Throwback Thursday: Wonderful Wednesdays

“Ok, here’s the deal. You keep teaching me soccer tricks, and I’ll teach you karate moves.”

I’m convinced that the best title anyone could have is AUNT.

Since Gavin started school, it has been our tradition every Wednesday to:

1. pick him up from day care.
2. eat a ridiculous amount of Taco Bell for lunch.
3. Find some sort of adventure to get into.

Needless to say, Wednesday’s have been my favorite days ever since. This Wednesday was our last Wednesday together for a while. And we had the best day ever. We played in the rain, did science experiments, watched cartoons, colored, caught frogs and tadpoles, ate breakfast for dinner, played a lot of soccer, and he taught me some karate moves before we actually went to karate. I tell him how much I love our time together, and how I’m going to miss him when I leave again.

He says, “Well don’t miss me yet. I don’t miss you yet. We’re still together! But I guess I’m just gonna have to come to Costa Rica then.”

He gets it. Children know nothing more than living in the moment. We can’t constantly be focused on the future or the past, because then we miss out on what is in front of us right here. Sometimes we are so focused on discovering a purpose for our lives, we forget what God is calling us to daily. Through our daily obedience to God’s will and not our own, we will discover that we are more in tune and aware of what He has for us. Keep your ears open to hear God and eyes to see the kingdom.

s/o to this SLP crew! DAILY BREAD DON’T GO STALE!

In 7 days, I’ll be on a plane heading back to Costa Rica. It has been wonderful spending time in the small town I grew up in, seeing familiar faces at the grocery store, eating Uncle Ray’s Ice Cream and Sagebrush chicken tenders. These last few days have been hard. The people in this town are a part of my story; chapters from the past that have built a great foundation for a great story. A piece of my heart is being left with them here.

Leaving the people and place I love is hard (especially the people that call me “Aunt Ashley”)!

But my identity is in Christ. I am not identified by where I’m from, but rather who He is in me and what He has called me to do.

Starting new is a good thing. It won’t always be easy, it won’t always be exciting, and it’s usually far from comfortable. But when God is directing you, have faith and know it will be good.

So here’s to small town communities that will always be “home”, Big Chills and Coney dogs, new life journeys, and learning karate moves over FaceTime.

Ps: I’m half way to my goal of 25 people for $13.50 a month to help me survive my first year in Costa Rica! You in? Click the DONATE page up top!

“Safe? ‘Course He isn’t safe! But He’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.” The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe