There's a Mountain Behind the Clouds

Our wonderful summer has continued to roll along.  Andy's family joined us for a 7th Birthday celebration and then my Dad, Stepmom and beautiful Memaw joined us for Independence Day.  It's such fun spending time with family.  Early July found most of us at two different beaches.  Emma joined the Peace Sr. Highers at Laguna Beach for RYM while Grammy hosted the boys and I in Orange Beach.  Fun was had by all!

As soon as we returned to our new home it was time for Emma's Freshman Orientation.  The first day I had papers to drop off so I was able to go inside with her and make sure she found where she was supposed to land.  The second day however, I had to sit in the van and watch as the building swallowed her whole.  My daughter being an independent extrovert who loves adventure made the week exciting and packed with potential.  Emma has a soft heart for awkward outsiders and had two specific circumstances to show how God loves the unlovable.  There is nothing like the privilege of seeing God's goodness seeping through the lives of your children.  We are prayerfully attempting to get Emma enrolled into the Honor's Program at her High School.  If she isn't able to make it this year she can enter next year but we would really like her to be accepted immediately.  God knows His plan for her and we are resting in His sovereignty.

We've also had tons of fun with friends.  The so very special Peterson crew (sans Jared and AK) came to visit!  Such fun to soak them up and share with them our new home.  We ventured down into the very deep caves of Lookout Mountain and saw a beautiful waterfall.  One of us freaked out a little and almost had to claw her way back to the surface PRONTO but the kids did just fine.  Beth and I were able to get away for a quiet dinner and a long walk over the TN river.  How I miss this dear friend.  I felt like I was drawing a deep breath of fresh air after hours in a dark humid cave.

We have had two opportunities to spend quality time with neighbors this week.  We are finding our neighborhood has a sweet sense of community and we're looking forward to digging deeper.  Moving is always a lonely time but especially when you move during the summer.  I was praying during my morning run about our new life and trying to release any sense of discouragement.  As I headed back home I glanced toward Lookout Mountain only to find it hiding behind big puffy clouds.  I realized our new life is like that mountain.  We can barely see it due to all the clouds but it's there.  We see glimpses here and there and we've seen it before.  One day we'll look up and we'll see it all again.