Let go.

These two little words are particularly difficult for me.  Let go.  Seems like such an easy concept, but it's like running 500 marathons in a row for me... I just don't know how to do it.  Control freak?  Yes.  Hate that about myself?  Yes.  It's funny because this world we live in encourages control... the term "I've got everything under control" is a good thing, right?  It's comforting to whomever your telling it to.  But in this other world I long for, this world of Jesus, we're not supposed to be in control.  We're supposed to release control and open our hands to receive whatever it is He has for us. These two worlds contradict and full disclosure: I struggle.  I always have, and I probably always will. 

Right now, we are still looking for renters for BOTH of our houses.  We had a group of girls lined up for our rental house, and they just backed out a couple of days ago, so we're starting back at square 1.  We're still on the hunt for the perfect group of girls for our current house too.  We've had a couple of leads, but nothing solid yet.  My natural tendency is to stress, and do everything I can to just figure it out so we can move forward with our plan... but with this?  This I can't control.  So we wait.  And we pray.  And waiting and praying is haaarrrrddd sometimes.  Can I get an amen?

On another note, we went home to Oregon for 5 days this last week and filled our family tanks.  It never seems like enough time, but we had so much fun watching everyone love on Lucille. 

Entertainment for the long car ride.

Lucille's first time on a swing... she could've done without it.

 

Cousin Marcus loves the swing... so much so that he was falling asleep.  I was dying laughing.  Hilarious

Cousin Marcus showing Lucille how eating solid foods is done (he pretty much has a Thanksgiving dinner for every meal).

Bath time in the kitchen sink.. whatever works. 

Pinching buns.

Lucille loooooved when grandpa drove this phone around and around. 

 Auntie Caitlin.

Exploring the garden with grammy.

Honk honk!

"I know an untroubled heart relaxes, trusts, and leans assured into His ever-dependable arms.  Trust, it's the antithesis of stress.  'Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord' (Psalm 40:4).  But how to learn trust like that?  Can trust be conjured up simply by sheer will, on command?  I've got to get this thing, what it means to trust, to gut-believe in the good touch of God toward me, because it's true: I can't fill with joy until I learn how to trust" ~ Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts

Cheers,
Ali