Well, I'm back again to the world of blogging, after a several-day hiatus. :-) Good to be back! So how is everyone?

I am having a nice time at my parents'. The drive Saturday went quite well, and yesterday I drove an hour over to my college church to catch up with friends and supporters there. Last night my parents and I watched a movie together, and I popped popcorn for us. Well, my dad ate some ... my mom had started dozing off. :)

Today I helped my mom a bit with baking/wrapping presents and later walked with my dad. Now we're fixing to go to a Christmas Eve service at our church in a bit ... and afterwards come back here and eat chili. (Yum!) It will be nice to see supporters and friends there, and I remember being so blessed by the message at last year's Christmas Eve service.

The only big bummer of today is being unable thus far to successfully log on to my Facebook account. I personally think it's a combination of everyone and their uncle (or aunt? just pick one ... :)) being on Facebook today with it being the holidays and people being off work, and my parents' kind of slow dial-up connection. Oh well ... :) Definitely not anything to complain about, really. :))

In case I don't get on here before then ... which I probably won't ... MERRY CHRISTMAS, everyone! Praise God for the Savior's birth.

I have been having a wonderful Christmas season so far! It has been great! Thinking back over this year as a whole, it has surely had its challenges for my family and me ... but I know the Lord has used those things in our lives ... I was really impacted by my parents' great example of holding firmly to the truth of Romans 8:28 throughout the time we went through my dad having cancer! It definitely encouraged me and strengthened me in my own faith.

The associate pastor at my church has been going through this special Christmas series titled "Looking unto Jesus," based on Hebrews 12:1,2.**The past two Sundays have been great, and I can hardly wait for this Sunday's message! He has brought out the wonder of Jesus and encouraged us to rekindle our love for Him ... our wonder at His presence and who He is and what He has done for us. He has talked about the wonderful joy that is ours because of Jesus ... a joy that can be constant in our lives, for it is not based on earthly things or temporal comforts. Praise the Lord for this! :)

[Listen at http://www.prestonwood.org/services/media/weekend_media.php
Click on "Everything We Believe Begins with Him" and "Everything We Hope For is Fulfilled in Him." Those are the first two messages in the series, and the third will probably be there within this next week!]

I have also been enjoying the "festivities" of the Christmas season with wonderful brothers and sisters in Christ ... several great Christmas parties, the most recent one being our GFA staff Christmas party this past Friday evening. :) It was such a special time, from the time when I received "valet parking" thanks to our teenagers (a first for me! :)), to when I discovered that because there was a cute Christmas sticker under my plate, I would get to keep the beautiful red roses at the table, to the great fellowship and laughter I got to share with others, to running into some more of my dear friends/co-workers as I went out to my car, looking for where it had been valet-parked. :-D

We also got to sing Christmas carols and eat yummy food, and be reminded of people in Asia who are celebrating the Christ of Christmas through our partnership with the work on the field ... wow ... that just boggles my mind ... praise the Lord! :o)

Then on Sunday, I thoroughly enjoyed the final message in the "Looking unto Jesus" Christmas series. It was also great catching up with dear friends and hearing the great teaching during adult Bible fellowship, too. Afterwards we all went to Chuck's for lunch--and then some of us went and gave sandwiches--and the Gospel--to the homeless in downtown Dallas!

It was an incredible experience on so many levels for me ... and I ultimately came back renewed, refreshed and encouraged. My heart was full of joy. Now? I'm doing pretty well overall I think ... trying to finish up all my projects before I drive toward the Deep South on Saturday morning to see my parents for the holidays! Looking forward to that time ... and hopefully will be able to not pull too much of my hair out in the meantime, as I try to finish projects. :) Seriously, I have been able to get quite a bit done this evening already and am feeling quite hopeful. :-)

I have been enjoying the Christmas season so much this year.

Is it already almost "next Friday" from when I posted? Whoa ... how does a whole week go by so fast?!! :-) I hope you all are doing well.

Some highlights of my past week:

- Two Christmas parties over the weekend, one with some fellow staff members and one with my S.S. class from church. Both were great fun! :-D

- Somewhat inadvertently giving myself Peppermint bark on Facebook and then having a good laugh at myself over it!

- Enjoying, along with my fellow writers, some "real-life", yummy fudge a co-worker's wife made for us. :-D

- Making lunch plans for this week and next with a couple of good friends from work

- Hearing in prayer meeting and being greatly encouraged by knowing that a radio campaign that I had the opportunity to help with text copy for has seen tremendous results for the Kingdom.

Yay - another post! : ) Hope you all are doing well! I am going to try to be more faithful in posting! All in all, I'm doing pretty well I think ... when I went home for lunch today, I was suddenly overcome with feelings of loneliness! When I mentioned it to a friend (who had kindly jabbered me to tell me she had a Reece's on her desk for me!), she thought it was interesting that it happened on the day of all-night prayer. (Good point!!! It really helped and encouraged me to remember that such feelings are not necessarily "isolated incidents" ... they could very well be part of the very real spiritual battle we all face here as people are being reached in Asia!)

Speaking of prayer tonight, I am looking forward to it - even though I probably won't be staying the entire time (still recovering from last week's sinus infection, and slept 12 hours last night! ;), I hope to stay for quite a while. :) IT will be good to worship, hear how God is working, and enjoy community and fellowship with my brothers and sisters in Christ here.

Well, it's a beautiful day and I think I'm going to go grocery shop for cookie ingredients (since I'm making some for next week for our ministry vendors) and hopefully relax around the apartment a bit and also take a nice walk in this gorgeous weather. :-D

Wow. I don't really feel discouraged anymore. It's as if the Lord came in and just lifted my discouragement ... it sure feels that way! I am so glad. Thank you to all of you who prayed for me! :o)

It's beautiful outside! I love the fall season. In a few minutes I am going to lunch with several friends from work ... several fellow bloggers. :-D

Looking forward to spending this time with y'all.

This afternoon I found out some wonderful news about my dad, that many of you reading this blog probably already know: After a diagnosis of cancer on July 18, a follow-up CAT scan showed my dad to have no sign of cancer now! This is a huge praise, nearly four months after his initial diagnosis.

Even as I greatly rejoice and praise God for this incredible news, I somehow find myself in general battling feelings of discouragement at times ... and today was one of those times. I have experienced many moments lately in which my life feels in some respects pretty "ordinary".

I know the life of no believer should seem ordinary really, when God is always doing incredible things in and around us no matter what -- and in some ways that feels especially true when I have the wonderful privilege to serve Him in full-time ministry to reach people in Asia -- but there have been moments lately when it's still a struggle to not feel that things in my life are "ordinary" ... but if I am in the Lord's will, ultimately I am complete in Him and not lacking in any good thing regardless of how I may sometimes "feel" ... and He is all that ultimately matters.

Deep down I so much want to know Him more and grow deeper in Him. Oh Lord, give me a heart to always REJOICE in the cup You give me ... to rejoice in hardship and even feelings of "ordinary-ness" if it means Your name is hallowed in me and Your likeness becomes a little bit more noticeable in me. Oh, Lord, thank you!

I read this verse today and was encouraged and felt God had pointed me to it for a purpose ... I highlighted the part that especially encouraged me today.

"There, in the presence of the LORD your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the LORD your God has blessed you."
- Deuteronomy 12:7

It's been two weeks since I've posted! Yikes! What a goober I am. :-D Hope all of you are doing well ... and that I haven't lost my wonderful, devoted audience? :)

So I had a few pretty funny things happen to me all within this last week ... definitely served me well for some comic relief ... so I thought I would share them with you my Blogger buddies in the hopes that perhaps they would brighten your day, too, with a good laugh or two. :-) [For those of you who are also Facebook users, this is also on my Facebook!]

#1
You may have seen my "Baskin Robbins" blooper hinted at in my status update ... well, here's the full story for your enjoyment! : )

I had a coupon for "buy one, get one free" for a 4 ounce cone at Baskin Robbins . . . and saw that it expired that day (this past Sunday). After already trying to draft a friend who especially loves ice cream (she wished that she could!) I thought I would go down there myself and grab, for a great price, two small cones. After all, who would want such a great coupon to go to waste? :=)

I figured I could transport the cones over the short trip home by putting them in a cup. So here I was, driving with this wide (but not too tall unfortunately!) cup in my lap, only to have ice cream land all over my lap when I made a turn! :=D (I think my ice cream would have remained more intact if I had the ice cream part facing down in the cup actually ... oh well, hindsight is always better than foresight, and I sure enjoyed some good laughs about the whole thing!

#2
My friend Sally gave me a jacket she thought I might be able to use. Since her cubicle is right next to mine in the office, I was holding the jacket up a few feet from me, asking her what she thought would go with it.

Well, in the meantime, a co-worker, Brad, was making a delivery from downstairs. The way our cubicles are set up, he couldn't see Sally! So he grinned really big and was like, "Oh! I couldn't see Sally. It looked like you were talking to a jacket back there." (When he sais that, I think I laughed so hard I nearly couldn't breathe. :o) Sally was laughing, too!)

#3
Last night I noticed I was a bit low on gasoline in my car and had better go get some. Since I was near a Valero gas station, I went ahead and went there. I wanted to pay cash for a couple of gallons, and knew I needed to pre-pay inside. Well, it looked like the part of the store closest to me was closed. So I went next door. When I told the guy what I wanted to do, he looked at me with a really puzzled look ... and I could tell there was a bit of a language barrier. Then as I continued to try to explain it finally dawned on him: "OH! You must mean next door."
I looked around the store for the first time and realized I was surrounded by these huge bottles of every kind of liquor you could probably imagine ... so I kind of giggled and said, "Oh! OH!" and darted out the door. I think my face probably looked pretty flushed at that point!

