My Race

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me the task of testifying to the good new of God's grace. Acts 20:24

Praying for the sweet orphans Levi and I get to meet next month! Can't wait to love on them and hold them.

CHINA- "wahhhhh"

When I lived in China, I went to go watch the Olympic torch go through Wuhan and when I started taking pictures...I noticed that all the people in my pictures were taking pictures of me. This happened quite frequently in China, but since the crowds were HUGE at the parade I got some really funny videos and pictures. Looking forward to this when we go in December! Especially with my super tall husband. He'll get all kind of "wahhhhhh"'s and pointing :) Also, note how much taller I am than everyone.

Yes, someone even busted out a video camera.

Can't wait to go back!

Peace

Feeling peace today.

New Living Translation:

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

¹ The Lord is my shepherd;
    I have all that I need.
² He lets me rest in green meadows;
    he leads me beside peaceful streams.
³     He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
    bringing honor to his name.
⁴ Even when I walk
    through the darkest valley,^[a]
I will not be afraid,
    for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
    protect and comfort me.
⁵ You prepare a feast for me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
    My cup overflows with blessings.
⁶ Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
    all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord
    forever.

For my sweet dad

Dad's starting his radiation treatments today and my sister did a great post for him. Head on over them and leave him an encouraging comment!!! Thank you! Love you dad!

Here's the link to her blog:
http://theadventuresoftootieandizzy.blogspot.com/

China and Thailand?

Happy Tuesday! Levi and I are having a grand ol' time coming up with things we want to do before he starts a real job. Since Lauren and Lark were accepted to China to teach English (wahoo!) we are trying to go over there with my parents for Christmas this year! YAY! Then...since Levi will be out of school and I will be done with my job (yessss) we are going to backpack in Thailand for a month! We are spoiling ourselves this year haha it's going to be tough next year to not leave the country every couple months :) Here are some places we are excited about visiting.

The Great Wall in Beijing, China



Phuket, Thailand

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Shanghai, China

We haven't planned anything out in detail yet...still trying to get through Africa planning.

On another note...
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6

Trying to wrap my head around all the different kinds of poverty we will experience in Mozambique, then in Thailand. They are going to be amazing trips and full of blessings but they will also be hard. It will be hard to see the child prostitution scene in Thailand/Phuket and not be able to change it. That is what I struggled with when I lived in China. I met all these amazing students, and saw the injustice of the school system, and also some of the government and I couldn't change it. Iris Ministries, that we are partnering with in Mozambique, has a saying that you "stop for the one." It is hard to make a huge difference immediately, but that stopping for one will slowing make a change. It's going to be an amazing year.

Love y'all!

Missing sweet friends today :)

This week has been a breath of fresh air to me! I've started a new workout phase at the gym which has been awesome, I got a new office at work with WINDOWS yay, and I have gotten to have friend dates every single night and have more coming up! Lauren and I have kind of been entertaining ourselves in good (lame) ol' Abilene, so it's been nice to have a different routine for a bit. (Speaking of new routines...Lauren come to the gym with me tomorrow, mmk?) :) Levi has his championship game tonight for basketball which should be really fun and I'm cleaning the house for the PARENTS coming to town! Blessed.

Lauren I'm praying this for you for Pinkle right now

Deuteronomy 7:13 He will love you, bless you, and multiply you. He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground, your grain and your wine and your oil, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock, in the land that he swore to your fathers to give you.

Wednesday and Tyson

Happy Wednesday! Today has been an interesting and hard day. But somehow God managed to get my attention even though I am being extremely whiny and selfish today and He showed me that I am exactly where I am supposed to be right now. That the job is hard because he is trying to make me into the person he wants me to be. And yes, he is shutting all other options right now because this is where I'm supposed to be. And thank God I haven't given up yet.

"And this is what I learned: the hard does not minimize His goodness but allows us to experience His goodness in a whole new way."

Prayers for Levi today!! He is being SO BLESSED by friends and family referring him to different people they know in the medical sales device field and has some "interviews" today. Woohoo! I know he'll do great. We're excited to see where God moves us! So many options :)

On another note, Tyson has decided to be a social farter in our house. We had 10 guests in and out of our house this weekend and Monday and Tyson strategically did room-clearing farts ONLY when we had guests over. That dog is sneaky. We've tried switching his food up but Levi thinks it's only making them more toxic. SO...come visit us in Abilene!! :)