yep

so yesterday I just needed a change - got a new haircut, the new red dress, a new black dress, a new attitude, a new resolve, and some attitude back... it's a good thing... can't keep a good woman down for long

the dress

Went to the mall tonight and found this fabulous strappy red dress to wear one night on the boat. You know ladies, the kind of dress where you FEEL drop dead gorgeous wearing it, and you get that attitude just putting it on. I love that feeling, even if it's all in my head :-)

cruise

Just 2 weeks till the love boat sets sail for Mexico! I'm starting to get excited. Grandparents are staying with the kids. Yay for close relatives!
The hot Mexico sun, beautiful beaches, no cooking, laundry, or errands, or work, just me and my husband sharing the LOVE for 5 wonderfully long days .... Plus there will be 25 other couples from Celebration...but probably won't see them much.. :-)

truth

Truth is a constant and is not variable according to your daily feelings. Your mood or emotional state does not dictate the truth. It is just an indicator of how you are going to HANDLE the truth on a given day.

getting up again

I have to stand up again. I have to check my motives and heart every step of the way to make sure I'm not seeking the approval of man, only trying to please the heart of God in using my gifts, talents and passions to do what I feel called to do. Who cares what anyone else thinks, my God has called me to such a time as this, and I won't apologize for who I am or what I have to do. Guard my heart Lord, help me build some walls around it so I don't become injured again or led astray. But walls not so tall or thick that my love and passion don't shine through.

?

I don't know what is going on. Ever feel like everywhere you go, you don't belong? I have struggled with this in the past, but thought I had conquered it. Until this last week. Situations, places, and people that I once felt at home in/with, I no longer feel a sense of belonging. It's like there's nowhere I can go to get away from it. Do you ever walk into a room and get the feeling that the people in it wish you hadn't shown up? Not a good feeling.

stressed

Okay that was a really long weekend. I feel like I could sleep for days.
I found out some hard truths about some people that I can't share, but it is really hurting my heart. It is amazing to me that every little decision you make can stick with you and come back to haunt you. Nothing is hidden. It is times like this that all you can do is get on your knees and beg for mercy and redemption. Only God can restore you to who he created you to be.
Peoples forgiveness may make you "feel" better, but only The Lord's can truly heal.

?

what would you do if you knew you could not fail?

better today

:-)
last night was rough-
today the world seems much brighter-
sometimes you gotta tough it out and do the right thing - especially when it's hard- forgive and forget- and move on- assume the best in people, not the worst - sometimes people will surprise you if you do that..

Also, you guys please pray for Josh, he has had the flu for a week now and he is still miserably sick.

3 : am

can't sleep. Ever wonder if everything you're doing is wrong? How did I get here? Ever feel like a complete screwup? How can relationships be so insanely complicated? Why is it I cannot seem to control my own mind? That's frightening to me. Who is in control of it then? Why am I doing what I'm doing right now, tomorrow, the next day?? Who am I anyway?
maybe I'm really just sleep-typing....

name that tune

"Though we're strangers, still I love you
I love you more than your mask
And you know you have to trust this to be true
And I know that's much to ask
But lay down your fears, come and join this feast
He has called us here, you and me ..."

movie

Just watched the movie Tears Of The Sun about a rescue mission in Africa. Although this story was fiction, similar atrocities have filled Africa's past and it just broke my heart for the people. Yes, I cried.

sick

One thing I hate about this time of year- waking up with yet another cold. Just an annoyance. ..
Gary Chapman was funny, but didn't really learn anything new. It was good to be reminded of some stuff though, like the love languages. We already knew each others, but it's amazing how we just forget about it in the normal course of life and try to relate to each other the way WE like it. So I continue to buy him things and ask him to spend time with me, while he is busy kissing on me and hugging me, etc.. So neither one of us is communicating the way the other desires. We were laughing about it over lunch, how we so easily forget. I kind of don't like that one of mine is gifts. It seems so shallow, but the idea of someone going out of their way, spending time thinking of me when I'm not around, and using time, money and effort , just to bring me something, makes me feel loved. It doesn't even have to be something nice. A good friend of mine went in to a gas station to get something while we were in Mexico recently and brought me back a bag of sunflower seeds cause he thought I might want a snack. That made me feel loved and valued, and it only cost him 99 cents.
Quality time seems kinda girly for me, but again, the idea of someone choosing to take time from their busy schedule to hang out with me makes me feel loved.
The Africa team get together was good; but hanging out in the USA is just not the same as working side by side in Africa. I miss it. But I got to share the good news of the XAI XAI church, and several of them want to go back with me in the fall :-)

Xai Xai

Let's see. Worked up at church the last 2 days, and probably for a little while today, then tonight we're having friends over for dinner. 318 class was awesome last night, and tomorrow is the Gary Chapman marriage conference, then Sunday afternoon we have another Africa team get together.
Life is just moving so fast.
We now can officially announce that we are starting a Celebration Church in Xai Xai, Mozambique!
I am beyond excited about this new development. I had another conference call with Ben Rodgers (head of Children's Cup over Africa) to let him know we're in. That was cool. Pastor Joe even walked in and joined the call for a few minutes. Next step is to find our Portuguese speaking pastor...

volunteer banquet

Monday night turned out to be quite hilarious.