Sunday, November 16, 2008

Catch up

Wow. I looked at my posts and realized it's been two whole weeks since I've blogged. And it's been almost three since I've actually blogged about life. I'm not really sure why I haven't blogged. I could say that I've been busy (true) but then I should have plenty to blog about. I think I've realized the past month just how incredibly precious friendships are. So I think that the main reason I haven't blogged is because I've really just treasured my time actually talking with people and not really enjoying the computer world as much. Anyhow, there's my reasoning!

So to catch up on life.

1. I'm done with the ACT for now! Yaay! My score went up a point but i'm still a point below what I want. It's okay though! I can always bring it up another point. I'm fairly confident of that.

2. We took a trip to Ole Miss to see the college. It was a fun trip with lots of laughs (thank you Mrs. Brown for going with us!! lol!). I loved this college as well. It has SOO many amazing opportunities and some really neat people. It was good to see another college but now I'm more confused than ever on where I want to go. There's so many pros and cons to all of them! But... I have a year to decide.
Gotta love the scarves.... thanks Mrs. Thomas! :)

3. The Juvinalls (roll your mouse over their name to go to their blog) headed to Ethiopia on Friday. They've already had some travel difficulties but are in Dubai right now, and should arrive in Ethiopia soon. They're getting back on Saturday with their precious daughter Iona and I am so excited. I'm going to lose it when they walk in lol. Definitely planning on bringing kleenex. So hop on over to their blog and be praying for them!!

4. I went on a youth retreat this past weekend with church and had an amazing time. It was a great weekend. I always have trouble coming back from retreats because I SO love being with people and coming home is kind of a letdown but I've stayed busy today and will be very busy this week babysitting kiddos Monday-Wednesday so the week should go by fast! Anyway, back to the retreat I think the thing that God most convicted me of is in my study this morning of James 4:1-10 which is basically about prayer. Verses 2-3 say, "You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." I was just convicted of all the times that I just don't ask at all because my faith is too small, as well as the times that I selfishly ask for things. This has especially been true the past couple of months when the Lord has made evident His plans for the next year (which is exactly opposite what I wanted!). It has been a tough month but God has shown His faithfulness through it all. This weekend was just a good time of focus and renewal, a reminder to put God's kingdom above my own. His plans above my plans. His desires above my desires. To seek Him first with all of my heart!!
4. We met Aunt Diane and Uncle Dan for Monical's pizza tonight. Yummy...




5. And just a funny thing that i just remembered. I wrote a paper last week about Slavery for my English Literature class and the teacher made this comment, "Molly, Great work! You had several interesting and valid points. Try to write more formally in the future......" I looked back on it after I'd received my grade and realized that it sort of resembled my blog post style. I nearly laughed out loud. I did too much blogging there for awhile and forgot how to write a formal paper.

6. Pics from our small group girls cookie party. We got together to make cookies and messed up the dough because we got busy talking (i think that's what happened at least!). So they wouldn't really make good cookies. Not to be robbed of our dessert, we got out a pan and made a cookie cake. Add some ice cream, chocolate sauce, and sprinkles and we were good to go! :)

Love these girls!!! Thank you Lord for these friendships!


7. I just got new updates on my sweet Claudia girl. I just cannot get these sweet kids off of my mind. A few tears trickled down my cheeks when I opened up the email with these pics in it. This precious girl who absolutely captured my heart is growing up without her family. And I could go on and on. I don't know what God has in store for me but I know that these kids are etched into my heart somehow. And it makes it hard to sit here and do school all day when I know that they need help!

I love you, Claudia! I pray that someday i'll hold you in my arms again and hear your enchanting laugh. I pray that your mommas there are teaching you about Jesus, our faithful God, and the love that He has for you. He is your Father!! He says in John 14:18 "I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you." He has adopted you, sweet girl! He has broken through the bondage and set you free, giving you a family like no other through Christ and the church. I wish that I could give you the earthly family that you need but I can't do that. All I can do is pray, for we cannot receive what we do not ask for!


Have a great week! I'm determined to keep up on this now. I think I really missed blogging...

6 comments:

Spencer said...

Wow, quite the post. Makes since why it took you all night, lol.

Sharon said...

I hope you find the college right for you, I know it is a hard decision. You babysit too, I have 3differnt families that I babysit for, it's a lot of fun, although I am looking for something more permenant because they only need me occationaly. I am hoping to find a daycare to work at as soon as I can find a good one. Thank you for sharing about James on the subject of prayer, I needed it. It was a great reminder to always pray. Where is Claudia from? She looks so sweet, I hope she finds a family soon. I will be praying for her. That is true that it is hard to sit and do school all day when there are orphans out there that need our help. And it may seem pointless at times to get an education, but we can use our education in ways that help them. And you are doing something. You are sponsering a child (from what I can tell, sorry if I am wrong) that is wonderful! You are helping this child in ways you may not even realize. Look she has a smile on her face. And never stop praying for her and God has a precious family out there just for her and a perfect plan for her life. Have a great week, I am praying for you!

Molly said...

Sharon you are so sweet! :) i'm not sure if you'll check back to see if I responded but I'll give it a try! Yes, I do sponsor Claudia. She's at Eagles Nest orphanage in Solola, Guatemala. I've gone their twice on mission trips and I absolutely fell in love with her. She actually is lined up with a family already but her case is incredibly complex, with lots of problems. She may never get to go home to her forever family. :( It's so sad.
So are you in college? If so, where at?

Anonymous said...

I agree with you on how awesome the retreat was! And I missed your posts. Don't stray away from the computer! :P

Sharon said...

Molly, Yes I check back on the comments to see if you have responded, and to read others. Yes I am in College. I go to Greenville Technical College in Greenville, SC. It 30 min. away from my house, It is a small 2 year college so you probebly haven't heard of it. I am going for my 2 year degree in Childcare Education. I am pretty sure I want to be a preschool teacher, but it could change. I just recently got interested in orphan care, so I would love to do something to help out with that as well. That is so cool that you have been to Guatamala, It sounds so exciting. I want to go on a missions trip, that would be so neat to meet some orphans and help them out! How old is Claudia? I hope everything turns out good for her. What happens if she doesn't get adopted? Will she just stay at the Orphanage until she is old enough to live on her own?
Thanks for replying!

Molly said...

Hey,

Yes, it was an incredible blesing to go to Guatemala. If you ever have the chance to go on a missions trip DO IT!! I emptied my bank account last year to go and it was totally worth it. Especially if the Lord has burdened you for orphans. It will certainly change your life.

Claudia is 4. Her case is a MESS. She has a family waiting for her but they may never get her. Believe it or not, we almost adopted her a couple years ago but it didn't pan out. She'd already been placed with that family anyway. Yeah, I think that she'll just stay in the orphanage until she's old enough to live on her own. She goes to a really neat school where the Bible is definitely proclaimed, which is awesome. I would love to go down and teach in that school someday.
I'll be praying God gives you the opportunity to go on a trip sometime!! There's a group going down to Guatemala that I REALLY want to go with. Their website is www.globalorphanteam.com Go to their "Mission Trip" part. The trip is super expensive, which is why I'm probably not going. But they're going to Eagle's nest, the orphanage I worked at.
Blessings,
Molly