Nope, I'm not talking about our 2 year anniversary that happens on Monday (goodness, 2 years?!). I'm talking about the fact that we have been in Alaska for one entire year now. Well, 1 year and 3 days if you are being technical. Or we have survived one winter if you are really wondering how I measure it.
Some days I feel like we just got here. Other days I'm about ready for our stint to be long over.
We have had so many new experiences and adventures together. These are memories that we will carry with us for the rest of our lives. I try to document them well with this blog so that I can look back and remember all that God let Matt and I do together. And we really have fun while doing them! They are our special memories. That happened in Alaska of all places! I don't want to look back at the time we spend here and think how much I disliked the experience. I will never say I regret moving here. I believe God brings you places and has you do things to refine you into more of His character. He has you walk through times of challenges to embrace the fact that God is bigger than any of them. It's rare when I realize what I'm learning at the moment or that I'm becoming a better person, but I know if I am seeking God and His glory, I am always transforming into His likeness. I like to journal and write because I like to be able to look back and see where God has brought me. And He has brought me far already!
I've heard the sayings "the grass is always greener where you water it" and "bloom where you are planted". Maybe cheesy, I've been praying this would be true of my life. To be honest, I have troubles with wishing the day away wanting to be somewhere else. But that's mostly the uncontentness of my fallen self. I'll look back into my past and remember how great it was...when ironically I was struggling with them same thing then!
But I've been pretty homesick lately. Maybe because this doesn't feel like home yet. I hear the first year is the hardest. Thankfully I've gotten that over with. But I miss Texas. I lived there basically my whole life and it never seemed that special to me. Until I don't have it anymore, of course. I miss being a drive away from family. I miss being able to catch coffee with an old friend. I miss not having to wear a jacket everytime I go outside. I miss sweating because it's hot outside (can't believe I'm admitting that!). I miss good country music. I miss Chick-fil-a and Sonic happy hour. I miss living in the Bible belt. I miss good shopping. I feel like I could go on forever. But I'll be done.
God has great things in store. I have to TRUST that. He is my hope when I feel hopeless. He is my rest when I lack peace. He is my constant when nothing is familiar. He is my comfort when I lack joy. He is my security when I feel like I don't belong. Ultimately, this is not our home. Alaska or Texas or wherever we might end up down the road. This life is just a breath, and praise the Lord that I get to spend eternity with Him!
"But our citizenship is in Heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ."
Philippians 3:20
1 comment:
It is so hard to be content where we are, but if we believe God always as our best in mind, we must enjoy and love where we are and learn what He wants us to learn. I think you guys are doing a wonderful job of embracing Alaska. It looks like such an adventure!
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