Many months later…I surface again. Since I’m only having lots of little thoughts and not sure how to connect them into one big nice happy family of connected thoughts it’s going to be a random post. Call it ADD or whatever you will. I realize that pictures would be more interesting BUT it’s so hard to live in the moment and capture it on camera at the same time. So it’s just words. MOVE TO INDIANA - Some wide open doors just made it pretty obvious that God was bringing me back. The timing fell together and here I am, away from family and home, but confident that it was for my well-being that I returned J YOUTH CAMP—Possibly the best thing of my summer. I helped in evening at one and full-time at the 2nd one. Different on so many levels but different was better than good. I had 6 girls who captured my heart from the first hello! The week went superb, minus a few minor gliches in the system-I’ll spare gory details :) Days of just being able to connect with campers and have super fun activities, talks, fun hilarious moments and serious times. I was fully alive! The truth that I came away with that was so timely for where I have been for so long was that “God’s silence does not = God’s absence. Luke Kuepfer spoke and brought out the point of the Bamboo plant and how for years on the surface it doesn’t look like anything is happening then the 4th?? year up shoots a tall glorious plant, only supported by the intense root system it was developing in the first years of silence. This camp brought my heart to life and I realized how much I LOVE being able to relate to teens and how much I love “relational ministry”… WEDDINGS – After my all-time high year of wedding festivities I can say I’m ready for a lull in the action though. Between showers, preparations, rehearsals, and the actual wedding- my life has been filled with LOVEY DOVEYNESS from every angle J Something about weddings I get wrapped up and caught up in the moment. I’ll call myself a romantic realist. From personal attendant, to bridesmaid, to coordinator, to musician, to USHER! J I’ve loved/loving the different dynamics and viewpoints! As I see each one of my dear friends make this commitment and transition and see over and over again how when God writes a love story - He does it well and perfect. No doubt in my mind. Sigh… MOMENTS MADE FOR WORSHIP- I’ve thought about that A LOT lately. Yes there are days when the sun is shining bright, I’m fulfilled, I’m healthy, feeling good and things couldn’t be better, and I can shout from the mountain top OH I LOVE YOU GOD…but then there are those moments of weariness, hurt, confusion, and sadness n bursting into tears at every little sight, sound, smell, touch, & taste. Those are also moments made for worship. Oh it’s a beautiful thing. Yes it is. What moments in your day are made for worshiping? MY CHURCH- My current heartbeat and purpose. I love it. I have so much respect for the leadership there, and what God is doing in their lives it comes out in where they are leading us the people. I love the youth group, and the potential for great things that is there. I also am just excited about the church body as a whole! I’ve found ladies who are mentors, friends, encouragers and people that have relationships with the Lord that have been truth speakers into my life time and time again. It’s such a picture of what the TRUE church is supposed to be. I know I am here for such a time as this, and want to join in with what God’s doing in my church NOW. The burden has been placed in my heart for friendship evangelism in the local church, and oddly it seems that other ministries have grown strangely dim at the moment, which wasn’t where I dreamt I’d EVER be. Strange how it works. I wish everyone could find their place in a body of believers, just like God intends church relations to be like. WORD PICTURE- As I was sitting in church last Sunday and then running through my mind this week is the picture of myself driving a car and I'm behind some slow, oversized vehicle in a no passing zone. My first instinct was to pass quickly and get on with life and get to the next place on the list. But hold it Sharon- I’m in a “No-passing zone” for a reason. I can see the hills, and curves but can’t see what's beyond that. My Father reminded me that HE sees the end of the route, and the reasons for no-passing at the moment. So I resolved to drive slowly behind what I think is the “slow vehicle” in my life. ROAD TRIP TO OHIO- Took a VERY random, last minute, less then 24 hr road trip to Ohio this past weekend. EXACTLY what I needed, the trip out with Telle & Shaina and the time with Jewel was sooooooo of the Lord. Just so you can get a glimpse of the thrill of the road trip part...Just imagine a Silver car coasting at a “less then speed limit” speed, at 2 in the morning, to preserve the remaining drops of fuel until we could make it to the gas station and couple of us singing with confidence (in order to encourage the nervous driver of course) “I’m counting on, I’m counting on God…” {ok so u may have to know the song, or been there with us…} ROSE COLORED GLASSES - Do your friends a favor and allow them to be human. Don’t hold them to a different standard then you hold yourself. Allow them to struggle. Recently I’ve addressed situations and comments were made that just made me sad and mad. I’ve done a lot of soul searching am I just not real enough with people? Do I not let them see the human side of me? I’ve found freedom when people can see my humanness and then can allow grace to let the friendship deepen. FAITH -n- SURRENDER. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking of what that actually is. I say that God is all knowing and all-present, but when it comes to surrendering everything, I tend to question His existence by how I'm living it out. What’s the point in believing on someone, and yet not having faith on Him? When I say that God is there, why can’t I give Him a chance to bestow His love on me? Do I have enough faith that whatever He has given or taken has some eternal purpose? Surrendering to God does not mean that I should stop doing what is expected of me. Rather it means, that I should carry on, without getting perturbed by life’s ups and downs. Imagine how beautiful life could be when you are completely focused on the present task in hand, and when you know that you need not worry about anything else, as you have already surrendered everything to God. SONG FOR EVERYTHING…Music is powerful. It’s been used to meet needs and minister to me on a daily basis…A song in the day and a song in the night. You know I’m not a song writer in the least because I stink at communicating my thoughts in logicalness, but I can totally identify w/ the ppl who write lyrics to a lot of songs. I’m glad I can benefit from their giftings. But I think I find couple songs daily that become my new favorite! MY JOB…What a BLESSING. I could gush. Even though the actual work part was an adjustment and I missed the banking world at first, nothing compares to the contentment and how much I like it now. Not only that but I love the atmosphere, the flexibility, but I think the biggest gift is my boss-who has stepped up to bat as a 2nd dad to this little floundering single gal away from her home. I would have never dreamt that I could have an employer who would not only be able to relate on a professional level, but he also takes time out of his day to ask about my personal life, and then above all speak LIFE and TRUTH as a man of God and guide with wisdom. God does give good gifts to his CHILDREN! MISCOMMUNICATION-Why was that ever invented? SUMMARY - So yeah the above thoughts are what’s been on my mind the past weeks. It’s been long time coming, but I've found a place of quiet rest near to the heart of God. If I get to much further away from that yeah well I'm not even going to go there. J | 
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