conversation with God

After a long day of work going from one thing to another, I sat at the dinner table tired. Here's something like the brief conversation I had with God.

me: God, I feel kinda empty inside.

God: Yeah, you've been trying to live this day all by yourself, without Me.

me: Oh. I think you're right. I'm really sorry.

God: I'm glad you finally recognized your problem. But it doesn't solve anything until you start spending time with me.

me: Ok. I will. And thanks.

Then, later, Janie and I went out on the porch in the still darkness. As she sat on my lap and laid her head on my shoulder, the only sounds were that of the creaking porch swing we were on, and the frogs and crickets and creatures beyond us. It was very peaceful. And I was reminded of my own insignificance. How someday, time will cease to matter.

But for now, I hope you're living life every moment with Father. I hope you're not reminded to get right with God by reading about my mistake and my proud, self exerted day. Btw, I'm so blessed by how He takes me right back in, with no reserve. I've experienced this so many times, and He never gives up on me.

God bless ya.

{without excuse}

Every time I see something that is amazing to me, I think of the verse I caught hold of while I was in the Chiapas. It's Romans 1:20.

"For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal Godhead; so that they are without excuse."

And actually, as I just now am reading the verse before it, vs 19...it says, Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them.

I think this is so cool. God is revealing Himself to us through what He made, leaving us without excuse. Our God is so incredibly clever and witty, and unsearchable. How did He ever come up with that? All creation is evidence of Him. It's almost every day, if not every single day, that I'm reminded of this.

Scratch's+

I'll have to say, I was pretty excited about going out to eat for lunch today. But I had no idea what kind of place I was going to.

The place is called Scratch's. Scratch's Brick Oven.

They had open invitation to chose whatever old record you like, and put it on!

They had genuine hippies that were super nice and made our pizzas. It was so great.

This amazing thing we ordered, they called a trust pizza. We decided not to be picky, and they put on it whatever they felt like at the moment! It was so good, including mushrooms, artichokes, tomatoes, ham, mandarin orange slices, apple slices, spinach, and much more.

Top of the pizza box. "Made especially for you!"

And, some good friends.

God knows how much this lightened my soul, and made me glad. I don't often think of going out to eat when I'm home. In Chicago, it was old hat. But here, it's not often, and special. He's also given me great friends that I don't see often. But close enough to see every now and then.

Another thing that made this day special is the cold weather! I love fall time! I got bundle up finally. :) And that was just fun.

He has made me glad.

...a bit of Chiapas....

And so.... not too very long ago, I was asked to tell many our family's friends about the recent Chiapas trip. This, in part, forced me to go through my Chiapas pictures and pick out my favorites! So, now you get to see them too. Don't you love my friends? Here are some pics from the trip and the team I met there. I tell ya (and I know you know this too), but traveling like this, you really get to know people fast! I made some great friends on this trip, and I'm really grateful. God keeps bringing amazing people in my path.

On the way to the jungle, we had incredible views. One very favorite thing to do was to hang out the windows (or ride on top of the car), camera in hand, enveloped in fog, YoYo Ma playing wonderfully in the background. That experience is unforgettable.

Here's getting the cars all packed up, and unloaded once we got there. After getting all set up, it felt like hammock city. The girls stayed in this bigger room, and the guys had a smaller one somewhere else.

Doing dishes in the jungle is always a blast. Never know who's gonna get wet!

Here are a couple of fast friends. Grace Ozuna Curry (left pic), and Laura and Amy (right).

El bano. =| The much avoided place, where it's safer to go in pairs. Where you test out your lung skills, and try not to breathe. El bano, we love you and we hate you.

Here are some of the kids around the village. They had no sort of problem getting to know us! It was so great! Before we knew it, we had a large and growing amount of kids in the hammock room. So, Laura and I started a huge game of the hand slapping game, singing Yo Tengo Gozo. Classic fun right there. The kids were so receptive, and just wanted to be loved on, like all kids do. It was easy to show them love. What was harder for me especially, was conversing and putting forth a lot of effort to get to know the older people. People my age, adults. (A lot of times it was hard to tell how old they were!) By the grace of God, I will keep working on my Spanish conversational skills. It was a little rough.

