beagles everywhere...

So everything is winding down before I head off to Rome. I visited two of my friends from London in Michigan this weekend. It is amazing to me how easy it is to make friends, when you did not even know these people existed a few months ago. And now I drive four states to see them. I cherish the way God provided for us all when in London. The three of us agreed that it would have been a completely different experience sans one of us. And how wonderful was it to be able to talk about our funny stories and relive so much of our laughter because no one else has any idea what it was like, and probably doesn't want to hear about a lot of it either. I wanted God to strengthen me on this trip and as I read a short passage out of Mark He did just that. It was of the greatest commandment. To love God first, and then your neighbor. And I thought okay Lord, these people I am with this weekend are my friends and neighbors and I want to do all I can to serve and to love them. It was a great reminder of how we should be living our lives always.

I am thankful that I am spending the next four months with my two best friends from college. They are AMAZING and we haven't really talked talked since May. For once I am looking forward to a long plane ride to catch up on everything. I realized how wonderful friends really are, and just reading through 1Samuel today I loved so much to see the relationship between Saul's son, Jonathan, and David. As David was fleeing Jonathan's father, who was trying to kill him, "Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God." 1Sam23:16. He not only helped him escape Saul earlier, but he came to help him find strength in God. Wow. I also realized tonight how funny the Bible can be. It talked of David pretending to be insane and drooling on his beard. And then it says that Saul went in a cave to relieve himself. I think it's hilarious, and it just shows God's sense of humor and that these people in the Bible are REAL. Not just stories. haha.

So today, as I was going through boxes of clothes for my mom's garage sale, I realized how much money has been spent on me. How this piece of clothing seems so vital at the time and then it is shoved in a box and scoffed at becuase it is no longer in style and you would NEVER wear that again. I was saddened by how much I had never really worn and how I still desire more. Maybe it's good that I've taken to shopping at Salvation Army. Although material is material no matter where you get it.

So in keeping with my style. I am leaving a new friend behind who I just met. As always I am completely blind as to what will happen, how we will change over the course of four months and what God's plan is. But in everything we must be content. I think I've also been doing much better in not becoming overly anxious of my future. For a while it is all I thought about. All I dreamt of. And I don't believe there is much wrong in this, but I also want to hear what God is telling me and accept where He takes me.

For now, I am being taken to Rome. Let us see what happens.