Gracegirl

Saturday, January 26, 2008

I Love the People of God!

I wrote this last Thursday night for my Facebook, but thought I ought to post it here too. Thank you, to all of you who have been this for me...

The gentle sound of rain hitting puddles is making me miss home a bit. But the rain here also makes me even happier to be here. There's something about when it rains in California. Last night, my sweet friend/ARA/Small Group Leader/classmate/next door neighbor (man, I think we need a DTR!) Jenna Lugo kindly lent me her umbrella. As I walked toward the gazebo under the oaks, the winds began to pick up--very quickly! I hadn't gotten past the gazebo before the wind entirely flipped the umbrella inside out. This made me laugh a bit, and I faced it so that the wind would turn it rightside out. This worked, and I began to walk again. About two steps later, I had an inside out umbrella again. I couldn't help it--I doubled over laughing. This really doesn't happen in Seattle, because we just don't use umbrellas. The rain is gentler back home, and we're used to it. I don't really have to deal with inside out umbrellas. When I returned to the lounge, I spent some time with my sweet friend/ARA/umbrella lender/etc. and had to get a highlighter from my room. When I got to the door, I saw a brand new, beautiful umbrella awaiting me with a note attached. It had my nickname on it, and some sweet wishes for dry weather. My dear friend and her fiance had picked it out just for me. Do people get nicer? I don't think so. I am so thankful for the way God blesses me with His love through others, even when all I can seem to focus on is how to fix drenched hair & soggy Converses. He is making this place a wonderful home--different, but wonderful.

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

patter...

The rain danced in the puddles as I enjoy doing when it visits. I looked out my window, seeing its impact by the light of the streetlamp. It gurgled and swirled down the drainpipe as I enjoyed it and began dozing off.

The beauty of water amazes me so often. Without it falling from the sky, I begin to dry out, nearly unconscious of the fact that I'm going through life just waiting to hear it on the roof again. Crashing waves transfix me. I remember running with my friends around the inside edge of their pool in the summer when I was a kid. It made the water all become one swirling mass that carried us when we stopped. I thought it was the most remarkable thing in the world.

I once read that life could not exist if water were not miraculously designed by God to expand when frozen. To think that I wouldn't be here, had it not been for some seemingly tiny detail, is beyond my comprehension. I love to consider that God has intricately designed all things to fit together beautifully. He is indeed wonderful Creator, but I also like to see Him as the Artist He is. Water is just one example of the fascinating world He designed. I often look at my hand as I look at it and am completely distracted. I use my hands all the time. But they hardly seem to show any sign of wear. I can't think of any manmade object like that, unchanged by constant use, and able to heal any change that does end up occuring.

I went to the eye doctor the other day and was taken in as she examined my eyes. I can't believe that my eyes are doing so well--it's certainly nothing of my doing. You know how it is, as a little kid, when your Mom says not to look at the sun, but the sunset turns your head back again. I can hardly resist a sunset. I seem to hang with people who love pictures, so I see no lack of camera flashes. I've always been the one to look into the sparkler on the Fourth of July and write my name with it. God has graciously sustained my eyesight. He knit me together in my Mother's womb, to last. He is indeed Creator and Sustainer, and I am thankful. What most captures you about His creation?