Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Isabella...


Meet
Isabella Esperanza Maria


Abandoned at the hospital, less than 5lbs, so tiny,
named by our group Isabella (she smiled when we said her name)


Esperanza for Hope College


And Maria by the baby house staff


Her name means: God is my oath and hope in this sea of bitterness

Whoa...

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Easter Basket BlogHop!

Hershey’s is donating $10 per blog participating in the Better Basket Blog Hop to Children’s Miracle Network (up to a total of $5000 by blog posts written by April 4, 2010). Katie over at A Listmaker's Life sent me a virtual Easter basket to support this great cause!

I'd like to send virtual baskets to these friends:
(If I missed you and you'd love to participate you are more than welcome to join the hop)

Mckmama
Debi




Hershey’s Better Basket Blog Hop Rules
1. Copy and paste these rules to your blog post.

2. Create a blog post giving a virtual Easter Basket to another blogger — you can give as many Virtual Baskets as you want!


3. Link back to the person who gave you an Easter Basket.


4. Let each person you are giving a Virtual Basket know you have given them a Basket.


5. Leave your link at BetterBasket.info/BlogHop in the comment section. You can also find the official rules of this #betterbasket blog hop and more information about Better Basket with Hershey’s there.


6. Hershey’s is donating $10 per blog participating in the Better Basket Blog Hop to Children’s Miracle Network (up to a total of $5000 by blog posts written by April 4, 2010).


7. Please note that only one blog post per blog url will count towards the donation.


Guatemala Teaser....






Thursday, March 18, 2010

Beautiful places...


Mackinac Island, MI
Holland, MI


Marquette, MI


Manila, Philippines


11 hours until the journey to Guatemala

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Here is Mercy...

Each year, the week before Spring Break. The chapel CD is released. This year's edition is tiled "Here is Mercy" (A track written by Joshua Banner) It is a different kind of CD then in the previous years. It still speaks and portrays the vision of the college: Growing World Christians in the Soil of Hope, however, this one feels different. Maybe it is because of David and Emma. Maybe because of the past year's events. Maybe, maybe, it is because this is what we need...

Besides my favorite Kwake Yesu and Desert Song...

Oh You Bring (hillsong)

VERSE 1:
Oh You bring hope to the hopeless
And light to those in the darkness
And death to life
Now I'm alive
Oh You give peace to the restless
And joy to homes that are broken
I see You now
In You I'm found

CHORUS:
And You opened the door for me
And You laid down
Your life to set me free
All that I am will serve You Lord
And You opened my eyes to see
All the wonder and awe of Christ in me
Jesus You're everything I need

VERSE 2:
Oh You fill those who are empty
And rescue those in the valley
And through it all You calm my soul
Oh You find me in my weakness
And heal the wounds of my heartache
I worship You in spirit and truth

BRIDGE:
All honour
All glory
All praise to You

Friday, March 12, 2010

22 things for 22 years...

As my 22nd year ushers in here are 22 of the many remembrances of the year:
  1. Florida trip over spring break
  2. Disney World on my 21st B-day
  3. Stellan getting sick and then healed
  4. Fantastic summer at ARCLC
  5. Spending time with my girls at the water park
  6. several fantastic weekend long baby sitting jobs
  7. Trail riding with Aunt Jodee, Savanna and Randee
  8. Making it "up north" to the Rose City house
  9. Michigan's Adventure with Randee in the freezing cold!
  10. Statistics class :(
  11. Dance class with Brittany and Rachel (TRAIN)
  12. Meeting Jane Elliott
  13. Saying goodbye to Stefan and Kayleigh
  14. Fun day at the park and pool
  15. Julia Graduates
  16. my JD on TV and Seeing My fav. Actress on stage again (laura)
  17. An amazing Fall as the Kuzma's Nanny
  18. African Children's choir
  19. Finding Ellie again and seeing pics of her at age 6
  20. Meeting baby Tryg
  21. Assisting at 2 home births AMAZING
  22. Chicago Trip and welcoming back some of my Friends who studied abroad last semester
What will 22 hold...

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Your Hands...

I have unanswered prayers
I have trouble I wish wasn't there
And I have asked a thousand ways
That You would take my pain away
That You would take my pain away

I am trying to understand
How to walk this weary land
Make straight the paths that crookedly lie



Oh Lord, before these feet of mine



Oh Lord, before these feet of mine



When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking


I never leave Your hands


When You walked upon the Earth
You healed the broken, lost, and hurt
I know You hate to see me cry
One day You will set all things right
Yea, one day You will set all things right

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking


I never leave Your hands




Your hands
Your hands that shape the world
Are holding me, they hold me still
Your hands that shape the world
Are holding me, they hold me still



When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave You when...

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave...


I never leave Your hands


JJ Heller



Monday, March 08, 2010

blah

Gray days in my heart



When I miss the bright days



And want to run away


Maybe get lost here



When what I need to do is focus on this


I am stuck in the tension of this week...
I always suck at transitions
Especially birthday week

I want to be so much more
I can't stop dreaming about a future
catching babies
raising babies
traveling
Planting myself firmly in the soil of Holland

There is so much in my way it seems
but if it wasn't meant to be I'd like to think the Lord would take the desire away...

and

If it is meant to be... wouldn't He tear the walls down?


I think it is time for a bubble bath and a nap