GOD IS BIG ENOUGH....DIO ES GRANDE

It was Wednesday in Costa Rica, we were going to the school to do VBS and share the light of Our Savior with the children there.  Our youth did an amazing job of singing "This Little Light of Mine" in English and Spanish for the children, and of course I was quite proud of Addi as she played the ukulele.  The children were excited....that's not even the right word...because it was much more than that.  They were....longing to be close to us.  They listened to the singing and the Bible Story about creation, and they were into the crafts; but....it was after the lesson when the magic happened.  After the lesson, the youth and adults interacted with the children, and the children LOVED it.  I cannot really put into words how much they loved the interaction.  It was amazing to watch....people who don't speak the same language....communicating with each other.  We handed out goody bags which had blue bracelets that said DIO ES GRANDE!  When we ran out, the youth and adults took our DIO ES GRANDE bracelets off and handed those out as well.  Then it happened, one little boy....he didn't have a bracelet.  He came over and pointed to my GOD IS BIG ENOUGH bracelet with a longing in his eyes.  I put my hand over it and held it tightly and said out loud but to myself...."I can't give this one up."  I have only taken it off twice, since the day I put it on....3 years ago.  We received these after our Pastor Ken suddenly passed away, and it reminds me how faithful God is in all circumstances.  I held onto it and rubbed it between my fingers as the little boy walked away, and then I heard it....a voice saying "Give it away!"  I don't know if it was my inner conscience, Ken's voice, God's voice, whose voice; but it nudged me HARD.  I took off the bracelet, went after the little boy and handed it to him.  His smile was bright and his eyes glistened, and I knew that the Holy Spirit was right there in that moment.  I reminded myself....it's a bracelet....it's not God, it's not Ken, it's not memories, it's a bracelet.  It's true that  bracelet held a special place in my heart, and it was a wonderful reminder; but I know I don't need it to be reminded how faithful God is.  I hope that the little boy knows what it says and will be reminded too that....God is faithful in all circumstances....and I hope that he will also realize that he doesn't need the bracelet to be reminded.

Costa Rica

I just returned from Costa Rica.  Me, along with 15 other people, from our church went there to do mission work.  I was so blessed to spend the past week in Las Juntas and Coronado with my sweet Addi + 10 other youth and 4 other adults.  I can never begin to explain the things I felt while I was there and still do.  As I sat on the bus driving from Las Juntas to San Jose for our last day in Costa Rica, I quietly wept at the thought of leaving the people I had met and fallen in love with behind.  How in the world is it possible to bond so deeply with people you just met, who don't speak the same language as you?  The Holy Spirit was ever so present in every moment we spent there, and I can't stop thinking about the trip.  I don't want to forget the wonderful things that happened there, the transformations, the relationships, the need....I don't want to forget it.  I am praying for a way to get back there as often as possible, to help the people who are trying so hard to help their community and spread the love of Christ.  When I left the rest of my family behind last weekend, I said....it's not goodbye, it's see you later.  When I left Costa Rica and the people there, I said....it's not goodbye, it's Hasta Luego!  God is good....even in the midst of poverty, struggles and hard things....HE IS GOOD! As I reflect on this past week, I will post more about this wonderful place and its wonderful people.

March 3.......The Best Day of 1997!!!

Happy Birthday to my first born. The one who is most like her dad. The one who has one of the kindest hearts I've ever known. The one who is very quiet but hysterically funny. The one who is twitter famous. ;) The one who is as easy going as they come. The one who LOVES her family and whose family LOVES her back. The one who is exceptionally gifted in the creativity department. The one who may be smarter than me, in her approach to life. The one who started it all....the best journey I've ever taken...MOTHERHOOD! 

I adore this person with every ounce of my being!

 I'm truly smitten!

I'm Tired of People

I have been so let down by people's choices over the last year, and honestly I'm just kinda tired of people in general.  Typically I love being around people, really enjoy socializing and spending time with them; but lately I would like a reprieve from people.  People have hurt me and my family, and it has been hard.  Through it, I have leaned firmly on God...pressing in as much as possible.  He is guiding me and is answering my prayers, just not necessarily in the way I thought He should.  But as things unfold, I see that He actually does know what He's doing....go figure.  I mean He is THE ALL KNOWING GOD OF THE UNIVERSE....MY CREATOR...of course He knows what's best. I have seen that many things, I don't understand, were allowed by Him to protect me from someone, some relationship, some situation or something.  There were a few times when I felt my trust waiver, and I wanted to be in complete control; but then I quickly realized that I really don't want to be in complete control.  Being in complete control is much harder and too much work for me, so God....have at it.  I will give 100% in obedience and trust.  Of course I will fail, because I am human; but I will give it my all.  And honestly I breathe a sigh of relief knowing that He's got this, and He definitely does!

February 5th....The Best Day of 2001!!! THIRTEEN!!!

My smack dab in the middle child is THIRTEEN! This means that I now have more teenagers than not teenagers. This also means that my girl is closer to becoming that sweet wonderful young woman that she is growing into. Drewby Lou...my sweet, smart, simple, understated, book loving, outdoorsy, harmonica and ukulele playing, granola girl. I adore you! You will carry a piece of my heart with you always. And always remember....you were Papa's best birthday gift ever! He was so proud to have you born on his birthday! Happy Birthday Drew Michelle Payne! THIRTEEN....SIGH!