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Saturday, December 10, 2011

Hello World... How you been?

Hello world
How've you been?
Good to see you, my old friend
Sometimes I feel cold as steel
Broken like I'm never gonna heal
I see a light, a little hope
In a little girl
Hello world

Every day I drive by
A little white church
It's got these little white crosses
Like angels in the yard
Maybe I should stop on in
Say a prayer
Maybe talk to God
Like he is there
Oh I know he is there
Yeah, I know he's there

Hello world
How've you been?
Good to see you, my old friend
Sometimes I feel as cold as steel
And broken like I'm never going to heal
I see a light
A little grace, a little faith unfurled
Hello world

Sometimes I forget what living's for
And I hear my life through my front door
And I'll be there...
Hello world
Hello world

All the empty disappears
I remember why I'm here
Just surrender and believe
I fall down on my knees
Oh hello world
Hello world
Hello world

(~ Lady Antebellum)

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

"It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas!!!!"

So first off this post is in participation of getting in the Christmas spirit with my darling Cathy over at misscathie.com! You should all head over and read her beautiful and interesting blog, because it's one of my favorites, and I think it should be one of YOURS too! *Nod* So THERE!

So! Without farther a due (is that used and spelled properly???!) - My Christmas list!!

(The first two things are the only things I have sent to my Mom - so don't get them for me! She might be mad! ;-) I'll inform everyone after Christmas if I have gotten them or not, in case you care! Wow... That just sounded selfish! HAHAHA!).

1 -
YES! You read that right - I want a book called "Sketchy Behavior"! (And yes, English teachers out there one and all, my exclamation mark is OUTSIDE my quotation marks! So there BAM! Horror of horrors!! *Gasp* Moving on...). But no worries everyone! It is a book written by a Christian, and the "Sketchy" part is just that she likes to draw stuff... Mind at rest? Good! *Hopes I get it* ;-)

2 -
I don't think any explanation is needed for this item - it just looks all around awesome, so yeah... *Grin*

~~~~ *PAUSE ON THE LIST*~~~~~~
End of Mom only list ;-)
~~~~~~~~~*RESUME LIST*~~~~~~~~~

3. Ballet flats - I am in desperate need of new ones!! My old ones look absolutely terrible (and still cute cause they have polka dots, and I don't care how awful the shoes look - with polka dots you can never not be cute! ;-)). (P.S. I'm shoe size 7 1/2 ;-) *Hint Hint* ;-)).

4. Books - I drool in bookstores! (Ew.). But there you have it!! :-P Especially sweet, sappy, fluffy romance novels or stories about cool kids! ;-)

5. Money - to buy more books! ;-) Amazon gift cards anyone?? Lol! ;-)

6. - Mooovies!! :oD TV shows!!!

7. A pair of NICE black pants - my other one's are too short and they pick up dust and hair like nobody's business! Lol!

8. Shirts from this amazing store!! www.wildolivetees.com


There are also a few things I love to do around Christmas time, and here are two of them! :-)

1. - Operation Christmas Child! :-) I look forward each year to putting together a special box for one of Jesus' many kids all over the world! :-) It makes me happy! (And a great time to spend with Grandma and Grampa putting boxes together!). I also LOVE to make dolls to include in the boxes, but I didn't have time this year! *Sadness* Hopefully next year! :-) Anyways - go check out their website and get involved some year! :-)

2. - Heifer or World Vision, or another organization that gives food to people who need it! Basically you pick out what kind of animal you want to buy, and it gives it to a family somewhere! Such a blessing to be involved in something like that!! :-)

So Merry Christmas season peeps! Crank up the Christmas music, go bless some people with special gifts, and don't forget the TRUE meaning behind Christmas, and Who came to earth to save us!! :oD (And don't forget to eat cookies and drink Peppermint Hot Chocolate - my favorite!!! ;-)).

Saturday, December 3, 2011

You Are Good - So Good!



You are Good
Point of Grace

When the sun starts to rise and I open my eyes
You are good, so good
In the heat of the day with each stone that I lay
You are good, so good

With every breath I take in
I'll tell You I'm grateful again
When the moon rises high before each kiss goodnight
You are good

When the road starts to turn around each bend I've learned
You are good, so good
And when somebody's hand holds me up, helps me stand
You are so good

With every breath I take in
I'll tell You I'm grateful again
'Cause it's more than enough just to know I am loved
And you are good

So how can I thank You
And what can I bring
What can a poor man lay at the feet of a king

So I'll sing you a love song
It's all that I have
To tell You I'm grateful
For holding my life in Your hands

When it's dark and it's cold and I can't feel my soul
You are still good
When the world has gone gray and the rain's here to stay
You are still good

With every breath I take in
I'll tell you I'm grateful again
And the storm may swell even then it is well
You are good

So how can I thank You
And what can I bring
What can a poor man lay at the feet of a king
So I'll sing you a love song
It's all that I have
To tell You I'm grateful
For holding my life in Your hands

"God is good - all the time!" - Lately my life has felt nuts and all over the place. There is a lot of stressful stuff happening over here, and sometimes it's hard to remember that God truly is Good all the time! But He is - He's always holding His kids in His hands!

Abba Father! I need You so badly!

This song just really spoke to me - and I hope it blesses you as well! :-)

Friday, November 4, 2011

And I love to dance with you under the big blue *African* sky ;-)



Sooo have you ever had those days, or weeks for that matter, where you feel EVERYTHING is wrong???

No???????? GET OFF MY BLOG!!!! ;-)
Kidding! Kidding! Sheesh peeps! Settle down!

Sooo for me - this was the week! We were out of power, which wouldn't have been a BIG deal except we were also out of water - no bathroom. O_o Have you ever tried to live with no bathroom? It's fun - trust me! *Nod* ;-) And then to top that off they cancelled school for the whole week! WAIT! NO! STOP! I have to stay home alllll week??? With the whole state out of power there is not much else you can do - you can't even sew because no one will buy me one of those cool old fashioned sewing machines! *Pout*
And THEN yesterday I talked to one of my bestest friends/adopted sista - HannahBeth (the good thing about adoption is that you can never be disowned - think about THAT in terms of God adopting us - wow! That'll just floor you!), about our trip to Africa, and the kids, and the Mama's and our painful longing to be back. And THEN I decided to make up the long overdue slideshow (which you can view down there *Points down to the last post*). So all afternoon I was going through pictures of the kids and watching the slideshow over and over to make sure it was turning out ok (the ending still doesn't work, but oh well! :-P). By night time everything in my life just seemed WRONG - and suppressed feelings started coming out. My dear friend Olivia began talking to me about one thing, and it opened up the door for other deeper things that have been going on in my heart.

May I just pause here to say she's amazing?? I can???? Great - She's amazing!!

Anywho - she encouraged me to begin spending more time just sitting in the Lord's presents - learning from Him. I will admit, I have been struggling a lot in this area, and I know that satan has been attacking me in different areas of my life because I have been lax in this.

Encouragement - do we encourage each other as much as we could or should? Have you ever thought that even that person who seems so confident and light-hearted on the outside might be the very person who is actually aching and hurting inside and needs a kind word, a hug, or a wake up shake?

Olivia, thanks for my wake up shake! Thanks for helping me back up onto the right path - the straight and narrow path. (Ever think about THAT? God's path is not all twisted and confusing - as life often seems these days - but STRAIGHT - you can see the light of heaven up ahead. And NARROW - it's not so big you start wondering where you actually are - it is narrow that you can clearly see the whole path. And it is light - because in God there is no darkness whatsoever! :-)).

