When I was eleven-ish, I started working in my church's nursery and got
super attached to his one little girl. She couldn't even walk yet. If I
walked into the nursery and didn't pick her up right away she would
have a fit. She and her brother (he's 18 months older) were the first
kids I ever baby-sat.
I'm not really sure how it worked out, but I found her on Facebook the other day. She is about to turn 17. 17! That's ridiculous! She's going to be a Senior! Her brother will be 19 in Jan.
Yikes...30 is rapidly approaching.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Sweet times...
Ok...I know this won't really make sense to anyone who reads it. Mostly, I know this because I don't understand it and I'm the one living through it. But, I'm going to say it anyway 'cause...well, 'cause its my blog and writing helps me process things. Anywho...
I'm homesick. And that doesn't make sense because I'm home...I'm here in Snellville at the church and among the friends and families that I dearly love; the people without whose influence, I would not be who I am. And, yet, I'm homesick. I'm homesick for a place in which I have never lived. In fact, it is a place I've only visited for a total of 12 days over two trips. You know that MercyMe song 'Homesick,' with the line: "If home is where my heart is, then I'm out of place"? (Click the link for full lyrics) Yeah...that's how I feel right now.
But! I do now finally have a cd with a bunch of pictures on it that I want to share with whoever may read this. I'm not in very many pictures from the trip, though, because I was separate from the team about half the time we were in Ambato and I only took about 4 pictures myself. But, ya'll don't wanna see me anyway. :)
If we talked at all after my trip to Ecuador last year, you doubtless heard about a pastor's wife I met named Jenni. This is she and I moments after we saw each other again this year. I treasure this woman...her friendship and encouragement. Lord willing, when I live in Ecuador I will work with her developing women's discipleship programs in her church...its one of the greatest desires of my heart! I have some really sweet stories of Jenni from this year's trip...not the least of which being when she sat with me, held my hand and brushed my hair when I was really sick!
Look at him, all GQ. :) That's Jonhattan, he's the pastor we work with in Ambato. One Grace missionary family has known him for probably 10 years, since he was in seminary in Texas...we've actually been working with him for 6 or 7, I think. His wife Yvonne and sister in law, Patty (Efraim's mom) are two of my better friends in Ambato. I can't wait to be able to sit under his teaching and be a part of his ministry on a more long-term basis!
Meet my shadow, Alison. :) I don't want this to sound prideful, but at the school in Ambato I was a rock star. Pretty much if I stepped onto the property I had kids all over me like this...but usually there were hordes of them. And this is the sweet girl that started it all. Really, if I was on the school grounds, she knew about it and she was as close to me as the school staff would let her be...it was a sixth sense or something...she could always find me. I'm pretty sure she was also the leader of the gang that tried to pull open the stall door one day when I was in the bathroom. She is such a sweet little girl! Always, always, always had hugs for whoever was willing to receieve them. Every night she sat through the small group discussion time holding my hand or laying her head on my shoulder. The last night, she clung to me like she is in this picture, but she was crying as we all sang 'Tu Eres Todo' to end the service and our time in Ambato.
Ok...so I have about a gazillion more pictures...I need to organize them and my stories better before I post more...but I will post more. Stay tuned. :)
I'm homesick. And that doesn't make sense because I'm home...I'm here in Snellville at the church and among the friends and families that I dearly love; the people without whose influence, I would not be who I am. And, yet, I'm homesick. I'm homesick for a place in which I have never lived. In fact, it is a place I've only visited for a total of 12 days over two trips. You know that MercyMe song 'Homesick,' with the line: "If home is where my heart is, then I'm out of place"? (Click the link for full lyrics) Yeah...that's how I feel right now.
But! I do now finally have a cd with a bunch of pictures on it that I want to share with whoever may read this. I'm not in very many pictures from the trip, though, because I was separate from the team about half the time we were in Ambato and I only took about 4 pictures myself. But, ya'll don't wanna see me anyway. :)
If we talked at all after my trip to Ecuador last year, you doubtless heard about a pastor's wife I met named Jenni. This is she and I moments after we saw each other again this year. I treasure this woman...her friendship and encouragement. Lord willing, when I live in Ecuador I will work with her developing women's discipleship programs in her church...its one of the greatest desires of my heart! I have some really sweet stories of Jenni from this year's trip...not the least of which being when she sat with me, held my hand and brushed my hair when I was really sick!
