(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.