Oh, and I am hooked on the song which I posted above ^ Such a happy song! :-)

Have a beautiful day my loves - life is good, even when it doesn't feel that way because God's Love makes it good.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

My Africa Loves!



For those who have been asking, but haven't gotten to see a slideshow yet. :-) Enjoy!

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Who Painted the Moon Black???



If you have never heard Hayley Westenra, fix that right now. ;-) One of my favorites by her ^

Anyways, I know I have just been posting a lot of videos lately, and not many real posts, but what can I say? I love the songs and want to share, and my life is really boring these days - just school, babysitting, cleaning, and trying to plan my sista's wedding shower. Ah life. Can't wait for December 16th... 2013 - HOPEFULLY I will be graduated!!! If not then I look forward to May 2013, but I sure am hoping to be done WAY before then! *Nod*

How am I doing? No clue - know I'm ready to be done with school though. :-P Want to be on a plane bound for somewhere sooo badly! I have nooo idea where God is going to lead me after graduation, but I'm excited for wherever that is. And yes I DO know this is pretty much all I talk about these days, but what can I say? It's pretty much all I think about too. Lol. :-P But God gives grace for each and every day, and I know He's got a plan in mind for having me at school right now, so I'm trusting Him! :-)

Went up to visit my bestie Sam this past weekend - dang we had a good time! Love that girl like craziness! And miss her again! Can't wait for the next time!! :-) It was a much needed rest for both of us! And I love seeing her younger siblings too - so much fun! :-)

Hmm... It seems like I had something I was planning on writing a blog post about, but apparently it has flown from my brain like so many other thoughts. (I currently have a note to myself written on my hand to email my prof. because I totally kept forgetting. Lol. ).

Goodnight world.

Monday, October 17, 2011

Cuz you're the deer in the headlights!



Owl City songs just make me happy! :-) Weird video, but fun song!!!

Friday, October 7, 2011

You take each and everyday and make it special in some way!



Cause this song just makes me happy! <3 :oD

Thursday, October 6, 2011

ONE HUNDRED!!!! That's a 100!!!! :oD




Yes folks, we have finally made it to 100 posts on this blog!! :oD Quite excited!!!
So, I kept going over and over again in my brain what I wanted to write for my 100th post. Yes, I know, it's just a silly blog, but #100 is an important number!!!
After going back and forth about what I wanted to write, I have decided to write what has been on my heart all day. God's Ugandan children.

Yes, I call the little ones I left behind "my children", and I love them deeper than I ever could have imagined. Mothers, you may give an inpatient laugh, and say I really have NO idea what I am talking about, but I have had a taste of what you feel. But I only got two months. I can't even imagine the amazing and deep love that happens when you get to raise a child for years and years of their lives. What a great honor and privilege God has given us to get to help raise His kids. Although I may have "clicked" with certain kids more than others, each of those kids I got to spend the summer with has a piece of the heart of this future mother. I may never have my own kids, but I know deep deep down in my heart that God is going to allow me to care for many of His children. I don't know how, when, or where, but I know it is going to happen. I have a deep peace about it. My arms won't be empty forever.
Anyways, today I read about a former Amani child who passed away a few days ago. Now I never met this little one, I heard about him for the first time today, but it still gave me mixed feelings. I am happy he is in the Arms of Jesus resting in glory, but my heart breaks for those who knew and loved him. It also shook me a little, and I started thinking about each of those little faces of the children I love like no other who I had to leave behind in Africa. We have to trust God so much with the ones we love, because we can do nothing. For you mothers out there, I'm sure you worry about your kids when they are out of your sight (and sometimes when they are in your sight too! ;-)), I know my Mom worries about me so much. I think and worry about "my" kids back in Uganda. I want the best for them, I want them to be loved, cared for, and to know Jesus. And it struck me today - I am so powerless. I cannot do much for them right now but love them from afar and pray for them. It reminded me how we cannot give into fear for the children God has entrusted us with. Because there are so many fears and worries for them. That is why we have to trust Him, and Him alone, He is their (and our) Father. He is the only one who truly knows what's best for each of them, has them in the palm of His Hand ALWAYS, and can care for them and provide for them. He is the only one who's love means more than anything else ever. He watches out for them all the time. It was a reminder I needed.

Perhaps for this post I didn't do a list of 100 things I like or dislike, or 100 reasons to buy a toaster, but for this 100th post, I am writing about the things that are 100% in my heart. Jesus and whatever kids He entrusts to me to care for have my heart 100%. Right now. And I don't know many of their names, or what they look like, or if they are even born yet or not, but I do know that when I look into their eyes - each and everyone of them - I will see Jesus. I will see my Savior. I will see my heavenly Father. I will see His love.

I challenge you - entrust your loved ones to their Father's care, because who by worrying has added one hair to their head? (Actually by worrying you will probably LOSE some hairs on your head ;-)). I entrust the little ones I love SO much to our Father's care, and I can't wait to meet them again whether on this earth, or when we pass onto glory someday.

Nkwagala nyo sweet little ones!!! You are in your Father's Hands tonight! <3

99...100???

One more post before I get to 100!!! Woop woop!!! :oD

Random things -

Random thing #1 - Sunday marked the day of being home for exactly two months. two months since I have seen any of my beloved members of my Ugandan family. two months since I have truly been about to hold little ones that completely have my heart. Two months since I have received baby kisses. Two months since I have been called "daughter" by a whole bunch of mama's who I hated to leave. Two months since I have lived with other amazing girls who share my passion and who love those kids as much as I do! Two months since I have rode a Boda. Two months since I've had a peanut butter milkshake with Emily. Two months since I have gotten to help the most amazing preschool teacher ever/my twin bro Katie in preschool. Two months since I have gotten to since kid praise songs as loud as I can!!!
Ahh! Miss it all soooo much!!! Praying praying PRAYING for the spring of 2013 to come quickly and that it would be God's will to send me back there for a couple months before heading elsewhere in the world.
Ah! I long so much to be overseas again!!!

Random thing #2 - Most of you probably know, but my older sister/roommate/bestest friend Joy just got engaged this past weekend!!! Woot!!! :oD I'm gonna be a Maid of Honor. It is sooo weird to think of an event that her and I have talked about for years and years is going to happen in just a couple months!!!!! (No more late night chats about what we want our guy to be like I guess! Or who we have crushes on! ;-) Gets boring when you already know who the crush is! ;-) LOL!!!! :-P). Sooo excited for them!!! :-) Starting to plan the shower now!!! :o)

Random thing #3 - I want it to be December already. :-P Wading my way through classes, and except for one oversight that made me miss a deadline (*sad*) everything is going fine. :-) Not looking forward to two more semesters of this though and maybe summer classes! Uuugg!!! But I can do it! *Determined not* Happy now that I'm behind in my Deaf studies classes cause Ashley and I are in the same class this semester, and will be next semester too. She's a blast. Which, BTW leads me to random thing # 4 -

Random thing #4 - There is a marshmallow stuck to my car. Ashley's fault... Don't even ask! :-P

Random thing #5 - Just realized I have to leave in like 5 minutes for babysitting for the afternoon. O_o Guess that means this post is over! Haha!!!!

More later!!! :o)

Monday, October 3, 2011

Cause I like this song! :-)




Two more posts till I have 100 posts on this blog!!! Woop!!! :oD

Saturday, October 1, 2011

If Ever I Loved Thee, My Jesus, Tis Now

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Old Friends...

