Do Over??

I need to a do over today!  It has been one of those days where not much has gone the way I'd like it to.  I woke up late...actually turned off my alarm because I was so tired.  As soon as I got up, I got hit by the day.  I started thinking about all the things I needed to do...clean house, go to the grocery store (I had 2 diapers and none of Parker's milk).  I have a project for church that I've barely started.  I'm getting a little concerned about the money for my trip to Africa...still quite away from being able to pay for it.  And then, if all of that running through my head wasn't enough first thing in the morning - pre-coffee I might add - Parker decided that she is going to push her boundaries and try my patience in every way possible.

Satan definitely knows my weaknesses...taking on too much so I'm too busy and my lack of patience.  I feel like I'm being hit from all sides.  He knows that if I get busy enough I'll neglect my time with God.  He also knows how down I get on myself when I lack patience with Parker.

Now that the grocery shopping is done and Parker has eaten lunch (the absolute most trying time with her is meal time) and is napping, it's time for this mommy to take back control over this day...or rather, relinquish control over to the One who can actually handle it all.

Thank you, Lord, for do overs!

Time keeps on slippin'....

Ever have one of those moments of slight panic as you realize that time is slipping through your fingers?  I had one last night when it dawned on me that I leave for Africa in just a month and a few days!!  It kind of took my breath away and I'm slightly freaked out.

I'm reminding myself that God is control.  He is in control of the funds to get me there, He is in control of my health and safety while I'm there.  He is in control of Dan and Parker's well-being.  None of these are things that I have any control over.  When I was working for Western Union, I had a trainer who told us that we should only be worrying about the things we can control.  He was coming from a completely secular point of view but he was right on spiritually as well.  His point was that we waste time and energy worrying about things that we'll never be able to impact in any way.  Worry is exhausting.  I don't want to worry about all of these details that I know God is ultimately in control of.  I can't do anything about any of it.  When I truly hand it all over and let Him control it, I have nothing to worry about.  How freeing is that?!?!

"Therefore do not worry, saying 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'  For after all these things the Gentiles seek.  For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."  Matthew 6:31-33 (emphasis mine)

My greatest prayer as I prepare to go to Africa and while I'm there is that God would reveal Himself to me, draw me closer to Him; that I would know Him more deeply and intimately through this experience.  I don't want to go to Africa for myself.  I want to go for His glory.  He get's the glory through every step of this.  None of it is happening because of anything I've done.  Every time someone tells me they want to give me some money for my trip, no matter the amount, it makes me cry because it is evidence to me of God moving, God providing, God working in my life.

It's all for Him.

More Africa

I hope you're not sick of hearing about my Africa plans.  Not really a lot has changed since my last post on it but it's just constantly on my mind.  It's so amazing to see how God works.

I was really worried about asking for all of the time off from work.  I've only been there a couple of months and I'm VERY part-time so I don't really feel like I have any pull to be asking for 10+ days off of work.  The protocol for asking for time off is to email the manager (who I love!).  I explained to her that the time was for a mission trip to Africa and that I knew it was a lot of time and didn't want to mess up the scheduling.  Her response to my email was, "I want you to go!!"  I worked with her for the first time since that email last night and she was asking me all about it.  I don't know if she's a Christ-follower or not but I know that she was raised in the church (Methodist, I think...don't remember for sure).  She started telling me about all the various trips her son and his wife have done with YoungLife all over the world.  It was really cool to be having this kind of conversation with my boss!  She was telling me how excited she is for me and what an amazing experience it will be.  I was really blown away.  I didn't expect that level of support there!  God is so good!

I spent a lot of yesterday working on support letters, visa paperwork, figuring out my immunizations (which I am SO not excited about).  I feel like there is a ton to do but not much that I actually can do right now...that feeling kind of drives me crazy! :)

Here's some photos of the center we'll be working at.

Find more photos like this on Journey Corps

Post Conference Blah's

Ok folks...I am dragging this week!  This past weekend was our Women's Conference at FBC Lutz and it was a fantastic weekend.  I ran all last week trying to pull the final details together, finishing up my talk and trying (rather unsuccessfully) to keep my house together.  Now I just feel run down!  I usually try to get up before Parker to have a quiet time...haven't done it once this week.  I just can't seem to get back into my normal routine.  Even Parker seems worn out...poor girl, I ran her ragged over the weekend.

Here are a few pictures from the weekend...

My girl at breakfast...this is what she looks like when I tell her to smile. :)

Carmen and the band leading worship.  They were awesome!

