Oceanside

This weekend, Kyle and I went to the coast of California and stayed at this little cottage that looked out to the ocean.  We were able to eat Chik-fil-a and watch a whole school of dolphins play in the waves.

Chik-Fil-A, Ordered 3 chicken sandwiches, 2 chicken nuggets and 4 waffle fries

Outside our little house

With nothing in our way from our back porch to the water except the sand, we sat and watched the tide come in.  Something we talked about was the power of the moon.  How the moon is able to create low tide and high tide, and disrupt the power of Earth's gravity to accelerate the water towards itself.  The funny thing about the moon is it seems magnificent until it's compared to the sun.  The only reason the moon even gives out light is because of its reflection off the sun's rays.  I was thinking about this today while going through some tough things this week.  Suffering and pain, like the moon, seems powerful and unstoppable, until it's compared to the power of the sun/Son.  My friend sent me a few quotes that have been comfort to my soul.

 "God didn't bring us this far and then forget our names. He knows what we don't understand and understands what we don't know" - Bob Goff

"His love is deepest in deepest waters. "When you pass through the waters, *I will be with you*" Isa. 43:2"- Ann Voskamp

"Every mountain that every Christian ever faces, the Lord levels with sufficient grace. He will provide." -Ann Voskamp

"God's comfort always outweighs our suffering. (2 Cor. 1:3-5)" David Platt

"Good news: the King who is sovereign over suffering is also familiar with suffering. (Heb. 2:17-18)" David Platt

"Faith never denies the reality of our experience. Faith believes in & calls upon the one who is greater than the reality of our experience." Christine Caine

"When we've been bruised, broken, crushed, wounded or shattered, oil is produced that can be poured out to bring healing! Anointing has a price" Christine Caine

"God only allows pain if He’s allowing something new to be born." - Ann Voskamp

"You pull in your life and you see that though you felt ripped open -- the net actually didn’t tear." Ann Voskamp

I have started writing so many post on this blog the last year.  Post about marriage, and living in Vegas, post of Paleo recipes I've invented or my experience of training for a half-marathon. I've written about our trip to Boston and our local wedding reception, as well as visits from family and friends!  We have had new jobs and a new house and even traveled around the Caribbean on a cruise ship!  My problem is that I have started writing all these great post, but never got around to making a complete thought or finishing the story.  And because I didn't think the post was not good enough, I just deleted it and went on. I was looking back at some of my post in the past few years and it was great to sit and remember where I was when I wrote those, some internet cafe in Africa or a coffee shop in England, or sit and relive the stories I told.  I realize that this whole blog thing is really more for me and my own memories than anyone else.  It's like a public diary that if passerbyers happen to peak in on than that's cool, but if no one ever reads anything I write, I will have a place to store my thoughts to read back someday.

So, I'm giving this whole blog thing a second try.  Maybe it will have a whole lot of post about nothing, but who cares because no one probably reads it anyways (except for maybe my sister and mom *shout out!*)  So, what am I waiting for....let's finally post this thing!