The Lovely Little Introvert

     More often than not, big leaps of faith are scary. Usually they involve change, and let's be honest, none of us are big fans of change. Me in particular. Change is not my thing. Except when it is. Recently I began asking God for something different, seeking out changes in the area of my job. What did I want to do with my life? What would give me the purpose I was desperately longing for? Well, what were my passions? What type of job would not make me hate going to work every day? All these questions seemed to go unanswered for a long time. I got very restless, waiting for some sort of miracle, a note in my mailbox telling me exactly what I ought to do. But life doesn't work that way. So I began exploring just one question: What makes me come alive?      The answer to that question was actually easier than I thought. After prayer and much thought, I realized that the one thing across the board that really makes me feel alive is helping people. It's so broad, I realize,

     They say you blink and one day your kids are grown, moving away and starting lives of their own. They tell all new parents to enjoy all the stages, even the hard ones, because you don't get them back. They should give this advice to siblings, too. Especially the ones that grow up together.      I had the privilege of spending 5 days in Virginia with my family in August. Bear in mind this is was the first time the four of us had been together since Karissa and I both moved away. On some levels, it felt exactly the same. The boys were a little taller and their voices a little deeper. Otherwise not much had changed. Then we spent a few days together, did some things. We played board games and laughed hysterically like we always do. But there was such an underlying air of difference that couldn't be ignored. We ad our own obligations, things to plan for and take into consideration. The boys were preparing for a new school year and youth group leadership positions. Karissa and