Georgia is officially off my mind...

What's on my mind is our little piece of history.  Our home...11 years of great memories...great neighbors...parties...heartache...laughter...lots and lots of laughter...mainly family and love.  102 Harvest Moon has given us the best 11 years we could have asked for.  We've potty trained...we've argued and cried and hugged...we've taken off training wheels...we've generally lived a life that would fill any cup.  But on Monday we say goodbye.  We hand our sweet home sweet home over to a new family.  It's bittersweet.  It's exciting and it's sad all in the same ragged breath.
Our girls have spent 11 years of their 17 and almost 13 growing and thriving in this home.  There are so many sweet memories here.  Madie will go away to school in 10 short months...Landry will be in the 8th grade...life changes....we are in constant movement and I'm so very humbled and thankful for this beautiful messy life.
On Monday we say goodbye to our sweet home and hello to a little slice of Folly paradise.  We spend two months living in one of our favorite places and I can't help but think that God has blessed us with this opportunity to live in this 700 square foot cottage to be close and spend this time together.  We are all so busy and sometimes lose sight of just how blessed we are to have each other.
On this flight back to my people and my Carolina, as I listen to Ray Charles talk about Georgia on his mind, I humbly thank my sweet Father for these very precious moments that I will forever cherish.
On to the next chapter for this sweet little life we share and maintain these McDaniels.

#parkcircleherewecome #butfollyfirst #bigyearforthemcdanielfam #goodbye102

Same in any language...

Today I'm boarding another flight and looking at another screen as the flight crew goes over necessary safety information.  I'm being an insubordinate flyer...I'm not listening....I'm drowning the instructions out with my headphones in and Audible in my ear.  I know this information...I've heard it a thousand times and so why should I continue to listen every time I fly...my book is far more interesting.  

This made me think about what I do with the Father on a pretty consistent basis.  I chose to block out His whispers for time with him for all the other things.  I tell myself I've read that devotional...I've done that bible study...I've listened to that podcast...I'm busy...I have work to accomplish...I have so much going on in general...God knows my heart (He does) and He knows this is a busy season for me and my love for Him has not waned.  The reasoning goes on and on, yet like everything else time is love and time spent with Him is not what His soul needs...it is what mine needs and longs for.  

I have spent the better part of this year in fast forward, and for the most part my earthly flesh has loved every minute of it.  That's a hard pill to swallow and even harder words to write across this screen.  That's insubordination to my own soul and to a Father who asks for nothing but my heart.  It's no wonder that I've not slept well, been stressed, gained 20 lbs, and been running on fumes...the best part of my cup has not been filled and I've done a lot of soul neglecting.  The struggle has been real and I've been ignoring the instructions.  These instructions come in any language I could ever want to read them in and are without a doubt the most uncomplicated instructions we will ever be given.  BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD.  His word is full of simple instruction...we are His and He loves us no matter the season or circumstance.  PERIOD...there's no catch...no small print...nada...nothing...just a Father and His precious child who He formed.  He knew the paths I would take...knows this hard head and brain that never stops...knew that I would require more than a whisper sometimes.  Today sitting on this plane He spoke LOUD and CLEAR...YOU need time with me!  Note He didn't say I need time with you.  He is the patient one...He is the one who waits for His insubordinate child to listen to His calling for my own good.  Today I heard Him...I took the time to listen and I prayed that He would fill my heart and mind with His words and wants and not those of my earthly flesh.  It's against the grain and soul soaking, but exactly what this daughter of the King should be asking for.  

Thank you Lord for knowing and loving your girl.  You're a GOOD GOOD Father!