Ok, I seriously need to be better at blogging. I am so much better taking the time to decorate my blog than actually writing in my blog. Go figure. But, 'tis the time for New Years resolutions and I am just so stinking excited about mine that I simply had to tell you that I'm stinking excited about mine. I have to wait until New Year's Day to reveal everything, though... Right? I hope I can wait that long...
If you're struggling for some inspiration, check out Relevant Magazine's Rachel Held Evans and her 7 tips to a less boring NY Resolution. My resolutions are thanks to that article.
Ok, ok, let me just give you a hint so I can go to sleep!
My New Year's Resolutions involve:
1. A project.
2. A question.
3. A quest.
Oh man! I'm so excited. Are you planning your New Year's resolution(s)?
Friday, December 31, 2010
Saturday, August 21, 2010
do something
I just want yall to see this. Because sometimes when we see, we remember. And sometimes when we remember, we do: we pray, we give, we go. Please do.
Kisses from Katie's blog
Kisses from Katie's blog
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Adoptionbug.com
Adoptionbug.com is a wonderful site where families can raise money to help fund their adoptions! The site is loaded with awesome t-shirts and precious faces of orphans and families. Here's one t-shirt I ordered:
Love it!! Help bring an orphan home to his/her forever family!
"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." John 14:18
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Where My Heart Is: Ghana
I wish I would bring myself to Blog World more often. I have so much to tell you and I just never allow myself to sit down and type it all out. Currently, I'm sitting in an office where my man is working hard for his livin'. He really is so cute while he works, answering all those phone calls. Sweet boy.
Anyway, I suppose I'll get to my point of this post: Ghana Mission 2010.
When you travel to the same place more than once, you tend to compare your previous experiences to your current one (at least I do!). I prepared myself for these comparisons and tried not to do that this time around.... But really, how much more could He teach me in the same surroundings? with some of the same people? doing virtually the same activities?
(Ridiculous. Go ahead. Roll your eyes at me. I know I am.)
I had no idea.
The Lord blew me, along with my ever-present pride, out of the water. And I am so beyond glad that He did.
Going on mission trips, the focus is generally on other people. We (I) forget about the work God does in our own lives. And that's pretty much what God did: worked inside me. For two weeks, I was constantly discipled by Ghanian Christians who GET IT. They absolutely get this thing called discipleship. They absolutely get this thing called Christianity. They absolutely get the call of Jesus to deny themselves, carry their cross, and follow Him. They get it. Period. I told my dearest Ghanian friend, Gideon, that truly, they are the ones who need to come to America and teach us what Jesus meant when He said, "Follow Me."
During the course of those two weeks, we worked along side men and women who get up everyday at 4:00am, meet at church and pray from 4:00-5:30am. Then, they go home and the men lead a one hour family devotional. And then, they get ready and go to work! Everyday, they do this! I'm amazed.
Gideon's church is participating in a 30 day fast. Each night of the fast, they meet at their church for a two hour prayer meeting, and then break fast together when the sun sets. For 30 days, they are doing this! Everyday! For 30 days!
We also worked alongside with a pastor, Pastor Mohammed, who, when he found out how sick some of our team were, stayed up all night long and prayed. I don't think my best friend would even do that for me, nor would I think to do that for her. :(
But this is how these Christians live. It is simply their way of life. They don't have access to all of our fancy Bible study books, our cushioned seats, air-conditioned churches. They simply read God's Word, study it together, and then live it out.
Wow.
I also had the privilege of holding babies whose mommies died while giving them life and whose daddies could not (or would not) care for an infant. Praise God He does not leave them (or us!) as orphans (John 14:18). Precious, precious babies. I'm pretty sure I met my future daughter in that bunch, by the way. One can hope. ;)
One day, while I was holding one of those precious babies, the CAPTIAIN OF THE BLACK STARS, JOHN MENSAH came to donate a palate of goods to the orphanage!!! Be still my heart!!! I sure did get a picture of us! Whew. Dream come true. I seriously need to post my pics.
Anyway, so basically, my heart was left in Ghana. Again. And I'm ready to go back. Today. We'll see what God has in store. All I know is, no matter where we are on this planet, our commandment is to go and make disciples.
Recommended reading: Radical by David Platt
"Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations...." Matthew 28:19
Anyway, I suppose I'll get to my point of this post: Ghana Mission 2010.
