delighted

over the long memorial day weekend, we had the opportunity to travel to the black hills area of south dakota to see my niece baptized. it was a full weekend as i wanted to try to experience as much as possible in the three days we had in such a beautiful area.

on our way there we had the scenic detour of the barren badlands, followed by the required photo shoot at wall drug. (everyone needs their picture taken with an oversized jackalope!) we stopped at storybook island for a picnic supper...i know that this would be one of the last times we would stop there with our children as they are growing up right before my eyes.

there was a baptism and time with family, close and extended. lunch and time at mount rushmore, experiencing a truly american sight. we drove through custer state park on the needles highway--my favorite drive in the area, and stopped at sylvan lake and walked around.

even on the drive headed home, we made sure there was time for the very scenic spearfish canyon and experienced its' three waterfalls. and then we were blessed with the most beautiful clouds the entire drive back to our hometown.

yes, it was beautiful...but there was a moment...while we were driving through the needles, that there was a true whisper from God. i get goosebumps thinking about it. my eyes tear up as i think of who God is and how tender He is to us.

we had been driving for a bit and i made a comment out loud to my family that it was rather different that we hadn't seen hardly any wildlife this trip. yes, we'd seen some deer...but not much more. and then i said, "i want God to just 'wow' us. i want to see some big horn sheep or something." and the drive went along...

and we came around a large curve and slowed down for the truck that was pulled over on the other side of the road. there was a large, majestic lone buffalo grazing right at the side of the curb. i smiled...God let us cross paths with some of the wildlife i was longing to see out in its' natural habitat. and then we drove...

then...oh, then...took another curve and... not only was there one big horn sheep, but seven, SEVEN! gathered right there. right there on the hill by the road! followed on the next curve by deer! and then colin, my youngest, said that we hadn't seen any chipmunks yet and he prayed that we would see chipmunks. and around another curve, we saw a chipmunk scurrying across the road.

as we finished the drive with the sun setting as we reached the hotel, i had to ponder on how tender and generous God is. as the psalmist declared, He longs to delight us.

whoa. i've read that and thought "oh, how nice." but this was real. it was a small thing that i was thinking/asking and God not only provided that encounter with His creation, He went far above and beyond what my expectations were. He not only gave, He gave more than i could imagine. how like God.

i know it's not about asking God for Him to just give us things or experiences. i know that it isn't about me and my wants or desires. it is really about who He is, about His heart, His character, His love. i am overwhelmed. He loves me so much that He would answer the smallest of desires of my heart just to remind me of His love for me.

my eyes water...my heart is full...and i feel loved. He delighted me.