working hard

I have the best summer job in the world. I get to hang out with kids and do fun things. Like rock climb. Here's the little guy I'm working with this summer!

That's his innocent look. Don't be fooled.

Candid shot! He's so loving. Most of the time.

No limits! Rock climbing is for everyone!

The program I work for is part of Adventures Without Limits. Click here for the mission statement. And a picture of me that I didn't even know existed. Much less that it was on the internet. Cool.

you say goodbye...

...and I say hello.

After all of my sad (and some tearful) goodbyes were said in Malawi I had a lot of hello's to look forward to here in Oregon. My family teases me about how I like to stay busy and get bored after a couple hours of not doing something. It's pretty true. Here's a few pictures of what I've been up to in the past few weeks.

SNOW! In June!

Kristy's getting married!

Carol, Em, me...I love them!

Carol and I at the late night food carts. Yummy crepes!

Sagina and I on the way to the rodeo. Yeehaw!

The girls going to the rodeo. Laura and I missed the memo about wearing pink and purple....

an "f" crisis

Since moving back to the states I have been overwhelmed by the media attention, and the anxiety that is the reality of the economy in the United States (and the world). There really is a feeling of constant anxiety here that I'm assuming I am not the only one feeling. The past couple days have been particularly stressful. As I have been thinking about it, journaling about it, and praying about it, I have come to the realization that I am indeed in the middle of a crisis. It's not the financial crisis that I hear so much about, but it is an f-word crisis (no, not that word, silly). It's a faith crisis.

Sometimes it is so easy to trust that God's plan is best, and that he's got it all worked out and has since the beginning of time. Sometimes it seems impossible. Right now, it seems impossible! I feel like I have big decisions to make that affect more than just me, and I don't know the right answer. I feel like the problems I have are too big to have a happy solution. I'm sure many, if not all, of you can relate. But do you know how ridiculous that is? The notion that something is too big for the God of all Creation? I clearly don't actually KNOW how ridiculous it is. I just know.

Why can't I just sit back and trust that he is in control? Why do I make decision making so hard on myself?

Oh, Lord, refine my faith. Make it real, make it true. Remind me that it's not about me. It's all about YOU.