Tonight around 8:00 found me sitting at Panera Bread Company, enjoying a yummy orchard harvest salad and potato soup. (Thanks to Heather H. for the Panera gift card ... a much-enjoyed present. :-D) As I enjoyed my meal, I had open a book I had checked out from the library, Randy Alcorn's Heaven.

Just thought I'd share a few quotes from that book that really refreshed and encouraged me. :o)
[Oh yeah - I also mixed in C.S. Lewis and some others. :o)]

"If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world."
-- C.S. Lewis

"Desire is a signpost pointing to Heaven. Every longing for better health is a longing for the New Earth. Every longing for romance is a longing for the ultimate romance with Christ. Every desire for intimacy is a desire for Christ. Every thirst for beauty is a thirst for Christ. Every taste of joy is but a foretaste of a greater and more vibrant joy than can be found on Earth as it is now."
--Randy Alcorn, from his book "Heaven"

"If we build our lives on the redemptive work of Christ, we should all be optimists. Why? Because even our most painful experience in life is but a temporary setback. Our pain and suffering may or may not be relieved in this life, but they will certainly be relieved in the next. Anticipating Heaven doesn't eliminate pain, but it lessens it and puts it into perspective. Meditating on Heaven is a great pain reliever. It reminds us that suffering and death are temporary conditions. Our existence will not end in suffering and death--they are but a gateway to our eternal life of unending joy.
Don't place your hope in favorable circumstances, which cannot and will not last. Place your hope in Christ and His promises. He will return, and we will be resurrected to life on the New Earth, where we will behold God's face and joyfully serve Him forever."
--Randy Alcorn, from his book "Heaven"

"This vale of tears is but the pathway to the better country; this world of woe is but the stepping stone to a world of bliss."
--Charles Spurgeon

"I take it to be a biblical truth that the more earnest we are about fulfilling our mission ... reaching unreached peoples ... exposing the darkness ... loosing the bonds of Satan and of sin ... the more earnest and zealous we are in being the Church, being Christ to this world, the more we will suffer like He did."
--John Piper

"Your purse is not a good place for BUGS."
--David B. (my four-year-old nephew)

Your prayers are appreciated! Somehow I have been really, really tired today ... and more tired than usual lately in general. I need strength! I know the Lord is able to do that. :-) I am probably going to try to go to bed really, really early tonight ...

I am going this weekend to visit my parents and a good friend back home and very excited about that! My mom has already informed me that I will be doing most of the cooking while I'm there. :-D (She knows I don't mind because I love to cook!)

God is good ... whether I'm sleepy or strengthy. Hee hee ... so that wasn't a very good rhyme but then after all I'm - you guessed it - sleepy. ;oP But praise God that His abundant strength shines all the more brightly in our weakness! (2 Corinthians 12:9!)

I look forward to posting a praise report tomorrow of how the Lord has strengthened me and brought me joy. :o)

Post #556. Yay for two posts on consecutive days - a record for me! :-) At least, in a while ... :o)

7:20 yesterday evening found me getting out of the car at Arbor Hills for a relaxing early evening walk. If I had known how gorgeous it was, I may have tried to get out there sooner!

A balmy breeze, mixed in with the scent of Tommy Girl and the beauty of God's creation around me, made for a delicious tone in the air. I felt invigorated, refreshed, so alive. As I was thinking all these wonderfully joyous thoughts, the sighting of a little squiggly line in the path ahead of me interupted these reflections. As I got closer, it was indeed confirmed: It was a snake!

Now, I had just passed a couple of people going the other way on the path. Why that little fellow had waited to enter the human realm until I approach, I know not. Probably for the same reason I have had snakes "visit" me right outside my second-story apartment door four times and not visit my next door neighbor who lives downstairs! [Snakes climb stairs quite well ... this I know. ;-D] Oh well ...

Later in my walk I saw a really cute rabbit. A much more pleasant sighting! As I walked by the lookout tower, strains of music or chants reached my ears that sounded like those I would picture coming from an eastern religion. Then I saw where the sound was coming from - a young person dressed in bright yellow, with their head shaved like a Buddhist monk. A startling sight ... a gripping reminder. Yet as I think about it now, also a reminder of the wonderful privilige God has given me so reach such people ...

This is why I was created ... why I am here ... to know Jesus and carry the news of His redemptive love to a world that desperately needs a Savior. Beyond belief ... and how grateful I am.

Post #555.

Yay for another post!

For some reason this week felt pretty intense in the battle (Ephesians 6:12) ... I don't know that I could really pinpoint why? But it must mean the Lord is doing pretty incredible things in Asia. I get the sense it was a challenging week for many of my co-workers ... but the battle belongs to the Lord and He is greater!

I am doing pretty well now ... and looking forward to this nice weekend of fellowship and relaxation. :-) Tomorrow is a wedding for J and C (Congratulations, you two, if you're reading this! :o)) Then tomorrow night I'm looking forward to my Bible study group at church and fellowshipping with everyone over at Tin Star for a late supper.

Sunday I am likely helping my friend J.M. move. She's moving into my complex and I'm so excited!

Going into this weekend, and rejoicing for how the Lord sustained me in the battle this week, I close this post with one of my favorite Scripture passages:

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:17,18)

I have been having this wonderful sense these days of abiding in the Lord ... of knowing the wonderfulness of who I am in Him, amid the hustle and bustle of daily life ... and it's a great feeling. A "feeling" would probably not even be the best way to describe it ... more of a heightened awareness of His incredible sovereignty.

He has been doing some pretty incredible things in my life lately ... and I am filled to the brim with joy and gratitude. :-)

Well, it's beautiful weather out there so I think I'm going to try to take a walk and then maybe work just a bit on a writing project that's due tomorrow.

All in all, I had a good Labor Day weekend. I was very happy to get to play Balderdash, my favorite game, TWICE. Great laughter over hilarious definitions ensued. :-D

Today? Well, I seem to be especially feeling the heat of the battle ... oppression in discouraging thoughts that suddenly just come upon me, in some ways without rhyme or reason? But ... God WINS. Praise God for that!

And yesterday we got a very encouraging report concerning my dad. He can definitely still use a lot of prayer ... but we are so grateful for the good report. I have been learning through this whole experience that God gives you the grace you need for each day ... His strength to get through each day. I won't lie, there are plenty of times where it sure FEELS like there is more pressing upon me than I can bear ... but HE is abundantly faithful and good whether I always "feel" that way or not.

Oh Lord Jesus ... may I sense Your presence always ... and may my life be a fragrant offering to You, a vibrant testimony to Your abundant faithfulness. Help me, dear Jesus, I pray. I love you, Jesus.

P.S. I close with a quote from Randy Alcorn's Heaven that ministered to me today ...
"To look into God's eyes will be to see what we've always longed to see: the person who made us and for whom were were made. And we will see him in the place he made for us, and for which we were made. Seeing God will be like seeing everything else for the first time. We will discover that seeing God is our greatest joy, and life itself."

Post #552.

I've been pretty busy so it's been a while ... I hope I haven't lost my devoted audience. :-D

Last night was Christy's Ice Cream Social Bridal Shower! Great fun. Ever have one of those feelings where, in that moment, you feel surrounded by friends and just, well, especially "alive"? :-) Well, I felt like that last night ... great feeling! :o)

Today we writers all went to Panera Bread Company for Sally's b-day. Good times, good food, pretty much good everything! S.R., thanks for having a birthday, and for having Panera as one of your favorites. :-D [I suggested to our coordinator the possibility of us all going to Panera for her b-day and was so happy that it worked out!]

Oh, I forgot to mention we had a delicious chocolate cake, made by Maddie! We ate it at 10:30 in the morning ... so we had dessert first. :o) We left it in the break room. By mid to late afternoon there was just a little corner piece left ... we joked that nobody would take that last piece ... GFA tradition! :-D

I am now all caught up on my projects at work ... and even ahead on some. What a good feeling! :-) Overall I'm doing relatively well otherwise, I think? I find myself pretty often being reminded of the need to always cling to Jesus, my Anchor and Resting Place. I was reminded today, through a sermon, of the supreme, incomparable joys of Heaven as being far greater than anything we could ever experience on this earth. Good word for the day!

I am continuing to enjoy my Bible reading for the 6-month challenge, and the fellowship with friends from church as our class goes and eats on Sundays. Volleyball on Sunday, with some friends from work, was also nice. :-) A co-worker took me to lunch today for my birthday (from last week), which was so thoughtful! We had Panda Express ... yum! :o)

Well, I think I'm going to head out soon ... looking forward to some good time with Jesus this evening, and also walking, resting around the apartment and maybe doing some cooking. :-D

Post #550.

I am so tired. But I've made some good progress on my projects, and am so glad for that. There is still a ways to go, but I know they will all come together ...

Here's a quote from a John Piper sermon I've been listening to a little today that encouraged me ...

"I take it to be a biblical truth that the more earnest we are about fulfilling our mission ... reaching unreached peoples ... exposing the darkness ... loosing the bonds of Satan and of sin ... the more earnest and zealous we are in being the Church, being Christ to this world, the more we will suffer like He did."

It comes from a sermon that I've listened to of his and really been encouraged by before, titled Called to Suffer and Rejoice: That We May Gain Christ.

I highly recommend it.

Yesterday, I think especially in the afternoon and evening, I felt incredibly attacked in the battle (Ephesians 6) on a physical and emotional level. I know part of it, too, is that I was really tired.

I met up with some other gals last night at a local coffee shop to celebrate my birthday and at first just burst into tears. But then as we all shared things the Lord has been doing in our lives ... and I was reminded of some neat things He had done in my life in challenging circumstances ... it helped to quiet and settle my heart.

