Jesus Cleaned My Room Today

So my living situation right now is kinda awesome and kinda weird. We live in a hotel... but one with a kitchen and family room and two bed rooms. It may have more closet space than any home I've ever known. So it isn't too bad ;-) And people come in and clean it! Crazy! Most days we try to clean up after ourselves and make sure it isn't too crazy of a mess before we leave the room. So they don't have a ton of junk to run around as they are trying to clean. Today as we were getting ready to go to church a woman knocked on the door to see if we could have our room cleaned. We told her we'd be gone in about a half hour cause we were going to church and did she mind coming back.

We got back from church and the room hadn't been cleaned. We were disappointed cause with a little guy, still in diapers, the room can get stinky if the trash isn't taken out. A little while later the same woman knocked on the door and said "oh you are back from church. Did you get to learn about Jesus today? Jesus takes care of us and looks after us each day." She was talking to the kids and they thought she was awesome. My son went to give her a hug. My daughter followed her around the room as she cleaned. All the while talking to my daughter about reading the Bible and talking to Jesus and how miracles could happen. This woman, who was stuck cleaning my room on a Sunday, had more joy than I have had in weeks. It was wonderful to meet her. Wonderful just to spend 15 minutes with her. I had been wondering about these folks who toil to make my living here better. These little magic people who replace everything even before I ask.

It made me think. I've been busy here replacing things when we run out. The dish detergent ran out so we got some. The next day new dish detergent was in our room left by the magic dish detergent fairy. The coffee ran out so we got some. The next day the magic coffee fairy delivered both decaf and regular. Had we just asked if replentishment came with the room, we could have save ourselves time and money. We could have saved ourselves some trouble. Just like with God. How often do I replace things or fix things in my life, just to find that God could fix it bigger and better than when I tried? How often do I not ask because I don't think about it? I think about doing it on my own. Yet, had I asked, He could take care of it. The bible tells us in John 16:23-25, "Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete."
So to my fears that we won't recieve things we need like a new home, new friends, a new church...I say "Ehh..." and remember that when we are in God's will, we will recieve what we ask.
So I'm going to try that with the toilet paper and not go buy any. I let you know if the magic toilet paper fairy doesn't show up. That will probably something I'll have trouble saying, "Ehh..." about ;-)

to know and be known

So I've been in another country for about a week now and there are a number of things I can't figure out. In varying degrees of importance. I will let you decide which ones are important or not. 1. On the microwave there is a button for meat pies but not popcorn. 2. On the roads they don't have rest stops or Quick Trips. How can a whole country be without a QT?!! 3. What they call the bathroom seems totally crude to me (and I think poop jokes are funny). But the thing that is really occupying my mind is the school system. I have a ton of questions. At home I would call up some girls, who's opinions I value, and bounce some ideas off them. I'd do research. I'd ask for prayer from my bible study. A whole lot of things to figure out the best plan. But here...I'm kinda on my own. And I think other women feel the same way. We just don't know how to find each other.
The other day I got a call from a woman I met 6 days ago. She wanted to go on a walk and ask my advice. I felt flattered and honored that someone I hardly knew valued my opinion. We chatted, bounced ideas off one another and...really didn't solve any problems. But I felt more like me. I love the camaraderie between women. The kinship that forms simply, if you have kids similar ages and you don't mind how the other mommy parents on the playground.
It is funny how you get to the fundamentals of who you really are when things are taken away. For instance, it has been abundantly clear to me that I am a crazy extrovert. I feel energized when I'm with others. I love to learn about new people and hear their stories. I love to see what makes people laugh. I love to see what makes people passionate.
While I totally get that there isn't anything wrong with being an extrovert, there is some huge downfalls.... or downfalls for my poor husband who is probably so tired of me saying, "wanna chat?" Anywho... I know what I should be doing. I should be praying more. Journalling more. Reading the bible more. But I have been known to go to others before I go to God. And I have been guilty of loving the bible study group and more than loving the study. On more than one occasion I have enjoyed the conversation about the material rather than the material itself. So I feel that I have an opportunity to change. I feel God saying, "Hey there. I'm fun too. Learn about my story. See what makes me laugh. Love what makes me passionate."
So...to the desire to be around more people I say, "Ehh..." and vow to be around God more. I am reminded of His word in Psalm 73:26..."God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." God is all I need and if I truly believe that I can ask Him for the advice I would seek from others. I can chat with Him and learn about Him. And what a joy to know the being that created me to be me. The one who created me to have this desire for others. And to seek what He wants me to do with that desire.

Good-byes are a big stinko

So I've done a lot of good-byes in the last month. And truly none of them were fun. We all have those certain few people that we think, "if I never had to see them again, I'd be okay." Well...I didn't have any of those goodbyes. It really was sad to say goodbye to each person. It was also super weird to think that some of the folks I said bye to, I will, most likely, never see again. That is super weird to say bye to people that where really important during a season of life, but will not cross paths with you again. One thing I do love is that I'll see those folks in heaven. Besides all the cool stuff of being with Jesus and all that...I get to see buddies. What a bonus! ;-)

Anywho...this move has been sad. I went to lunch yesterday and I said, "isn't it weird not to see any familiar faces?" I went to the playground yesterday saw another mom and my extrovertedness went into alert mode. I thought...I should probably go say hi. I should probably go meet her. I should probably see if she is friend potential. But...I didn't want to. I thought I have good buddies. I have friends. I don't really have the energy, after 9 hours on a plane, to put my best face on. But...I did. After that I thought..."here we go again." Time to make pleasantries and basic conversation. Time to get phone numbers and a "good feeling" about someone. (Boy do I sound crabby!)

To all the unknowns of friendship I say, "Ehh..." and remember that God gave me friends before and He will again. I remember the song we sang a lot in college "You are my strength when I am weak. You are the treasure that I seek. You are my all in all." and remember that God is all that I, truly need. Anything else is just a bonus.