Love you for you

Every time I hear this song I think of God's heart towards people. He is waiting with out stretched arms ready to love each person for who He made them to be. 

Love them for them. Not for anything they have done, or would or could do. But just simply love them because He is our great Father.

Wow! Have you ever thought about that before? How God SO loved the world BEFORE while we were STILL sinners so He sent His only Son to die for us. Christ died for us WHILE we were sinners. He didn't wait for us to become "good", He died for us while we were still unlovable.

That's they heart I want to have towards people - I want to love them the way Jesus loves them. Not for what they have done or who they will become or what they will do, but because Jesus loves. 

The first verse of this song makes me think of children all around the world. Here in America, in Africa, in Mexico, in China, etc etc etc etc. Those children who no one seems to care about. Who might be dirty, naughty, and hard to love. Those who have no family, or families who don't care about them.

And I think - God - Let me love them like You love them. You have given me a big heart and wide open arms, fill them with those unloved children. Fill them with those hurting children. Fill them with those abused children. Fill them with those children who have never known what it is like to be loved unconditionally. 

Help me to love them UNCONDITIONALLY. Help me to love them even when they are unlovable. Help me to show them YOUR love. Help me to show them what love really means. 

God is a father to the fatherless. I pray I can show the fatherless that they have a heavenly Father who loves them unconditionally. That I would show them a picture of unconditional love.

I want to be the one who picks them up when they fall down, and who they know if they need a hug or a listening ear or just love love love I am there for them.

I know God has given me this desire for a reason. And I trust Him He will send me the children He wants me to love and to show His love too in His time. Or He will send me to them.

God will love you for you. Not for what you have done or what you will become. HE will show you what love really means. 

I have SO much homework - but it's sunny out!!

I don't know about you, but it's always a bit sad when the fall weather hits and there is a GORGEOUS Fall day, just calling you to get outside and enjoy it BUT you have a stack of homework that is about ten miles high. So instead you sit inside bent over your books and groaning inside as you look out the window every once in a while at the sunshine.

I know that has been me WAY too many times! So I am here to offer a few ideas for how to get outside AND get your homework done at the same time! :-) If you have any other ideas for creative places to go to work on homework, or efficient methods for getting it done faster, please do leave me a comment!! OR write your own "favorite" homework ideas and post the link to your blog!! :-) (Note - these are not just ideas about getting outside - there are also some other of my own personal ways to get homework organized and finished).

Anyways - My list!

• Find a lake or pond or pretty puddle nearby and take your reading down - sit on the dock or picnic table and get that History reading done as you enjoy the breeze! :-) 
• Nature preserves - They probably have picnic tables too! Or find a quiet path, lean against a tree, and get that work done! As long as you don't need internet for an assignment you can do it anywhere - save those internet assignments for later! (And I don't want to hear complaining that your bag is to heavy to lug down a beautiful woodsy path! It'll help you build muscles!).
• Front steps of the house - the bonus to doing your homework sitting on the front steps of your house is that you can still get wireless internet on your laptop! SCORE! ;-)
• Back yard table - we have a table in our backyard used for summertime dinners, but sometimes on beautiful days I will drag all my work outside and just sit and work on projects! The great thing about this is that you don't have to pay for gas to go somewhere - downside is that your family can still find you ;-)
• Coffee shops - Panera, Starbucks, some other cute place you know about. Grab yourself a coffee or a tea and get to work! It gets you out of the house but still lets you get your work done. On beautiful days they sometimes have outdoor tables to sit at.
• Libraries - if you are sick of your local or college library look for others nearby - I have walked into beautiful libraries where it would be pleasant to to sit and study. If you are down at school check for outdoor tables - my school library has some tables right outside.
• Bring a snack and a drink - if you are starving or need a drink you won't be able to pay as good attention to your work! 
• Make yourself goals - I find that when I set myself a goal I do much better. Today my goal was to get a stack of history reading done - I found a nice shady path at a nature preserve and sat down and read it - I finished all but two pages! (Which I finished later ;-)). Makes you feel good that you spent time in nature AND got that work done. 
• Lists - I like lists - then I can check them off and feel like I did SOMETHING at least ;-) 
• Give yourself breaks - even if it's just for five minutes - stretch your legs, pick a daisy, take a deep breath, and then get back to it - you will be able to go for longer and get more done if you take a moment to relax! :-)
• Remember WHY you are going to school in the first place! There will be days when you have no good answer for that and where your dreams seem not to matter because you just want to be DONE! But don't give up! It won't last forever! :)

Good luck on the start of your new semester! Go knock um dead!!! :)

Good friends and a check it out :-)

Today a very good friend of mine came over and helped me with a big project that had been hanging over my head for a while - how amazing is she??? :-) We had such a nice time laughing and talking! Thanks again Lieren - it meant a ton!! <3 Love you!!!

