Village Day 3

June 29, 2010

Great day in the village. Started low as Caleb Mckee was sick all last night. Poor thing! It was his first trip to Nicaragua, and it was his birthday. He laid low most of today and seems better tonight.

I got the chance to work in the clothing ministry today. I so enjoyed picking out dresses and outfits to give the little girls. A lady in the states started a ministry that she calls "Hemmed in Prayer." She and a group of ladies take one pattern and sew numerous little cotton dresses in various sizes and fabrics. As they sew, they are praying for each little girl who will receive a dress. We took a number of these dresses to Nicaragua, and I loved seeing the little girls' faces light up when we handed them their new dress.

I also got to teach in youth girls' ministry today. Since I'm married, the other two leaders designated me to give the sex/true love waits talk (smile). Sexual promiscuity is rampant among teens and adults in Nicaragua because it is viewed as a cultural way of life. I talked to the girls about God's design for sex and the physical and emotional consequences that result from sex outside of marriage. I told them that without Jesus in their lives, they would struggle to keep themselves sexually pure. I think they understood. At least they didn't have blank stares on their faces. Several responded to the Gospel message. Praise the Lord! I must not allow the busyness and craziness of life to keep me from praying for these precious girls as they began their journey of faith in Christ.

Today was not quite as busy as yesterday (for me), since I was not working in the pharmacy. I had more breaks and opportunities to interact with the people. Got to talk to lots of children. A tiny bit of Spanish came back to me after four years of Spanish classes---not enough.

In the afternoon, the youth girls came back and we cut and fixed their hair. I volunteered to fix. Cutting hair is probably not a good idea for me! Most of the girls did not want any of their hair cut. Apparently, long hair is the "thing."

Loved church tonight! We sang a lot of the familiar Spanish songs that I've learned through the years. Adolfo and the band were fabulous, as always. I really missed my Dad being with us tonight. He LOVES worshipping with Adolfo and the band. Today, someone sneezed really loudly and obnoxiously, and I turned around expecting to see Dad standing there (you will understand this if you've ever heard him sneeze). It's so strange not having him here, but we fully trust that it is all part of God's perfect plan.

Mom has been talking to Philipe', the interpreter in the pharmacy. She learned that he does not know the Lord. He seems to be searching. This is his first week working for BMDMI and going out with a team. He came to the church service tonight. We are praying for his salvation. May God move in his heart and open his eyes to truth, drawing Philipe' unto Himself! He sure is hearing the Gospel---a lot! He is such a nice, out-going guy. We've really enjoyed getting to know him and pray that he will see the difference in our lives.

Today we saw 941 patients and filled that many prescriptions. Hard work! Good work!

Showers were quite an experience. While I was in the shower, completely lathered in soap, the water and the light-bulb hanging over me cut off. AHH! Help! Mr. Mike and Mr. Nick (our maintenance men) were already in bed. Someone called them and they were out in a jiffy to fix the problem. One of the water buckets (providing our shower water) had just run out of water, so they had to switch the hose to another bucket. I'm not sure what happened to the power. Anyway, they got it all fixed, and I finished cold shower (that doesn't feel so cold by the time you're done).

Another funny nightly incident: Mom and I decided to avoid the disgusting experience of the bano. It's just such a pain to trudge through the tall, muddy grass in the dark with a flashlight to go into a stinky, roach infested little box JUST to quickly use the bathroom before bed. So, we took styrofoam cups and headed out to find a deserted spot behind the school building. Ha. Much quicker, easier, and less stinky than the whole bano experience, I must say. However, we were a sight to behold (that, hopefully, no one beheld)!

Church Service

Sex talk
Excited about her new dress!

Village Day 2

June 28, 2010

The sun has not been shining brightly, and the rain has fallen often. For this, we are very grateful. One of our interpreters, Philipe', told us that Cayanlipe' is the hottest place in Nicaragua. The rain has definitely helped to keep things cooler. I think the temperature is very pleasant...actually feels cooler than last week in Louisville. However, we've traded the heat for the mud. Yuck! I'm so glad that I brought my old running shoes. Poor Mom only brought flip flops, and she is really wishing for some close-toed shoes as we slosh through the mud. Everyone anticipated dry heat rather than sloshy, rainy mud.

