Opinions...

Everyone has one and if you don't believe it just ask someone! But in the grand scheme of things what is the importance of someone's opinion? This is something the Lord has really been showing me recently. If someone comes to me and shares with me somthing they feel the Lord is telling them to do but I am not in full agreement with, who am I to judge? In telling someone that I don't think that is the right thing to do b/c it doesn't exactly line up with what I think they should do I am really limiting God and His ability to be God. Who am I to determine whether someone has clearly heard from God or not? As long as what they feel led to do is not contradictory to the Word of God then who am I to try and persuade someone to do otherwise? I would, in fact, be hindering God's plan for that person's life and what a travesty that would be on my part. I think too much of the time that we are all so much more focused on ourselves; what we want; what we think and its all about ME that we don't even allow room to help others or encourage others. We criticize some in the church for doing something God calls them to do b/c we may not agree with it or we may think WE have a better idea of what should be done. In the midst of deciding between what we should or shouldn't do the world is going to Hell...and we are partly to blame b/c we're too self absorbed with getting our way rather than letting God have HIS way. For example, if a group of people are called by God to travel 10,000 miles away to Africa on a mission trip but you disagree with them going b/c you feel that the money spent on going is more needed in other areas within the church, does that make them wrong and you right? If God has not called you or given you a heart for the mission field then who are you to judge those whom He has called and given that heart? If we all tapped into the real heart of God I'm more confident believing that His heart is for the advancement of the kingdom in terms of souls not dollars. It does take dollars to reach souls and it does take dollars to advance the kingdom of God to some extent...but do we sacrifice the souls in order to put more dollars in the bank? And in the topic of dollars...it all belongs to Christ anyway so who are we to hold back His money from sending a team to Uganda to reach His lost children just b/c in OUR OPINION, we need it in our bank acct? Is it really about putting money in the bank for the ministry or is it about getting YOUR way and proving that you're right? If everyone in the church would tithe at least the 10% God requires (even though 100% is HIS), I believe we'd be able to keep the money in the bank for the necessary functions of the ministry as well as being able to travel the world reaching the nations. Would it be possible for all of us to really seek God's will and not our own? Would it be possible for us to all be in one mind and unified in our thinking and our actions? Imagine what we could all accomplish if we did...Imagine how God would empower us as one unified body like He did in the upper room at Pentecost! How awesome to think...and yet how sad to know that we continue to get in His way...we continue to think what we want to think and we judge and criticize others when, if we disagree with someone else, we should really just pray for ourselves and ask God to show us His way and help us to crucify our own opinions and lay our flesh on the altar. No, its not easy. No, it doesn't feel good. But the end result is so much more worth a little time in the fire than our own comfort and complacency. The souls that will be added to heaven will be worth more than anything we could enjoy here on earth. So...everyone has an opinion...but unless your opinion helps save someone's life or changes the course of history for God's kingdom, then it holds very little importance and is better left unsaid. Let's focus on what God has called US to do individually and use the gifts and talents He's given us to fulfill His plan for our lives and let's encourage others to do the same...we can't all do the same things...but we can all do what God created us to do and when we all work together in those areas the Kingdom of God will benefit and prosper! *Much love* ~me~

Dreaming

This is from a recent session I did. One of my favorite things to do with newborns is watch them sleep. They seem so content and at peace no matter what is going on around them. During those sleep times they make some of the most interesting expressions. I could sit and watch a sleeping baby for hours. Baby "J" was such a great, cooperative subject and it was a joy to capture this special time in her family's life. Babies are truly a blessing from above! Congratulations JJ & Jennifer on your little angel!

When to stop...

That is the question I've been pondering inside for the past few weeks...moreso this week. So much has been going on; so many things to do; so many places to be. "Home" is just a figment of my imagination. This blog may sound kinda down and I apologize in advance for that...this is just where I am right now and I am reasoning that jotting down the way I feel may help me feel somewhat better. One can only hope! I guess between working a full time job, building a house, being involved in church activities, and just having family, that the "you" time just manages to disappear into an oblivion. I know that's when you're supposed to "make" time for you but HOW?! My thoughts are foggy, my body drained and lately I have zero motivation to do simple things like brush my teeth or even eat. I want to spend a whole day in the bed with the covers pulled over my head and turn off every cell phone. But at the same time I don't want to be anywhere near the camper...I want to be far, far away doing something fun, relaxing and enjoyable. But I really don't even know what that is. Trust me, I am completely thankful for where I am in my life right now. I know that the reason I am living in a camper is b/c I am building a beautiful house and soon I will be able to live in my beautiful house. I know the reason I am not getting a vacation this year is b/c I am going back to Uganda on a mission trip and the souls that will be transformed is worth way more than a selfish vacation. I am thankful that we have so many extracurricular activities going on b/c we are able to impact the lives of young people. I think it all just boils down to being physically, mentally and emotionally drained and exhausted. I know this is just a temporary place for me right now and eventually life will be back to somewhat normalcy. I just need a getaway that I know I can't have. I am using the rest of my vacation days at work to go to Uganda. We had plans to go to Orlando for a week and I was going to get to visit my grandmother, whom I haven't seen in 4 years. I think I'm just disappointed that I can't do both...have my cake and eat it too. I guess I will just be most relieved when the house is finished and I can have more space to just relax at home, cook a healthy dinner, sit on my back deck and watch the deer graze in the woods, have some quiet time, spend quality time with Jordan without having so much on his mind, and just BE. But I'm ok and I'll be ok...just looking for when to stop...when I can. :O)

New Baby

Just a quick post to say that Jordan and I will be...an aunt and uncle again! For those who just got really excited b/c you thought I was going to say that we would be parents, slap yourselves on the hand for thinking such a thing! LOL Jacob & Jessica found out last week that they are expecting a brand new blessing. Miss Brooklyn will be a BIG sister! Jessica goes to the doctor today to find out all the details. I will keep everyone posted on the progress. We are very happy and excited for them! Keep them in your prayers during this time as a pregnancy and new addition to the family can be an adjustment both physically and financially.

