A Beautiful Mosaic

My 25 THANKS-givings in 2011 : 1.  I am thankful for the opportunity to serve the Lord in a way that challenges me in an area of my passion. 2.  I am thankful that life was not supposed to turn out the way I had planned it. 3.  I am thankful for a husband who knows me AND...loves me unconditionally, challenges me graciously, leads me humbly, and holds my hand through everything. 4.  I am thankful for parents who love and support me no matter what. 5.  I am thankful for siblings are truly are 3 of my closest friends in the whole world. 6.  I am thankful to have a job, to have shelter, to have food and a surplus of clothing when many struggle with at least one of these basic needs. 7.  I am thankful for the freedom to worship and believe as I do. 8.  I am thankful for the blessings God pours into my life without my even asking. 9.  I am thankful for friendship that transcends time and space...those kindred spirits ...

My faith has been grounded since childhood in the knowledge that when it feels my world is crumbling around me, God will pick me up.  This simple truth was, perhaps, the first pillar of faith constructed in my faith journey.  As my family moved away from our relatives and then our friends, there were moments even a 10-year-old felt like the world was crumbling around her.  Yet, God's faithfulness always prevailed, and not in a "I know God is still good" kind of way.  God always showed Himself clearly and inexplicably to me when I was ready to look and see Him on the other side of the crumbling mess.  As a hurting and depressed middle schooler, there were moments I was sure the world had already caved in.  Yet, God never left my side, and He proved His presence in remarkable ways.  I am so thankful. Today, as I find myself in a lifestyle and structure that lives amidst the rubble of the crumbling and caving in of many lives, I am daily in need of His ...

Life has been full, exciting, and a little exhausting lately, and we have much to be thankful for. What our last few weeks have looked like: Our house has been almost full (6-7 girls) and brimming with energy among other things.  Because our monthly weekend shift fell right before Halloween, we had a fun-filled weekend of festivities with the girls!  Pounds of sugar, chocolate, and hot apple cider were consumed, one scary throwback movie was watched, and 9 plump, round pumpkins were carved or painted to their owner's liking in the Barton Home!  We also attended our church's "Judgment House" the night before which the girls really enjoyed.  The night of Halloween, we let the girls paint masks and go to the other houses on campus for some trick or treating.  That morning, as a staff, we shared a fall potluck breakfast in costume, and Michael went as the Jim Halpert 3-Hole Punch (The Office) and Betsy went as facebook (plain and simple: paint ...