Ministry stuff
Play by Play of Barcelona
We had a GREAT time in Barcelona! We stayed a few nights and didn’t waste a minute of our time! The first day we got in a huge fight (before we even left for the airport), and then were in a funk for the first hour or so when we arrived. Yuck. I hate arguing! But thank goodness we always talk things out and we were able to get over it right after a little talk! We had lunch in a little square that Justin really likes (and it happened to be pretty close to where we were staying). Maisie had a blast playing in the fountain (that we later found out was the toilet for “ducks” or pigeons). EW! We then walked around a lot of the city and had dinner at an AMAZING tapas place. That was the day of the Powell family. The next day we met…
Read MoreStaff Conference and Amsterdam
We had a great week at our annual staff conference! Here are a couple highlights (or at least pictures) from the week. I pretty much didn’t think about taking pictures till the last day. That is always how I am. So here are some pictures! You might notice that each picture from that last night of staff conference was taken by me! Go go gadget arm! 🙂 These are two girls I love!! In the middle is Chelsea, whose home Justin and I are staying in in Amsterdam! She however, is off to California for college! 🙁 Then on the right is Katherine! Katherine is one of our best friends who was on the team with us in Paris! Katherine and I always have SO much fun together and laugh at anything and everything we can, especially Justin!! Sarah! I always look forward to hanging out with Sarah at…
Read MoreLooking to give away some money???
If you are struggling with what to do with all that tax return money, I have a really great solution! Give it away! Or at least some of it!!! Why not help someone in need? Why not give some running water to a school who has no water? Why not help a child (or adult) get an education? Why not help one of our African brothers or sisters? Why not donate money to buy a mosquito net that could SAVE A LIFE? WHY NOT? Justin and I have had the privilege to have a few conversations with Byron and Lisa Borden. They used to work with our organization, but have recently moved back to Africa, where they lived for several years before moving to Europe. Byron and Lisa are the type of people that you meet and you just want to be around them. They are the type of people…
Read MoreGot Europe on my Mind.
The last couple days I haven’t been able to get Europe off my mind. These thoughts come in like rushing waters. For real. I don’t necessarily want these thoughts coming in, but they are, welcome or not. They are here. Justin asked me the other day to say the first word that came to mind after he said a word. He said the name of a European city and I replied so quickly, “LIVE.” What does that mean!?!? I can feel God tearing down ideas and thoughts and dreams that I (!!!) have made. I can feel Him softening my heart again. I think I became quite cynical in my time in Europe and although I experienced a lot of growth, I think that I found TOO MUCH of myself. I am happy to finally feel like I know who I am, know what I like and don’t like, etc,…
Read MoreMad At God.
Maisie has been a nightmare to put to sleep lately. It might be because she has been sick. I don’t know. What I do know is that I was getting really frustrated with spending (wasting) so much time trying to get her to sleep. Rocking and rocking and rocking and I can’t even get her to close her eyes! Some nights I don’t mind and I take advantage of the rocking that will soon be no more. Other nights, I just want some time to myself. Anyways, I decided that during these times of trying to get her to sleep, I would spend it talking with God. I have actually been looking forward to putting Maisie down a bit more these days. If I am honest with myself (and you!), the truth is that I haven’t spent much time talking to God lately. I actually have been pretty upset with…
Read MoreHighlights from Staff Conference!
Staff conference (now called Connect) was really great this year! Here are some little tidbits about the trip that you should know about! We stayed at an amazing hotel that had swimming pools and beautiful woods and nice rooms and good food and a spa! I didn’t get a massage though because I am still not so comfortable with a man giving me a massage and the woman at the front counter of the spa told me, “Man or Nothing!” So nothing it was. Oh well. Maybe next year. I am glad I chose nothing because another woman got the man and he had her undress in front of him and then didn’t cover her with a towel! This would have been devastating for me (even after all the nudity and exposure of having a baby in France). I had some amazing conversations with new and old friends. We work…
Read MoreI have hidden talents
We are having a great time at staff conference! We are having lots of talks catching up with friends that we haven’t seen for a year. Today we went into Vienna and did a “Serve the City” type thing (basically where we do lots of service projects around the city). I made balloon animals with a group of people. I actually made balloon animals for a living (well, my first job) when I was fifteen. Somehow, I remembered how to create almost all of the things I could once do. Yes, I was proud of myself. Lame. Anyways, it was really fun. Maisie had a couple meltdowns throughout the day, but did pretty well for the most part. She isn’t used to so many people being around her all the time. Oh wait, she lives in Paris. At least she isn’t used to so many people talking to her all…
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