Hand in Hand with the Hallahans: Cherishing THIS PLACE

I'm getting really excited about visiting family in less than two weeks! We're heading to Florida for Dave (Josh's brother) and Leah's wedding on 8 June. But while this is an incredible opportunity and happy vacation- I'm a little nervous about seeing people we love (and stores we love, and roads without potholes, and sidewalks) half way through our first term. You see, it's been a really good first year, and the transition was relatively smooth. And I don't want to sabotage that. I don't want to get back to the states and realize just how much we've been missing. I don't want to go to the store and fall in love all over again with finding everything I need.

And so the next two weeks- I'm clinging tight to His hand- I want Him to be enough, not only in the hard times, but in the amazingly-wonderful-too-good-to-be-true times. I don't want people or stuff to draw me away from Him. And His calling for our lives.

Just this morning I read this:

"And don't turn aside, for then you would go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing." -I Samuel 4:21

So, I want to enter in fully to this glorious life He has called us to. I want to hide myself so deeply in His heart that nothing can turn me aside and draw me away. I want to cherish the gifts of this place, so that I can cherish the gifts of Florida, and return here full, and not bitter.

Here are some moments I've been cherishing: