In The Aftermath

My heart aches for the thousands, millions, of people who are homeless, and hurting in the southeast. I've watched for hours the heartbreak, the desperation, the wanting of people just to know what is happening with them. My heart aches for the way of life that will never again be the way it was. The areas I visited two years ago on vacation are desemated and forever changed. What was once an on ramp for I-10 is down a launching ramp for boats on search and rescue missions. The grand homes that represented the grand and regal past of Mississippi's past are dwindled down to nothing more than fire kindling. My very soul aches for the souls that are stuck in hospitals without electricity or running water, and not knowing where there families are. I'm lost for words and emotions for them. They will be in my prayers.

It's Saturday night and the end of a tumultuous week. It's been challenging.
In a couple of incidences, I've had to decide what was important to me.
I've had to be someone I don't really like.
I've had to be broken and hurt by people I don't really like to be hurt by.
I've had to evalaute why I do things.

I dont' really like these weeks, because I don't really like to change and stretch and grow over things like this. I prefer the growth the requires trying new breeds of coffee at Starbuck's, or a new restaurant in town, or going to a friends house without directions for the first time. But, with the help of the ever wise, and insightful Beth Moore, the woman who has the red-direct line to God-woman, this is the only way my faith and my walk will ever grow into the walk I want it to be. Until then, I won't be the person God wants me to be; thus, I won't be the person I want to be.

I feel like I'm in an awarkward situation--the type where the gym teacher expects you to dance with the boy you have a crush on, and you suddenly develop the world's worst case of sweaty palms. The weird part is, I don't know why I feel this way. Hopefully, I'll figure it all out one day. Joy told me today that she is probably going to Brazil in October on a medical missions trip. I'm excited for her--honestly. I just wish that I could go on something like this. I just don't know how to find out about, get in touch with people who know about such things. I've just been feeling so frustrated and anxious lately.

Pray for me. More importantly, pray for my friend, Judy. She found out on Thursday that she has colon cancer. She's had many health scares this year, and is very discouraged. I love ya'll.

Love and Miracles

I'm doing a Beth Moore study with Joy and Michelle--Believing God. She's trying to teach us about faith and trusting God,and Believing Him--not just IN Him. I'm learning alot. Ron says that we should be transparent, so, I'm going to be.

The main part of my walk that I struggle with the most is not having a "significant other" (S.O. as we referred to it nursing school). When I look at my life, it seems as though that is the only thing that is missing. The boy. However, I finished reading Francine Rivers' book Redeeming Love last week and I learned so much from it. I learned that the kind of love and life that I want does exist out there. That is the kind of love that God ordained for us to have and to strive for--a living example of his love for us. Unconditional; forgiving; never-ending; giving, never taking; pure; unassuming; a kind of love that may take a while to surface. If this is what God has wating on me, I just pray that I have the patience to wait for and to not settle for something less than what is in his plan.

The second is miracles. Being in the health care field it is sometimes hard for me to say that something is a "miracle". I tend to be skeptical about it. But, every once in a while something will pop up that makes me wonder and sets me in awe. Praise God for 2 of His most recent miracles. My friends Jon and Brandi Fugate reported last week that an expected mother's child has been healed from multiple brain cysts that were threatening her life. And Heather Hagood's grandmother has been healed again from breast cancer. To steal the line from Heather--He parted the Red Sea again. Praise Him!!

Los Angeles

I finally went on a road trip with my friends. Michelle, Joy, and I went to Los Angeles last week. We flew out of Tampa on Monday the first and spent seven glorious days in sunny, hot, dry southern California. Michelle's sister, Deanna, lives there and she was gracious enough to let 3 crazy girls crash with her for a week. We visited all of the required touristy spots--Mullholland Drive and the Hollywood sighn, Grauman's Chinese Theatre, the Kodak Theatre, and Hollywood Blvd, Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive, the Santa Monica pier and the 3rd St. Promenade, we hiked in the Westlake area on a trail called Paradise Falls. Just to name a few.

We made bead bracelets for our Beth Moore study and relaxed at the pool reading various books that we have passed between the 3 of us at least once already. We ate off of each other's plates in a way that some may consider grotesquely. We at fabulous restaruants like the Cheesecake Factory and Benni Hanna's and P.F. Changs, and CPK ( California Pizza Kitchen for all of you eastcoasters). We made new friends and rebonded as old friends. People that were acquantainces are now good friends. The proof are the blackmailish pictures of us sleeping at various points on the plane rides.

Chelle put it the best way--we are a crew. Watch out Traveling Pant Girls and Brazil--here we come!!!!