Today has been another busy day. The medical clinic saw 1,009 patients, and the pharmacy filled that many prescriptions. There were not many breaks today. I'm used to a bigger team and more opportunities to sit down and rest. With a smaller team, everyone is needed all the time! The work is tiring but fulfilling. You know that you're doing something valuable---something that makes a difference.

I worked in the Pharmacy most of the day. I always enjoy the pharmacy and the fellowship with everyone. There is always lots of talking and laughing as we work to find the medicines and fill each prescription (FYI: You don't have to be specially trained to work in the pharmacy. You are basically just locating pre-labeled medicines and putting them in a bag for the patients). It was fun to get to spend lots of time with Mom.

The Mosquitoes are AWFUL here, and they absolutely LOVE me (especially my legs). Last night, my feet were being bitten through tennis shoes and socks. WHAT?!? I've been rubbing down in mosquito spray with 100% deet all day long. My legs look diseased with all these bites that I keep scratching. It would be easy to complain about these little pests, but I am trying to keep my mouth closed. I'm reminded of Betsy and Corrie Ten Boom, who thanked God (even) for the fleas that were biting them while they were in a concentration camp during WWII. They realized that God is completely sovereign, even over bugs, and we are to rejoice always. What an example!

I enjoyed helping out in the youth girl's ministry today. Meghan Howard taught the girls about inner beauty and about how God is more concerned with the condition of their hearts than the condition of their outer appearance. She shared the Gospel and several girls responded by putting their faith in Christ.

I have also really enjoyed getting to know the new field missionaries, Timothy and Jessie Crabtree. They are only a few years older than Adam and me and moved to Nicaragua a month ago after language school in Costa Rica for a year. It has been encouraging to talk to Jessie about their call to the mission field and all that God is doing in their lives. They are just so sweet and down-to-earth. I love building new friendships! I hope that we can stay connected with their work in Nicaragua, a country and a people we so love.

Adam preached in the evening church service. He did a great job! I love seeing his passion for the Gospel when he speaks.

Showers and Bed (a little earlier than last night...Gracias, Dios!)

(I'm have trouble posting pics for this post! Maybe later...)

Remembering Nicaragua--Village Day 1

Adam and I just returned from a week-long mission trip to Cayanlipe, Nicaragua. This was Adam's fourth trip and my seventh trip to this country to serve. When I look back on all my summers in Nicaragua, each trips run together. So, this year I decided to keep a journal during my time in the village. I did this for two main reasons. First, I want to be able to look back and remember the details of this trip in years to come--the hard things, the funny things, and the GREAT things God did. Second, my Dad was not able to be with us on the trip this year, and I want him to be able to read about how each day went. So, I'm going to attempt to record a journal entry from each day of the trip during the coming week. Here goes....

June 27, 2010

Today was a day of firsts. It was my first day in the village of Cayanlipe, Nicaragua. It was my first trip to Nicaragua with Adam since we have been married. It was my first day to ride a bus into a Nicaraguan village without my Dad leading our team.

We arrived in the village later than expected. The travel from the mission home in Managua took longer, particularly our snack stop. As we neared the village of Cayanlipe, we passed the village of Canafistola. This was the first Nicaraguan village that I visited as part of a medical mission team ( in 2002). It was neat to see it again after all these years. When we arrived at Cayanlipe, I surveyed that it was very similar to Canafistola and about as primitive as they come. Roberto told us that this village would have running toilets (some villages do and some don't), but when we arrived we found that the toilets were "out of order," if you will. We will be using the banos (aka..outhouses) for the week.

Getting our ministry areas set-up and organized was chaotic as always. There were MANY boxes to be hauled to different areas of the school. Everyone worked together as a team to get things put together quickly. We were all dripping sweat as we hauled things to and fro. I spent most of my time helping in the pharmacy, getting medicines organized into various baskets and packaging worm medicine into individual bags.