When you travel to the same place more than once, you tend to compare your previous experiences to your current one (at least I do!). I prepared myself for these comparisons and tried not to do that this time around.... But really, how much more could He teach me in the same surroundings? with some of the same people? doing virtually the same activities?
(Ridiculous. Go ahead. Roll your eyes at me. I know I am.)
I had no idea.
The Lord blew me, along with my ever-present pride, out of the water. And I am so beyond glad that He did.
Going on mission trips, the focus is generally on other people. We (I) forget about the work God does in our own lives. And that's pretty much what God did: worked inside me. For two weeks, I was constantly discipled by Ghanian Christians who GET IT. They absolutely get this thing called discipleship. They absolutely get this thing called Christianity. They absolutely get the call of Jesus to deny themselves, carry their cross, and follow Him. They get it. Period. I told my dearest Ghanian friend, Gideon, that truly, they are the ones who need to come to America and teach us what Jesus meant when He said, "Follow Me."
During the course of those two weeks, we worked along side men and women who get up everyday at 4:00am, meet at church and pray from 4:00-5:30am. Then, they go home and the men lead a one hour family devotional. And then, they get ready and go to work! Everyday, they do this! I'm amazed.
Gideon's church is participating in a 30 day fast. Each night of the fast, they meet at their church for a two hour prayer meeting, and then break fast together when the sun sets. For 30 days, they are doing this! Everyday! For 30 days!
We also worked alongside with a pastor, Pastor Mohammed, who, when he found out how sick some of our team were, stayed up all night long and prayed. I don't think my best friend would even do that for me, nor would I think to do that for her. :(
But this is how these Christians live. It is simply their way of life. They don't have access to all of our fancy Bible study books, our cushioned seats, air-conditioned churches. They simply read God's Word, study it together, and then live it out.
Wow.
I also had the privilege of holding babies whose mommies died while giving them life and whose daddies could not (or would not) care for an infant. Praise God He does not leave them (or us!) as orphans (John 14:18). Precious, precious babies. I'm pretty sure I met my future daughter in that bunch, by the way. One can hope. ;)
One day, while I was holding one of those precious babies, the CAPTIAIN OF THE BLACK STARS, JOHN MENSAH came to donate a palate of goods to the orphanage!!! Be still my heart!!! I sure did get a picture of us! Whew. Dream come true. I seriously need to post my pics.
Anyway, so basically, my heart was left in Ghana. Again. And I'm ready to go back. Today. We'll see what God has in store. All I know is, no matter where we are on this planet, our commandment is to go and make disciples.
Recommended reading: Radical by David Platt
"Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations...." Matthew 28:19
Saturday, April 17, 2010
The Stoning of Soraya M.
We have no idea.
I'll repeat: We simply have no idea.
I watched a film this afternoon that has changed my life and I'm recommending it to the world: The Stoning of Soraya M. It isn't for the faint of heart so gather up some courage before you see it. It is rated R. It is extremely graphic in its violence.
And it really happened.
And it is happening all over the world; simply change Soraya's name to another.
I'm not even sure what I can write about it. Soraya's story took place in a country where my God is shunned and another is worshipped. Where women and children are treated so unjustly. Where a child is handed a stone and told to throw it at his mother... And he does it. Where human life has no worth.
The thing is, this story could happen anywhere. My country is full of people who worship idols. My generation isn't that far removed from the one where women had no legal rights in this land. And how we forget. And how we take for granted all this freedom. I absolutely believe this: God gives to all. He also gives to some to give to all. My freedom (spiritually, physically, etc.) was given to me to bring freedom to those in chains, to bring a voice to the voiceless, to bring hope to the hopeless. The same Power that raised my Savior from the dead is also in me, and is in you if you know Jesus.
We have to do something.
So what do we do? I have an idea about what is happening now, so God, what do I do??
"'Then neither do I condemn you,' declared Jesus." John 8:11
I'll repeat: We simply have no idea.
I watched a film this afternoon that has changed my life and I'm recommending it to the world: The Stoning of Soraya M. It isn't for the faint of heart so gather up some courage before you see it. It is rated R. It is extremely graphic in its violence.
And it really happened.
And it is happening all over the world; simply change Soraya's name to another.
I'm not even sure what I can write about it. Soraya's story took place in a country where my God is shunned and another is worshipped. Where women and children are treated so unjustly. Where a child is handed a stone and told to throw it at his mother... And he does it. Where human life has no worth.
