I am: a tall blonde surrounded by short, dark haired people
I think: that you can never have too many friends!
I know: that God is God, and I am not.
I want: to love others well.
I wish: that i could have all my friends in one place!
I hate: when people judge
I miss: my friends and fam that are far away.
I fear: losing friends because of stupid things.
I feel: tired from how crazy work has been.
I hear: a leaf blower, the dryer, and a car
I smell: my "clean linen" candle that is not lit and my freshly washed hair!
I crave: some quality time with friends and some time off work!
I search: for easy quick recipes :)
I wonder: if i will make my layover in TX
I regret: not much!
I love: going to La Ceiba! and hanging out with our kids.
I ache: for those who see no hope, who have no one to trust, and can't find their way out of the lifestyle they are trapped in.
I care: about our kids so much.
I always: floss
I am not: offended easily
I believe: God is the final Judge.
I dance: only with certain people :)
I sing: songs that i make up!
I cry: enough
I don't always: answer the phone....
I fight: when i think there has been an injustice, or when i know that something could be improved for the better!
I write: newsletters, updates and schedules :)
I win: at Clue and knockout!
I lose: at poker
I never: go to bed without brushing my teeth...gross
I confuse: the little details
I listen: to details rarely...
I can usually be found: anywhere but my house!
I am scared: when our car breaks down, and it's only girls, and we are surrounded by honduran men.
I need: the Lord.
I am happy about: going on furlough to meet my 2 new cousins, and visit friends and family and be in brianna's wedding!
I hope: God shows me more of His plan for my life soon!
I am tagging: no one....
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
A little about mua!
Thursday, May 1, 2008
The Fire threatened...and then the Rain Came...
I can't describe to you the feelings of the past few days....maybe in a few words i could describe them like the following:
trust, fear with peace, love for and from family and friends, anticipation/waiting, indescribable awe and thankfulness.
Thank you all so much for your prayers the past few days as we have had extremely dangerous fires threatening our homes and ranch for abandoned kids. For those who don't know, we had to evacuate all women and kids monday night overnight because of how dangerous the fire was. We came back tuesday, only to have another big fire threaten us tuesday night. We all stayed here that time, though. Many of us prayed and asked you, our friends, to pray with us for RAIN. And rain it did, last night....just enough to put the smoke down, and help simmer the fires down. THANK YOU for your faithful prayers and emails throughout all of this.
I would think that this would be a scary time here. And yes, some kids were scared, and yes, some of us adults had a rough night of sleep monday night wondering what was going to happen to our homes, our "things," and our ranch...eventually though all we could do was give it to our Lord and know HE was in control of every little spark and flame. Throughout the entire situation, I really felt the peace of God pass through me, for which i am soo thankful. I now also definitely understand what it means when we are told to pray with faith...anticipating that God WILL do what IS BEST. I just had this feeling He would let it rain....and HE DID!!! Last night, while many, many people were pleading with God for rain...it rained!!! THANK YOU JESUS!!! I don't know that i will ever be able to describe the feeling of awe i had as i looked up to the skylight in our home and heard the raindrops on the tin roof. I LOVE RAIN :) even more now!
Hopefully the fires will continue to die down. Please continue to pray for us, and for our surrounding mountain neighbors....who don't have barely anything BUT a clay home. We had such a feeling of "family" here at the ranch when this all happened. We women and kids were saying goodbye to the men and teenage boys praying that God would keep us ALL safe in His hands. Our mountain neighbors came and helped the men fight the fire, and one of our honduran assistants squeezed my hand...a squeeze that said "God will take care of us."
I am so thankful for the past few days, and the reminders that came with them. Thank you all so much for your prayers, encouragment and just being my friends and family! I'M SO THANKFUL FOR YOU ALL!!!!!!!
P.S. on a funny note ... :) ....the past few days because there not have only been fires near us, but in other areas on the mountains surrounding us..we have now decide we know what it's like to be either living IN a campfire, or you can describe the feeling as being at a campfire 24/7 because you are breathing in thick smoke, thinking you cannot see because it's so "smokey," and waking up in the night to cough out the smoke in your lungs....and having your clothes smell campfire-y allllll the time!! ha!
Thank you all so much for your prayers the past few days as we have had extremely dangerous fires threatening our homes and ranch for abandoned kids. For those who don't know, we had to evacuate all women and kids monday night overnight because of how dangerous the fire was. We came back tuesday, only to have another big fire threaten us tuesday night. We all stayed here that time, though. Many of us prayed and asked you, our friends, to pray with us for RAIN. And rain it did, last night....just enough to put the smoke down, and help simmer the fires down. THANK YOU for your faithful prayers and emails throughout all of this.