Girls Rule

She looks sweet and innocent, doesn't she? Well, for a little girl who is not even 3 years old yet, she is the most intelligent, independent, strong willed child I have ever met. She is Miss Brooklyn and she is my niece. She can hold a full conversation with you if she has the right topic. She reasons more than adults can some times. If you know her you know exactly what I mean. If you have not met her yet, I can assure you, she will absolutely amaze you! I've also never seen a child with OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) but she's got it...not in a crazy way but in a somewhat interesting, cute way. She's a neat freak...everything has its place and it has to be in that place or she will change it. For instance...Brooklyn's mom and dad, Jordan and I, and Brooklyn were at Waffle House eating. Brooklyn was in a high chair at the end of the table. Jordan and I were sitting beside each other; I was on the inside and Jordan on the outside. Jacob was sitting across from me on the inside and Jessica was sitting across from Jordan on the outside. Brooklyn looks at the setup and realizes that we're not sitting girls across from girls and boys across from boys. She proceeds to say, "TeTe, you sit right here." To which I have to move to the outside so that now Jessica and I are facing each other. How does a 2 1/2 year old notice something so trivial?! Hilarious!

Well, onto my topic of "Girls Rule". Jordan's parents, Jordan and I are all over at Jacob and Jessica's. We had just finished eating and we were all sitting in the living room. For the pleasure of Brooklyn's OCD, I pointed out to her that all the boys were sitting on one side of the living room and all the girls were on the other side. Theresa proceeds to tell her that there are more girls than boys. Miss Brooklyn, matter-of-factly, exclaims to the boys, "Girls rule~YOU don't rule!" Yet another hysterical statement out of the mouth of a brilliant child!!!! I had to share that with you for your entertainment purposes only!

May you have a blessed day!!! I also have more news to share but will do a separate post for that!

Makes me smile...

This is a picture of Jordan and I completely surrounded by dozens of little African children. I have this picture on my cubicle wall so that I can see it every day. It makes my insides light up b/c I remember their fascination with the "muzungu" (white people) and I recall so many other memories with the children. For many of these small children it was their very first time to see a white person. There was one afternoon as we left our hotel that we waved to all the little kids across the street. All of the kids are waving and shouting with excitement, "Muzungu! Muzungu!" One little boy burst into tears and started screaming. He had never seen white people before and he was so scared.

This is my most favorite picture of us from our Uganda trip. I remember feeling all the kids pressing in just to get close to us. Some were even shoved out of the way. If you can see, there is one boy with his arm around my neck and another boy is reaching out to touch my hair. They simply LOVE and they look into your eyes with an anticipation of hope; hope that you are there to change their poverty situation; hope that you can give them $20 to pay for their school fees for a year; hope that you will love them b/c their parents died of AIDS and they have no one else; hope that you can buy them medicine to treat the malaria that they will otherwise die from... Those are the thoughts that break my heart and cause me to want to do more but for now I can look at this picture and remember their smiles and know that for one small moment they were happy and I played a small part in it. That alone is worth it all!

Lovely Thoughts...

I was looking through a children's clothing catalog when I noticed a cute little bracelet with a little inscription on it. For those who are familiar with Peter Pan you will recognize this quote. I just wanted to post it because it made me smile from the inside out...how could I not share something so enlightening?!

"Just think lovely thoughts and they lift you up in the air." J. M. Barrie

If you're feeling down today~just begin to change the things you're thinking of and ponder things that are more worthwhile and things you KNOW make you happy. I truly believe that your lovely thoughts will begin to lift you up out of your despair. And ALWAYS remember that "NOTHING is impossible with God!"

I just had to leave you with that for the afternoon...here's to lovely thoughts! May God's richest blessings abound to you today!

Intro *drum roll please*

I had this lovely, beautiful long post with pictures of my nieces and nephew but I managed to delete the whole stinking thing b/c of some confusion between this blog and another blog I had done 2 years ago. My newest long post wasn't posting on this blog so I just decided to start from scratch and delete everything I had previously.

So...here I am...a self appointed blog junkie, a blog reader junkie that is! I have a list of favorite blogs that I view on a daily basis and today I decided to join the ranks of bloggers worldwide! I would love to get to know anyone who cares enough to stop by and check in on my Simply Me*Set Apart blog. I consider myself your average, every day, girl-next-door type but in the midst of that I am also "set apart for a greater work" that God reveals to me more and more every day.

I have found myself on foreign soil thousands of miles from home on 6 different occasions spreading the love of Jesus Christ...Russia, Belize (twice), Uganda-East Africa (twice) and the little island of Trinidad. There is nothing more fulfilling than sharing Christ with those in need and being His hands and feet in a hurting world. The Great Commission-"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." ~Matt. 28:19, 20

I have been married for 4 years to the love of my life and the one God created just for me. He is my soul mate through and through and could not imagine life without him. He is my best friend and the priest of our home. He makes me laugh at the most random moments imagineable! We do not have any children of our own...yet! We feel blessed to share our lives with our nephew and 4 nieces. They are a true joy in our lives. We are Jordy and TeTe to them and we LOVE it! I'll try to re-post their pictures for you to see.

I will try to keep this blog updated as much as possible. God is blessing us with a brand new home...new construction and it should be fully blacked in by the end of this week. Next week we will begin on the plumbing, heating & air and electrical work. We're hoping and praying we'll be completely moved in and close on the loan by Thanksgiving...and we will have SO MUCH to be thankful for!

I hope you'll stay tuned!!!!

Be blessed!