We saw the first round of patients late in the day--almost supper time. The first church service started around 5:30, and we didn't finish until around 8:30 (all the patients have to go to a church service and hear the Gospel before getting their card to come see the doctor. So, there is a church service before every group of patients). The clinic saw about 250 patients this first night. I recorded weights on patients' cards before they entered the clinic. This was a challenge, since it got dark around 6:30. I had to do everything by flashlight. Ed Howard preached at the first church service and several responded and put their faith in Christ. What cause to rejoice! This is why we come. We had a late supper and completely missed the first evening church service. Adam went to preach, and none of the people showed up because it was so late. We had our first cold showers of the week around 11:00 and fell into bed exhausted.

The Bano

First people I saw upon arrival in the village
About 1/4 of the boxes we had to carry to get set-up

Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad!

Today, my sweet parents are celebrating 29 years of marriage. I am so thankful for these 29 years of love and faithfulness to one another, to the Lord, and to our family. Mom and Dad have set an excellent example for Adam and me to follow in our own marriage, and we are truly blessed by that example. So, happy anniversary to YOU, Mom and Dad. I love you both so much and hope you have a fabulous day together.

(Photo is of Mom and Dad celebrating at my wedding reception. Sadly, I don't have a picture from their own wedding day.)

Sweet Home Alabama...

where the skies are so blue...and the air is so humid...and the tea is so sweet...and family and friends are so near....

It was so good to be in Alabama for a long weekend, and I certainly covered a lot of ground and saw a lot of people I love. Thankfully, I was able to fly home this time (the eight hour drive leaves me utterly exhausted). My sweet college friend, Megan, picked me up at the airport in Birmingham. We spent some time catching up and then met (lifelong friend) Rachael for lunch. Rach was kind enough to drive from Auburn to pick me up, and after lunch we headed back to AU. I really felt somewhat nostalgic when we drove into downtown Auburn. I hadn't been there since before I got married (1.5 years ago), and I just have so many wonderful memories with precious people from my four years living in this little college town. It was good to be back, spend quality time with Rach, and see another close college friend, Marci. The next day, Judd (lifelong friend and practically brother) and I headed to Montgomery for the wedding rehearsal and rehearsal dinner of our good friend Jake. Judd was a groomsmen in the wedding, and he took me as his date to the rehearsal since (girlfriend) Amanda was home in Texas. It was good to catch up with Judd and celebrate Jake and Sarah's wedding weekend. The wedding was beautiful and it was an absolute treat to spend time with (lifelong best friends) Rachael, Mallory,

Jake, and Judd. The five of us were best friends from high school.

Of course, it was also wonderful to spend time with "the madre" who made the trip from Jackson for the wedding.

After the wedding, I rode back to home-sweet-home Jackson, AL with Mom and Judd's mom. After one night in my bed at home and church at First Baptist the next morning, Mom, Dad, and I loaded up in the car again to head to Hattiesburg, MS. My Aunt Kevin married Perrin Lowry on her front porch, and I enjoyed more sweet fellowship with (grandparents) Papa and Grandy, aunts and uncles, and a few of the cousins. After the wedding we headed over to (other grandparent) Granddaddy's house for a quick visit. While I was there, Granddaddy insisted that I go through some of (late grandmother) Mama Grace's books and pick out some to add to my library. Mama Grace was an academic, a college English professor, and an avid reader. She collected books from all of her travels, and her library is absolutely enormous. I pilfered through her shelves and found a couple of my favorite classics (and others) to add to my collection. Here is my loot...

Several of these books have Mama Grace's name (Grace Smith) penciled across the front, and I love that I have inherited them. What a neat heirloom! I picked out a few more but had to leave them at home because I ran out of room in my suitcase. After visiting with G-daddy, the parentals and I headed back to Jackson for my last night at home. Mom was gracious enough to drive me to Birmingham today, and I caught my flight back to Lou with Whitney Alexander! It was a busy but fun trip home!

In other news...

While I was gone, Adam traded in his Honda Civic and got this....

It's a 2002 with only 55,000 miles and in excellent condition. Because Adam works at Carmax, he got to buy it at wholesale price, so we cut our car debt in half! Even though we will pay more for gas, we think it is a smart move to get out of our car payment quickly. Now we don't owe much at all. Thank you, Carmax!

Meet My Friends!

