Wouldn't ya know...

(Pics are some sneak peeks of a photo session of two of my favorite people! I will post more later, have to get the editing done for CDs for Jasmine and Spencer's family first, but they are just too adorable to not share!)

Having a house all to yourself is a glorious thing...but only for a little while. My men are on a retreat, smoking cigars, playing mexican train dominoes and worshiping God together. I am sure they smell like fish from too much bait, don't bother to shower, are only eating meat, and are having a wonderful time.

I can't wait to see them again. Don't get me wrong. Four days of reading and sleeping and reading and sleeping does a body good. No messes to clean up, no dinners to make...but I miss taking care of some bodies. I love my men.

(Jazz and Spence wanted to take pics at some of the places that gave them the best memories. Here is one from Frenchman's Bar.)

It has been nearly a month since our house got a little "bigger", and as much as I can find contentment in having things clean and tidy...I have needed an attitude adjustment more days than I would like to count. I seem to crave feeling sorry for myself lately, and it is humiliating. I just keep telling myself to shape up. And then I do. For about a minute. 

Someone posted something awhile ago that has continued to comfort me in the more bleak moments. It took me back to Genesis, and as I finished the book this morning I still just kept hearing the main lesson that I heard this month:
God is here. He is near, and not one thing in my life surprises Him. It is such a warm thought, and makes the long and lonely days not so lonely. Turn to Genesis 28 with me and just think about Jacob's words.

(And of course, she needed photos on the horse trails around Whipple Creek. Great times!)

He has just been shoo'ed out of the nest by his father and told to go and find a wife from their tribe. "Pick a good one, bud- not like the trashy ladies in our neighborhood." No questions, good ol' Jake hops to it and hits the dusty road.

As he walks along the highway, he cops a squat wherever he is when the sun goes down. He has this crazy, vivid dream (and no he did NOT pick any 'shrooms along the way) of God blessing him and promising "Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go...".

When he wakes up, he is shaken by fear at the greatness of God, and realizes how REAL and PRESENT God is. Look at his words in the Message version:
"God is in this place- truly. And I didn't even know it...Incredible. Wonderful. Holy. This is God's house..." Genesis 28:16-17a

How often am I blind to the fact that God is "in this place?" That with His Holy Spirit, I am never far from my wonderful Savior. Oh, beautiful thought. Listen to Jesus:
" And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20

Sounds nicely familiar, doesn't it? God's words of promise aren't just for Jacob and his Promised Land. Jesus said to us- He would be with us always. 

I love what Jacob does after all that- when he wakes up in the morning, he sets up a memorial spot and names it "Bethel", or Holy Place. He chooses to worship the Lord as His God right then and commits to giving God a tenth of everything God ever gives to Him. 

(Raspberry fields where she decided Spencer was the one- because he was the only person who could keep up with her racing bareback. ;)

No need to be lonely. No need to doubt. Choosing to trust Him, I can be sure that the path I and my dear ones are on is just right. Great comfort tonight. God bless you, friend. May you notice Him in your "place" right now. May you be filled with fear and wonder at the Awesomeness of your God. And may you take time to thank Him, and worship Him for it.

(Never let go, Dear One.)