Which way to the moon?

Ever been at a point in your life where you have no idea what's around the corner, as if everything is being tossed in the wind and you have no clue where it will end up? I suppose a lot of university students feel this way as they approach graduation.

My husband graduates this summer. By that time, we will almost be married 13 years. For the first 9 years of our marriage I think he avoided following his heart into the type of career he's always dreamed of.

Have you ever heard the phrase, "like a kid in a candy store"? It's when someone is absolutely giddy over something. That's how my husband gets when it comes to lunar and planetary studies. He's always said his dream is to fly to the moon, and he's serious. Even just the experience of being able to study the moon, the planets and stars his eyes light up! He has loved these things before he fell in love with me. But it has always been just a dream to him.

Just over four years ago we were at a crossroads. We had just sold our home to pay off all my husband's previous school debt from his associates degree, ITT tech, real estate schooling, pre-architecture classes, and our van. We moved into an apartment and sat there for a year not knowing where to go. We prayed for guidance every morning and night. We did a lot of fasting too. We had been everywhere trying to figure out his place.

All his education wasn't satisfying him, he knew he needed a bachelor degree. We knew he needed to go back to school. When the offer for him to attend BYU came up WE KNEW this was where the Lord was guiding us. It also meant he'd have to leave his job (that was paying very well) and find a new one in Provo. We'd have to sell most of our furniture, our washer and dryer to fit in a smaller and more affordable apartment. Our income would be cut down to an eighth of what he had been earning. His desire was to study Physics and Astronomy and he had never pursued it until that time because he didn't feel smart enough... and "how on earth would we pay for more schooling?" We went forward anyway, a little fearful of the unknown...yes, but we went with faith.

Now the end of August, we are facing another crossroad. He is graduating with his Bachelor of Science. He is applying for internships and may go on to pursue his master's degree in another state. He really wants to try an internship involving lunar and planetary exploration. So he's applying to the Johnson Space Center in Huston, TX. I'm so happy to see, after almost 13 yrs of marriage, he's finally pursuing his dreams.

"I don't know what the future holds, but I know Who holds the future."

Lesson from a Dandelion

I can’t stand dandelions!

They are very difficult to pull out with just my hands… usually I need a tool to dig down close and deep to remove the root…

and so I don’t root them out because of the “extra effort” it takes. For the most part, I don’t even notice the ugly weed until I see the familiar yellow flower. Often, I rush past never noticing they are there.

Occasionally, as I’m crossing my yard, a spot of yellow will catch my eye. Usually, I stop only long enough to pluck the little bloom. I figure, “at least I could stop this one before it closes, reopens and bears more seeds”… I’m often blind to the flowers that have already closed up because they hide so well in the blend of green.

Then there are times when the weed has progressed further and I see the fluffy white seeds still resting in a perfect sphere, not yet scattered and so I carefully enclose it with my hand and find a place to throw it away cautious not to let any seeds float away. Even as I am doing this, I feel silly for not just rooting out the dumb plant in the first place… ironically… how much work, grief and time it would have saved me if I had?


Now why should it surprise me when I “suddenly” see so many dreaded dandelions in my yard?