Life, it's a beautiful mess.

Its quiet, finally. Most of the family is out, and I am done with all my work for the day, so I'm basically chilling with Belle (my dog, for anyone who may not know.) How have you been spending your summer? Ok, so I guess its still technically spring, but it is totally summer in my mind! Its been an interesting mix of stress (because I'm human,) dealing with the stress, facing every day with the reminder that "God has this," and lots and lots of work on the house--which actually just went on the market two days ago. I can't stress (there's that word!) it enough when I say lots of work. Also graduation parties, prep for Colorado, and I'm in full event planning mode. Have to get everything finished by August. Ahhh!

Can you even imagine how quickly August (and working/adventuring at Wind River Ranch,) is coming? I'm getting more and more excited every day, especially since a friend of mine (who actually found out about WWR through my sister and I,) is already there, (soooo not fair! Happy for her, but I wanna be there tooo! :whining: ;) ) and posts pictures pretty frequently. I think--no, I know--its going to be an incredibly rewarding month. Not only is it a ministry that I back 100%, but I need a vacation. Working at a ranch in the mountains of Colorado? You betcha! I'm very interested in the Wounded Warrior Week (the last one of the summer, I believe,) that will be coming up while I'm out there. Also becoming an honorary cowgirl and making deep bonds with new people. All that, and God's opened the door for ministry--something I've been passionate about my entire life. I mean, when I was 4 I told my parents I wanted to be a missionary. . .and the dream just never went away.

No one said mission work must be overseas. Its a bit hard to realize sometimes, but God has even used the Ohio Summer Rendezvous as an outlet for ministry. Hard, meaning its the event I host, so all I see is a lot of work and making sure everything is up and running properly. Baby steps, right? I've seen Him move so much, just in the past week, as I plan and create and bombard people with all kinds of statistics. The reward is all the the happy smiles and continued (often online,) friendship that follow the event. Hey, if God can use my meager attempts to impact the lives of others, then I am the happiest girl in the world. :) I have all kinds of plans for expansion--little dream-clouds just bursting with ideas. . .

When I can stop and catch my breath, I've been pondering random bits things like, "once I get back from Colorado. . .how do I find a job. . .and get a car?" I put a few things on my 2015 resolution list that are happening at a snails pace. God's timing is perfect. Gotta keep that in mind. ;) Now I'm wondering what the purpose of this post is. Think of it as a chat over coffee. "Catching up," if you will.

I love those quiet, peaceful times. Like yesterday. The family went to the zoo. . .again. . .and mom and I ventured alone to see the elephants. They are in the coolest observation area--a building made to look like scenes in an Asian rain-forest--and we just chatted and shared gluten-free wafer chocolate thingies. They were good. The bonding time was priceless. I love driving just to drive, with no particular destination.Getting a message on facebook that says "I'm praying for you today." Making fried potatoes and eggs at 10:00PM  for my sisters. I love clean bedrooms. The happiness of a child when an adult takes the time to listen.  The ability to write and share bits of my heart on paper.  . .or a computer notepad. The wild, stressful, crazy, beautiful mess that is LIFE.

Embrace it.
The curve-balls.
The happy times.
The ones that scare you.
Take a moment,
To enjoy the day.
Because God is holding you.

Remember to live.