My dear friends,

How I have enjoyed reading all of your posts! I am so thrilled for all of you, and miss you dearly especially now as I am finding the adjustment from Gordon back to IL a rockier one than I had expected. Being so immersed in the honest Christian community of Gordon and coming back to the dark lack of God in most of my friendships home have made me realize how naive I can be. This morning, I'm afraid was terribly discouraging, and yet, I know that God is keeping me close in His hand--despite my failings. I met with a dear childhood friend today and watched as she laughingly told me of her walk down an ever darkening path. What could I do? What could I say?? She was so desperate for affirmation, for respect and love from me. I sat there, nodding and smiling while feeling a horrible gloom fall over our conversation. Should I have rebuked her? Should I have put my foot down and told her all that she was doing to herself? I didn't know. I still don't know. Right now I just want to wrap her in my arms and cry my heart out. But, I know that God is good and that in the midst of the darkness He was there and working in some mysterious way. Oh how truly great He is! I couldn't imagine life without His presence. How empty. How purposeless. Perhaps that is the reason I am finding it so difficult to spend time with my friends. There is so much I want to say to them, I want to ease their pain so very much, but they don't seem to care and I don't know what to do.

Despite this, being home and with my family has really been encouraging and delightful. My sister and I took a bike ride at sunset last evening. We played we were on motorboats instead of bicycles like we did when we were little. We refueled by riding through puddles, and stopped by a nearby park to swing. It was one of those delicious summer evenings--the air saturated with water and warm, but not hot.
At night, when I get back home from work, I like to turn on some music and paint or work on some little project. I'm just finishing up a painting that's new and I'm excited because I've never done anything like it before. It was inspired by my dad and a conversation we had about community. He reminded me of a beautiful verse in Acts about people meeting together with purpose and heart.
My brother Michael will be visiting in about a week! We are all eagerly awaiting his arrival and are planning a day at the beach in New Buffalo. We have our usual rituals of Oink's ice cream and Frisbee in the water. Also, I'm hoping to drive down to cornerstone for a day or possibly two! It isn't for sure yet since I still have to sort some things out with my boss. I would LOVE to see MeWithoutYou, but more than that, I would really love to see YOU Hannah Jeane! :)

Well, dear dear ones, thank you so very much for your precious friendship. I love you so!

You are all in my prayers,
Sarah