The God of Surprises!!

Even though I have known this for 5 days I still can't stop smiling. My sister and brother-in-law are going to have a baby!! I can't wait to be an Auntie of another niece or nephew. God's timing in both Adi and Ming Hong's adoptions was incredible. His timing in this was no less amazing. He waiting 11 years before giving them a biological child. Now, we are going to pray them through this pregnancy. I can't wait to see how this plays out!

Hitty is coming to Bolivia!

So, my birthday is on Monday and as a special surprise my kindred spirit, Amanda Leahy, and her momma, Shirley Childers are sending me a Hitty Doll. She is such an interesting and creative present, I can't wait to meet her. Although I'm a little nervous I won't be able to think up a great name for her. This will take some thinking. Anyway, I will be able to take pics of my Hitty in Bolivia and allow her to write about her adventures living with me. I think the first one will have to be getting used to home and meeting the monster, Muffin. :) If you want to follow my Hitty stories, as well as my Hitty's friends, you can check out the site http://www.hittytraveldoll.com/

Thanks Twinkie and Mom - I am blessed to have you in my life!

Testing, Testing

This is my first post from my iPod.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Knitting Kitty

So really, I am just trying out Picasa and seeing how I like it. Also, Muffin is learning how to knit. If you are following me on Facebook, let me tell you that the Radio Theater last night was wonderful! I'm praying for another great night tonight!

Working on my next e-mail letter!

So, I was on the phone tonight with a friend and realized that it had been almost 6 months since some people had heard from me. Unacceptable. So, I got down to it and typed an e-mail. Now, I just have to get it approved and get it sent out. It would be so much easier if I could just press send once. I wonder if I should sit down and analyze one of these days what exactly makes a prayer letter hard for me to produce. I have a couple of ideas already:
(1) I am the only one pushing myself to get it done. We are held to an honor system, which is wonderful, except I never remember to remind myself to get a prayer letter done.
(2) Then once I start writing it, I realize how few pictures I take. I'm like Franco Salvatori - I don't want to stop life in order to take a picture. And I never think to ask people to take a picture with MY camera with ME in it. So, I end up in lots of other people's pictures and never my own.
(3) I don't feel very expressive in my writing. I wish I could just call everyone up and talk to them. I'm a much better talker.
(4) Then there's the whole process of getting one to print and into enveleopes . . .

So, I am going to do better!

It works, It works!

My internet phone is back up and running, folks! I'm so thankful for Fernando Hinojosa, our school IT specialist. He got it all fixed for me :) So, now I have wireless, my packet 8 phone, and all I'm waiting on is my cable. Am I really a missionary? The internet I can justify b/c of my school research, the phone was a present from my extended family so those things are easy to reconcile. But I struggled with cable. Then, I thought, I'll give it a shot for a year and see what I think :)
So, call me!

Isaiah 50:10

I woke up this morning and was in tears pretty quickly. I hate the emotional mess I am (and know I will be) during the first week of transition. Ever since college, the first week of separation has been a miniature version of hell for me. But there is one HUGE difference. Here, I have a God who walks beside me, shoulders the burden alongside me, and purposes all of it to make me more of his perfect ideal. So, in my tears I picked up a book on God's names and was determined to take at least one verse away with me for comfort. And I found Isaiah 50:10
Who among you fears the LORD
and obeys the word of his servant?
Let him who walks in the dark,
who has no light,
trust in the name of the LORD
and rely on his God.

I felt like one who had no light this morning. Why had I come back? How was I going to make it without my family back home and friends who were once the majority of my Bolivia? Where was I going to find the strength to get all of my stuff unpacked? It was such an encouragement to see that the Psalmist says we will have darkness. But when we do, we are to walk as if we have light - I don't have to see where I am going, because I see the one who does.

Rushing, Rushing, Rushing

No, I am not revisiting my college days by joining a sorority. :) I'm talking about my last 13 days in the U.S.

I spent my morning trying to pack as much as I could while keeping out my toiletries and clothes for my IL trip (July 24th-Aug 1st). It's so hard to think about what HAS to go this time, what I would LIKE to go this time, and what can be stored for LATER trips. Any more decision making and my brain might ooze out my ears. On top of all that, American Airlines has a summer embargo (sp?) in place, so my bags absolutely cannot weigh more than 50 lbs. At other times you can pay a hefty sum for 20 more lbs. allowance, but not in Aug.

So, I decided to share my angst and take a break all at the same time :)

My brother came out for a few days and a wonderful time was had by all! The kiddos are really loving their Uncle Matt, and he is so good with them. God love him, though, he's not used to how much energy it takes to keep up with them! Kimber might be coming out sometime this week to spend the night (bringing the kiddos, of course). I'm always up for a little more sister time!