The Littlest People make the Biggest Prayers

Since I being in Tennessee, I have been serving in the 2year-old Sunday school class during the first service. Last week was my last Sunday with them and I wrote a note to the parents letting them know why I wouldn't be showing up any more. Yesterday I received this message on Facebook from one of the mothers: (click "Read more")

Twenty-One Days

Twenty-one days is not a very long time. In fact, it is a very short amount of time in which much needs to happen. Three pieces of the "much" that are on my mind at the moment? - best friend getting married, taxes, packing for a year. (How does one pack for a year with a couple of suitcases?? I will find out soon enough.)

I am currently in Massachusetts - had the smoothest travel day EVER on Thursday, a lovely visit with friend Liz who picked me up at the airport, delicious dinner (homemade chicken soup) with my grandmother, and a blessed, necessary time with "bffl" Kaeley which included laughter and tears, hugs, and lots of sharing of hearts. And to think I almost chose bed instead... :)

So 21 days is not a very long time... I have spent almost and entire year waiting and wishing for these days, and now that they are here, there are pieces of me that wish they would slow down a little bit. Isn't that how it always goes. But for me these last few weeks are going to be pretty hectic... Every once in a while, this thing called "stress" threatens to come at me, but then I think about how good God has been to me these last months and about "my kids" in the DR and all negativity fades away. I have been having dreams about when I arrive, but now it is really happening, and it is beginning to sink in... my "open-ended year" ...

The next week, however, is focused on Kaeley's wedding and marriage preparations and I am just so thankful that I am able to be here to support her and celebrate with her. :) As I wrote in her card today, we are each "leaving" each other in different ways - my moving out of the country, her getting married and beginning a new chapter of life - but I know that this friendship is one that will last. I love you, Kaeley!

Celebrated Kaeley's soon-to-be "bridehood" this evening with a bunch of the girls. We had a taste-full "bachelorette" gathering which involved decorating these delicious cupcakes. :D

"I love you, Baby"

Meet Evlin (click on this link for a chuckle!) and Cloisi, part of the family at Chadasha in the DR.
These sisters, (6) and (8) respectively, live with their father but come to the Children's Home every day for a safe place and supervision. Before they were with us, they would wander the streets of Jimani with no particular purpose. They are 2 smart little girls who love hugs and to tell you they love you in English. Both were excited to be enrolled in school for the first time this year.

Click "Read more" below for pictures and specific prayer requests for these girls :)

I am Blessed and God is Good.

... that is just how I feel, and I wish there was a better way to say it, but I haven't found the words. I have been accused (and I admit to the tendency ;P ) of beating around the bush, or using many words to say what could be said more clearly in a simple, straightforward way, and so here I say it as simply and clearly as possible.

I am Blessed and God is Good.

This does not mean that life is perfect, that there is no conflict, no struggle, no pain - but I have confidence in who I am because I know Whose I am and that my Heavenly Father and Friend is absolutely trustworthy.

Since I moved to Tennessee to be with my family in this in between time of transition, it has been a struggle. There have been intense periods of loneliness. But it is these times which have led to a sweeter relationship with Jesus. He has been my best friend when I felt I had none, the big brother I never had and always wanted, the lover and caretaker of my soul when I was floundering in sorrow and confusion, and the strength and joy of my heart. As I grow closer to Him, I see more and more of His greatness and am more and more humbled that He would choose me to do anything for Him! But I stand before my Jesus so in love and desiring to show Him my devotion by doing what He desires of me. And I do it with joy.

As I prepare to relocate to the Dominican Republic I pray that I would be confident in God's equipping capabilities. I am beyond excited to see my kids again and to meet all the new

A piece of the Story

Here is some version of my testimony which I wrote out the other day for some "official" business... figured I could make use of it here :)

I was just three years old when I sat with my Daddy and asked Jesus to come into my heart. Because of that fact, I used to think that I did not have a very “impressive” testimony, one that was worth telling, one that would help people see how awesome God is. In the last several years, however, I have seen more and more how precious my testimony is because it is this: God has kept me. He has kept me from so much that destroys so many. I ask why, why me? My only answer can be His amazing grace. I am grateful and only hope that I do not take for granted His favor on my life.

I believe that it was in my home-educated middle school years that my faith, though verbally expressed at 3, truly became my own. I began to really understand what it meant to follow Jesus and two very important and deliberate things happened in my life which solidified in me who I was as a Christian: 1) I began writing in a journal which eventually became the fruit of my friendship with my Lord, and 2) I chose to be baptized as a declaration of my identification with and obedience to Christ. When I went back to public school for high school, I was able to put that faith into practice in tangible ways, for example, praying on the bus in the mornings and afternoons to drown out the stories of the weekend and chatter littered with profanity.

Since then, there has been so much growth and I am amazed to look back and see what God has done...