Obedience

So I have to admit, I wasn't the most obedient kid. I know, you are all really surprised ;) I was always very agreeable, just did what I wanted when I was away from my parents and figured what they didn't know, wouldn't hurt them (or me). I just never really understood why they would give me stupid rules (my opinion,of course!) and what the big deal was when I wasn't hurting anyone or myself.

It really wasn't so much a question of not behaving. I grew up very independent and when my dad got remarried when I was a teenage, things changed. I couldn't understand why the rules had changed and was not happy about it at all.

So, in my walk with God, obedience has been a struggle at times. It has taken some time and understanding of who God is that has helped me to walk this out. When I look back and see how He has made things so much better for me, I have learned I can trust Him. It hasn't always been easy, and I am not perfect at it, but I know God has the best for me. It makes it a whole lot easier when I don't understand why He has asked me to do something. I can look back and see how He has come through before. And, I can remember how bad I have screwed up before I let Him into my life!

My boy

So, today I take my boy to meet with his potential new owner. Yes, it may be an answered prayer, but I am just about sick to my stomache. I have been praying for wisdom and discernment all night. I really hope she is the one for him and vice-versa. I need for him to go to a good, loving home. Still, heart-breaking.

In the big picture, it's one more time of saying, "Yes Lord". Whatever He has called me to do, whatever He has called me to lay down. I want to be obedient. I want what He has for me. But something really, really hurt. I know, God will give me more than I can ever give up, but right now, the hurt is real and front and center.

I forgot.....

Football!!! Especially my Dallas Cowboys! Wow, how could I forget that?

These are a few of my favorite things...

Other than family, friends and relationship, here are a few of my favorite things that I'm sure I will miss!

1. Dr. Pepper
2. Mexican food (well, at least Tex-mex)
3. Summers in Texas (Yes, I love the TX heat!)
4. The sound of loqust in the summer heat
5. Lightning bugs(do they have lightning bugs in SA? IDK)
6. Half-Price Bookstore
7. My Tv shows like Grey's Anatomy, House, Dexter, My Name is Earl, etc.
8. My electric blanket
9. Starbucks
10. Calling my friends when ever I want

I'm sure there will be more and somethings probably won't mean that much once I get there, but as I was driving home the other night, I heard loqust and just started thinking about some of the small things we take for granted!

What am I going to do?

So last week I was reading the weekly update from our ministry in SA. They shared about a little baby whose parents died 5 days after he was born. Probably AIDS/HIV related, which means he will more than likely have health problems also. He is currently staying with a neighbor woman who has kids of her own and she is sick too.

My heart just broke. Who will love him? Who will hold him and rock him? Who will see that he gets the meds he needs? Will he know he is loved? Will he know God has a plan for him? What do you do?

So, what in the world am I going to do when we are living there and see him face to face? Or the hundreds and thousands like him? What do you do? God give me strength and continue to break my heart like yours is broken.

(BTW, if you are not getting weekly updates from Ten Thousand Homes and would like to, email me & I will have youput on the email list. May your heart be broken too!)

I want to live like there's no tomorrow

September 10th. Hard day. Lost my brother 6 years ago today. Massive heart attack at 42 yrs. old.

Man, life is hard sometimes. As hard as it is, I really do enjoy it. Yet there are some days that you just think, wow. You know that song that goes, "..I want to live like there's no tomorrow, I want to dance like there's no one around..." Well, I think sometimes, when you have experienced a sudden death, you realize that there are no guarentees. We aren't promised tomorrow. So what do you do with today? That's how I want to live. Don't always, but man, to do that,to think, "Today is what I have to make a difference."

No fear of what others may think of me, no fears of messing up, no fears of looking like an idiot or of people thinking I'm nuts (theyall ready do, so hey!). Just to follow my Lord and let him direct my steps. Just making a difference with what I have in front of me, right here, right now.

So if you knew, I only have today, or this week, or 3 months, what would you do?

Read any good books lately?

I read alot. I mean,really, alot! Like average of 3-4 books a week. Mostly fiction, stuff I can just escape into. Love a good story,

Pictures from Previous Trips

So I won't write too much this time, thought I might try to post some pics from previous trips. Tell me what you think!