Sunday, July 13, 2008

Single Sentiments

This morning, our family stayed home from church so that I could rest - we have a 45 minute drive to our church so it can be quite a task to get us up and ready in time. I have to be at our Corporate office this week for training and I will have to leave every morning around 7:00 a.m. to be there by 8:00. Doug decided to go the store while Charlotte napped and I rested/cleaned.

I found an old tape that I had put together when I was 21 - nearly 9 years ago. It was full of spiritual songs and instrumental music. I made it right before I went out to the ranch - for those of you who don't know I worked the summer and fall of 2000 at a dude ranch in Colorado. That is where Doug and I met. The tape conjured up so many memories. I used to listen to the tape while I ran - a three mile treck down mountain roads. It was hard to not get caught up in the beauty of the place. I would also listen to it during hikes by myself - I know, not really safe, but I always had a spiritual experience up on a mountain peak looking out at the beauty of the land God created. It makes you realize how small you really are and how big our God is. Anyway, very sweet memories - spiritual struggles, meeting wonderful young people and others from all over the world, learning who I was, meeting and beginning a friendship with my future husband. Of course the old scrapbook came out. As I looked through pictures I realized how much that young girl has changed. Alison Moore - who I was before I married - scared, very real, committed in her faith but confused with this concept we call grace, falling in love and wondering where God was leading next - a lot going on with me during that time.

I am so different now, a wife, a mother, my hobbies and interest are different, but there is still some of me at almost thirty that is part of that 21 year old out there at that ranch soaking in life and learning who I was. I am still learning and I guess that is what life is about. That was such a sweet time in my life even though at times I felt very confused and alone. It is amazing to see where God has brought me in those eight years and see the incredible blessings He has given - two of the best, my husband, Doug, and my sweet daughter Charlotte.

Sorry for all the sentiment, but I hope you will take a moment sometime in the near future and revisit a sweet time in your past. Thank God for memories and for lessons learned and for our single years. So much is realized in that time and for most women it is not appreciated.

My surprise news is coming soon if you don't already know it. I know the Atmore rumor mill as already opened. :) Hopefully later this week. Love to you all!

No comments: