What If...

I don't know everything.

I know, its a weird thought...I've thought since I was a little girl that I already knew everything. At least, the important stuff. I have no idea how to do differential equations (I don't even know what they are, I just remember that all the engineers at Tech struggled in the class), but when it comes to life, I pretty much know everything.

Or, maybe not.

What if, it is a part of God's plan that Linda does NOT live with me? What if He is working in her, even when I'm not around? Is it possible that His plan is better than mine?

On Monday night Linda came to God Squad and FINALLY told me about her boyfriend. She has been with him since just after Thanksgiving, but thought she was keeping him from me. Of course, she is not nearly as sneaky as she thinks she is. I actually asked her about him back in December and she just got really mad and told me to stay out of her business. (Like that isn't a HUGE red flag!).

So, I backed off and just waited for her to tell me what I already knew. Finally, on Monday she told me about him, and we talked. In fact, we had a really good talk (and I told her I have known about him since Nov, haha. She was pretty embarrassed).

Then, she invited him to Teen Club on Thursday. So, I finally got to meet him. He was VERY nervous to meet me (which I took as a really good sign). :) He was very nice, funny, treated both Bonita and Linda well, and even helped me carry a TV into my house. I didn't stay for Teen Club, but the leaders at Teen Club told me that he was very well behaved and the two of them were NOT affectionate and were comfortable hanging together, and apart. Linda was even shocked as he sang the songs during worship and went up to the front for prayer at the end of the lesson. He said he wants to come to God Squad, and even talked to Jeff about what it means to be baptized. Of course I would rather her be with someone who already is a Christian, but...its not really my plan.

He is almost 15 (a year older than Linda), makes really good grades and is a model student. He actually spent last weekend in NY with some students and teachers from their school as a reward for his good grades and behavior. Linda said that he really encourages her in school and tries to help keep her out of trouble.

He is really into boxing and goes to classes several times a week. So, I like the boyfriend (so far...). Linda is more mature than I gave her credit for.

After Teen Club, I dropped him off at his house and then he called Linda to ask a few questions about the permission slip and about God Squad on Monday. I then listened as Linda explained to him that he needed to take God Squad seriously because it was for people who are serious about God, and she didn't want him to come if he wasn't going to be serious.

She's a lot stronger than I gave her credit for.

Of course, I am still praying incredibly hard for her...especially in the area of purity. I didn't have my first kiss until I was 20, Linda has already had hers. She is mature and strong, but still has plenty of mistakes to make.

Still, its really nice to be reminded that someone much bigger and smarter than me has the plan for her life. I do forget that sometimes...

I'm Sick :(

Its very sad, isn't it? Just when my schedule calmed down and I could start back into my normal routine (including exercise!), I get sick. I'm not horribly sick...I can get up and get things accomplished, but I definitely don't feel "normal". The main problem is that I have a never ending cough that keeps me up at night, which makes me very tired during the day. I probably should be thankful that I'm not laid up in bed, but I'm actually kind of annoyed that I'm not, haha. I figure, if I'm going to be sick, might as well do it right! Instead, my mind wants to do my normal stuff but my body just won't let me, and its making me frustrated. I don't think I would be as frustrated if I wasn't coming off a week of "abnormal" where I wasn't able to do my normal exercise routine either. Oh well, I am trying to take it easy (or easier at least), so hopefully I can get better fast and get back on track. We have a 10 mile race in a month, and this 2 weeks off is killing me!

Actually, I have had to fight the urge to go to the gym anyway (although I still haven't missed a spinning class). I hate it when people are sick and they go places anyway, ignoring how their germs might affect other people. So, while I am still coughing a lot, I want to do my best not to spread my germs. I did go to Kids Club this week, but I figured since I am the leader, it would be a much bigger deal if I didn't show up than if I did come with some germs. The gym, however, is a different story. Me spreading my germs there would just be selfish (I took sanitizer with me to my spinning class so I could make sure not to leave my germs on the bike...I really didn't want to miss any more spinning classes!)

On the other hand, I HAVE gotten many things accomplished on my To-Do list. My newsletter is in the mail, I got the oil changed in my car, I finished my receipts from my AIM trip and sent them in, I made an appointment for Bonita to get started with cyber school, got my real estate taxes taken care of (thought not paid for yet..waiting for the bill, yuck!), made an appointment to get started on my retirement account, got my dad a birthday present (its tomorrow!), got cable hooked up in Bonita's room, and will be picking up a new TV for her tonight (found a GREAT deal on craigslist!). You would think all of that would make me feel good, but I can't seem to get past my inability to exercise. I have a lot to learn...

So, the only things left on my To-Do list is A LOT of cleaning...and my taxes. Bonita and I have a cleaning plan for the weekend (including the house AND car), and once that is finished I will do my taxes. WHEW! Theoretically, that should mean that I can just settle into life as usual for a few weeks, until Cornerstone clubs go on break in May. That's just in theory though...

Help Us Raise Money!!

As you know, I have been in training for the Broad Street Run in Philly. The race is Sunday May 3rd, and it actually looks like I'm going to do it! I really wasn't sure I would make it this far...

When I originally signed up to do the race, it was just for fun. However, I found out that you can also raise money for the American Cancer Society through the race. I figure, I'm already running 10 miles, might as well have a reason for it!

So, I enlisted the help of Paxton (only partly because he is way cuter than I am!) and together we are seeking to raise $1000 for the American Cancer Society. That's only 50 people donating $20 each...I think we can do it!!

Donating is really simple. All you have to do is click on this picture and donate!! Any little bit will help!

