Worlds Collide

Who remembers George Costanza on Seinfeld freaking out because his "world's are colliding"?  Well, lately I've been feeling the same way.  Right now I am in SO many different worlds I am actually getting confused.
  
There is:

-The world I live in in Fort Smith
-The world I am moving to in Lubbock
-The world of my college days because I just got finished with a reunion
-The world of family because I'm visiting them in Florida (when I used to visit them in Arkansas, which is confusing as well...)

Last week I sat on my sweet friend's porch in Fort Smith, and while chatting with her I received texts from college friends about the reunion, and texts from new friends in Lubbock.  It felt like I had too many balls in the air.   You may love lots of balls flying in unison, I juggle with just one.  Yep, just one.

I am aware that would look weird.

After church this Sunday the pastor took us out to lunch and my husband started talking about a fellow college minister of ours.  I had a good two minutes of complete confusion about why my husband would talk with the pastor about her, did he even know her?  Where were we, are we talking about people in the same world?

Blank.  Complete Blank.

It took me a good two minutes to catch up to the fact that yes, we were still in the same town as that college minister, and yes the pastor did know her.  That's when I realized that my world was WAY too upside down right now.  It also explains why my children are acting so strangely, we're dragging them through all these worlds as well.  I don't feel stressed, but my body is telling me differently.  My tongue has blisters all down the sides, it's as if every time I eat my body says "Knock, knock.  You have NO idea what's going on in here".

At our BSU (BCM) reunion this past weekend, the band played "Your Love Never Fails" by Jesus Culture, and even though I've heard it so many times, it truly touched something in my soul that I needed to be reminded of:

Nothing can separate Even if I ran away
Your love never fails

I know I still make mistakes
But You have new mercies for me everyday
Your love never fails

Chorus:
You stay the same through the ages
Your love never changes
There may be pain in the night but joy comes in the morning

And when the oceans rage
I don't have to be afraid
Because I know that You love me
Your love never fails


The wind is strong and the water's deep
But I'm not alone here in these open seas
Cause Your love never fails

The chasm is far too wide
I never thought I'd reach the other side
But Your love never fails

You make all things work together for my good

God reminded me that I don't have to be afraid.  Even though the oceans are raging, His love never fails.  He stays the same through the ages.  Through all the "worlds", I will always have the number one lover of my soul.

Has God reminded you of this lately?  

First Trip and Being Mindful

Do you  have a hard time reminding yourself to be mindful?  To remember to be in the present, realize that these are memories you're making?  I sure as heck do.  I get so caught up in getting things done, or how tired I am, or what I want that I forget all the time.

This weekend we are in our new soon-to-be-hometown.  It was my kid's first flight, first time in Lubbock, our first Sunday at the church, first room service, and the whole time here has made me remember staying in the hotel the first time we came to our last assignment.  Which let's me know that one day I will remember this hotel as the one we stayed in the first weekend, the places we eat as the ones we ate at, the pool the kids are enjoying as an awesome first weekend. 

I need to stop being so reactive.  I feel like my whole life sometimes is just reacting to what's in front of me, rather than enjoying the moments.  Maybe it has something to do with needing to drink more coffee.

Do you have a hard time with this?  This "reactive Momma" tends to think all other mommas are making mental scrapbooks of their kids milestones while I try to find clean underwear in a suitcase.

I do not want to go down to the pool again.  The last thing I want this morning is to put on a swimsuit.  Can anything go RIGHT after you put on a swimsuit?  Especially one you bought last year that has a skirt because you realize you are old enough to need a skirt?    BUT, memories.....making memories, being mindful, kid's will love it, I will enjoy it once I'm there, blah blah blah. 

Tell me I'm not the only one?

A Page is Turned

If my life is a story, then the "Fort Smith, Arkansas" chapter is ending.  I don't like it.  But we aren't always happy with what the characters in a story have to go through, and then somehow they get where they are supposed to be.  I'm counting on that one.  Holy Spirit, I'll let you turn the page.

To the next chapter.

To the chapter titled "Lubbock, Texas". 

I know, it's sexy.  Lubbock.   West Texas.  Cowboys.  Dust storms.  Yeehaw.

When we lived in Canada, and thought we would live there forever, I remember distinctly thinking that if I ever moved back to the states I would not want to live in Louisiana, Arkansas, or Texas.  God is laughing right about now.

BUT, again, when Jesus calls....and He did.  When we got a call in December (it's been so long guys, you have no idea how much I wanted to write about all this.  blogging = therapy), and my husband mentioned it to me, I knew.  I can't explain it, it was just deep in my gut I KNEW.  Of course, I didn't share this knowing with my husband.  I was really hoping it was indigestion.

He would say "we need to talk about this, what do you think is the next step?" and I would reply "what do you think we should have for dinner?"  Yeah, our marriage was really on the same page for a few months.

First Baptist Church, Lubbock Texas.  At the risk of all the new Lubbock friends I have reading this, I need to say - I am not an FBC girl.  I don't dress up, I don't like makeup, I just bought the first skirt I've had in a long time, I am not society.  FBC in a Southern town is a different thing, I think you just have to be southern to understand.  Although, they keep saying "we're not your typical FBC", so I'm crossing my fingers that it will mean they won't all hate me.

My hubby-so handsome.

I am going with the flow, knowing that God made my husband for something like this.  He is so gifted, so good at what he does.  He just has God-given natural talent, and I can see how this is such a good and logical next step for him- the Collegiate Pastor at FBC Lubbock.  I just sometimes wonder if God remembers that he is married to me.  Ha.

We are now about a month out from moving, and I can't believe how fast it has flown by.  A month to YOU sounds so long, but you need to understand we are about to go to Lubbock for the weekend, then we have a reunion to go to, then Disney for TWO weeks.  Yeah, we're done here.   My BFF is pretending I'm already gone, just for coping reasons.

Did I mention the day we found out they wanted to pursue this more and asked my hubby to come for a visit is the same day I found out my BFF was pregnant again?  Yeah, let's just say I cried.  Alot.  I'm in therapy.

God has a plan.  What a strange, exciting, terrifying, confusing adventure. 

So, a page is turned.  A new chapter will begin.  Only God knows what will be written on those pages. 

Good thing HE is the Ultimate Author. 


Photo credit: 4000Saturdays Blog