I'm really hoping that I can keep up good study habits like I've started this week. Other than making a nap priority today instead of homework... Maybe sometimes that will be necessary though so I can stay awake through all the history reading...

Overwhelmed

My kids are the greatest kids in the whole world. They may do things that get on my nerves or make me feel like I haven't done a good job raising them but they also do things that make me teary in a good way. They make me a proud mother. They are the joy of my life. I love them so much!!
Isaiah turns 5 today. Time has flown by. Sometimes it seems like it's been 5 years since those labor pains came on but sometimes it feels like it was only a few days ago. He has his first loose tooth. He said "Mom, I think my tooth is growing". I had no clue what he was talking about but when I touched it, it moved. I could have cried because it doesn't seem right that he's old enough to have a loose tooth. My little sweetheart is growing up on me. He begins kindergarten tomorrow. I know that he'll cry when I leave him but I also know that I will cry when I get back in the car. I have no doubts. That's how him and I work. We're a team at this crying thing. We're both looking forward to school starting though. He's excited and he's going to meet new friends and his birthday party is next week so he's looking forward to meeting new people that he can invite to his party!
Makenna turns 4 in 5 days. She's such a big girl. I dropped her off for her first day at preschool yesterday. She had her little backpack on and she was carrying her little lunch box. She went right in and the teacher introduced herself to Makenna and asked what her name was. She started to shy away but she changed her mind and turned right back around and said, "I'm Makenna", shook her teachers hand and went to her chair. She didn't turn back to me. Such a difference between these two kids. I had to go over to her seat and get her attention so she would give me a goodbye kiss. She was SO excited to be at preschool. She had a wonderful day and colored two pictures for me which are beautiful! She also learned that "I" makes the sound  of the short "I" as in "Indian". She's going to be reading in no time.
I'm looking forward to continuing my education. I found out yesterday that a good friend of mine is in my math class with me. I haven't seen her since she got married but we were really good friends when we were around 12 and 13. I'm looking forward to catching up with her as well as all these new classes and even making new friends myself! I love that part! I love meeting new people and getting to know them and learning about their lives and their families!

Lord I believe but, please, help my unbelief.

That thing in the Bible where"my righteousness is as fithy rags" thing. Yeah, that's me.

I am so humbled by the way God chooses to use me. I'm just a worthless wrag that's been stained and torn to shreds yet he chooses to use me to lead worship and help bring others into a place of worship together.
I don't consider myself a good leader, especially in leading worship, but God did amazing things through a 25 year old, warped, 80's looking, scrambled up girl. Don't get me wrong, I love it and I'm willing to be used and I put myself out there to be used but I don't see why He has chosen me. Sometimes I think that surely there's someone better than me with a better voice and a better musician with a better life than me. I know those people are out there. But God has chosen me for this time and this place and I'm more thankful than anyone will ever know.

Kickin' It Old School

We have a concert tonight that is geared towards an 80's theme. We are doing our normal music but we want to dress the part. This is what Goodwill and I have put together. I believe it will do :)

Add some red lipstick and all will be complete. I'm glad God's okay with having fun while we praise Him!

Thailand Bound

Passports are purchased. Fundraising has begun. Childcare is confirmed. Now we wait until November.
I'm honored and humbled to have been asked to go to Thailand to participate in Pattaya Praise which is a 4 day praise and worship event in Pattaya, Thailand. Our band, Restored, will be playing during this event which is going to be an amazing experience. We are not only going to play music. We will have the opportunity to visit an orphanage, go into the slums and reach out to the people there and we are going to take small things for the children to put together to resemble instruments that they can play, we will do prayer walks through a couple towns, and we will visit some of the prostitution bars. I am hoping to be able to get into those bars with a guitar to play and sing about how those women are made for more than who they are and their lives can be changed if they will allow the change to happen. I have several songs in mind so I'm going to have to remember to pray that God will work that part out.
I'm just excited about what's ahead even though I know this will bring struggles. Heck, it already has.

The Scripture that I have recently read and begun to memorize is this:

 ¹ The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, 
   because the LORD has anointed me 
   to proclaim good news to the poor. 
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, 
   to proclaim freedom for the captives 
   and release from darkness for the prisoners,^[a] 
2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor 
   and the day of vengeance of our God, 
to comfort all who mourn, 
 ³ and provide for those who grieve in Zion— 
to bestow on them a crown of beauty 
   instead of ashes, 
the oil of joy 
   instead of mourning, 
and a garment of praise 
   instead of a spirit of despair. 
They will be called oaks of righteousness, 
   a planting of the LORD 
   for the display of his splendor.

 ⁴ They will rebuild the ancient ruins
   and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
   that have been devastated for generations.

                                  Isaiah 61:1-4

God will surely bless this!

I'm loving my new curls! I got a perm hoping to have the same length but my hair to appear shorter because it's getting on my nerves. There's a bonus though...people now think I'm a lot younger than I really am. I like it :)