Today I Picked Blueberries

I love the fact that God will choose to show Himself to you when and how He pleases, and I adore when He catches me off guard. Today started out like most other days I've had since I have lived in Oregon. I made myself breakfast, careful to focus on the amount of protein recommended by my trainer at the gym. I decided (though without much thought) that I would attend the morning Zumba class for my daily exercise. Oh how I love how that class causes my sweat to pour like a fountain, how I am learning to move as if not the white girl I actually am, and how it gives me an organized way to appropriately "shake it" (those who have done Zumba will totally understand). After the class I phoned a woman from freecycle.org (you must check out this organization), and arranged to go pick up her cooler. For free.

She lives in a town called Aloha, which was about a 30 minute drive from our town. It was a windows-rolled-down-hair-blowin'-in-the-wind kind of a drive. Lovely. After receiving the cooler, the GPS on my phone took me back home a totally different way than I came; weird, I thought...and a bit annoying as it seemed to be SO out of the way, going over mountains and driving on mostly back roads. Oh well, Deb (the name my sis appropriately coined for the GPS lady's voice) usually knows best. I followed her lead.

Over the hills we went (Deb and I, that is), passing by farms, fields of wildflowers, vineyards, and straight up country living. Something close to my heart. I silently thanked Deb for leading me through a new part of the country. I came upon an adorable, run down, side of the road produce stand and had to stop. Much to my delight, it was also a U-Pick Blueberry farm. I decided to head out to the field, even though it would totally ruin all of the other plans I'd had for that afternoon. I can rarely pass up an opportunity to stop at produce stands, and to pick your own berries?! I was in heaven. In fact, I am now convinced there is going to be a field for people to pick fruits/veggies from in heaven. It's so therapeutic.

 I stood out in this field, surrounded by mature green trees and blue skies, and felt totally at peace. As a calm breeze blew through the small bushes, I felt God speak. He encouraged me that this simple peaceful experience was one of many He wanted to give me as part of the healing process from my past 2 years of work. (If you don't know that story, I will write about it another time; in a nutshell, I was demeaned and mistreated by my superior for 2 years, both through words and actions, to the point in which I am run raw). He took me down that country road. He allowed my heart to be quiet before Him so He could comfort me. He made the blueberries. And the sky. I am overly thankful for today. Below are some pictures of my day.

   May God, who puts all things together,
      makes all things whole,
   Who made a lasting mark through the sacrifice of Jesus,
      the sacrifice of blood that sealed the eternal covenant,
   Who led Jesus, our Great Shepherd,
      up and alive from the dead,
   Now put you together, provide you
      with everything you need to please him,
   Make us into what gives him most pleasure,
      by means of the sacrifice of Jesus, the Messiah.
   All glory to Jesus forever and always! 

~Hebrews 13:20-21 (MSG)