Where to begin..other than the highway. A road trip that took me across 6 states in 3 days, a small car packed tighter than a can of sardines and the iPhone 4 that kept me connected to all that I had left behind and introduced me to the future while driving in the present. As I sit here in Texas and look back across the experience of firsts, I am overwhelmed with the beginning yet hopeful towards the end. Settling takes time. In my mind I had imagined arriving and jumping into a fast paced lifestyle, meeting new people, being swept up into the Village all the while creativity raining down on me. Those mental pictures haven’t become a rocket ship yet and I am realizing that I am 2 weeks old and unwinding a bit.
For the first time..in a long time I am..
-the new girl at church who knows 3 people and is swallowed up in masses of people. Like Time Square at New Years.
-the new girl at small group looking and longing for someone to connect with, to love and to serve.
-the new girl at social gatherings who no one knows, maybe noticed, but at the end of the evening hasn’t been spoken too.
-the new girl driving around town, looking for common everyday places.
-the new girl looking for a place to exercise, parking, running and getting lost.
-the new girl looking for a job, calling, dressing up, looking up adjectives in dictionary.com to find new and interesting ways to describe myself.
-the new girl who sees beauty and gets to capture it whenever I want.
-the new girl who cries out to God constantly for comfort, help & security because all other “things” of comfort have been taken away.
In light of all of the firsts, I know that the ideas that are gripped in my hands are slowly becoming unleashed and my handwriting isn’t as rushed. I am slowing down and that is a first.
kristin (all of these pictures were taken from my super rad- iphone.)
So proud of you Cookie!!! Missing you though and just so excited that I get to see you in a few days!!! This weekend you’ll be the old girl who’s been missed and loved… and will get lots of hugs and laughs and girl talks!!! -ang
Hi Kristin-
I am so thankful you have had time to slow down. The Lord certainly knows when we need to do that…and how to get us to do that. “Slowing down” is a blessing…and I can’t wait to see the beauty that will be unwrapped before you, that He has in store for you. Enjoy these new, deep, cleansing breaths. You are missed..but we are excited for you. We love you.
God has given you amazing gifts and a beautiful personality. You won’t be the “new girl” for long, I’m sure! Just wait for Him and I know that He will rain His grace down on you while you wait and even when your life gets busier… I know you know all of this – thanks for sharing on here. I am excited for you and look forward to hearing about your new adventures!