Grandpa, Aunt, Cole and my Avalon!

Almost back to normal. Last week was crazy. Monday was just a bad day. Tuesday was good until I got a phone call from my mother saying that my grandpa was in the hospital and it was serious. She dropped everything and did the 5 hour drive there. I stayed behind so I could take my aunt up (my moms sister) who was flying in from AZ on Wednesday. So Wednesday I had a half day of work.. and I missed Thursday and Friday. It was good to spend it with family... I just wish that it wasn't in the hospital.

Well, Grandpa made it home even though he is not better. He will have to come down to the cities to go to the U hospital where they have better doctors and technology.

My brother Cole came home from the Navy this weekend also. It was really good to see him. He just got stationed in Hawaii on the submarine USS KEY WEST! I don't think I will mind visiting him! haha.

Also, I got a call last week (but was unable to talk) and an e-mail from the missions department at IMF. They want to schedule my personal interview! woohoo. I am excited and nervous at the same time. I hope I am accepted and I hope it happens soon.

Well, I'm off for now. My good ol trusty Avalon car is still up at Grandpas so that my aunt can drive back down. That means I have to depend on rides back and forth to work and such. It is really a drag. But its not that bad :)

A good pace

Things are moving along at a good pace. I am so thankful and so blessed!! Our God is so good!

I got an update from Carol at IMF. 4 out of my 6 references have completed their papers about me. Woohoo. Only two more to go.

Last night I came home and checked my e-mail, as usual, and unexpectedly I got an e-mail from a lady at church. I have never received an e-mail from her so I was excited just because she e-mailed me. LOL. This lady teaches 5th and 6th grade girls at our church. Much to my surprise, she e-mailed Steve (the family I will be living with in Mexico) and asked him how her small group could help their family. He replied to her by helping raise money for me to move there.

Oh, I am so thankful and so blessed. I am so overwhelmed by how amazing our God is. Raising people up all around to be senders.

I DID IT!!! WOOHOOO

this is a picture I took and then created it! I'm just excited to be able to attach photos now, as I am a photographer! :)

Ok, I dont like them side by side but I cant change it! LOL! The little boy is my baby brother Ian whom I love with my whole entire heart. Isn't he adorable! Yes, real baby bunnies. This photo was done at my work! I loved the set this year!

I like my life

So excited!! IMF (this is the agency I want to be credentialed (spelling!!) through as a christian worker) called my work today!! I thought they would say that I was approved but they only had a few questions and told my to call my references that haven't turned in their reference yet! haha. 3 out of 6 of turned it in and the three I thought would be slacking are the ones who have it turned in! SURPRISE!

As we all know I am on a HUGE tight budget (I think this will be true for the rest of my life). As I sit here and eat lunch, it is amazing how good the 100 calorie pack of cheese nips taste. (these have been in my cupboard for near a year... desperate times I tell you!)

I made a choice today. I have three dollars. This is true. Three dollars cash. I really really really want a pack of Diet Coke for work. So I sacrificed my laundry quarters and bought the diet coke. I guess I will be wearing clothes from the back of the closet and eating food from the back of the cupboard.

I like my life. I wouldn't change it for the most part. God has called me to serve in Mexico and if that means living on a tight budget... then I will do that. The people I will be serving dont even have an option on what to spend their three dollars on because they dont have three dollars.

Someone please share with me how to post a picture! :)

I wish

I wish I knew how to post pictures. I've tried over and over and each and every time I fail.

I wish I never had to take out the garabage or do the dishes. It's always worse doing them in your own home than at someone elses.

I wish my response from IMF would come back soon. I don't enjoy waiting. but I guess it's learning.

I wish December would come soon so I could be in Mexico but I wish that May would stay far far far away as I do not look forward to a very intense, busy month consisting of overtime, wedding, graduations, brother coming home, daddinos coming home and also packing, cleaning and moving.

