Walks in Woodhill

I know picking up and leaving one city for the next does not remove the pain, anxiety, papers, tough work days, lonely nights, laundry, and unknowing of the future. I know this. And yet I knew it needed to happen. I needed to pack a bag and feel the sun on my face, in my city, in the midst of what feels like the longest winter season ever. (said with tired sass and maybe even an eye roll)

My only request this time around was to see inside. After 7 years of envisioning what it would be like. Dreaming, planning, getting our hopes up, seeing a blue print, only to never happen. 

Yeah. Of course I want to see inside. 

So we walked.

Cause God isn't the only one who knows we need the sun to survive after a winter like this one. The first "warm" day in months. We walked from almost one side of Woodhill to the other. Adding a few friends along the way.

Kids running from their yards for hugs. Pops throwing the football with boys no taller than my knees. Waving to the mommas on their stoops. Peeking around doors to say hello to old friends. Holding hands and hearing "sissy look!" every couple of seconds.

I was exactly where I needed to be.
I felt the things I needed to feel again in that place. I needed to be reminded why I started this journey so many years ago. In that neighborhood.

If anyone knows me, they know that my entire life revolves around Loving God and Loving Others.
And "ministry" doesn't have a clock in or clock out time. It's simply my life. This neighborhood has been calling me for a handful of years now. 

But I have also been called to live in the beautiful city surrounded by mountains and orange fans. With kids that feel more like family than ever before. With families that ask me how to handle certain decisions. And a boss that is as crazy about them as me.

So I do what I know best wherever I am. Here or there... or way out there (aren't you curious now?!) Gods timing doesn't mean I have to be passive in the waiting. I can still be brave. I can still love people like they need. And when the time comes, or if it never does, I'll go. I'll stay. That's the cool thing about being in love with God. You're kind of willing to do anything for Him.

Pops wasn't passive all these years in the waiting.
I won't be either.
We will be brave. We will play ball in the street.
We will continue to take walks with those who need the sun.

P.S. That beautiful girl in pink? Same age as me when I chose to be brave and join a village not knowing what it would mean. I know a lot more now. And I am really excited to see where she will be brave now that she is part of the village too.

tuesday night: simple things

I really need to be writing a paper.
For the book I've hardly started.
It's due Thursday.

Also,
I really need to sleep.
I haven't gotten more than 10 hours of sleep in the last 4 days.

Before I can do any of that.
I need to share some of the simple things with you...

I was standing over the sink, washing dishes, when he asked me what it was like to go to space.

I had come over for dinner, which has become more of a regular thing now, 

with the deal I would clean up. 

I said deal. 

His mom and dad were getting the other two ready for bed,

he could have been in the play room, all those toys to himself.

Instead though, he chose to ask me about going to space, and how it's really weird I live at school.

"You can live in the spare room!" he said.

"I think I just might P" I told him.

There is just something about sharing a meal around a table that means so much to me.

Or when I ask for suggestions on where to take your car for repair and they just prove to me yet again what a selfless community looks like. 

And the conversations had right before my long drive back to the south side, 

always make the commute better. 

I am at peace. 

The simple things.

I can thank Him for the blessings, and wipe a few tears in solitude.

-

Knox County Schools were canceled today.

Immediate sadness filled my heart.

No school, no program.

Just as I was settling into the idea that I would have the evening to actually write that paper I mentioned earlier, I got a phone call joking about how we don't have off days.

And before you get all up in arms about me needing rest and time to be a college kid, 

I hear you. 

But if you know me at all, that paper wouldn't have gotten touched without the motivation of seeing my babies. 

Plus, I work so much better under pressure... and we have been given the Sabbath for a reason, I take that ish serious fam!  

Cleaning the van, getting some paper work stuff up to date, I never have the chance to do that.
Also, there were puppies at the church to play with, so that was the best surprise ever!

Today it happened. 
And I'm okay with doing the little things, because sometimes it leads to my boss handing me the card and saying "take the girls to dinner."

My rest looks different from other peoples rest some days.

Today it looked like letting two Fulton Seniors drive me around, running errands, and eating way too much pizza, while we talked about how "people be catching feelings too quick."  Where they plan to go to college. And parents.

The simple things.

And somehow I get to call this my job.

It's Tuesday night and my to do list seems to be getting longer, rather than shorter. 

But I can't find anything to complain about.

The simple things just keep filling me up.

This is my community.family.life. 

I don't deserve it at all.