From the time I was a child, I always felt closer to God when I was around nature. I wrote poems to God in my journal while I was by a lake, in the woods, or on the beach. I adored mountains and forests. And I enjoyed such nature-inspiring awe of God in solitude. My time growing close to the God of the universe was exciting when in large conferences as a teen where thousands of us worshiped together -- but my favorite and most thought-provoking times were alone.

But God began to change me. It started when I got married. Suddenly there was this guy I lived with and he was ALWAYS AROUND! What's up with that?! Plus we lived in a one-bedroom apartment at first, meaning we saw each other often! In all seriousness, I struggled. How could I spend quality time with God when I couldn't be alone? Even though the husband I chose happened to be a minister—you'd think I'd find some spiritual solace in that! But instead, I was frustrated.

People continued to keep coming into my life. First I was a youth minister's wife. Then we joined a small church where we helped lead worship and I helped start a drama ministry. And it was a small congregation where everyone knew everyone. People were always around! Going to a mega-church after that just added to the mega-schedule of ministry and hosting Bible studies and going to church services on Saturday and again on Sunday. People, people, people!!!

Pregnancy certainly changed my solitude. Suddenly a little person was now constantly attached! It didn't stop once she was born either! She now follows me around, even when I try to go to the bathroom!

What has all this done to me? Through ministry, but also through these other aspects of life, God has shown me that He is not just found in the rippling waters or high upon a majestic mountaintop. His ultimate design is to be present in the lives of the faces I meet every day. And those lives He's not currently a part of, He LONGS to be. And this transformation that's been happening in my own heart over 9 years has been fitting me more and more into ministry. Which I recognize is not just Steve's calling as "the pastor" but has been mine as well -- ever since I was a teen, connecting with Jesus in my solitude and begging Him to use me to change the world. Well, He's been answering, and He's showing me that to impact the world for Him involves people! :)

I explain all of this because I was reminded of my transformation tonight. As I thought about our recent vacation to the beach, I recall that I had a different reaction to our time at the ocean than I usually do. The ocean was beautiful and an amazing tribute to God's power and creativity -- as it always is! But while I was there, I didn't feel some super closeness to God as I used to when I was younger. I felt the same closeness as always. In fact, I felt closer to God during my conversations that I had throughout the week with Steve, my mom, my dad, my aunts. I felt closer to God when I saw the wonder in Kaelyn's eyes over every new little thing she discovered.

I am closer to God because of the people He has placed in my life. And I see that's His design. To live in a relationship with a three-in-one God is already a community! And His desire is that our time here on earth should reflect that community and give us a glimpse of our eternal community up in Heaven. And I want to do as much as I can in my role for the Lord on this earth to make sure that Heaven is crowded with people! :)

Steve's commentary on his blog is true. I AM addicted to The Office. And I like it!

I've read all the Harry Potter books. It started out when we were doing youth ministry at Madeira when Steve and I were first married. When the first book was published, there was, if you recall, controversy. Should a "good" Christian read it or not? Well, I happened to be teaching the 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders in Sunday school, and even the kids in the class were split over it. Some said their parents read the book with them. Others said their parents were mad that their school teachers were reading it to them. To be better informed as their Sunday school teacher, I figured I should read the book myself. So I borrowed it from a friend, and I got hooked!

I'll admit, I don't know the age range I would recommend to start reading the series. After all, there is some crazy stuff that happens in the books that could scare youngsters. But JK Rowling's writing is amazing and I appreciate her skills, finding each novel compelling as an adult reader.

As each book was published, I found a friend who would lend me a copy. (I wasn't sure if I wanted to officially own them and was too cheap to purchase right away!) What's funny though is that when the sixth book came out, I really didn't have anyone close to me from whom I could borrow the book. So I didn't end up reading it until just a few months ago.

I was surprised that I hadn't found out any information on what had happened in the sixth book since it was published two years ago. I guess I wasn't around any hardcore fans who talked about it. Then, 3/4 of the way through the book, Steve was commenting on some T-shirt he saw online that had things printed on it to spoil the endings of movies and books. As I glanced up, I saw the ending to book 6, mere pages from reading about it. I went almost two years hearing nothing, and he spoils it for me that close to the ending?!?!?!? He felt really bad. He didn't realize that the info was a spoiler for that particular book. (Another note: before book 5, I had talked with a teenager at Mason and she hinted at the person who dies in that book. So again, before reading about it, the ending had been spoiled!)

It was kind of nice having just read book 6 because it was fresh in my mind (I'm not so hardcore, and I forget what happens in some of the books), and I was eagerly anticipating the final book. I found a whole new crop of friends at church who are avid Potter fans. And Beth told me she'd lend me the book when she was finished. Hooray!

Sunday night at church, a mere week after it was released, I had it in my hands. (I've been avoiding all reviews, TV shows, web sites, etc. -- even my husband, who cheated and went to Wikipedia the day after it was published to read all the details, even though he's never read the books!!!) I wanted to read it fast and just know what happened. So I sat down Sunday at 10 p.m. and read till 1 a.m. I was a third of the way through.

Monday I had to actually get some work done and also care for my child. But I found a couple of daylight hours to read to the halfway mark. (OK, so I ignored my child a little -- I mean, I made sure she was playing contentedly as I sat in her room and read while she amused herself with toys and books. The girl has to learn that at some point anyway! I'm presenting a good example by reading!) Then at 9:30 p.m. Kaelyn was in bed, work was done, and I was able to focus solely on finishing the book. By 12:30 a.m. I had done it! All 759 pages! I cannot recall ever reading so much in so little time!

It is complete. I am satisfied with my read. Now I'm back to living in the real world today. And I might take a nap.