I’m Back!!!

It has been a while, so here is some news:

Mother and Elizabeth (my younger-just-turned-16 sister) just got back from Venezuela.  Apparently, they had an awesome time with the kids,  hard work, huge frogs, and large bugs….  Eugh!

I have received some of the paperwork to return to Swaziland.  So, you can be praying for that- that God would open the right doors, and close others- that I would have faith in HIM.  I trust him completely in my head, but sometimes, it is a struggle to make my heart follow suit and rest completely in knowing that he is in control. 

Snow, Ice, and Everything Nice

When I left Louisville Saturday, it was 5 F.  Louisiana was a lot warmer.

A few days before I left, we had some major snow and ice.  Power went out and everything was crazy.  My university even cancelled classes three days in a row.  (A rare happening.)  At my house, the power was out four days.  My mother loved it.  She had a fire going and she was just having fun.  (Keep in mind that I was not there to enjoy the cold.  I had gotten snowed in so-to-speak at my grandparent’s house.)

Here are some pictures of the beautiful winter wonderland that was created by a couple days of snow and ice.

Hello Louisiana!!!!

Louisiana was a wonderful 48 hours.  Yep, only 48 short, beautiful hours.

God really blessed my time there.  It was relaxing and pretty much perfect.  Monday night I got to meet and spend several hours with a wonderful couple, Claude and Mary.  They have two adorable Swazi kids.

Sunday morning, I got to attend two great HPC services.  At these I got to meet some fantastic people as well as renew my friendships with some people I met in Swaziland.  Next, Sonic.  That was nice.  (Allow me to mention that I have only been at a Sonic once to my knowledge, and that was probably 8-10 years ago.) Next, I attended this awesome class with Natalie about helping others deal with trauma in a godly way.

The punchline of the day though was the RODGERS and the OHLERKINGS!!!  Yep!  I got to see Kayla, Levi, and Trinity Sunday night.  Natalie, Kristen, and I also got to spend time with Susan.  It was pretty wonderful.  Also, I finally got to meet the Ohlerkings.  It was a super night, so relaxing to just hang out with friends and some members of my Swazi family.

Oh yes, the Superbowl was Sunday.  It was the first (and it may be the last) time I ever saw the Superbowl.  During the game, Levi and I played paper football.  (He won, but in my own defense, it was a close game.)  We even had a playing field that Levi made and colored.  It was pretty neat.  Kayla colored a picture for me, and Trinity gave me some hugs.  It was sooo much fun to get to see them again. 

Monday was an absolutely beautiful day.  It was sunny and cool, but not cold.  It had rained the night before, so everything was green and fresh.  Around 11:30 or 12 we set out on a walk of the neigborhood.  Fun, fun, fun.   We had a great conversation, some points of which I will put up later.

I left Louisiana Monday afternoon with a full heart, new friends, more assurance that God is preparing the way for my life, and some African Cadbury white chocolate.  Very nice.

I’m Starving

So often, I catch myself saying “I’m starving,” when in reality, I am just a little hungry.  What is the meaning of the word starve?  According to the dictionary, it is:

1.	to die or perish from lack of food or nourishment.

2.	to be in the process of perishing or suffering severely from hunger.

What does that feel like, I wonder- to feel yourself starving, to watch your children starve,and yet be able to do nothing about it?

I watched this on a friend’s blog,and it was like another eye opener.  So often, my eyes may be opened, I may remember what others go through and I may determine to try to do something about it, but after a while, my eyes slide shut- and I forget.  It can be so easy to forget without reminders of how bad it is for others.  We may complain because our air conditioning or heating system isn’t working right, or because our food at the restaurant was cool when it got to our table.  It is easy to forget, cushioned in our own little worlds, that others have no heat, no air conditioning, no food.

I will not tell myself that I cannot do something because I am not good enough.

Anything God has for me to do,  I can do.  God is a forgiving and loving God.  Nothing I do can keep me from doing something for Him.  I will mess up.  I will have bad days, even bad weeks when everything goes wrong.  I am an imperfect being.  The good news is that God is perfect.  By His grace, I am forgiven and my slate is clean.  When I, being so far from perfection, do something for Him,  it only glorifies Him more.  I am not to do anything for my glory. The purpose of my life is to serve and glorify Him.

