15 lbs lighter today

And it is not because of the lb of peanut butter M&M's Brad and I ate lastnight. But I do feel as light as a feather today. And even for feeling so light and aloof I also feel empowered and enabled. This euphoria is all a result of lastnight. Brad and I hosted our small group at our house. There were only 6 of us there lastnight but it was intimate and perfect. I am so grateful for these group of friends and the time that is set aside each week to meet with them and develop community. It's really an unheard of thing in today's world to specifically carve out time during the week to work on what is most important when it is all said and done....our hearts. And as one of my more wiser friends put it lastnight - "no one is going to pay me for my heart but it still needs protected." For so long I think I have been waiting for just that - a career that would recognize the bigness of my heart and want to employ me to change the world with them. Often, I get easily dissappointed then when I am in situations where my heart seems to be left out of whatever is at stake...I am naive, I know. But this is my point today. GOOD! I am glad that I am naive and slightly sheltered. More so, I am glad that Brad is willing to protect this bubble I have lived in for quite some time.

This is my bubble and I like it. Brad and I roller skate. We get giddy over Reeces Pieces. I like to watch hokey tv shows with a postivie message like Friday Night Lights and even 7th Heaven. And, yes, I even cried a little last week when the American Idol contestant described her relationship with her father. I value my relationship with my dad and I am willing to fight for it. I think church is a fine place to make friends and meet husbands and even hang out. I deeply believe that there is good in everyone and that everyone has the same basic needs and usually that revolves around love and acceptance. I like George W. Bush. I like that he truly puts God and his family before all things even as the leader of the most powerful country in the world. He understands what matters and Who really is in control. I like to go home to May'retta to highschool basketball games with my family. I like traditions. I like sitting around the kitchen table in Plains just to talk and giggle. Brad and I like to put together puzzles in our free time and play board games.

That is our bubble. Why would I allow the world to tell us that we shouldn't trust people and that we should do more to get ahead now. Why would I want to believe that most people's intentions are bad. I know we live in a fallen world and there is certainly a place to be cautious but I refuse to become hard to the things that move me on a daily basis. And that is what I needed to be reminded lastnight.

I was reminded about the freedom that comes in being a daughter of Christ. More so, I was reminded about what real faith is...and as much as I had clung to it in the past - lately, I had began allowing my job and the world tell me that faith wasnt going to get me where I needed to go or even protect me. Lastnight I was reminded from a few people that love me that it doesnt even matter where I need to go because as I cant attest in the past - God will get me there even if He chooses a long, unknown, adventurous path. I am thankful that there are other people, too, who want to protect this bubble I live in and remind me what matters most....my heart.