"I know...but..."

Sitting in church today, I suddenly realized a phrase that I say all too often. "I know...but...." For a few examples:

(when talking about moving) "I KNOW it will be awesome BUT i....don't wanna lose my friends, it's gonna hard, i don't know the language etc..."

(talking about the fact that i will probably loose all my pictures cuz my hard drive crashed) my friends that are trying to encourage me: "well at least they are on facebook!" me: "I KNOW and that's good BUT the quality isn't as good!"

(when out somewhere with friends) "i KNOW! im glad we can hang out! BUT ugggg i have to leave at ____ time! :("

You get the idea. I tend to look more at what i DON'T have, can't do, or won't experience, then what i WILL have, can do, and will experience. The other night, I was bemoaning to a friend the fact that i wasn't apart of something this summer that i wished i could have been, and unlike most people i have talked to about it who were like "oh i know! i wish you could! that's so sad!" etc.. he kindly reminded me that hey. God's got it ALLL in control. He knows that this is what I need to be doing and that this will be better for me now and in the future. So why can't i just accept that and move on? move on and actually accomplish something with the time He's placed before me instead of pining away at what i can't do. Sometimes, i'm sure it's ok to do that. like miniature grieving. Sometimes it's worse not to acknowledge that you'll be missing out on something or such. But there's that fine line between the "grieving" something and...oh what's the word...dwelling on it. And I think I cross that line all too often. But since I just realized this today, I don't have any inspiring stories about how I am doing better at it, or anything of the sort. but I would like to ask that if you can think of any encouraging verses or anything to help me with this, would you comment por favor? :)

I think this post is more of a journaling type post than I usually do. Nothing inspiring or anything...just me thinking out loud. well not technically out loud. but you get the picture. anyway, i'll stop blabbering now.

Have an awesome memorial day!!

oh and i would like to take a minute and mention my wonderful papa. He passed away several years ago, but served in many wars and was a decorated veteran. (including a purple heart) i am really proud of him and loved him a lot. he was such a jokester and prankster and always could provide a good laugh. :) im so thankful for everything he and all the other military veterans and soldiers have done for our country! may God bless you!

He said WHAT????

Well folks. It happened. The moment we've all been waiting for. (and by we I mean the Luther family and those close to us.) Yes. This weekend, 6 luthers went to New York, and 6 Luthers and 1 Luther to be came back! :) My brother Jason proposed to his girlfriend Thursday night, at about 9:58 p.m. on the Christopher Street Pier in NYC. Needless to say, i am EXTREMELY excited!!

oh and in case you were wondering, we DID make it to the airport. but not in a limo. :( and we had a wonderful time in New York! :) When I have more time maybe i'll tell you all about it. But for now, pictures will have to do.

God has a sense of humor?

So. I'm sitting here. anddddddd im SUPPOSED to be on the way to the airport to fly to NY. but umm yeah we got our stuff all in the car and ready to go, and guess what? the car won't start. yep. it WOULD happen to us. it's 9:12 now, our flight leaves at 11:45 and it's about an hour to the airport. the funny thing is, we're about to rent a limo to take us to the airport because the rental car place is out of cars. HA. wow. what a great start to this crazy adventure. one thing is for sure, this is a weekend i'll never forget for very many reasons.

Please lay down your arrows
For they're sure to pierce the skin
And water from a broken well
Will make you thirst again
When all things you've acquired
Are tested by the flames
And you can see them melting
Then will you call his name

It's worth it brothers
It's worth it friends
To know your maker
To lose your sin
Did you know that you are dearly loved

To the slaughters you are being led
Being told that it's a party
That this God is in your head
And every single lie
Sounds just like the greatest truth
But the one truth you're not hearing
Is that he died for you

No greater joy
No greater peace
No greater love than this

It's worth it brothers
It's worth it friends
To know your maker
To lose your sin
Did you know that you are dearly loved

Today i was driving and looked up and noticed a little patch of blue sky in the clouds. It made me think about how often we think it's cloudly and an awful day with no sunshine, but we can't see above the clouds and we forget that there is ALWAYS blue sky above the clouds. This is sooo similar to life. Alot of times we forget that we can't see the big picture and focus on what we can see. We forget that God's up there and He can see the blue sky above the clouds now and the blue sky above the clouds for the next day, and the next, and forever. So next time I'm feeling down, or not having a good day, I wanna try to remember that there IS something good in it, even if i can't see it then. That even if today is rough, tomorrow is always a new day, and maybe that new day will have hope. And I pray that God will bring me above the clouds, to see His work and His picture for me.