Pictures from Indy

Prayer Request

Okay, prayer warriors, here's one for you...

One of the girls I work with asked me today to keep her sister in my prayers. She is in China working with a ministry called Voice of the Martyrs. She is taking Chinese classes as well as teaching English classes, but her ultimate goal is winning souls for the Lord. She works at a little coffee shop across the street from where she lives and takes her laptop to work with her everyday. Everything for her work and personal business was on her laptop. Well, her apartment was broken into and her laptop as well as her passport were stolen. Her laptop is about 10 years old, so it's not going to have a very good street value. Her concern is that they are onto her and what she's doing, and now they have her passport, which could cause major trouble.

So, if you would, join with me in prayer for her. Her name is Daisy.

Thanks.

I Have to Share this Story....

Okay, I just read kdp's last blog about "They're never too old to be rocked" and it reminded me of something that happened this week. Here goes...

I met up with my friend, Angela, at General Council. I saw her on Thursday, then she was going to sit with us at the service that evening. Angela and her husband have three children, the youngest being about six weeks old. Their older two did not make the trip with them, but she did have the baby, who is precious, by the way. Her name is Kaeli. They also have a hearbeat for missions, so Todd went to the adult service, and Angela went to the youth service. Her brother is the DYD in West Texas, and all the DYD's were carrying various flags. She wanted to get a picture of Chris with his flag, so I offered to hold Kaeli for her while she went. Everything was fine, no problems, then Angela came back and the preaching began.

She thought she should probably go ahead and go feed her so that she would be done by the time the commissioning began, so she'd be able to take more pictures. She left, then came back in plenty of time. Kaeli was in her stroller, happy as a clam, no problems, so Angela went to take pictures as the commissioning began.

We were sitting on the aisle with the stoller at the end by the stairs. When they began asking kids to come down to the front if they wanted to be campus missionaries, the response was unbelievable. Kids just streamed down from everywhere, which was great and all, but as they came down, the stroller kept getting bumped and shaken, and all that. So, I proceded to get Kaeli out of the stoller to hold her, since I could not move the stoller without blocking the aisle.

She was okay for about a minute, then she started crying.

Then it got louder.

And louder.

By this time, most of the kids were already past, so I put her back in the stroller. She was okay for about five minutes, then she started getting fussy again. So I started rolling the stroller back and forth. She calmed down for another five minutes, then began getting fussy again. During this time, my phone went dead, so I couldn't call Angela. I thought, okay, maybe if I walk around with her it will get better.

I got her out of the stoller again and began walking around. Patting, bouncing, patting, bouncing, talking in an extremely calm, low voice, although I was anything but calm inside, patting, bouncing. She's crying louder. People are staring. I start walking a little faster, patting, bouncing, pleading the poor child to calm down. Okay, now she's screaming, and of course, it's when they start praying. Now people are really staring.

Talking, patting, bouncing. "We're gonna find your mama, Kaeli, we are. Everything's fine as soon as we find your mama."

And fast, because now she's starting to suck on her hand, and there's nothing I can do about THAT!

And screaming.

I just bend my head down and put my mouth close to her head, holding her snug, and say,"Kaeli, I'm gonna find your mama, it's okay, baby."

Five seconds later she is fast asleep. Whew!

So, I'm walking back to our seats and all the people that were staring at me with scowls on their faces are now smiling at me with tilted heads saying, "Awww...."

Jerks.

Angela came back, and it turns out Kaeli had a dirty diaper...oops! Missed that one!

So, that was my baby experience for the week. Just thought I'd share.

Wow

It is sad to think that this is our last night in Indianapolis. We have had an absolute blast this week and have gotten to visit with several friends that we look forward to seeing every year with Fine Arts. In some ways, I will be sad to go home, but I am excited about getting back into the blogging groove!

The Lord is doing some incredible things in our lives...(no baby yet, but I know it's on the way soon!)...there are some things that will be happening that I will probably blog about soon, but until then I can't say much about it except for the fact that I'm expecting great things to happen!

Once again this year, North Texas had a great showing at National Fine Arts Festival. I think we came home with seven awards of merit. I think that's right; I'll have to go back and look to be sure. This is my favorite time of the year. I love it.

Well, I better go. It is late, and there are people waiting in line here in the business center to use the computers. Our hotel is the same as DeLana's in that it is $10 a day to have internet access in the rooms. That stinks...

Love Yáll...we'll see you soon!

Vacation...Second Time Around

I am posting from our hotel in Indianapolis!

We got here this afternoon around 2:30 PM. It was a great trip, despite the fact we had to be at the airport by 5:00 AM....yuck!

But, we are here, and having fun so far. Right now is the relaxing time. We have our evaluators' meeting tomorrow night, then Wednesday, bright and early, we begin evaluating. It's a blast. We look forward to this every year!

Well, I better go. I'll try to post again sometime this week, but I'm not sure how much free time we will have after Wednesday...

Control

And, no, I'm not talking about the old Janet Jackson song.

I'm talking about this thing I've been holding on so tightly to for so long.

Control over how things "look" or "seem" or "appear to be."

Control over what people would "think" if I did this or that.

Control over what "they" would say if I actually did what I felt the Lord leading me to do.

Control over my life, my family, my job.

Why do I hold on so tightly when none of it is mine to begin with?

I feel my grip loosening, but when will I let go completely? I catch glimpses of what the Lord can do when I fully trust in Him. I feel Him ever so gently drawing me out of this place I've become so comfortable in, but when I feel the gentle nudging to do something, when will I be able to immediately stand up and say, "Yes, I'll go!" without first wondering how it will all take place, or what will so-and-so think, or where will the funds come from, or how will we live, or any of the other million questions that make me hesitate?

HHHEEEELLLLLPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!

Random Question

Have you ever tried to type a blog with a dog-child lying in between you and the laptop because she won't let you out of her sight for fear you'll pack your bags, take her to the "hotel" (aka vet), and be gone for 10 days?

All I can say is that there's not much room anyway between me and the laptop, and my arms will only stretch so far. Either the dog-child has to move or I'll blog another time.

Sorry, Rosie...