Of weddings, TeenPact, and spring...

Well, its been over a month since I've last posted, but life has gone on. Actually, quite a bit of activity has taken place during the last 5 weeks - most of it in my heart and head.

It was my honor and joy to staff TeenPact Illinois for the first time this past March. For more on that, visit my new blog @: www.xanga.com/lovehasthefinalmove

Recently, I also had another first - I got to go see one of my dear friends get married. :-) Yes, Erin Puckett or Half Way, Missouri is now Erin Moore. -But let me back up. TeenPact Illinois ran from March 27 thru the 31st (Monday thru Friday). I got home Friday night around 7 p.m., only to throw in a couple loads of laundry, pack, and get as much sleep as I could before six a.m. the next morning (we wanted to leave home by 7 a.m. - *laughs* like that ever happens....) I got up at six, but we did not leave at the expected time; we left home around 8:30-ish. Anyway, after we were on our way, we encountered quite a bit of traffic in Missouri. In fact, *laughs*, we saw several road signs reading, "Please be prepared to stop" - to which my only thought was, Ya' think? (we had been sitting still for over 20 minutes) Anyway - sorry for the long discourse on traffic. Moving onto the wedding, it was a simple, yet beautiful ceremony. Craig (Erin's husband) is very much a romantic, which became more than apparent when he sang her a song - not just a line or a verse, but a full song - during the ceremony; I've got to give the man credit - he's got courage. :-) Erin is a lucky woman... Craig too, for that matter. Anyway, I don't have time to write here, but that whole weekend was a very, very interesting one....

Spring is here! Thank the Lord! I tell you, I'm absolutely loving the weather we've had here in Illinois the last couple days. Everything is green and full of life... the garden is just begging to be cultivated and planted... the sunshine is glorious... the clouds are beautiful (or, as the case is today, when there are no clouds, it is the blueness of the sky that catches my eye)... everything is warm and inviting - I love spring!

I've been in a pretty chipper mood the last couple days. I am constantly in awe of God's love for me, of His patience with me, of the amazing sacrifice that Christ made for me on the Cross, of the plans and the good things (or those painful things that produce character and faith) that He has in store for me... God's grace is truly amazing.

Still, even with my chipper mood of late, I've found myself at times (and the oddest times, at that) angry with myself and - though less often - with others. Why? Well, honestly, sometimes I just don't know. And it is not that I'm acting out on my anger, just that it is there below the surface and it bothers me. It's there to tell me that something is wrong - if only I could figure out what. Anyway, that is something that has been on my mind today.

The biggest thing God has taught me during the last three weeks, is that I need to once again surrender my hope, dreams, fears and weaknesses into His hands. That has always been very tough for me. My first instinct is to try to manipulate (in the most benign of ways ;-)) situations and people in order to make things 'right' in the world - forgetting that God is in control and that His good will is the one that is ultimately going to prevail. But there is such peace in resting in the knowledge God is in control, and that I don't have to worry about the future or try to control things in order for them to turn out 'right'; all I have to do is be obedient to His calling on my life, be myself, and leave the rest to God. Sounds simple, but it's tough stuff.

Well, I think I've talked on enough. Love you all!!