Tired

I'm not even really sure where I want to go with this blog. It might be a rambled mess of things I hope to say. It might be a constant of me whining about everything and nothing all at once.

I'm tired of 'it' running my life and the things I do.. or don't do.

I'm tired of being cranky.

I don't FEEL like moving or doing anything... and it shows when you look around my house.

I'm tired of feeling like I could cry all the time...

Oh, yeah, I'm tired of crying all the time... at the drop of a hat.


I tend to bottle things up and not let my life become a topic of conversation. Sometimes, however, I'm an open book and have trouble guarding my heart. This weekend I'm going to St. Louis with some amazing people. I'm dreading it. I don't want to be cranky and ruin everyone's vacation. I wish I could stay home in bed... We'll see what happens. Please pray for me.

Boys are Dumb

So here's my question. Why can't dating go something like this:


You meet a boy. You like the boy. The boy likes you. Good conversation, laughing.

Let's get married and stop playing the dating games.


Wouldn't that solve all the issues of women torturing themselves????? :)

Life in Pictures - Day 3 of Round 2

Meg at My Edition of Gab is doing another photo challenge!! Today's subject is LOVE.








The best example of love there is... the unconditional love the Jesus gives. Never judging, always taking me back no matter what I do.

David to Danny

Dear David Cook,

I love you.. and your rawr sexy voice. Your grin... the look in your eye...

I regret to inform you, that I am breaking up with you.... for him:






This man's voice is amazing, his story is touching... and he loves Jesus!!! :)

My Life in Pictures - Day 2 of Round 2

Meg at My Edition of Gab is doing another photo challenge!! Today's subject is Purple. I love purple!!! I honestly could not pick just one thing!!!! So... I picked my night stand. It holds many things purple. :)

Life in pictures - Day 1 of Round 2

Meg at My Edition of Gab is doing another photo challenge!! Today's subject is Your biggest annoyance. Story? Well... three months later, I STILL don't know who sent these beautiful flowers... and I'd really like to know who the mystery man is. LOL

My Life in Pictures - Day 5

Meg at My Edition of Gab is doing a photo challenge!! Today's subject is Something in your City. I suck this week... because I didn't actually take this picture either. :) Something in my city is the Plaza!!!! I don't like to shop, but I love spending time at the Plaza... I don't go often, so it's always a treat even though I live so close! :)

My Life in Pictures - Day 4

Go over to My Edition of Gab to join!! Today's subject is Helping Hands. When I think of helping hands, I think of being the hands and feet of Jesus. Being His body and spread His word as He instructed us to do.

Tomorrow's subject: Something in your city

My Life in Pictures - Day 3

Go over to My Edition of Gab to join!! Today's subject is Go Green - Your Favorite Green Item. Well, I didn't actually take this picture... but I love it. And I hope to see it in person later this year. :)

Wally the Green Monster!!! :)



Tomorrow's subject: Helping Hands

My Life in Pictures Day 2

Meg over at My Edition of Gab is doing another photo challenge!!! Go to her blog to join! Today's subject is something you <3.


Something I absolutely love is peaceful drives. This is usually where I spend my time with God discussing all my major life issues... or He just tries to tell me where to go. :) I try to time my drives where I will see the sun rise or the sun set, there's nothing better than seeing God's creation while talking to Him!!

This picture was taking on my way to Nebraska one early November morning. The story of the picture that you don't know is that I was on my way there to attend a funeral of two of my brothers friends that were killed in a car accident. This moment reflected one of the most peaceful moments that day.

Tomorrow's subject: Go Green - your favorite green item!

My Life in Pictures Day 1

Meg over at My Edition of Gab is doing another photo challenge!!! Go to her blog to join! Today's subject is somewhere you feel at peace.

Meg stole my original idea and did church... :) just kiddin, Meg.

I think if I had to pick anywhere that I felt peace it would be with my church kids. When I'm with them, nothing in the world matters. I'm there serving my gracious God and teaching these kids about Him. It doesn't matter what my day was like or how bad I feel... it all disappears when they walk through the double glass doors and say, "Hi, Miss Leslie!"





Tomorrow's subject: Something you heart!

Your Grace is Sufficient

A lot of my conversations lately have turned toward grace. No only God's grace, but the grace that we give others. We definitely don't deserve the grace the God gives us, so why should we not extend the same offer to others?

