|
I know that this really should be a
mid-year update telling about the last six months because some
of you probably assume that I've dropped off the face of the
earth. But that would become a book. Really, life has just been
so full that all I can do is keep up and there hasn't been much
time for reflection or testimony. But I believe that both are
critical so... even though things are as busy as ever I thought
I'd slow it down (and sacrifice a bit of sleep) to at least let
you know what God has done these last two weeks. Even that may
be TMI but it will give you an idea of what's been happening
with me.
July 21 I headed out for a two week road tour with my mom and
sisters. We thought it was going to be a very girly trip but God
put a band of great Brothers in our path all along the way. That
started off with staying with our friend, and fellow homeschool
grad, Tom at his apartment in Columbus. Even though we kept him
up late, and made him take a number for getting in the bathroom,
he was a great host with a great sense of humor.
July 22-23 I had the privilege of speaking at the CHEO
(Christian Home Educators of Ohio) Convention. In my opinion
it's one of the top HS Conventions in the Country. Really a
dream speaking gig. The attendees were receptive and open and
God really gave me His heart to share with them. You can see a
couple random video clips that were taken during two sessions
here: Video
#1 and
Video #2
During the CHEO event some of us had the chance to slip away
from the event for an uplifting lunch at the Spaghetti Warehouse
with a small group of homeschool graduates. This is us after
lunch:
Lunch was hosted by Emilie C. who I have "adopted" as a sister
because I am so proud of her and just love her heart. Here is a
picture of me, Mom, Glory, Sony, Emilie, and Bethany after the
convention. We're a bit tired but still smiling:
After the Convention wrapped up we spent the last night with Tom
then picked up our friend Camden the next morning and headed
south to stay with one of my favorite people in the known
universe, Kim Fletcher. Camden went on to his next location and
we spent a couple days at Kim's beautiful lake front home. A
personal highlight was kayaking - great therapy!
While we were there, Creation House author Greg Hinnant (who is
one of our new columnists for Brush Arbor) spent a day with us.
He treated us to Chinese for lunch and Kim attempted to teach me
to eat with chopsticks which Glory (my in-house "paparazzi")
captured on video without me knowing it. (Scary thought). This
clip shows what a patient teacher Kim is AND what a slow learner
I am: Watch
Video Clip
After our relax time we headed for the Wisdom's Gate Ladies Tea
that Kim and I had been organizing for weeks. It was such a
blessing to see the fruit of our prayers and effort pay off for
the Kingdom of God! After the event, seven woman told Mom that
they had been suicidal recently and six out of the seven went
away testifying that they felt faith! Here is a clip of Mom
speaking to the ladies at our Evening Tea:
Watch Video
Clip
The morning after the event we loaded ourselves and Kim into our
bus and went to visit my friend Sue Lyn who I hadn't seen in
years because she had been serving the Lord in Hong Kong and is
only back in the States temporarily. So that was such an awesome
blessing from God. Being reunited was amazing!
Then it was on to our southernmost destination: the Great State
of Texas. We met with longtime columnists for HOME SCHOOL DIGEST
and An Encouraging Word, Matthew and Maranatha Chapman who, as
always, blessed us all.
Then came the big day of a dear friends wedding. Spending time
sitting with her on the porch swing before the wedding is one of
the best memories of my year. I have never known a young person
more focused on Jesus and consecrated to serve Him, and seeing
her in the bridal room ... I've never seen anyone so radiant. We
see the effects of sin on peoples faces everyday, but it was so
refreshing to see a soul so pure and clean and loving and
selfless. Even though she is a tad younger than me, I have been
the one looking up to her for the 16 years that we've been
friends.
After visiting an outreach in the projects of Waco that my
friend Bessie and her (now) husband had helped to get started
and are very active in, we pried ourselves away and started back
north. After resting up in Oklahoma and spending some time with
a singing family who opened their guest house to us, we drove to
Missouri to once again connect with our friend Camden and spend
a couple days with him and his family who lives nearby on the
same lake.
I talked some business/planning stuff over with Camden and Co.
and signed a speaking contract so I felt like I had done
something semi-useful (that's a stretch I know, but feeling
useful is important to me), but mostly it was a vacation stay.
Kim and I even had time to find our way back into the water in
kayaks. We also had fun trying to learn a song with Emily:
Watch Video
Clip
Then it was back home to finish resting up before driving Kim to
the airport on Monday, and checking in on my grandparents, so I
could get back in the office on Tuesday... and I have to say, I
am jumping in feeling refueled, refreshed, rejuvenated and
refocused! I guess these past two weeks have given me such a big
view of how loved I am, how many lives have touched mine, and
how the ripple effect of that is impacting the world around me.
I owe a lot and I want to give it all I have to give!
My next speaking engagement is only a week away and I am praying
for direction and preparing right now, so you can pray for that
as the Lord leads... Onward and upward! |
