The first statement grabbed my attention as I am also big on preparation and organization. I hadn't thought about God in this way! But here in Numbers God is spending a lot of time preparing the people for their journey before they move. Hmm, how often is He doing this in my own life and I don't realize it? I get impatient with not having an answer or things not going at my speed. Do I ever consider that I might be in a time of preparation and organization? 

Training takes time. 
Here in Numbers, God is giving detailed instructions for how tasks are to be completed. Chris points out the number of chapters of training (instructions) that has taken place. It makes me think about my own training...how do I allow God to train me? How often do I breeze through my quiet time to feel good about spending time (check)? Do I think about Sunday's lesson again? 

Preparation takes patience.
I sure like to be prepared, but I am guilty of not being patient in that process. I tend to be a mover and shaker...get it done, let's get to it, on with it. I'll be thinking about all the things that I could/should be doing while waiting (in line, at the docs, etc.). "What's taking so long?!", is often thought. And if I'm in the car..."Are we there yet?!".
​What in the world am I so impatient for...besides just not liking to wait?! Ouch!!

Hard work is essential.
​There is action, "work", involved as we grow/are prepared. There is time for instructions, but then we have to put what we know into action. And dare I say that some of the "hard work" during the instruction time is listening...really listening. But then to "Listen and obey".

Learn the lessons in the desert.
​That dry season in life where the answers aren't coming, time seems to be stretching out, and patience wearing thin. That is a tough time for lessons! But I'd venture to say the purpose of the desert is the lesson/training/learning. Sometimes in the desert all you need/have is HIM.

What a year! 
2024 has been a year of transitions, changes, and so much more!

January was a shift in focus. I sensed a lot to come this coming year -- I would need to be patient and open to what it is (I know it doesn't always look the way I want it to or think it should)....to position myself for His purpose to take place. A big part of that was with dating and realizing that I needed to let go and focus on God first.
*There was a hope that a friendship might be more than friendship, many prayers of releasing my hopes/dreams with relationships and just being positioned for what God would do.
My love for blogging was reunited with this blog! I had forgotten how much I enjoyed writing/blogging and to have that opportunity again was refreshing.

The end of February would bring a coffee meeting that would change everything.
When I met my love that day, I felt the meeting would be pivotal. The text and phone conversations behind us led to what would be a first face-to-face in some 30 years. How would either of us feel after meeting in person?! 

Well, March would bring our first official date and many dates would follow. We  enjoyed nightly phone conversations and day time texts. The love we felt continued to grow and deepen. 

April found us ring shopping and a proposal followed not long after! 
*I still look dreamily at the ring that we chose that day!!

May brought my oldest graduating from college. It was full of celebrations with her senior showcase, graduation and reception. Plus the oldest moving back in from the dorm. 

June was a blur of life! Wedding prepping, girls in and out, dating my love and getting to know each other and more.

July would find us moving the oldest into her own place. A very bitter sweet time for sure. Continued wedding prepping and crafting. And we would take the youngest on a college visit. 

Aug started my youngest's Senior year of high school. How unfair to have a senior again and so soon! This month was s-l-o-w. We started to sort, pack and donate. 

September we traveled several weekends and the time flew!
The youngest started working as a barista again, but in the town that we would be moving to. She also kept her dog job that she had twice a week. And we were driving into the new town off and on with loads of things that we could move and have dinners together.
Then all of the sudden the move, marriage and all were upon us!

October was FULL - moving, the wedding, honeymoon and settling into our new.

November, I will call the transition month. Lots of adjusting and settling in.  A house of 2 girls moved into a house of 2 guys. Combining households (items, etc) and habits. My love learning to "dad" girls and me learning to "mom" boys. 
Oh, and the youngest....she finished HS early and turned 18 in the same week! Sheesh!!

December will wrap up the year with our first holidays together. 

And stay tuned for the new plan for my #oneword for 2025! It is that time of year again to review this year's word, goals, and action.

So much has been happening the last few months! Wedding prepping, house prepping, and doing life. But I want to get back to my writing, reflecting and sharing as I continue to daily position myself for purpose.

Back a couple months ago, Jeannie challenged me to reflect during my last month on "being single".  As my wedding date neared, I began to think on this more and started a draft. 