I wrote out a couple of short Scripture passages this morning, too, as I came in to the office. I desperately yearn to feel Jesus' presence at this moment ... to feel His arms around me. I know He is there even when I can't "feel" Him ... He's always with me.

It's my birthday!

Some snapshots of my 29th B-day:

-a homemade chocolate cake SM baked for me last night
-turning red while my department sang happy birthday to me
-reading a funny card they gave me and what they wrote
-shoulder aches
-hearing something on the radio about it being the hottest day of the year
-working on projects and lamenting not being able to move any folders off my desk ;-)
-consuming a lemon-berry slush (yum!), corn dog and tater tots from Sonic
-writing notes on some newsletters(a bit overdue) and getting them out in the mail
-a fun surprise on my desk - a card and box of Whitman's chocolate from a friend at work :o)
-an encouraging email and encouraging e-card from two other friends at the office
-getting something in my eye and not being able to get it out for some reason!
-wearing my favorite shirt to the office today, a light blue textured cotton shirt with ribbon tie :o)
-getting a much-needed shoulder rub (thanks Katie! :O))
-a fun visit and smile from Dorinda
-saying "Rachel me?" :o) to differentiate between me and the other Rachael who works with us
-hearing from my mom that my dad's first round of chemo would start at 11 today
-receiving a number of "happy birthday" messages on my Facebook account

and finally ...

looking forward to Tuesday night prayer meeting but also realizing I am really tired and should probably take a quick nap before then. :-D

It was a busy weekend. A busy one, but all in all a good one. I didn't feel too tired afterwards, despite it being so busy.

Friday night was the staff celebration. It was so much fun hanging out and playing games and talking to people. :)

Saturday my friend and her husband from my hometown area came. I was able to take them to four Half-Price bookstores!!! (They love Half-Price bookstores and like to go to as many as they can when they come here.) Something neat was that another friend sent me a $25 Half-Price bookstores giftcard for my birthday. I was able to use it for a couple of recipe magazines, a "one-year" Bible with the entire NKJV in portions for each day, and a couple of C.D.'s!

Sunday (yesterday), Joy came to church and Sunday school with me, and to lunch with the group at Tin Star afterwards. :-D What was really cool was she got to meet someone who was part of the same church as a friend of hers who lives in the Dominican Republic. How cool is that!

Michele and I also caught up and had a nice time. I recommend the movie Miss Potter. Well, at least, if you're a girl. :o) Cute movie! Then last night I also hung out for a while at a farewell party for a dear sister from the ministry who will be serving in another area of our ministry for a little while.

Tonight I'm helping a friend pick up her car and maybe helping another friend move with a bunch of others. I also may try to work for a while on some writing projects. I'm also going to read a bit in Job, to catch up on my passages for the 6-month challenge. :)

It's Friday! I feel a bit tired. Tonight I'm going to a special fellowship time for someone on staff! Then tomorrow my friend and her husband from back in the Deep South will be here! Right now, they're thinking they'll pull in to my apartment between 10 and 11 ... we'll spend part of the day together, going to this huge bookstore they love [I can work on some projects for work :o))] and then to eat to celebrate our birthdays. [Her birthday is the same as mine ... well, except a year before, but the day is the same. :-D]

Then either tomorrow or sometime Sunday afternoon, I am catching up with my friend Michele - we'll watch Miss Potter together and eat together! And Sunday is church and my friend Joy is visiting with me and ... well, you get the picture - busy weekend!

I think it will be a good one though. And pretty much every day, I can sleep in a least a little. :o) I also hope to spend some really good time with the Lord. I've been in the Word a lot through the 6-month challenge this week, but have been lacking in the area of focused worship and prayer time! So I look forward to that. It's so good to be with Him.

I had for breakfast today ...

-two Chick-fila breakfast minis
-some fresh fruit
-yummy cinnamon roll

And it was all free! My apartment complex had "breakfast on the go" with Chick-fila participating. Of course I didn't complain! It was fun going over there on my way to work ... and being an early bird (usually uncharacteristic of me! :-))

They also were handing out coupons for free kid's meals. I am thinking about using my coupon during lunch, and also doing some more in my Experiencing God or today's Bible reading for the 6-month challenge.

Free food. It's a good thing.

I've had such a great day!! I got my SEND! projects turned in (yay!) and am looking forward to maybe making some chicken stir fry today, either before or after prayer meeting. :o) I'm very much looking forward to prayer meeting, too!

I enjoyed reading in Genesis today ... I have decided to take on a challenge to read the Bible in six months and am incredibly excited about that! It's with some people from my church ... they were basically offering for anyone who would like, that we all can do that and share on a website how the Lord's spoken to us. Even though I've been a Christian for many years and read quite a bit of the Bible, I've never read all the way through it! I'm incredibly excited.

I feel so refreshed and encouraged in the Lord. He has been showing Himself so faithful and dear, and I know He is carrying me and my family through people's prayers. Last night my mom and I enjoyed talking and going over our Bible study together. :o)

It is a beautiful, sunny day out. And I'm off to rest at home a bit before tonight's prayer meeting. :o) [I think the chicken stir fry will probably be made later ... although I do want to make it tonight at some point if possible, since I have fresh zuchini and squash that were given to me! :-)]

I am doing well, I think! And a bit tired, but not nearly as much as I was last Thursday. :-D

Saturday some of us gals who work in our department went and grilled kabobs (yum!!!) and made smores at a co-worker's house about 40 minutes away. I hung out over there for a while, then walked at a lake, talked to my mom, and made some returns at the outlet mall on my way home. I enjoyed walking around at the outlet mall, doing a little shopping there, and enjoying a refreshing soda at the Cinnamonster. :-D It was a nice, relaxing evening.

Yesterday was fun, too, going to eat with at Baker Brothers with a group from class after church. We have a pretty big class and a bunch of people showed up, so we were all moving our tables down so we could fit in another table without blocking the doorway. Only one thing we hadn't figured on ... all the tables were, like, seriously, obnoxiously noisy to move. So there we all are, moving all these tables and chairs in this crowded restaurant. [I guess we announced our presence pretty well!] We were laughing so hard.

Last night after resting a bit around the apartment and doing some laundry and spending some time in my Bible study, I went out to watch some of the class play competitive volleyball. I brought a SEND! article I was working on with me, and it was refreshing sitting out there in the breeze, working a bit on that. The Lord gave me a breakthrough in the article, too, which was pretty exciting!

I am still working on some SEND! stuff. I will try to work on it quite a bit more tonight, and, by faith, have my remaining two articles finished relatively soon. :-) There's still a ways to go and some things to figure out, but it's exciting to see how things are coming together for these articles. That's always a good feeling.

Then sometime tonight, a friend and I will be meeting for our weekly prayer time at a coffee shop. :o)

I am sooooo tired. But am planning to get to bed relatively early tonight, so that should help! :-) I read some encouraging things earlier today in my Experiencing God Bible study ...

Now I'm probably too sleepy to remember. ;-D Well, seriously, one very encouraging thing was the statement that, basically, all of God's dealings with us, whatever the circumstances, are always an expression of His love for us, because His very nature is love. How encouraging that was to me today!

I am juggling projects (but I enjoy them even if they're challenging at times!), a somewhat busy week, and things related to my family (as I'm seeking to go visit them so we can spend some time together, probably within these next few weeks or so!). In all of this, God is faithful and He is able to sustain. In the words of one co-worker, "God has a really cool Daytimer." :o)

I love how she put that. Some people just have a way with words!

The weekend was so good. I got so much out of the women's retreat and will even be continuing to meet with a couple of the women on a regular basis, to learn from them and grow. I'm so excited! One of them is the woman who spoke. She had it all as far as this world ... but gave it up when she received Jesus. Her whole life now is centered on knowing Him more and pouring out her life into those of other women, especially those younger than her, and she spends two hours with Jesus daily!

I also had a lot of fun fellowshipping with friends from work on Friday evening and Saturday evening. We all sure will miss the interns who aren't coming back - but I know the Lord will continue to go before them. It's been a great year.

Well, pretty soon I may try to run out to the car so I can go home ... since there's finally a break in the rain. :-)

Ever had those moments in life where you just feel kind of weary? Don't get me wrong ... on a number of levels I'm doing well, especially all things considered, with the news about my dad. It's just ... sometimes I've been finding myself feeling stressed out a bit? Or out of sorts maybe?

I don't want to feel that way. :-) I think I need to take to heart Isaiah 40:31, which tells me that as I wait on Him, He will renew my strength. He has strength for every trial, every project, every part of my daily life! How glad I am for that.

And this weekend I'm going to a women's retreat for my young adults class ... not the kind where you stay overnight, but the kind that will be for a couple of hours on Friday, and then start again on Saturday! Anyhow, the lady I was emailing to sign up for it informed me that someone had payed my retreat costs, so I was good to go! That totally made my day ... I was moved beyond words.

Well now I'm going to run downstairs to have some barbeque as part of our intern graduation celebration. YUM. Then I'll probably head home pretty soon so I can get some stuff done and also get some good rest.

God is good.

Today we received some quite encouraging news about my dad, all things considered! There still could be a long road ahead of us, but the prognosis seems to be much better than the other option that it could have been. Of course, whatever the outcome, we know Jesus will carry us. He has been carrying us in His arms in a supernatural way through people's prayers!

I am still doing pretty well, and encouraged in the Lord. Yesterday I got a little discouraged and stressed out, but then the Lord lifted my spirits through a really good message a guest speaker shared with us last night!

We had our "Tuesday night prayer" a day early, on Monday night. :-D Our guest speaker shared on Acts 20:24, the Apostle's declaration of, in essence, "None of these things move me." He was going to Jerusalem, full knowing he could be killed for his Christian faith. Yet he boldly declared that he did not count his life as dear to himself.

