The Final Farewell

I sit here, waiting to say goodbye to my Yiayia. She's 92, and ready to go home to Jesus. And even if she lives one more month or two...I won't be back as I live across the country.

Last year this time, I was in the thick of a refining faith. I felt closer to Jesus than ever. I was assured by His grace, His love, His plan.

I cling to those now.

But weariness smothers what's left of my believer's heart.

The weariness of a fight. The weariness of broken dreams. The weariness of beating lies.

I want to stand by my Yiayia and pour truth into her ear. Give her the everlasting hope that her God has promised her. She knows it, deep down. She's been taught her whole life. But I see her flesh consume her peace. And she forgets.

I remember. I remember the hope. Even if it's been beaten alive by a cruel argument, even if it is mocked and tattered. Even if fear creeps in and tries to blot it out.

I remember it.

For God did not give me a spirit of Fear, but of POWER, and LOVE, and SOUND MIND.

And with that, I will say goodbye to my Yiayia, and remind her God loves her, and she's been blessed by a sound mind even until now, and that the power of the Holy Spirit inside her will give her such a ride to Heaven that fear will flee forever.

I'll cling to that.

Living Love...and what else is going on.

I've been very absent.

And while I've been gone, life has done a few summersaults. Some have landed on good, some on bad...some on new ground. But what I am most excited about are two steady places where my feet find momentum to move forward:

First, A NEW NOVEL! I am trucking along on a story...one that I feel I have been prepared to write since I was a teenager. This novel is by far the most intense thing I have ever written...but it is soooo rewarding to hash out! I am super excited, nervous, and encouraged all at once!

Secondly, and most importantly...I have come to an active, participating forward motion of

LIVING LOVE

It's a place where I can be reckless with my love yet nurture my heart in a positive way. Like one person said to me long ago, life is not about "majoring in the minors". Life is so much bigger, Love is so much bigger, GOD is so much bigger. I don't want those little things to trip me up anymore...those doctrines, those negative words, those prideful strongholds. Living love is wrought with PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, JOY, GENTLENESS, PERSEVERANCE, FAITHFULNESS, SELFCONTROL. Practicing those more and more.

In much more fun news, I have taken a plunge and have started a new venture! I am selling Jamberry nail wraps. It is an exciting thing...not uber dramatic (like the rest of my life has been HA!), but uber cute and creative (over 300 designs)! If you are interested in finding out more, checkout my Facebook page,

www.facebook.com/angiedickenjamberry

Don't know how consistent I will be with posting this next month. Life's still throwing me curve balls every now and then!

Have a great week!