Look at him, all GQ. :) That's Jonhattan, he's the pastor we work with in Ambato. One Grace missionary family has known him for probably 10 years, since he was in seminary in Texas...we've actually been working with him for 6 or 7, I think. His wife Yvonne and sister in law, Patty (Efraim's mom) are two of my better friends in Ambato. I can't wait to be able to sit under his teaching and be a part of his ministry on a more long-term basis!
Meet my shadow, Alison. :) I don't want this to sound prideful, but at the school in Ambato I was a rock star. Pretty much if I stepped onto the property I had kids all over me like this...but usually there were hordes of them. And this is the sweet girl that started it all. Really, if I was on the school grounds, she knew about it and she was as close to me as the school staff would let her be...it was a sixth sense or something...she could always find me. I'm pretty sure she was also the leader of the gang that tried to pull open the stall door one day when I was in the bathroom. She is such a sweet little girl! Always, always, always had hugs for whoever was willing to receieve them. Every night she sat through the small group discussion time holding my hand or laying her head on my shoulder. The last night, she clung to me like she is in this picture, but she was crying as we all sang 'Tu Eres Todo' to end the service and our time in Ambato.
Ok...so I have about a gazillion more pictures...I need to organize them and my stories better before I post more...but I will post more. Stay tuned. :)
Friday, July 20, 2007
Not Guilty Anymore
It doesn't matter what you've done;
It doesn't matter where you're coming from
Doesn't matter where you've been,
Hear me tell you I forgive
You're not guilty anymore
You're not filthy anymore,
I love you, mercy is yours
You're not broken anymore
You're not captive anymore
I love you, mercy is yours
Can you believe that this is true,
Grace abundant I am giving you
Cleansing deeper than you know,
All was paid for long ago
There is now therefore no condemnation
For those who are in Jesus
You're not guilty anymore
You're not filthy anymore,
I love you, mercy is yours
You're not broken anymore
You're not captive anymore
I love you, mercy is yours
You are spotless, you are holy
You are faultless, you are whole
You are righteous, you are blameless
You are pardoned, you are mine
~Aaron Keyes and Andy Lehman
It doesn't matter where you're coming from
Doesn't matter where you've been,
Hear me tell you I forgive
You're not guilty anymore
You're not filthy anymore,
I love you, mercy is yours
You're not broken anymore
You're not captive anymore
I love you, mercy is yours
Can you believe that this is true,
Grace abundant I am giving you
Cleansing deeper than you know,
All was paid for long ago
There is now therefore no condemnation
For those who are in Jesus
You're not guilty anymore
You're not filthy anymore,
I love you, mercy is yours
You're not broken anymore
You're not captive anymore
I love you, mercy is yours
You are spotless, you are holy
You are faultless, you are whole
You are righteous, you are blameless
You are pardoned, you are mine
~Aaron Keyes and Andy Lehman
Thursday, July 12, 2007
ICRS
So, this week is the ICRS (the International Christian Retail Show) sponsored by CBA (the Christian Booksellers Association, or something like that) and because I am a book-buyer at the Christian book store where I work, I got to go to a bunch of stuff. (I'm a book-buyer, who knew???)
So, Sunday night was the first night and there was this "thing" sponsored by INO Records and Provident-Integrity Distribution (another record company) called "An Evening with MercyMe." And I got to go. I got to hang out with MercyMe and, maybe, 30 other people. Stinkin awesome.
I am totally one of those fans who has a story about a song (which is part of the reason I got to go). If you know me well at all, you know that from the day I was born until the day she died, my grandmother was my very best friend in the ENTIRE world. The day she died was the first time I heard 'I Can Only Imagine.' (Christy and Leese, if you read this, ya'll were there!) Six weeks later, I left for my year at the BI. I bought the MercyMe CD shortly after and there were days, literally, where I would leave campus and just drive around listening to that song 8 or 10 times in a row just to get through the day. So, to get to hang with the band and talk to Bart Millard...and hear them sing some of the stuff from their new album (All That is Within Me, due out November 20) was incredible.
