apologies aren't accepted here

I got a letter the other day from my little girl, Majoie, who I sponsor through Compassion International.  Her letters are very scripted--she's only six years old--so my favorite part of her letters is usually at the end where she asks me a question.  This time she asked, "When are you coming to Togo?"  If only she knew how much I long to come and meet her!

I also got a letter from my correspondence child, Cristian, several days ago.  He's fifteen years old, and I really enjoy his letters because he's much older and actually answers my questions.  We actually have conversations!  He is so encouraging to me in my faith, always sending me verses and telling me he's praying for me.  I just love getting letters from all of them.

Chloe asked me to tell her what my science teacher looks like.  When I told her his skin is about the same shade as mine, she automatically took that to mean that he is actually my twin brother and my mom left him at the hospital when "we" were born.  Not sure where Rachel fits into that picture...

Chloe was pretending to read a book we had lying around about marriage, and she told me: "Oh, you know what the book says?  It says that about six months after you get married, you get a baby sometimes!"  Then she told me that the book also said that "right after you kiss [at your wedding] you feel like you're married."

"If I ever get a Chihuahua, I'm going to name it 'Ouchie-Wa-Wa'."

She has this thing lately where, every time I say something's wrong with my physically, she has to go tell our mom.  "Chloe, I have a hang nail."  "Let me go tell Mama!"  "I don't feel very well."  "Mama!!!"  "My eye looks a little red."  Mama has to know.  It's a bit annoying--I have to constantly be in perfect health now. 

The other night Chloe gathered all of us to have a tea party at the table.  She'd watched the American Girl movie "Felicity" and wanted to recreate it.  She was making sure we were all very proper, and I accidentally added cream to my tea without realizing that she was the one who was supposed to do it.  She looked at me aghast and I said, "My apologies."  She lifted her nose primly and replied, "I'm sorry, but apologies aren't accepted at this tea party."

let's resolve : : November '12

Lately I've been thinking about the resolutions I made for 2012, and wondering if I'd actually accomplished any of them.  I'm planning on making a separate post on how I did on each of those at the end of December, but I got an idea from this blog to set five goals each month for me to accomplish.  I think it'll be good motivation for me.  I'm going to call it the "Let's Resolve" series.  Resolve may be a bit of a strong word for some of these goals, but it helps remind me of Jonathan Edwards and the seriousness he had about his goals in life.  Some of these goals may be quirky or funny, but some may also be very serious and weighty.  I want to have a driven mindset for those certain goals.  Each post will be somewhere in the middle of the month since that's when today just happens to be.  So, here are my goals for November 2012!

1. Get a job.  I have been unemployed since I finished my summer at Glorieta and, to be honest, I've loved it.  I really don't like working and have loved having so much freetime, but it's time for me to start being a responsible adult again and get back into the workforce.  The only problem is, no one seems to be hiring these days!  But I know God will provide the perfect job for me, in his timing. :)

 source

2. Make a craft.  I really want to make a bunch of cheap, cute presents for my friends this Christmas, and I found an awesome tutorial that was exactly what I'm looking for.  I'll make sure to post about it once I actually make something!

 source

3. Cook something.  A dessert, a meal for my family, anything.  Much as I loathe cooking, it's a necessary part of life that I need to get used to!

4. Write Christmas letters to all of my Compassion children.  I've sent money for their Christmas gifts already, but I want Djamsel, Majoie, and Cristian to know through my words how much I love them and wish I could personally be with them for the holidays!

5. Finish memorizing 1 Corinthians 1.  I've been working on this chapter for about a month now, but not as hard as I should have been.  I'm going to do my best to finish it within the next month, and move on to chapter 2!

I think I'm really going to enjoy setting goals for myself each month!  I already had a really great time coming up with these.

How do you like my new layout and blog name?  I love it so far. :)

20 random posts : : my greatest challenge

So this is number 5 in my 20 random posts series: my greatest challenge.  I lead such a difficult, persecuted and suffering life, it was hard to narrow it down... Ha!  God is so incredibly good for me.

" far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think"

Ephesians 3:20

I would have to say that my greatest challenge right now would be in being content with where God has me.  As I go through my classes and look for a job, I have to admit, I want to be out of here!  I want to be in India already, teaching kids at an orphanage and ministering to people in true need!  My desire is to be a few years down the road, finished with my degree, on the mission field.  But I guess I'll always struggle with that: once I'm in India, I'll want to get married, and then I'll want children, and then I'll want grandchildren!  I'll always struggle with trusting God's purpose with my placement in the world.

To combat this sort of thing, I usually try to figure out why God has me where I am now, and what I can do here and now that will minister to people.  For example, I think one of the reasons He has me here, going to school and working and living with my family, is so I can grow up and gain some life experience before I just go off on my own.  I mean, I'm only 19--I haven't really done much with my life yet!  I need time to grow in the Lord, to establish myself and solidify my faith, and to just prepare myself for what He'll have for me.

 Sorry for the terrible quality!

In terms of ministering to people here and now, I have my Compassion kids: Djamsel, Majoie, and Cristian.  The three of them are such incredible blessings in my life; everytime I look at their pictures on my wall, I'm just blown away that the Lord of the universe, who created these kids and can speak to them so much better than I can, has allowed me to reach out to them, even if in just some small way.

Overall, in struggling with contentment in God's plan, I just have to remind myself that He is God, I'm not, and He's in control.  I am learning to rest in Him

May the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way.

2 Thessalonians 3:16

I wanted to share some of the music I've been worshipping to lately.  Enjoy!



I found this song a long time ago and just recently discovered it again. It is so beautiful!



I had heard this song before, but I guess they did a new recording of it recently, and I like it a lot more. I know I haven't done an Everyday's Thanksgiving post in ages, but this song reminds me anew of how much I have to be thankful for; 10,000 things to thank Him for shouldn't be difficult, let alone 1000!

20 random posts : : 20 random things about me

Awhile back, during my time at Glorieta, I found a list of 20 things to blog about, and I thought it'd be fun to do!  Here's the first one.

20 Random Things about Myself

1. I am a very picky eater.  I don't like cheese, eggs, bananas, alfredo sauce, jam, tuna, or tomatoes.  I could probably think of more, but I'll leave it at that.

2. I don't like to talk on the phone.

3. I'm not satisfied with anything less than straight A's.

4. I sponsor two children through Compassion International, Djamsel and Majoie, and have one correspondence child, Cristian.

5. One of my favorite movie series is Ice Age.

6. I'd like to get married in the Glorieta prayer garden. :)

7.19 is my favorite number, which is awesome, 'cause I'm turning 19 on the 24th!

8. My favorites authors include Elisabeth Elliot, Randy Alcorn, Amy Carmichael, Josh Harris, and C. S. Lewis.

9. My goal in life is to serve as a missionary in India, preferably working with children at an orphanage or school.

10. I really enjoy writing songs.  Over the past 4ish years, I've written about 60.

11. My favorite flowers are carnations, tulips, and poppies

12. I'm technically 5 feet, 7 3/4 inches, but I just say 5'8 because that's so much easier!


13. One of my favorite worship songs is "I Will Praise Him Still".

14. I have a beta fish named Titus, a lab named Sal, and a cat named Hilda.

15. I've never had my own room. (didn't have a pic for this one!)

16. I love origami figures.  I used to be able to do some, and I really want to learn again!

17. I really enjoy touring art galleries, especially if they're free (Santa Fe is awesome for this!).

18. I've always wanted a pet turtle. :)

19. I've never broken a bone.

20. My favorite chapstick is peach mango.

*most of the pics are from weheartit.com