Life has it's way of ebbing and flowing... This past summer was a deep ebb... a back flow of purpose and vision and a time of flagging ambition and confusion. The tide was low. I struggled to find the resolve to push past my perceived lack of relevance. I questioned my function and found a deep boredom settling in. Looking ahead to the continued 'moving away' of my children, I feared a complete loss of vision and knew it would be necessary to redefine my ambitions or I could easily be left dry and shriveled on the shore. I'm so thankful to my dear husband and the friends who helped me find value in this forced retreat from what I've known for so long. I began to see it as an opportunity instead of a loss. And then, slowly, opportunity came. And gratefulness began to permeate my thoughts. And hope filled my bones. God met me in a lonely place and said "But look here..." and I beheld a vision full of purpose and intention and promise. And so ...