I would think that this would be a scary time here. And yes, some kids were scared, and yes, some of us adults had a rough night of sleep monday night wondering what was going to happen to our homes, our "things," and our ranch...eventually though all we could do was give it to our Lord and know HE was in control of every little spark and flame. Throughout the entire situation, I really felt the peace of God pass through me, for which i am soo thankful. I now also definitely understand what it means when we are told to pray with faith...anticipating that God WILL do what IS BEST. I just had this feeling He would let it rain....and HE DID!!! Last night, while many, many people were pleading with God for rain...it rained!!! THANK YOU JESUS!!! I don't know that i will ever be able to describe the feeling of awe i had as i looked up to the skylight in our home and heard the raindrops on the tin roof. I LOVE RAIN :) even more now!
Hopefully the fires will continue to die down. Please continue to pray for us, and for our surrounding mountain neighbors....who don't have barely anything BUT a clay home. We had such a feeling of "family" here at the ranch when this all happened. We women and kids were saying goodbye to the men and teenage boys praying that God would keep us ALL safe in His hands. Our mountain neighbors came and helped the men fight the fire, and one of our honduran assistants squeezed my hand...a squeeze that said "God will take care of us."
I am so thankful for the past few days, and the reminders that came with them. Thank you all so much for your prayers, encouragment and just being my friends and family! I'M SO THANKFUL FOR YOU ALL!!!!!!!
P.S. on a funny note ... :) ....the past few days because there not have only been fires near us, but in other areas on the mountains surrounding us..we have now decide we know what it's like to be either living IN a campfire, or you can describe the feeling as being at a campfire 24/7 because you are breathing in thick smoke, thinking you cannot see because it's so "smokey," and waking up in the night to cough out the smoke in your lungs....and having your clothes smell campfire-y allllll the time!! ha!
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Catching up...and trying to do better at blogging!
I have decided, after being able to "re-connect" with many people by searching through blogspot (thanks to people who put their friends links on their pages!) , that i really should keep up with bloggin better. I'm just so bad already with some emailing and stuff...but hey at least i'm letting you all know that i'll try!
Life has been real busy lately here in Honduras, as I am (and my boss is) trying to squeeze me into as many houses as possible before i head to the states on furlough! 16 days till furlough! Can you believe it?! I'm really excited to get back and visit friends and fam. Espessially the 2 cute little ones in the following pics...members of the Wager family who have been born since i moved here!
Life has been real busy lately here in Honduras, as I am (and my boss is) trying to squeeze me into as many houses as possible before i head to the states on furlough! 16 days till furlough! Can you believe it?! I'm really excited to get back and visit friends and fam. Espessially the 2 cute little ones in the following pics...members of the Wager family who have been born since i moved here!
Bekah, daughter of Scott and Kara (Wager) Wessman
Joshy, son of Josh and Julie Wager
That's all for now. If you actually read this blog, i'd love to hear a comment from you, just so i know someone is reading it!! Thanks!
Joshy, son of Josh and Julie WagerNeedless to say i'm nearly jumping out of my skin to meet these precious kiddos!
For spring break i was able to visit the north shore of honduras, again, and it has quickly become one of my favorite places to spend some relaxing vacation days! This trip i was able to coordinate for all of the teachers and i to go on. It included lots of details, and for those who know me well, know that's not a strong point. But it is definitely a growing point! It was fun, renting our own van, driving up 6 hours north, and discovering a very cute (and cheap! ya!) hotel right on the ocean owned by a Christian couple! (God works in some cool ways, btw).
Me in La Ceiba for few much needed days to rest!
Me in La Ceiba for few much needed days to rest!
I also want to add a tribute to a very dear professor and friend of mine who passed away last April (2007). She was my Family Life Studies professor at Focus on the Family Inst. and became a very dear mentor and friend in the lives of many of us students, including me. You would have to fight to get to her door to sign up for a spot just to chat with her for an hour! They filled up in a snap. Sheryl DeWitt was an excellent example of a women who loved God, and loved others. These were her top priorities, and anyone who walked into her life, even knowing her for 2 min. could know this. I was devestated to hear when she was diagnosed with cancer while she was our professor...because of surgeries was unable to finish teaching our class. Then in April, when we all thought she still had at least a few months left (and many of us, who knew sheryl and knew her strength wanted to believe she had more ...that she would pull thru this), she passed away in April (2007). We know she is dancing with the Ultimate love of her life, our Lord. Please take a minute to pray for her own family, and also her family from Focus.
Sheryl DeWitt....I miss you so much!
