Blessings in Disguise

So this weekend I just saw God in my life majorly, even if it may have been things that reminded me of the song "This is the Stuff" by Francesca Batistelli (if you don't know it, here's the chorus- "this is the stuff that drives me crazy, this is the stuff that's getting to me lately, in the middle of my little mess, I forget how big I'm blessed. This is the stuff that gets under my skin, but I've gotta trust you know exactly what you're doing, might not be what I would choose but this is the stuff you use.") 

After my great meet on Saturday in St. Louis (so thankful to have so many family and friends cheering us on!) Dad, Neenee, Nino, and Nina all came to Stephens and we had lunch at the Heidelberg (yummy!) and then they came up to my dorm room and my dad fixed my foot rest and the squeak in my bed (thank goodness!) and Neenee left me a cute little note on my dry erase board, and it was all just great! Well, as they were leaving, Neenee said "you sure you don't wanna come home?" just joking around (and they were literally driving away at this point), and then I realized I could! I called them back immediately and had them come back for me! Kramer had gone home this weekend and I knew I could get a ride with her back, so I figured, hey why not! So I got to go home and surprise Jordan, which was truly great because he is the hardest person to surprise! It was great to spend time with him and to go to NRBC and see the Andrews family as well. The sermon today really spoke to me and I really enjoyed it and I was just having a great day and weekend!

Then Kramer and I left her house at about 6:45, and we were surprised how quickly it got dark! By 7:30 it was literally PITCH BLACK outside, whether that was from the clouds or if there was a new moon I do not know; however, it was kind of scary. Then, as we are driving it begins sprinkling a little bit, but there is sawdust on Kramer's windshield so when she used the windshield wipers it was even harder to see than before! We stopped in Booneville at a Pilot gas station and cleaned her windshield (and used the bathroom!). She was very thankful that I was with her because it was very scary with not only the darkness in driving, but her windshield as well as stopping at a large gas station on 70 hwy. She called me coming home a blessing in disguise, but I don't think there was really much disguise on that one! It was all just blessing! :)

Well, we get back to school and we are unpacking and I realize that I have forgotten my running shoes at home. HOW FRUSTRATING!!! I knew there was no way I could have them by practice tomorrow even if we tried to overnight them, so I knew it was inevitable that I was going to have to buy new shoes. I called Dad and told him and was just so frustrated with myself and angry and just very bitter, but then I came to realize that just last week I had mentioned the possibility of getting new running shoes. I haven't been keeping a running log, but I figured it was probably getting close to time. I had planned on doing it sometime after my birthday in three weeks. But as I was thinking about it, though I've only had the shoes for a few months, I realized that not only had I probably put in a good 300-350 miles on them running, but I also walk in them many days of the week and I wore them almost every day of the summertime once I got them (including every day on the mission trip, which was a LOT of walking and standing and running). So, despite how frustrated I was in leaving my shoes at home, I realized it was a blessing in disguise because if I kept waiting to buy new shoes my feet would probably begin to really bother me (which they already have been the past 2 weeks and I didn't even register that it could be from my shoes!). Plus, I don't race this upcoming weekend so this week will be the perfect opportunity for me to break in new shoes, even if they are the exact same model I've been running in! 

I believe God planned that on purpose and it was truly a blessing. He's one smart guy :) 

So tomorrow during my 3 hour break between classes I intend on getting new running shoes... and milk (and NOT at Walgreens this time!).

For now, goodnight! :) and God bless!!

LJ