humbled, becoming small... Part 3

Thanks for enduring that long post in Part 2.  

Now to finish the journey.

After considering weather or not to go, and with the encouragement of my sweet mama, I hopped on plane to  Pittsburgh where two of my close friends from college were getting married. I got a flight out of Tampa with a layover in Cleveland that would eventually get me into Pittsburgh.  

The Lord blessed me with two sweet women in my cramped three-person row.  Debbie and her mom were flying home from a family vacation into Cleveland.  Both women are/were long time public school teachers.  They are also sweet women of God.  After telling them that I work with CCC we became immediate friends. I love that! The bond of Christ is so sweet.  I came to find out that the late husband/father was a pastor.  We chatted about all kinds of things.  I watched in awe as the elder woman killed the crossword puzzle, ashamed that I only got about five of the words! ;)  They walked with me out of the plane and helped me to make sure I knew where to go for my connecting flight.  As we said our goodbyes they handed me a few bucks to have dinner "on them" and Debbie also gave me her email address to keep her informed about my ministry in Tidewater. What a sweet, sweet divine appointment. 

So I did the whole lay over thing in Cleveland, then soon boarded a 37 passenger plane to Pittsburgh.  37 passenger plane, friends.  About the size of a school bus. Eek.  I survived and landed in snow in PA after about 25 minutes and after meeting a boy named Zack.  He was probably 19 and hilarious. He made a lot of small talk and walked from the plane to baggage together. Then ended our friendship at the pick-up area. Tear. ;)

My dear friend put me up for the night in Hotel Amanda.  She is such a great hostess!  I probably told her 20 times during my stay.  It was so great to catch up with her and have her as my date to the wedding.  

The Bonasso Wedding was absolutely fabulous.   I'm so glad I was able to be there.  From 2 to 11pm we partied and celebrated!  So, so fun. 

My last stop before home was Morgantown.  After the wedding I was able to spend a few days with some friends from college. Thanks to Yopp for having me and for our sweet time together. Before long I met up with B&B and we were on our long journey back to Norfolk.

I am telling you. I feel completely stripped away. Stripped away of control and micro-management.   It was so necessary for me to be in all these situations.  In all of it, having to trust the Lord to guide my steps and trust that He had COMPLETE control.  "He must become greater, I must become less." -John 3:30  I am learning what it means to die to myself.  Because "every little death can, if embraced by faith through God's power, will result in life." (Rick James) Through every sacrifice, trial, circumstance, humbling, struggle we can choose die to ourselves. 

Thanks all of you who had a little role (or big role) in my travels! Be blessed! 

this made me smile.