Sheryl DeWitt....I miss you so much!Wednesday, January 16, 2008
snobby spiders
I have come to realize that sometimes things can be scary the first time you see them...then you get used to them for awhile (but they are still a little scary)...then you start laughing about it as you continue to see them...and then you just get mad....scared....and don't want to EVER deal with it again! This is how i feel about SPIDERS. I'll admit...spiders are the one thing that really creep me out....just give me the shivers all over.
For about a month now, we have been catching spiders in our house...and not only are they spiders but they are BIG ...foreign country kind of spiders. Big...creepy...crawly...long legged...crazy design on their back kind of brown spiders. I will post a picture sometime maybe...but they move fast so i'm not sure i'll ever get one.
Anyways...tonight we saw/found another spider. Or i should say the spider found me....ON MY BED NEXT TO MY PILLOW. the little turd. How dare he. Soo...i called in my roommate for some back up and she got very creeped out also. You would too if you saw how really creepy these spiders are. So we went and got a jar (our usual way to kill them...because smashing them would just leave guts all over the place). My first attempt failed....and the spider dissapeared in the blink of an eye. We moved my mattress and there was the little guy. We discussed a plan...and realized we probably only had one more chance before this snob got away for good and i would be sleeping in a different room...defeated. So we called in more back up....our 3rd roommate. She pulled the mattress (i don't sleep on a bed..only mattresses)....abby shown the flashlight on him....and i held the jar to capture him. 1.....2......3......GOT IT.
The snob of a spider is in a jar right now. These kinds of spiders, we've found, take about 3 days or so to suffocate so it has a few miserable days ahead of him. But he deserves it...HE WAS ON MY BED!
Moral of the story: I hate spiders. Espessially this kind....i think they are poison but we aren't sure. If i never see another one in my life i will be fine!
For about a month now, we have been catching spiders in our house...and not only are they spiders but they are BIG ...foreign country kind of spiders. Big...creepy...crawly...long legged...crazy design on their back kind of brown spiders. I will post a picture sometime maybe...but they move fast so i'm not sure i'll ever get one.
Anyways...tonight we saw/found another spider. Or i should say the spider found me....ON MY BED NEXT TO MY PILLOW. the little turd. How dare he. Soo...i called in my roommate for some back up and she got very creeped out also. You would too if you saw how really creepy these spiders are. So we went and got a jar (our usual way to kill them...because smashing them would just leave guts all over the place). My first attempt failed....and the spider dissapeared in the blink of an eye. We moved my mattress and there was the little guy. We discussed a plan...and realized we probably only had one more chance before this snob got away for good and i would be sleeping in a different room...defeated. So we called in more back up....our 3rd roommate. She pulled the mattress (i don't sleep on a bed..only mattresses)....abby shown the flashlight on him....and i held the jar to capture him. 1.....2......3......GOT IT.
The snob of a spider is in a jar right now. These kinds of spiders, we've found, take about 3 days or so to suffocate so it has a few miserable days ahead of him. But he deserves it...HE WAS ON MY BED!
Moral of the story: I hate spiders. Espessially this kind....i think they are poison but we aren't sure. If i never see another one in my life i will be fine!
Sunday, October 21, 2007
God works in holy ways :)
Sooo this is a very random story....but it has a fun pun so thought i'd share..
Yesterday was visitation that the kids get to have with their families once a month in the city. So we loaded up all the vans and headed to the city for visitation...and i went with a bag for the weekend, as some of my city friends had invited me to stay at their place for the night, so i didn't have to come back to the ranch saturday night, and back in again to the city on Sunday. So, i was all packed to stay for the night. Well, i was sitting at visitation with 2 house moms, and was holding one of our cute as a pumpkin new baby's (david). Well, the bench i was sitting on isn't your typical wood or metal bench...it had a casing and then wire that you sat on. As i went to get up, i heard a big RRRRIIIIPPP . And immediately sat back down, knowing fully that something had just ripped in my jeans......my favorite jeans (the metal casing around the bench had caught my jeans just perfectly and didn't want to let them go!). I handed the baby off to someone else, and felt the hole, that i had now clear in the backside of my favorite jeans!! One of the house mom's....who doesn't speak a lick of english...but could tell from the sticky situation i was in, that i would need her jacket....so i took her jacket...and tied it around my waste. Thankfully...i had my weekend bag, and a change of clothes (that was supposed to be for sunday).
Well, now i was changed....and not so hole-y. But now my predicament was what i would wear for Sunday....oh well....just a good excuse to go shopping right?!? :) Well, it actually ended up that it didn't work out for me to spend the night at my friends house because of many reasons....