While I am running the race, Paxton is also working to raise money. Paxton will be writing books and selling them, and donating the money to our cause.

We are both VERY excited about this, and can't wait to see people's lives changed! In the last year Pax and I have both faced the prospect of losing our fathers to this horrible disease, and we want to do everything we can to help prevent others from dealing with the same thing.

Please pray about helping in any way you can. I can't wait to share God's goodness through all of this...raising the money AND giving me the strength to actually (hopefully!) accomplish this goal of 10 miles! Both seem like pretty daunting tasks, but I am learning to trust in His strength and not my own!

So much accomplished...so much left to do!

I LOVE being productive! I really love finishing tasks. That's probably why I enjoy my AIM job so much. And, now that my AIM group is gone (I still miss them!), I have had time to start on my forever long to do list. I'm trying to focus on the things that I HAVE accomplished rather than the stuff still on the list...which is somewhat difficult since the "to do" side is still much longer than the "finished" side.

So, what HAVE I accomplished? First, my newsletter. WHEW! I'm way behind on that, but I finally did finish it. I will address and stuff the envelopes tomorrow and have them in the mail. Next to my taxes, that was the biggest thing on my mind, so it feels really good to have it finished.

Going along with that, I have updated my website. It still had Linda listed as 12 years old, and she's about to turn 14! I have recently had the opportunity to speak with several potential new supporters, so I really needed to make sure everything was up to date. That also feels really good!

I am also caught up with Kids Club. I got a little behind last week with the group, and had a lot of little things to catch up on (making new name tags, updating attendance, etc). I was feeling pretty under the weather today, so I decided to show a movie at Kids Club rather than plan a lesson and have to talk too much. That left me with a good amount of time to get caught up on everything else. I already have my lesson planned for next week (at least in my head, haha), so I am feeling much less stressed about that as well.

I know it doesn't seem like much, but having even a few things FINALLY checked off my list feels really good. Of course, I still have to:

*Get the oil changed in my car
*Finalize and turn in the budget reconciliation from my AIM trip
*Pay my bills
*TAXES
*get my retirement account set up
*get Bonita an appointment for cyber school
*call about my real estate taxes (I never got my bill for them. AIM used to own the house, and they were tax exempt. While I am listed as the owner, I think they may have forgotten to change the tax exempt status. This sounds great, except I know they will figure it out eventually and then force me to pay whatever back taxes they forgot to bill me for, so I would rather just take care of it now. yuck.)
*CLEAN MY HOUSE! (Bonita and I will take care of that this weekend!)

It just feels overwhelming...but that's okay. Just take it one thing at a time...right?

Fantastic Football Fun!! (Lame title, I know, but I couldn't resist!)

This last week was such a great week! I led an AIM CBT (College Break Trip) that turned out to be my favorite group...EVER! I have to admit that I was extremely nervous about the trip before it started. It was a team of all guys, 25 of them...football players from Greenville College in Illinois. I had to lead an all guys' team!! They arrived last Saturday and were exhausted from their trip, so they didn't start out too friendly; which made me even more nervous. However, after a good night's sleep, they were completely different, and absolutely wonderful!!

They spent Monday morning cleaning the park by my house, and that was very eye opening to them. I told them that the park was nicknamed "Needle Park", and they quickly discovered why.

As they picked up needle after needle, they became more and more resolved to see God glorified in the park, which was a huge blessing to me!

The majority of their focus for the week was running a Football Camp with Cornerstone. I was hoping for at least 40 kids to come, and by the end of the week were had at least 100!! The team had a GREAT plan, but also really poured their hearts into every minute with the kids. Every single player was excited and focused on the kids the entire time during the camp, and the kids most definitely noticed. I do not think its exaggerating to say that its the best program we have ever had at Cornerstone!!

I can't think of how the week could have gone better. The Cornerstone kids had so much fun and felt loved and cared for. There were also a ton of kids that have never heard of Cornerstone that now know about the church and will hopefully start coming out. We did have several new kids show up at Kids Club last week, and I am hoping for even more next week.

Every kid was raving about the camp all week, and they were so sad to see the team leave! The kids even learned a lot about football!

To give you some insight into how much the kids loved it, Bonita spent most of today looking up Greenville College football on the internet and was so excited when she saw players she knew. She felt so special!

The best part for me, though, was getting to see the reactions of the players. As blessed at the kids felt, the players felt even more so. They counted it a privilege to get to know the kids here, and often cried as they shared how God was touching their lives through these kids. I don't know who was more upset when they left...the players or the kids. How amazing is that?!?

I am beyond impressed with the Greenville College Football Team. The players truly love the Lord and allowed Him to use them in incredible ways. They loved the kids like I have never seen before, and there was a joy and a light in their eyes that I will never forget. I am still just in awe of all of it!!!

I have no idea what next year will look like for any of us, but I (along with all of the kids!) am really praying they will come back!!

So Far So Good!

Well, our first week together has been a really great one for me and Bonita. I think she is somewhat bored at times (I am not an exciting person), but she is really liking having her own room. She is also eating better and getting more sleep, and is already noticing a difference in her attitude and outlook. And, she has been incredibly helpful around the house. She cleaned the kitchen without me even asking, and she has made her bed every morning this week. She also gets herself up and dressed for school every day. She gets ready while I'm at the gym, and every morning when I get home, she is ready for school!

I did tell her she could have a TV in her room, so hopefully that will help with the boredom soon. Next week I will be leading an AIM group that will be working at Cornerstone, so there won't be much opportunity for her to be bored next week!

I'll update more later, when I have time. I think that will be some time in the middle of April...