Thankful Tuesday

Dear Tuesday, it’s that time of the week again. I’m so glad that I’ve been allowed to spend this time together again. Sometimes I tend to forget to be thankful for just that, being alive for another week. Well….let’s get down to business.

Dear Kaity-Roo, you inspire me. There are a million ways that I could say that but it’s just that simple. I’m so envious (not in a bad way) of the life you live. You are a world changer. The work you do IJM and now while you’re in Nepal is incredible and continues to raise more awareness everyday. I for one know that without you I would know a lot less about human trafficking. Your stance on that has changed my life. I wish that more people had a joy for life like you do. I’ve never met anyone that is just as continuously happy as you. Never stop being that way. The world needs more Kaity Ruhlands.

Dear Alli, you’re my first repeat but it’s much deserved this week. YOU”RE ENGAGED. Just let that sink in for a minute. David is one heck of a lucky guy and I couldn’t be happier for the both of you. I know that it has been a long time coming, and you’ve waited for what seems like forever for him to slide that ring (rock!) on your finger. I hope that through the past season of dating (and waiting) you’ve been able to learn things about yourself, David, and the two of you as a couple. Obviously I can’t give you any advice on this next season, but’s it’s clear to me that I’m still called to do life with you through it. Don’t go getting all bridezilla on anybody though. Nobody wants to see THAT girl haha. But seriously, I’m so excited for everything that this season of engagement will bring you. When I think about the word “engage” I think of something starting, “you engage an engine…” or having made plans. You and David have now made a plan. That ring tells the whole world that someone has set you aside for themselves, and that you have agreed to “engage” in this new adventure with him. I pray that this engagement will bless you both, but even more, I pray that this engagement will bless The Lord. And I already know that it will. You’re awesome. And we both know that David is awesome because you’d settle for nothing less. So happy for you both!

Dear Jesus, wow. You’re really incredible. Thank you for pushing on me to read “The Circle Maker”. It has forever changed the way that I pray. Sometimes in ways that are expected and sometimes it’s the most pleasant surprise. When you woke me up at 4:46am Monday morning I have to admit I was confused because I didn’t have to go to the bathroom, and I didn’t need anything to drink. What most people don’t know is that I DID have an interview in almost 8 hours. This was an interview that you knew that I was nervous about. Group interviews are by no means easy. But at 4:45 Monday morning you gently whispered to me to begin to pray for the interview. Not just for my part in it but for the company giving the interview and everyone else that was invited. That last one was a little hard to do though because you wanted me to pray for other people that were trying to get the same position as me. I did it anyway. I’m learning to put more and more trust in You, the one who will never let me walk alone. To say that I felt Your presence in that interview room would be an understatement. I had to constantly remind myself not to laugh at how things he was saying were lining up EXACTLY with things You had me pray for. Even down to specific words, servant. Yes that was the first thing that caught my attention and it took me by so much surprise that I’m afraid to admit that I may have attempted to suppress a giggle. You just amaze me with the way that You let that one word change the course of everything that I had prepared to say. And getting the phone call late last night saying that I made it to round two…wow I can’t even begin to tell you how good that feels. Not just physically but spiritually. You had given me a promise and after circling it in intense prayer all morning, and then some somewhat more stressful afternoon and evening prayer until my phone rang at 8:46 (yes try and tell me that’s not Your doing with it coming down to that exact minute), that prayer was answered. Thank you for your crazy ways of getting my attention. I’m learning to embrace them more daily. Thank you for covering every word that I said in the interview with Your love and grace. Thank you for pushing me past my fear of public speaking yesterday. Thank you for quite literally almost letting this job fall right into my lap. Thank you for giving me an unquenchable thirst for You. Thank you for being the one constant in a world where everything is changing. Thank you for surrounding me with the best family and friends that I can ask for. They are all people that I know want the best for me. Through this transition of moving only You know how important REAL relationships were for me. Thank you for them, You know them all so there’s no need to name drop here. Thank you for giving me the desires that You have, and for the desires that You haven’t allowed to be revealed yet. I love you beyond words, Jesus.

Tuesday, three weeks in and this just gets easier and easier. Thanks for being my favorite day of the week!