Too many times I am apt to write about what I dislike or what irritates me and not write about something good.  So this evening I dedicate this blog to the joy in my life.  I love taking walks at 8pm.  In fact, 8pm is my favorite hour of the day.  As I finished up my walk this evening I reveled in the beauty that surrounds my home.  I live amid mountains, red barns, cows, the smell of cinnamon rolls (i.e. freshly cut hay), the sound of summer bugs (you know, the ones that start at dusk?), fireflies, flowers, and other beautiful creations.  Right now I need to say that I am thankful.  I know I won't be here forever, and I think it would be a tragedy to let it slip away without at least noting that God has greatly blessed me with a loving, supportive family, a safe home (at least, under His care), and majestic yet quiet surroundings.  I essentially live in a haven.... for now.

                      backyard                                                                  This is the road I walk in the evenings...

While I'm here, I should redeem my last post.  Thankfully hurricanes don't stay in one spot for a long time.  My hurricane left (quite literally).  When a storm system comes through during the night and has passed by morning when the sun rises, the world sparkles anew.  Where once dust and pollen blanketed the earth and dulled the colors, now shines and reflects the beauty forgotten since the last rain.  I catch my breath every time and think, "I forgot that the colors were that bright and beautiful!"  Well, that's what happened when the hurricane blew over.  "He makes all things new."  And He's about redemption, which I'm learning is super cool.  Even the really crappy things in our life can be redeemed.  I don't even know the half of it.  But I really want to learn and have a deep-rooted faith.  This shocks me and sits well really deep inside all at once.  It shocks me because I'm human, and the goodness of God IS shocking- He delights to give more than we could ask or imagine, not only because He's Good, but because when He does it, we stand back amazed and say, "Wow.  You are most wonderful."  It sits well deep inside because the Holy Spirit lives inside of me and connects my spirit to Him.  So because He lives within me, that goodness, in a way, isn't shocking because the Spirit inside me testifies that the Father IS most gracious, most kind, most merciful, most forgiving, most loving, and on and on ALL THE TIME- not just when I realize or reflect on His character.  There's a comfortable tension between awe and rest that happens.