I got woefully behind in blogging...pictures that were taken weeks ago, and a whole bunch of posts mentally written but not actually typed out.
But when I look back at old posts, I guess I care less about whether or not it was blogged right after it happened, and more just that the some of the milestones and everyday moments were recorded at all.
So...that's my little intro. I'm not sure if that was more for your benefit or mine. :)
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One Sunday evening several weeks back -
He's serious about his popcorn, man.
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Last fall, Kelley (another staff lady) and I started a small group based on the book Grace for the Good Girl.
The make-up of the group changed somewhat through the two semesters we were getting together, but these two girls stuck with it to the end.
From left to right, DeAnne, Kelley, Sadie, and I.
What fun it's been to get to know each of them, to watch what God is doing in their lives, and to learn together.
After we finished the book, we ended with a special dinner (Senegalese-inspired!) at Kelley and Todd's place.
Lord willing, this summer Kelley and I will be scheming planning for another small group study over the coming school year. I'm already so excited!
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More of "my" girls -
I spend most of my hours working at a desk. I do like my work (especially now that I understand better how to do it!), but a guest house and accounts are not the main reason I'm here.
People are.
Seeing lives impacted by God's word, challenged and shaped by grace - this is what excites me and motives me to be here. I am thankful for each and every opportunity I have to interact with the students, to listen to what they're learning in classes, to talk about life, to just hang out and have fun sometimes.
God is working, and getting a front row seat for it is one of the most amazing things possible.
The ladies of the graduating class...
No, I wasn't trying to be exclusive here, I just wasn't ready with a camera when the whole group was together.
Meet Bekah, Rebekah, and Sadie (again).
And can I brag about them just a bit?
I had the chance to work with these ladies in
the guest house the past year, and I have been beyond blessed to see
their hard work, diligence, attention to details, good communication,
and teamwork. In a generation where laziness and apathy are all too common, they're a perfect example of how faithfulness (even in
the seemingly mundane) can impact and bless others. Not in the picture
are Jen - who probably washed a Mt. Everest's worth of guest house laundry in her two years here - and Isabelle, who was a delightful part of the crew last semester.
You cannot begin to imagine how wonderful it was to know I could count on jobs being done well - not just for my sake, but for the sake of all the guests who stayed in the guest house over the past year.
Girls? You. rock.
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And then there's Jonah. He rocks in his own, adorable, preemie-strong way.
He melts my heart every time I see him. Another good gift God has put in my life. :)
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Lilies-of-the-valley from my coworker Linda's garden. They were so dainty and sweet!
My friend Kayla just moved and she left four big plants with me, one of them being this ginormous spider plant with lots (eighty-seven, to be exact) of baby plants. The realization of my evil plot to take over the school with spider plants was finally within my grasp.
I laughed a diabolical laugh when I brought the plant into my apartment and started clipping the baby plants to share. "At last, the power is mine! I shall rule the school!"
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The school is rather in a state of upheaval, with office changes and renovations underway this summer. Heaps of furniture line one of the halls on first floor, and I suspect it won't be long until we have dust and paint fumes to contend with.
By the way, have I ever told you how hard change is for me? Whether it's big things or small things (and there have been a lot of both for me lately), I tend to fight against change. Even if I know they're silly, insignificant things, or that the change will be good in the long run...just yuck.
On days when I find myself overwhelmed by change or the unknown, I force myself back to what I do know.
This -
All my changes come from Him
He who never changes
I'm held firm in the grasp
Of the Rock of all the ages
All is well with my soul
He is God in control
I know not all His plans
But I know I'm in His hands
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