Antsy

I can't sleep tonight. As I was just laying here thinking and praying into these wee hours of the morning, trying to calm down, my mind just kept racing, and even though I know that I need sleep and I wish that I could be snoring away like my sister next to me and my little brothers and sisters down the hall, it seems like the more I try to sleep, the more I keep thinking about these things, on top of the thousand other thoughts and prayers that I already have about the people of the world, this is what's going on at this particular moment.

• For one, it is my first night in Sanibel in a year, and I can't wait to wake up in the morning and go for a run in the beautiful weather WITHOUT ice and snow and WITHOUT wearing three layers and gloves and a hat! I know I need good rest for a good run, but this is obviously a little too exciting!
• Two, tomorrow we go to Miami for my dad's surprise 60th birthday present. and since it's a surprise, I can't say what it is until it happens! But that is the main reason for my lack of sleep- I'm so excited for it!!!
• Three, I left my camera's memory card reader back home in PA, so I am really bummed that I won't be able to download pictures from the Philadelphia Flower Show that I went to with some of my siblings and relatives the night before I came here and all the rest of the pictures that are to be taken here until I get home. Unless Abby comes to save the day and has brought hers. I just wish it was morning so I could ask her!
• Four, I really miss Ace. I've never been in this house without him, and it's just weird. Everything here oddly reminds me of him. Sabibel is great and all, but I don't like it as much without him and even though he's only a dog, I'm finding it very hard to sleep without him and am being reminded of all those freezing cold night in Guatemala when I just wished that I could magically turn one of my pillows into him.
• Five, I'm reading a really good book called Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. It's one of the best books I've ever read, and I'm not normally a fan of novels. But I'll tell you what, I think you should read it! I'm at a really good point in the book and I can't stop thinking about it what going to happen next!

Before I started writing this, while I was laying here trying to lay aside my thoughts till morning, a line from a song that my mom always used to play for us at night when we were kids came to my mind: "He will keep you in perfect peace, perfect peace, perfect peace. He will keep you in perfect peace, if you keep your mind on Him."

Just focus on Him, and He'll take care of the rest.

"You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!"

-Isaiah 26:3