Praises

Have you ever just had one of "those days?" Days, when one moment you are happier than a lark, singing like a canary and then the next moment you want to weep like a baby? This past week has been like that for me... not any particular one reason... just many of them all bunched up into one bundle a girl doesn't know what to do with! I guess the best I can do is let you know the highlights and ... the lowlights...yes, like a beauty salon- sometime you have really great cuts... and sometimes... you don't!

Obvious things to be thankful for
1. A man I met at Barnes and Noble last week (see last entry) "just so happened" to stand next to me during church last night! It was awesome to be reunited with my new friend! It was a sweet reunion! He had to catch the city bus before we could really dive in, but I have a feeling I'll see them both again.

2. Earlier this week I hurt my back- within two days you couldn't even tell I was "out a commission" Praise God! We prayed that the Lord would work yet another miracle... and yes, He certainly did! Oh praise Him!

3. I'm awaiting confirmation to go study and hike in Turkey for two and 1/2 weeks. I'll be walking in the footsteps of Paul and eating as much dust as I can following closely behind our "rabbi."

4. The Lord has held me extra close lately. It is good to feel His embrace- the One who will never reject, never abandon, never leave you. He has been hugging me a lot lately.

5. I've been meeting some pretty incredible people recently... People who absolutely love the Lord, ones that absolutely despise Him, and some that are indifferent. I cherish these new relationships.

6. An amazing dear friend is getting married! Looks like I get to go to TX in June to see him get hitched! 7. My computer bit the dust, but I now have a new hardrive and we are alive and kicking again!

7. We got slammed by a huge storm last week... thousands of people are still without power, fences were blown away, marinas devastated.. I think there were only 3 deaths though. We managed to be without power for only two days... but some people will be without for another week. They are still clearing trees out of the roads, picking up the power lines, and so on! I enjoyed the chance to be still by candle light!

The "not so obvious" things to be thankful for
1. My friend and old roommate Brandy is in the hospital. She has been experiencing strong pain and doctors cannot figure it out. Nurses have been giving her morphine to help manage the pain, but at this point they are still lost. Lori, Brandy, and I all lived together in Florida and I wish I could just go and hold her hand right now... Pray for her...laugh with her, cry with her, just hug her. My heart hurts being so far away when she is suffering so much.

2.First of all... I am so thankful that mom is here this holiday. She is alive, moving around, and able to be with us! The Lord has really done a miracle in her life. As far as her current health.. She goes in tomorrow again because she is lacking in energy and needs to draw blood. This is probably due to her continued chemo treatments. She will probably have another platelets transfusion. Many of her tumors have shrank on her liver and her lungs... A few have gotten larger.

3. Honestly, my heart is just so heavy for the people that I am so close with and love. Many do not understand who the Lord really and truly is- that He is real. He does listen, He does love them, He is the Almighty. So many hurts and challenges are facing everyone- This will always be true. However some of these mountains do not look so impossible when God is holding you up through them. Oh I desire for them to drink Him in, to understand how much He longs for his sons and daughters. I desire this more fully for myself as well!

4. It also seems like there are so many in pain- whether it is physical pain, emotional pain, or spiritual... some friends are wrestling with marriage, some have come down with cancer, some are dealing with deep depression, drug addictions, alcoholism... the list goes on and on... Ahh... Jesus, would you come quickly!

5.On a lighter note...Tomorrow and Tuesday I will be taking a pretty intense test and speaking in front of a panel in hopes of "passing" this credentialing process for work. So... I could either be a really happy "employed" camper on Wednesday, or I could be a "not so happy" camper..we will see

Anyways, I don't share this to sound like Eeyore on Winnie the Pooh or for a "Woe is me" whimper. I simply share this because I know that many of you who read this are prayer warriors. That you care, and that you have been praying with me through so much. I just share this to be real with you...to thank you... and to ask you to continue praying... thanking Him for what He has been doing... and thanking Him for what we have not even seen yet!....and there is so much to be thankful for! Praise Him!