So...we're off!

These feet are ready!
(This one's for you Ann! Oh, and Mom thanks for my Ethiopia shoes!)

It's 8:01am on Friday in Addis Ababa. It's still Thursday as I write this. 9:02pm to be exact. It's crazy that it's finally here! This time tomorrow we'll be in Ethiopia or at least almost there. It's exciting, but I also don't know what to expect. Few really do, I think. Africa will be a first--even Europe will be a first! That is if you count our layover in Frankfurt really being in Europe. But I once had a friend who said if you've left your mark (ie, used the restroom) it counts.

I'm doing some last minute double checking of our suitcases before I shower and head off to bed. Joe's getting some "funds" and Benadryl so he can sleep on the plane. He's still toying with the idea of staying up all night and just sleeping on the plane.

Pray for us all as we go. It will be new, interesting, excited, sometimes scary, faith-building, stretching, and God--what else can you say? With Him you never really know what to expect. Just that it will be good.

I was reading this passage this morning and found it fitting as we're off to declare the Gospel:
It was revealed to them [the prophets] that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things [the Gospel, Christ crucified] which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven--things into which angels long to look.
1 Peter 1:12

We are not doing this to serve ourselves, but the Lord and the people He is sending us to. May we remember that and be humbled.

Here's one last thing to leave you with...this thingy is called a Proclaimer. It's pretty neat. If I remember correctly this passage is John 1. (Please excuse the poor video quality.)

Unexpected Mail

Sometimes you forget things you've done in the past, especially when it's samples and freebies. Take for example today I came home from work with a package at on my doorstep.

I shook it.

Sounds like a book. I hadn't ordered any books. Maybe Joe did? But it was addressed to me. So, I opened it.

Guess what it was...
Yep...one of those. Well, at least I'll be prepared next time around!

So...I did it...

Black Friday. I went shopping. First, I was just going to Michaels (at 6am!) for 25% off total purchases. Then I went into Meryvn's, Ross, and Target.

Five hours later I was home.


Thanksgiving pictures to come.

CCMS Thanksgiving

This year at school we had a Thanksgiving Breakfast for the student's parents. The children served and the parents enjoyed. It was cute.

Here's the evidence:

Veteran's Day Weekend

(Bare with me as the next few posts are mostly updates of the last few weeks.)

Over Veteran's Day weekend Joe and I were planning to go to Palm Springs for the weekend. We were going to borrow a friend's timeshare, well that fell throw but we still decided to have a local weekend away. It was fun and relaxing. Joe made a yummy dinner Friday night. We actually slept in on Saturday morning and then headed up to Julian for the afternoon. And Sunday we went golfing--it was my first time!

Here are some pictures from the weekend.

(For some reason Joe really loves this picture of me.)

OH! I also got a niece on the 12th. 5lbs. 1 oz. 18inches. Amy Lynne.

What I did today...

Did some rearranging the bookshelves...

Before

After

Finished some throw pillows. These are actually placemats I got on clearance from Pier 1.

Early California Enchilada

Ingredients:
1 dozen tortillas
1 pound of cheese
1 can of enchilada sauce (large)
5 onions (chopped and sauted)
4 hard boiled eggs (chopped)
3 cans chopped olives



Directions:
Heat the 2 sauces together in a skillet. With tongs, soften tortillas one at a time in the pan of sauce. Put a spoonful of each ingredient on each tortilla and roll and secure with a wooden toothpick. Put in a casserole dish. Cover with remaining sauce and cheese.

Bake at 350 for about 20 minutes.

(Lovely picture...I know)

*Amendments: I used only one onion and found that that was too many onions, and definitely remember to sauté the onions. I missed that part, and you could definitely tell. Also, we upped the egg cook to 6 chopped hard boiled eggs and omitted the olives.

Seussical the Musical

Today we took the kids on a field trip to a Christian Youth Theater (CYT) production of Seussical the Musical. It was pretty cute and fun.

"Thorns, it seems, always accompany visits to glory.
No one who has walked in Christ's presence
will ever be allowed to strut."
Jamie Buckingham

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that through He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.
2 Corinthians 8:9

What is Christ's poverty, but an exclamation of His love? And, oh how we refuse it so...denying the pain afforded to him wanting little to do with the actual Cross.

Suffering? What's that? Give me joy unspeakable?
Pain, embarrassment, ridicule?
Those are not for me,
I bear no Cross except the one I choose,
and splinters I shall not see.
Polish it off, show me its shine
Oh! What a glory that will be!
To ascend upon Calvary sturdy
and primed is a fate I'll gladly see.
Crowds alongside cheering me on as
I walk to the hill with the skull.
But what do I find when I arrive
there at last?
A Savior who looks none like me.

Oh Lord, what have I done?
As you hang bruised and battered
I barely recognize the face that I see, but it is You, I know,
none the less hanging there on Calvary.
The soldiers they stab You as the crowd cheers them on
As I stand and ponder, "Oh, Lord what have I done?"

I've been a scorner, mocking in shame dressed in robes of victory,
knowing none of Your pain.
How could I have missed it?
You did this just for me,
as I stand clothed in victory.
My pride is the searing pain
in Your chest.
My ignorance is the blood
dripping on Your head.
My sin as apparent as the bruises
on Your face.
How could I have missed that?
I sought for a glory,
a Christ that was whole.
I sought for victory
over the sin that I know.
I sought for a Savior
that could conquer anything.
I sought for a Master
like none would know.

And here I am at the hill with a skull
Faced with a Calvary I barely know
Bruised and battered,
Torn and beaten,
Naked and bloody,
Where is the Christ that I thought I knew?

Hanging there, hanging there is my Savior my Lord
The One who has saved me and condemns me no more.
Hanging there, hanging there is the Victor of Life,
Dying to pay my redemption price.
Hanging there, hanging there is the Master of all
submitting to those who have come from the fall.
Hanging there, hanging there is the glory of Christ--
Risen not yet,
this is Christ crucified.

Operation Christmas Child

One of my favorite things about this time of year is Operation Christmas Child. It's so much fun to go shopping for these kids. Here's what we got this year:


Next week is collection week, so if you want to jump on the fun bandwagon find out more info and the church/collection place nearest you click here.

Scrapbooking Lately?

Here's some photos of my latest scrapbooking projects:

I made this mini-album tonight. I used the cardboard that stickers are packaged in. As for this theme, "Always remember to...share, cherish, wish, sing."

This is a summer/beach themed one page Accordion Album. I haven't yet decided what to put on the front for a title or whatnot.

This is an Accordion Tag Book that I still need to finish the tags and the back.

A set of rose/garden themed bookmarks.

This is an Explosion Box album that I made for my sister-in-law's baby shower.

The Great Divide

Hanson

After 11 years, 4 studio albums, 1 live album, a Christmas album, a few videos, and etc. I finally saw them in concert...Hanson! Woo Hoo! Now, some people only remember them for MMMBop, but they are so much more they blond-haired little boys singing "MMMBop ba duba dop, ba du bop..."

It was awesome and definitely worth seeing my favorite band live. Though it did make me feel old--eleven years!