The thing is, this story could happen anywhere. My country is full of people who worship idols. My generation isn't that far removed from the one where women had no legal rights in this land. And how we forget. And how we take for granted all this freedom. I absolutely believe this: God gives to all. He also gives to some to give to all. My freedom (spiritually, physically, etc.) was given to me to bring freedom to those in chains, to bring a voice to the voiceless, to bring hope to the hopeless. The same Power that raised my Savior from the dead is also in me, and is in you if you know Jesus.
We have to do something.
So what do we do? I have an idea about what is happening now, so God, what do I do??
"'Then neither do I condemn you,' declared Jesus." John 8:11
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Annoyed & Stewing & Thankful
I.hate.bedrest. In case you haven't heard from all my facebook statuses, I have pneumonia. I'm partially annoyed because of all that. However, I'm mostly annoyed and stewing because I've had pneumonia this entire time and a certain professional, we'll call him Dr. Certain Professional, neglected to tell me. I'm here to rant about this Dr. CP because I now have plenty of time to be annoyed and stewing and ranting. ;) Maybe I'll be of sound mind later and delete this, but alas, you have been warned: this is a rant!
It all started last week on spring break when I woke up with a sore throat, which turned into a cough, which turned into a low grade fever. Probably allergies? So I cancelled my doctor's appointment I had made last Friday. Dumb move because I woke up on Saturday with 101 fever and lungs full of yuck and had to go to urgent care and pay double to see the Dr. Certain Professional (who isn't my usual awesome doctor, Dr. Beau Meyer!) Dr. CP listened to my chest and diagnosed it as bronchitis and sent me on my way.
Saturday night was wretched. My fever was up to just about 103 and I couldn't catch my breath for anything. Sunday when I *thankfully* woke up, I went back to the doctor - and Dr. CP was still the only one there - and I requested an x-ray just to make sure it wasn't pneumonia. He was highly offended that I'd be scared of a doctor's misdiagnosis and haughtily said that I needed to give my meds some time to work. Sorry, buddy, but I know of a girl my age who just went to be with Jesus last week because of pneumonia. As much as I'd love to see Jesus face to face, there's still plenty of work to be done around here, so I want that x-ray. So Dr. CP takes my x-ray and shows me this streak of white on my lung and tells me that it's a collapsed lung and thinks it "wouldn't hurt you to be on another medicine to prevent pneumonia now." Those were his words. He writes me a prescription for Levaquin - maybe you know what that is, however I didn't. I thought it was a preventive med.
I go home and do all these breathing treatments and exercises Dr. CP told me to do, thinking I'm trying to reinflate my lung and prevent pneumonia. I make a follow-up appointment with my amazing usual doctor, Dr. Meyer, for Tuesday (yesterday).
Yesterday, I saw Dr. Meyer's precious face and told him that I had a collapsed lung and I was just here to see if I reinflated it. He takes a look at my x-ray from Sunday and says, "Girl, you you have pneumonia!" ...... what? I asked him if Dr. CP knew it was pneumonia. He did, and "that's why he prescribed Levaquin. Levaquin is the 'big guns' for pneumonia. You usually see collapsed lungs with pneumonia." .... WHAT?? Dr. CP didn't tell me I had pneumonia or any of this about that medicine. So Dr. Meyer whisks me off to get another x-ray to see if this medication is working. It is, thankfully, so I don't have to be admitted to the hospital, however I can't go back to work the rest of the week and I have to be on bedrest.
Sigh.
I have plenty to be thankful for, though. I'm thankful I'm still breathing which means I can still take part in all the work God has for us to do. I'm thankful that God gifted people with the abilities to make big gun meds like Levaquin so I don't have to go to the hospital. I'm thankful for Dr. Meyer. I'm thankful for amazingly understanding principals and co-workers who wouldn't let me in the building yesterday to fix sub plans for the rest of the week. They did the sub plans for me. Wow. I'm thankful for my mom who went with me to all these doctor's appointments - and who was a witness to Dr. CP's behavior so I know I'm not crazy! I'm thankful for my dad who makes me laugh because he's highly susceptible to pneumonia/respiratory illnesses, so he's avoiding me like the plague (I'm avoiding him too... as I'm on bedrest at my house. I don't want to give this to him - or anyone for that matter!) ;) I'm thankful for my cute boyfriend, who, when he found out I was now on bedrest for 6 more days, got me a video game to play. That made me smile because it was so randomly thoughtful. And of course, I'm thankful that my God is a healer. The Healer, who can and will do anything to set His children free.
