Rambling Thoughts....

I'm not the best blogger if you haven't figured that out yet.  I used to do real good at blogging every day, but somehow I've fallen off that wagon of blogging lately. I think back in the day, it was cool to blog, and now? Meh...I just get bored with it or think people really don't care what I have to say. haha!  I do most of my blogging in my head now days or in my own personal journal.  But today, I've had some good down time, to just sit outside in nature and enjoy a makeshift waterfall nearby, and a lovely deck to sit on.  One of the many reasons I love pet sitting because I get to come to these "escapes" where I can think and be alone with a dog, cat, birds, or in this case...all of the above. I actually came outside to read, but here I am....blogging.   I love nature. I love to be in it, I love to hike in it, I just love the serenity of God's creation. I've always been a lover of the outdoors because it always brings me closer to God. It can be in the woods, the moutains, or it can be sitting on the beach listening to the sound of waves rolling in.  It soothes my soul. It refreshes me to be outside.  It gets me away from the "busy-ness" of our world.  I sit outside writing this blog right now and it is SO quiet, I love it.  I sit here today thinking about my life over the past several months. And by that, I mean the mission trips I've been on.  5 different countries in the span of less than 6 months.  First Belize, then the UK where we went to England and Scotland, then South Africa, and Malawi. If you put the U.S. in there, that's 5 countries.  This is the girl who used to be such a homebody, who never cared about traveling. Who was terrified to fly (still not a huge fan of flying, but after 16 plus hours to Africa, it's getting easier.). The girl who missed out on SO many opportunities in college to "see the world" because I wanted to be home.  Man. If I had only known what I was missing by not traveling when I was at Harding. I turned down the opportunity to go to Europe as a Freshman when I was in chorus at Harding because I was "homesick" and wanted to go home.  Now, I kick myself.  But I digress.  I thank God every day for my life for the things I get to do and see now in my early 40's. Things I never dreamed of getting to do, and it's given me the traveling bug...BAD. Now I can't stand being home for long periods of time, and I feel like there is a plane out there to catch to go somewhere else. :)  I think I could make my career traveling.   It's just such a blessing to travel the world and meet so many new people, but the thing I'm most thankful for are the opportunities God's shown me to help me be more thankful. More grateful for all that I have.  Believe it or not, the majority of the world doesn't live like us, and sometimes? I'm jealous for that.  I long for a slower pace of life than what we live in this country.  I often times think I'm supposed to do mission work somewhere else, and maybe that opportunity will come. It's definitely not out of the question for me. Whatever God wants me to do, I'll do it.  I don't really care what I do in life anymore other than making a difference in someone else's life. Making a difference in the world. Showing people the love of Jesus and knowing Him.  And what better way to live your life than making a career out of doing the Lord's work.  I don't know what the Lord holds in my future, but I know He holds it, and that's good enough for me.  I trust Him.  I look forward to the future and where He may take me.  Well, these are just some of my rambling thoughts today. It is a gorgeous day to be outside....and now? It's time to really soak it in. Be blessed, my friends.