Full circle | throwback thursday

  I am so glad today is thursday as it is too perfect for a throwback to one year ago.  At this time, I was sitting on an airplane with this little cutie, embarking on our flight to Portland for my grandpa's 90th. I had boarded the flight, gotten situated, and Ava had just fallen asleep in my arms when there was a small malfunction in the airplane that made us have to de-board the plane.  Of course, by the time we get back on and it's time to leave again, my sweet baby is all rested and ready to play.  Fortunately, we were sitting by this super nice lady who helps me with Ava as I need it.  Holding her so I could get adjusted, picking up toys she's dropped, not worrying about the food that is getting all over her.  Perfect scenario.  Thank you, Lord.  Over the course of the flight we tell each other a little bit about our story and then while waiting for our bags at the end of the flight, she hands me her sister's business card.  She says, "If you ever want to meet people, my sister does Stella and Dot, so give her a call."  I get home and look her up and basically forget about it at that point.

  Fast forward a couple of months, and I'm looking on the website of a church that someone mentions we should check out.  And lo and behold, I recognize this lady's face on the site.  After a few minutes, I finally make the connection that one of the bible study leaders is the Stella and Dot lady.

  Fast forward to this morning, I'm sitting at bible study with said Stella and Dot lady, better known as Christina, and she's telling me all about her past week with her sister in town and how she just took her to the airport today.  Things start coming full circle when I realize that today one year ago is the day I met her sister on the airplane, and the rest is history.  We are now fully committed to the church, we see Christina and her family all of the time, and I know in my heart that this was not a coincidence.

Other favorite pictures from that trip a year ago:

She was just a little nugget.  I want to squeeze that little baby!

This picture sits on my desk and I get to look at this smile every day.  :)

  Nor was this coincidence.  I just shelved my 3rd Daniel bible study on the bookshelf (with some other VERY random books).  Christina and I and some other ladies finished it this morning.  I did my first one when Hannah was not even 6 months old. At the time, I was so moved by the study about not getting caught up in a world of "me, myself, and I."  At the time, I had a lot of time on my hands as Hannah took a lot of naps.  I could do a lot of what I wanted, when I wanted, how I wanted, etc.  I ended up experimenting in cooking and baking A TON.  I had homemade sauces of this and that, tried new recipes all the time, I really loved doing it all and I happened to be kinda good at it.  In trying to stay away from the culture of self-absorption, I wanted to somehow use my skills for good, something a little greater than a stocked fridge.  I thought, what if I could open up a bakery and somehow be able to help out other good causes.  Well, that never happened and thank goodness!  But fast forward to this past fall, I had just started my 3rd go at the Daniel study and the same thoughts started coming back again.  I want to use my talents and skill set for good, for something greater than me.  If you remember, I opened an Etsy shop in October (yes, that thing still has some listings active), and with some of the money I was able to give to a charity near and dear to my heart.  Using my skill set for a cause bigger than myself, how awesome is that?  It took 7 years, but things, once again, have come full circle.  And I know that this also couldn't have been a coincidence.

  I don't know about you, but I love that things don't just happen like that from pure chance.  I love that there was a thoughtful purpose and a meaningful plan for those things that could have been taken as coincidence.  In a world where people long to be known and loved, I don't see anything doing that more than a thought out plan with a rewarding purpose.  I know for certain that God is in this sort of business.  This is one of the ways I know he is real and that he cares for the big and small things in my life.  The good news, is that he continues to do things like this all the time.  I'm taking the moment to reflect and be thankful about these things today.  What can you stop and do the same for?