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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I can't believe it's already Wednesday. It's been a good week so far! Not a whole lot to write, but having a good week. I've been able to focus pretty well on my projects, which I'm so thankful for!

Today we all had a couple of staff meetings, which made the day go by fast! I completely forgot about the meetings. I saw a couple of my friends (interns) grab their stuff and leave our area, and I was thinking, "Oh, okay ... must be a special meeting this morning for interns." :oD Thankfully, one of my co-workers came in just a moment later and said something about us having a meeting. :o) So I headed downstairs just in time!

Wow, it has been a really nice weekend.

This has been so refreshing after a week or so of kind of rough times!

Friday Night: Went to Barnes and Noble to read in some books, buy a book I've been wanting to read, and look just a little bit over projects for work.

Saturday Morning: Went out to Allen Premium Outlets because I had an extra 20% off coupon for the Eddie Bauer outlet. :o) Found a great dress and pair of shorts for 70% off (plus 20%!!!) and a really cute long-sleeved knit striped shirt (bluish colors) for a good price after the coupon.

Saturday Afternoon: Left the Outlets for my 2:00 haircut appt. near Trinity Mills and the Tollway! After my haircut, I grabbed a "bite to eat" (to use my mom's expression :o)) and picked up three friends of mine from the ministry (all sisters!) at their house to go to Ross and Target, where we enjoyed their $1 popcorn and soda combo. :o) Then we had supper at their house! Great times.

Saturday Night: Ran over to a staff family's house where a bunch of young people from the ministry were meeting to play games and stuff. We played Balderdash (one of my favorites!), around-the-world ping pong and roasted marshmellows in the fire pit outside. It was so much fun!

Wow, what a week! I'm still not up to 100% physically ... lingering traces of my cold/allergies/sinuses from last week, combined with a couple of other physical "ailments" (nothing contagious). ;-) More than that, though, there were some intense times of being attacked in my thought life by the Enemy. I'm doing much better now, though, and I think the ladies' potluck fellowship last night really helped!

I'm so glad it's Friday and I have the weekend to rest and relax. :-) Have a good weekend, everyone!

I've been physically under the weather much of this week. It was relatively mild but made me REALLY tired for some reason. I wonder if it was a combo of allergies, sinuses and a mild cold. Anyhow, I feel relatively better, even if still physically weak.

I was at home most of a couple days resting, and it's been an intense past two days or so. I have felt buffeted about by the Enemy with discouraging thoughts, etc. It's been really intense.

Overall I'm doing a lot better at the moment, yet still so aware that it is a very real spiritual battle. I should feel comforted, for it is because I'm in the Lord's army that the Enemy torments me so at times. I think the battle has been especially intense for many at the office lately. But GOD WINS.

bummalo - a dried fish used in chutney relish

One of our definitions from last night's entertaining game of Balderdash at the home of a family from the ministry. I don't remember it word for word, I'm sure, but I think it's somewhat close. One of our favorite definitions for that word was M.T.'s -- "a bummed out buffalo". :o) Good times.

This morning's message in church was good, even if quite convicting ... He talked about how Jesus' yoke is easy and His burden is light, but how we only truly enter into that easy yoke and light burden when we faithfully SUBMIT to Him. I feel like I've been able to do that with relative ease in the BIG things (only by God's grace and working!), but in the "little" things it's much more of a challenge ... but I want to do better with these things, because they're important! I want to please Jesus.

Post #440.

Today was just one of those days that, I'm sorry, it just would have been a federal crime not to walk to work. Okay, so I'm exagerrating a bit but you do get the picture. :o) It was absolutely gorgeous out.

It's been another good week. I've been working on my newsletter, and also a bunch of projects, such as a welcome letter for a church packet, and earlier a Sri Lanka update. Things have been very busy, but overall a good kind of busy!

I am so grateful for this beautiful weather.

The Mercy Me concert and Rangers game were so much fun. The best part was the fellowship with everyone.

God did bless me something really special, too. I actually won the newest Mercy Me CD! Needless to say, I was excited, but even more so when I saw that "So Long Self" was on it.