Before you think you know a friend - even one you have known for years - just remember you don't truly.
Before you think you don't have time for a friend - just remember if you don't make any time, the friend who you thought would always be there, might not be.
Before you make a new friend, remember not to lose the old one in the excitement.
Before you get to busy... Don't.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Sitting at the Feet of Jesus

A few weeks ago I heard a really great sermon about how important it is to take a Sabbath rest, to take that time and just be with our great and awesome God, and spend time doing things like being with family and resting and getting ready for the next week. He gave the good reminder that the Sabbath was "made for man, not man for the sabbath", and how wonderful it is to be able to spend that with our Savior. :-) He gave an illustration that I want to share - (probably going to mess it up a bit... But bear with me - I'm doing it from memory! ;-) Also, I have no idea who to credit this story with, so...).

Once there was a young strong lumberjack who went to a lumberjack camp and asked what other lumberjack did the most work in the camp, and the other guys pointed to a little old man sitting a short distance awhile. The young lumberjack walked over and challenged the old man to a contest - the next day they would both go out and cut trees, and whoever had cut the most trees at the end of the day would be the best in the camp. The old lumberjack agreed, and the next day, bright and early, the two men set out and set to work. The young lumberjack set to work working hard and fast, sometimes he would get tired, and would look over and see the old man sitting down for 15 minutes every hour or so, and the young man would laugh and decide not to take a break, even when things got hard. That night when the two of them got back to camp, the young lumberjack found out that the older man had chopped far and beyond the number of trees he himself had been able too. Stunned he asked the old man what his secret was, since he had seen him sitting down to rest so often over the course of the day. The old man grinned and answered, "Each time I sat down to rest, I was sharpening my ax. And a sharpened ax can chop much faster than one that isn't."

This applies to our lives too - if we take that time to sit down and "sharpen" our "axes", AKA recharge in Christ's strength and love, then when we get back to our work we will be prepared and strengthened to be able to take on everything life throws our way.

So, take the time - even if it's just a short time each day, to sit and let the Lord prepare you for life. Take that time each week to have a Sabbath where you take a break, and sit at Jesus' feet and learn from Him.

Saturday, September 3, 2011

Cotton Candy, Fairs, and Good Friends


Today I went to the country fair with my good friend Janna. :-) Janna is always up to my crazy and occasionally scary ideas (like sneaking off the Friendly's at like 8:30pm. :-P). So yes, we headed to the fair. :-) I love fairs! They are so fall-ish! :-) My favorite season!!

Cotton Candy is such a fair food - how do they make it??? And did you know that if you have it for a couple hours it starts to crystallize and gets crunchy?? Well it does! Ask me how I know this! ;-)

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Encouragement


Encouragement - it's a big long word for a good reason! But can be done in so many even SMALL ways. I think it's something that the giver doesn't think overly that much about, but it means sooo much to the receiver. One little word, a smile, a "you can do it! I know it!" can change so much about how a person views the challenge they are going through, life, others, and themselves. So many times when I am going through sometime challenging and I feel discouraged, either I'll be talking to a good friend and they give me encouragement, or the little things someone has said in the past pops into my mind, and I feel... well... encouraged! :-)

So, make it a goal to go out of your life to be an encouragement to others - you can make a HUGE difference in people's lives! Believe me - I know! I have some really encouraging friends!!

Monday, August 29, 2011

First day of school - woop



Well, my 5 class semester started today. Biggest semester yet. If I can do this, I can do anything. ;-) Already procrastinating on Eng (Literature) hw. Literature is so lame. :-P I like my Sociology teacher - he seems pretty on the ball - so besides dreading the work, it looks like it'll be an interesting class. My Math teacher seems nice too, and I already know my ASL teacher, so just one more "first class" to go tomorrow morning. And technically I've already met the teacher for that class, so we'll see...

I wish one thing - (Actually I wish more then one thing, but we'll just stick with one for now! ;-)) - that I could have a classic typewriter like the lovely lady in picture above to write my papers out on. :-P




Wednesday, August 17, 2011

My God is so BIG!


"My God is so BIG so strong and so mighty - there is NOTHING my God cannot do - FOR YOU!" ~ Children's song

This evening I have been re-reading a book which inspired me years ago and which God used to set the ball rolling to change the whole course of my life. If you ever get a chance to read the story of Lillian Trasher, who was a missionary to Egypt who ran an orphanage there, you should! Her story is amazing, and wow, it inspires me all over again. :-) Why have I waited all these years to read it again??? :-)
One thing that keeps striking me about her story is her complete and utter trust of God to provide for her, protect her, and lead her in every aspect of life. She lived totally by faith in every aspect of her life. And God always came through and provided for her. She had no fear of traveling around the dangerous Egyptian countryside, because her answer to other people's fears? "God is my protector." And He did, to the end of her life.

As I have been reading it tonight, my heart races and I think, "Well, if I ever do that, I'm not sure if I would raise support, or try to live by faith. I mean, what if someone didn't hand me money or food suddenly at the last minute???"
WHOA! AMY! Rewind and FREEZE! For one thing - there is no TRYING to live by faith - if God calls you to do that, you don't TRY you just DO. Secondly - if for some reason the thing wasn't provided at the last minute, doesn't living by faith mean having FAITH that God knows just what He is doing??? And then suddenly He brings to mind the many many MANY ways He has provided for me suddenly, at the last minute, in ways which I could never even imagine - and I have never been at the point of starving or anything at those points. No, our God is so BIG and so STRONG and so MIGHTY there is NOTHING our God canNOT do for you! How I pray I can grow to have the same strong, deep, trust and faith in my Savior and GOD as Lillian Trasher - my inspiration - did so many years ago. How I pray I will be able to someday walk through "the valley of the shadow of death" and "fear no evil" because I KNOW HE is with me! How I pray I will be able to sit down at the empty dinner table, and pray over the food that isn't there because I KNOW HE is going to take care of me, and whoever else He has put in my care like George Muller did. How I pray I will be able to make quick smart decisions because I KNOW HE is the One who is guiding me through everything - just like Gladys Alward did when she had to lead so many children over the mountains to safety. How I pray I will be able to love that sick and dying person even if it puts me at risk, because I KNOW HE is the One who has life and death in His Hand.

God - if living by faith is what You have for me - give me the faith and the trust needed.

P.S. The song "My God is so big" reminds me of all the amazing times of singing with the children in Africa - I loved it when they added on "For YOU!" at the end of each line and would point to me - and I'd point right back, cause I KNOW it's true! :-)

Friday, August 12, 2011

Home again

Well, I have currently been home from my dear Africa for a little over a week now. As excited as I was to see everyone (and still loving seeing them all) I find I miss my beloved babies, Mama's, and friends made in Africa more and more each day. Seems like the pain should get better as the days go by, not worse. But I know I am in God's plan. And I am so blessed - each day I see His great blessing on my life, and as I think back over my trip I see it over and over again. I am so blessed to have gotten to even have a small part in these amazing people's lives!!! :-)

Since I must be home (;-)), I am enjoying having a bit of summer before school starts in full blast on the 29th. I'll have a full work load this coming semester, so trying to hang out with people, and do relaxing things before I disappear for several months! ;-) Don't give up on me peeps! I love you all so much and I need your prayers so much. Last semester was tough, and I need prayers to stay faithful in my times worshiping my amazing Savior. If you see me getting off track, slap me up - I'll need it! ;-)

Lately I've been exercising at my Uncle's exercise bootcamp - really good but challenging! :-P Want to make sure I get a good base to exercising before school starts so hopefully I'll keep it up over the semester!

I'd also love prayers about job stuff - I'd love more housecleaning jobs or something else. I'll have a couple babysitting jobs already, which will be nice. :-)

Ooh! New news - I now have a car! God was so good to me and worked it all out! I am still amazed about it all! :0) Wow, I serve and amazing and awesome God!!!