"I run in the path of Your commands, for you have set my heart free." Psalm 119:32
It all started last week on spring break when I woke up with a sore throat, which turned into a cough, which turned into a low grade fever. Probably allergies? So I cancelled my doctor's appointment I had made last Friday. Dumb move because I woke up on Saturday with 101 fever and lungs full of yuck and had to go to urgent care and pay double to see the Dr. Certain Professional (who isn't my usual awesome doctor, Dr. Beau Meyer!) Dr. CP listened to my chest and diagnosed it as bronchitis and sent me on my way.
Saturday night was wretched. My fever was up to just about 103 and I couldn't catch my breath for anything. Sunday when I *thankfully* woke up, I went back to the doctor - and Dr. CP was still the only one there - and I requested an x-ray just to make sure it wasn't pneumonia. He was highly offended that I'd be scared of a doctor's misdiagnosis and haughtily said that I needed to give my meds some time to work. Sorry, buddy, but I know of a girl my age who just went to be with Jesus last week because of pneumonia. As much as I'd love to see Jesus face to face, there's still plenty of work to be done around here, so I want that x-ray. So Dr. CP takes my x-ray and shows me this streak of white on my lung and tells me that it's a collapsed lung and thinks it "wouldn't hurt you to be on another medicine to prevent pneumonia now." Those were his words. He writes me a prescription for Levaquin - maybe you know what that is, however I didn't. I thought it was a preventive med.
I go home and do all these breathing treatments and exercises Dr. CP told me to do, thinking I'm trying to reinflate my lung and prevent pneumonia. I make a follow-up appointment with my amazing usual doctor, Dr. Meyer, for Tuesday (yesterday).
Yesterday, I saw Dr. Meyer's precious face and told him that I had a collapsed lung and I was just here to see if I reinflated it. He takes a look at my x-ray from Sunday and says, "Girl, you you have pneumonia!" ...... what? I asked him if Dr. CP knew it was pneumonia. He did, and "that's why he prescribed Levaquin. Levaquin is the 'big guns' for pneumonia. You usually see collapsed lungs with pneumonia." .... WHAT?? Dr. CP didn't tell me I had pneumonia or any of this about that medicine. So Dr. Meyer whisks me off to get another x-ray to see if this medication is working. It is, thankfully, so I don't have to be admitted to the hospital, however I can't go back to work the rest of the week and I have to be on bedrest.
Sigh.
I have plenty to be thankful for, though. I'm thankful I'm still breathing which means I can still take part in all the work God has for us to do. I'm thankful that God gifted people with the abilities to make big gun meds like Levaquin so I don't have to go to the hospital. I'm thankful for Dr. Meyer. I'm thankful for amazingly understanding principals and co-workers who wouldn't let me in the building yesterday to fix sub plans for the rest of the week. They did the sub plans for me. Wow. I'm thankful for my mom who went with me to all these doctor's appointments - and who was a witness to Dr. CP's behavior so I know I'm not crazy! I'm thankful for my dad who makes me laugh because he's highly susceptible to pneumonia/respiratory illnesses, so he's avoiding me like the plague (I'm avoiding him too... as I'm on bedrest at my house. I don't want to give this to him - or anyone for that matter!) ;) I'm thankful for my cute boyfriend, who, when he found out I was now on bedrest for 6 more days, got me a video game to play. That made me smile because it was so randomly thoughtful. And of course, I'm thankful that my God is a healer. The Healer, who can and will do anything to set His children free.
"I run in the path of Your commands, for you have set my heart free." Psalm 119:32
Monday, March 1, 2010
Every Girl's Dream...
It is every girl's dream to have a man fight for her (in some form or fashion, should a situation arise). Well, my dream came true last night and I simply had to share my experience with you.
All growing up, I have had issues with food. I am the pickiest eater the good Lord ever made and I really have tried to change. It's harder than you think but I think I'm a little braver than I was one year ago! Ordering with me at restaurants generally takes awhile because I have to change at least something on my order 99% of the time. I've been warned that this little trait of mine would come to bite me one day. Little did those nay-sayers know that it would make a dream come true!
So there I was at Chili's last night, ordering the Cajun Chicken Pasta... minus the chicken... sub french fries for the chicken (since I'm paying for the chicken anyway, may as well try to get something else for my money!) And my sweet waiter, Joe, looked at me with a quick, slightly strange, barely noticeable look, but very politely said he'd get me my order. Hooray! No questions asked! (They always have questions for me.)
