I really can not help but feel blessed to be surrounded by so many solid and fun believers here. God has a way of creating community that only He can and I am thankful for that.

Today as Jon and I were taking Whidbey for a much needed walk I was reminded of the verses in Jeremiah where God pretty much tells the Israelites to bloom where they are planted. God says, "Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it because if it prospers, you too will prosper." Jeremiah 29:5-8. I think often times we can get discontented with our surroundings or place in life because we have refused to do this very thing. And God was not telling this to a people who were chilling in the promise land...he told this to his people who were in exile...so if they were supposed to do it we are too.

Here is to blooming where I am planted and seeking the prospertiy of the city in which I find myself.  So far it has been awesome and I am really looking forward to what God has in store for me in this place...