Stretching Matters

Firstly, Put this song on:
Hillsong United: Anchor

After spending miles on cruise control in the rental car I was blessed to be upgraded to, my Surroundings changed as trees got smaller and plains got wider. Wind more crisp and blue sky's expanding.

It is so hard for my heart and mind to grasp the realities that have happened in the last couple of weeks. As I sat in a moving vehicle for 11 hours to Salt Lake City I found myself taking decompressing breathes in while singing out continual praise of the direction He has me in.

I have learned over the last couple of years that Goodbyes suck. However the more I lean upon the Lords understanding, the more I realize that these goodbyes are more like, "see ya later". Each person impacts and timing is everything. His time, not mine.

Three weeks ago I was standing on the side of a road that became so familiar over the last 4 years. In the heart of the forest as I stood there doing what I've done most every Friday, waving goodbye to faces on Yellow school buses. Standing next to a wet sign in a wet rain jacket being who I have known for the last 4 years. And here I sit now in Pennsylvania, still me. Still a beloved daughter of God, trusting that He firmly has my hand leading me where he needs me... In Laramie, Wyoming

The last three weeks have been a whirlwind of sights, faces and places that have whizzed by and that have also slowly sunk deeper into my heart.

I drove 11 hours to Salt Lake City on Tuesday the 16th. and then continued on to Laramie Wyoming where I literally shook with excitement as the faces I had parted from 6 months earlier where back in front of mine.

My brother being crafty.

I put down a deposit on an apartment. Whoa. That made things more real than ever. After spending a few days in Denver running in an Ugly sweater race with friends and catching a red-eye to Pennsylvania on Sunday the 21st, I am finally home and enjoying most of my time just sitting and resting. Sitting and resting is something that I am really bad at most of the time so I figured now was the best time to practice. My brother came home for Christmas which was a thrill for my parents and brought back some hilarious moments reminding me how much my brother and I are alike in mannerisms.

Upon the turn of the New Year there are many things that I am completely unsure of. However, one thing that I am sure of is that God is good. All. The. Time. I know I've said it a lot lately but it's like listening to a really good song on repeat only I simply will never get sick of the song of His salvation and unconditional love!
I have been praying continually through this transition and I have been encouraged by so many via God speaking through and all around His creation and the people in it. Since being home though life has continued to move forward, I have been waiting to see how God will be placing the next steps down and what that will look like. Through His grace in working on my patience I have been rather anxious. In the midst of it I surrendered it all and reminded myself on a moment to moment basis that it is His will, not mine. No more bartering with Him. Simply hoping and speaking my desires so that they would align with His.

Upon arriving home to my room and flannel sheets I was unpacking my bags and I found a note from a dear friend:
"Daria,
You have exactly what you need to build God's Kingdom where you are."
"the faith, the hope, the trust, the joy... Everything else will follow."-Matthew 6:33

My dear friends, again, God is good. All the time. And He is FAITHFUL!

Let the Adventure Continue!

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Chapter Books

The rainy season is officially upon us here in the Redwood forest. It seems like each time we step outside the rain begins. Today however it wasn't rainy, it was a brisk blue sky day. As I sat in the parking lot yesterday waiting for school buses to arrive to pick up our students who explored the forest this week, I sat there and began reading psalms. 

"Let all that I am praise the Lord;

With my whole heart I will praise his holy name".-Psalm 103 NLT

Today marks the beginning of my 10 day count down until I depart towards Laramie, WY. Laradise.

My Father God has not been dawdling in teaching. His main subject this month is Patience. I have a tutor, His name is the Holy Spirit. 

While it has settled into me more and more that I will soon be departing and transitioning physically from this season in California I am really excited to be heading home to Pennsylvania for a couple of weeks to be home. The last time I was home in NEPA, I was stuck in a vortex waiting and wanting to get back to this coast. Now so many parts of my heart are looking forward to the rest and the joyful reunions of seeing faces and hearing words describe what God's been up. 

10 days and yet though there is no car in my clear sight that has been brought out of the wood work yet, I know my God is faithful and there will be an incredible story behind His timing and the falling into place of His desires for this journey, not mine. Just because I'm not given a car in my time preference doesn't mean it's not going to happen. I thought of this scenario as a failing in my eyes. Judgement of many but the truth is that God. Is. Faithful. His timing, not mine. 

I'll be departing Northern California to head North East in a car that I don't know yet. A car that God has chosen for me? Or a rental car? Either way God has been providing big things. Big things in the entire reason why I'm heading to Wyoming to begin with. To serve alongside many in the building and cultivating through SROM. I am extremely excited to announce that I am almost to my BEGINNING goal of $1,200 monthly supported! Nearly $60 monthly away currently! The Holy Spirit has been doing amazing things through perspective and teaching and discernment. The ideas and hopes that I put forward are often very different and there are times that I think that I'm beginning to catch on to fully giving it to God and then something happens that triggers my fingers to tighten back around these things surrendered.

 I entered into California, willingly to follow whatever path God had for me here and still does. And through it I am blessed beyond understanding and ability to describe. I'm honest when I say I am so glad that I said yes to Him. I am so thankful that I didn't try to LEAD upon MY own understanding but instead submitted to His will for my life for the amount of time that I have been out here. If I had peaced out when I thought I had wanted, there's no doubt that I wouldn't be headed where I'm prayerfully headed on December 16th. And for every single moment of suffering, sacrifice and dim light, I am grateful and praising the Holy Spirit for helping me to cling and rejoice in every single moment that is Northern California and those who surround it.

My bet is that All of this reality will set in somewhere in Nevada. Anyone have any other bets as to when this transition will feel real? As I speak there are boxes in my room and bits and peices of my life scattered all around this forest. I am excited to leave the things that Jesus wants me to leave here and take the lessons learned with me to be a vessel and a servant. I know I will miss it here. I am reminded of my steps upon the water when I first left PA to journey across to this majestic span of creation. I had no idea what was waiting for me at my destination but I felt joyful for the journey ahead and the peace of knowing Gods faithfulness.

"1 Give thanks to the Lord and 

proclaim his greatness.

 Let the whole world know what he has 

done.

2 Sing to Him; yes, sing his praises. 

Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds.

3 Exult in his holy name; 

rejoice, you who worship the Lord.

4 Search for the Lord and his strength;

 continually seek him. 

5 Remember the wonders he has performed, 

his miracles, and the rulings he has given, 

6 you children of his servant Abraham, 

you descendants of Jacob, his chosen

ones." Psalm 105:1-6  NLT

He is so faithful. To bend, break, mend and cultivate my time here along with others coinciding to make more progress on the tapestries of our souls.

-Keep Adventuring

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