If You Don't Know Me By Now

My trip was very instrumental in helping me see who I have become. The journey God has allowed me to have has been challenging and fun all wrapped up in one. I know my flaws so much more than my strengths but really got to find one of my gifts in Florida.

My gift is hospitality in the sense that I bring people together. I include and invite and arrange for people to gather whether at my house or not and have fun and usually food. :) Probably not a revelation to many but something I needed, a definition for myself in a way.

For those who don't know I am part Mexican and Sioux Indian, but raised Scandinavian. I forget myself sometimes that others see me as a Latina. I remembered when I was in Florida and the response from others of my nationality was much different towards me than to my white friends. Some good stories there, ask someone who went they will be very willing to share.

It's So Hard to Say Goodbye

Goodbyes are hard to begin with but a week of goodbyes can be downright painful. I am not mourning a death or a job loss, but people things.

1. I had to say goodbye to the sun and fun in Florida. Had a great 5 days with friends and family and gained some great perspective on how blessed I am for both of those things and found some things that I can work on in friendships and how to manage anger better with my kids. (She's Gonna Blow - a book I need to finish)
2. I had to say goodbye again to a friend who God has assured me that will remain a friend even through the distance. I walked into her home in Orlando and felt like I just saw her the week before. I loved seeing her kids and hubby and then taking her to spend time with other friends and laugh!
3. I will have to say goodbye to a man who has had a major impact on my life. He has shown me that even though you love the Lord you can still have fun and laugh and encourage and there is no box for how we need to be. Our interim Pastor is leaving and I will miss him, but excited for what the future holds.

I also said goodbye to the insecurity I have with dealing with people. I had so much fun and know that I am happy on being a work in progress and have progressed and am not as afraid to show who I really am.

Goodbye to Florida, hello memories and plans for the next trip!

Walking on Sunshine

The sun has been glorious! I really like the longer days and I do love the change from winter to spring, particularly this year as we are getting much more change. My job has found a new leader. No we are not an alien group but probably foreign to some. We found a new Senior Pastor and it is really exciting and so needed.

I so love the man who has been our Interim Pastor as he has been more than that to me, but he has things he has been waiting on too long and it is just time. God's perfect time.

Other reasons to be happy, I get to go see a friend in Orlando with 3 other ladies next week! YEAH!!

I Hope You Dance

I never went to a dance. My daughter jokes that NLA believes that dancing makes babies, we joked about that when I was 15 many moons ago now. I love to dance. I always have, whether for cheerleading or in the kitchen with my hubby or when my kids were little we would turn up the radio and dance. I remember doing that with my dad when I was around 8 or 9, dancing on his feet.

I know that soon none of my children will be left to turn the radio up with and dance. The last 11 years have gone by so fast and I need to stop and dance with my kids while they let me. Enjoy the moment and dance.