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another fresh, crisp day

I wish that every morning I woke up this early (I've been awake since 5:06am). I can leisurely make coffee, paint my toenails (random but I did), read some from James (a very convicting book for me over the last few days, especially about my evil tongue), look at a drawing that Katie Stemple did (her parents work at BFA, a boarding school in Germany) and see that she's really creative and detail-oriented (she's a 1st grader and Maddie's BFF). And now I'm blogging.

You'd think that since I live at BB and every single day I'm just about knocked over by the beauty and sweetness of God, I'd be blogging like crazy. But I have a greater urge to sit on the porch and stare at the tree in the front yard with the rope swing and the rope ladder. Or I'd rather take my coffee, put on a hoodie and sit by the lake and look out over the seemingly endless miles of water. I really can't get enough of sky, water, trees, grass, leaves, plants, flowers, mud, shells - all of it I love.

I imagine that heaven on earth could be a lot like this but with more amazement, greatness, peace and with Jesus dropping by to bring us freezer jam. Really, strawberry freezer jam has got to be a foretaste of heaven.

Over the last few weeks (this Friday will be 4 weeks that we've been here) I've grown in my love of running and it has so much to do with God's presence while I'm doing it. I had one run where I know for certain that God and I were having the grandest time together. I was jumping over puddles and slipping in mud (running on the trails around here) and I was smiling and I could feel that God was so delighted in me. It was the 1st time in my life that I sensed a totally playful creator. I wasn't praying or thinking deep thoughts about scripture. I was simply delighting in my savior and him in me.

Sometimes after I run I'll go sit at the end of the pier and look out over the water. I've given up on being reserved and discreet. I just raise my hands and worship. How can I not?

I had feared that living here would make me struggle with moving back to China. But actually, as I rest here I'm finding that my desire to serve Him is growing stronger and when it's time to go back, I'll be ready.

Hebrews 6:7 - Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God.




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