God has been so kind to bless both Adam and me with precious, godly friends during each season of our lives. We have deep friendships with people from home, Auburn, and now Louisville. I try to remind myself to never take these friendships for granted, but to remember what a gift they are--another reminder of the Lord's kindness toward me. This weekend we had a group of some of our close friends over, and as I looked through pictures from the night, I was reminded how much each friend means to me...especially these three girls below. These have probably been my closest female companions here in Lou.

I'll start with Diana or "D" (far left) because I've known her the longest. D, Adam, and I all grew up in rural Clarke County, Alabama. Each of us lived in a different small town, mind you, but all in the same county. There's just something about coming from the same place that bonds people together, and you just can't understand small-town, south Alabama unless you came from there. I cannot express how thankful I am for Diana's friendship. Adam and I moved to Louisville at the beginning of a harsh, gray winter, and Diana was the only soul we knew. She immediately reached out to us, introduced us to people, took us with her to Highview (now, our home church), and basically just helped us adjust to a very different place. I remember that right when we moved, D was returning from a trip to Israel. The morning after she arrived home, she was at our apartment wanting to go out to lunch. She has continued to be such a sweet, giving friend. She's the kind of person who will do anything in the world for you. She's also the kind of person that you can say anything to. I just love me some D!

Next we have Whitney (in black next to D). Whitney and her husband, Mat, moved to Lou a semester after us from Mobile, AL (also our neck of the woods). I instantly liked Whitney and felt like we had a lot in common. In fact, the first time she came to our apartment, she said, "Wow, our apartments are decorated very similarly." I just love hanging out with and talking to Whitney. She is very real, and she's a whole lot of fun. I'm especially inspired and encouraged by watching the way Whit cares for her home and for Mat. She is the ideal wife and homemaker--a fabulous cook (her artichoke dip is to DIE for), a great decorator, and super creative. It is so evident that she absolutely delights in caring for her husband and her home, and I just love this about her! She is going to be an amazing mom one day. And, this is the lucky man who got to marry her....

Adam and I are so thankful for the friendship that we have with Mat and Whitney as a couple. As you could probably guess from the picture, Mat keeps us laughing constantly. He is a HOOT! Oh, if only everyone could get to know Mat Alexander...

Last but certainly not least is Christy (glasses, far right). Christy was my first close friend in Louisville, who I didn't already know from home. I'll never forget the first time I met Christy. We were in our first SWI (Seminary Wives Institute) class only about a month after we had both moved to Louisville in January '09. Before class started, I was sitting alone (being my quiet-somewhat-introverted-when-I-don't-know-anyone self) when this teeny-tiny girl in a gray sweater with blonde curls and glasses plops down beside me and introduces herself. She was so outgoing from the beginning. She starts telling me about how she and her husband have come to Lou for seminary and how she just got a job at Bridal Warehouse. I pipe up and tell her about my new job at Ann Taylor, and we immediately start griping about how we both have college degrees and the only jobs we can manage to secure are retail positions. From that day on, Christy and I were friends. Our friendship developed during the class and eventually moved outside the class when we introduced Ben and Adam to each other and then all ended up joining the same church. Christy and I both decided to start seminary, and now we have become school buddies as well. If I call Christy for a quick question, we usually end up talking on the phone for 30 minutes to an hour. A lot of our conversations consist of venting about how tough it is to work, be a wife, and go to school all at the same time. In the end, we always determine that we will make it. It's just nice to have someone walking the same path as you--someone who understands your struggles. Christy is such a sweet and true friend. And she's married to this guy.....
Adam and I have had a lot of fun with this couple as well--lots of game nights, late night Graeters icecream runs, and a hilarious camping trip.

So, there they are! What precious, godly girls! I am so very thankful to call them friends!

Every now and then...

I get a hankerin' to paint something creative. Sometimes I like the finished product, and sometimes I hate it. The children I nanny inspire me to let my creative juices flow! They are very artistic and paint all sorts of neat things, which are displayed throughout the house. Also, their grandmother was an artist, and many of her gorgeous paintings are hung about. This weekend I attempted to replicate a piece of the kids' art that is displayed in their formal library. Here is how my (smaller) version turned out.

When Trials Come...

When trials come no longer fear
For in the pain our God draws near
To fire a faith worth more than gold
And there His faithfulness is told.

