This

Oooo boy!  I didn't realize that it had been so long since I wrote last!


Well, lots of stuff has been going on in my life.  


I've been working a lot at both my hospital job and once in awhile at a doctors office that I've worked at on and off since being in school.  I've also been hanging out with some coworkers lately and it's been really nice to feel pulled into their social circle.  One thing about me is that it takes me awhile to get comfortable with people, so I'm now feeling comfortable and enjoying getting to know them better.  My weekends have been full of community service, seeing friends and family, and most recently, a last minute trip to Nashville, TN to see my cousin, her husband and little girl.


The reason for the trip to Nashville...  Last week all of a sudden I just felt like I really needed to get out of the city and out of the I-55 rut I have been in for the past two (2!!!) years.  It had been too long since I'd been to anywhere other than Chicago, central Illinois or St. Louis.  It was time to get OUT!  And so, I bought my flight ticket on a Saturday and flew out from Wednesday through Saturday.  Talk about a last minute decision and it was a great decision!


The song on my mind lately is by Darius Rucker and it's called "This."


The chorus is:


For every stoplight I didn't make
Every chance I did or I didn't take
All the nights I went too far
All the girls that broke my heart
All the doors that I had to close
All the things I knew but I didn't know
Thank God for all I missed
Cause it led me here to
This


I believe that everything that happens all happens for a reason.  Whether things are good or bad, they are all part of the journey that God has planned for me.  Every opportunity that I have is from Him and I'm just trying my best to be patient and trusting of Him.  I know what I have envisioned for my future, but I know that this may not match what God has envisioned, so that's the hardest thing to make sure that I am continuing to live a life that is pleasing to God and not just to myself.  


All in all, I love this song because it's all about how the moments of your life - opportunities taken and passed up - get you to where you are meant to be.  


What is your "This" that you hope to reach encounter and live one day?

Dear Prudence

The beautiful weather that I love is finally here!


The sun is shining and it's warm on my skin.  The light breeze ruffles the leaves on the trees, birds are chirping on the high branches, and kids are playing in the streets.  Life is good!


All of this is so enticing and it's calling me to come out and play.  After a very rainy weekend the skies finally cleared on Sunday night and my family and our longtime friends spent the evening outside telling stories, laughing and enjoying one another's company.   Memorial Day was absolutely beautiful and I spent the day at the beach getting a sun-burn (I didn't intend on getting the burn, I think I need new sun screen) and then ate dinner at a restaurants outside patio with a friend.  It was perfect!


The song of the day is "Dear Prudence" by The Beatles (my favorite version of this song is from the movie, Across the Universe).  Look around, come out and play!  Open your eyes, see the sunny skies and go out and play!  Let's hope that this weather stays beautiful so that I can keep going outside and playing!