Oh how I wish December was here. But I know that this time is a growing time.

It is not always easy

My conclusion from this day is that following Jesus is not easy. It's not always 'happy'. There are moments that stink, dry me, empty me. And it is hard. Right now is hard and truthfully I could not do it with out the Lord's help. It would not be possible. And right now I don't see how I will get through this obstacle.

I am struggling with keeping on top of my schedule and also my budget. this is HUGE for me. As being able to keep on top of my budget means I need to work more hours and babysit more frequently. Keeping on top of my schedule means limiting the hours I work, the amount I babysit and also what I do in my spare time. I need to fine the ... would it be the equilibrium point (demand and ... ugh what is it in economics? .. where the two lines cross.. who knows!)

I've been doind so good, and I've been sensing this hard, crunch time coming on. And its hard.

One of my best friends, Joanna is getting married June 3rd. I am a bridesmaid. It is in Las Vegas. I can not afford a ticket to get there.

Amelia graduates from sem school on the 2nd and the 3rd. I've been looking forward to this day since she mumbled the words 'I'm going to seminary school', years back when the boys were still so little... and I can't miss her graduation. Will it be possible to be at it and also Jo's wedding? Is it possible?

This really sucks.

To top it off my apartment lease is up on May 31st and I'll be moving into Amelia's basement.

And I'm trying to keep my schedule and my budget in a God-honoring place.

This is a hard road, a narrow road. (right now.. as I sit and cry at least.)

Whats crackin!

My IMF app is off, and now I am trying to create my list of names and addresses of all my supporters. It is hard work! :) and every day I am cleaning and going through things and getting rid of things that I will not need and will not need to store. I am so excited for this time in my life of preparing for my mission from God in Mexico, and I am even more excited for the time when I will be in Mexico serving. But I am sad that this chapter in my life is ending. The time of learning how to be self-sufficient, how to budget, how to be an adult, how to really care for yourself and not be under your parents roof. Although this time was not hard for me, it wasnt filled with all joys either. As I've said time and time before, I will really miss my room mate and my kitty!! (thats weird that they are in the same sentence- haha) Here I am drinking the Diet Coke my room mate bought me and my kitty is to my left drinking the milk out of my cereal bowl. God is so good!

God is so faithful to me!!

I am so thankful for so many things.

1st of all.. God makes the impossible, possible. Simple as that!

My IMF application is ready to be mailed tomorrow!! :) I am praying that all of my references respond in a timely manner! They are all amazing people, so I am sure they will! hehe.

I had a meeting with a pastor from Lord of Life church and it went so good! He wants me to speak at a mission Sunday. They are willing to sponsor me and are willing to share my story so others will too! PTL!

Lord of Life wants to send a youth team to Mexico, where I will be. AMAZING!

The Kids Ministry Leader wants her kids to raise money during VBS this summer. They are considering me! WOW! I will be having lunch with her in the near future.

I have made a real tight budget. If it is followed, all of my debt will be paid off December 1st. I was able to make all my goal payments on all bills for the months of January and February. This is huge, because the amount I need to pay is greater than my hourly wage. God is sooooo good!

My mommy gave me extra money this weekend, just because she loves me... this provided me with gas money and also enough money to print and mail my thank you letters from my last Mexico trip! Thanks mom for sharing your blessing!

A wonderful friend of mine paid for my IMF application fee of $125.00!! It would have never been possible with out her!

You see, God is good. He is raising people up all around to share their blessings with me which then bless Steve and Martha in Mexico, which bless the children and families there, and then they can host more teams and when teams go and serve ... they are blessed and they come home with a different approach on things and then they are a blessing in our programs and our churches and our communities. .... sorry if that didnt make sense but the point is this we are all one big team for God! and God is on our side!

Oh and one more thing. I had the privledge of sharing with a group of 4th grade girls this weekend. It was great to share with these children about the children in Mexico. They were so interested! I hope God planted a seed in them!