Well, more soon I'm sure! :-)

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Africa

Africa. Is. Amazing!

If you are not getting my updates and want too, please comment! If you ARE getting my updates and DON'T want too, please comment or email me!! <3

I love my new Uganda bag! <3 <3

Friday, May 27, 2011

How Deep the Father's Love for Us

The Father's love is sooo deep and wide and vast and free! I can't understand why He would love us so much!! It's mind boggling!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nKDF__ltmE&feature=related - Go listen to this song, cause it's amazing! :OD

Anywho... Still packing and getting ready to go... Doing lots of cleaning in prep too! Cleaned out Aunt Carol's car (which I use and messed up) today! Sooo happy that's done! It's been hanging over my head all last semester. :-P
Been checking off my list of people to see before I leave! Been a blessed time! Got to have some lovely lunches with Janza, a fun visit up to see Sam, and a fun and blessed time with the P. ladies going on a hike, and then they prayed for me for my trip! Def. needed!! <3 And then had a movie night with my Grandparents - Freezer pizza and Murder Mysteries - WOOT! One of my favorite things to do!!! :OD :OD

It's really late... er... early... And I am super tired, but don't want to go to bed! Perhaps there is a bit of depression present... Not being very friendly at the moment :-/ Thanking the Lord for good friends who still love me even when I'm snappy, or just really weirdly silent about stuff...

Been having lots of fun on HSA ( http://www.homeschoolalumni.org/index.php ). Tons of very fun and entertaining chats that happen over there - especially on skype group chat and tinychat... :-P Cracks me up so much! Lots of great people over there, and I'm really glad I joined! :-) (I sooo want to go to the reunion next year! Sam, girl trip??? ;-)). It's fun getting reconnected to the homeschooling world with people who are also done with school and are either in college or doing something else! I was feeling really floundering with the big changes in my life regarding school related stuff, and it's so fun to go "hang" with people who were homeschooled too. :-P I'll miss it over the summer!! :-) Hopefully I'll still be able to do a bit of blogging over there and stuff though... :-)

I'm frustrated cause something is wrong with my phone or something and my friend hasn't gotten any of my texts all evening...

I want to finish the last Mysterious Benedict Society book before Africa... Better get going on that...

I'll miss my family while in Africa - although I'd better not let on to much! Wouldn't want them to get big heads with how much I'll miss them! ;-) My families great - I love them. :-)

I'll miss my church family too! And I'll miss getting to see the W. family for the last two months they are here! Already trying to plan a trip to go visit them and they haven't even moved yet! :OD Hehe!!

I CAN'T WAIT FOR AFRICA!!!!!!!! (And I'm super excited cause Bee (HannahBeth) and I are long overdue on our weekly catch up talks so not to long till we will be spending TWO MONTHS together serving the Lord! Eep!!).

Oh, and can I just mention how God's ways are not our ways, and His timing is WAY not our timing???? God sent me money for my trip and for school!!! In the last two weeks of my time home and He sent me such a blessing! Wow!!! O_O I am in awe God!!! And then I got a text from Bee saying how He sent her money this past week as well - like within a couple days of sending me mine! Wow God! You are amazing! Taste and see that the Lord is GOOD!!!!

Psalm 34 -

1 I will bless the LORD at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul shall make its boast in the LORD;
The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
And let us exalt His name together.

4 I sought the LORD, and He heard me,
And delivered me from all my fears.
5 They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces were not ashamed.
6 This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him,
And saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel[a] of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him,
And delivers them.

8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
9 Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints!
There is no want to those who fear Him.
10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger;
But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.

11 Come, you children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12 Who is the man who desires life,
And loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil,
And your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Depart from evil and do good;
Seek peace and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their cry.
16 The face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears,
And delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart,
And saves such as have a contrite spirit.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the LORD delivers him out of them all.
20 He guards all his bones;
Not one of them is broken.
21 Evil shall slay the wicked,
And those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.
22 The LORD redeems the soul of His servants,
And none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Since she says it better than I ever could...

Ok, so since there is NO way I would be able to sum up what I am feeling right now, I have stolen something my dear friend Olivia wrote shortly before her trip to Africa (she's home now!! WELCOME HOME LIVY!!!). And it says what I am feeling so well! <3

"People ask me if I am excited, and I say "yes!!". Then they ask if I am scared and I say, "I think if I wasn't scared something wouldn't be right." Of course I am scared. But what is even scarier is that I bet I am going to see God working through me while I am a scared little American graduate weakling in the middle of a foreign country with people who know what they are doing...and I don't. I just need to learn to be accepting of my ignorance and weaknesses. And I need to learn how to trust that my Lord will use me despite my imperfections." ~ Olivia from http://oliviathinksandwrites.blogspot.com/

Friday, May 20, 2011

Prepare!

So I had an amazing trip with Joy this past week! It was great to spend some time with her and her bf, and also get to touch down and see my Africa buddy Bee and get to help out at the mission she works at!!! Amazing stuff happening up there!! :-) And I was so blessed and encouraged by all the godly women I met!!! For more on that please visit http://sistertosister.wordpress.com/ (And feel free to comment on any of the posts - comments always encourage me to want to keep posting, and I'm sure it does the other girls as well! :-)).

Now less than two weeks to go before I am stepping onto that plane bound for Africa! O_O EEK!! Sooooo close! My remanding time here in the States will be taken up with packing, visiting with friends, packing, video chatting, packing, sleeping, reading, packing, last minute shopping, packing, freaking out, hugs goodbye, laundry, prayers, prayers, prayers, prayers, more hugs, a trip to Concord with a bestie, packing, sleeping... Oh, you get the picture and want me to shut up now?? Aww *Pout* How rude... ;-)

Want to hear a list of what I bet Bee/HannahBeth will be doing these next couple weeks too???? Packing, sleeping, packing, visiting with family, packing... WHOA! Are you telling me to shut up again????? Shucks! ;-)

I hope I don't forget to pack something... I need to sit down and make a list! :-P

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

A Woman After God's Own Heart

I want to be a women after God's Own Heart! And honestly, I have no idea how to be that. I want to grow more and more in holiness, but I am floundering around... I know God has a hold of my hand, and is holding me up, but He seems hard to feel sometimes... God, make me a women after Your Own Heart. Guide me in this life!

Friday, May 6, 2011

Sooo close!


Lord willing, in less than a month my life will change forever. In less than a month I will be stepping off a plane after a huge long trip and I will be standing on African ground. In less than a month I will be in an unfamiliar place doing unfamiliar things. It less than a month I will be totally out of my comfort zone in almost a whole different world. In less than a month I will be climbing into a car to take me and my dear friend to the airport, and then stepping onto a plane embarked for a different country. I know I will step onto that plane with a feeling of dread of the plane ride, and a feeling of excitement and lots of nervous jitters for what lays ahead of me. And then in less than three months I will be back in America. I know God is going to use this trip in ways that I can't even imagine! I can't wait to see how He is going to work in my life and my friends life!
Africa! Here we come! :-)

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Light at the end of the tunnel! I SEE IT!! I SEE IT!!