Within the night I know Your peace
The breath of God brings strength to me
And new each morning mercy flows
As treasures of the darkness grow.

I turn to Wisdom not my own
For every battle You have known
My confidence will rest in You
Your love endures Your ways are good

When I am weary with the cost
I see the triumph of the cross
So in it’s shadow I shall run
Till You completes the work begun

One day all things will be made new
I’ll see the hope You called me to
And in your kingdom paved with gold
I’ll praise your faithfulness of old!

-The Getty's

This is a song written by Keith and Kristyn Getty about experiencing trials. Although these words aren't scripture, they are based on scripture, and I think they are precious words to read and sing when the trials do come (as they will for us all). These words have been especially comforting of late, as my dad has just been diagnosed with malignant Sarcoma in his leg. It has been difficult to grapple with the reality that my dad--the one who loved me, cared for me, provided for me, and shepherded me spiritually for 20 something years is facing a serious illness that could potentially take his life. We are so thankful that his situation is not any worse than it is (so many people are experiencing greater trials). Nonetheless, this is a testing trial in the life of our family that could easily lead to anxiety, fear, or distress. We constantly need reminders of how we, as believers, should respond to trials. In trials and testings, we must remember that God is refining our faith, conforming us more unto the image of Christ (making us perfect and complete). Trials of darkness, produce treasures of the morning. (James 1:2-4) After a trial, one is less of himself/herself and more of Christ. Each morning, the Lord provides new mercies to help us face the trials of the day. We must rely on Christ's wisdom, rather than our own, to help us respond to trials correctly (James 1:5) For, every trial that we face has been known and experienced by Christ Himself (Hebrews 4:15) We must trust that His ways are always good and right, even when our own circumstances seem bad and are difficult to understand (Psalm 100:5, Romans 8:28) Furthermore, we face trials by hiding in the shadow of the cross, remembering that we are in Christ (Col 3:3) Finally, regardless of what happens in our circumstances (sickness, pain, suffering, or death), we have the hope that one day all things will be made new. One day, Jesus Christ will put all things under His feet and will reign with total dominion. And because we are in HIM, we will reign too. All things will be new and gloriously perfect--no suffering, no sickness, no crying, and no pain (Rev 21:4). THIS is our hope. Therefore, we do not suffer and grieve as those with no hope. Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

Being without a car in America is like being unable to walk.

These were the words of my neighbor and new friend, Ban. Ban is precious woman from the country of Jordan in the Middle East. She and her two young daughters (Miriam, 5 and Rima, 3) moved to American 9 months ago with high hopes for a better life. For reasons that I can't completely understand, Ban has not seen her husband face-to-face in 4 years. He had to work far away from the family (when they lived in the Middle East) and was unable to come to America with them. He is working with the Embassy now in an effort to join his family in America, but the process is slow and frustrating. So, Ban is here alone with two little girls. She is unable to get a job. She has no car. She goes to a center in town where she learns English and receives some financial support. However, it takes her 2 to 3 hours to get to this center by bus, even though it is only a few miles away. Ban's situation is difficult and she is facing so many trials in her life right now, but she has hope! Ban is a follower of Jesus Christ. I befriended Ban with hopes that I could be an encouragement and help to her, but she has ended up being an encouragement and help to me. I am so blessed by the strength of her faith. She is often tearful as she expresses her loneliness and weariness to me, but her final words are always the same: "I trust God. I trust the time of the God." She rests on the truth that God is sovereign over every aspect of her life. He is sovereign in providing her daily bread. He is sovereign over the timing for her being re-united with her husband (partner and provider). He is in control and He will provide for the needs of His children. I try to encourage Ban by reminding her that faith is strengthened through trials, all the while wondering if I could ever endure the hardships that she faces. Ban is a God-send. When I think that I am suffering, I need only to look around in order to realize how comfortable I truly am. When I think I am in want, I look at Ban and remember that people all around me have no transportation, while our 2 person family has 2 cars! Oh, how blessed we are! But, oh how ungrateful we are! May we, as the Church of Christ, be continually reminded of God's faithfulness and His many, many good gifts to His children!

Lately

Well, lately I have not been blogging, and I have the same ole' laundry list of excuses. Namely, the busyness of spring. We've had a lot going on (as always). So, let me catch you up on what's been happening lately, as well as what's coming up (since there's a good chance I won't post again until the end of the semester).

