That feeling...

...when you are chilled to the bone and step into a hot shower

...when you get a hug from your mom

...when you are thirsty and get an ice cold diet coke

...when you feel a cool breeze on a hot summer day

...when you get that letter in the mail that you have been waiting for

...when your dog hops up on your lap for a cuddle

...when your favorite song comes on the radio

...when your deadline gets extended

Those feelings can't compare to the feeling I get when I close my eyes and pray. It is an instantaneous feeling of joy, peace, and love. The best is when I am at school, brain going a million directions, children calling my name, and I enter into His presence. It is an incomparable feeling.

Life is full...

That is the best way I can describe my life lately. It is so full of excitement (about Thailand) family, friends, work, and getting ready for the holidays. I had the best weekend I've had in a while! If its any indication, I went through a whole tank of gas from Thursday-Monday! I do have a small tank, but still, that's a whole lotta driving.

Friday night I went to a women's get-together with church, called the "Art of Abundance." We really do have an abundance of blessings. We shared a meal and had a devotion, and then shared the things we are thankful for this year. One poignant moment was when our pastor's wife reminded us to be thankful for our thorns as well as our blossoms. There were many women in the room that have had some thorns this year, but they are able to look at them with grateful hearts and see what God has done. We also had a cooking demonstration and then we made centerpieces for later in the weekend.

On Saturday I went to volunteer at a Thanksgiving dinner for the 17th Regent. This group of military men and their families meet monthly. This was their last meeting before they leave for Iraq. It was so good to do something for these families who give up so much for us.

Then I went and had a yummy dinner with my family, and watched a movie and stayed up late with my mom. So fun!

Sunday was church, then stayed with my friend Kelly for the afternoon, then the Thanksgiving meal for church. I had such a difficult task for the meal: bring 4 cans of cranberry sauce. Wow, they have so much faith in my cooking abilities! Just kidding! But I did end up helping Kelly a little with her contributions, so I felt better!

The meal was AWESOME. And the best part was after, when we praised God through song. We have so much to be thankful for. Then we were invited to share what we are thankful for. I'm too shy to speak up, but let me just say I am overwhelmed with thanksgiving. When I look back on this year...I can't even tell you all the prayers that God has answered in my life and in others lives that I have prayed for.

At this exact moment, I am most thankful that I'm done with school for 5 days!

Ahhhhhhh!!!!

I got the news I have been waiting for today...
I'm going to Thailand this summer!!!
I can hardly contain my smile I'm so excited!

Ok, some background:
I went to Thailand for the summer when I was in college. It was a life-changing experience. I was a summer missionary and my job was to teach English in a Buddhist school. I absolutely feel in love with Thailand while I was there. The people, the culture, the scenery. And I loved the ministry. Every little bit of it. (Well, maybe not some of the weird food!)

Thailand has been on my heart ever since. I've pushed the thoughts and feelings to the back burner as other life events got in the way, but I would still occasionally dream and reminisce about my summer.

Last summer, I started feeling like God was calling me to do something. Yeah, how specific! I started praying and seeking God about His will for my life.

And here I am!

I don't know if this is just a summer thing or if there is more to this. I do know that my dream job is to be a missionary. If God chooses to use me that way, I will gladly go!

More details to come as I learn about it, but until then, here is a map of Thailand so you can see where I'll be! I'll be in the province of Krabi, not sure of the city yet. Krabi is in the south. I actually visited a beach in Krabi the last time I was there! Maybe I can scan some of the pictures in to show you. It is absolutely beautiful.

In response...

I'm responding to myself from my last post. :)

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want."

Again, "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want."

One more time? "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want."

God, the Holy One, says, "Can you compare me to anyone? Is anyone equal to me?" (Isaiah 40:25)

Can I get an AMEN!!

Resonate...

Have you ever read or heard something that resonated with you? I read something that I totally relate to on Rocks in My Dryer last week. She had a guest post from Tammy of Single Solitary Things.

Now I don't very often write about my singleness on here, because I have a wonderful life. I'm not desperate for a relationship. But if I did post something, it would be along the lines of what Tammy wrote:

Yes, my life is full and happy. But I am a mother without a child. I am a wife without a husband. I want my other half.

Anyway, go check out her post. It says a lot about singleness, and says a lot of things that I probably wouldn't come out and say!

Why?

My list of whys:

1. Why is Wal-Mart playing Christmas music?
2. Why do I have 13 boys and 8 girls in my class?
   
3. Why does Toby go in my bedroom and bark at the dresser?
4. Why did my principal ask the faculty to read a 64 page book on math theory?
5. Why haven't I started reading the book yet?
6. Why is it so hard to BE QUIET when you are 7?
7. Why does diet coke taste so good?
8. Why do I miss my sister Kelly now that she's out of town when I didn't even see her that much while she was here?
9. Why does my heart break when I have to discipline one of my boys?
10. Why don't I ever have to discipline my girls?
11. Why am I in such a rhetorical mood?
    