Yes peeps, this DOES mean what you think it means! I AM ALMOST THERE!!! I will be DONE with this semester this coming Tuesday or Wed.!!! EEEP!!! *Bounces up and down* SOOOOO close people! :OD
Annnd... I am sick! :-P Just like clock-work - finals? Oooh time to get sick! ;-) Anyways... Bad chest, throat, nose, and head cold! Poor me... ;-) :-P JK!
ANND - Africa in LESS THAN A MONTH!!! PEOPLE! I'S GOING TO AFRICA!!!!! ACK! Ok, my emotions about this??? Excited, scared, excited, nervous, excited, terrified, excited, excited, excited, EXCITED, TERRIFIED, EXCITED! :-P Yup, that pretty much sums it all up! Lol! But even though I am TERRIFIED, I also know WHO is the One who is bringing me to Africa! He is the one who is going to protect me and help me through everything that is going to happen! He brought me this far! WOW God! You are amazing!!!

Prayer requests? Traveling mercies, packing mercies ;-), financial mercies, family mercies, health mercies, wisdom mercies, mercies mercies MERCY!!! Mercy me, lots of mercies! ;-) Anyways... Yes - mercy! :-)

Oh, and can I say what an awesome church I have???? The place in Africa where I am going contacted me about some needs they have there, and my wonderful church gave some money towards that! What a blessing it is to give! I'm excited that people near and dear to me gave money, and I get the honor of bringing the goods to the people who need it! :-) It truly is better to give than to receive! :-)

I AM GOING TO AFRICA!!! AHHH!!!!

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Allllmost! :-) And other random facts

Only 15 more days before school is out! EEP!! :OD Can NOT wait!!!
Enjoyed meeting the sister's dude this past week end!
Been watching The Waltons a lot - LOOve it! I love the family, and all the kids! :-)
Registered for classes next semester... woot woot? :-P Excited though cause Janna and I will have a class together - YAY! :OD
Have soooo much work to do! ACK!
Looking forward to the homeschool convention this weekend! But I can't really afford the time! SOOO much to do! ACK! :-P

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Wait, My Child, Wait.

"Wait on the LORD;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the LORD!" ~ Psalm 27:14

Who Am I?

I stare into my tea cup, the question once again racing through my mind, "Lord, who am I?" and most importantly "Who do YOU want me to be?"
Honestly, at this moment, I have no idea. I don't know where I am going, and I don't know what steps to take to get there.

Honestly I miss being a homeschooler sometimes. Yeah, it wasn't always my favorite thing, but I sure love all the people in that world. I miss them. I miss the sweet fellowship we would have. I miss wearing skirts everyday. I miss being part of the group that declared that no way in a million years would I ever go to college and spoke against it.

But. I changed. Why? I can answer you right now - I was going crazy. I love the life - but I don't live on a farm, I don't have loads of little siblings to help out with, I had NOTHING TO DO. And I am a DO it person, and it was slowly eating me away. I had a lot of depression, and hated my life. And so, it was either sit at home doing nothing but cleaning and staring at the computer (yes, I could have done crafts and things, but depression is a weird thing), or go to college. I went to college. Sometimes I hate my choice. Sometimes I bash myself and say, "Why did I choose this?" But I felt God was calling me there to learn sign language, and each new class I took I loved it more. And I still love that part of it, although I do hate college. But I don't know where else I am supposed to be... I honestly don't know if God wants me to finish out my degree, or go onto something else, or WHAT! Right now the only leading I have is to go back for at least one more year, and finish the Deaf studies classes at least, and then just see about the rest.

But now, I fit in nowhere - I don't fit into college (and I sure never want too!), and I don't quite fit into the homeschool world who is against college. That is where my heart is - plop in the center - but I don't know where I stand.
So at the moment I just enjoy each little taste of it I get - some dear church friends came over today (soo refreshing to visit with them!!!), and at the end of the month have a homeschool convention (staying with the S.'s and the E.'s at the hotel! EEP! :OD I can NOT wait!!!).
Being with dear Christian friends, getting Mary P.'s weekly letters, etc feeds my dry soul.

Lately I feel like I am wondering through a desert. I know Jesus has a hold of my hand, leading me, and sometimes He is just simply carrying me, but to be with like minded Christians who are just so encouraging is sooo nice!!

I am going for my Yellow Fever shot next week for Africa (ACK! Prayers please for this needle phobic girl!!). I can't wait to be on that plane - I know I am going to grow in so many ways this summer, and I am looking forward to drawing closer to God as well!

God, You are good! You are amazing! You will get me through this life and lead me! Show me Your ways!

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

In which I am old ;-)

20!!!! Anyone getting me a walker or cane for my birthday??? (A cane would be fun cause I could hit people with it! *Nods* Just sayin... ;-)).

I SURVIVED MY TEEN YEARS!! WOOOOOOOTT!!!!!!! :OD

Monday, March 28, 2011

Post #75!!! :OD

Had a good talk with my Mom this morning about next semester, and I feel like I have a better idea of what I want to do. Not necessarily WHAT I will be doing, but rather different ideas which helped clear my mind up. :-)

Anyways... lots of acts, and people did j Saturday night our church had it's 3rd Annual Family Fun Night!!! Man, I think we put on a better show every year!!! :OD Despite my worries that we didn't have enough time to prepare, we hadust an AMAZING job! Whoa I go to a talented church!! :OD Yup, tons and tons of fun!! :-)

Had a good talk with HannahBeth last night - stuff is really falling into place with Africa stuff, and I am SOOOO looking forward to spending two whole months with her!!! :OD She's amazing! :-) Can it be May 13th right now so school will be done and it'll only be a couple weeks till I see her??? PLEASE!! :OD Hehe!!!

Can I just say once again HOW MUCH I am looking forward to going to Africa this summer?? I am so excited to see how the Lord works in our lives through this, and I know my life will never be the same when I get back! :-) He is ever faithful! I know there will be hard times, but I also know that He will help us through EVERYTHING, and He will never leave us nor forsake us! :-) Our God is an awesome God! :-)

Have great day everyone!!! :-)

Friday, March 25, 2011

Crazy? You bet!!

We are getting closer and closer to going to Africa - our plane tickets are bought, and more and more things are falling into place. Each time I think about it, I am blown away once again - I AM GOING TO AFRICA!!! We have a SET day to leave! A plane GOING TO AFRICA has our names as passengers. Is God amazing or what???

Yes, I am terrified - "Am I crazy?" I question myself, and the answer is - I SURE AM!!! I am CRAZY for God! I am CRAZY for His calling on my life! I am CRAZY excited to set off that plane in AFRICA! I am CRAZY excited to met the little ones at ABC!!!! I am CRAZY scared about all that is going to happen - good and bad! I am CRAZY happy Bee will be going with me!! I am CRAZY in love with my God!!!! I am going to follow Him even if other people point at me and call be CRAZY! All I will tell them is - You bet! :OD :OD You bet I'm crazy! And I'm going to strive to live CRAZY for the rest of my life! Live CRAZY for God!!! :-)

I told my Deaf teacher yesterday about how I was going to Africa, and he got so super excited, I had to smile! He's from Africa himself originally, as is his wife! CRAZY cool! :OD

Ok Lord, what's the next CRAZY thing you want me to do?? :OD I'm ready!

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Blessed

Blessed. I am truly truly blessed!
Amidst the pain, depression, stress, hurt, messy house, and hard work; I am blessed.
Even when I feel like I can't face another day; I am blessed.
When I feel like God isn't there - I only need to look around me to see He is - because I am blessed.
I receive a encouraging word from a dear friend and I realize - I am blessed.
I receive amazing and generous gifts from people I went to bless and I see - I am blessed.
I have shoes on my feet, food to eat, and a roof over my head, and no matter how messy the floor is - I am blessed.
I see my kitty-cat snuggled at the bottom of my bed and I remember - I am blessed.
Someone gives me a hug and I feel - I am blessed.
God provides - I am blessed - so blessed!
Lord, help me to live each day with the joy and knowledge that I AM BLESSED!!