The actual retail show started on Monday and I got to go down and do book-buyer type stuff. Actually, we had recently met with most of our publisher reps so we didn't order a whole lot of books and I'm not really sure why I was there...but I had a lot of fun! I got to meet a lot of people, too...Mandisa from American Idol, Karen Kingsbury, Monk and Neagle (they sang at my church a couple years ago so it was cool to see them again).
There was a seminar yesterday for a new service I'm in the process of signing the store up for so I got to go back. The seminar was LAME...mostly because it was a users meeting to discuss the service and since we don't have it yet, I really had no idea what they were talking about...I'm sure it was profitable for people who did know. I did get to meet more people, though...Randy Alcorn, Norm Geisler.
Last night Erwin McManus did an event where he spoke on the stuff from his latest book Soul Cravings. He was amazing...I'm excited about getting my hands on some of his podcasts and DVDs.
All in all...a fun week...but I'm exhausted!
So, Sunday night was the first night and there was this "thing" sponsored by INO Records and Provident-Integrity Distribution (another record company) called "An Evening with MercyMe." And I got to go. I got to hang out with MercyMe and, maybe, 30 other people. Stinkin awesome.
I am totally one of those fans who has a story about a song (which is part of the reason I got to go). If you know me well at all, you know that from the day I was born until the day she died, my grandmother was my very best friend in the ENTIRE world. The day she died was the first time I heard 'I Can Only Imagine.' (Christy and Leese, if you read this, ya'll were there!) Six weeks later, I left for my year at the BI. I bought the MercyMe CD shortly after and there were days, literally, where I would leave campus and just drive around listening to that song 8 or 10 times in a row just to get through the day. So, to get to hang with the band and talk to Bart Millard...and hear them sing some of the stuff from their new album (All That is Within Me, due out November 20) was incredible.
The actual retail show started on Monday and I got to go down and do book-buyer type stuff. Actually, we had recently met with most of our publisher reps so we didn't order a whole lot of books and I'm not really sure why I was there...but I had a lot of fun! I got to meet a lot of people, too...Mandisa from American Idol, Karen Kingsbury, Monk and Neagle (they sang at my church a couple years ago so it was cool to see them again).
There was a seminar yesterday for a new service I'm in the process of signing the store up for so I got to go back. The seminar was LAME...mostly because it was a users meeting to discuss the service and since we don't have it yet, I really had no idea what they were talking about...I'm sure it was profitable for people who did know. I did get to meet more people, though...Randy Alcorn, Norm Geisler.
Last night Erwin McManus did an event where he spoke on the stuff from his latest book Soul Cravings. He was amazing...I'm excited about getting my hands on some of his podcasts and DVDs.
All in all...a fun week...but I'm exhausted!
Friday, July 6, 2007
Food...
Food...I love it!
I also find it interesting that the most adventurous thing I ate in Ecuador (this year--and I have to qualify it as this year...last year I ate guinea pig) was a pack of cookies purchased at a filling station on the side of the Pan-American Highway...but I've not quite been home two weeks and I had my first real experience with Sushi tonight. (Shout out to E-bags...thanks, friend.)
And I LOVED it.
I was born in a seaside town--a seafood town--lived for 5 years in another seafood town, lived on the coast of England (fish and chips, mate?) for two years and grew up in Florida and only just in the last year or so started eating cooked fish. But, I am willing to eat just about anything once (ie: guinea pig, although I've eaten that twice...in two different countries). I decided to give the octopus a shot (seriously) and don't particularly feel like I need to give it another one. It wasn't bad exactly, but a little tough...not so much pleasant to chew. The rest of the sushi, though, was amazing...even if the restaurant is a little sketch given its location...right next to the gas station. Hmmm...I ate raw fish in a restaurant attached to a gas station.
It seems I have an aversion to food from gas stations.
Furthermore, what does it say about my life that I just wrote an entire post about my dinner tonight.
Hmmm...I think its safe to say I totally need to get out more.
In other news, I miss my friends in Ecuador...no big surprise there. :) I think I miss them more today than usual because I know that a team from Marietta left today to spend a week in the same place, basically doing the same thing we did. They are with my friends. I did send a letter and some pictures down to Patty with them so hopefully I'll hear from soon.
Good night, all!
I also find it interesting that the most adventurous thing I ate in Ecuador (this year--and I have to qualify it as this year...last year I ate guinea pig) was a pack of cookies purchased at a filling station on the side of the Pan-American Highway...but I've not quite been home two weeks and I had my first real experience with Sushi tonight. (Shout out to E-bags...thanks, friend.)
