Zambia, here I come!

Well, in case you haven't heard since my last post, I'm going to Zambia!! I'm going with my dad which is something I've always wanted to do, especially since he went on a trip with Tara and Eric. We are leaving for Zambia on July 7th and returning on the 21st. We have over $4,000 to raise between now and then so we definitely have our work cut out for us! In the middle of all of that, I am still taking a class, studying for my GRE (which I realized yesterday is this upcoming Saturday), and working full-time. I'm counting down the days until our Gatlinburg trip so we can just lay around and relax, enjoying each other's company:)

Here are some upcoming fundraisers for anyone who is local and is willing to support our team as we embark on this adventure! The next fundraiser is:

April 16th from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Stuarts Draft Fire House
We are selling BBQ Chicken halves for $4.00. We have tickets to sell ahead of time if anyone is interested.

Another fundraiser will be a yard sale on May 21st. I will post more details on the place and time when I know where it is!

I have heard of other creative fundraising ideas from people outside of our church...keep those ideas coming! We can use all of the help we can get:)

Thanks for supporting our Zambia mission!

Decisions and faith

When I think about all of the decisions I've made (and Luther and I have made together) in the past couple years, I know that God has had a part of all decisions and that he has given us the knowledge to make good decisions. We decided to get married, buy a house, send me back to school (two times), etc. These are pretty life-altering decisions. Now I feel like there's another decision to be made and I'm struggling to decipher what God is saying versus what my own desire is saying.

Our church has worked with a community called Grips Farm in Zambia for the last few years. Many amazing things have occurred since the church became involved and ever since we started attending the church, I have had a little desire to go to Zambia and see first hand the work that God is doing. Anyone who knows me would understand how odd this is to be coming from me...I am not a big fan of being uncomfortable and I hate getting dirty. I'm more fond of traveling to places like NYC, Paris, Greece, the beach.... However, I can't deny that I have this yearning to go and be with these children first hand and love them the way that Christ loves us. The problem comes in because I can't tell if this desire is something that God has placed on my heart or if it is coming from my own desire for adventure. I am really praying for a sign confirming that God would want me to be with this team that is going to Zambia in the summer but I am struggling with having enough faith to believe that the money will be provided if I am supposed to go. We definitely do not have $3,000 to spend on a trip...and that is my predicament.
I am praying that God will show us if I am supposed to be on this trip and if so, that the money will be provided. I know that God does amazing things and that He can provide for all of our needs.

Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart.

The 11 weeks of craziness are over!

How exciting!! The "11 weeks of craziness" started December 27th when I started a one-week intensive. I completed that class and returned to Lynchburg the following Monday to start another class. Then I started three classes on January 17th (happy 2nd anniversary to us!!). These 8 weeks included the organization and implementation of a school counseling program, issues and trends in exceptionality, and curriculum theory. We had a check list on the refrigerator so I could cross items off with each assignment that was completed. I'm very thankful to have such an encouraging husband. He's good at pushing me when my motivation is lacking. My parents are also super helpful by proofreading my big papers. I couldn't do it without their support! I've added 15 credits to my transcript in 11 weeks! It was crazy at times but it was worth it:) I have one week off and then I start one more class!

During the last 11 weeks, I finished my chronological Bible. I am excited to have read the whole Bible but I still feel like I don't know anything! The chronological Bible was an easy way to read and it was definitely interesting because it gives you a different perspective since it is time-oriented. Since I finished that, I've started doing my own study on "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan. This study is really good and I enjoy it for the most part! I don't like it so much when it puts me in my place and I realize there is so much more I could be doing to serve God.

Tara and the girls came down for a visit in February. I love seeing them and I wish they lived closer! The girls are getting so big...Cate turns SEVEN next week. I can't believe it!!

Softball season is getting ready to start up!! This is my favorite time of year:) I LOVE being outside and watching the guys from church attempt to play softball. I'm so looking forward to those games and enjoying drinks from Sonic afterward:)

We have some upcoming trips to look forward to also! We're going to Gatlinburg, TN in April and New Jersey to visit Tiffany and Tristan in June. Mariely comes home in June so who knows where all we will go but there's a possibility of going to Charleston, SC in July with my travel BFFs! I am super excited that the school year is coming to a close. It has been a great year so far but boy am I ready for summer!

Ava and Cate at Cracker Barrel

My checklist. 199 assignments after I finished the 2 "check-in" assignments- 201 total!!

I can't wait to take a trip with the girls!! It's been since June 2010 which is way to long!!