6:15 wake-up.

I think I'm off that "Man-I'm-going-to-write-every-single-day-and-be-happy-while-doing-so thing". I will fully admit that sometimes (like, RIGHT NOW) I don't feel like writing at all. But I'm actually being self-assertive today.

Nathan talked to us last night about Aid Sudan -- what an awesome project. To me, the neatest part is how the organization tries to train and send primarily Sudanese refugees to Sudan as missionaries. Imagine the significance of these people who fled their country, miraculously made it to the states as refugees, and voluntarily returned back to the country, all for the sake of bringing hope to the people unable to get out! Incredible. Aid Sudan is in the process of constructing radio towers so that the southern Sudanese people, whose indigenous language is not written, can hear the Word of God in their own language. And for $20, a person can supply one individual radio, which can transmit to many people at once. Aid Sudan also works on building and fixing water wells and otherwise trying to help the people become more self-sufficient. I put the link up on the right if anyone's interested in reading more about it. It's a great organization.

Nathan also told me that Mary Margaret's sister, I think? is a veterinarian in Birmingham. Nathan said if I ever want a job or internship, I should email him and he can set it up for me. That was an unexpected blessing! It seems like connections and opportunities are popping up all over the place in Birmingham. We'll see where that goes, but it's nice to know that it's there if God leads me down that path.

Ten un manana buena.
:D

Two days in a row -- a new record.

To Do list for today:

Nothing.

I LOVE IT!

:)

Not that I couldn't be doing something, because I definitely could. Like working out...cleaning my room...emailing some people back...writing thank you notes....

I am so lazy. I'll do it tomorrow.

Wait..what is this?...am I....POSTING a BLOG? :)

So yes, I found myself with nothing to do so I decided to write a little something about my life at this exact moment. Enjoy if you can and want to. :)

I've learned a lot about myself recently. As in, I disappoint myself very easily. In itself, this probably wouldn't be that bad. The problem is what I do AFTER I let myself down. For example, the other day I decided to fast (as in, not eat anything while I earnestly pray to God). I had myself all hyped up, ready to go. I scoffed in my head at a close friend, who said that she had always tried to fast but couldn't do it because of weakness. Well, that's because you're supposed to rely on God to sustain you through your weakness, I thought smugly. Like I was so spiritually savvy? Right. Well, I earnestly prayed all morning. I made it till about noon, and then the first cheesy-delicious square of lasagna I saw somehow found its way into my stomach. I know that this in itself is not some terrible sin that negates all the prayers I have ever uttered. However, me being so ridiculous, it crushed me, and I progressed into a few days of spiritual emptiness. I realized later that this was probably Satan whispering in my head, You can't even fast for God. You worthless little girl, God is disappointed in you. And I dumbly, embarassingly, listened to the lies.

Ridiculous, right? I know I'm ridiculous. I have a lot to learn about following my Savior. But I won't stop following, learning along the way.

In other areas of my life, we just got back from Birmingham where we found a very possible rental house. We will have to get rid of a lot of stuff, but it's really about time. We have way way way too much STUFF. Jesus didn't even have a "place to rest His head", so why do I need a whole closet full of clothes? Yeah, I'm still working on that "storing up treasures in Heaven" part!

Dios le bendiga.
:)

It's so hot outside.....but it feels good on my motorcycle...

My favorite quote of the week - quite a clever way to throw in that you have a motorcyle, don't you think? Haha.

So I figure now is as good a time as any to write this blog's inaugural post. :) In maybe just a month, my life will be changing, changing, changing! I was just getting used to the fact that I'll be leaving home next year for Alabama, and now am hit with the fact that home is changing also. I'm excited, but I'm also nervous for my family, especially Jake having to switch high schools. He hasn't changed schools since 3rd grade, whereas the rest of us were in junior high at the least when we moved last time. But we're all just trusting God's leading, as we have done every time in the past. He hasn't let us down yet. :)

I can't believe I'll be going back to the Dominican Republic in two weeks, this time with Betsy by my side. How God-directed this has all been. You think you know exactly what He's going to do, and then He does something that leaves you speechless. This has been an incredible senior year. If I could list everything that happened and is still happening....

• We elect the first African-american President.
• Recession hits home.
• Swine flu hits around graduation time. (even though it turned out to be a bit overplayed, it was/is still a pandemic)
• We get Penny Lane....if you only knew how this DEAR little dog changed our lives. haha.
• Got in my first car accident...in Jackson, after graduation practice, as everyone in my senior class drove by and gawked. Yeah, that was fun.
• Went out West - a whole week of firsts! Van fights, backseat raves, slimeball motels - what more can you want?
• Dad loses job and we move. It's a bit humbling when something like a recession becomes personal.

I'm sure there are other things that happened, but my sleepy brain can't think of them right now. What am I still doing awake? This is unnatural for me. Betsy will be proud. :)