Also please head over to HannahBeth's blog and read her latest blog post - it is so so so good!! HannahBeth's Blog Post

"You know how I feel about change... It doesn't bode well when one is already perfectly happy..."

In life things change, people change, people leave.

Why we ask? God WHY????!!!

He has a plan.

What is that plan? No clue... Just trying to trust Him...

Cute Little Amy?

I hate being patronized.

Like really really hate it.

I actually AM an adult and want to be treated like one. Especially if you are my age.

Really?

Yes. Amazingly enough NO one wants to be patronized by their peers.

I may act really dumb, innocent, or child-like sometimes, but in spite of my dumb moments I'm not a baby.

Whoa really?

Yes really.

I may not appear to have an opinion on a subject, but I actually do.

I actually have informed logical opinions on many issues.

But I won't tell you, because I hate debating.

But no, I'm not a child.

Owl City

I wish I could cross my arms
And cross your mind 'cause I believe
You'd unfold your paper heart
And wear it on your sleeve

All my life I wish I broke mirrors
Instead of promises
'Cause all I see is a shattered conscience
Staring right back at me

I wish I had covered all my tracks completely
'Cause I'm so afraid
Is that the light at the far end of the tunnel
Or just the train?

Lift your arms, only Heaven knows
Where the danger grows and it's safe to say
There's a bright light up ahead
And help is on the way, help is on the way

I forget the last time I felt brave
I just recall insecurity
'Cause it came down like a tidal wave
And sorrow swept over me

Depression, please cut to the chase
And cut a long story short
Oh, please be done, how much longer
Can this drama afford to run?

Fate looks sharp, severs all my ties
And breaks whatever doesn't bend
But sadly then, all my heavy hopes
Just pull me back down again

I forget the last time I felt brave
I just recall insecurity
'Cause it came down like a tidal wave
And sorrow swept over me

Then I was given grace and love
I was blind but now I can see
'Cause I found a new hope from above
And courage swept over me

It hurts just to wake up
Whenever you're wearing thin
Alone on the outside
So tired of looking in

The end is uncertain
And I've never been so afraid
But I don't need a telescope
To see that there's hope
And that makes me feel brave

The Ache Will Last Forever...

Do you have anything or any person that you think about every single day? Something/one that you miss so much that your heart aches and you wonder how in the world you will get through that day... That week... That month... That year... Those many years till you have that person back in your arms?

I do.

I think about "my" kids in Uganda every single day. I ACHE to hold them again. I ACHE to hear their little voices call me "Auntie Ammmy" again. I ACHE to have susu (pee) all over my clothes again. I ACHE to change a billion and one diapers again. I ACHE to hear "my" Mama's call me "Daughter" again. I ACHE to have sweet baby kisses planted on my cheek. I ACHE to spoil them with chocolate cake and soda. I ACHE know "my" kids are safe because I can see them - I ACHE to be able to see them every single day, and boast about how proud I am of them

Are they my kids? Not really - they are God's kids. They will always have a HUGE special spot in my heart. Even if I never get to see them again in this life, every time I see their pictures or think of their names I will miss them, and love them.

Even so I ache. Each time a little kid pushes me away because they have a loving family (which makes me so happy for that child) it makes me long to hold those kids who don't have a family, because they need the love and the touch and they need to know that I love them - oh so very much. Each hurting child, each lonely child, each child without a family, each neglected child, each starving child, each of them get a special place in my heart, and no matter how many I meet in my life, I know there will always be enough room for each of them to have a special place in my heart - because God made it big on purpose.

Some kids I miss especially - My girl Jemima - how she made me earn her trust - I had to work hard for it, but it was so rewarding in the end. Her parting words to me. Her sassy times, and the times she needed someone to stick by her when she was in a bad mood. The pain that I had to leave her, when she told me to stay. Knowing that I may never see her again in this life.
My boy Ashraf - his silly faces, him trying to talk to me in his language, his craziness.
Simon - His chubby cheeks and fat legs. His amazing smile, and huggableness.
Jacob - How I love that kid!
My list could keep going... And going... And going...

Appreciate every moment you have with your kids, or other little ones God has put in your life. Let the little things slide - in the end what matters?

Oh God, take care of each of the kids - and give them people to love them - even if I desperately want it to be me.