Wordless Wednesday - walking along...

hmm...

i have lots of thoughts swirling 'round my head,
but really not much to say.

i guess maybe i'm sorting them out.

in the meantime, here's a cute shot of Brenna and our littlest teammate on the drive to the airport to see everyone off. Brenna wanted to get as much Ella-time (and team-time) as she could. it touched my heart.

peace...

My teammates leave in less than a month. That's such exciting news. God works and has blessed them to depart in January. What a glorious event! truly.

My last post i was sad to be left behind. Honestly, i was frustrated, heartbroken, and resentful as well. Sure, i wished them well, but it should be me too, shouldn't it?

And then i realized that my actions, my comments were saying that i would willingly follow God (didn't i too say, "here am i, send me" ??), BUT only if it were according to my conditions and expectations.

How absurd! If i am truly going to let God lead me, then i need to follow Him. Not just where i think i should go, but which ever direction He goes.

It's definitely not the easiest thing i've done, more likely one of the hardest. But i am now at peace with that, with letting God lead and being (or trying to be) content following.

for God to be in control of my life, i have to totally and completely let go.
even if that means i may not head the direction i planned.

being left behind...

When i was in 6th grade, we sold popcorn and cookies every week after school to raise money for class swim lessons. It was a cool event to look forward to. And the swim lessons were a special treat.

Oddly, i don't remember much about the actual lessons. I remember the locker room (we used to sing at the top of our lungs) and one major event.

After one lesson, the class was gathered out waiting to leave. My teacher (Mr. Clawson, if you wanna know) asked me to check the girls' locker room to make sure it was empty. So i did. Walked there, hollered in, and walked back to the lobby.

Noone was there!!! And as i glanced out the glass doors, but bus was pulling away. My class was leaving without me. I was being left behind.

~~~~~~
I'm feeling a bit like that these days.

As the AussieMission Team prepares to leave, as we wait on our visas... it seems that the Griffiths will be the last to go... our teammates will most likely be leaving in January.

i am filled with excitement for the beginning of our vision, of God's mission. i'm ready to do a happy dance to see the Whaleys and Mullinses off at the airport!

and yet, i feel like i'm stuck watching the school bus pull away
and i'm suppose to be on it.

Rejuvinating Weekend!

This weekend the Aussie Team got to be together for the first time in several months! After months filled with discouraging news and disheartening wait, having the team together refocused and re-energized my spirit and reminded me how much i love these people and want to serve God along side them.

We were blessed in so many ways over the weekend.

Corey and Emily loving on Ella, our newest team member. Don't they look great with a baby!

The guys talkin' strategy. You can't really see it, but Corey is diagramming something on a notebook he's holding in his hand.


Time with our Kairos church planting coach, Amos Allen, and his wonderful wife Anne. Thanks so much for coming down to see us!

Gathering to sing a bedtime lullaby, "Jesus Loves Me", to Ella. Jerry and Cindy Southern, Jason's aunt and uncle, and their liason from Round Rock, blessed us with their presence this weekend as well! So glad you were here!

Enjoying a lunch and wonderful fellowship with our team and some of our Skyline family.

Shawn presenting at Skyline's Interactive Prayer for Missions evening. It was such a joy for me to have our whole team at this event.

Overlooking a small section of the auditorium after the closing prayer. There was an amazing group of people there. What a wonderful event.

Chocolate Pizza!

Thanks to everyone who helped in anyway this weekend! I hope you know who you are and how appreciated you are! My heart is touched by the love, support, and giving spirit that was displayed in making this weekend wonderful!