The speaker shared how life is like a gym ... the things that come our way or that we go through won't necessarily be easy ... there will be hard times ... but they are all profitable for our training and for our character and growth in Christ! Also, the course God has for each of us in all of this is His perfectly ordained course that He has orchestrated for us. It is a good course, even in those times when it may not emotionally feel like it. Each trial He brings our way is an expression of His perfect love for us ... and an extension of His desire to make us more like Jesus.

How encouraging, and how applicable to my family during this time! I was definitely refreshed through that message.

[On a totally different, somewhat random, yet applicable note, I went to Panda Express with my dear friend Shareen yesterday and was pleasantly surprised that they had a delicious new entry ... thai chicken. The company was nice, too - I think the Lord arranged us running into each other around lunchtime so we could fellowship together over lunch that day when I needed special encouragement, and it was also good to be able to spend some time together before she heads back home for a little while to raise support. The Lord is good.]

God continues to show Himself so faithful. I think of Romans 8:31 ... if we know Jesus, truly we have nothing to fear.

I just got back from lunch at Taco Bueno with KT, a good friend from work. I enjoyed out time together, sharing with one another how we've been encouraged through Bible studies and stories about the persecuted Church. I was telling her how I really am feeling the Lord prepared my mom and I for the news about my dad's health, with the stories we've been reading about the persecuted Church around the world! It really helps put things into perspective.

It honestly feels like the Lord has been totally carrying me in His arms, giving me peace and contentment ... and it seems, incredibly, He has been doing the same for my parents in the midst of this. I thank all of you who have been praying ... and please don't stop, because the Lord is using your prayers in a way that is out of this world.

The tests brought some news that was not the easiest ... and yet over and over again the Lord has proved Himself faithful to us in every circumstance.

I have been blessed and ministered to by my parents' example in all of this. Truly, their trust is in the LORD.

Please pray for us as the Lord leads. God is always so good to us. No matter what.

I am waiting to hear news about my daddy's health. Please, please pray. I know many of you are. I know no matter what, God is in control. His love for me is constant ... and not based on my circumstances. God is good.

I was able to get my groceries with no further run-ins with rain, and last night I made the first of my dishes, chicken fajita skillet. :o) I was very happy with how it turned out! (If anyone would like the recipe, let me know and I'd be happy to send it to you ... it's a bunch of fun and easy to make!)

Today during lunch, a group of us from the office ventured to Chick-fila for their Cow Appreciation Day. Because we courageously wore cow-patterned clothes and a cow mask, we received free combo meals! It was good fun. :o)

I'm looking forward to meeting up with a good friend from work tomorrow, to make pizza at her apartment and visit and pray for one another. It will be a nice way to start the weekend.

My writing projects are going well. I just finished a web story about a beggar who came to know Jesus, through an outreach of GFA Compassion Services, before being killed that very day in an auto accident. I'm so thankful she knew the Savior!

There are times lately that the "battle" (Ephesians 6) feels maybe particularly intense. But I am finding lately that I get so incredibly encouraged by stories from the mission field ... especially, lately, some stories of the underground church I've been reading in Hearts Afire, a book someone gave me published by Voice of the Martyrs.

Last night I had the opportunity to share, during prayer meeting, some stories that have especially touched my heart, from the work in Asia that we all get to part of here at GFA. An amazing thing happened ... It was my hope that people would be encouraged through these stories, as I have been, yet I also found that I was so encouraged myself through the time of getting to share. I guess, for one thing, sometimes it strengthens us and encourages us in our faith as believers, when we verbalize to others some of the ways the Lord has ministered to us at just the right moment. :-)

On a totally different and somewhat random note, I really looking forward to trying out these new recipes ...
1) Chicken fajita skillet
2) Chicken tortilla soup
3) Hawaian chicken

hmmmm ... which means I probably should get to the grocery store, now that the rain has cleared. :-) Maybe I can even get a nice walk in before I get my groceries!

So this is my 533rd post - what do you know! :-D

I have been pretty busy lately and not been able to post as often as I'd like. But things overall are relatively good, and God has been teaching me much. I am being reminded that HE is my security, my sufficiency ... something I know full well on an intellectual, objective level, but oh how it can be a challenge at times to remember on an everyday heart level. ;-) [I'm sure all of you reading this blog can relate!!!]

Yet I am learning so much from the Lord, and that's surely a good thing. I am often reminded that He is far more concerned with my character than my comfort. I am grateful, for in my natural flesh, I would be much more inclined to choose my comfort. :-) How grateful I am for a God who allows challenges and trials in my day-to-day life --things He uses to draw me closer to HIM, which is ultimately what I want most anyhow. Boy, oh boy, is HE good and faithful to me. :o) Praise the Lord.

Well, I am off to make a couple stops and run some errands, and work a bit on some writing projects. :o) It's a beautiful day outside!

Celebrate Freedom was muddy but definitely a good time! I ended up hanging out at the GFA booth a lot of the time, having a bunch of fun helping to give out free books. :-D Jules and I also went and enjoyed some of the concert for a few minutes - and visited a cool booth that had $5 Christian t-shirts. :o) She got one with the different names for Jesus, and I got a bright pink one with the verse about loving the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. (I wasn't even thinking about it at the time, but that's exactly what my Bible study is in the unit I'm starting! Pretty cool :o))

Tomorrow is all-night prayer at the office. I'm looking forward to that! At 1:01 a.m. I'll be sharing, too, about the Maldives. Beautiful place with gorgeous waters and coral reefs ... but the people need Jesus. I am so glad there is nothing HE can't do ... I was reading in my Bible study recently the verse in James about Elijah being a normal human being just like us, yet how powerfully the Lord used his prayers. When he prayed, it didn't rain for three years!!!

I marvel at the privilege to know and serve a God for whom nothing is impossible. And at His incredible patience with me, and His grace.

I'm going to Celebrate Freedom in about an hour! I'm looking forward to it ... ever since I moved here and heard about it I've always kind of wanted to go, and the Lord even worked out a way for me to ride with some friends from work who have free parking. :-D He is so good.

I've been continuing to learn so much and be encouraged through the Experiencing God Bible study, the Psalms and Proverbs, and some books I've been reading. I'm so grateful.

What's pretty exciting, too, about Celebrate Freedom is we're getting to have a GFA booth out there. I think this is the first year we've been able to do that! Well off I go ... hope I don't slip and slide too much in the mud out there (hee hee). :o)

It's been raining pretty much every day here! It's raining right now and I'm hoping for a good break so I can run out to the car ... since I don't have my umbrella with me. ;-D Tonight I'm going to a Bible study (the last one in a series on evangelism) and then probably making a stop or two.

I'm continuing to enjoy the stories from Voice of the Martyrs ... one I started last night, in Hearts Afire, is about a 13-year-old girl who courageously shared the Gospel in the cramped conditions of a refugee camp area. I can't wait to finish it.

I have been reading some books from Voice of the Martyrs. One of them is Extreme Devotion, which has daily devotionals with Scripture verses and stories about the persecuted Church.

One member of the underground Church, a Chinese pastor, had his bag all packed and ready to go when his meeting was interupted by anti-Christian forces. He had already been arrested numorous times and was prepared ... not only physically, but in his heart as well. He knew God's provision and care for him extended even into prison.

Stories like his really encourage, challenge and strengthen my faith. It's hard to even begin to imagine the suffering so many Christians in other countries endure daily ... yet the Lord has given them supernatural courage, joy, and trust in His provision in the midst of it. It's humbling, yet amazing at the same time ... what a cloud of witnesses, of whom the writer of Hebrews tells us, "the world was not worthy" (Hebrews 11).

Wow - has another week really gone by since I last posted? I am quite the negligent poster these days. Do I still have my devoted audience? :o)

Last weekend was a bit different than I had been planning in that it was not quite as productive as I'd hoped. Yet it felt like it was of the Lord in that He orchestrated a number of opportunities for me both to encourage and be encouraged.

I enjoyed meeting up with an old friend, walking with her, and praying and worshipping together at her apartment. And Michele and I very much enjoyed hanging out and fellowshipping on Saturday night, too! I thank the Lord for these great opportunities for fellowship ... and that He knows what I need so much more than I do. :o)

I can hardly believe it's the weekend again ... I am looking forward to a restful yet very productive one ... unless God ordains otherwise. :-D I do know that, weather permitting, I am hoping to play volleyball with others from the ministry. That will be fun!

Ever have one of those time periods in life where you just seem to do, well, silly things ... and feel, well, silly afterwards. And feel, well, like a pretty silly person at times, even though you don't really want to. :-D Well thankfully, God is faithful and patient with me and others and gives me good laughs in the meantime. :oP

And it will be a nice weekend. Don't have much planned so far, but looking forward to days filled with ...

Spending time with Jesus.

Catching up on laundry. (yes, I actually enjoy doing laundry ... strange, I know :o))
Getting in some good walks at the nature preserve.

Restocking fruits and vegetables in my serving size containers (much-needed!).

Just hanging out and relaxing.

Catching up on the phone with my mom and maybe a couple of good friends from back home.

Maybe some reading in a good Christian book, enjoying the sunny weather!

Possibly meeting up with some people for a little bit tomorrow.

Church and Sunday school.

I like weekends. And I like that God's mercies are new every morning.

Yesterday was a nice day.

Got caught up a lot on stuff around the apartment - cleaning, laundry, etc. Late afternoon, went to White Rock Lake with my friend D. We biked the nine miles around the lake, enjoyed the view, and got in some kind of cool conversations with people along the way. :o) Oh, she also introduced me to Raisin' Canes Chicken Fingers. Good stuff! :-D

Today I went to lunch with a group after church. In a little bit, a big group of us from the ministry playing volleyball. Yahoo!

