For you are good to me...

Several of you have asked if I am going to post something to my blog before I leave for Belize...first of all, I am flattered and humbled to know you actually care, so thank you. So...here it is-my final blog before I leave next Wednesday, July 9th.

It has been almost 3 months since my last post and I am not sure how the weeks and months flew by so quickly. I do know that the months have been filled with seeing friends, spending time with my family and enjoying summertime in Nashville, but what have I been feeling? I have had many ask me what emotions I have as I set out to embark on this next chapter of my life and in truth, my biggest emotion remains excitement. It is strange and very surreal, though, to be excited about something I have never seen, nor felt, nor experienced--but also freeing to know that I don't have to know those things; instead, I keep relying on the fact that I have never felt more right about something in my life--never felt more like I am doing exactly what God wants me to be doing. That is a very humbling, exciting and powerful feeling. The hugs from God remain strong and steady--from each of you and from Him, reminding me ever so clearly that I am following the path He has set out before me and I have all of you to hold my hand along the way.

Several people have said to me, "this is going to be a life-changing experience" and I hear that, but have a hard time really processing that. I know you're probably right but since I am about to enter the forrest of unknowns, I don't know whether to embrace that or brush it aside to be uncovered at a later date. Either way, that statement hits me hard, but I also feel ready to grab hold of it and GO for it!:)


A very good friend asked me recently what are the biggest things on my mind/biggest prayer requests, and I think one of them is that my life in Belize will look nothing like my life here in Nashville--and let me explain. Those that know me, know that I am a planner and a doer and a person who runs from meeting to meeting and social engagment to social engagement and don't get me wrong, I do really love it...but I am also ready for a break. A break from having every day so planned and really resting in just BE-ing! To truly enjoy being in a place that is not set by schedules and things, but instead is focused on living and being; when I think of that, I smile.

So...I leave in 10 days and it is all very surreal. Surreal that I'll be leaving my comfortable appartment, the ease of Hillsboro Village, the fast working email and cell phones, my community of friends...but as crazy as it may sound, I feel such a peace knowing that where I will be going will have none of that but I am also craving that. At church this morning, as we were singing (sorry, I don't know the name..but here are some of the lyrics:) "For you are good, for you are good, for you are good to me" (and you is referring to God)....as I sang that, tears welled up. He IS so good; good to me, good to you in ways we may not even be able to see every day. We may not see the goodness He gives us, but that is what I am craving--to go to a place where I am removed from the busyness and comforts here and really SEE and FEEL God's goodness, in a place very different than what I know. I am not at all implying that we have to go somewhere else to really experience that goodness--but instead, what I am saying is that I have felt and seen his goodness in my life in the States and am ready to see and feel it in a new place, and in a new way. Because He IS so good. So, I am ready to open my eyes to see and feel His goodness in Belize and I know what I will find will blow me away...and I am ready!