About two weeks ago, Adam and I got to go to Destin, Florida for a work trip for Adam. He is now working part-time for the seminary in the office of Institutional Advancement. Each year, this office puts on a retreat in Destin for the Foundation Board members, and we got to go help out. It was great to get away from the "grind" of work and school for a few days. We met so many nice people on the Foundation Board (truly awesome people), and I really enjoyed getting to know some of the people that Adam now works with. Of course the warm weather, beautiful scenery, and nice hotels of Sandestin were a perk. I was bad about taking pictures, but here are a few that I snapped before....

Bay
Our hotel
we swiftly returned to real life. We returned from Destin on Sunday to immediately begin churning out a 10-15 page Hermeneutics paper due on Thursday (which neither Adam or I had started) JOY! Needless to say, it was a week of lots of caffeine and little sleep. I was up until 5 a.m. Thursday morning finishing up. But, we survived, turned in our papers, and slid head-first into SPRING BREAK (well, the school calls it "spring reading days," but, you know). The first weekend of SB was especially great, as we celebrated the Resurrection of Jesus! Words can't express my thankfulness for Christ's sacrifice and my joy because HE LIVES! We didn't get to go home, but we celebrated with our "family" of sweet friends here. PF Changs for Easter lunch isn't exactly traditional, but it was pretty darn good. Again, no Easter pictures. I really should get better at that. And to top it all off...THE WEATHER HAS BEEN WARM...almost hot, to be honest. It has truly been glorious. So, Adam and I decided to fire up the grill and sit around outside for a little while tonight. We tried a new recipe...Greek Chicken (below). It was just ok. Not a favorite for either of us.

The grill master!


So, SB2010 has started off great. After I finish typing, though, I will begin doing research for BIG paper numero dos of the semester, which is due shortly after SB. Should be a fun rest of the week! :) We have several things coming up to look forward to, though. Mom, Dad, and Jenny are coming up for a visit next weekend (we will miss Will). Then, the next weekend, Adam and I run the Kentucky Derby 1/2 marathon! WOOHOO! I'll try to document some of these events in picture.

Happy Birthday Jenny!

Yesterday was this pretty girl's birthday, and I am so thankful for her life! God was gracious to bless me with a sister so close in age. Although we are different as night and day, we have always been close. Jenny is probably the smartest, most talented, and most well-rounded, person that I know (and I'm not just being biased). She's a dynamite athlete. Seriously, the girl can pick up any sport and excel. When she was young, she played Little League with the boys, and she set all kinds of records during her softball days. Her athletic talent is always something I've admired since I was the girl who was scared to even play T-ball (yes, laugh). When she was 13, Jen taught herself to play the guitar, and she is currently working on mastering the piano. God has gifted her in leading others in worship. In addition to this, the girl's got brains. She can study for one night and completely ace an Organic Chemistry test. She's blown through a Biomedical Science major with practically straight A's (as a college athlete for 2 of her school years). Jenny never meets a stranger. Everyone that meets her instantly loves her. She makes friends faster than I've ever seen. While I have always been so proud of my sister and, clearly, LOVE to brag on her, all these things I have mentioned mean nothing if I don't also brag about her love for the Lord. I am continually encouraged by Jenny's walk with Christ. She truly KNOWS and LOVES Jesus Christ in the most intimate, personal, and passionate way. She's the real deal. The theme of Jenny's life is "Love God--Love people," and she truly lives this out. Jen is a "champion of the underdog," and she has truly shown me what it means to minister to "the least of these" both spiritually and physically. Through Christ, she has overcome a period of intense bondage in her own spiritual life, and she is using her own trials to reach others with the Gospel. I am blessed by her passion, sincerity, and faithfulness. I could go on, but I think I've made my point. I am so proud of my sister, and I am so thankful for her 22 years with me on this earth! So, Happy Birthday to YOU, Jenny (just a day late)!