I'm glad for friends ... and nice sunny days ... and biking and fellowship and volleyball. :-D And most of all for JESUS ... I mean, where would I be without Him?

Has the week really gone by this fast? WOW. It's been a good one. And I feel happy and encouraged in the Lord. We have all-night prayer tonight, and I'm looking forward to that! It will be nice to pray and fellowship with everyone. :-)

Tomorrow a friend and I may go biking at White Rock Lake - yahoo! Whatever the weekend holds, I am sure it will be a nice one ... I am looking forward to resting, spending some more time with the Lord, fellowship with others and catching up on stuff at home.

I think now I'm going to go take a walk at the nature preserve ... gorgeous weather! :-D

I'm back! I am glad I got to go on the retreat - It sure was a nice time of getting to fellowship with people!

A few highlights ...

A late night game of Encore with some other gals in our cabin area ;-D

A walk and time of prayer together with my good friend and former roommie D :)

Learning how to fish ... and even catching a perch :-) (with some help, of course!)

A great game of rainy weather volleyball, in which staff member DC took a heroic dive straight into a massive mud puddle! :o)

I am glad to be here at GFA. As I was sharing with someone the other day, it feels like the Lord has brought me through much in my almost five years here, but I have learned much in my walk with Him, on so many levels! I'm so glad He is always working on me.

Now I have tomorrow off - I hope to get quite a bit done, and the rest will be nice as well, after being gone all weekend and staying up a bit late last night with our Encore game. :-D

We're all going on a staff retreat - yay! :-) Hope the weather is nice. (as it rains outside my second-story cubicle window as I write this ;-D) Well, whether it rains or is sunny, God is good! (and we need the rain just as much as the sun!!!)

I'm riding down there with a good friend from work, and tomorrow night I'm one of the MC's for the talent show! Should be fun.

Ever have one of those weeks in which you feel like you could really use a special touch from the Lord? This week so far seems to be one of those ... a week of hardships in the battle.

But something kind of cool happened today that not only was helpful and encouraging to me, but also helped to take my focus off me and think more instead of how I can minister to and serve others.

And I was listening to some of a Piper sermon that is really good ... I would highly recommend it!

Here's a great quote from it ...

"I have never heard anybody say, “The deepest, rarest, choicest, most satisfying pleasures in life have come to me in extended seasons of ease and earthly comfort.” It’s always the opposite, like Samuel Rutherford who said, “I accept being put into the cellars of suffering, because the great King keeps His wine there.” Or like Charles Spurgeon who said, “Those who dive in the seas of affliction bring up the rarest pearls.” You do not try to maximize your earthly comforts if your life is going to have the deepest, rarest, most lasting pleasures. It's the cellars of suffering for righteousness and walking with God through the dark paths of faithfulness that in the end and often along the way bring the sweetest, deepest discoveries of who He is." - John Piper

Praise God! I think I may have gotten the touch I needed. ;-D

Is it really the weekend already? This week passed kind of quickly, too! Today some of us from my department went to Garcia Bros. (yum!) to share some of what we had learned at the EPA Convention a few weeks ago. :-D

I got some recipe booklets that a co-worker had UFG, and am looking forward to trying out some more new recipes. :o)I had some good time with the Lord yesterday ... how good it is to know Him!

Well, I do think I am going to walk home now (might I add, in this absolutely gorgeous weather) and officially start my weekend. :oD I look forward to it.

Wow, I had such a refreshing weekend!

It was a really nice mixture of rest, relaxation, times with friends, time with Jesus, meeting new friends, and being spiritually nourished through a church service and S.S. class.

On Friday, Steph and Michele and I had our C&B outing ... and I did end up finding a cute outfit that they both liked and even encouraged me to get. :-D (Good thing I had my 20% off coupon :=)

Saturday was a good mix of lots of cooking (chicken "stir fry" and fall harvest chowder), catching up around the apartment, watching a movie and talking to my mom on the phone.

Sunday was great ... good church service and Sunday school, and a good time of going to lunch afterwards at Dickey's Barbeque. It was especially fun because all of the women in our group were handed carnations at the cash register, in honor of Mother's Day.

I love flowers. :-D

Post #519.

Things go great here! I am just kind of in disbelief it's already Friday?! Because the week feels like it's gone by rather quickly.

Tonight I'm going with Steph and Michele to eat at La Madeline and then to one of our favorite shops, Christopher and Banks. :-D I am thoroughly looking forward to this time to catch up and hang out together. And there is supposed to be this big sale at C&B, and I have a 20% off coupon, too ...

I am excited about the weekend. I think tomorrow I will do some of the normal stuff like getting some good exercise, catching up a bunch around the apartment, etc. Who knows, I may even try out a new recipe. :o) I love to cook!

I want to spend some good time with the Lord, too.

This time I'm back for real - back in sunny Texas! Got back late Sunday evening. And things go well. A project came together that I was working on today and much of yesterday, so that was exciting!

Fun time zone story from the weekend ...

So there I was in Colorado on Sunday morning, and I knew we all needed to leave for church around 9:10. Well, it's maybe 8:30 or 8:40, and hardly a creature in the house seems to be stirring. Seeing one of my "roommates" dressed in her Sunday attire, I get up and get ready for church, too.

By the time we get downstairs, it's something like 9:04, and Mrs. H is in the kitchen starting french toast and bacon. Now I love breakfast, and I'm thinking, YUM. But there's one problem ... we have, like, six minutes before we have to leave!

Then I hear Mrs. H say something like, "Yeah, we're doing pretty well. It's 8:00 ..." I burst out laughing, tell her my story and how I was thinking "Mrs. H, that breakfast looks really nice but we have to leave in six minutes," and she bursts out laughing, too. :-D

[I had switched my watch to Colorado time, but not my cell phone, which had my alarm on it! ;-)]

I'm back. Well, not back back. But back to the world of bloggers. :o)))

I am at my friends' in Manitou, and I climbed up Red Mountain today ...

Boy, oh boy, there's nothing like climbing a mountain to make you realize how out of shape you are. Of course, I blame it on the high altitude and thin air, both of which I'm not used to.

But it sure is beautiful out here! If they decided to move our ministry out to gorgeous Colorado, I surely would not complain.:-D Of course, I truly thank God that I can be content ANYWHERE, mountains or not!!! I've been thinking on that subject since I've been out here in this beautiful place, and am so happy that in Jesus I can always be content, anywhere. Praise God.

Gotta go because I think I'm taking a quick walk before we all have supper together. It's been fun chatting with my friends and also a girl that I helped kind of settle in to her room over at the old hotel where the summer conference will be!

Well, see a bunch of you soon, since I'll be back tomorrow! :o)

God is good.

It is gorgeous, gorgeous weather. YAY! And next week at this time I will be in Colorado. Yippee! :-)

Several of us from work are getting to attend the EPA* Convention in Col. Springs, and then I will get to spend the weekend with some friends who live in that area. So looking forward to that! :-D

I have been enjoying working on an article about Goa for our next SEND!, and have been amazed and encouraged at how it's been coming together. The Lord has really been answering prayer! I asked others on staff to pray for me on Monday morning when I shared some things that had touched my heart about Goa - and I can really feel there prayers as the Lord has truly been bringing this article together in incredible ways.

It's also so encouraging to think of how, if He's answering prayer as I work on this article, how much more I can be encouraged that He must be bringing about incredible breakthroughs on the field, in the lives of these precious people. I am continually amazed at His power and His faithfulness.

By the way, did y'all know I sometimes see random flying objects whiz by my upstairs office window? Just thought I'd share that fun fact ... one time recently it was a plastic bag. :o) Fun stuff.

*for those who may be wondering, no, this does not stand for Environmental Protection Agency - at least not in this case. :-) Check out the link above to learn more!

Heather and Jess left this morning - I had a nice time with them!

A couple of fun facts from the weekend:
-went to 7 (I am not kidding!!! :-)) Half-Price bookstores in two days
-ate at two Panda Express's
(we went other places, too, besides just Half-Price bookstores and Panda Express! :o))

My friends really, really like Half-Price bookstores, so they wanted to go to as many as they could! And it worked out fine for me, too, because usually they had a table somewhere in the store where I could spread out my SEND! research and get some work done, and I could also visit with my friends, too, as they stopped by to look through books or have me watch their purse. :-)

Going to Panda Express the second time was really fun. My friends both like Panda Express, and it's something they don't have back home. Jess wanted to have her picture taken by the pictures of pandas that were on the wall, to give to her mom since she likes pandas. So she recruited Heather and I to help with picture-taking. :-) [Well, I tried to help, but I didn't know Heather's digital camera that well ... so she wisely figured it would be quicker if she took them. :o)]

It was so fun watching them walk around to the different spots to take pictures, especially when the nice guy at the counter who had served us earlier looked over and laughed good-naturedly, and a couple of high schooler boys who were watching them looked over at me and were like, "Um, have they not ever been to Panda Express?" :-D Needless to say, when Heather and Jess got back to the table from their picture-taking adventure, we all enjoyed some good laughs together!

I'm a bit tired from the weekend, but doing well, and so grateful for the good visit with my friends.

Sitting down yesterday to lunch at Chick-fila with a group of gals from the office, the song "Give Me Jesus" playing in the background, I thought of how appropriate it was as a good friend from my department shared how the Lord had worked in hers and her husband's hearts to lay aside their plans and hear His heart for them. I loved hearing her story of how God drew them to GFA - I hadn't gotten to hear it yet. :-)

Today two projects came together that I was hoping would get completed - I'm glad!

