Haiti- here I come!

Life has continued to fly by and here I find myself 4 days away from going to Haiti! I can't wait! I always get kinda nervous right before these big trips, but this one has been such a blessing and something I've been looking forward to! Yes, I'm nervous and will probably be freaking out Friday night at 8 pm when I'm packing and thinking of every possible scenario that could happen there, but in the meantime I'm pumped!

One special thing about this trip that makes it unusual, is that I'm going with some of the players on the OU Women's Basketball team. Because of their connections, Nike has agreed to support us with shirts, shorts, and socks... how cool is that?! I also get to go with my friend Adam (who led the Nicaragua trip I went on last year) and his family, which should be a blast! One cool story God already blessed me with, is that a girl I used to coach in Shawnee when I was in college and she was in high school, is also going on the trip...small world huh!??! God is just full of crazy surprises!

I looked up the weather report for Port au Prince today and it seems like it's going to be a HOT and WET week, with temps in the high 90s and rain/thunder storms every single day. But heck, I've lived in Oklahoma long enough now to be used to that, right? :)

Anyway, I came across this verse in Isaiah and I'm super pumped about it because it totally jumped out at me because of the weather and the people we will be blessed to serve this next week. It's Isaiah 25:4: "You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat." It's such a great picture of what I can't wait to see next week!

Thanks to everyone that has financially supported me for this trip and thanks also for those who are lifting it up in prayer! I can't wait to share everything that we experience, see, and feel over there when I get back!

Great Weekend!

I have to admit that I'm falling more and more in love with country food! Last night 16 of us went out for my friend Blake's birthday to Libby's. Let's see if I can find a picture...here's one:

It's south of Norman, actually in Goldsby, OK and is famous for fried catfish! So you know what my meal consisted of? Fried okra, fried catfish, and mashed potatoes with gravy! SOOO yummy! With live music and a great group of friends, how can you not love it?!? And then to follow up the great food, we hit up JR's... and when I say JR's, I mean a country honkey-tonk like you've never seen! Last night was only the second time I've ever been there, but the place is unforgettable! With a gravel parking lot, a tin shack, neon lights, and karaoke, it's straight out of a country song. Both times I've been there fights have happened in the parking lot and my eyes have been opened to a whole new world! But it's always a blast and it was definitely a country night to remember!

Today has been great because it's been one of the first weekends in a long time I've been able to relax- which included a trip to starbucks with some great reading (refer to the last post). I am about to leave for my indoor soccer game and then I'm hoping for a relaxing night too! Hopefully getting to bed early as we have church in the morning and also I have a 10k to run! AHHHH!! I've never ran 6.4 miles in my life straight, so we'll see how it goes!

All in all, GREAT weekend with the time to slow down enough to enjoy every minute...especially the Oklahoma weather (80+ today) and the Oklahoma country fun and food!

So Long Insecurity

Ok everyone - I just want you know of an amazing book that is changing my life right now, along with hundreds of other women across the nation! You all know what a huge Beth Moore fan I am...and for good reason! Mom and I decided to read this together and do a few questions on each chapter each week, and it has been nothing less of amazing. I really encourage you to get your hands on this if you haven't started reading it already!

Going to Haiti!!!!

I know it's been forever since I last posted, but I wanted to let everyone know how excited I am about my upcoming trip to Haiti! This time last year I was getting ready to leave for Nicaragua and I've been dying to get back out there and serve--what could be a better place than earthquake-shattered Haiti? We will be gone from May 15th-21st and I'll be getting letters out soon, describing what we'll be doing and asking for prayer support. Let me know if you'd like one!

Favorite Picture of 2009

I was trying to find a picture that may be my favorite for 2009. Many came to mind but one I just had to share. This man's hands were a testimony to my entire team that went to Nicaragua and I've never been so moved by such amazing, self giving, hard working hands in all my life. Just looking at this picture brought tears to my eyes as I read the verse one of our teammates found that fit WOM perfectly. We were all so moved by the witness of someone who worked, served and gave along side of us, yet couldn't speak one sentence of English. Amazing how God doesn't see any barriers when His people are working together and serving Him.

Perspective in Turmoil

This morning Matt Chandler, an amazing preacher and teacher, is headed into surgery to remove part of his brain. Please read his blog at: http://hv.thevillagechurch.net/blog/hvpastor/?p=357

Is that not the most inspiring, amazing blog before a surgery that you have ever read? You don’t sense the apprehension because thankfulness has covered it. You don’t sense the fear because gratefulness has enveloped his heart. And what is truly amazing, is that during such a time as this, Matt still is able to encourage and motivate us to just grow closer to the Lord and cling to him.

For some reason this last week, I have heard of many cases where health has been taken. Sudden brain tumors, heart attacks, surgeries, car accidents, life support, seizures….and each has taken everyone off guard. No one could plan for this and no one knew it would happen when they woke up that morning. And while I was speaking to my best friend about how I don’t understand how someone could go through any of it without being able to rely on God, she said “It’s times like those that bring people to God or they cause people to walk away from Him.” She’s right. Yet I know that when sudden turmoil interrupts my life, I want people to be drawn towards the Lord, instead of draw away. And I know that the best way to do that is to have a perspective like the one Matt has in his blog.

Tragedy will come. Loss will occur. But it’s how you deal with it and your reliance on the Lord that really matters. We have nothing without Him, and with Him, we have everything. I love what Matt says as he walks into surgery:

“I don’t count my life of any value or as precious to myself if only I might finish my course and complete the work that He gave me to do to testify to the Gospel of the grace of God. I’m nothing, I just have a job. God keep me faithful on the job and then let me drop and go to the reward.” Without this strong view of God’s sovereign will, I’m not sure how you don’t despair in circumstances like mine.

Okay I'm sharing my secret spot! I found it last year during the fall, driving around Lake Arcadia. For some reason I hadn't been back but today I found it again! It was just like the last time I was there... a gorgeous fall day that was almost hot--so different than November in Colorado! But what was amazing were the colors today. The leaves, the fields, the trees, and the water were mesmerizing! It's places like that that just make you want to stop and soak it in for a while. Today I was able to do just that and got some much needed refreshment!