Howdy, pilgrim!

What an amazing day I had yesterday with so many new people from SITS along for The Journey. There were roughly 150 people who left about 275 new comments on my blog. Whoa! Boy, do I have the destinations lined up for the next several days--I can't wait to repay all the visits!

So now that the dust is settling, here are a few observations:

1. You are all on some amazing journeys, and I LOVED the variety of responses to my question about where you've been and where you're going (or dreaming of going). Journeys to...

marriage

parenthood

the empty nest

mountaintops

tropical paradises

faraway countries

contentment

self discovery

aging gracefully

They are all inspiring, and I can't wait to stop in and join you!

2. I'm so glad I'm not the only "thrifty" girl in the bunch. But I need to issue a disclaimer. We do not get a newspaper, so the only coupons I use are the ones in the mail or on the products, plus a few online. My time is too valuable and I can't stand clutter, especially paper clutter. So I'm sure a lot of you have saved WAY more than me that way. We hold to the theory that your things own you, so we just try to avoid purchases that will take up too much of our time or space, and wait for good deals on things we do choose to buy. I think the best advice with money is to not be in a hurry to spend it.

3. For all you Mac users, the link about what to do if your Mac Book's battery won't hold a charge is HERE.

4. I'm also glad to know I'm not the only one with kids who turn into creative geniuses when it's time to clean. AND that they're not the only ones who get it from their mom. But what I want to know is, do they have any hope at all of becoming tidy adults? Anyone?

5. My sister and brother are twins (TOTAL opposites), which is probably part of the reason why Ben understood that opposite gender twins can't be identical. But I just want to say that I was thrilled to have someone actually admit that they snorted over his comment, because I sure did!

6. I just started a brand new Beth Moore Bible study for the fall called "Stepping Up: A journey through the Psalms of Ascent". (Can I get an AMEN for Beth Moore?) It seems so fitting to me that the theme is about being on a pilgrimage--not just a journey forward, but a journey upward.  The very first verse is 1 Peter 5:6, which says, "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time." A great challenge to those of us who are prone to try to pull ourselves up rather than admitting our dire need for help. Verse 7 says, "Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you." Good stuff!  

Thanks again for traveling this road with me.  May yours find you heading forward AND upward today.