If You'd Wondered Where I'd Been ....

(No, this isn't Naomi, but she's always loved this look.)

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.   ---Proverbs 3:5,6

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Well, I'll start kinda at the beginning:

If you thumb through Naomi's yearbook from her senior year, you'll discover she was voted Most Unique Girl. Seriously, there she is in a photo along with the Most Unique Guy. Not kidding.

Well, our unique girl, for the past 2 years, occasionally hinted that she'd like to, someday, live on her own inside a van. (Reread that if you'd like, but yeah, you read it correctly the first time.) Youtube videos of van dwellers fascinated her and the idea of saving money living this way was tempting.

Being typical parents, Tom and I just nodded at each mention, then later, we'd go our separate ways and pray she'd change her mind. ツ

I mean, hey. This was a bit too unique for even us. Again, we are pretty darn typical in this area of Life.

But then last month, Naomi bought a van with cash she'd saved. She really did.

And ever since, she's worked hard and fast to insulate (and insulate) it against our wild winter temperatures. Then last Friday she and her elderly cat moved out of the room she'd rented for months and into her van and out to our neighborhood's streets.

But it's ok, it really is. Once Tom and I began receiving grace to accept that this is Naomi's dream, well, it's gotten easier, though yes, we're all making adjustments, learning when to ask questions, when not to, learning to trust Naomi (and God) with this big change and other such details, shall we say.

Now, it's a beginning of a new adventure, so please, no one ask questions designed to make me worry, ok? It's a step by step, one day at a time thing--we've taken only a few steps so far. 

Of course, you're probably asking why Naomi doesn't just move back in with us. Well, simply put, that's not part of her dream.

Back in 2008, Tom and I followed our crazy dream of owning a farm and even to this day, we express our utter gratitude that we slipped into that fast-closing window in time. What a tragedy to have waited until too late.

And now? We're viewing this time in Naomi's life as her own 'farm dream,' a bit more unique than our dream years ago, but just as valid and worthy, nonetheless.

We all need the freedom to live our God-given dreams, even in 2020 when it's become harder to do so. But even a year like this one can't erase the fact that with God, all things are possible.

Yes, they still are if we're led by God to find a way when there appears to be none.

God is always stretching His kids, giving us things which require we lean not on our own selves and resources, but on Him. It's called living by faith and He's pretty hugely into that.

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Who else still believes the song, Ventura Highway, sounds as amazing today as it did during our teen years?

Here's Jamal's reaction to it. (He's my favorite music reaction guy.)

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Okay, my art-loving friends might really enjoy this. Wow. Incredible and dare I say haunting?

"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." ... Matthew 6:14,15