. How happy I will be to see my family and friends! It has been August since I have seen any of them or been home. There is just something about home (more on this later). Not only do I miss home, but (and I never thought I would say this) I miss the South. I miss the way people talk, having men open my doors, and people that I will never know waving at me. There was a guy from Atlanta, GA at DR Sunday night and I was drawn to him immediately because of his accent. I guess that is when I really had to admitt to myself that I kind of like and miss the south. Although, if I had to choose a state it would probably not be Alabama.
Okay, I am running short on time and it would be a major holiday tragedy to miss my flight so...
Let me just give props to a few of my good St. Louis friends that almost make me not want to leave. I have no idea what this past semester would have been like for me without them. Katie and Jamie, first of all, are awesome. They made me the most special Christmas gift ever- more details to come. Also, Roach for serving as my personal editor (what might my grades look like without him ?!?) and Garner for his daily walk to school and general support. I will miss the entire DR crew, but at least they aren't meeting until I return. :O)
Okay, I will finish this later......

Faithful

God is faithful.
Even though I pray expectantly(Psalm 5:3), I get surprised when God provides for me - its strange. Of course, there is a lot of patience that goes into letting God provide, and I must admit that I don't possess that naturally. I am very task oriented most of the time, especially when it comes to crisis - large or small. Waiting on the Lord can be difficult and sometimes its easier to rationalize things to myself. Of course, I always regret that because it doesn't work out right and I end up doubling the work for myself. Its kind of like when there is a huge traffic jam. There are always those people that just can't wait so they drive up the emergency lane. Then they take all the back roads to reach their destination. They usually arrive later than the person who waited on traffic. Its like it kills them to sit still and they would rather be moving even if it takes longer. In life, I am one of those people more often than I would like to admit.
Ah, self-reflection - both wonderful and depressing. Something for me to work on.

"Wait for the Lord and keep his way" ~ Psalm 37:34
"I wait for you O Lord; you will answer.." ~ Psalm 38:15
"I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry." ~ Psalm 40:1

until....

Stress

Instinctively, I want to whine about how stressed I am at this very moment, and will remain until the end of next week. I suppose, I could also get upset and complain about the blown tire on my car and the lack of money to buy milk and other "staples", let alone a new tire. How will I get home for Christmas if I have no tire? Not by worrying.
Fortunately,
I am too blessed to be stressed. I thank God for my trials and pray that He will increase my wisdom and relationship with Him through them.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4 NIV

I lift up my eyes to the hills--where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD , the maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip--he who watches over you will not slumber. Psalm 121:1-3 NIV

Today

Today I will face life with the conviction that this day will not ever return.
Today I will invest
my most valuable resource:my time,
in the most transcendental work: my life;

So, good morning! This is going to be a great day.
This time, like all others, is a very good one if we but know what to do with it. ~ R.W. Emerson
This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. ~Psalm 118:24

I use these two quotes pretty often, but they are just as true every minute of everyday. My plan today is to work all morning on policy and then work all afternoon on school assignments. This doesn't sound very exciting at first, but it is. Its exciting because of all the things in between and included in these plans. First, I get to walk to school with my own legs and feet. I have a warm coat, scarf, and friend to accompany me. Once I arrive, I am given the opportunity to work diligently and show my supervisor what it means to work in all things as if I'm working for The Lord (Col. 3:23). I will type with all ten of my fingers and read the screen with two eyes that God has given me to see the good in people. Throughout the day, I will speak to many different people with the mouth that God has given me and the words that he has planted in my heart.
God is SO good!
I love today. Thanks God for everything good in my life.