No longer...

displaced. In college I did a painting called Displaced (inspired by where I was in life and the Azure Ray song that I still love). The painting is still one of my favorites to this day, but as I was driving into work this morning I realized how at peace I am with where I am in life at this very moment.

I've got a wonderful husband with whom I can be candid with and him with me and still laugh. Our relationship is no-holds-bar. We love good and hard and each day I'm reminded how God plopped the only man who could make this "life thing" better, right down in my path.

My family are all in good places. My parents are able to do as they please and have the joys of an "empty nest". My sister is almost 21 and I think still a little overwhelmed by taking life by the horns, but she knows she's got us and I can tell that makes a difference. I've even done better with keeping in touch with extended family (aunts, uncles, cousins, grandmother (a future project here)), and it feels good to just talk and check in to say love you. We have grown up conversations and I'm glad that we've all been able to do great things and not great things to share as learning advice for one another.

My core circle of friends, the ones who have seen me cry, scream, laugh til I almost pee in my pants, are all wonderful women. And I do mean superbly wonderful! For the most part, we hit life's landmarks (slowed down metabolism, career highs and lows, husband/boyfriend wows and non-wows) all around the same time. It's nice to have that everpresent support system.

My church family back home still keeps in touch and claims to miss me ;-), which selfishly makes me feel like I've made a difference and left my mark (to return to it at some later point Lord willing).

My current church fam is growing. We're a small group, but for the most part very persistent in keeping God's love visible and tangible. I'll start teaching Sunday school in two weeks and I'm proud to say that the kids still come hug me after service even when I don't have candy to give. ;-)

I've come a long way in my career. I've gone from too little pay and too little respect to decent pay and being able to command the respect that I know I deserve. It's nice to be able to speak up for yourself professionally and let pep know, "this is what I do and I'm good at it dog-gone-it!"

I'm no longer displaced. In fact, I never was. I've always been right where God needed and wanted me to be. I guess I'm just really appreciating that now. It's comforting to know that on such a mysterious journey, my road map and tour guide are ever present, even when I slight using them as I should... (I'm working on this aspect daily)

Strangely, I started this long train of thought yesterday. Inspired by the local love-bug swarm. Really. They're bugs, and apparently very in season b/c when you walk outside they're EVERYWHERE. Funny thing is that they are always in pairs (granted that they're mating, doing the nasty, getting busy, but when you take that knowledge away it's less gross and kind of sweet). When I found out that they don't bite then I'm all the more intrigued to watch them for a moment. They're always with another love-bug (even on my car grill when I get home and noticed that I've killed the love) and I think I'm in a love-bug state of life. We're never alone, God's always there, but it's also nice to realize that I'm not displaced, and that I'm paired up with just the right people... always.

Happy Love-Bug Friday!