Being single in my 40's was not something that I would have ever envisioned. I married in my 20's and married expecting to keep my vow of "death do us part". As I considered what to do with the situation I was in, I carefully considered what divorce meant and Biblical grounds for it. It was one of the hardest decisions I had to make in my lifetime, as I realized the lives impacted and forever changed with this decision.

As I reflect on this difficult time in my life with the hurt, devastation and destruction involved I have to say "But God". Through this tough situation I changed, grew and became a better version of myself. I found a strength inside me that I didn't know I possessed. I can look back and know that I made the right decision for me...and for my girls. 

I enjoyed the time of being single, but definitely missed the companionship that a relationship brings. As healing came to my heart and head, I wasn't sure if I could open myself to love again. There is such a risk involved with opening yourself to love. And no one wants to repeat past mistakes or end up in a similar situation again.

But God!

I've been hesitant to say much about my past, about my present too. With the past relationship. I never wanted to throw mud publicly or privately. And then, I didn't want to add hurt to a hurtful situation by celebrating too loudly my new love.

But God!

God has redeemed love and marriage in my life. It is a testimony to His love and grace.

I don't know that I felt like I had a last month of "being single". I had months of committed, in love preparation to marry the man that God had redeemed love in my life with. Even before I had a ring on my finger, my heart had belonged to him. 

And now...
​I'm learning and growing...every day with being in a new relationship -- communicating, trusting, being open...doing all that it takes to protect, grow, nurture my marriage. 
A new way to be positioned for purpose!

His arm around me
That's how I want life to be
From now until eternity

​Held, protected
​Being his girl - loved, treasured

Walking beside him
That's how I want life to be
From now until eternity

Best friend, partner
Facing life together

Loved by him
That's how I want life to be
From now until eternity

Treasured, cherished
Selflessly loved

Married to him
That's how I want life to be
From now until eternity

Love redeemed
My beloved

When do you pause?

Pause and look around you at all God's blessings
Pause to take a good, full, deep breath
Pause to enjoy life - music, food, or whatever it might be
Pause from social media

Life is busy and many changes are coming for us in the next few months. I might have mentioned that a time or two! The last few months have been a blur of activities and the next few are going to remain the same way. And so, I've made the decision to purposely pause.

I'm pausing Facebook and have removed it from my cell phone home screen and turned off notifications. It really makes you aware of how many times you try to look at it throughout the day when it isn't there! Plus, it can really affect one's mood without even realizing it!! 

I'm going to pause this blog, at least unless something is really laid on my heart to share. I'll try to get writing back up and going later in the fall or winter. And I have one special blog post that is on hold that I plan to post yet.

While pausing, I want to purposely pray, study and prepare. I want to love on those around me and beyond. And I want to fully enjoy the activities in the next few months! I don't want to miss that this is an incredibly special time of transition and preparation. 

I'm full of thankfulness to God who is so good! 

I've been reflecting on how things "work out" in our lives. Like when we face an event and we just do not understand why that is the best answer at the time, yet days...months or even years later we gain understanding. Here are some of those moments in my life...

In the summer of 2020, we made the decision to move the youngest into a virtual school. It was a hard decision to take her out of the school she had attended from Kindergarten.
Fast forward to 2023, this change allowed her freedom to do school from wherever and she was able to move closer to her sister, be more employable (flexible hours), and adjust to a new town.

In 2021, I was ready for a new work adventure. I applied and was being considered for two jobs. Both jobs would have been a "good fit", but one had advantages I couldn't overlook.
Fast forward to 2023, that job allowed me to move without issues to a new town. And those teammates helped me move not once, but twice in a year!!

In 2022, I moved into the first home that I would own myself. I wanted to rent and find something temporary. Options were limited, especially with a pet. 
We ended up in a wonderful place that was HOME for almost a year. A place that we put money into and ended up making money and beat the odds of selling that quickly after buying.

In 2023 as we planned our move to our new town, we looked and looked...and looked for a house to buy. We looked in multiple towns within a 30-45 minute radius. We made multiple offers on houses and even had one accepted that we had to pull out of. This time I didn't want to rent!
God provided a rental in the perfect timing and there isn't a house to sell as we look to move.
Living in this town put us within 15 minutes of the oldest and my best friend. Living near both has been the biggest blessing!

Where I am today is a cumulation of all those moments - good and bad. Each decision and move (literally) has placed me where God had designed to carry out His plan.