Life is here... and then it's there.

So I've been told I'm a bad blogger. I write too much and far too infrequently. That's ok... just leaving lots of room for improvement for myself:) So cool that some of you have stuck with me and my blog this far. It's nearing the end of June-- oh man-- and life has been a bit scattered lately. In the last month I spent time in Christchurch at a leadership conference, a whirlwind week in Ohio for Min's wedding!!!, 4 days traveling from Auckland-Wellington in a van, and another week playing hostess in Welli for my Mom. It has taken me 2 weeks to root myself back down into life, and I'm feeling much more with it now that I have 1 day until I leave again for another conference. Just enough time to check back in with all of you. My life is a constant state of adjustment. Maybe it's always that way?

I'll keep it short... I'm trying my best. Man was it so weird to travel back to the states for 7 short days. I now realize why every Kiwi thought I was crazy for taking such a short trip-- It was painfully tiring. It was also a really special treat at the same time. Ella and I totally took off where we had left off-- my most favorite, adorable, now really smart niece and I spent lots of time together, and Min and I made the most of the quick trip. Catching up with family and my OC friends felt much quicker but I'm so blessed that I got to see both groups for a bit.

Some quick thoughts about my trip home--

• The season difference really hit me as we're headed into a busy winter here, and everyone at home is geared up for a relaxing summer. I realized how weird it is that life goes on in so many different places and in completely different ways. Mindy is married, Ella knows her ABC's, my OC friends have graduated... when did these things happen????

• It hit me how much I've been impacted by living here for 9 months. I knew this year would change me, but you never know how and you don't know how others in your life will change as well. Learning to adjust to these changes will take time. As I'm looking forward to some big upcoming decisions... where I'll be living next year, what I'll be doing... I have spent lots of time pondering where I've come from and where I'm headed. I can't fathom the future sometimes.

Time is still flying by. I'm still learning a ton about life, ministry, and myself. And I'm trying to take heed of the advice given me most recently.. take it a day at a time. I know we hear this rather frequently... but do we really relish in today? Lots of days I'd say that I don't. I'm praying that tomorrow brings something to life that no other day can bring. I want to look forward to tomorrow like I look forward to sitting down to coffee with an old friend. Praying that your today and your tomorrow would be relished. It's here.... and then it's there. Really feeling how much I miss all of you. Much love-- Lacey