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Make Me a Captive, Lord

Make Me A Captive Lord
By George Matheson

Make me a captive, Lord, and then I shall be free.
Force me to render up my sword, and I shall conqueror be.
I sink in life’s alarms when by myself I stand;
Imprison me within Thine arms, and strong shall be my hand.

My heart is weak and poor until it master find;
It has no spring of action sure, it varies with the wind.
It cannot freely move till Thou has wrought its chain;
Enslave it with Thy matchless love, and deathless it shall reign.

My power is faint and low till I have learned to serve;
It lacks the needed fire to glow, it lacks the breeze to nerve.
It cannot drive the world until itself be driven;
Its flag can only be unfurled when Thou shalt breathe from heaven.

My will is not my own till Thou hast made it Thine;
If it would reach a monarch’s throne, it must its crown resign.
It only stands unbent amid the clashing strife,
When on Thy bosom it has leant, and found in Thee its life.

Friday, March 18, 2011

In Which I am Stalked by a Cat


BREAKTHROUGH! Diego the cat suddenly started stalking me today, after ignoring or running from me for the past 7 days! :-P And THEN he let me pet him and pick him up for a minute!!! O_O O_O He must be DESPERATE! Couldn't even wait for my cousin Max to come home from school! Guess it's serious! ;-) (And no, the pic is not of him, but he IS a fluffy black cat - his nose is more puggy though! ;-)).

Anyways - I'm kinda loving NJ! :-) Plus we've been having GORGEOUS weather! :OD In the upper 60's today! I have some windows open, and the door open! (With the screen door closed of course! ;-)). And I've been going for walks - Ahh!! BEAUTIFUL!!!! :OD
What are some things I love about NJ? -
Their Christian radio station - LOVING it! :OD
No school - ;-) (Oh wait, I guess this could apply to anywhere other than CT ;-))
The little Country Cafe Coffee Shop - sooo cute! (Livs - you would LOVE it! I wish I could take you!!).

Sooo yeah, I'm SO not ready to go back to home and school!!! I like being on my own a bit more, and I am pretty depressed about school! (I want to drop out like yesterday... :-P). Seriously wondering about next fall... Hope something else comes up! ;-) We'll see!!! :-)

Well, have a wonderful day everyone!! Enjoy the spring weather if you have it!!!!

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Strength and Rest


Isaiah 40:28-31
"Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the LORD,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on the LORD
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint."

God renews our strength - in Him we will run and not be weary! The pastor at church today read these verses, and they were just the words I needed to hear. Lately I have been feeling weary, and like I have no strength, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength! Lord, I am waiting on you! I shall run in YOUR power and YOUR might! :-)

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Mm hmm...

Sunday, March 6, 2011

End of my rope...


Ever feel like you are at "the end of your rope" so to speak? Yeah, lately I'm feeling like I've been hanging from a cliff like in the picture. Things feel so whacked out and uncertain in my life. I struggle with where I am, and where God wants me to be - Does He want me to do school next year? Is He going to show me the ministry He wants me to do soon? Is there something else I should be doing? Should I get a job next year? Should I move out? Where would I move? And HOW AM I GOING TO GET THROUGH NEXT WEEK????

I'm burnt out - my arms are tired from hanging there for so long. My mind and body are shot from trying to do so much - to much homework - to much to remember - to much to do, and not enough time to do it in.

I love my Deaf studies, but at the same time if God showed me a ministry which I could serve at I would probably drop school like a hot potato. Drop my whole current life in fact.

There is so much in my life I would love to do - especially to become a missionary, but lately I have been wishing I could like live on a big farm with a family who has lots of kids, and just LIVE for a while! A lady from our church spoke of maybe becoming entrepreneurs and living on a farm in the fairly close future, and it just made me think about that! I would love that. :-)

I am worn out. Worn out from school. Worn out from homework and studying. Worn out from having a messy house all the time that I honestly can't do anything about (if I clean it it will be messy again in one hour). WORN OUT FROM LIFE!!

Looking forward to my Bible study tonight with HannahBeth! <3 And God is always SO good! He is leading me, even when I feel like I'm just hanging there - He is holding me up!!!! :-)

Sunday, February 27, 2011

To My Dad

To My Dad

With Love from Amy


My Dad - Wow! What an incredible guy!

My Dad is a caring, smart, wise, godly, persistent, adventurous, truth-loving, “out of the box” kinda guy! His diligence to preserver in the Lord’s calling in his life as a pastor, even when times were really rough and he was going through “the valley of the shadow of death” is truly inspiring, and his example I know helps me push through things now, and I know it will help me later in life as well. He has always provided for us, even when it was through really hard jobs, but he also had a firm faith in God, so if he felt that God was calling him to quit a job, or something, even if there was no visible means of support in sight, he would always take that step of faith, and God proved Himself faithful over and over again.

My Dad has always loved the truth, and once God opens his eyes to something he might be wrong about, he never stops searching until he finds the truth. He is open minded, and a good listener. When someone comes to him and shows him from the Word of God how he might be wrong, he searches it out and then changes.

Over the years I have seen so many great and amazing changes in my Dad has God has continued to hold onto his heart. I’m sure he sometimes feels like his family can’t see his amazing efforts, but I for one certainly can.

My Dad and I always got along when I was little, and then I hit the teenage years, and we began to clash, but what I find amazing about my Dad is that over the often painful teen years he always had the desire to get a hold of my heart - he had turned his hearts to his children, and would stop at nothing to win their hearts back. He spent, I’m sure countless hours in prayer and thinking and trying different things, and slipping, and getting back up again in trying to find ways to reach me in my confusion and pain of life. Yes, both of us had many times when we would “fall”, and end up fighting, but one thing that has always amazed me about my Dad is how he never ever failed to come and apologize and ask for forgiveness from me, even when it was often largely my own fault! His humble and forgiving example has taught me so much, and has helped me learn humbleness and forgiveness towards others.

Growing up my Dad always gave us the gift of his time - even when he was super tired he would invent games that he could still play with us while lying on the couch at the end of a long and hard day at work. I know he always viewed that time with regret that he didn’t do more, but I don’t remember the times that he couldn’t spend with me - I just remember the fun we had playing those little games that seemed so meaningless but actually meant so much, and always showed us that he still cared about us the most, and always had time for us, no matter how tired and beat up he was.

One of my favorite things about my Dad is how much he loves music - some of my favorite memories when I was little was when he would play the piano, and Joy and I would dance around, or played the harmonica - especially on Sunday mornings - beautiful hymns! And in later years how he learned the Banjo, ukulele, and penny whistle! I love to listen to him playing in the living room! Also his love of other sorts of music, and all the evenings we’ve all spent dancing around like crazy people in the living room!!! :OD Best memories ever!

Another thing my Dad has always done is taken us kids out on special lunches, and also on our birthdays! And he’ll often just sit there and let us blabber away, and just listen and discuss things with us! Such wonderful memories! :-)

Lately my Dad has been so sweet and amazing, even as I go through the ups and downs of becoming an adult. Sometimes I’ll be freaking out, and he’ll come and just say, “Hey, what’s going on? You ok?” And it means SO much to me. He’s such a good listener, and always lets me know he’s there for me. I feel like I’m growing closer and closer to my Dad every day.

He’s also been an amazing support to me lately in school, and as I have been preparing to take my first mission trip - support that has been much needed.

No, neither of us are perfect, but I truly believe that no matter what happens in life my Dad will always love me and be there for me.

God has given me an amazing Dad - one who I wouldn’t trade for anyone else in the whole world!

