Taking it all in Stride.

   This is summer. Ahhhhh Summer. I'm digging it. I'm especially digging this summer. It's been fantastic so far. Weekends are of course my favorite parts, but the week days are also pretty great. Work is going swimmingly. The Housemates are more than awesome. I love these guys. SO glad i'm not going to have to part with them until next summer. That's going to be rough.
   It's still hard coming to terms with the fact that i'm not on my Internship this summer. Seeing all of my friends posts and pictures going up and hearing from them about how incredible their journey's are...it's wonderful, but every encounter makes me a little more jealous. And it's not their fault.
   But I am having a great summer. It's rough to not be somewhere else, but the fact that i'm able to be here is perfect. As I've said before, not being on my internship is painful but I'm glad that since I had to take off a summer, i'm glad it's this one. Simply having this opportunity to be in a house with such quality guys is such a blessing. Plus, all the people that I love that are here in Chattanooga...it just makes my heart full. I'm so thrilled to be able to be around these people that God has blessed me with to have in my life. Old friends, and new friends alike. Renewed friendships are an added blessing.
   Writing letters is keeping me busy. A few people have taken me up on the offer, and it's great to be able to correspond in such an intensely personal way. 

   One another note, I am attempting to be super healthy this summer. I've continued to run, which is great. I've gotten to the point where i'm running 4 miles in less than 30 minutes. Boom. Beastin' it.
   I'm experimenting in the kitchen too. So far I've made lots of food. From the traditional Chocolate Chip Cookies(my recipe) to the best chocolate cake. From Bread to Banana Bread. From spaghetti to roasted potatoes. It's all been tasty. Praise the Lord I enjoy being in the Kitchen. On the weekends all I want to do is bake and be outside. Now all I need is an outside kitchen, and I would probably perish from all the awesomeness. 

   This summer has not been all fun and games, however. There is the normal stress of money, and the ever present family..let's say difficulties. I continually find myself asking questions. Question like: When are things going to fall into place? When is the time coming when all will finally be alright? When will I finally have peace? When will I 'get it'? These questions were answered plainly by one of my very best friends a few nights ago. I went over to his house and when I planned on leaving he decided to accompany me to my car. 

   *Side Note: Unplanned late night conversations are among the best things in life. Savor them.*
This friend gave me a simple answer that was right in front of my eyes all along.
   Take it one day at a time.
   We are given one day at a time. Nothing else is guaranteed [except for, of course, Gods steadfast faithfulness]. So take it all in stride. Survive one day at a time. Survive with those around you encouraging you and pulling you up by your bootstraps. Enjoy the small things. Keep going with God the Almighty at your back. Press on. Toward the Goal. For the Prize. It's worth it. The finish is worth every tear that is shed and every single drop of sweat exerted. Every splinter and every ache will be taken away. Don't worry. God is in control. He's got it all in His Hands. Yes, even the whole world. That is beyond comforting. His plan it perfect and IS FOR OUR GOOD. I have to keep remembering this. He won't leave us. He doesn't write us off as a lost cause or shove us behind him in frustration. 

He.

Doesn't. 

Leave. 

He knows what lies ahead! even when we have no clue what tomorrow holds. He has our future all planned out and will be there right next to us through every turn and twist. Through every broken relationship. Through every friendship. Growing us. Pushing us to become the people he wants us to be. All the while he let's us be  individuals. He lets us be different from one another, and have personalities completely different from each other.  

Here are a few lines from a song that is one of my favorites. Heart Attack Time Machine by Waterdeep. I highly recommend it. Seriously, go look it up and listen to it. You won't regret it. They even have it on Spotify.

They were telling me I was really free
They could see it by the way I used my words
But in the dark of night I could see that they weren't right
Because speeches are to free as cages are to birds

Peel off each old sticker
With a slow and steady hand
Strip off all the high gloss sheen
And maybe go sell the van
It's time to let the people know
That you're sorry that you made 'em go
And that life must be a more sacred thing
Than a couple cheap words
And a promise ring

   I'm not sure why I feel like this song applies to me so well. Other than the chorus has a line about dancing around the stage in your underwear. Let's be honest. That's pretty much me embodied in a song.
   Anyways, summer is treating me well. I am homesick, but knowing that God has placed me here for a specific purpose keeps me going. I'm very much okay with that purpose right now. I don't know what it is, but it will come out sooner or later. Probably later. And I'm alright with that. Right now i'll just continue to take it all in stride, knowing the Maker has it all under control and is working these little things called circumstances together for my good. That is all that I need to know. Just keep pushing forward. Taking it all in stride is easier than you would think.