Let the blooming begin!

For quite some time now (as in a few years at least), I have wrestled with the issue of identity.  Struggling to truly comprehend who God says I am and live accordingly.  There have been some key points along the way where I have stopped in an "AHA" moment that settled a little piece of the truth in my heart of who I am in Christ.  But as I look at my day to day life, I do not yet see the changes I would have thought these truths would have brought about. 

"Then the time came when the risk it took to remain in a tight bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." - Anais Nin 

This quote really struck me as a great picture of this process I've been going through.  Though my automatic responses are not showing any great evidence of change, the effects to my heart have been increasing and I feel that I am reaching that point of it being more painful to stay as I am.  I so desperately want to change!  I want to love well!  I want to be all that God created me to be!  I want to accomplish all that He has called me to!  This is the desire that has been building and though fear still holds me back a lot, it is losing its grip!  I don't know what "blossoming" will look like for me, but I do feel like I am finally on the verge!  That is both exciting and terrifying!!! 

Baby Josiah

He's here! Finally!!! My beautiful nephew arrived at 1:02am on Sunday, July 4, 2010. He weighed in at 7 lbs, 8 oz and is 20 inches long. My sister-in-law did so great!!! After a full day of labor, she tolerated quite a few of us in her room until things began to get pretty intense.  She was able to rest a bit after receiving an epidural and woke up ready to deliver!  We are all so proud of her! 

My brother proved to be such a great coach!  It was fun to watch him love and support Liz in the hours leading to the birth of their first baby!  He is SUCH a proud papa!  It's going to be great watching him be a daddy!!!!!!!
Josiah is SOOO cute!!! We all got to take a quick turn holding him before calling it a night. He successfully managed to find his thumb a couple of times which was totally adorable. He is absolutely INCREDIBLE!!!!!! I'm so excited to be able to hold him at last!!!!

2010 Journey

It is hard to believe we are half way through the year already!!! It's been a crazy 6 months! After my trip to India was cancelled in January, I wrestled for a while as I continued to support Jubilee World Missions and participate in the Rock House of Prayer (RockHOP). I had spent a couple of months preparing to be gone, but since I was still home, I found myself asking "What now?" with no answer. There was still talk of me going to India to stay later in the year, but the earliest would have been July. In March, I was asked to prayerfully consider taking a position as Administrator for Jubilee World Missions. I would be doing pretty much what I've done for a few years now, but with a greater commitment which seemed to cancel the possibility of me going for an extended time in India. After much prayer and godly counsel, as hard as it was to give up (at least for a season) the dream of staying on the mission field, I accepted the position as I believed that it was what God was calling me to do at that time. Much to my surprise, God gave me both, the job and the dream! As a part of Jubilee, I will be involved in continued mission work in several areas of ministry such as Haiti and Honduras through short term trips as well as extended time in India!!!

I will be a part of a small team heading to Honduras the beginning of August for one week. We will spend the week doing a prayer room and a conference. It has been 3 years since my last trip to Honduras and I am really excited about returning. About a month after I return, I will be heading to India for 3 months. I will be teaching English, loving on kids in the Children's Home and providing administrative support to the pastor and the various ministries of New Hope Ministries. I will be gone Monday, August 9 - Monday, August 16 in Honduras and Monday, September 13 - Thursday, December 16 in India. I would greatly appreciate your prayers for me throughout the rest of the year as I live my dream! If you would like to contribute to one of my trips or partner with me through monthly donations, please post a comment requesting more information.

Thank you so much!
Blessings,
Carol