A Skype Date

Yesterday evening... so so so good! I spent almost three hours on Skype with Ptr. Titus, Ptr. Vandy, and Tess -- my best friends in Cambodia. It was about 11pm to 2am my time, 11am to 2pm their time. Let's be honest.. there isn't much that will keep me up past 2:30 in the morning now, except the rare rare rare opportunity of all four of us being together. It felt just like it does when I'm there -- PERFECT! I'm excited to celebrate Vandy's birthday while I'm there! Maybe Tess' too!

Asian Photobooth!

I heard my main mutt Shrek barking, and Vandy told me that Shrek finally has two girlfriends on campus. Shrek is the only dog that has my heart, and I'm hoping for puppies in July or August! By the way, raising a Shrek puppy is on my future to-do list!

And when they were ready for lunch, the four of us sat down together ["together"] at the table and prayed in Khmer. They ate soup, and I talked about school and my preparations for returning this summer. I even did a little "show and tell" of some things around my room.

I had promised my sister earlier in the evening that we would watch an episode or two of Lost together before bed, and obviously we never did that. :( I trust that she is kind and forgiving, because she understands how much the conversation meant to me.

It was so so so uplifting!

Yess.. it's Friday again!

Happy “Friday’s Fave Five” - hosted by Susanne at Living to Tell the Story. Click on the linky to see what 5 things other bloggers are love love loving this week!

1. Old Pictures
I scanned lots of old pictures last weekend. It was so much fun to look back through them and try try try to remember being that young again! I've heard lots of stories and seen home videos, but I really don't remember much earlier than elementary.

Look at those dimples in my chubby chubby cheeks!

2. Psalm 139
I've been meditating on these verses for over a week now. The entire chapter is full of goodness! These two verse have been my prayer every morning::

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. [Psalm 139:23,24]

3. God's Favor

My friend Nick that was very very very suddenly diagnosed with leukemia last Friday [read HERE], moved home on Wednesday. I can't write much because I don't know much, except that he's been really strong and really positive. On Wednesday he wrote, "Again, thank you all for your prayers they mean the world to me and i know i would not be feeling this great without your prayers and without God. thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you!!!!"

Nick, Me, and Phillipe back in hiiigh school

4. Realizations

It's nice to know that when I slide off the roller coaster of life, there is someone behind me to catch me before I fall, someone who was sitting there the whole time, through all the ups, downs, and turns. I hope you have friends like that too.

5. Acoustic Worship

This morning in chapel the sound system was having problems and shut down during worship. I think the sound guys and the worship band was in a slight panic, but I was glad; it was WONDERFUL! Not because I don't like microphones, or electric guitars and drums, or loud music, but because the quietness was beautiful conducive to an atmosphere of heart-felt worship. Thank you Jesus for erupting the noise and giving us silence; You deserved it!

See how we've grown...

Instead of doing homework on Sunday I looked through old pictures... here are some of my favorites of both Jessie and I.

Aren't we precious?

Christmas morning of '91 or '92 -- big wheels!

That's me on Big Bird.

Easter Sunday - I think that's me with the big basket!

I'm the unhappy one with the umbrella.. look at our bruised legs haha!

At Granddad and Grandmom's house in Ohio

Left to Right: Me, cousin Kevin, Jessie, and cousin David

Love love loved that wagon!

[At least that's what I'm told]

5 months old maybe??

She's going to kill me for posting this one!!

We can't figure this one out.. looks like my face SHAPE on the left, looks like my FACE on the right.

Here's a little preview of what's to come...

Tuesday's Random Dozen

I'm posting 12 random things because it seems to be the only way my brain is working today...

1. My friends Nathan and Jade have been in the process of adoption since mid-October when they flew to Uganda and met their son Samuel. It's been a difficult process to wait wait wait, especially as they had thought Samuel would be home before Christmas, but they trusted God and finally finally finally Nathan spoke with their lawyer yesterday and Jade left this morning with her dad to go to Uganda!!! God is already moving in a big way! First, he prompted Nathan to call the lawyer; second, He prompted Jade's dad to pack a Bible - a book he has never read! [<-- Samuel's passport photo - I can't wait to meet him!]

2. The bathroom is an odd place to have ants, isn't it?

3. My countdown to Mozambique is officially less than 100 days!

4. Apparently obtaining an international drivers license and learning how to drive a stick-shift is on my to-do list for the near future, because after three weeks with my team, I'm on my own and will be given a 1956 vw beetle for all my transportation needs. Word of the trip: Experience.

5. I'm trying to complain less about the weather; it's something I have felt convicted about. But.. let's be honest.. it was 54 on Sunday afternoon, and it's been snowing since Monday morning! Tomorrow's high is 32. 27 on Wednesday. 23 on Thursday. 22 on Friday. 26 on Saturday.

6. I'm going to Florida for Spring Break in 31 days. I repeat: Florida. 31 days.

7. White gummy bears are my favorite, and are actually my twin sister's least favorite. All the white gummy bears for me!!

8. Group projects: Students hate them! Why do professors assign them?

9. Have you seen the movie Up? I'm usually not much into animated movies, but this one is so precious!

Carl Fredicksen, a retired balloon salesman, is part rascal, part dreamer who is ready for his last chance at high-flying excitement. Tying thousands of balloons to his house, Carl sets off to the lost world of his childhood dreams. Unbeknownst to Carl, Russell, an overeager 8-year old Wildnerness Explorer who has never ventured beyond his backyard, is in the wrong place at the wrong time - Carl's front porch! The world's most unlikely duo reach new heights and meets fantastic friends like Dug, a dog with a special collar that allows him to speak, and Kevin, the rare 13-foot tall flightless bird. Stuck together in the wilds of the jungle, Carl realizes that sometimes life's biggest adventures aren't the ones you set out for.

