The Distance Between Us

People often ask me if I ever get homesick being so far away from my family. And the truth is, I usually don't since I don't really think about it. And I'm not homesick now, but I am thinking about it....

This week marks a new chapter in the lives of my family members. For the first time in almost 25 years, my parents are empty-nesters and we may very soon be spread out across 5 different states. I, for one, find this to be rather exciting. It's a chance for adventure and growth and many opportunities. We each are finding our own way in the world and discovering who we are and what we want.

At the same time, there's a bit of sadness knowing that things will never be the same again. I have many, many wonderful memories of growing up in Hodgdon, Maine and most of those memories involve my siblings. And for as much as I love change and adventure, sometimes I just want to be a kid again, riding my bike in endless circles around the drive and not having a care in the world.

But here's what I love about my family....

Over the years, the distance between us grows. We get older and change. But our relationships get stronger and at the end of the day, when we all come home again, nothing has really changed. :)

Dad, Mom, Colleen, Erik & Britta, I love you all so much!

A Few From this Weekend...

Here are some pictures from my friend Ann Marie's wedding in Connecticut this past weekend.

The Call of the Open Road

For those that read this blog on any kind of a "faithful" basis and especially those that have read since the beginning (or if you're related to me), you know that it has taken me a long time to find contentment. It has come though but it was a long and sometimes painful process getting there. I've learned that contentment doesn't depend on where you are, but on what you do with what you have been given, whether great or small.

Now I know that some of you will see the title of this entry and immediately think, "Here she goes again. She's get her bags half packed and is ready to roll". Let me assure you that that is not the case. I've just been doing a lot of thinking lately and the title seemed appropriate.

This month will mark two years that I've lived in South Carolina. Wow! Where did those two years go? And it's funny because when I moved here I came with the intent to stay two years and then most likely move on. Perhaps that has been part of what has sparked my mentality as of late. I've found myself.... reflective. I'm young and free and hardly settled down and I love it that way. Besides it leaves the doors of possibilities wide open. But there are things that "tie me down" in a sense - debt, lack of a finished education, work - so I am always brought back to "what am I going to do in life?" "Where do I go from here?" I have plans, it's just finding a way to execute those plans. That's where my mind tends to work overtime. It has been lately.

And along my journey I have met people and been places that I truly miss and sometimes think I would like to return to.

I've also learned not to analyze every thought and move in great detail. God's will is not limited and He can certainly use me wherever I am. Sometimes I'm not allowing Him to use me and that's something He's been showing me too.

So along with learning about truly being content, I've come to the realization that I will probably always be ready to "hit the road" at anytime. That's just who I am. For me, the "call of the open road" is forever present. But not in a discontent way. In a way that calls me to the adventure that lies in the unknown. I will probably always wander to some degree but "I'm young and I love to be young. I'm free and I love to be free". :)