My goal as of lately is to extend grace to others. Romans 3:23-24 says, "...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." We're all in the same boat here. Not one person is better or worse than another.

There are couple songs out there, that have really been speaking to me lately. One of them is "Wait and See" by Brandon Heath. I'm still a work in progress and His grace is enough for me. :)

Wait and See by Brandon Heath
I was born in Tennessee
Late July humidity
Doctor said I was lucky to be alive

I’ve been trouble since the day that I got here
Trouble till the day that I disappear
That’ll be the day that I finally get it right

There is hope for me yet
Because God won’t forget
All the plans he’s made for me
I have to wait and see
He’s not finished with me yet

I never really was that good in school
I talked too much, broke the rules
Teacher thought I was hopeless fool alright

I don’t know how but I made it through
It’s one of those things that you’ve gotta do
But I always had a knack for telling the truth

Chorus

Still wondering why I’m here
Still wrestling with my fear
But oh, He’s up to something
And the farther on I go
I’ve seen enough to know
That I’m, not here for nothing
He’s up to something

So now’s my time to be a man
Follow my heart as far as I can
No telling where I’m ending up tonight
I never slow down or so it seems
But singing my heart it’s one of my dreams
All I gotta do is hold on tight

Six Word Saturday

Here's how it works: describe your life in six words. Visit Cate at Show My Face to get started! :)

Humbly seeking God for His will.

How's that for deep on a Saturday morning? Have an awesome weekend everyone!

Musical Monday

Meg over at My Edition of Gab is doing her favorite song of the week. Mine is "The Motions" by Matthew West. I've been hearing this song a lot lately and it really inspires me to be all that I can, giving God the glory.

Enjoy!

Haiti Trip, Day 8 - April 10

Today was our travel day to come home!

Sunrise the day we left

We woke up at 4:30 to finish packing and eat a bit of breakfast. I woke up with a sore throat and the sniffles. We left at 6 am to drive over the mountain to Port Au Prince. CJ and I rode in the truck and everyone else in the van. It was a blessing in disguise because Sarah got car sick and needed a barf bag! I would have needed one too if I had been in the van!

Last picture at the orphanage!

Waiting to board the plane in Port Au Prince

Our plane was delayed leaving Haiti so we were late getting to Miami. By the time we landed we had less than an hour to go through immigration get luggage, go through customs, and recheck bags. Luckily our plane was delayed an hour so we made it, but we still spent that hour literally RUNNING through the Miami airport.

We made it to Dallas and had a chance to sit and eat. Finally we landed in Kansas City at 11 pm. We were greeted by Glenn's family. They're so sweet! One of our bags got left in Miami. The airport is delivering it tomorrow... I hope to be sleeping! :)

It wasn't fun traveling with a cold and a fever, but I made it! I slept through the car rides and plane rides. All in all the trip was great and I'm very glad I went.


************

I hope you've enjoyed reading through my 'journal' of the trip. A couple things I miss about Haiti... the porch! Life is so much more simple there. I miss the quietness of just sitting. Still not sure I would want to repeat the trip any time soon, but I'm so glad I had the chance to experience it. I would highly recommend going on a missions trip if you ever get a chance!! Missions are definitely not my calling in life... but kids are, so this was a good one!

My blog will now return to it's regularly scheduled program. :)

Haiti Trip, Day 7 - April 9

Today is the last day of work. We painted the last house and mopped. Drex said it should be ready in a couple of weeks. After lunch we all went to the market. Then Michelle drove around so we could see Jacmel.

Sarah is a pro painter! :)

CJ, me, and Jarret painting... nice views don't you think? lol

The house after we were done!!! :)

For dinner we had pizza and then one last sit down on the porch. For tonight's devotion we wrote in each other's journals. There is talk of coming back next year. I think I would need some time before making that decision.

Walking through the market was quite the experience...

Haiti Trip, Day 6 - April 8

The wall is nearly complete for the most part. Jarret and Glenn spent some time digging space by the garage. Then we all went to the one house that's not yet livable. We swept out all the dirt and rocks. After it was all out we had to power wash the mud off the wall. While some did that, some of us scrubbed the walls with bleach. Others swept the water out and off the porch.

