Forever For His Glory

“ It seems like blessings keep falling in my lap…. ” So. Many. Blessings. God really enjoys giving the desires of your heart when you seek Him. The things you’d like to have, but you don’t think you’ll get. And a lot of the things aren’t needs , they just make life a little sweeter. I was feeling kinda down. Just kinda tired with some things going through my head. Jesus, I would like some encouragement! Nothing happened. I went through a couple weeks just feeling funky. Nothing was wrong, just something felt “off”. What is going on?! This isn’t normal… My friends were praying... then it slowly went away. I still don’t know what caused it; it was weird. Life continued. Our newest 4 legged member, Shimmer. She's 3/4 Welsh Mountain Pony & 1/4 Halflinger And then over the last week or so it’s been as if God decided to answer all the quiet desires in my heart at once! I was praying for a desk for my side of the room. BOOM! One of the families...

2006 My dog was put down on Thursday. For those of you that didn’t know Fanci, she was my white schnauzer that I’ve had for 10 years. She was my shadow - she’d do homework with me, sleep in my bed, everything. I could hold her upside down and she’d be completely content because she trusted me and knew I would never hurt her. If I left for somewhere overnight, as soon as I returned home she would be ecstatic! She hated when I left. And then I started doing missions and I could never explain to her that I’d be gone for months at a time. So every time someone would get home, Fanci was there, waiting for me, but I didn’t come back. So she waited, and waited. My mom says she was depressed waiting for me. Fanci had never been depressed, but she was. I broke her heart. And when she should have been in comfort, sitting snuggled in my lap for her later years, she was confused because I wasn’t home. But all of that is ended now. When I was briefly home last month in-between mi...

“ Wow, you're going to the Caribbean on a mission trip!? Lucky! Really suffering for the Lord. Haha!” Missions work really isn't always exciting without the pain. Granted, some outreach locations make outreach “nicer” (I'm glad I haven't been called somewhere cold!), but there really is a pain that comes with missions regardless of where your location is. But it's hard to imagine until you've experienced it yourself. I've missed so many birthdays (and births), weddings, holidays, family togetherness, and just sitting on the couch talking to a friend. Counting from October 2014 - June 2016 (which is the soonest I'd get home), I would have spent 8 months out of state for various mission training's, 6 months out of the country on outreach, and only 6 months home interspersed between the times of being gone. And if I do go home in June, it would only be for a month or so before leaving again for 9+ months. Missions work really is I think ...

If you had asked me when I was 10 what I wanted to be when I was older, I probably would have told you married and/or a veterinarian/horse trainer/professional singer. But instead, I’m here on a beautiful Caribbean island for 4 months, loving on kids and teaching them about Jesus, and getting ready to go into full-time missions. What?! That was definitely not in my 10 year old’s master plan. 2007 - Halter-breaking Freedom Yet here I am, and I can’t imagine being anywhere else! But I find it very funny because my 10 year old self would have thrown such a fit if you had told her this was where she would have been in 11 years. No joke. This is so far from what I wanted back then. It makes me think about my friends in various positions. Engaged. Getting a degree. Serving in the local church. Single. Serving in a nation across the ocean. Married with kids. Teaching adults. Teaching children. Living with their parents. Living on their own. 2008 - Some of ou...

Lately my news feed has been bombarded with the news of Josh Duggar's past sins as everyone throws their two cents into the discussion. And normally I wouldn't join into such a discussion, but there was something that bothered me tremendously as I read. And it wasn't Josh Duggar. On one side of the discussion are those who are saying to forgive Josh, which is great (especially since we don't have a right to be throwing stones). What bothered me was the other group of people that are popping out of the woodwork. I've been reading comments from these other young adults who were raised in a "Christian" home-school home, went to church, sang in the choir, but then went to college and became atheists, among other things. You could hear the hate, anger and bitterness in every word they wrote. It was almost as if they were enjoying hearing about a believer's past sin so that they could say, "Aha! And that is why I left the church! Because there we...

A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, Is God in His holy habitation. God sets the solitary in families; He brings out those who are bound into prosperity. Psalm 68:5-6 Double-delight roses - a Californian favorite May 13th, 2004. The van was loaded with immediate necessities (including 5 dogs), the “goodbyes” were said, and the long drive to a strange new world commenced. When we moved to Texas from California almost 10 years ago (we arrived May 15th), I came crying, only appeased at the thought that we were going to move back to California when my Grandfather passed away and we inherited the house. As long as I persevered for those [short] years, I could go back to CA where my life was wonderful. Because, honestly, my life was awesome in CA. Pools. An awesome homeschool group. Cotillions. Renaissance & Country Homeschool Fairs. Wonderful friends. Amazing weather. Mountains. Beautiful green sports parks everywhere. Long days at the beach boogi...

2013 was a hard year. A really hard year. My emotions felt like they were on an emotional roller-coaster as I learned to navigate never traversed waters. As soon as I would "learn" something new, God would throw a curve-ball at me to make sure I was staying focused on Him and not in my own ability. I definitely needed those curve-balls! My birth-certificate - after more than a year of figuring out what was needed, I now officially exist! This year has seen many family get-togethers, chaperoning, dancing, heartaches, laughing, crying my eyes out late at night (and not so late at night), new and old friends, learning new things, teaching kids, my first break-down due to stress ( not something I would suggest….), music with siblings, learning from kids, a new sister (and new brothers!), God’s love, ultimate volleyball games, a new job, a course change in our life, new ministry opportunities, and many other thing too numerous to count! Toe shoes unite! Raf...