Whoo!

I'm still breathing, which is a good sign. I'm suprised after the last four whirlwind days that I'm even awake right now. I'm so exhausted and refuse to move again ever in my whole life.

Okay, total exaggeration.

Transitions are not something I've ever been really great at, but this one has been smoother than I ever thought I would be. Waking up in a new place, trying to remember where the cutlery and the duster are in the new kitchen, recalling the way to my house when driving... I was expecting these to be challenges I'd just have to get over like I always do.

They're not. Which just speaks to me of God's perfect timing. He had it all sorted out just right for the perfect thing.

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Friday afternoon was GORGEOUS and sunny. In the midst of the cold valley rain it was a God-send. I prayed it would remain sunny the next day.

It didn't. It rained all day long. All day.

To top it off there were a lot of moving-help-cancellations and delays, so my "workforce" went from about a dozen to myself, my sister and her best girlfriend.

To move a whole house. I was discouraged to say the least. The rain did nothingto help my mood.

"Fear is just an emotion," Michelle would say. Right so...

So sis got the truck, I called Haley for a little cheerleading, and then we started filling up that U-Haul. Heavy boxes, mattresses, tables, shelves... all sorts of stuff. We didn't dare try the couch and entertainment center... too heavy for puny little me.

Praise the Lord, Beth's friend D was able to help in the late afternoon and best-brother-ever Brandon sacrificed his only afternoon to rest from his full plate to haul heavy furniture. Some CSOM guys stepped in and Michelle, bless her, helped haul everything from box springs to boxes.

What started out as a rain-sodden, depressing, cry-worthy day ended in a rain-sodden, laughter filled, pizza-and-pop filled time of hanging out in the damp living room.

There was barely a moment to even put on the couch cover or put away clothes before the week sprang into motion!

I have decided my birthday should always be on a Sunday. Impossible for me to dictate, I know, but I loved starting my birthday with church, listening to what God is doing in our body and the stories people had to share about how He's touching their lives and the Body as a whole.

My mom and I went to lunch, and when we went to pay the bill, it turned out that a family behind us (whom I know from church) paid for the whole bill and dessert we weren't planning on besides!

I fiddled around for a few hours because I had a Super Bowl party to attend later and I didn't quite know what to do with myself... so grocery shopping became the ticket of the day. See, because I follow football SO much I knew exactly when the SuperBowl started. 6:00ish.

Yeah, that would be on the EAST coast.

On the WEST coast it started at 3ish.

Normally that wouldn't be a big deal, but because of that I was quite late to the party.... which turned out to be a tiny surprise party for me! Biggest surprise of all... a very bitter Haley and Blake sitting there for two hours waiting for me to arrive! I was so blessed. My friend Josh (home from the military for a few weeks) and his wife KM, Brandon, Blake and Haley and I had the greatest time... it was truly the first time I'd ever been completely surprised at a party. Clearly, because I was so out of the loop I actually was two hours late.

After getting chewed out by Haley over an hours time, eating more than my fair share of chips and a pie Hal made, and enjoying everyone's company immensely, I then went to dinner with Michelle and another friend... I think I ate enough that day for three days combined!

We "discovered" a rather avante-garde and trendy restaurant (that everyone else apparantly loves already) downtown, ate more food, and had a great time. Michelle and I talked till 11pm, catching up on how God is moving in our lives and spurring each other on in the use and pursuit of our giftings.

All in all, it was a delightfully perfect birthday... which is saying a lot, because I usually do the same thing with birthdays that I do with Christmas-- expect it to be something and it ends up not being that at all which is disappointing. When I have less expectations for things like this it ALWAYS turns out better.

So, the transition to 27 went well too.

I wonder what other transitions are in store for this year. I have a feeling it may be a lot. God is challenging me to "give Him the fields of my heart" to plow as He wants to, and to not dictate which fields He can or cannot work in. That was driven home on Sunday morning. I've already decided to live deliberately, to live on purpose, but I'm coming to realize that only GOD can dictate what my life looks like if I really want it to be worth anything in the Kingdom.

So, I have an inkling that His transitions in my life are just going to keep on pilling up this year... Lord that I would be ready for that wave!