It is beautiful, warm and sunny outside! As soon as I finish blogging, I'm about to pack up my stuff and go take a walk in this great weather. :-D Then, at 6:00, I'm going to supper with my good friend Tee so we can catch up and pray together. Then I have some friends coming to see me from out of town ... they're arriving in the middle of the night because that works out best with when one of them gets off work. :-)

I went to the dentist for my routine cleaning today. They're always telling me I have great teeth. :-D It's kind of fun to hear that ... I mean, I know life is not all about having good teeth (it's really not! ;-) but it is kind of nice to not ever have to have dental work done or worry with that hassle and expense.

A bunch of us here at the ministry have little pages on Facebook, and it's kind of fun. There are also little "groups" that you can join if you'd like; today I decided to join a Dr. Seuss group since I enjoy occasionally collecting Dr. Seuss paraphanelia, like the fun jelly jars I found on Ebay.

Anyhow, today's funny quote for the day that I just had to share ...

IIsak...
Since the two of us are the only people in the group... why not make me an officer?

I laughed so hard when I read that! I thought it was too cute. [Incidentally, he did get to become an officer, and they both named themselves after Dr. Seuss characters. :-) My joining the group makes the current total
six ... and, nope, in case you're wondering, I'm not an officer. :-D]

I'm back in the office again! I tried to come back again on Thursday but my co-workers could tell I still needed more rest. :-) I slept much of the day on Friday, too, but did make it to supper at a friend's house (she fixed a delicious meal of tilapia and fruit!) and then to a couple of hours of all-night prayer, too!

On Saturday I was still pretty congested and tired, and didn't have much energy ... but thoroughly enjoyed volleyball with a bunch of friends from staff after a four-hour nap on Sunday. :-D

And now a good friend and I are going to supper and to catch up and pray together. That will be nice. I think we're going to Wendy's ... she was talking about their yummy salads earlier, and they're nice and close to the office. :c)

It was nice to be back in the office today after being home Monday and Tuesday with a head cold I developed over the weekend! It was good to see people again, and to be "back in the swing of things" after mostly having my couch, a box of tissues, and cold medicine as my constant companions these past few days. :o) [Well, and of course, Jesus, too, but He's always my companion, not just when I'm at home sick. :-)]

Anyhow, it's good to be back.

Today my sister and I took the kiddos and went to Wal-mart to get groceries and then did a little cooking and baking this afternoon, and we all had our cousin Rob over this evening for chicken pot pie.

It was good to see him again! Some of us watched Lady in the Water after supper. Looked like possibly a scary movie from the previews, but really not that scary ... just a few loud parts where this grassy-like creature suddenly jumps out at you. ;-D

And now my sister's watching me write in my blog and taking pictures of me ... not sure why ... I think she's trying out her camera. :-D It's good she made sure it's working so she can get pictures of the kiddos tomorrow in their Easter outfits!

We all have been having such a good visit! :c) Well, I'm sleepy now so I should get ready for bed soon, I s'pose. :0)As I think of it being Easter tomorrow, how wonderful it is to remember that Christ is RISEN.

I'm having a blast at my sister's!!!

When I first got here, we played at the park. I pushed my niece Elizabeth on the swings! Then my sister and nephews and niece and I all went to eat at Chuy's.

I got initiated into Cinnamon Stick Country when my brother-in-law got home. :-) He ordered them from Pizza Hut. He and my sister were teasing each other, because she didn't know if I would like them but he kept insisting I would, and I did. :c) Then my sister admitted she'd never tried them, and he insisted she try them, and she wasn't impressed. It was pretty funny.

After supper, my sister and I went to the mall. Then later, we three all had a great time chatting and joking around. :-D

It's Easter soon, and a three day weekend!

After work, I'm going walking with a co-worker, then packing so I can head out early tomorrow to go visit my sister in Austin for the weekend. I'm excited!!!

Happy Resurrection Sunday. :-D

Animal crackers or doggie treat biscuits? That is the question.

Okay, now that I've got your attention ... :-) An out-of-town friend of the ministry wanted to play an April Fools joke on my department coordinator, Lars ... so she enlisted my help! She was in town briefly last week and brought boxes of animal crackers for today's information department meeting.

The boxes had our names on them ... so in the one with my coordinator's name, she put doggie treat crackers! They looked like regular animal crackers, and tasted quite good to a number of us who tried them later, actually! [She told me last week that she had taste-tested them and mentioned that you really couldn't tell they weren't animal crackers :o)]

Lars ate probably four or five of them and was totally oblivious until I showed him the pet store receipt!!! And with the help of a couple of co-workers, we got the whole thing on video, too. :-D

We all think Lars was quite the good sport! He even packaged up the cracker box and the receipt so he could bring them to show his wife! Of course, he did remind me that he does my staff evalution (uh-oh) ... and it just so happens I have one coming up really soon. :)

Volleyball is one of my favorite outdoor games ... and I got to play for a while today!!! :) Afterwards, some of us headed over to J and C's apartment to hang out for a bit. We had fun watching last year's intern video and playing interactive video sports ... well, I didn't actually play ... I think it was more fun just watching the ones who actually did play. :o)

We also ate these super yummy pita chips from Costco. :=)

A group of us from staff went on outreach to a local flea market. It was kind of a neat time ... I think a lot of us were pleasantly surprised at how receptive people were to receiving tracts!

Some highlights from my time there ...

- Talking to Bonnie, a sweet lady who was waiting to clean the bathrooms. When I went back and handed her a Gospel tract, she smiled and said, "You made my day"! [Thank you, M and J, for encouraging me to go back :o)]

- When I handed the fake one million dollar bill tract to a Spanish guy maybe in his 40s or so, and he laughed and got really excited about it and his friend insisted on having one, too. :=)

- Giving out the optical illusion tract to a man by one of the booths and then watching as he tried it out on the two girls nearby. What was really cool about that is, I had originally wanted to approach the two girls but it looked like they were busy setting up their booth ... so it looks like the Lord used that man without His even knowing! [Isn't it cool that God's ways are so far beyond us and our limited human perspective? :o)]

- One young man at a booth chuckled good-naturedly after I walked away and was saying something to me. I was a little afraid of what he would say ... but I walked back over. :) Holding the Gospel tract I had just handed him, he shared that he's a Christian, too! That was a nice surprise, and we got to share with him about Gospel for Asia.

On the way home, our car of people stopped in at Cracker Barrel ... we all ordered off the kids menu, which was really fun! I had the chicken and dumplings, and some of the others had chicken tenderloins. And the waiter brought out these really yummy biscuits and butter ... need I say more?! Good times. :o)

Today was our Spring Cleaning day. Some of the people in our department were being pretty funny ... and our office manager came in with a cowboy hat and these humongous sunglasses. We joked that we should make sure not to schedule building tours for Spring Cleaning Day ... people may not know quite what to make of us silly people. :-D

In a bit, we're all going to have pizza downstairs (yum). I was so looking forward to volleyball, too, but looks like it may be too rainy for that. :( I'd still love to play, so we'll see ... maybe there will be a few of us brave souls out there to join me, since there are some folks out there playing basketball now. :)

Well, my friends, I close this workday and start this weekend with this song ... because it's so encouraging to remember this at the end of each day ... however I may be feeling or whatever each day may have held ... this is what it's all about.

Not to Us

The cross before me, the world behind.
No turning back
raise the banner high
It's not for me,
It's all for YOU.

Let the heavens shake and split the sky,
Let the people clap their hands and cry.
It's not for us,
It's all for YOU

CHORUS:
Not to us,
but to YOUR name be the glory.
Not to us,
but to YOUR name be the glory.

Our hearts unfold before YOUR throne,
the only place for those who know,
It's not for us,
It's all for YOU.

Send YOUR holy fire on this offering,
let our worship burn for the world to see.
It's not for us,
It's all for YOU.

The earth is shaking,
the mountains shouting,
It's all for YOU.
The waves are crashing;
The sun is raging;
It's all for YOU.

The universe is spinning and singing,
It's all for YOU.
YOUR children dancing,
dancing, dancing,
It's all for YOU,
It's all for YOU,
My all for YOU,
My all for YOU.

My shoulders have kinda been hurting lately and I was pretty tired last night. But I went to bed pretty early and got tons of rest, and that helped. :-) And today several projects I've been working on all came together - that was nice!

I am continually reminded in various circumstances to seek refuge in the Lord - that He is truly my strength and my sufficiency!

This Friday we're having Spring Cleaning at the office so we can all go through our files and drawers, then supper and VOLLEYBALL. :-D Sounds good to me!

So today, we writers all wore the same color (red) to surprise our department coordinator. We planned it out last week and everything, and he was supposed to discover it and be surprised at our 11:00 meeting, but he wandered over to our corner before then and quickly made the discovery on his own!! Oh well ... it was still great fun! :c)

As I write, it's raining quite hard, and it's kind of fun sitting up here in my second floor cubicle and listening to it come down! I was going to head out to my much-loved Barnes and Noble to work on some SEND!/web projects this evening, but I wasn't quite expecting this heavy downpour! I could always work on them at the apartment as long as I promise not to let myself get too comfortable so I won't get sleepy ... :-D Or better yet, just stay here to work on them so I won't have to brave the pouring rain! :o)

Stephanie and I biked 24 miles around the White Rock area today! We started at this park that is 7 miles from White Rock Lake, then went once around the lake and back. Then we went to McAlister's to grab a bite to eat. :-D We had a really nice time!

