Shout Out...

Well I've been back in the States for a couple weeks now and have gotten to visit my family a bit and be with people I love. That has been so nice. My sister is carrying another little bambino around in that tummy of hers and we wait with delight to watch God bring another sweet little being into our family. You've heard me say on here before probably that I have two absolutely adorably SWEET nephews, and one niece who has totally stolen my heart. I love being an aunt. love love love it...so the thought of one more does nothing but overjoy me.

I am so incredibly grateful that my brother and his wife and my sister and her hubby have been so kind to me in talking to the kids about what I'm doing so far away and trying to make that a good thing in their eyes. We all miss each other A BUNCH, but they know why it's important for me to live in a country really far away while I miss a lot of their growing up. That is a huge gift that they've given me to remind them that while I'm not here I wish I could be and that the reasons for not being here are ones that are important for some other kiddo's who don't live the way they do. (Just as a sidenote if I had to pick one of the things that is the hardest for me to give up it's that...being on the sidelines for their games, and getting to be a constant presence in the dailyness of their lives, I would love to be able to be around more for their important stuff.)

So I have gotten to go watch one of the boys football games. That makes me an absolutely nervous wreck. They are 10 and 7 and they love playing, but for crying out loud do they really have to like run at each other that hard hit each other that forcefully and oh goodness I needed a valium. :) It's important to them though and therefore it's important to me.

Have also gotten to speak at a few places and meet some new folks which is always one of my favorite parts of the journey. Spoke at the Ohio Valley Opry last weekend and it was such a tremendous treat. The family that has organized it and kept it going in our area for the past 8 years is nothing short of tremendous talent...all of them, and their hearts as big as Texas, so I will consider it one of the greatest joys of this trip home to get to meet them and be among them for a bit.

Spoke yesterday to a group of high school students at River High School near New Martinsville West Virginia. Met a teacher and advisor to their Fellowship of Christian Students program at the Opry last weekend and coordinated with him a time to come and share with them and we had a great time. I am always touched to sit in a room with young people and attempt to encourage them to start now with living lives that are passionate about the things God is passionate about. I wish I would have known how "rich" a life like that was at their age. I will continue to pray for them as they are in one of the toughest mission fields on the earth while among their friends and they are trying to do what's right. So here's a shout out to all of you sweet ones that I had the privilege to be with yesterday. You have tremendous potential...chase hard after HIS heart!!

This weekend we're headed to Indiana and then next weekend is the annual Women of Purpose Conference that I am blessed to get to be a part of so things are busy busy busy but filled with all sorts of good stuff.

Just wanted to check in and remind you all that you're loved by God and by me.

Keep on keeping on, there's a world out there that needs loved on and God uses our hands to do it. We are so honored God that You would choose to use us, may we have hearts and hands ready and positioned to be used by You today Lord.