Stop and smell the roses

These cute little flowers sprang up in the middle of my gravel driveway. I had forgotten something and stopped by my house after getting the car from the office and almost crushed them as I ran across the driveway into my house. I just had to grab my camera and take a picture.

It is often recommended to take the time to stop and smell the roses, but I don't think I do often enough. Even living here, in the most beautiful place I have ever seen, I don't often enough take the time to just stop and stare and praise God for His beautiful creativity. So many times when I'm driving I think I should stop and take a picture as I drive by a perfect picture. But I think a camera-captured image wouldn't do that moment any justice. So if you want to see the beauty I experience everyday, you'll just have to come make the trek out here!

This week was just really long. The weekend was full of...not sleeping. Monday and Tuesday, I left the house at 7:15 to get to school on time. Tuesday we had an earthquake at 1am that woke me up. Wednesday I had basketball practice after school and Thursday night I had my adult English conversation class to teach. And now it's Friday...Praise the Lord! I literally woke up every morning this week just asking God for enough strength and grace for the day. He provided. As exhausted as I have been this week, He provided.

I was blessed with incredible scenery this week. Autumn is upon us. And if you're from LA, you know, we don't really have seasons. I mean, we don't really have many trees, but we also don't have weather that deviates far from perfect (except this past week...I would've traded a couple degrees with you). But it's getting cooler and the sun is setting earlier and the leaves are starting to change color. And it's absolutely amazing.

I'm not lonely, but I'm definitely starting to feel alone. This week I just really missed having fellowship. I was blessed to be a part of a Skype Bible Study this week. Even though we were just working out logistics for our weekly time together, I was blessed to have people ask me how they could pray for me and to pray for me right then and there. I've never met these people before, and we live on completely opposite sides of this crazy island, but we are united by the same God, the same redemptive blood of Jesus Christ, and that means everything. And God provided.

In the midst of this crazy exhausting week full of wonder and splendor and blessings, this Psalm continually came to mind...

Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,

in the company of the upright, in the congregation.

Great are the works of the Lord,

studied by all who delight in them.

Full of splendor and majesty are his work,

and his righteousness endures forever.

He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered;

the Lord is gracious and merciful.

He provides food for those who fear him;

he remembers his covenant forever.

He has shown his people the power of his works,

in giving them the inheritance of the nations.

The works of his hands are faithful and just;

all his precepts are trustworthy;

they are established forever and ever, to be performed with

faithfulness and uprightness.

He sent redemption to his people;

he has commanded his covenant forever.

Holy and awesome is his name!

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;

all those who practice it have a good understanding.

His praise endures forever!

Psalm 111