My mom is awesome... she got me a new bed a couple days ago for free off of Craig's list.  The only downside... it has made my whole apartment smell like smoke... whoops.  So, I moved it outside onto our little porch hoping that our apartment people don't see it b/c they're not very nice and don't even want you to hang towels outside, so I'm thinking a mattress wouldn't be their favorite... it doesn't look very uniform you know.  Anyways... I'm taking suggestions for how to get it clean if anyone has any ideas.

I'm so thankful for my job... I think I need to say that out loud more often.  I love it.  I love that I get to see the Lord answer prayers time and time again.  That I get to see Him change hearts and draw His children to Himself.  I get to lead Bible studies and talk about Jesus with freedom, in fact, I am more than encouraged to do so.  What a blessing.  And I love these kids so much.  This past week was a hard one for all of us, but I personally came out of it with a renewed reminder of the faithfulness of God.  I got so much encouragement and love poured out upon me and I know that so many people were praying for me, and for us as a group.  And I was reminded again how much I love these kids and how much I long to see them know more of the Lord.  I'm not perfect and I say the wrong thing a lot, I come across the wrong way, I push too hard, I judge instead of love at times... and yet, the Lord has chosen me to be a part of what He wants to do in their lives.  That's awesome.  Our verse for the Dominican Republic is... "For we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." 2 Corinthians 4:7.  (I memorized that in Spanish, by the way, which is exceptionally difficult when you don't speak any Spanish)  I'm just glad the Lord uses jars of clay... that's all I really have to say.

This song is a new favorite!

Come Ye Sinners

Come ye sinners, poor and needy
Weak and wounded, sick and sore
Jesus ready stands to save you
Full of pity, love, and power

Come ye thirsty, come and welcome
God's free bounty glorify
True belief and true repentance
Every grace that brings you nigh

Chorus:
I will arise and go to Jesus
He will embrace me in His arms
In the arms of my dear Savior
Oh, there are ten thousand charms

Come ye weary, heavy-laden
Lost and ruined by the fall
If you tarry until you're better
You will never come at all

Funny story that happened last night after the "I'm old" pool incident.  Well, these three girls were over to spend the night... they shall remain nameless for their protection.  We've already watched "Music and Lyrics" and we're on our third episode of friends at 1:30am when I wake up from about my third short nap in the recliner.  I make the debatable decision that 14 and 15 year olds are old enough to take care of themselves and I haul myself off to bed leaving them watching friends.  Krissie heads to bed soon after leaving them entirely by themselves.  Bad idea.

Apparently there is this scene in the movie Rent that was brought to their mind by the rain outside... in the scene someone takes a piece of burning paper and throws it out the window and the rain puts it out... BECAUSE IT'S A MOVIE.  Well, they decided they should reinact the scene, since it was raining you know.  So, they light a napkin on fire and throw it off my third floor balcony and then stand by to watch it fizzle out.  Well, by the time it hits the bush, it still hasn't fizzled.  As the story goes... there was lots of yelling of "Fire, fire" and "oh my gosh"  and I think a nalegene of water was involved until Krissie woke up (I slept through the whole thing:))... man I'm going to make a good mom! 

Well, the good news is, the fire got put out and the girls voluntarily handed over the lighter, I think even they could admit that their judgement wasn't working at 100% at 3 in the morning.

Pretty much... the whole story just really made me laugh.  Although I had to appear fake mad... I mean, who wouldn't?  And the scavenger hunt they left for me more than made up for the fire incident.  I love those girls.  But next time, I will NOT be the first one asleep! 

battles are messy, but that doesn't mean there isn't a winner. this is a battle between lies and the truth... which one are you going to choose to believe? a battle between the flesh and the spirit. but we know truth wins, the spirit wins, Jesus wins... but it's in the battle that we get to see the hand of our commander lead us to victory and in that way we get to know just a little more of him

"In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world!" - John 16:33

Currently Listening Disc One: All Their Greatest Hits 1991-2001 By Barenaked Ladies see related

I found something dangerous... a used CD store right across the street.  Due to my sheltered childhood and Amy Grant obsession, it's been a last six year discovery that there does exist some decent secular music, and now I'm really excited about catching up on everything I missed out on before.

Other than that current excitement, I'm sitting on the couch miserable and sunburned.  After 23 years you'd think that I would learn to use sunscreen, but I just hate it!

ok... time for Grey's Anatomy... another obsession