It’s funny the way hope works. And I don’t mean that in a sense of, get ready for a let-down story, but something that’s actually inquisitive in a humorous way. So we begin the story with original bliss, a feeling of being happy because you are where you are. Certain possibilities don’t even arise to mind because you didn’t realize they existed. But then comes the moment when someone speaks. And someone else’s idea becomes known. You don’t really think about it at first, or it even sounds a little silly. Yet, it returns to your mind again and again until you’ve taken the idea on as your own and you’ve developed a sense of hope. So much so that you find yourself saying “oh my word I’m such a dork.” I had no idea of how I would make friends in a new city when I would spend most of my time investing in three very wonderful children. Then I was told that their piano teacher is a college student my age and lives across the street. I was like “Oh, that’ll be interesting.” But as the week progressed I became more aware of how close the day of their piano lessons was coming, the day I might make a friend. I even picked out my nicest outfit to make the best impression, so as not to scare them off. Piano lessons came and went. I got a couple of words out of them but not much. And it’s funny how hope works. I should be really let down that I didn’t automatically make a friend, but instead I still have hope. Not necessarily hope for next week but for the chance to make a friend to have someone to hang out with. I think this is the same hope we should have for heaven. As we draw closer to God we should be so excited, and the idea of getting meet God face to face should be ever-presently tugging on our minds. And when life gets you down the hope doesn’t die, it just hopes for the simplest of things. To be with God. Just some food for thought or a good bed time story. Dearest wishes for you all.

-Carli