Eliza and Annie sharing on obedience.  Love them!

We recorded all of the teaching sessions and I'm trying to get them put on the church website.  Once we get that worked out, I'll post the URL and you can check them out if you're interested. 

Still Trusting...

As I was getting ready for work this morning (yes, I had to work on Labor Day!), I was thinking about why I want to go to Africa.  I say "I want to go", and that's true, but I really feel that God is calling me to go on this trip.  This morning I was remembering back to what seems like a lifetime ago to our days at Riverside Baptist Church in Denver, CO.  Rick Ferguson and the rest of the ministry staff there really cast a vision and set a fire for missions in that church.  

Dan went on his first mission trip with Riverside before we were married and then two others shortly after we were married.  One in particular, to Burma, was life-changing.  It was life-changing for both of us, even though I didn't go.  It made the extreme suffering and persecution that goes on in much of the world a reality for us.

Then my sister married Aaron, a missionary kid who was born and grew up in Rwanda.  His family was evacuated during the genocide in Rwanda in the '90's.  Knowing this gave me a desire to learn more (I was 14 when it was going on and don't really remember it happening).  I read several books and watched a couple of movies (Hotel Rwanda and a documentary) about it and was just amazed and horrified by the brutality and by the fact that, as far as I could tell, we in the United States are completely blind to similar conflicts around the world.

The world needs Jesus.  There is no other answer to the suffering in this world.  Praise God for missions sending organizations like World Venture and Journey Corps (and so many others out there!!).  It's because of them that people have hope in Jesus.  We must be willing to go.  We must, as American Christians, be willing to put feet to our faith.  People need Jesus!!

In one week, God provided almost $1000 towards my trip to Africa.  Support has come in from some of the most unexpected places...people that I haven't seen or spoken with (other than of Facebook) for many years, some since high school.  It's so amazing to watch how God moves in peoples hearts.  Thank you is not enough for those of you who have given.  Your gift will have an eternal impact.  Your gift will help get Jesus to people who might not otherwise hear!

I'm still about $1200 away from my goal.  I have no idea where this money is going to come from but I'm still trusting that God is going to provide one way or another.  I want to encourage you again to pray about and consider giving.  Again, all donations will go through my church, First Baptist Church of Lutz, so you'll get the tax benefit.  Please post a comment below if you would like to give and I'll send you my address.

Yummy Tilapia

I have to share this "recipe" because I'm always looking for a new way to cook fish and this was a big hit tonight.  We eat fish usually once a week and I get bored doing it the same way all the time.  I put recipe in quotation marks because I don't have measurements or anything.  This was one of those "wing it" things.

Tilapia

Miracle Whip

Emeril's Original Essence (or your favorite seasoning mix)

garlic

I mixed the Miracle Whip, seasoning and about 1/2 a tsp of garlic (jarred).  I put enough seasoning in it to turn the Miracle Whip orange.  I then stored it in the fridge for about an hour to let the flavors all mix.  When I was ready to cook it, I dried the fish on a towel (I always do this, keeps it from popping so much when you put it in hot oil on the stove) and spread the mixture over the top of the fish.  I put the fish top down into hot oil (about medium high heat) and spread the mixture on the other side.  I let it cook until it was brown and crispy on the edges (this is the way we like it but you can take it off sooner).  The Miracle Whip made a brown crust on the outside and had a great flavor.  

Parker loves Tilapia but she devoured it tonight.  I served it with baked potatoes and steamed broccoli.  It made for a very simple but yummy meal!  Give it a try!

Starting the Anti-Aging Process Early

File this under "Tales From a Mom of a Toddler":  I had to go to the bathroom a little while ago and Parker doesn't think I should be able to go anywhere without her, so of course, she followed me in there.  I have a drawer in my bathroom that has a bunch of costume jewelry in it that I don't wear.  She loves pulling it all out and getting as much of it up her arms as possible.  She's very much a girly girl. :)

But today was different...it was too quiet for her to be playing for jewelry and I couldn't see her but I knew she was still in there with me.  In my best mom voice I said, "Parker Abigail, what are you doing?"  Here's what I found....

She came around the corner with a small tub of facial "firming" lotion in one hand, a finger that had obviously been dunked in the lotion and lotion all over her face and hair.  She was very proud of herself.

After we got the lid back on the lotion, her next words were "washy hands!"  She does not like having messy hands.  Silly girl!

Please notice her rocker girl jammies...we love them!