Relaxation

This past Friday the Mom of the kids I am nannying came to camp for ten days because she is off work. This means that I am off nannying duty and am pretty much free to do whatever I want. I have enjoyed spending time in fellowship with some of the wives on the Assigned Team and just building community with them. This is something I need. I need human interaction. I think that is part of why I was (am) so sad to be done with school. What a perfect world would it be to walk out of your apartment and have all of your friends there all of the time. Unfortunately, back in Roanoke, that is not the case. I am really looking forward to going home and re-establishing a community there. Hopefully, I will begin volunteer leading Young Life in Roanoke and I will be getting more involved in my church so both of those will offer great community and fellowship. It has been a blessing learning from these women of all ages older than me.

It has been funny because even though I am off, I find myself still playing with all of the little ones just as much, if not more, than when I am on duty. All I know is that God has put a deep love for children in my heart. I think there is so much to be learned from children and they really are just fascinating little people. There is a reason the Lord favors children. They are so precious and innocent. They know what they want and they have no hesitation to ask for it. It always amazes me when they go up to someone and just say "can I have that?" I couldn't imagine doing that but really adults are like that. We want things, we find ways to get what we want but we just aren't as honest and upfront about it. Kids laugh at everything, they get joy from the simplest things. At what point in our lives do we stop laughing at the little things like chasing fireflies or someone blowing raspberries on their stomachs. I wish I could just say what I'm feeling, not care about embarrassing myself, laugh at silly things and have childlike faith. In worship on Sunday, Eric was giving the talk and told this story about his little boy (one of the boys I babysit, who is always laughing, smiling and running around). They were at a church event and afterward Eric was watching Nathan play from across the room. He was laughing and running around and he looks up and spots his Dad. He drops his toys and runs to his Dad and runs into his arms. Eric was choking up telling us this story and saying how he wished he had the childlike faith to run to God like that.

Today was a fun day. I woke up early and did a workout with some of the wives on Assigned Team. I realized quickly that I am sorely out of shape and need to get my act together. After a nap and shower I drove down to Kennesaw, Ga, about an hour away and visited with my friend Katie. Katie and I did Summer Staff together in 2009 and she was one of my closest friends there. She and I have kept in touch over the past two years and I was so excited to be close enough to go visit her. I love having friends that you can go two years without seeing and pick right back up where you started.

I still have two and a half weeks here and I am so excited for what the Lord is going to reveal to me in my remaining time here.