Less than a month to go and I find myself antsy. The lure of mountain slopes and hiking paths cause me to dream of Montana. But it's the people that I find myself excited about the most. I get to see Hannah, Rob and Terry, the girls, and Kath and Neal. Hopefully I will make some new friends this year as well.
The sacrifices are few, because I am a country girl at heart. The loss of blacktop (a rarity in Glacier county) will hardly be felt, and the ignorance of recent pop culture and media during the season will not be a problem. Life there consists mainly of relationships with self, others, nature, and God. However amazing the season is, I will miss the closeness of friends and family and also miss having coverage on my AT&T phone. But I will supplement the time lost with friends back home with lengthy letters and emails scattered along the way. We'll definitely stay connected.
Life here continues to be engaging as I find myself preparing mentally, physically, and emotionally for the trip. Life there consists of work, hikes, and sleep. So I am trying hard to prep for the noise, craziness, and busyness of the cafe, as well as the long hours spent in the backcountry of the park. It'll be fantastic. Now, however, the pain of getting in shape is felt. So is the fact that I won't have texting out there anymore!

God continues to mold and shape me in different ways. I feel his hand on this whole trip, the getting ready, traveling, working, hiking, and then the journey home. It'll be hard to leave Glacier knowing it's probably my last season out there. There really is something unique about the community found working together under the Rockies of Glacier Park, Montana. It's special. It's home. But as I am learning, home is wherever God calls you, and I believe God is calling me back to my home in Minnesota, too.

Old friends.  Random memories.  The freedom of a college grad.  Potential jobs.  These thoughts and so much more are going through my head as God deals with me about the past, the now, and the future.  I have so much hope, and at the same time I am trying to be intentional about the choices I make.  They effect not only me but friends, family, and neighbors.  Discerning God's will for my life is not as easy as I thought it once was.  He lets me make choices, instead of handing me a list of things to accomplish, and lets me deal with the mess of it all.  Or should I say he is IN the mess with me, working things out to his end.  Trust is a vital lesson here, as I cling to his promise that in him, I have found rest for my soul.

So, life has been busy recently, which is good.  I've almost finished up college and am busy looking for jobs, with some apps in.  It's astonishing how easily I slip into "real life" again...after 5 years in college, I am ready for the real world.  Friends, books, jobs, trips, and art await; no more papers, tests, projects, or photos due.  Running my own schedule (regardless of a work schedule) will be a breeze.
Tonight I am going out with Becky and we are having dinner at an unknown location.  It is currently freezing outside with some frequent snow flurries.  Just a little while ago I decided that I am not doing Americorps, I am going to work around here and maybe go someplace next spring on a visit.  So that straightened things out a little bit for me.
God's been teaching me a little bit--okay a lot--about patience lately.  It's something I have got to get a hold of...He's so patient with me, it makes me want to be more like Him.  I'm learning to have patience while driving, patience with the kids at work, patience with my family, and most of all, patience with God's plan for my life.  After all, He is revealing it, step by step. 

That reminds me of part of a Rich Mullins song:  "Step by step you'll lead me, and I will follow you all of my days!"