Thank you Lord for my Dad!

Dad - I love you!

To My Mom

To My Mother

With Love from Her Daughter Amy


My mother is one of the most amazing women I know.
She is selfless, brave, wise, kind, knowledgeable, incredibly smart, caring, godly, hardworking, and possesses so many other qualities which I can merely only hope and pray I obtain.

My mother gave me the greatest blessing all throughout my childhood and teen years - she gave me and my siblings of herself - she gave us her time and love. She was always there to listen, teach, and train us up in the ways of godliness. She chose to homeschool us, which was such an amazing gift from the Lord. But in our homeschooling, she didn’t just “school” us, she always showed us that the most important thing in life wasn’t being incredibly smart (good thing, cause I failed there ;-)), it wasn’t about someday getting a good career, earning lots of money, becoming famous, or even “succeeding” in life. She always taught us, and showed us with her example that THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS FOLLOWING THE LORD. It didn’t matter (much ;-)) to her that we couldn’t do math, or that we never even made it to learning Algebra. It didn’t matter to her how much “head knowledge” I had - all that mattered to her was seeing us walking in the Lord’s way. And she demonstrated this daily. Each morning we would start out right after breakfast by all sitting down in the living room (it didn’t matter if we were still in our PJ’s, or if our “start” of the day didn’t happen until almost lunch time), and she would open the Bible and begin to read - we read through the Bible several times I believe growing up. Then she would talk about it a little, and we’d sing hymns together, and pray. Yes, sometimes it would take SOOO long to get through just Bible study, and often times we’d be fighting and testing her patience in SO many ways, and sometimes we would never even get to Math, Science, and History, but in spite of all the fighting and glitches and the hard and stressful time Bible study sometimes ended up being because of what we were acting like, that was one thing SHE NEVER GAVE UP ON. Every single morning we’d gather. And I believe through her persistence to put the Lord first, and her diligence to teach us about the Lord FIRST is what has really helped me to stand strong in the Lord.

I have never been a highly intelligent person, or super smart, or anything like that, and I was a difficult student with learning disabilities, but the thing that I came away from all the years she spent diligently teaching us was that following the Lord was the most important thing, and I believe that is the lesson she wanted us MOST to get.

BUT my Mother’s wonderful giving of herself didn’t stop when I stopped being a baby, and she started homeschooling me, or when I hit highschool (and she continued to persevere with teaching me), or when I stood up on my graduation day, gave a speech, and hugged her and my Dad. She didn’t wash her hands and say, “Phew! My job with THAT one is done anyways!” Nor did it stop when I entered college - nope! My Mom is one of the only reasons I am succeeding in college right now. She’s always there to tell me I can do it, she spends countless hours editing my bad papers (only reason I’m doing good in English!), making phone calls for me, researching things on the Internet, listening to me as I sit in the kitchen stressing about an upcoming exam or project, and I know she’s always praying for me as I encounter each thing.

The other thing my Mom has always done for me is listen - My mom is an AMAZING listener, and I always felt like I could go to her with any problem or dream and she would truly listen and help me. All growing up she would encourage me in each dream - silly or serious - that I came to her with. She never tried to discourage me (she left that up to God, knowing He was the only One who could take the stupid dreams away!), but would talk to me about them and help me obtain those goals. There were times when the only person who understood and tried to help in my life was my Mom. So many times she would be the buffer between my Dad and I when we would have trouble listening to each other and discussing and sharing our own ideas. She would be the “middle” man, and I know I owe my good relationship with my Dad now partly to her help and prayers for both of us. My Mom never has given up on me in my life - and believe me! If I had a daughter like me I probably would have given up a LOOONG time ago. She stayed loving and amazing all throughout my hard times in life, and even when she couldn’t get through to me, I know she was always praying for me.

And now, some of my biggest dreams are starting to come true largely because of her - she has always been my strongest supporter. When everyone else had fears and doubts about my dream of becoming a missionary as I was growing up, my Mother instead was always the first to listen and say, “How can I help?”

Yes, neither of us are perfect. My Mom and I have had our share of hard times in our relationship. We still do (largely due to my selfishness and unkindness), but I still know that she is my biggest supporter. She’s on my team - she’s my cheerleader! Even when I push her away she still keeps coming back and encouraging me.

I love my Mom so incredibly much. When she has a bad day, I wish I could make it better (I usually end up making it worse). Above all things I want her to be happy. I want her to have the best life anyone could ever dream of. I want her to have whatever she wants. I would walk to the end of the world to make her happy. (I might not do the dishes, but God is sure working on me about stuff like that! ;-)).

A mother is one of God’s greatest and most amazing gifts and blessings. I cherish my mother! And no matter what happens in life, or where God leads me, she is, and always will be, deep deep deep and close close close in/to my heart. And I ain’t going to let her go!

God, thank you for my Mother!

Mom - I love you!

Thursday, February 24, 2011

From the website

This is some more info from the website about safety issues. :-)

"As far as risks in traveling, Uganda is actually one of the safest places to travel. The country is very visitor friendly. The people here are mostly very peaceful and non-violent. The Bradt Travel guide states that Uganda is one of the safest places for tourists.

*Town where I'm going* is probably one of the safest places in Uganda, and Uganda is one of the safest places in the developing world to travel. We have had many volunteers come and go without any incident. What you may hear about on the news concerning Uganda involves rebel activity in the north, and does not affect us."

Africa - the hows, whats, and whys of it all

So, as many people know by now, my friend HannahBeth and I are, Lord willing, going to be taking a volunteer missions trip to Africa this summer (Eep! :OD), and I have received lots of Q's about it, so I've decided it was time for a blog post! :-) So here's some information about not only why I'm going, but also some stuff that will hopefully put people's minds at rest, since I know Africa is pretty scary sounding! And I am SO blessed to have SO many wonderful people who loved me and care about me, and I sure wouldn't want them to worry about me! :-)
So before I begin - PLEASE feel free to email me or leave me a comment with more questions or concerns!! Also, for privacy sake I am not going to be putting the link to where I am going in this blog post. If you would like to see it, please e-mail me and I will send it to you! :-) Unspecific info is better for blogs I think! ;-)

