And now...

Today, I got Thursday night pickin' music chords in the mail from Michael Midkiff. I was very excited. I haven't tried playing yet, partially because I'm really tired still and don't think I can focus on it. Got a new car battery today, so now when my friends around here are done being busy, I can go see them! For now, sitting on my bed will do just fine. Made a great smoothie yesterday. Good way to start the morning. Balance the craziness that is this place with some joy! Plenty of joy, and praise God for that. I'm really not sure I've ever missed people so much as I miss my WV team and my kids. Usually I don't miss people much at all. It's crazy how God will mess up your heart in such a short time. I'm excited, though. I feel like I can draw closer to Him now.

Soggy Hamburgers

Through frustrations and lots of hugs from my kids, we finished our last week of programming in Lincoln County. Let me paint you a picture of beauty now. It's the last community cookout, and dark rain clouds are rolling in. We aren't sure what to do as community members start showing up. It pours once, but we don't call off. It doesn't look promising, but the community members stay and we set out the food. As Sarge referenced, we know that that community felt the love of God from YouthWorks! to stand out in the rain eating wet food with us. Those pictures of sopping wet kids and that soggy cheeseburger I ate was my favorite all summer. There we were, playing, eating, and just being together in the rain. That's the love of God lived out in community. I may not understand it, but I know it was there all summer long.
I'm back in Michigan now, after a long, tired drive from Philly. However ridiculous I may feel about it, I already miss my three favorite YW friends and those country mountain roads where we found a home.