(and vacation)

last week in Seattle was everything that i needed for so many reasons.

i got to spend lots of time outdoors, driving with the windows down, not wearing makeup, playing croquet, hiking, sailing, tubing the icicle river, reading, laying in the hammock, camping (all by ourselves, such a proud moment), not sweating, spending time with family, swinging on the rope swing...i could go on and on.

Seattle is a place I love so much. I have been there countless times and always in the summer so it is normally lovely weather (a nice little break from Texas) which this time i seemed to be super grateful for since we are heading for the record number of days of 100+ degrees in Texas. SICK.

the more time i spend in a different place than texas and outside of my tight-knit community of friends and family the more i realize how people's world views are just soooo different. after conversations with my cousins, a random stranger on my plane from seattle to denver and my taxi driver from ethiopia i realized a few things: people have different opinions than you, believe completely different things but i guess what really hit home for me this past week was just that ultimately there is a place in your heart that only Jesus can fill. he created you and created that desire that nothing of this world will ever fill. i'm grateful that i have that in my life but my heart hurts for people that don't and that aren't interested at all. but at the same time i get excited to meet people that are interested in hearing my story or that also may have some wisdom to send my way.

3 different people/situations, 3 different stories, 3 different levels of insight. but ultimately desiring one thing. i just pray that everyone gets to that place on their own journey and have so much faith that the Lord will continue to pursue their hearts until they are there.

getting out of my comfort zone is always a good thing and i'm grateful to be reminded of that.

but now that vacation is over, back to reality. grateful that my reality is actually very awesome! blessed.

This girl could use a vacation and in less than 24 hours, this will be my view. literally.

So excited for cousin bonding time, 70 degree temps, hiking, camping, floating the river, wineries and lots and lots of memory making!

Bring on SEATTLE!!!

this is like a real-life version of a Bachelor date...and i think i'm in love!

(I think this picture would also work for #1 below)

2 things i learned/realized this weekend:

1. a couple weeks ago i was watching this q&a thing on the village website and matt chandler was talking about the sabbath and what that looks like for different people. he went on to say that the sabbath isnt just a sunday but was asking what time in your day/week/month do you withdraw from eveyrthing that consumes you and spend time with the lord where you heart actually is stirred. at first, i had the thought of i have NOTHING like this. no place. no special hideaway. sooo...i kept thinking about it for a while and then this weekend i went up to the lakehouse. just me and my parents and a few of their friends. but there is something about getting away i never really realized until i lived in the city. which i know seems silly, but it is true. but being up there i realized this is my place, this is where my heart is so easily stirred for the Lord. Whether it is spending time up there with all of my best friends or with just people over 50 i feel like i wouldn't want to be any other place but there. so im grateful that the Lord helped me realize that this weekend. and that he loves me. and gives me the good ol' moss lake to just rest in Him and see how perfect his creation is.

2. we got to spend some time with one of our married couple friends on saturday night and it was SO FUN. that's really about it but it was just encouraging to see them and how much fun they have and how well they love each other and are PERFECT for each other. gives a girl a little hope, which is never a bad thing...

i know this is so simple but i feel like its always so encouraging to see that God is always teaching me new things, and i love when i have my eyes open wide enough to actually see them.