Midterms

This is one of those weeks of school that you just have to grit your teeth and plow through. I've been amazed at how much harder each semester of school has gotten. I know that's the idea, but as soon as I manage to get my study skills to match my classes, they get harder! Anyway, I'm really just procrastinating as I should be hitting the books right now, but I thought I'd make a list of what I will do once I turn in my last paper on Friday instead. So here we go...

1. Sleep
2. Work out
3. Sleep
4. Get groceries so I can stop eating black beans for every meal.
5. Try out my new Holga cam
6. Go on an adventure with Abbey (I haven't run this past her yet, but I'm sure she'll accommodate)
7. Prepare for the pinnacle of Kevinmas (Monday, October 24)
8. Cheer the Sooners on to victory
9. Watch a movie
10. Do my nails

BAM. Glad I got that figured out. Now back to studying for my Fall of the Roman Empire midterm tomorrow. Woot woot!

9 Years Ago...

9 years ago today, I gained another little sister. It is blowing me away that she is SERIOUSLY 9. I don't even know how that's possible. Here are some of my favorite pictures of her. Man, I love this little girl. I hate that she lives so far away now. Happy birthday Halle! I LOVE YOU!!!!

A Day For...

Today is a day for...

Learning more about the art of picture taking
Downloading beautiful fonts
Relaxing
Enjoying this day that the Lord has made
Taking fall inspire pictures
Smiling
Feeling at peace.

I'm so thankful for days without commitments that allow me to enjoy life. Thank you Jesus for today!

Chosen

"You're Jacob, my first choice,
descendants of my good friend Abraham.
I pulled you in from all over the world,
called you in from every dark corner of the earth,
Telling you, 'You're my servant, serving on my side.
I've picked you. I haven't dropped you.'
Don't panic. I'm with you...
Do you feel like a lowly worm, Jacob?
Don't be afraid.
Feel like a fragile insect, Israel?
I'll help you.
I, God, want to reassure you.
The God who buys you back, The Holy of Israel.
I'm transforming you from worm to harrow,
from insect to iron.
As a sharp-toothed harrow you'll smooth out the mountains,
turn those tough old hills into loamy soil.
You'll open the rough ground to the weather,
to the blasts of sun and wind and rain.
But you'll be confident and exuberant,
expansive in The Holy of Israel!"

{Excerpts from Isaiah 41 in the Message}

Isn't it beautiful to know we are chosen??

Order From Chaos

Just read this in a book for school and was reminded on the consistency of God. He's so good!

"On the Sabbath the Hebrews recalled how Yahweh had created the world out of formlessness and void, and how the Creator had crowned the creation with the Sabbath itself. Thus on each Sabbath the Hebrews celebrated an order that was real for all time, an order as old and fundamental as the creation itself, an order celebrating God's triumph over chaos. Empires might come and go, but this order would always remain. Each celebration of the Sabbath affirmed a faith that the God who in the beginning had brought order out of chaos would conquer captivity's historical chaos as well..."

-The Letters of Paul: Conversations in Context (Calvin J. Roetzel)

Abundance

God reminded and revealed the most beautiful thing to me last night as I was falling asleep! When Christ died He took all our punishment. He bore it all!! That means that God never punishes our sin. Sometimes our sins punish us, but in Him there is only freedom! That means that God doesn't take away things or hurt us because of our sins. He just doesn't!! Everything that is taken away from us is not punishment! When good things are taken away, they are stolen by the enemy. He has come to kill, steal, and destroy, but Christ has come that we might have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10). God never desires to hurt us. However, just as a loving Daddy will take away something that will hurt us, our Abba is watching out for us diligently. His desire is never to make us miserable. He hates to see us hurt. That is not His heart's desire, but He sees the big picture and desires to take us to the most abundant place possible. Sometimes we kick and scream. And consequently, sometimes He leaves us to what we think is best for us. After all, He never desired for us to be robots. He gives us free will. Just as Moses made decisions that kept him from ever reaching the promised land, we can choose to not move forward into the destiny God has for us. But... if God has the best for us, why would we not want that?? Why would I not want to follow Him to deeper and better places? He has promised abundant life. He has promised to restore the years the locust stole (Joel 2:25). When we seek Him, He doubles the portion that the enemy stole (Job 42:10). But wait-- He doesn't promise it will be easy. It's often in the valley that He speaks to us (Ezekiel 3:22), but He promises to walk through that valley with us (Psalm 23:4). He calls us His. He calls us precious and honored, promising to never leave us in our trials (Isaiah 43). The way is narrow. It's not always easy, but it's good. Because He is all good and desires to lead His children to abundance. Praise Him!

The Baby House

During the time I spent at the Iris compound, I spent as much time as possible in what is called the Baby House. The Baby House is essentially where the toddlers live. You can go and play with them on their playground, or help get them all fed at meals, or just hold them after their baths before bed. During certain times, you could take individual kids out to get some one-on-one times. This is where the Lord really drew and broke my heart. I miss these precious children more than I thought was possible!!!

This is two year old Chelsia. If I could, I would have brought her home. She has my heart and I think of her all the time. Her birthday is in just a couple of days!! Missing her...

The little girls LOVED having their nails painted = )

Steph with Marta, another super sweet little girl. One of my strongest memories of her is walking into the Baby House and making eye contact with her. She looked at me with those big eyes, pointed to herself and whispered, "Me?" WOW... Nothing will break your heart quite like that. Marta, I declare that God has CHOSEN YOU. He picks you. You are not rejected or leftover. You are His princess!!!

We let Marta and Chelsia help us bake a cake one day. They were SO serious about it, and you should have seen their faces when we let them try the icing. I don't think they've ever had that much sugar!

Jesse also grew really close to some of the children in the Baby House. This little guy was his buddy = )

LOOK AT THAT SMILE! Ernesto had a giggle and smile like you couldn't believe. He and his friend were major charmers.

Catching bubbles!

Remember, if you would like to sponsor a child through Iris Ministries, you can go to https://www.irismin.org/giving-center.