That is a song the Lord really used to speak to my heart in a powerful way one day as I was coming home from a prayer meeting we had at the ministry. And not only do I now have a copy of that song to listen to(and for free!), I got to hear them sing it in person out there on the stadium lawn. Praise God. Another reminder that He cares abuot every little detail of our lives.

I've been having such a good week.

I can't believe it's already almost a three day weekend, too! This weekend will be a full one.

Friday: Extended prayer night here at the ministry
Saturday: Meeting up with some friends from my old church for our traditional trip to an area Dillard's closeout store that has great deals on Labor Day weekend. [I'm driving myself so I can sleep in a little extra if I need to. :o)] Then, not that much time until I need to be here at the office so I can meet up with a big group on staff to go to a Mercy Me concert and Rangers game. :o)
Sunday: Church (of course), then helping some friends from the ministry move.

I look forward to the weekend!

Another good day.

Took my friend Steph to the airport so she could go for a press check, for our 2007 GFA calendar. (We're so excited about that!)

Ate spaghetti I'd made, grapes, and carrots downstairs in our staff kitchen for lunch, while fellowshipping with some of our new interns who just arrived. :c)

And now? I'm heading to rest around the apartment and get ready for prayer meeting tonight.

It's truly been a good day. :o)

The Lord encouraged me so much this morning through a devotional someone emailed me. It talked about how in our "poverty" (meaning the valleys and hard times in our lives), we are driven all the more to Jesus and Him alone, and how therein is abundant fruit.

I am fixing to head out so I can meet my good friend and co-worker, Jacy, for supper and fellowship. :o) We're meeting at Qdoba. (Yum!) After our supper I will probably stop at the store and then come home to rest and do stuff around the apartment.

I think it will be a nice evening!

The day sure did go by fast!

Well, there were various projects to work on, plus I took my friend Tee to the airport so she can be with her parents to celebrate their 50th (I think?) wedding anniversary!

Tonight I'm heading over to Krista's home, as she and her family (here on staff at GFA) will be moving (just down the street, so not far) this weekend. I'll be picking up Jamie, another co-worker, and we'll be helping them pack and line shelves. Well, Jamie will help line shelves becuase she's skilled in such delicacies ... As for me, I shall be there for PACKING and, of course, moral support. :C) It should be fun!

And Saturday is the big move, that we all get to help with. I truly enjoy moving parties here at the ministry; they're such great times of fellowship and laughter, not to mention it's an incredible blessing that people can be moved so quickly because so many pitch in!

Okay, I shall be heading now so I can hopefully get in some good time with the Lord before Jamie and I head over to Krista's. Have a blessed night, everyone.

I'm back. I must apologize, for I have been sadly remiss (is that a word?) about posting lately. Overall, things are good! And I had a nice weekend, too.

I will write more soon ... but the library is about to close. (Yikes!) :o)

Much love to all of y'all!

I'm back.

I have been so blessed with wonderful friends and family! This weekend and this week have really reminded me of just how much. :-)

Friday night:
Cotrina, Sara and Joelle (from my old church) took me to the Olive Garden!
Saturday:
I had a great time hanging out with Julie looking at stuff for her apartment, and then that night hanging out and playing Nerts with some other good friends on staff at a family's house. We all had a blast ... our favorite phrase of the evening was "not my problem". (It pertained to something really funny that happened during the game. :o) If you'd like to hear about it, I'll be happy to tell you; it would just take too long for me to post it here!)
Sunday:
Some friends kidnapped me and took me to a really fun waterpark! Good times.

This week:
I have been treated to a birthday lunch TWICE. And, on Monday, a good friend gave me a birthday party where we all had a wonderful time of fellowship and prayer together.

I feel so loved! Thank you to ALL of you who made my birthday so special. I don't deserve it, but I am still so appreciative. :o) I love you all!

I have sadly neglected this blog! But not by choice. I've just been so incredibly busy. But in a good way!

It feels like so many people have done such thoughtful things for me for my birthday these past few days. I feel so loved. :-)

I wish I could write more, but I need to scoot off to spend some time with the Lord and then come back and pray with others who are also sharing a testimony during our staff prayer meeting tonight. I am so excited to share, for God has been doing some really neat things.

Be blessed.