the Water of Grace: June 2017

Gosh... where did this month go?! Nothing like posting two days before the end of the month. Thanks for being patient, and checking back! :) It's July 4th in a few days, and that means one thing-- summer is half over. That thought makes me almost want to cry, as I just love summer! It's my favorite season by far. All the others are great too... but summer, it's made for me!

This past month has been busy, busy. It doesn't seem like I'm ever going to get everything done some days, like if I am just barely surviving. But then other days, I have this overwhelming feeling that Jesus has just blessed me so much, and that I have just so much to be thankful for! I kinda feel like, yes I work a lot and I am volunteering a lot of my time this summer for others, and that sometimes makes me feel like I have no time for me, or things I really enjoy... BUT then I look back at all the pictures I've taken this past month, and I'm like WOW! Holy cow Jesus! You have blessed me so much!! So many people in my life that are so very special, that I have gotten to spend time with! So much joy! I can truly say my heart is full!

And I even got to read a book this past month. :) I'm sure many of you have read it, but it's called The Magnolia Story by Chip and JoAnna Gaines. It's so good! The main focus is to keep trusting, keep working, and to find joy in everything-- even the pain and hardships. And I think it really has touched home for me as I finished reading it, as there is so many sorrows in our lives, so many hard things, life is hard. But in between all of that, there is really so much to be grateful for. And I just need to keep remembering that, as I pray for others hurting each day. A few quotes from the book that I want to share...

I always thought that the "thriving" would come when everything was perfect.... but we need to find oneself thriving in the middle of the pain. Unless you find a way to do that, there's always going to be this fake illusion that once you get there-- wherever "there" is for you-- you'll be happy. But that's just not life. If you can't find happiness in the ugliness, you're not going to find it in the beauty, either.

It's up to us to choose contentment and thankfulness now-- and to stop imaging that we have to have everything perfect before we'll be happy.

Go and find what it is that inspires you, go and find what it is that you love, and go do that until it hurts.... Know that God has been there from the beginning-- and he will be there until... the end.

So I just want to share my month of June to you in pictures. One-- because I love pictures so much! Two-- because I can't keep up with scrap booking, so this will have to do for now. :) Enjoy!