The Bend in the Road

I've had a long love-affair with words, and I've always loved having a space to write things down.  I can clearly see my first little space, white with a rainbow across it, a small lock and key, and in large type across the front: D I A R Y.  I can remember sitting very seriously at my desk to write in it.

I've loved having this space to write in and to record the past 4 years of our little lives.  A couple of years ago a few people asked me if I'd share my posts on Facebook so they'd be sure to see them, which I was happy to do, but it periodically causes me great anxiety because..."The introverted are the people who live in the constant tension between the desire to communicate...and the desire to hide."  Oh, wow.  Ann Voskamp wrote that in a blog post a few weeks ago, and I said, "Yes!  That is me!"  I love writing down our family's stories, and I love reading other people's stories.  I love to communicate, but I also don't like drawing attention to myself.  My inner introvert wants to preface every Facebook share with, "Please don't feel obligated to read this." 

I enjoy writing in the morning before the kids are awake, but this morning I felt nervous because it felt like a day to let lots of cats out of bags since KJ posted this on Facebook yesterday.

 

Post by K.J. Pugh.

I always feel nervous about sharing big announcements, especially with my family.  Talking about moving to England out loud felt like when I called my mom to tell her KJ had proposed (even though she knew that was coming); it feels like announcing to my brothers stunned faces that I was pregnant for the first time.  In other words, it's pretty big news.  It's life-changing.  It means a lot to me.

I'm really thankful for KJ's succinct announcements with the pertinent information because I would probably want to tell the story from the beginning before ever getting around to an announcement.  And by beginning I mean the story my Gramma told me once of when I was born, and they found out I was a girl and said, "We've got our missionary," as opposed to another preacher.  It is definitely encouraging when the big changes come to look back over your life and see God's providential organizing of it all.  I read again last week, "He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God..." (Acts 17:26-27a)

I'm really excited about my new boundaries for the next year, and if God wills, even more.

There will be lots of stories along the way.  

Though of course, you're not obligated to read them.  ;)