Enjoy the Ride

This year, I felt God calling me to discover the "basics".  Sounds vague doesn't it!

 Sometimes life gets so overcomplicated.  I sometimes find myself digging into a deep hole of trying to find the "best way" to carry out my days on this Earth. I want to know how my Father intended me to live out this fleeting moment.  I don't want to get caught up in the rapid flow of the world.  Instead, I want to be carried in the flow by my Creator.  I think that means, doing things differently. 

Sometimes I don't even think I know who "I" am so much.   But I do know I want to be AUTHENTIC! I want meaningful relationships.  I want to LOVE this journey! The ups and the downs....because it's all GOD!

I want to live in the moment.  Cliche', yes, but to really notice the beauty of the place of the stream I'm on, not looking ahead to see where the other fish are! I think all too often we miss Him because we focus too much on what others have that we don't.  

I want to be genuinely happy in the moment with an attitude of THANKS!  When I am thinking about who I can tell about my happiness, I'm probably not really "getting" it.  I'm still trying to please people. But when I'm loving life and giving thanks is enough, that's authentic.  

I want genuine relationships, where authentic is sometimes ugly!  I don't want to have to pretend I'm working the "formula" to have friends.  I want my life to be super intwined with my Daddy, so that I am not looking to others to verify my actions!  

So what does this "basic" mean?

So far, I've figured out it means being still.  Really listening and trusting God.  Not trying to fix things or people, but learning to love and forgive.  Recognizing old patterns and knowing that even though they arise, they do not define me.  Learning from the hard stuff!  Sitting with the hard stuff when I don't know what else to do.  Somewhere, there's the key to the next door.  This is basics.  

I don't have to know any formulas really.  Being really really present and open to learn from experiences is the only formula I need.  Jesus solved them all.  I just have to rest in Him.  I feel like for the first time in my life, I'm learning what my identity in Christ means.  And it has by no means been "normal".  God has led me in some new streams, but I'm enjoying this ride.  After all, isn't the one who created us the best Captain to choose!

Update on Mr. Noah

Noah has already had a busy year on his journey to healing!  We found out in January that the pin-size hole in his left ear drum was closed!  It was a long wait, but well worth it!  I am thankful that his ear is healthy and hearing well! It was a day I will always remember!
He also got a great report on his eye exam last Friday! He had the surgery to correct the lazy eye when he was 3 and his eyes were starting to drift out a bit last year.  We decided to take him back to our local guy, instead of the pro-surgery Vanderbilt guy because, well, that surgery was the toughest!  So I felt God leading us back there, and about 8 months later, Noah's eyes are looking great!  He only has to wear his glasses for reading, computer, school work, and TV time!
The next step is to get his right ear functioning better.  Noah's hearing tests have always been a confusing thing.  We know he has the ability to transmit sound waves to the brain, but something in the middle ear has prevented all sounds from getting to the inner ear, so he has a big hearing loss in that ear.  He went to see a new ENT who does surgery to correct structural ear issues.  He discovered that Noah's right ear drum was very retracted and needs to be fixed as soon as possible.  So we scheduled a cat scan for next month and will go from there.
I am so very thankful for the progress and so very thankful for the procedures to help Noah hear better!
God works in many ways, and I trust that in each step, Noah is being carried in His hands.  I'm thankful that through this journey, I have learned so much about what it means to really trust God.  And that MIRACLES come in many forms.  Sometimes it takes a season(or two) to learn that, but in the end God is always GOOD!  He's always on our side!