Now I'll probably rest around the apartment and get a few things done, too, before heading out to a ladies' game night. I have still been working on some Meghalaya SEND! web extras; I hope to finish those over the weekend! :-)

Some of us from my department spontaneously headed to Panda Express for lunch. That was really fun! It started with Shelly saying something like, "I'm in a Panda mood today". I assured her that I would gladly join her if she decided to go. She did! Then she invited another from our department, and they invited two others! :-D

So now I have leftover Kung Pao chicken ... and since I went down the hall just now to grab it from the break room refrigerator, my cubicle has the aroma of Chinese food at present. :-) It won't for long, though, 'cuz I'm 'bout to head out.

Last night I had the privilege of sharing a field story in a small group setting at our prayer meeting. I shared about a young woman who came to Christ through our film ministry when they showed a film on the life of Jesus in her village. She had never heard of Jesus, and was so happy to know Him! Her parents weren't so happy, though, and basically disowned her. Yet she is committed to serving Jesus faithfully, no matter the cost! She is now studying at a GFA Bible college, with a heart to reach those who have never heard the Gospel.

I thought about the incredible love this sister must have for her Savior ... I have been blessed to grow up in a Christian family and will probably never have to make the same kind of sacrifice that she is for her faith, yet I want to love Jesus just as much! He is wonderful, and I want to love Him more each moment. I want Him to be the first thought on my heart when I wake up each morning!

This day's been kind of flying by! After staff prayer this morning, I came upstairs and read stories that we would be going over in our information meeting. Then we had our meeting - we all had so many stories to go over, we just decided to meet in the Believers Cafe'. :-) So after our meeting, I had some great beef stirfry!

Going into the weekend I wasn't feeling all that well physically ... achy shoulders and kind of tired, etc. But the extra exercise I ended up getting helped me so much and really energized me! I spontaneously decided to go biking at White Rock Lake. I had been wanting to for a while, and a co-worker who lives across the street had showed me how to put my bike rack on, so I figured, "Sure, why not?!"

After asking my co-worker for directions, I ran upstairs to grab some stuff and my backpack, jumped back in my car, and off I went to White Rock Lake. I'm not usually quite that spontaneous (although I can be at times!) but I really seemed to have peace about my quick decision. :-D

The exit off the interstate was closed for construction and I ended up getting a bit lost, but the view when I got there was well worth the drive. [My co-worker and his wife ended up going over the weekend, too, but it sounds like they didn't get quite as lost ... I guess navigating just isn't my strong point ... hee hee. :o) I was glad they didn't get too lost, though.] I biked twice around the lake, so a total of 18 miles!

I was amazed how much more energized I was when I got home. I also biked with my friend Lindy over the weekend, at a trail near her house! That one was about 11 miles total.

Tonight I'm going to eat with my friend Michele from work, and to catch up and share prayer requests. I look forward to that.

Well, I better get back to work (hee hee) but just thought I'd write a quick update since it's been over a week! I hope everyone is doing well. Things are good here. It's so wonderful to know that I can trust God completely with things on my heart. He's truly so faithful and so good to His children! I am so glad to know Him.

I just got back from lunch and a walk around campus [or rather the office grounds? :oD] with a friend from work! We had some nice times of chatting and laughter, and I came back with some caffeine [notice I did not say whether Coke or Pepsi ... :-)]

Before I go, thought I'd share this great quote from a John Piper sermon I've been listening to online:

"If I lose any or all things, good or bad, I do not lose my joy, my hope, my treasure, my significance, my meaning ... because CHRIST is all."

Snapshots of my weekend ...

*Got laundry and other stuff done around the apartment

*Found a pretty dress at the Goodwill for $3.49

*Enjoyed relaxing around the apartment and cooking black bean soup and rosemary herbed chicken and vegetables to freeze

*Helped the T-Rex celebrate her birthday

*Went for an evening walk with a friend

*Walked for a while at the nature preserve

*Purchased a bike rack with a 20% off coupon ... slight complications but hopefully these will be worked out so Lindy and I can soon go biking at the trail near her house ;-)

*Slept in

The thing I remember most from the weekend was spontaneously going to eat at Subway and doing some journaling there ... the Lord really ministered to me in that time, reminding me His incredible love and His utter sufficiency.

So I finally took the "what kind of intelligence do you have" test that has been going around some at work. :-) I have linguistic intelligence ... according to the test. Here is the paragraph of results it gave me ...

Your Dominant Intelligence is Linguistic IntelligenceYou are excellent with words and language. You explain yourself well.An elegant speaker, you can converse well with anyone on the fly.You are also good at remembering information and convicing someone of your point of view.A master of creative phrasing and unique words, you enjoy expanding your vocabulary.
You would make a fantastic poet, journalist, writer, teacher, lawyer, politician, or translator.

Well, I do remember when I was homeschooled and in the 7th and 8th grades, I used to love learning new vocabulary words ... and one of my all-time favorite games is Balderdash. And of course I love to write and have filled up many journals. :-D But I don't feel like I'm particularly good at "convincing someone" of my "point of view", nor is that important to me either. ;-)

And ... eloquent speaker? I had to chuckle a bit. :-D I am kind of shy in front of large groups ... and even can be pretty shy at times in small group and one-on-one interactions [nobody ever seems to believe me, though ... heee heee :-)))

Well anyhow, it was a really fun test!!! [Thanks, K and E, for putting it on your blogs. :-)]

Oh, today I went to lunch with my friend J and tonight I'm hanging out with my friend D! Good times. And today's been a good day and I haven't been nearly as tired as yesterday, either. YAY!

Have a good weekend, you all.

I have been unusually sleepy at work today! I think it's mostly my own silly fault for not disciplining myself to go to bed earlier last night. :-) Despite my sleepiness and a few miscellaneous other challenges during the day, I still think the day has gone relatively well! I am still having some shoulder pain, and some discomfort in my lower back as well, but walks seem to really help it. [I'm looking forward to that in a few minutes!]

I am powerfully reminded on days like this of my incredible need to draw close to the Savior. How glad I am that I can always cling to Him for strength, and that my security is in Him. [At the same time, too, I do plan to discipline my sleepy self to get to bed much earlier tonight, and I have faith that by God's grace tomorrow will be better because of it. :-D]

Great weather. Staying pretty busy at work and enjoying the various projects I'm working on. :-) And the outdoors!

Random quote for the day ... one I find quite hilarious actually. :-D (Can you guess from which movie?)

"What - are you crazy?!! A guy in a really nice camper wants to play our music. Give me a pen! I'm signing -- you're signing -- we're all signing!"

On a different note (not as funny but definitely more meaningful and inspiring -hee hee!) I was reading in Isaiah 55 this morning ... some of my favorite verses from that Scripture passage ...

"Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare." (vs. 1-3)

It's been a good day!

Over the weekend I enjoyed walking at the nature preserve and catching up over the phone with my mom and good friend Heather ... and my 3-ish hour nap on Sunday afternoon. ;-)

There's this one song we've been singing some in prayer meeting; I hadn't heard of it before, but I really like it!

Well, I think I'm going to take a really quick walk while there's still some daylight. :o)

I just got back from lunch with my friend Shareen at Panda Express.
Yum. :-) And fun, too. I keep wanting to call it Panda Haven, because that was the name of this great Chinese take-out place in my college town. I loved going there after class sometimes and getting chicken lo mein.

The first part of this week was pretty rough but overall I'm doing so much better and am really encouraged. The messages the special speaker shared with our staff were powerful and thought-provoking ... He talked about not shrinking back from or resisting "the sword" ... in other words, the hard things in our lives that are used to break us and draw us closer to the Father. He encouraged us to see these things as a privilege ... a chance to take up our cross for Jesus. His messages were incredibly challenging ... and yet in a number of ways encouraging, too, at the same time.

I'm looking forward to our staff time of all-night prayer this Friday! Of course, I may need some caffeine before the night is over since I'm on clean-up crew for afterwards. :-) (hee hee) I'm also sharing requests for our work in Bangladesh ... not sure yet what time in the evening (or morning???:o)).

Sally, Terri and I had fun on our outing, and the moving party was fun and the weather was great! Yesterday was neat, too ... after church, I met up with my good friend Lindy who just moved back in town. She is a really strong Christian, and I'm so excited she's back in town; we both love the outdoors and want to become biking buddies. :-) She was telling me about this great trail near her house that runs by a creek and is really pretty. Yesterday we caught up over lunch and then went walking at the nature preserve.

I am learning much about trusting the Lord in all circumstances, even when I don't completely understand what is going on. I am so thankful that my joy is not dependent on what's going on around me ... it feels like the Lord has been impressing that on my heart on so many levels. It's a painful lesson to learn at times but yet ultimately a good and valuable one. I'm so glad Jesus can be trusted always.

Okay, I'm heading downstairs now because we all on staff are having a pizza supper, a time of worship and then special speaker we really enjoy, and I'm hoping to take a quick walk, too. :-)

As this Friday at work comes to a close and I look back on the week, it's been full but a good one, filled with nice weather, good walks, productive days, good times with friends and most of all much encouragement in the Lord in all kinds of circumstances. :-) I am finding that I've been feeling so refreshed lately as the Lord been ministering to me in a special way in my times with Him. I am so happy for how He's refreshed and encouraged my heart.

Tonight I am meeting up with two other gals I work with, Sally and Terri, and going to the Asian supermarket right down the road and to a couple of other places in the vicinity. That should be fun! Tomorrow are two moving parties for friends on staff. I like moving parties ... I just hope the weather's nice. :-)

Another day of great weather.

Tomorrow during morning prayer I'm getting to share in my circle about Bangladesh. The Lord has given me a special heart for Muslims, so it's neat that I'm getting to share about Bangladesh.

