The Cahill's

What a great weekend! Camping, the lake, swimming all day, sunburn, a friend’s boat, water-skiing (that’s me in the profile pic) I got up on my very first try! After all day on the lake we came in for supper and I made apple pie in my dutch oven which we had with, what else, Blue Bell’s Homemade vanilla ice cream! 🙂 How American is that! We played dutch blitz on the tarp until my brother’s little dogs got scared at some fireworks and ran across the cards. So we went down to the lake and sat on the dock to watch the show. Oh was it beautiful, a cool night breeze blowing, boat lights gently moving across the rippling water, fireworks lighting up the shoreline all around the lake, our family softly singing patriotic songs, my dog stretched out on the dock with her head in my lap; such peace, such contentment.

Right before I went to school God gave me several times of calm and beauty, as if I would need something to hold on to and remember during the busy times at Verity. Now He’s giving me some neat sights of the beauty of the outdoors to remember as I head back to the city. The lake was one, another was an incredible view of the Texas highways – yes they are beautiful, I have a picture. But one of the neatest came this morning; I was out jogging and my head was down looking at the paper which had the verses I was memorizing. Suddenly looking up I saw a doe standing not 20 feet away, she started to bound away but when I stopped so did she. We stood there silently regarding one another, a stillness and calm between us. This lasted at least a minute and then my dog (my faithful jogging companion) came running up from where she had been

I could die because life is so good! I know that seems incongruous but that’s how I feel. If I died right now I would be satisfied that my ministry as I know it was complete. I wouldn’t feel like I had wasted any effort by having done some school and not ever getting to “use” it. All that I’m doing right now, if I were to suddenly go, I wouldn’t feel like my life was wasted. God has been good and I feel humbled to have been used in such a way as I have seen. If I went now, I would have no reserves, no regrets.

Also as I was doing some thinking on things I had learned this last month, something clicked and I saw heaven in a whole different light. Jesus is eagerly awaiting our arrival and I caught that eagerness with a great longing to be there, just to be with Jesus. I got a small glimpse of what it might be like.

This is the first time I have been ready to die and not just as an escape means. I know I’m young and my life is full of potential, but I’ve caught a whiff of something better.

S.T.E.P. is done and I’m now home for good – or at least for the two and a half weeks until I leave for Michigan again.

S.T.E.P. was great, God’s hand of blessing continues to follow. Not only did I get back in shape (school did bad things to me 🙂 get a tan, go swimming in the lake, and take pictures; but God gave me the incredible opportunity to impact 75 girls in their walk with Christ.

Some very god friends from the previous years had come back as staff, plus there were several “Verity siblings” that were attending this year; Virginia Evangelista, Elizabeth Millings, Charity Massey, and Anna Fiskeaux. This, and the fact that I was in Texas, helped me feel like I was home, and kept me from feeling too homesick.

My ice cream saga continued there even though I didn’t expect it too, I thought it was a Michigan thing, but God’s hand was even stronger in this blessed land 🙂 God had new aspects of His character to teach me through this rather pleasant medium and I am all too happy to learn. Maybe I should write a book.

Now home, I’m enjoying the simple pleasures of life; family, homegrown tomatoes, okra (if you don’t know what that is, I’m sorry for you) REAL Mexican food, tire swings, my dog, and of course, Blue Bell ice cream!!!

A big highlight is seeing my nephew, Connor. His mom is great about having us over or dropping him off so that we can spend time with him. He has grown so much! Here, he wants to post on xanga (we’re getting him hooked early)

c x bq ZZm,,,,,,wkll,i9999iiiiiiiiu vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv““xxxxxxxxxxxx

I wonder if drool will short circuit my keyboard?

Well that’s it for now, I wish I could post pictures – maybe Brian could figure that out for me. Anyhow, just know that God is good, summer is good and being at home in Texas is good. Life is good!