Hanging in there...?

So one of my dear old friends in Haines, Arlene, died last week. And yet, I know that she is in a better place and she is far happier now than she was while she was still on this earth. For the past two years, when someone would ask how she was doing she would either feign a "good" or reply more honestly with "I'm hanging in there."
I've been feeling a little bit like that this week. I'm not good, but I say that I am. Or if I respond honestly, I'm hanging in there. But there is so much more to life than just hanging in there. I feel like I'm not making the most of my life when I'm just hanging in there. If I'm supposed to consider it pure joy whenever I face trials (James 1), then I should be doing more than just hanging in there. If I'm not supposed to worry and just pray about things (Philippians 4), then I should be doing more than just hanging in there. If I'm supposed to fully understand the love of God (Ephesians 3), then I should definitely be more than just hanging in there.
Sometimes I may just be hanging in there. But I'm called to more than that. We all are.

Weekend Highlights

Spending five days with the family can be super fun and tiring all at the same time. But generally, some awesomeness will ensue... so let's focus on the positive, shall we?

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Calla has learned her "t" sound well enough to call me Kate rather than kak.

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Josh knocked over the tower that Owen had proudly been working on and wandered around the room saying "I knocked it" with a huge grin on his face.

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Laughing so hard I cried with my siblings playing a random word game... and no, Bonzo is not a clown.

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Best alarm clock ever -getting jumped on by a four year old

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Owen asked me if I was married. Because the only reason anyone would ever wear a ring is if they were married, right? I told him he'd probably know if I got married.

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Josh 'riding' his bike


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Scott's version of parkour -running around the playground equipment and then throwing his arms in the air after a successful landing

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Watching the huskies beat the cougars with five other former huskies and the future huskies (hopefully)... and a falcon (who is a husky fan out of necessity by marrying a Maxwell)...

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Actual conversations with my family since I'm not a great phone talker

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Remembering that I do actually have a significant number of things in my life to be thankful for

Seattle

I find myself laying in bed in my parents' house once again tonight. It's an odd feeling, this living in two places. I mean, I spend most of my time in Haines. My heart is in Haines. I feel like God is calling me to live in Haines right now. But for the next month and a half or so, I'm down south. I have to trust that God will use this time for His glory somehow. I feel like I've been clinging to Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."