runoff.

 ***warning: these pictures have absolutely nothing to do with the content in this post. i just wanted a fun, picture-filled post!***

well.... to say that these past few weeks felt like a 'whirlwind' would be a gross understatement. it's been a wild ride so far. 

i've so often sat down to write (i love to write) and i've never been able to do the thoughts of my heart justice. i thought about just taking pictures, but even that would require efforts of my brain that were just not available at the time.

the election was tuesday. and i feel that i'm just now 'coming to'. my mind has been turned to mush... full of numbers, voter names, polling locations, drop off times and much more. we all poured our hearts and souls into the last two weeks of the campaign that we were (and probably, for most measurements) still are) drained. emotionally. physically. mentally. spiritually.

remember a few weeks ago, i talked about that 10%?? that most of the time i feel like i have a good grip on the reality of a campaign, the reality of God in the midst of this season of life.... but it's that 10% of the time where i really lose it. 

and wednesday afternoon, i lost it.

somehow... i maybe sort of kind of slipped into a bit of a 'depression' for about 48 hours. wednesday morning i felt great. i was so happy with the turnout. praising the Lord for the chance to fight one last time in a runoff. so grateful. please hear me. SO grateful. but wednesday afternoon, i let my mind dwell there. i let myself go back to last summer.... the happy, go lucky, care-free summertime. i let myself think of all that we had going on (and all we didn't have going on) and i stayed there (in my mind) too long. and i could not escape.

i couldn't explain it to the hubbs. i didn't want to explain it to him, for fear that he would misconstrue my thought process as bitter, or resentful. and i'm not, and i so badly do not want him to ever think i regret our decision to go forward in this campaign. because i don't. i know that i know that the Lord told us to RUN... and with, RUN to WIN! so that's not what it was....

and then i read this: 

"I am involved in each moment of your life. I have carefully mapped out every inch of your journey through this day, even though much of it may feel haphazard. Because the world is in a fallen condition, things always seem to be unraveling around the edges. EXPECT to find trouble in this day. At the same time, trust that MY way is perfect, even in the midst of such messy imperfection.... Let the Holy Spirit guide you step by step, protecting you from unnecessary trials and equipping you to get through whatever must be endured..... the Light of My Presence shines on you, giving you Peace and Joy that circumstances cannot touch." {jesus calling by sarah young, june 1}

how beautiful is that? it spoke to me... and rang true for me.

j & i have always said that our 'dreams' don't have to be mutually exclusive. no, i don't have the dream to run for office, but my dream of creating does not exclude his dream of public service. does that make sense? sometimes i lose sight of time... and i think this is how it is going to be always. but that's not true. the Lord could speak tomorrow and we would change our course once again to follow Him... and that is where the hubbs & i find commonality. no, our dreams may not be the same, but our GOAL is.

i'm so thankful that He is our compass, because my ideas and dreams tend to change with the wind. but His is a master plan. intricately woven together for His glory and His Kingdom. and i so badly want to be a part, don't you???

***so, what do you think of my renovated slice of the blogosphere???? fabulous k did an appropriately fabulous job, didn't she??? love her!!! and to celebrate, i might... just might.... be having a fun giveaway on friday! stay tuned!!***