COLD?!?!

Tomorrow’s High: 13

Tomorrow’s Low: 2

9 am: 6F (feels like-9)

9 pm: 7F (feels like -6)

Fun huh?

Psalm 32:8

Jeremiah 29:11:  “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord.  “Plans to prosper you and not  harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Psalm 32:8:  “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.”

I love these two verses.  God has plans for me, and he will instruct me and guide me in the fulfillment of those plans.

Finals…Ugh!!! No, wait- was that a complaint? Oops.

Okay, so I never liked finals in high school.  I rarely studied for them and I always passed (with the exception of science, of course).  However, this is college, and I think I have discovered something.  It is no longer possible to pass all of my classes without studying.  Eish!  In fact, even a little studying does not get the job done- I actually have to focus.  Can you imagine that?!!!?

The one good thing that I can think of concerning finals- no make that two- is that THE SEMESTER IS ALMOST OVER.  I am excited becasue that means a whole month of no college.    Of course, I will be at Lanesville a couple more weeks after college gets out, but that is nothing.    I only work there two or maybe three days a week anyway- and they are not even full days. Yep, you are right.  It is nice.

Other good point- no lectures.  I like to learn but I wish the knowledge would just get in my head of its own accord.  Sitting for an hour and 15 minutes (1 hour, 45 minutes in Psychology) and taking notes the whole time is not quite my ideal of fun.  I still like school in spite of it all, though.  Well, that is to say I am thankful for it.  It really is a blessing to be able to go through grade school and be able to finish high school.  To be able to go to college is an even greater blessing.  So many do not have that kind of opportunity.  I find myself complaining a lot- mostly about school and my lack of time- but really, I have NOTHING to complain about.  I have been working with my personal trainer, God, on cutting back a lot of the negative things that like to come out of my mouth.  Slowly but surely wins the race.    It is nice to know that my trainer will always have patience with me as long as I try.  I mean, who has a better one?  He is training me in such a way that, no matter how glamorous it is (or how lacking in glamour), I WILL FINISH THE RACE.  YES!!!

The Bunny

Isn’t she cute?

This is my new bunny.  She is an English Angora.   One thing that is really neat about her is that I can make my own yarn from her fur.  She is incredibly soft and fluffy.

As to her character, she quickly adapts to new things and people.  She is very curious.  I have a harness for her and whenever she is out on it, she hops everywhere exploring.

Guess what- if you think she has a lot of fur now, you are wrong.  Apparently, before she is completely furred up she will be a lot furrier.   :)

In spite of all her cuteness, I have one slight problem- I do not know what to name her.  If anyone has any interesting or unique names, or any suggestion for that matter, feel free to let me know.  I would love suggestions.  One of my cousins suggested Paprika, which I love- but she is not exactly red so the name does not match her too well. 

Yes!!! Just What I Needed.

 This is in a Bible study I was going through quickly.  It has really encouraged me.

Here is an uplifting thought from the Inspirational Study Bible.

God is economical. He doesn’t waste training or experience. He knows what we are doing, what we are learning, and how he is going to use all of that five, ten, twenty years from now.

It’s easy to be disappointed when we have prepared for “the plan of God for my life,” only to have the door shut in our faces.

That’s because we were busy focusing on the plan when God was focusing on the preparation. Watch how he uses that preparation in a whole new way.

When the signals are blurred and you are uncertain, keep on praying, getting Christian counsel, but don’t stop what you are doing. Trust him to steer you if you are on the wrong course. But don’t stop!

A sailboat’s rudder is useless while the sails are down. Set sail, get going. You can’t get any direction until the wind fills the sails. Then when the wind changes, be ready to come about. God may have to change your course, but when he does, you will have the momentum for it.

God knows how to move you when the time comes for you to be moved. He knows what is happening to you and what should be happening for you. In other words, trust God to be God. There isn’t anything he doesn’t know.

(From God Guides Your Tomorrows by Roger C. Palms)

Lucado, Max: Life Lessons from the Inspired Word of God : Books of Ruth and Esther. Dallas, Tex. : Word Pub., 1996 (Inspirational Bible Study Series), S. 48

Jeremiah 29:11 ” ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord…”