Coming back from vacation can be as difficult as leaving. I left with questions that I have been pondering, thinking the Lord would make “everything more clear” up north. Questions about life’s direction, questions on which path to follow on family decisions, questions about everything life has handed our family in the last year. I remember waking up early one particular morning soaking in the beautiful landscape. I sat curled up in a blanket and said, “Lord I am yours.” 
I sat there praying for prayers the Holy Spirit brought to mind, I prayed for things that have been troubling my heart. A small part of me was praying for clarity in it all. Know what I got? Almost as clear as day I felt the Lord say, “Laurel I am present in this place just as much as I am present at home.”
That is it.
No major revelation, no answers to my troubling questions. I felt convicted knowing I put God on hold until I went on vacation in hopes of some answers. But I realized he answers me in his time, in his place, and only if I need to know. This is where I struggle, I think I always need to know =)
Ah well =) Always learning and God is purifying me. If I was not learning that would mean God would be completed with me and I would be dead. So I will continue to learn and endure the purifying process until he calls me home.
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On a totally unrelated note I leave you with a few questions that come to my mind while traveling by car from Florida to Minnesota.
1. Why is it so difficult to flush the toilet in public places? I did my share of visiting potties from here to Minnesota and you would not believe the number of people who just don’t flush. What is up with that?
2. Why do big simi’s insist on driving side by side leaving a huge wake of cars behind them? It is so frustrating. 
3. As soon as I left Florida the gas prices went down (considerably), so those living in GA, TN, KY, IL, & Minnesota….I don’t want to hear any complaining (especially Minnesota)! =)) Yes the gas is high all around, but goodness NOT as high as we are here in FL. I think we Floridians need to start yelling.
4. The further north, the nicer the people. Why is that? You would think we who live in the “sunshine state” should be happy all the time…not so. Northern people ARE NICER.
5. You may be nicer, but you have MORE bugs. Believe me we have our share here in Florida, but I think I gave many misquotes a Thanksgiving feast while up North. (and yes I know that is not a picture of a misquote =) 
One thing I have learned to treasure during our yearly driving trips to Minnesota:
“The road of life twists and turns and no two directions are ever the same. Yet our lessons come from the journey, not the destination.” - Don Williams Jr.
*all pictures taken by me.
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