15-20 minutes later, this is what happens:
In case you can't tell, that would be french fries in a pasta dish. Complete with alfredo sauce drizzle. I laughed hysterically, and the manager (who brought us our food) looked at me strangely and said, "Is that right??" Well, technically... I had failed to request the french fries on the side. My bad.
When Joe comes to check on us, he sees that I had pushed my fries to the side and says, "Oh, did they put too many fries on your pasta??" ...... I reply, "Oh well, no it's fine, I just pushed them over to the side." Sweet Joe, "Oh no! You did mean on the side! I fought for you with the cooks because I thought this is what you wanted." PRECIOUS!!!
Joe, that was the best french fries in a pasta dish I've ever had.
All growing up, I have had issues with food. I am the pickiest eater the good Lord ever made and I really have tried to change. It's harder than you think but I think I'm a little braver than I was one year ago! Ordering with me at restaurants generally takes awhile because I have to change at least something on my order 99% of the time. I've been warned that this little trait of mine would come to bite me one day. Little did those nay-sayers know that it would make a dream come true!
So there I was at Chili's last night, ordering the Cajun Chicken Pasta... minus the chicken... sub french fries for the chicken (since I'm paying for the chicken anyway, may as well try to get something else for my money!) And my sweet waiter, Joe, looked at me with a quick, slightly strange, barely noticeable look, but very politely said he'd get me my order. Hooray! No questions asked! (They always have questions for me.)
15-20 minutes later, this is what happens:
In case you can't tell, that would be french fries in a pasta dish. Complete with alfredo sauce drizzle. I laughed hysterically, and the manager (who brought us our food) looked at me strangely and said, "Is that right??" Well, technically... I had failed to request the french fries on the side. My bad.
When Joe comes to check on us, he sees that I had pushed my fries to the side and says, "Oh, did they put too many fries on your pasta??" ...... I reply, "Oh well, no it's fine, I just pushed them over to the side." Sweet Joe, "Oh no! You did mean on the side! I fought for you with the cooks because I thought this is what you wanted." PRECIOUS!!!
Joe, that was the best french fries in a pasta dish I've ever had.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Highlights
Well, not that too many of you read this thing anymore, but I've decided to resurrect my blog. It needs a little bridge between October and now, though. So here we go with a little blurb of the 'in-between':
November
* Thanksgiving was small and quiet. After the scrumptious meal, we quickly high-tailed it (as to avoid any emotional breakdowns due to the empty seat at the table) to see the very scary, not-child-friendly, "A Christmas Carol." My prom date was an animator on that movie. :)
December
* HAWAII!!! For Christmas this year, we took a little vacation to paradise. It was perfect and I think I should move there. We visited 4 islands: Hawaii, Oahu, Maui, and Kauai. Maui and Oahu are my faves. Oahu has so much to do that you could have an entire week's (or more!) vacation just on that island. And Maui has insanely gorgeous beaches that you could have your entire vacation there (as long as you're a beach person!) I should really post pictures and devote at least one entry to just Hawaii. Perhaps I will.
January
* New Year's Resolution: To love.
Now
* Lord-willing, I'm heading back to Ghana this summer so all that preparation is going on now. We're selling super cute t-shirts as a fundraiser! I should devote an entire entry to those shirts. Perhaps I'll do that too.
Well, there you have it. Very brief highlights of the in-between.
Ok, now let's get to the good stuff...
November
* Thanksgiving was small and quiet. After the scrumptious meal, we quickly high-tailed it (as to avoid any emotional breakdowns due to the empty seat at the table) to see the very scary, not-child-friendly, "A Christmas Carol." My prom date was an animator on that movie. :)
December
* HAWAII!!! For Christmas this year, we took a little vacation to paradise. It was perfect and I think I should move there. We visited 4 islands: Hawaii, Oahu, Maui, and Kauai. Maui and Oahu are my faves. Oahu has so much to do that you could have an entire week's (or more!) vacation just on that island. And Maui has insanely gorgeous beaches that you could have your entire vacation there (as long as you're a beach person!) I should really post pictures and devote at least one entry to just Hawaii. Perhaps I will.
January
* New Year's Resolution: To love.
Now
* Lord-willing, I'm heading back to Ghana this summer so all that preparation is going on now. We're selling super cute t-shirts as a fundraiser! I should devote an entire entry to those shirts. Perhaps I'll do that too.
Well, there you have it. Very brief highlights of the in-between.
Ok, now let's get to the good stuff...
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