And it all came from the weirdest connection!

I keep realizing more and more how true that verse is; "All things work together for good to those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose".

Things had been really tough, and it's all too easy to just launch into the whole "Why me?" attitude and just get mad at the whole scenario and anyone involved... and ya know what? It seriously solves nothing; it can only make matters worse. Yes, okay, I know you're thinking it so if you so have the urge, go ahead and shout "DUHHHH!" at your computer screen right now. (And I'll laugh if somebody suddenly walks into the room giving you weird looks for speaking aloud to an innanimate object *grin*). Now above when I said "had been", I'm not in anyway trying to say things aren't still tough for me. But they are better, and the more I think back on things, the happier I am that they have happened the way they did. Yes, you did just read that sentance correctly; I'm glad. Not that I enjoy all the pain invloved; I quite detest it, and had it all been up to me, none of this would have ever happened. But the fact is it wasn't up to me, and it is probably a good thing it wasn't. I've learned so much because of it...I've learned to search for the lesson in a trial instead of complaining until it's over, learned to better identify and admit my mistakes, learned that I've been blessed with amazing, caring, and loyal friends, And learned to better rely on God as well. As Pastor Harris told me on chat yesterday, "God doesn't test our faith because he doesn't know what it is, but because we don't."

Pastor Harris...heh, it was rather funny, just out of the blue my gmail started flashing "New Message from Steve!" yesterday while I was on Facebook. I looked at it rather confused at first wondering who the heck this "Steve" was... I clicked the gmail tab up and realized it was him! We ended up talking for an hour and a half, and I'm so very glad that we did. I found the conversation extremely interesting and beneficial, in fact I'm going to post a piece of it. He had some really great advice that I think should be shared with more than just me.

9 minutes

5:47 PM Steve: On the first one.... let me preface by saying that in many ways you are in the toughest time of life. You are growing up... You are beginning to want a personal identity not so closely linked to mom and dad. I don't mean or even hint at a rebellious independence but merely the desire to move toward adulthood. And also you have chemistry changing inside of you that makes the whole boy girl thing something rather volitable. (I know I spelled that wrong.... it got the funny line under it. anyway, I mean it can explode or burn if give a spark). Our society makes it worse..... it encourages young dating and old marrying. That is a bad combination that will lead to either frustration or sin. The solution (to the degree there can be one. It will still be hard at times) is to correctly understand our stage in life and make the most of that. You are not, and I think you would agree, at an age where you want to get married. So if you put a spark to the chemistry that is developing within you it will ignite. The Bible calls that burning with desire. and that burning is tough. SO.... what can you do at this stage that will help you the most without bringing the frustration, hurt feeling, and confusing circumstances. You can use this time to learn the skills of friendships with boys. Most marital problems, and I have counseled quite a few, boil down not at an inablility to work out the circumstances unique to marriage but simply not being able to be good friends. (More coming, I'll hit enter so you can read)

5:51 PM We are not designed to begin romance and then wait years before being old enough to marry. If you leave romance alone until you are ready to go where romance leads you will avoid a lot of heartache and you will be a better equipped young woman for romance and marriage when the time comes. Your friendship skills will be better perfected and you won't enter into a courtship with the doubts that come if you have cared, been disappointed, been hurt before. You will enter it new and fresh with high and hopeful expectations and not the past hurts that nag you and rob the joy.

5:53 PM sorry, by "brief" comment wasn't so brief.

... Wow, and to think all this came because I met his friend Pastor McKinnon last week, who made the connection and told him that both of them and my dad lived in the same area and attended Kelso High School. Crazy how stuff like that happens!