Happy

I am perfectly aware of and rather well acquainted with the truth that joy is not based on circumstances. I have lived out a few very painful years and yet, I have done it with joy in my heart. I find my joy in the Lord. His unfailing love sustains me, His joy is my strength. I have wept many a tear, screamed many angry cries to the Lord, and held a few pity parties for myself, BUT that was all short lived. I would suffer a day of agony, but always...and I mean always, He picked me up, brushed me off and breathed His love into my barren heart and there would be my joy again. My joy is not based on a time or a place or a person. My joy is founded in the heart of God, rooted and grounded there. As long as I keep my eyes on Him, my joy is unmovable, unshakable, and it is irrevocable.

All of that is to say, that I know where true joy is found. Yet, there is something to be said with being plain old happy. Happy that is based on my location and my circumstances and on the company that I keep. Today, I am happy. I woke up in Kansas City, MO, in the home of one of my very best friends, Kris Skeele. I love this woman and her family, and I love to be with them. Mia loves to be with them, and she gets along so well with the kids. She is happy here, too. She said to me yesterday, " Mommy, I am so glad we are in Kansas City". We also went to the prayer room at IHOP today. Even in the midst of the tons of people that were there (we wandered a while before finding seats), I was at peace, I felt the presence of God, and I loved being there. Mia danced and sang and was happy (until she claimed that she was starving to death and felt we needed to leave instantly to get food).Then, tonight we had "ohana". Ohana means family in Hawaii. Home group at the Skeele's house is ohana, and it feels like family. I saw friends, worshiped the Lord, ate yummy food, prayed for a friend...loved being here. (side note...I must say though, I have a group in Richmond that I simply cannot love more than I do for fear that my heart may explode.) After ohana, I chatted with Kris, listened to her oldest son play around on the guitar, watched the younger kids put on a hilarious skit, and then chatted some more.

Is there something magical about Kansas City? Is it any better than any other place? Is the grass greener on this side of the fence? No, but there are many things and many people that I love here, so when I am here, I am happy. I am very, very happy.