Provider God

Over Christmas break, my sister asked me, "What's God been showing you lately?" I really had to pause and think about it. Throughout the past year or so, I have been acutely aware that God is working in my life---sanctifying me and conforming me more to the image of Christ. However, I really had to think hard to give her a specific answer about exactly what God was doing in me. Over the past few months, Jenny's question has really made me think more deeply about the things that God is teaching me and the ways He is working in my life. I thought it would be beneficial to blog about some of my "lessons learned" so that I may be constantly reminded of and encouraged by God's faithfulness in my life. So, it is my goal to blog (on a somewhat regular basis) about what God is doing and how I am being changed by His gracious hand. So, with that said...

I think that, more than anything else, God has been teaching me to trust him as faithful provider. As simple as that might sound, completely trusting God to meet every need (physcial and spiritual) is not easy for me. For some strange reason, I think that I know what I need more than God does. I also seem to think that I can meet all of my needs if I just earn the right degree, get the right job, and work hard enough in any particular area of life. Ultimately, it all comes down to my need to control my own life. So, when things don't go as I've planned for meeting my own needs, it causes heartache, worry, and stress. Praise God that Christ is stripping me of this obsessive need for control by providing for me in ways that are so completely out of my box. When things don't go my way, God's faithful provision comes soaring through in some unexpected way. It's as if He's saying, "I AM God. Be still. Trust Me!" When we moved to Louisville, it took us so long to find jobs, and we did not end up getting the kind of jobs we expected. I planned to work full-time, while Adam went to school and worked part-time. Adam ended up getting a part-time job that, while somewhat stressful, became our primary income source. I only found part-time work, which enabled me to start taking classes (which was really what I wanted to do). There have been several months when business at Adam's job has been slow, and I've stressed that we wouldn't be able to pay our bills. I'll freak out and worry, and then a check will show up in the mail from some precious person whom God has led to bless us. On days when I think I don't have the strength to balance everything going on in my life and continue faithfully, God's strength becomes sufficient for me. I am continually amazed at God's faithfulness to provide despite my lack of faithfulness to trust Him alone. I pray that He will continue to prune away the faithlessness in my life as He continues to show Himself as provider for every need. I am continually driven back Matthew 6:25-34, and I am continually thankful for these words of Christ.

Winter, Winter, GO AWAY!

I love cold weather. Really, I do. Maybe it's because I never experienced "true winter" in south Alabama. I don't know, but coats, scarves, crisp air, and snow all make me happy. So, it sounds a little out of character for me to say, "winter, be gone," but I just have a deep longing in my soul for the warmth of spring. Don't get me wrong, snow is beautiful and mystical and fun....for about 1 or 2 days. After that, not so much. Here are the top four things that make me ready for spring:

1. Winter is making me late! (well...later than normal)

In my morning frenzy of trying to get out the door for work, I often forget that my car is going

to look like this.....

and that it is going to require 15 to 20 extra minutes to clear off the snow, defrost the frozen windows, etc. I usually end up driving slowly down the road trying to see out of one, tiny clear spot at the bottom of the half-defrosted wind shield... and I'm even later to work.

2. Consistent Exercise is 10x more difficult.

I don't think I've mentioned that Adam and I are training to run the Kentucky Derby 1/2 Marathon at the end of April. We are running to raise money and help our friends adopt 2 children from the Ukraine (which, by the way, if you are interested in sponsoring us $1 a mile or more, let me know). Anyway, it's hard enough to be disciplined to run when the weather is pleasant, much less when it's 20 degrees out with snow on the ground. Needless to say, it has been challenging to get our runs in. We've been going to the seminary gym and running on the track (12 laps=1 mile....we feel like hamsters). We're thankful that we have the gym, but we're not getting much training on hills.

3. My skin feels like Iguana Skin.

My skin is literally drinking lotion, and it is still ALWAYS dry. It's truly disgusting.

4. The 3 wild things (children) that I nanny have been cooped up in the house for WAY TOO LONG!

If you haven't heard any of my stories about the wild things, you should ask me...seriously. I love these kids, but they are super active and have LOTS of aggressive energy. They need to be out racing each other around the tennis courts, riding bikes, and splashing in the pool. Too much time in the house is never good for anyone involved....and the poor house gets destroyed! Wild as the kiddos are, I have to admit that they are also pretty darn cute. The girls went to a "father/daughter" dance with their dad last friday, and they were so precious! I just had to share some pictures. Also, they've just started taking violin lessons, so they wanted to hold their violins in all the pictures.

