in every season

All of my life

In every season

You are still God

I have a reason to sing

I have a reason to worship*

I know, I skipped Multitude Monday last week...  It was a combination of being really busy + not being terribly motivated to blog.  Don't get me wrong--I have so much for which I am grateful (see list below!) and I really truly am blessed; however, these last few weeks especially have been kind of rough as the Lord has been kind of "making" me take a step back and look at my life--where I am right now, where I might want to go, in whom/what I'm setting my hope--and start to evaluate what's good...what's not so good...and where it may be about time for a change.  For example, the fellowship and accountability I have with my church family is oh-so-good; taking my eyes off the Lord and setting my hope on earthly things (however "good" they may be)= bad.  As far as the change that may be coming, well, hopefully that will be settled--one way or another--in the next few days.  So, check back next week, and maybe I'll have more to say on that then!

So anyway, these past few weeks haven't been my favorite overall, but God is faithful, and I do have lots to be thankful for!

Royers Round Top Cafe

501. Spending an evening in Round Top with Julie and Sarah, eating at a gourmet diner and then exploring a world-renowned music institute (which has some very funny statues...).

502. Finally getting to go ice skating again with Sarah.

503. True Grit movie night with friends!

504. A nice drive to Houston--just me, my music, a couple of sermons, and a quad grande americano.  I really enjoyed this, despite...

505. ...getting sent to the wrong side of Houston for my class...which meant...I got to come home way early...and I still got paid for it :)

movie night!

506. One year ago I visited my amazing church for the first time...and then never left :)  Love this amazing body of believers; so thankful for the way God has used them this past year to teach and encourage and challenge me in so many ways.  So very blessed to be part of a church that truly preserves and proclaims the Gospel!

507. And while I'm on the subject of my amazing church family...  I'm just ever-so-grateful for Sarah and Julie and our somewhat unofficial fight club; so thankful to be able to live life--with all of its laughter and tears and confusion and plain 'ol craziness--with such sweet friends who really demonstrate what it means to live out the gospel.

508. Dinner with several super-special families (including lots of cute babies!) after church.

"Hi Beth, I came by to say hi and to drop
off keys to Paul and none of your dry
erase markers work very well.
Love, Joe
P.S. Paul can't read well."

509. Movie night at Sarah's.

510. Lifegivers

511. Our first sign language class at the Bacaks :)

512. Running with Julie and Fernando.

513. This.  Watch it.  These people are fantastic.

514. Spoons with Sarah and Meg!

515. Re-watching a few episodes of LOST with the brother.

516. Sir Green Shirt's brilliant suggestion that Paul and I use google calendar to coordinate our [ridiculously busy] lives.  I cannot BELIEVE we didn't think of this sooner.  

517. That Brian found the earring (one of my favorites) that I lost at work several weeks ago; definitely didn't expect to see that again!

my new apron from Anna!

518. That my hope...my joy...my security...is not based on any person or situation/circumstance in this life but is in the Lord; "God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever". (Psalm 73)

519. Anna's back from Uganda!!!  And she brought me a super-awesome apron!  :)

520. My "mirror message" from Joe.

521. Bible study at Esperanza on Sunday.

522. Getting to babysit two adorable little boys--and cuddling for hours with the two-month-old :)

523. Spending all of Sunday with Sarah and getting to join her family for their Father's Day lunch.

524. Dr. Pepper icees.

Bible study at Esperanza
(photo courtesy of Pearson)

525. A lovely little walk home from work (after the sun was down, so it was actually somewhat cool--or at least, not blazing hot).

526. The reminder that when I'm faced with a decision, I don't have to figure it out alone.  So thankful for the incredible blessing of having God's Word to guide me, as well as godly friends and mentors to advise and pray for me.  

527. Going to see Green Lantern with friends.

528. Freshly ground coffee.

529. Rachael's "movie interpretations".  Sooo funny.

530. Getting my child sponsorship packet in the mail for Ti Nina!

I will bring praise

I will bring praise

No weapon forged against me will remain

I will rejoice

I will declare

God is my victory and He is here.

* Desert Song -- Hillsong

So much for Monday...

 I almost managed to get this posted on Monday...but then I decided to make one itty bitty minor change to the blog...which failed...and which then necessitated a revamp of the entire layout/design...which took forever...and then it was time to go to work...and I still wasn't done writing my list...and then I got home from work and got distracted by Haiti videos on youtube (see #497)...and then the internet quit working...which I decided was a sign from God via Suddenlink that I needed to go to bed...so I did...and so Multitude Monday is once again not happening on Monday.  Oh well; c'est la vie (se lavi).

:)

early morning calisthenics with Rachael :)

481. Seeing a shooting star--without a doubt, one of the highlights of my week.

482. A mini-roadtrip (as in, an hour or so away) to go to the drive-in with dear friends.  So fun, even though I slept through most of the second movie :)

483. Hilarious moments with friends...such as when we killed a ginormous cockroach...with hairspray and wasp spray...

484. Lunch and pedicures to celebrate my amazing friend Sarah's birthday.

485. Getting to work with Rachael (and her twaaaang; oh, how I love it) every day last week.

486. Free furniture from a friend, and help from wonderful friends with trucks to transport this furniture (thanks Rachael and Jeremy!)

me and Little Bit

 487. Babysitting "Little Bit"; I really enjoy this kid!

488. Two dinner-and-a-movie nights last week!  We watched this and this.

489. So thankful for the work Heartline is doing in Haiti.

490. Running into Donovan and Sabrina at Kroger.

491. Getting to see Aja and meet her youngest sister when they came to town for a few days.

492. Hanging out with the Bacaks at the pool.

493. Dinner with Sara and Deondre.

494. Tank the Chihuahua...even though normally I'm not really a dog person.

495. Jube's birthday (8?!?! When did this happen???)

496. Praying friends, and a note of encouragement.

497. Breaking out my Haiti music again and spending some time reading my Kreyol Bible...though this also sends me further into Haiti-withdrawal...Oh ayiti, mwen vreman sonje w.

Donovan and Sabrina

498. Starting to plan a roadtrip for next month; super excited!

499. Sweet Eugene's has Big Train Chai now (my favorite!); it's about time somewhere in town got it!

500. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved--and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  For by grace you have been saved through faith.  And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.  (Ephesians 2:4-10)