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)

Cause I like this song! :-)

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

If Ever I Loved Thee, My Jesus, Tis Now

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.

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.

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! ;-)