Monday, Monday

It was a dreary NW day today, and it's still pouring outside. I'm sitting all cozy on the couch eating some hearty lentil/squash stew made for me by my lovely friend Christine. What a blessing to have food made for you. Last night at our small group we were all blessed by Ann's homemade pizza and Erin's cookies. We are wrapping up a school year of studying the book of Philippians.

It is so awesome that God has provided this study as we are getting ready to leave Oregon for Utah. So many thoughts about our time up here are swirling in my head. Thoughts of joy and contentment. I won't go into all my thoughts about surrendering and failing that hinder joy and contentment for me, but my time in Oregon has been a journey of learning more about these two states. In some ways I feel so content. I am content and confident in my salvation and in my Savior's constant provisions and love. I am comforted by Paul's statement that he learned to be content in all circumstances. My time in Oregon has presented many situations in which I felt discontent. I have cried, I have complained, I have been so frustrated. However, I have learned through these times that God provides different seasons, situations, opportunities, and closed doors to teach us to be content. Not that I didn't know this, but now I have experienced the love of discipline and I am all the more joyful. My favorite part of living here is our proximity to the Bonner family in Vancouver. It has been great to get to know them. I have felt nothing but welcome in their home. Dawn came along side me, praying for me, and listening to me while my mom was in the hospital. She has been so important to me as a female friend. She is sweet, smart, witty, and a good shopper. The Bonners have welcomed us into their home, fed us, have listened to my job concerns, shopped with me, and taken us to the airport more times than I remember. They have sacrificed for us and provided ministry opportunities for us. We have cherised celebrating holidays together. Their friends are wonderful too. I can't express fully what they have meant to us, but this is a start.