I decided to make little prayer request sheets for people, and the Lord gave me a neat idea of something I could do with them! I just finished those so now I'm starting my trek home while there's still daylight. :-) Oh yeah, and I need to go return those markers to Kids Korner (I got to do some arts and crafts this afternoon - great fun! :o))

Please pray for comfort and encouragement for Maddie and her family ... her grandmother passed away during the night. I know that one of the things that really encouraged me and gave me hope when my grandmother passed away in July was knowing that the Lord could have worked in her heart even in those final hours.

It's been another nice day outside, and I'm fixing to walk home and then to Maddie's, because she's invited me to her place for spaghetti and fellowship. Then we'll all head to Tuesday night prayer. :-)

Hurray ...

for beautiful, sunny Texas weather. :-) I enjoyed walking in to work in it, and look forward to walking home in a few minutes, too!

Hope everyone had a refreshing weekend.

P.S. Please pray for my friend Maddie's grandmother to know Jesus! (see more on her comment on previous day's entry) Praise God that He is able to do "exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think" (Eph 3:20)!

The other night I went and hung out with some cute children (staff family) while their parents went out. I'm so glad that worked out ... I had a great time with the kiddos, and I think the parents were really happy to get to go out!

The kiddos were so excited about teaching me all the games they learned at their little Valentine's Day party. :-) After supper, we moved all the dining room chairs out to the living room so we could play. One of the games I'd played before, where you all sit in a circle and people are different fruits. Then, the fruits the person in the middle calls out have to get up and move around, then one person is left without a chair. At one point they decided on honey dew and watermelon. Well once I mistakenly said "waterbellon" instead of "watermelon" - and of course we all started laughing uncontrollably. I told their dad not to be surprised if they go around saying "waterbellon" from now on. :-D

Well now my brain is getting sleepy (hee hee) so I should probably head home before I start making up all kinds of silly words on accident. :-) It's been a pretty good day . . . during most of it I was pretty absorbed in a project - thank-you's to ministry supporters for this coming month. It went well, and I was able to finish them. Those are one of my favorite projects to work on, yet most of the other writers don't enjoy working on them all that much, so my coordinator usually assigns them to me now. So it works out great for everybody. :o) I love how that worked out!

Have a blessed weekend, my fellow bloggers and blogreaders!

Last night I had the opportunity to join some others for a "mini postcard party" where we wrote notes to ministry supporters and then enjoyed some fellowship at Cici's Pizza afterwards. A tally of all the postcards written showed that 250 ministry supporters will be encouraged ... which is great ...

And something really cool for me personally is that going into the postcard party I was a little worn out from a pretty challenging day, but by the end of our time I felt rather invigorated and refreshed. :-) Cool how God does that!

This afternoon I enjoyed working on a number of projects, and it made the day fly by, too! Now I'm going home for just a bit before prayer meeting this evening. Listening to worship practice downstairs as they sing one of the songs for this evening, a favorite of mine :-) , I thank the Lord for giving me joy in this day ... and that He is my strength who can always be trusted and is worthy of all glory and praise.

Somehow it's been a rough day. I know we all have those days!!! I haven't had a chance to spend time with the Lord yet today, and I'm sure that will help!!

Sally, one of my good friends that I work with, invited me to hang out with her for lunch and that was nice. We went to one of our favorites, McAlister's Deli. :o) And then she showed me some stuff in Publisher for my next newsletter - YAY! (I've been wanting to use Publisher, but just couldn't quite get the columns to line up for me since I wasn't familiar with the program ...)

P.S. And, DG, thank you bunches for your smiles, hugs, prayers and Reese's PB cup. :o)

God is good and He is always faithful! How happy I am for that.

Okay, so I am seriously loving this weather. :-) Hard to believe last week at this time, some of us were playing in the snow?! Don't get me wrong, I totally like the snow too ... My motto is always that, "If it's gonna get cold, it might as well snow." :-) Snow is beautiful and something I never got to see much growing up. But my ideal weather? Without a question this week's.

[I vote we all grab our stuff from our desks and work on it outside for the rest of this week? Oh wait ... I guess that would mean a bunch of us would need to get or borrow laptop computers ... does complicate matters a bit, I s'pose. :-D]

Today's adventurous moment ...

trying some hot roasted squid jerky that a coworker brought in. ;c)

God has been so faithful. I can't deny, parts of this week were surely hard, especially more toward the beginning of the week. But look at all that He did this week!

*Really encouraged me through my times with Him, and met me at my point of need
*Gave me the strength and discipline for things I sensed Him putting on my heart
*Provided beautiful snow outside ... and the hawk that I love to see outside my window at work :-)
*And other nice things, too!

I'm heading out soon, and looking forward to extended prayer and fellowship tonight with my dear friends here. :-)

The spiritual attacks this week have felt especially heavy. It's been a challenging week for my parents as well! It seems like these attacks almost increase exponentially with how much I seek the Lord in the midst of them! I'm not about to stop ... I'm so grateful for every moment spent in His presence and He has been giving me joy as I spend that time with Him. I just need to keep holding on to Him. And He is doing wonderful things for the furtherance of His kingdom around the world ... Praise God that we can be a small part of this. :-)

A song that's really encouraged me ...

O Love that Wilt Not Let Me Go
O Love that wilt not let me go,I rest my weary soul in thee;I give thee back the life I owe,That in thine ocean depths its flowMay richer, fuller be.

O light that followest all my way,I yield my flickering torch to thee;My heart restores its borrowed ray,That in thy sunshine’s blaze its dayMay brighter, fairer be.

O Joy that seekest me through pain,I cannot close my heart to thee;I trace the rainbow through the rain,And feel the promise is not vain,That morn shall tearless be.

O Cross that liftest up my head,I dare not ask to fly from thee;I lay in dust life’s glory dead,And from the ground there blossoms redLife that shall endless be.

George Matheson, 1882.

Hungry (Falling On My Knees)

Hungry, I come to You for I know You satisfy.
I am empty, but I know Your love does not run dry.

And so I wait for You so I wait for You.

I'm falling on my knees,
Offering all of me.

Jesus, You're all this heart is living for.

Broken, I run to You for Your arms are open wide I am weary, but I know Your touch restores my life.

And so I wait for You so I wait for You.

I'm falling on my knees,
Offering all of me.

Jesus, You're all this heart is living for.

Kathryn Scott - © 1999

Well, it has surely turned out to be a busy weekend! Not that I did that on purpose; just kind of turned out that way. But it's been so nice and refreshing ... and relatively productive, too!

Friday:
I was invited to dinner at the home of the same couple whose teenage son's basketball game I watched on Thursday. They invited some others on staff as well, and also there was one of our interns, who arrived here maybe a few weeks ago and has been staying with them this past week. It was a restful and enjoyable evening with everyone!

Saturday:
Went to the bank, did a little shopping, laundry, did some catching up on other stuff around the apartment, nice long walk at the nature
preserve. :-)
Then at 5:00, I met up with several other gals on staff at the Olive Garden to celebrate another friend's birthday. We had a great time!
And as Barnes and Noble was conveniently located closeby, I headed there afterwards and was able to make some good progress on web stories and a SEND! article. :-)

Sunday:
My friend Michele and I had lunch together and caught up. I was especially looking forward to this since she just arrived back a few days ago from the staff tour to India! It was so good to see her again.

And now? I am planning to do some more walking, do a few more chores around the apartment like vaccuuming, etc., and maybe work a little more on articles. And rest a bit, too!

It's been such a good weekend. Another highlight was hearing another one of my favorite songs come on the radio, one that talks about the all-surpassing joy of the Lord. Isn't is great that as Christians, because our ultimate security is in Christ, we can choose to have that joy in all of life's circumstances? To use a word that I don't tend to use very often in everyday conversation, Hallelujah! :-)

Tonight I enjoyed watching the basketball game of a 14-year-old son of a couple I'm good friends with on staff. The parents sitting by us in the bleachers were talkative and friendly even though I don't know any of them, and that was fun!

And me? I am still going through some "mini trials" (I don't know that I could really call them full-blown trials! ;0)), but the Lord has really been giving me the reassurance of His love, and I know that these things can bear much fruit in my life!

Oh ... funny story from today.

So, today I was on the phone, twice, about a memory card I'd ordered last night, working to get the transaction through since it didn't go through the first time. Well, as I was on hold the second time I called, I was also proofing a web story for a co-worker. Since I wanted to get it to her soon for deadline, I put the phone down and walked over to put it on her desk.

I was grinning and telling two of our other co-workers that I was on hold and wouldn't be at my desk to respond if one of the customer service representatives happened to pick up. Course, I kind of figured I had plenty of time, since I was on hold a while the first time. When I got back to my desk I could tell someone had already picked up and I was no longer on hold!

Me: "Oh! Hello?!"

Customer service rep: Proceeds to greet me and ask how he could help me.

Not really sure when he picked up, but of course my co-workers started laughing about the whole thing and so it was really hard for me to keep from laughing, too, as I explained about my order. I must say, I managed to do pretty well though! I had actually thought about putting him on speaker phone while I was away, so at least I'd know if he picked up. :o)

I've been going through a few hard times lately and was encouraged today when a friend on staff shared with me how it is often when we are in the thick of the battle that we are attacked the most. That really helped to encourage me and give me perspective on what is going on, and reminded me that God is always faithful!

In a little bit I am picking up Jacy, another friend on staff, at her apartment, and we will enjoy supper together at Wendy's before heading back here for our staff worship and prayer meeting. :-) We're both looking forward to that ... and I wouldn't be surprised if our conversation involves fun memories from our trip together a few years back to see the field in India. :-) [Today another staff group just returned from their trip to India, and I can't WAIT to hear their stories of how they were impacted there.]

P.S. One of the songs we'll be singing during worship tonight is Blessed Be Your Name - one of my favorites!