10. I'm in the process of filling out my graduation application. I can't believe that in two semesters I will be a college graduate! Oh my stars.

11. Last Wednesday I wrote "replace trash bag" on my to-do list. I finally did it this afternoon, a full week later! How is it that I am too busy to put a trash bag in the can, but I'm not too busy to blog? Oh, I know... blogging is an escape from my to-do list!!

12. I just love Skype so much! This morning I talked to my friend Titus for the first time it what felt like three months, but really was probably more accurately only three weeks. :( On that note:

No distance of place or lapse of time can lessen the friendship of those who are thoroughly persuaded of each other's worth.

-Anonymous

Lost in Love

As I resolved to before New Years, yesterday I practiced the Sabbath. For me, I am practicing the Sabbath by NOT doing homework, and instead practicing the spiritual disciplines of rest, fellowship, and meditation. Yesterday was wonderful. I spent the majority of the afternoon on my bed with my Bible, a journal, a pen, and a highlighter, basking in the love and presence of God, my Maker, Redeemer, and Sustainer.

From yesterday's study and meditations of Psalm 139 came the first entry to my blog "Lost in Love". My intentions are not to double post on both blogs, but I want to introduce my new blog to my followers. Please leave comments there and share how you are growing in the love of God our Father

HERE to read my 1st post on my new blog "Lost in Love"

Exhaustion

This weekend has been exhausting -- physically and emotionally draining. In yesterday's post I said that I had had a busy week and a long to-do list, but that I surely would have everything done by yesterday afternoon.. I didn't get it done.

I found out yesterday afternoon that my friend Nick (21-yrs) has been diagnosed with acute lymphoid leukemia. Nick and I were best friends through school - second grade through graduation; through elementary, junior high, and high school - that's like an eternity! Let's be honest: I'm shocked, I'm upset, and I'm worried.

The day before his diagnosis he walked into the doctors office with chest pain and some strange rashes on his legs. His doctor did some blood work, and quickly he was sent to a cancer center, and in the same day was admitted to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. Now he has been moved to Riley Children's Hospital. After six blood draws, two cat-scans, three x-rays, an ultrasound, and a bone marrow biopsy, he found out that he had leukemia -- hours before it had only been chest pain and a rash. Apparently 'acute' refers to the relatively short time course of the disease (ie. being fatal in as little as a few weeks if left untreated); I thought 'acute' meant it was less in severity.

He seems positive and as of yesterday afternoon when I spoke to him, he said he was feeling fine. His leukemia is very treatable, but it's going to be a rough road ahead.

I wish I knew what I could do. What is there to do?? I want to be there for him. I want to be there for his family. I promised Nick I would pray for him every single day until he beats this.

Please keep Nick and the Pattengale family in your prayers.

Me, Phillipe, and Nick on the plane to Texas

Nick and I at graduation

Nick, me, and Phillipe in Ecuador

Friday evening, after I didn't get my nap, twin sis Jess and I babysat 14 kids. Ages 13 months through 10 years. After all the parents left, I looked at Jess and said Here we go! and then we started our rounds between the three play areas. The baby wasn't fussy. No one fought. The little ones never got whiney, even at 11pm. It was a good night! I actually had fun!

My Five Favorite Things

Happy “Friday’s Fave Five” blog, hosted by Susanne at Living to Tell the Story. Click on the linky to see what 5 things other bloggers are love love loving this week!

1. Things crossed off my to-do list

My planner was full everyday this week with assignments and meetings and reminders, and before the afternoon is over, I'LL HAVE EVERY BULLET CHECKED OFF MY LIST! Now of course that doesn't include: 'Eat' and 'Rest' but I think I'll be able to manage those before the evening is over! Some of the ridiculous things on my to-do list this week included: put trash bag in trash can, tell Prof. Wilson that I'll be absent Wed., and take a nap [yes, take a nap.] I seriously had to write everything down this week -- not because I would forget, but because it would be naturally set aside for other things on my list to be done first. So yes, I wrote 'Eat' and 'Rest' on my planner everyday this week! CUH-RAE-ZEE!

2. Give Me Jesus by Fernando Ortega

This is beautiful song, and sung by a beautiful voice. We sang this song on Sunday evening last week at the Horizon and it's been the song of my heart everyday this week. I'll be transparent and say that I have been a little discouraged this week, and I not only NEED Jesus but I WANT Jesus. Gracious, wowie! He is so so so good and I am so so so blessed!

This video was recorded as a tribute to Billy Graham's wife, Ruth.

In the morning, when I rise

Give me Jesus.

You can have all this world,

Just give me Jesus.

3. Naps

There is nothing as refreshing as a short power nap! This particular nap on Wednesday found me on the dirty floor in our suite, backpack on, coat on, for 30 minutes before dinner. After a 6:30am prayer walk and speaking in chapel, I was too tired to even walk a step further to the futon! Pathethic! This is legit ladies - LEGIT.

4. A heart to serve
A small group of people from my church, after hearing about the earthquake in Haiti, decided within only a few days to GO. Earthquake hit Monday. On Sunday they went forward. This morning they left. For Bob, it meant making an 8-hour roundtrip to Chicago to apply for a passport. Their hearts are broken for God's hurting people.

Selfless.

Service.

Sacrificial.

5. Accountability

Keeps me reading my Bible.. keeps me running those miles..

Enough said there!