Here, a major game of Pato Pato Ganzo erupted. Or...commonly referred to as Duck Duck Goose.

If we did children's progams, it usually consisted of a craft, a game, and a story. Here you can see the classic Burger King crowns. They demonstrated God's faithfulness and love, and that He is eternal. This was a big hit.

I'll try to keep going and show you more! Stay tuned....

today's resolutions

A Girls' Luncheon

Today was such a fun day. One of my very bestest friends had a girls' luncheon after church, and it was a blast! A very fun summery thing to do. :)

Jordan ~ Brooke ~ Cayla ~ Mandy ~ Courtney

{tus maravillas}

Many, O Lord my God, are Thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and Thy thoughts which are to usward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto Thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.

-Psalms 40: 5

Aumentado has Tu, Oh Jehova Dios mio, tus maravillas, Y tus pensamientos hacia nosotros, no te los podemos contar. Si yo anunciare y hablare de ellos, no pueden ser enarrados.

-Salmos 40:5

-unwindingness-

Right now my mind is going at 100 miles an hour, it feels. I'm feeling a little ADD today trying to get unpacked and remember everything that I need to do, want to do. Yes, trips do mess me up a little. I'd have to agree with Brandon Keilen on that note. I just arrived home yesterday at about 5 o'clock.

But, I was just reminded to be still. There are so many things that I've seen in the last month that are HUGE (literally, huge) reminders to be still. To remember just how small I am, yet just how significant.

Here are a couple of pictures from Yosemite National Park that I like to think of as reminder pictures. They can be interpreted however you like. But, this is how they're ministering to me in this day. ;)

"....don't forget the still days...they are the most important." -sweet friend

if I was at the office, I'd probably be drinking coke..

Have you ever pulled up a blog or website just to hear the relaxing music? That's what I'm doing right now. And, I think if I was at the office, I'd be drinking coke. It's turned into one of those days. Too much sun, not enough water. Too much independence, not enough God. Too many hard things, and trying to take them all alone.

That's not how God asks us to live. So many times I've asked God to fill me, to be with me, to go where I go. But, recently I've been hit like a ton of bricks by the fact that, it's not about me! (and no, it's not because I read the book) God says, it's not about you! Come join my party. Come. Go with me where I go. I'll be right beside you. Hold my hand. And take a breath. It's ok. My parties are safe and they are exactly where you should be.

Today has been a day. I can't even upload a pic of some magnificent sunset, or a foggy early morning scape that takes your breath away. (Not like I really have any like that.;) My card reader is not functioning properly. But, I don't necessarily want you to read this blog to see pictures. I hope that somehow, in some way, you see Jesus - even if it is through a photo. (It just makes me feel better.)

Recently I was reading Oswald. He was talking about taking hold of your soul. It's so easy to be overcome by our circumstances. By why do we? A HUGE chunk of life is made of simply how we respond to the bends in the road when we can't see straight ahead, like we're in TN instead of IN. :)

Oswald says, (and I love this) 'We will never get rid of moodiness by praying, but we will by kicking it out of our lives....Moods nearly always are rooted in some physical circumstance, not in our true inner self. It is a continual struggle not to listen to the moods which arise as a result of our physical condition, but we must never submit to them for a second.'

I am slowly learning this. So, if you missed the gist of what i'm saying, God is constantly showing me that I need ALL Him, and none of me when I'm living the practical every day life. Stink, for that matter, when I'm living the unpractical CRAZY life and crazy LOVE of being God's kid. The epic life that He calls me to, but sometimes I deny.

Anyway, I'm grateful for these lessons. And... I think I just needed to write it down. So thanks.

Home School Mission Day!

Last Saturday we were able to do a Home School Mission Day, thanks to Mr Rodgers. It was my first ever, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! We were able to build a wheelchair ramp for an elderly couple. The husband making regular trips to the hospital via ambulance because of kidney failure. Here's a few pics from the day, including the 'A' Team. This was a great day.