.....So my theory on how God works in hole-y ways....is that God knew beforehand that it wouldn't work out for me to stay in the city overnight...but he ALSO knew that I would need an extra set of pants that day :)
Hope you all are doing great....and enjoyed a laugh with me as God played a little joke on me yesterday :)
Yesterday was visitation that the kids get to have with their families once a month in the city. So we loaded up all the vans and headed to the city for visitation...and i went with a bag for the weekend, as some of my city friends had invited me to stay at their place for the night, so i didn't have to come back to the ranch saturday night, and back in again to the city on Sunday. So, i was all packed to stay for the night. Well, i was sitting at visitation with 2 house moms, and was holding one of our cute as a pumpkin new baby's (david). Well, the bench i was sitting on isn't your typical wood or metal bench...it had a casing and then wire that you sat on. As i went to get up, i heard a big RRRRIIIIPPP . And immediately sat back down, knowing fully that something had just ripped in my jeans......my favorite jeans (the metal casing around the bench had caught my jeans just perfectly and didn't want to let them go!). I handed the baby off to someone else, and felt the hole, that i had now clear in the backside of my favorite jeans!! One of the house mom's....who doesn't speak a lick of english...but could tell from the sticky situation i was in, that i would need her jacket....so i took her jacket...and tied it around my waste. Thankfully...i had my weekend bag, and a change of clothes (that was supposed to be for sunday).
Well, now i was changed....and not so hole-y. But now my predicament was what i would wear for Sunday....oh well....just a good excuse to go shopping right?!? :) Well, it actually ended up that it didn't work out for me to spend the night at my friends house because of many reasons....
.....So my theory on how God works in hole-y ways....is that God knew beforehand that it wouldn't work out for me to stay in the city overnight...but he ALSO knew that I would need an extra set of pants that day :)
Hope you all are doing great....and enjoyed a laugh with me as God played a little joke on me yesterday :)
Monday, September 24, 2007
Another month gone by....
...and life is still great, and God is still good. I have become so aware of the constant-ness of our God. Things all around you can be changing...people can change, people can think you change, you can't count on things always going the way you think they will....but you know for sure without a doubt that God will always be God, and will always do right...whether or not you agree!
That's my random thought of today :)
I can't believe it has been a month since i wrote on here last. I think months go by so quickly for me because half of the weeks are taken up by me being in homes relief parenting...which i continue to love, and am getting very comfortable doing.
Again, I am working on doing another newsletter...i may switch my newsletters from being monthly to every other month...but am still deciding about that.
This weekend i spent Saturday night at the Bridge House, in teguz. That is the place where our kids go when they turn 18...where they learn to budget, and live on their own....kinda like a college dorm....with one set of "house parents." But they are more like RA's then house parents. Anyways...i had gotten to know one of the girls here at the ranch before she moved and so i spent the night hanging out with her etc... It was fun. And then Sunday was able to spend some time with my other friends in teguz...and then go to church all together. Man, my church refreshes me sooo much. I should say the Lord has really used my church and the people there to be so refreshing for me. But i sure am thankful and i look forward to going every sunday.
Yesterday (sunday) i actually got a call while in the city telling me that i may not be able to make it back to the ranch, because the river was way to high. Let me back up...there is a river that we have to cross on teh way to the ranch...we have to cross it twice actually...and there is no bridge. Think more in terms like Oregon trail when you have to decide if you are going to ford the river, or caulk your wagon and float :) haha. Well, last night, we decided to make an attempt across...and thankfully our "wagon" didn't tip over or flood :) It was a bumpy ride because we have gotten SO much rain this rainy season so far..which is the reason for the overflowing river, and saturated ground. BUT it has lead to some really fun mud wrestling/mud throwing fights up on the soccer field :) muah hah ha.
Okay...i need to get going to go and teach ..ciao for now!!
i LOVE emails : sarainhonduras@gmail.com
That's my random thought of today :)
I can't believe it has been a month since i wrote on here last. I think months go by so quickly for me because half of the weeks are taken up by me being in homes relief parenting...which i continue to love, and am getting very comfortable doing.
Again, I am working on doing another newsletter...i may switch my newsletters from being monthly to every other month...but am still deciding about that.
This weekend i spent Saturday night at the Bridge House, in teguz. That is the place where our kids go when they turn 18...where they learn to budget, and live on their own....kinda like a college dorm....with one set of "house parents." But they are more like RA's then house parents. Anyways...i had gotten to know one of the girls here at the ranch before she moved and so i spent the night hanging out with her etc... It was fun. And then Sunday was able to spend some time with my other friends in teguz...and then go to church all together. Man, my church refreshes me sooo much. I should say the Lord has really used my church and the people there to be so refreshing for me. But i sure am thankful and i look forward to going every sunday.