The kids are on Easter break this week so today they had chores. They picked up trash, washed chairs, etc. After lunch we went to see the souvenir lady. She had some of the most beautiful stuff for cheap! I bought a box, 2 bracelets, and a painting for $12 - US.

Buying souvenirs

Michelle and Larry took us to town for dinner. It was at a hotel that serves the 'elite' - very nice with a wonderful view of the ocean. Good food too - I had a cheeseburger. :) CJ had goat, which I tried... pretty tasty!

Our group at dinner

I'm getting to the point of the trip where I'm ready to get to sleep in my own bed. One more work day before we fly home. Tonight's devotion was from Jarret. He gave his testimony of growing up Lutheran. God put us all here for a reason - tonight we shared our stuff and our similarities.

Haiti Trip, Day 5 - April 7

Today we worked until lunch time. I threw rocks for a bit and then helped Michelle with activities for the kids. For lunch we had rice with bean sauce, something that tasted like potatoes (can't remember what they called it), banaan , and chicken. I was kind of scared, but it was good!

After lunch we took the school kids to the beach. It was so beautiful! Nothing but sand and water for miles. The kids enjoyed it as well. It wasn't too far either, but it seems like a whole other world.

The kids getting ready to swim!

All day Friday is a travel day - so really we have two more days. Tomorrow the souvenir lady is coming AND we're going into town for dinner. I don't even really miss the 'stuff' and getting bogged down by it all. It's been nice to just hang out on the porch instead of running.

Glenn's devotion tonight was Matthew 6:1-4, which says, "Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

After he read this passage we went around and shared the motivation for coming on this trip, and also what we've gained. I felt the tug on my heart and followed what God said. I've gained a far more humble heart. I don't ever want to forget this feeling. The way they live - and the people have sacrificed their own lives to be here....

Haiti Trip, Day 4 - April 6

Today the girls cleaned the depot and played with kids. the guys helped the workers haul rocks. It was hot today! So far it has rained every day, which is ok because it cools things off.

Drex says that wall should be done tomorrow, so hopefully we can work on the kid's house. Also, today, Missy helped shave the boy's hair. That was fun!

CJ and I went to the market with Michelle and Jo - very interesting. A lot of people milling around, shouting, meat hanging from the tents with flies all over. I made it without gagging, so I'm good!

Michelle, me, and CJ took the older kids to the soccer field. They love it! Saw some neighbor kids, had a little contest to see who could make a goal. Then we took a little walk around, then came home.

Some of the kids playing soccer... or futbol :)

We had an awesome devotion tonight from Andria, talking about how even though we all suffer, Christ died. We all come here broken, yet needing to do a bigger mission. We all have our 'stuff'. There must be a reason God placed this group in this place...

Tomorrow for lunch we're getting a real Haitian lunch and then going swimming. Yay! Dishes in cold water are odd too. :)

Haiti Trip - Day 3, April 5

Today was good! We woke up and had breakfast, watched the kids go to Sunday School. We sat around and talked on the porch until it was time for church... oh, and went to the roof to see the view! Church was good to experience even though I only understood one sentence and one song. There was a guy that sang "In The Secret" and he was great!

The kids leaving for Sunday School

After church we came back to the orphanage and had lunch. We're eating pretty good for where we are... it's good we brought our own food! :) The afternoon was spent looking around the property. It rained again, but it was a nice break from the humid air!

The orphanage has 38 kids and 3 dogs - along with 6 nannies. Each nanny has 8 kids that she's responsible for.

Before dinner we went for a walk up the street. It was interesting to see this part of town. Michelle kept calling Wayne Jerry. That was a riot! Sarah calls Keary, Casey. I think by the end of the week we'll all have different names... :)

During the week we'll get to go into downtown and experience the market. I was kind of disappointed that we didn't go to the beach today. I would have loved to see it - I hear they're beautiful!

I love our group - we have so much fun together.

Tomorrow the work begins. The women are going to be helping Michelle with some things and helping Jo with the food program. This is when they have people come in to get milk and rice and beans to feed their babies.. giving them an opportunity to keep them instead of giving them to HAF.

The guys will be moving rocks. There's still much damage from the storms.

Bunk beds are evil! Last night I slept on the top bunk - tonight we pulled my mattress to the floor. :) It's weird taking cold showers and washing dishes in cold water.