Caroline (left) and Rebecca (right)... primping!
Really excited about their violins.
Becca is a doll!

After my winter gripe session, I should say that winter does have its benefits. Adam and I enjoyed a relaxing snow day today. School and work were cancelled. We slept late, did some reading, took a long winter walk, and ate some yummy black bean soup! It was a nice break at the beginning of the week.

6 inches?!?

Sweet Sixteen Vitality Foods

Adam recently decided that he needed to have his cholesterol checked because the men in his family have a history of heart problems. Well.... unfortunately, the results weren't great. It's good that he had it checked now, though, so we can start being more conscious of the things we eat. The seminary doctor told him that if he starts eating "heart healthy" and exercising regularly now, he might avoid heart problems in the future. At first we were kind of worried that eating was going to become horrible. Nearly everything has at least something bad in it (cholesterol, fat, sugars, etc). What could we eat that was somewhat good AND healthy? We called my dad several times asking what we should eat (we are so thankful that we can just pick up the phone and get medical/health advice :)). So, Dad was kind enough to send us this handy little list of things we can and should eat on a regular basis. This list comes from Dr. Steven Masley, a family practice doctor and author of the book "Ten Years Younger." These foods help lower cardiovascular risk in a number of ways. We're trying to incorporate most of these into our diet. Thankfully, our grocery bill wasn't too much higher than normal after this last trip for "healthy stuff."

1. Dark Chocolate (I started with this because it is my favorite)-- NOT MILK CHOCOLATE. Must be at least 60% cocoa and eaten in moderation.

2. Lean (not mean) Protein-- seafood, chicken, turkey breast, and beans (no burgers...sad).

3. Seafood--Especially smallmouth fish, shrimp, oysters, crab (makes me miss BAMA and the beach!)

4. Fresh herbs and Spices--- thyme, rosemary, oregano, sage, basil, cumin, chives, dill, tumeric, cilantro, and ginger.

5. Green Tea

6. Fresh Garlic

7. Beans and Legumes---(these are so cheap and easy to incorporate into your diet!)

8. Soy-- Soy burgers, hot dogs, sausage, soy milk, and tofu (yuck...don't like this one)

9. Nuts--Walnuts and almonds (we've been putting these into ziplock bags and grabbing them for "on-the-go" snacks).
10. Flaxseed---(honestly, not too sure what this is).

11. Whole grains--- Barley, buckwheat, wild rice, brown rice, oats, whole grain breads (we can still eat carbs. We just substitute white pasta, bread, and rice with whole grains)
12. Cruciferous Vegetables--- Cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, kale (When we're in hurry, we buy the veggies in a bag that you can microwave in 5 minutes. They're pretty good).
13. Nonfat yogurt--(This is the healthiest dairy food you can eat)

14. Berries--Blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, and cranberries.
15. Red Wine---(5 ounce serving, 1 is good, 2 is ok, 3 is bad).

16. Grean Leafy Vegetables---spinach, dark green lettuce, broccoli, collard greens

Happy, healthy eating from us to you!

Bad Blogger am I

I am officially a terrible blogger. I just do not make time for thoughtful, creative blogging. However, I really want to try to be more consistent. Even if no one reads this but me, I really want to record the things that are happening during this season of our lives. It will be fun to look back and remember the joys, challenges, little excitements, and things that we learned during seminary and our early years of marriage (even if insignificant) So, all that to say, I will try to do a better job! Life in Lou is still so busy, but it's getting better everyday. I am so blessed! The Lord is shaping and conforming me...teaching me to trust...ALWAYS. I don't want to forget anything...

So, here is my little random excitement for today: A super-cute new journal. Yes, seemingly very insignificant, but I was excited nonetheless. Adam and I made a quick stop at Borders during our date-night last night, and it jumped off the shelf at me! I love to journal prayer requests, prayers, sermon notes, and other things that are going on in my life. I've have kept a journal since middle school (so why is blogging so difficult?!?). Getting a new journal is always exciting because it makes you want to write more (just like getting new running shoes motivates you to run more). However, this journal is particularly cute, so I just had to share!

CUPCAKES!!!