I’ve been traveling for the past few weeks.  I’ve missed you, bloggies, but I’m so thankful for the wonderful writers who stepped in to lend their voices and stories for the Hindsight series.  My time during the series contained 4 plane trips, a dozen board games, 3 hikes, 12 mosquito bites, and more sweat than I would care to mention.

Here’s a little something I’ve taken from life out of a suitcase:

1. Obedience brings joy. Even if you are reluctant or hesitant, trust and obey.  He knows what He’s doing.
2. Take a hike! Even if it’s 95 degrees and 95% humidity or 103 by 10am, get up, get out, get moving, get hydrated, and get in God’s creation.  It’s totally worth it.
3. Learn to be a humble and graceful loser.  (FAIL.)  I try to laugh this one off, but my own “hunger for the win” is neither flattering nor God-honoring when it makes me the grumpiest loser at the table.  I’m trying to do better at this!
4. Call them back. If you finish a phone call and feel uneasy about it – call them back rather than stew or worry about it!  Call them back a third time if needed. 😉
5. FILL UP: drink water and saturate yourself with Living Water.  I am my worst self when I am dehydrated, sick, tired, or lacking in quality time in God’s Word.  I was caught red-handed with ALL FOUR of these one day during my travels one day and it wasn’t pretty.  Just picture me crying for an hour… in grocery stores, restaurants, and the airport.
6. Look up. I spent one of my evenings standing in an open field and gazing up to the stars.  I just started singing.  I didn’t worry about people or bugs or the volume of my voice.  I was praising God with eyes full open and it was honestly the most honest, sincere, and heartfelt praise I’ve given in over a month.
7. Seek TRUTH! The last week of my travels I was actually “performing” for a youth camp.  We were learning how Satan twists the truth to be his version of truth.  My role was to play the deceiver every morning.  Watching the students response has reminded me that instead of just getting angry about the lies of the world, I should know the truth so well that I can recognize a fake in an instant.
8. Ask for help. I’ve had SO much help along the way!  I received rides from friends, bug spray and sunscreen from strangers, family members reading e-mails to me over the phone, guest posts, and countless prayers from faithful people.  I could not have made it through June alone.  (THANK YOU!)
9. Ask questions. You want someone to feel loved and valued?  Stop talking at them and start listening to them.  Ask questions, lots and lots of questions.
10. Be thankful! Thank you, Father for…

-60 years of marriage to celebrate
-Loving family who laugh and play together
-The beauty of God’s creation
-Safe travel
-The kindness of strangers
-Opportunities to go, obey, and learn.
-A loving home to return to.
-Grace for each day.

“Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you;

Your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.”

Isaiah 26:8