Matthew 18:20

The last 48 hours of my life have included the following, in order:

Tea, road trip, sketchy fireworks stand/gas station, a passing glimpse of the good ol' Jasper TN hospital, T-Wall, beautiful weather, leading my first 7 on trad (on which there was only one really terrifying moment) good pizza in Chatty, entirely too much snuggling and laughter in the backseat on the drive home. Church with friends, cooking and eating delicious Mexican food, sweet friends over for dinner, large amounts of laughter and storytelling, all ended with another mug of tea and a sweet conversation with my wonderful roommate.

There are a lot of things that I hope for in the next year. I hope that I get to work in Wyoming this summer, and that I get to study in Spain next semester. I hope that I get to go see all the places in Europe that I've been dreaming about. I hope for practical things like passing all of my classes and making enough money to pay all of my bills, one month at a time. I hope for big things like learning to love and follow Christ like my sweet friend Kaley, and that someday I am as wise as Sam, as free-spirited as Jacqui and as compassionate as Kate.

More than anything, though, I hope for days like these. Days where life is simple, and I can't stop smiling because there is so much to smile about. Moments when it's easy to believe that the heart of life is good, and I feel like my heart can take a rest from the storms that it endures the rest of the time. The moments when my head and my heart line up, and I know that I am loved.

I am reminded that God is good. I am reminded that it is not for me to pursue his plan, but his heart. My heart was given a rest when it much needed it, and I was taught what I much needed to learn. I know that these moments come along when I need them to, but not always when I want or expect them to. My hope, my prayer, for this next year's adventure is that I would not miss these moments. That I would not find myself too busy, too tired, or too distracted to take a moment and remember how very blessed I am.

"For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them."
Matthew 18:20