young love...a short story, not continued

So my short story about Kara and Jason was just that. Short. And despite my efforts, my creativity is not coming through to "finish" the story. Maybe it is better to leave you guessing and coming to your own conclusions anyway.

For those of us that are married or have been in long-term relationships, most of us have experienced a moment similar to Kara's. Our eyes are all-of-the-sudden "open" and we wonder exactly where we are, how we got there, if we really know "Jason" and if that is okay or not.

Some of us work through it and some of us can't seem to get over it until the relationship is over. The same is true of our relationship with Jesus. Some days I think we are so in sync and others I think, "Jesus, do I really know you?" With people and with God alike we can never know 100% that person. Heck if I really am honest, I don't even know myself 100%. Every day is an adventure, everyday is filled with surprises (some good, some not), and everyday we have a choice to participate or not. What do you choose today?

a long day...for zeph

Zeph did not take a nap today...not even for five minutes, or 45 (like yesterday). It could have something to do with the fact that we slept until 9 this morning, but still. He has a head cold so I didn't really want to go out in the rainy, cold weather and I thought it would be a good day to catch up on rest to get healthy. Zeph thought it would be a good day to be full of energy. He did not stop.

I put him in his crib around 2:30pm for a nap, which is already later than normal. About 3:30, I went in his room to see him pulling all of his clothes out of his drawer and throwing them on the ground. So, I thought he would take a nap with me (normally works), but 45 minutes later with 4 warnings and no success, we got up and Zeph ran around. And jumped. And talked. And ate. And played.

Now, at 9:45pm the house is finally quiet with the exception of my keypad punching. 9:45 people. Not so happy about that.

Speaking of "not being happy", when we got up from our "nap", Zeph asked me, "how ya doin?" My reply was, "I'm not happy. I am not happy that you didn't take a nap." He then repeated his question several times until I changed my reply to, "I'm happy." (he was pretty darn cute). His response? "oh, ok." And that was that.

The one thing I can happily say about this sleepless afternoon/evening is that I am blessed to have a child that is rarely cranky when tired.

the gray weather is my friend today...sort of.

For the two of you who actually read my blog and are waiting for a continuation on my love story, I apologize, but you're going to have to wait just a bit longer.

In combination with dreams I have had of friends past, a friend reminiscing on her blog today, the incessant gray and rain and the fact that Claudio is traveling, I am nostalgic.

Claudio is having a great time with MY family right now, eating seriously good food and enjoying the beginning of summer. So jealous.

The never-ending gray skies and rain remind me of Oregon. Not that I love the rain, in fact, I'm pretty much done with it for a long time, but I miss the place I called "home" for so many years of my life.

Then there's my dreams...seriously people, I'm dreaming of people from high school and that I am back in high school...two nights in a row...different people, different dreams but all from and about high school. Now don't get me wrong, I loved high school and I love the people who have been in my dreams (thankfully), but I just turned 29 and am stoked about it!

I love FB because at least from a distance I can keep up with the craziness of people's lives, but sometimes I just want to go back to having my own crazy life. Sure, I live in a beautiful city, in a tropical country, on an island. It is gorgeous. But I have a lot of free time on my hands (when Claudio is here to help with Zeph) now days, and few friends. You all still think this is great and it is; but on the flip-side it gets easier to feel lonely, which is not great.

As my friend posted on her blog today, I need to learn to be content with where I am, to live in the moment. I need to live in the present like it is a gift. This actually seems to be the theme of my year and really I have been doing better than I would have expected. The past few days have been a detour, and it may be a detour that lasts until the 17th (when Claudio gets home), but even so, I am thankful.

I am thankful for wonderful memories, for wonderful friendships that have endured despite the fact that I live 7,000 miles away; I am thankful for the way the Lord is working in me to be content and thankful each day; to appreciate where I am and what I am doing and what He is doing through me. Yes, though nostalgic today, I press on knowing that I'm in His will and there's no better place to be.