And I LOVED it.
I was born in a seaside town--a seafood town--lived for 5 years in another seafood town, lived on the coast of England (fish and chips, mate?) for two years and grew up in Florida and only just in the last year or so started eating cooked fish. But, I am willing to eat just about anything once (ie: guinea pig, although I've eaten that twice...in two different countries). I decided to give the octopus a shot (seriously) and don't particularly feel like I need to give it another one. It wasn't bad exactly, but a little tough...not so much pleasant to chew. The rest of the sushi, though, was amazing...even if the restaurant is a little sketch given its location...right next to the gas station. Hmmm...I ate raw fish in a restaurant attached to a gas station.
It seems I have an aversion to food from gas stations.
Furthermore, what does it say about my life that I just wrote an entire post about my dinner tonight.
Hmmm...I think its safe to say I totally need to get out more.
In other news, I miss my friends in Ecuador...no big surprise there. :) I think I miss them more today than usual because I know that a team from Marietta left today to spend a week in the same place, basically doing the same thing we did. They are with my friends. I did send a letter and some pictures down to Patty with them so hopefully I'll hear from soon.
Good night, all!
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Mis Amigos en Ecuador
Ok...I've figured out this picture thing, so here you go...
I seriously, only took 4 pictures the entire time I was in Ecuador...not like me, I know, but the truth. So, I'll have to post pictures slowly as I get them from other people. For tonight, two pictures of two of my favorite people in the world!
This is my boy, Efraim. I spent a lot of time with him during that week. He is so sweet! We were buddies all week...he mostly made fun of me because I can't whistle and he can. The night we said goodbye to our friends in Ambato, he told his mom that he wants to marry me and that he didn't want me to leave him. Yeah, its a pretty fair accusation to say that he stole my heart!
My very special friend, Patty...and Efraim's mom. My Ecuador experience was a little different than most of the rest of the team...in the mornings, our team went to a new church property to paint while I stayed at the school and taught/hung out with the kids there. There were different ladies (from our team) with me each day, but I was the only one who stayed every day...and Patty was the translator that stayed at the school with us, so I spent a great deal of time with Patty. As much as I could, Patty and I would speak in Spanish which I think made her more comfortable. For whatever reason, the Lord saw fit for us to really hit it off. Patty and I had a lot of time to talk about our lives and families and I feel like if I had stayed longer we would have ended up being really good friends.
I miss these two so much! I would love to be able to pick up the phone and just call her to see how they're doing...but I can't!
I feel like I'm getting more settled back into my life now than I was when we first got back...and I'm ready to get back to my journal and finishing writing about the trip. Then I can go back through and write more specifics about the trip on here...and hopefully soon I'll have some more pictures to share!
I seriously, only took 4 pictures the entire time I was in Ecuador...not like me, I know, but the truth. So, I'll have to post pictures slowly as I get them from other people. For tonight, two pictures of two of my favorite people in the world!
This is my boy, Efraim. I spent a lot of time with him during that week. He is so sweet! We were buddies all week...he mostly made fun of me because I can't whistle and he can. The night we said goodbye to our friends in Ambato, he told his mom that he wants to marry me and that he didn't want me to leave him. Yeah, its a pretty fair accusation to say that he stole my heart!
My very special friend, Patty...and Efraim's mom. My Ecuador experience was a little different than most of the rest of the team...in the mornings, our team went to a new church property to paint while I stayed at the school and taught/hung out with the kids there. There were different ladies (from our team) with me each day, but I was the only one who stayed every day...and Patty was the translator that stayed at the school with us, so I spent a great deal of time with Patty. As much as I could, Patty and I would speak in Spanish which I think made her more comfortable. For whatever reason, the Lord saw fit for us to really hit it off. Patty and I had a lot of time to talk about our lives and families and I feel like if I had stayed longer we would have ended up being really good friends.
I miss these two so much! I would love to be able to pick up the phone and just call her to see how they're doing...but I can't!
I feel like I'm getting more settled back into my life now than I was when we first got back...and I'm ready to get back to my journal and finishing writing about the trip. Then I can go back through and write more specifics about the trip on here...and hopefully soon I'll have some more pictures to share!
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