goodbye summer, hello new adventure

It is hard to believe that it is the end of summer. As I write this my dad and Billy are taking out our dock, my mom is cleaning out the other camp and I am supposed to be finishing packing up my room. It is difficult to leave every summer, but especially this summer. Despite some very difficult days health wise (and my grandmother's fall) it has once again been a wonderful summer. It was not the summer I had planned. In fact, it was far from it. I ran to to camp "to heal" and "to rest" from the intense difficulties of last year and I found something infinitely more precious. I met my precious Lord in a whole new way. I resonate deeply with the following paragraph that I read in my favorite devotions the other day:

"I remember a summer in which I said: "It is the ocean that I need," and I went to the ocean; but it seemed to say, "It is not in me!" The ocean did not do for me what I thought it would. Then I said, "The Mountains will rest me," and I went to the mountains, and when I awoke in the morning there stood the grand mountain that I had wanted so much to see; but it said , "It is not in me!" It did not satisfy. Ah! I needed the oceans of HIS love, and the high mountains of HIS truth within. It was wisdom that the "depths" said they did not contain, and that could not be compared with jewels or gold or precious stones. Christ is our wisdom and our deepest need. Our restlessness within can only be my by the revelation of His eternal friendship and love for us. Lord, THOU hast been our dwelling place in ALL generations."

Amen. Precious Lord YOU are my deepest need. I need you everyday. I need you more today than I did yesterday and I need you above anything and anyone else. 

In YOU true peace has been found and in Him his peace has truly permeated every area of my life during this precious season. As I say "goodbye" to a summer like no other, I am thankful for so many different things:

For countless hours that I have been able to spend with Jesus. Listening to HIS voice, and hearing His words of love.

For precious time spent with family. Family who not only speaks God's love to me but shows His mercy and love in a thousand different ways everyday.

For the opportunity to spend a beautiful day on the lake and hanging out with with dear friends who I count as my family. For precious talks with these friends who know me and my heart so well.(Sarah, Wes, & Nate- thank you thank you for ALL of your support & sweet friendships that have lasted for over twenty years. I am a very blessed woman. I love y'all so much!)

For the opportunity to go to a special weddingand connect with dear friends.  It was like going home. (Thank you again to each of you that made this possible!)

For the numerous miracles this summer of God's goodness and reminders in rainbows that appeared at just the right time for a beautiful reminder of God's promises.

For the beauty of seeing a dream come to fruition in the Lord's beautiful time with the signing of the book contract,

For the laughter in a variety of days- truly testifying that "the joy of the Lord is our strength". 

And so... on this day as we prepare to say goodbye to summer, I look forward to a new adventure that the Lord has in these next weeks and months as I move back home to the south. Thank you for all of your prayers for our safe travels and for the transition home. What reassurance to know that the same Lord that is with us each day in the past is with us in our future. Truly "The Lord is there" (the book of Ezekial). So goodbye to a wonderful summer, hello to a wonderful new adventure that the Lord has in store!