Anyways - Africa in 2011 - wow! I can hardly believe this dream is coming true! It may seem to have happened really quick to some people, but in reality, this has been a dream of mine since I was about 12-years-old! It was when I first read a book about a missionary to Egypt named Lillian Trasher (amazing woman, go find a book about her!!), as I read that book I could feel God pressing it on my heart, "This is what I want you to do with your life!" And ever since I have felt that call, I have never been the same, and it has never gone away. Now, a little side-track to here to clarify - I have been interesting in MANY things over my life, and have started some, and the interest has fairly quickly gone away, or some I have just almost had a possibility of doing something I've been interested in, and just the THOUGHT of ACTUALLY doing it sorta takes away that interest - this calling - to be a missionary and rescue and love kids - that has NEVER happened too!! I still truly believe that is what I will be doing for the rest of my life UNLESS God CLEARLY shows me differently.
Anyways, back to my story - growing up I never went on any mission trips, or anything like that, and I prayed for years and years that when the time came for me to go, that my family - parents and siblings - would be really cool with it! And just in the past year or two I have seen that prayer answered - not only are they totally cool with it, they are really excited for me! Wow! What a blessing it is to get to do things like whisper to my older sister/best friend "I'm going to Africa!" and have that send us off squealing. :OD
So, anyways, no mission trips were even considered by my parents until about last year this time when I started mentioning it, and they started thinking more about it, and started talking about how since I'm an adult now, they'd be cool with it (Praise the Lord!). And so this past fall/winter when I came and said I was thinking seriously about going on a volunteer trip somewhere this coming summer, they fully supported me in that decision just saying that they would prefer I'd travel with someone else, and if you ARE an adult, you should know by now that a lot of times your parents have GOOD ideas ;-) so I was like, "Yup, I'm cool with that arrangement", and not long after that asked my friend HannahBeth to pray because I was searching for someone to go with me, and her response? "Look no farther!" (Wow, I love that girl - and keep your eyes on ALL the details God has been bringing together in SUCH an amazing and almost unbelievable way through this whole process!) - wow! An almost IMMEDIATE answer to prayer (and what a blessing for God to chose one of my very best friends to go with me - HannahBeth has been SUCH an amazing encouragement to me since we became friends! And ever since we started this processes she has just been amazing about details and finding things out - working together is def. a wonderful thing! Whew, takes SO much stress and pressure away from both of us!!!).
So we searched around and found two places - one was the place where we both sponsor children from, but they aren't accepting volunteers at this time, so the next place was a orphanage for babies to age 5 in Africa!
Why did we choose this place almost right away???
Well, for one thing we know lots of people who have gone there - not only do we have a mutual friend who was there just the beginning of last year, a pastor in a sister church and his family just recently adopted a little boy from there!! (And so have been there a couple times!), AND HannahBeth knows one couple who have adopted twice from there - and so have been there a couple times, AND another person who has been there! And so we had lots of people to check up on this place "for us"! :-) Also the place we are going has a very detailed website - lots of info for volunteers (other sites it's often hard to tell what they are all about, and all that), and it is in a SAFE part of Africa!!! (Yes, for our first missions trip ever, we decided a safe place would be good! ;-) Who knows where God will lead us later in life, and I know I am always in His hands, but safe was another blessing about this place!!! :-)).
So we applied there, and went for passports in December, which came back amazingly fast, and God really worked out details for that!! :-)
So after a few glitches with sending in the application (had to use my Aunt's computer cause the place couldn't open my Mac application!), we got them officially sent in, and were told we'd hear back from the place in a couple weeks.
So we waited, and trusted God that if this was HIS will we would get accepted, and if not then... We wouldn't! ;-) Anyways, then Tuesday night I believe it was I was sitting doing work on the computer, and I saw I had an email, so I went and checked and - OH MY WORD!!!! YES! I had been accepted!!!! Glancing at the clock and seeing it was only 10:30 at night I quickly texted HannahBeth hoping she was awake, she was and called me right away when I said, "Can I call you????" So I told her to check her email and EEPP!!! She was accepted too!!!! :OD Needless to say that was one of the most AMAZING nights of my life!!! :OD (And it's been an amazing week because of that - no matter what goes wrong my heart keeps singing, "You are going to Africa! You are going to Africa!" (This is all Lord willing of course!!! Things could change of course, but I'm leaving that up to God! And I still can't believe we have actually made it this far!!! :OD).
God has been teaching me SO much through this process - one thing is about stepping out as an adult! Yes, going to school was a first BIG step for me, but making this decision, and working on all the details - wow! Yes, I know it's time to become an adult, and to actually truly start on the path God has mapped out for me, and it's really exciting - this stage of just beginning adulthood! Yes, I still need my parents and other wise adults inputs, but I also need to learn how to be a responsible, mature adult! Yikes - exciting and scary! ;-)

Fear???? Um yes! Lots of fear and worries and doubts - over all the years and now - questions keep racing through my head! And things like, "Are you nuts??? Are you SURE you don't want to just go hide under the bed for the rest of your life??? You have a potentially AMAZING career ahead of you in Deaf studies - are you SURE you want to give that up someday and go to another country to serve?? You love it so much!"
And the answer is - Yes, I DO sometimes really just want to hide under my bed, life a perfectly "normal" life, get that amazing career I love in Deaf studies, and yet I CAN'T! That's right - it's to late for me - I cannot NOT follow where God is telling me to go! He has completely stolen my heart! Yes, there are fears! But something God has been teaching me is found in Romans 8:15 -

"For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father.'"

And in 2 Timothy 1:7

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."

In Christ I don't have to have that "spirit of bondage to fear" - He has released me from the terrifying fears which I had all throughout childhood, and given me the Spirit which makes me cry out unashamedly, "ABBA FATHER!" - He's my FATHER! He's my SAVIOR, He's my GOD, He's my KING, He's my PROTECTOR, He's my ALL IN ALL, He has bought my heart - He has saved me from hell!!!!!! And my amazing King, God, and Savior is telling me "Go" and that's what I HAVE to do - GO! No matter what people tell me - no matter if it's "smart" or not! I'm not going to live a "smart" life - I am going to be a fool for God! I am going to follow His lead, even if I end up being killed for my faith someday - I CANNOT WAVER! I CANNOT say "no" to God - And I don't want too! I have the Spirit of God living it me, and He has, and is daily, taking away that spirit of fear! I know that no matter WHERE I go, or what I do, He is with me, and protecting me!
And, no, I cannot guarantee that nothing bad will ever happen to me - but I CAN guarantee that NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS GOD IS WITH ME! And HE will give me the grace to go through anything! Because I know He is carrying me through it all!!
As Stonewall Jackson once said -

"Captain, my religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time for my death. I do not concern myself about that, but to be always ready, no matter when it may overtake me. Captain, that is the way all men should live, and then all would be equally brave."

Amen! Lord, where You lead I will follow! Forever and ever amen! You have my heart, and I know You aren't giving it back! I praise You for Your amazing grace to me and Your calling on my life! Lead me Lord! Lead me right up to the lions mouth with no fear!

Friday, February 18, 2011

Hurt

This verse from Laura Story's song "Perfect Peace" I find to be so beautiful and comforting lately! :-) Especially the first 2 lines - Though God may not be going to STOP the hurt, or "calm the storm" we can ALWAYS hide in HIM, and He will protect us and give us perfect peace! Thank you Father!

"Though I may not calm the storms around you
you can hide in Me
burdens that you bear
offer no relief
let Me bear your load
cause I will give you perfect peace"

Sunday, February 13, 2011

My New Favorite Song! :OD

Saturday, February 12, 2011

All I know to do, is lift my hands to You!



Make Something Beautiful

By Laura Story


When I’m at the point of breaking

At the place where I resign.

When I’m at this stage of shaking my head

As I look back on my life.

When I’m halfway through the grieving

But not quite through the ache.

When I cannot see the ending

Or which road I’m supposed to take.

All I know to do, is lift my hands to You!


Take all of my life, all of my life,

And make something beautiful!

If I open my hand, trusting Your plan,

Make something beautiful,

So all will see, Your work in me,

As You make something beautiful.


When I’m tired of pretending,

And I can’t recall my lines.

Will you say I’m barely breathing,

Or just say I’m doing fine.

I admit there is a yearning,

For the hurting to subside.

But not at the risk of losing,

What You’re doing in my life.

And all I know to do, is lift my hands to You!


Take all of my life, all of my life,

And make something beautiful!

If I open my hand, trusting Your plan,

Make something beautiful,

So all will see, Your work in me,

As You make something beautiful.

Make something beautiful!


Cause all I know to do, is lift my hands to You.

All I know to do, is lift my hands to You!


Take all of my life, all of my life,

And make something beautiful!

If I open my hand, trusting Your plan,

To make something beautiful.

Take all of my life, all of my life,

And make something beautiful.

So open my hand, I’m trusting Your plan,

To make something beautiful.

So all will see, Your work in me,

As You make something beautiful.

Make something beautiful.

That You make it beautiful!