Thanks for bearing with me today...

Bad hair day

This morning I was running late, but I had my curlers out on the bathroom counter, so I thought, I'll go ahead and curl my hair today. For some reason I just feel better when my hair is curled!

So I'm walking into work, feeling pretty good about my hair. (Tell me, why does it matter so much?!) As soon as the kids come in, a student announces, "you are having a bad hair day!"

Thanks.

I feel great now.

I think that may have been worse than when I went to work one time with my hair just a bit damp. I didn't have time to fix it. As soon as the kids come in, a girl asks, "Why does your hair look so bad?"

What's worse, knowing you look a bit rough and having someone point it out, or thinking you look great and then being shot down? :)

Kids. You gotta love their honesty.

Deep breaths

Today I felt like my head might explode. I'm sure it started having something to do with the election. Just all the talking and speculating and electoral votes and by the time I went to bed last night my head was spinning. And I woke up wondering, turning the TV on as soon as I got up.

And today, the kids were so talky. I think it was because we were out of school yesterday and tomorrow we have a field trip. Double whammy. And in the business of second grade, routine and order is the best way to go. So this week and all its changes were just enough to make the kids off task. Even the best behaved kids didn't follow directions today.

To add to it, we had standardized testing today. Then, I had to start a new unit on mealworms. (Yes, you read that right. We are studying their life cycles and habitats.) So, each student got their own mealworm to observe daily. So exciting to a 7 year old. Next, I adminstered another test that I do monthly to see how many words each student can read in one minute. Almost all the kids I tested today went down. So discouraging considering how hard I'm working with them. Then, I had to go to a class after school for gifted and talented teachers. When I got home I had to complete an assignment for the class. And somewhere in there I had to get everything ready for the field trip tomorrow.

Nothing huge, just a bunch of events that made my nerves wind tighter and tighter until I thought they might break!

Which made my Bible study tonight even more relevant..."Come to me, all of you who are tired and have heavy loads, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28) "Christ himself is our peace." (Ephesians 2:14a)

Thank you, Lord.

Compassion bloggers

This week, a group of bloggers are in the Dominican Republic. They are going with Compassion International. Last year when a different group went to Uganda what they shared moved me so much that I decided to sponsor a child.

That's a picture of Titus, "my" seven year old from Uganda. My $32 a month provides for his education, health care, food, church-based recreation, and the opportunity to learn about Jesus. Titus and I are pen pals and I've heard from him 4 times since sponsoring him.

You can click here or on the picture on my sidebar if you want to read about their trip. My favorite blogger that is on the trip is Big Mama.

Think about sponsoring a child. Your $32 can go so far in countries like Uganda and the Dominican Republic. And for me, that's about 2 meals out a month. Easy for me to decide!

(If you are skeptical like I am, I did my research before signing up! Here's a link to a site that ranks charities. You can see the percentage of money that goes to the kids versus advertising and administrative expenses.)

Election day

My Election Day experience got started on the right track last night at Ragamuffin Soul. About 200 people showed up and we had prayer for the election. We prayed for both candidates, their wives, and their children. The most moving part was when Carlos asked those voting for McCain to type in their prayers for Obama, and then vice versa. I was moved to tears. What a picture of the Church (big C!) and how we should act and pray. Not just for our own motives but because we truly care about others and want God to reveal His love to them. It was AWESOME! And God was glorified.

Then this morning I went to my voting place...and waited, and waited, and waited! Three hours later I voted. I didn't get a sticker so I have no proof! But, believe me, I was there!

Then I met my grandma for her birthday lunch and chatted for a while. It was so nice to see her.

Now I'm home, procrastinating on getting to work! I have a stack of papers to record in the grade book and a doozy of a parent teacher conference to prepare for. Yeah, this one requires written reports AND the principal there to "hold my hand." It should be interesting.

Pray for the candidates...

I am sick of hearing all the speculation about this election, aren't you? When it comes right down to it, God already knows and He is in control!

So tomorrow night, 9:30pm, click on over to Ragamuffin Soul and let's pray for this election. One of the coolest things we can do online.

Recipe to get well soon

3 cans of chicken noodle soup
grilled cheese sandwiches
diet sprite
fresh fruit
kleenex with lotion
poptarts
milk
ice cream
saltine crackers
HUGS

thanks mommy.

(I can call her mommy when I'm sick, ok?!)