Yesterday (sunday) i actually got a call while in the city telling me that i may not be able to make it back to the ranch, because the river was way to high. Let me back up...there is a river that we have to cross on teh way to the ranch...we have to cross it twice actually...and there is no bridge. Think more in terms like Oregon trail when you have to decide if you are going to ford the river, or caulk your wagon and float :) haha. Well, last night, we decided to make an attempt across...and thankfully our "wagon" didn't tip over or flood :) It was a bumpy ride because we have gotten SO much rain this rainy season so far..which is the reason for the overflowing river, and saturated ground. BUT it has lead to some really fun mud wrestling/mud throwing fights up on the soccer field :) muah hah ha.
Okay...i need to get going to go and teach ..ciao for now!!
i LOVE emails : sarainhonduras@gmail.com
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
what up
Well, i figured it'd been awhile since i've written a blog on here :) It's been pretty crazy busy, and i was trying to get my newsletter out. Which, by the way, if you read this, and do not get my newsletter let me know because that will recap the month for you! Comment on here if you need my email addy, also.
I am now finished with my 3 weeks of substitute teaching for the 5th/6th grade, and all Bible classes 5th grade through 12th grade. The whole teaching thing was quite the experience for me ...the "non-teacher." :) I had to decorate my room, come up with 3 different Bible cirriculums and figure out how to do the whole lesson plan thing...crazy :) I'm glad there's people out there who thrive on doing that stuff. It's not that i didn't enjoy my time teaching...i did! But it was because of being able to be with the kids all day :) I'm glad there are those of you who throughly enjoy all of it and have the creativity and patience! Blessings on you! I do enjoy subbing though.
The ranch will soon have 3 or 4 more little munchkins runnin' around...that's right, we are expanding our Ranch Family, and taking in a few more kids! YAY!!!! I cannot wait till they get here...we are just waiting on paperwork and details like that! I've gotten to meet them and they are stinken CUTE! Once they get here, i will be helping out in the kindergarten, as one of the new girls will only know spanish, so i will be working with her, and helping her in learning her english, and helping out wherever else is needed in the room.
Right now I am in the house of 5 boys that i relief parent for every month. This month i am here for an extended stay of 8 days, to give the house-parents an extended time off. I will be tired at the end as the boys are VERY hyper, but i love them all and it will be a great stay. (ages range from 3-12).
So hurricane dean never hit us head on (thank you Jesus). It was very near us though. It makes you really realize that God is in control of all...whether or not it hit us was God's decision...and i am thankful that we could be at peace with that!
I continue to go to 2 churches every sunday...one spanish and one english. And love them both! I have slowly been able to meet more people my age so that when i go to church, i have been able to fellowship with them too, which has been so great and so refreshing!
Okay...ciao for now....leave comments....oh yeah..by the way....the flies are getting a little better :)
I am now finished with my 3 weeks of substitute teaching for the 5th/6th grade, and all Bible classes 5th grade through 12th grade. The whole teaching thing was quite the experience for me ...the "non-teacher." :) I had to decorate my room, come up with 3 different Bible cirriculums and figure out how to do the whole lesson plan thing...crazy :) I'm glad there's people out there who thrive on doing that stuff. It's not that i didn't enjoy my time teaching...i did! But it was because of being able to be with the kids all day :) I'm glad there are those of you who throughly enjoy all of it and have the creativity and patience! Blessings on you! I do enjoy subbing though.
The ranch will soon have 3 or 4 more little munchkins runnin' around...that's right, we are expanding our Ranch Family, and taking in a few more kids! YAY!!!! I cannot wait till they get here...we are just waiting on paperwork and details like that! I've gotten to meet them and they are stinken CUTE! Once they get here, i will be helping out in the kindergarten, as one of the new girls will only know spanish, so i will be working with her, and helping her in learning her english, and helping out wherever else is needed in the room.
Right now I am in the house of 5 boys that i relief parent for every month. This month i am here for an extended stay of 8 days, to give the house-parents an extended time off. I will be tired at the end as the boys are VERY hyper, but i love them all and it will be a great stay. (ages range from 3-12).
So hurricane dean never hit us head on (thank you Jesus). It was very near us though. It makes you really realize that God is in control of all...whether or not it hit us was God's decision...and i am thankful that we could be at peace with that!
I continue to go to 2 churches every sunday...one spanish and one english. And love them both! I have slowly been able to meet more people my age so that when i go to church, i have been able to fellowship with them too, which has been so great and so refreshing!
Okay...ciao for now....leave comments....oh yeah..by the way....the flies are getting a little better :)
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