So I'm back in the world of bloggers today. :o) I have been working a bunch today on an article for our next issue of SEND! magazine, about a Buddhist lama in the remote hills of North India who has come to faith in Christ, as have his wife and children. It's exciting what God is doing everyday in lives in Asia. When you really think about it, it's AMAZING and so wonderful.

I am still working on the article but it's coming along well. I hope to make some more progress on it tonight. What a privilege to be a part of what God is doing.

Okay, I'm heading out now so I can run by my friend Michelle's to see some pretty rose bushes she wants to show me that she got for our garden. :o) Then eat the rest of my beef stew at the apartment, then start my evening. I'm thinking to work on my SEND! stuff quite a bit but also maybe go see a movie at the dollar theater somewhere in between there, or watch one at my apartment. I figure it won't hurt to have a break and come back with fresh eyes. :o)

I have been having some wonderful time with the Lord this week. I am so encouraged. Everything is put in a new light when your focus is on Jesus. The things you're concerned about seem to just kind of fade away in comparison with HIM.

I am in disbelief at how quickly this week has been going by. Is tomorrow really Friday?! I am so much enjoying the pot roast from my crockpot last weekend. [Uh-oh, there I go blogging about my crockpot again ... ;o)]

Don't know 'bout y'all, but I had a pretty good weekend! Had some nice times of resting, doing laundry, and also catching up with some good friends from the ministry to go see Superman Returns at the dollar theater. (and who could forget Target popcorn and soda combo for a dollar?!! :o))

I got a new cell phone over the weekend, too. It's with Sprint PCS instead of the company I was currently with, because I'm getting way more minutes for the same price! It's all been perfect timing, too, as my current contract runs out this Saturday. Only thing is, my phone is kind of acting up - overheating and stuff. So I called the place and they suggested I go ahead and bring it down for an exchange. So looks like I'll be making a trip to the mall tonight. I don't expect to go in any stores, though, just the Sprint PCS kiosk most likely.

On a different note, I'm happy because my pot roast in the crockpot turned out quite good. Well, okay, so I kind of mistakenly added four times the amount of water it called for, so it was a little liquidy (hee hee). But that was easily fixed by turning the excess liquid into a gravy for the roast, potatoes and carrots, as well as for the brown rice I cooked up last night. Yay!

Okay ... I'm going to go now. Life must be pretty uneventful when one must blog about what one cooks in one's crockpot. :o) (hee hee)

In all seriousness, though, I am doing quite well.

P.S. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention how the citrus-glazed chicken from last week turned out. It turned out fine except somewhat bland ... I guess it was just how the recipe turned out, since I followed directions pretty well. We Southerners just like slightly more spicy food, I guess. :o) But it's still very edible and I probably got, like, five meals at least out of it before freezing one more serving. So there you have it. :o) (as my dear friend Kara would say!)

I have citrus-glazed chicken in my crockpot. I can't wait to get home and see how it's looking and smelling. :o) I always enjoy making stuff in the crockpot and am wanting (and planning!) to use it more. I havent' tried this particular recipe, but it was in a cookbook one of my friends from back home gave me this weekend!

It's supposed to cook on low for 6 to 9 hours and has been cooking for close to 5 now. I may put it on high for an hour or so before eating it for supper tonight.

But enough about citrus-glazed crockpot chicken. :o) [I'll have to let you know how it turns out!] The weather outside has been absolutely gorgeous and I am so grateful. Lately (as in, the last two nights, plus some last month) I have been falling asleep around 10 or 11 on my sofa, and sometimes not waking up until 3 a.m. or even 5 a.m.! Not good .... I need to seriously avoid doing that tonight, especially as I can tell I don't sleep as well when I do that, and I need to try to arrive a little before 8 tomorrow morning since I'm sharing requests for the writers during morning prayer.

I continue to be reminded that Jesus is everything ... and that somehow, I want to give more of myself to Him. (Ultimately, I want to give ALL of me ... even if my flesh trembles at times at the thought ...) I know there are ways in which to an extent I've been holding back, and I don't want to do that! But how do I give more of myself to Him? I realize it is HE who must enable me. There is nothing in me. Yet at the same time I must be willing ... and agree to die to my flesh.

I have really been enjoying the book Hinds Feet on High Places and can see how the Lord has been using it to speak to my heart.

Okay. So explain this to me ... My shoulders were hurting quite a bit today, my friends visiting me from back home are coming in a day early (I did find this out yesterday morning though:o) and I still have quite a bit I'd like to get done before their visit (picking up, sweeping, mopping, errands, etc. etc.)- Yet I have much peace. I am really grateful for that. I actually was visiting with a good friend and co-worker just a few minutes ago in her office, and asked her to pray for me. After she prayed for me I experienced such peace. Our God is faithful.

Also this afternoon, a co-worker came by and gave me his MP3 player to listen to for a while ... It was a worship band from his church, and just what I needed! As I listened to songs like "Hallelujah, What a Savior" and "In Christ Alone", I was struck with just how much I need to and long to still give over to God ... and how He is worthy of everything! If He did what He did for me on the Cross, how can I not seek to give Him everything? And, really, that's ultimately the most fulfilling life anyway.

Oh, Lord ... crucify my flesh, I pray!

I've realized I haven't updated in a few days! I'm doing really well. Things have been busy with projects and stuff, and I've been having a nice weekend filled not only with good times with friends, but also "alone" time to rejuvenate as well. :-)

Today after church I ran into a co-worker and friend, Bea, at Macy's. As we were browsing the 65% to 75% off clearance racks together, she noticed a really cute short-sleeved green t-shirt with embroidery on it, but checked the price tag and it said $32! She said she could see how it was that much, being such a cute shirt. She put it back, and we parted ways - at least for the moment.

I thought about the shirt and how I'd love for her to have it and also it all of a sudden seemed a little "fishy" to me that it would still be $32 if indeed it had been correctly placed on the CLEARANCE rack! I went to a register and had them check the price, just to see, and it was actually $16! Add that to the fact that I had a $10 off a $30 or more purchase, and it made it a reasonable price for sure. [I had found a pair of white capris on a great clearance, so when we put the two items together it made at least a $30 purchase.] So we were both able to get our purchases for under $12 before tax!

I ran across my friend at just the right moment (Praise God) and was able to confirm I had grabbed her correct size, and she said she definitely wanted to get the shirt for that price! I really feel God put it on my heart to go back and check on that price for her. It's amazing how God cares about even the littlest details of our lives. And I love that, because it means we can trust Him with EVERYTHING ... including the big things, too. He's awesome.