True Story

Yesterday I took Augie to Ledges State Park with the intention of walking in the river. Before we left the house, I talked to him about this and he was very excited to walk in water! He didn't fully understand what fun was going to be had, but past experience has taught him to trust that I have fun in store for him. So, we were walking down the winding hills and I knew exactly where we're going and Augie was following. We were less than 20 feet from the river destination and all of a sudden Augie got distracted by a pile of sand. All he wanted to do was play in that measly pile of sand even though I kept reminding him about the super-fun upcoming river and I had a better plan than the sand. Eventually I was able to persuade him to start walking my way but instead of taking the paved path he wanted to walk through the grass that was taller than him. Augie ended up tripping and falling over sticks and having difficulty seeing me. We finally go to the river and he loved it! At first, while walking through the river he was having no problems staying on his feet and figuring out where the rocks were and where to step. Then it started getting deeper and rockier and Aug instinctively reached up for my hand that is always ready for him. At some parts I was there as a simple comfort- that he'll be okay- other places he was completely dependent on me to stand. When we were leaving he was so tired and physically exhausted there was no way that he could make it back up the winding hills. I picked him up and carried him through the winding hills, carrying his toy turtle, toy boat and sippy cup. Though carrying Augie was a little difficult for me, I realized that none of our trip was impossible for me. I've done it many times on my own and with others. But for Augie, without me he would have had no guidance, support or strength to figure it all out.

Thank you God for showing me how much I am like Augie in Ledges Park. Thank you God that I have Jesus there to show me the way, to wait patiently as I walk through long grass stubbornly. Thank you Jesus that you are there to hold my hand, hold me up or carry me and all of my baggage.

Beautiful Tuesday

Tuesday's are pretty much my favorite day of this semester. I work with Augie from 8-5 and then the rest of the night is mine! I try to spend it relaxing, cooking or catching up on errands, but I mostly try to cut off communication from the world. This is the first time in my collegiate career that I've intentionally set apart an evening for rest and myself- it's a pretty big deal.

Today, it was about 50 degrees and there's no snow, so Augie and I went to Ledges State Park and he loved it! He loves to be outdoors and is such a sponge of information, it's so cool to watch him experience things for the first time. It makes me excited to be a mom and have these moments over and over again (in the future!) We spent almost two hours walking, running, crunching leaves and snow, and throwing sticks and rocks in the water and watching them rush away. He was astonished by all of this and it makes me realize how much we take for granted- all of this is God's beautiful creation- we should constantly be awed! The picture of the day of course comes from my time with Augie:

I caught him mid-throw of a rock

Okay...I couldn't put just one! Here he's in simple awe of the combination of water and ice creating a 'tunnel' for the sticks to go under

Last night at our Beth study she was talking about when Jesus spoke to the disciples He took them up to the mountain, He brought them to a different place than their surroundings. When Jesus showed some of his divinity with Moses and Elijah (Luke 9) Peter desperately wanted to make a shelter on the mountain and stay there, it was perfect and comfortable! But Jesus (and a cloud of God) said that that's not enough, that they needed to return to the valley. I almost had to laugh when she said that because I realized that Ames has been my mountain. Overall, things are comfortable and God has shown and taught me more than I could imagine and of course I want to stay here, but I need to return to the valley of Clintonville and bring all that He's equipped me with where it's needed.

The past few weeks have just been so incredibly exciting because I feel that it has been drenched in God's glory.....now I need to work on letting that overflow in my interactions with others. I definitely struggle with confidence in evangelism (ugh. stupid struggles.)

Until tomorrow, happy Tuesday!