Let go & let God!

Type 'A' Personality, along with being the oldest sibling, combined with how I grew up, equals me being somewhat of a control freak. It's not that I don't want others' help when I don't know how to do something, I just want to decide when and where that help is given. Since excepting God into my life at the age of eight or nine, there are so many different verses that I have memorized or studied, that encourage in so many ways to let go of this habit. One major verse that has been in my life since graduating from the eighth grade is Jeremiah 29:11

'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you, and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'

Obviously, if God already has an amazing plan for me, I should have no worries, because as long as I am doing my part, and listening, every trial, tribulation, and joy that I face in life is all part of a greater plan.

While we were in California I struggled to see the purpose of why we were there. There were lots of different road signs, pointing in all different directions, towards a few life changing paths. When we originally thought about moving down there, it was for Aaron to attend chiropractic college. We had no idea how we would swing that financially, and then the opportunity for us to move down there under the impression that Aaron would be the NorCal region sales manager came up. We thought this would be the perfect opportunity to help grow the family business, and some how find a way to do school at the same time. While we were working for the business, SPD started calling Aaron again and finishing up background info. Oh. My. Goodness. Chiropractor, family business, SPD, all the uncertainty is enough to make any girl go crazy!

And then, when I was about to burst from wanting to control the situation, I gave it up to God, and this is what He did for me...

The next morning I had to get gas for my delivery truck. We had company credit cards for expenses such as this, so I navigated to the nearest station. Once I got there, I hopped out of the truck, only to realize that this particular gas station did not except credit cards. So, I asked the gas station clerk where the next closest station was, and he sent me down the road. As I arrived at the next station, I was happy to find a donut shop that had just switched on its open sign. When I let go, and didn't get frustrated about the other station not being user friendly, God provided me with a little sweetness to end my week. He knows just how to make me smile.

NorCal Driving At Its Finest...

When I drove down to California for the first time at the age of 18, my dad gave me one tip. He told me, "Don't use your blinker, it's a sign of weakness." I think that a lot of us non-Cali residents/regulars, have this preconceived notion from things that we've heard throughout our life, or that we have witnessed in movies, that Californians are these crazy erratic drivers. After experiencing the NorCal region for three months, I can now only agree to a certain point.

Californians have a whole different attitude about life in general. Whether it is your driving, your career, your political beliefs, or your lifestyle in general, everything and everyone is excepted. Moral boundaries are somewhat a blur, and so are the rules of driving. If the posted speed is 60mph, 55mph is accepted, but so is 75mph. If you want to use your blinker, it is not necessarily a sign of weakness, but if you get cutoff by someone that is choosing not to use theirs, that is acceptable too.

One afternoon after taking our warehouse exit (which was complete chaos for about two months due to reconstructing the off/on ramps), I had a utility truck that decided it HAD to be in front of me. So, without using their blinker they rudely placed themselves a few feet from my front bumper. Once they were safely in front of me, the dude driving the truck proceeded to look at me in his rear view mirror, and instead of the friendly 'Thanks for letting me in,' wave, he blew me a kiss. Seriously!?! You cut me off, and now you are blowing me a kiss! If I was anywhere but California, this would not be acceptable.