It's Time for Time to Fly...

I just got off the phone with my dad, and we both talked about how it is the time of year for time to fly by.  With every moment filled with some activity, it's hard to notice the the hours going by (and before you know it an entire month!)  This weekend, I spent EIGHT hours grading essays, tests and written assignments alone.  Then an additional four hours preparing for the week.  It was productive, but didn't feel productive because I had to be on my bottom the entire time.

Last weekend was more thrilling.  Alisha, Merlande, and I went to visit Mme. Bob, and we played the Haitian card game Carwo (sp? - no clue!)  We had so much fun just laughing at each other!

And fun for Alan (in second grade) attempting to take a picture.

We then ate dinner at a new restaurant called New Generation, just some fun girl time.  We have moved our Wednesday night discipleship time to this new hot spot, thanks to the air conditioners!

They have American television!  I was able to watch a little baseball!  If my memory serves me correctly, I want to say it was Detroit vs the Yankees.

Well, the Patriots finally got  a "W" today, I was able to hold a baby during the entire church service, talked to my dad, had time to read for fun, and my air conditioner quit working (currently 95 in here!)  All in all, a good day.  Here's to praying for a new week.

Love in Him.

Back to Norm...

Life is back to normal now that school is in session! I am thankful to be back into routine.  High school is back to work and back to homework! This year I have 67 students from freshmen to seniors.  And on Wednesday morning when I saw their faces in their pressed uniforms, my heart filled with joy!

This Sunday, Sunday school was back in session.  This year I am co-teaching with my friend Alisha Dodd the fifth and sixth graders. We are first looking at and memorizing Colossians 3:17-25.  Here is a picture from today.

Today, after church, I went to a friend's house to meet her sweet baby she had in June. He is beautiful and calm and full of cuddles!

Yesterday (Saturday), I spent time with two sweet friends Elose and Merlande and some youth girls they are discipling. We spent the afternoon making Haitian donuts, and we had a devotion.  Great Creole practice, and I got a baking (rather frying) lesson.  Sorry, I forgot my camera. A group of missionaries also met at my favorite restaurant in Port-de-Paix, The Breeze Marina.  It was a fun time to just hang out and laugh.

All in all, I am thankful to be back to business as usual.

Divine Date

Well, there are quite a few things I am terrible at.  Writing blog posts is at the top of the list.  I have an internal debate about narcissism every time I want to write something.  But, here goes nothing.

This summer has been wonderful.  I am overwhelmed by all the wonderful people in my life.  I have traveled, celebrated my cousins graduation, and mourned the loss of life of four people.  It has been a summer full of "never a dull moment" moments.  Constantly running.  Constantly talking, this is difficult for an introvert.  The summer has also been full of intimacy with the Lord.  Closeness that is and was indescribable.

Then something happened the week following July 4th.  I don't know if it was busyness, or a lack of self-discipline in my quiet time, but old wounds resurfaced and a loneliness in midst of a full schedule enveloped me.  With days filled with working and striving to regain intimacy, I continually failed.

It all heightened this weekend.  Two close friends left town for a week, I planned a full weekend to see as many people as I could and a quick out-of-town trip to see family.  Everything I planned canceled.  And again, I felt like a failure.

Priscilla Shirer is in Lexington this weekend, I was offered a ticket earlier this week, but I had plans, a full schedule, I couldn't attend.

A friend made her Facebook status that she had an extra ticket if anyone wanted to attend.  My schedule was suddenly wide-open, and I could use sometime hearing God's Word.  Ticket was mine.

The ticket was mine from the beginning, the person who offered the ticket to me early in the week - this was that ticket.  A Divine Date.

A Divine Date it has been already.  This morning in my prayer time I laid down before the Lord all the pain and confusion I was experiencing.  Priscilla spoke truth of God's love over everything I prayed about this morning.

He speaks.  Who am I?  Why am I so foolish to question?

So thankful.
Thanks Elaine Barton and Donna Hancock, too!

11 Things That Made Me Smile This Week...

1.  Watching my students work on homework and a taxi drives by; they pause to sing and dance with the song they love.

2.  Filling up a coke for a girl in my Bible study, and she says, “Thank you, friend.”

3.  Starting the Nehemiah study with my Bible study girls, and their excitement about “homework” and studying on their own.

4.  Starting the Nehemiah study and the rich discussion of having compassion for those around us afterward.

5. Being thankful for two wise women God is allowing me to learn from everyday.

6.   Letters from sweet friends.

7. Helping students with diagramming sentences on a Saturday morning.

8. Working out with friends, when the workout instructor is ridiculous!

9.  Friday night TV shows with sweet friends.

10. A teacher receives a Tim Tebow book and sends it to me to read first.

11. Group members from last week run into Home Free (love them!) in the airport, and tell them about Haiti and me!