"What's new?"

I get a little funny when people ask me that question. I start to stutter and fumble, while trying not to freak out my dinner guests or an old friend I ran into at the mall. It may be the only time I truly don't know what to say. 

I'm in a place in my life where nothing really "new" is happening. I've been with my man for seven years, married for two. We don't have any kids, and won't for a good while. I've been in my career job for three years, and will probably be there at least three more. Though we plan to take vacations, we're not really the travel-the-world type of people. We have our condo, vehicles, furniture, technology, bells, and whistles. And this makes me feel that I have nothing to share in the "new" department.

Oh sure, we're busy as all get out. Between hosting our prophetic home group, dance practice, Passion Project worship practice, church, family dinners, and our date night that we guard with the walls of Jericho, we are always "on-the-go." (Which I think is a stupid expression. It makes people sound like toddlers learning to walk. Or a train.)

Then there is our incredibly active social life with our best friends (all 47 of them) that are really at the core of what we do on a regular basis. We kind of have a Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants/How I Met Your Mother/Friends/Brady Bunch thing going on. We are all incredibly close and connected and involved in each others lives. Now there are some new things going on. With one newly married friend, five engaged couples, three new relationships, and a few people moving around, our friends' lives are new and exciting like never before. Sometimes I live vicariously through them.

It's not that I feel sad about my own life, or even bored. Oh gosh, definitely not bored. And I do have new things going on. They're just not the type of thing you share with someone in the produce aisle.

"Well I've been working out and eating really healthy for a few months now, and I've lost some weight!"

"I have been attempting to redecorate the guest bedroom in our house, but I'm failing miserably because I hate taping off ceilings and I'm not as handy as I thought."

"My husband and I had a great date last night and finished it off with great flair!" (sorry to any prudes)

All of these things are true, and actually really exciting to me. Especially the fitness thing - I'm starting to feel like a champion. But it's not what people want to hear about. Those are the things you tell your close friends who see you on a regular basis. Other people just look at you like you're a loon and ask if you have baby fever yet. (It's a fever? Can I buy medication for it? Will I sweat a lot?) At the age I'm at, it's more socially acceptable to have stories about studying in India for a year or going on first dates than it is to talk about your recent addiction to almonds.

But I like my life, and feel really blessed by what I've been given and happy with the choices I've made. I don't feel that I've settled, missed out, or am largely lacking anything. Last night Justin and I drove the truck down a dirt road and just watched the stars while listening to country music and cuddling under a blanket. Tonight, some of our closest friends will come over and we'll share our hearts and talk about how cool Jesus is. On Sunday, I'll lead a worship event where the Presence of God consistently shows up and people's lives are impacted.

HOLY SMOKES I LOVE MY LIFE!

And having nothing "new" to share in the public's eye is just fine with me. My adventures, lovelies, and kick-ass Jesus are everything I need.

Yes, I said kick-ass Jesus.