Redirected

I am in deep love with China. It is the place think of every day. When I think far away, I think China. It is the  only foreign country I have been to. My family knew my greatest desire was to go to China this summer. However, it wasn't working, which frustrated me. Show Hope deadlines were over, and at inconvenient times. They were the organization I wanted to go with. So I was really upset as I came to realize that was not going to be a possibility.  

Thursday I was redirected. A missions trip to Haiti. 

What? God I don't even know where Haiti is.

It was not what I wanted. It was not my China. My immediate thought was no.

I dug my heels in. I wanted China, and only China. 

But God took a shovel and removed the dirt. Suddenly I changed.

What's wrong with Haiti? Orphans are orphans, not matter where they are from.

My frustration turned to excitement and joy. I wanted to go so incredibly much. I couldn't stop thinking about it. It was everything on my mind. I couldn't sleep.

I couldn't get my mind off these precious faces.
If I go...
I'd be there for one week.
I would be helping with a VBS at a local Orphanage.
Spending time with the least of these.

You know how it works. After the happy moments, dark clouds overshadows my hopes.
What could you possibly do in Haiti?
You have no funds to take a trip like that.
Haiti will be nothing like China.
You're not strong enough for anything like this.

I have no answers. I have no idea what I could do in Haiti. I have absolutely no money. I am probably not strong enough. But I am nothing by myself. It's God.

But when I fix my mind on all that you are
Then every doubt I feel deep in my heart
Grows strangely dim
All my worries fade and fall to the ground 
Cause' when I seek your face and don't look around
Any place I'm in grows strangely dim.
~Strangely Dim~ 
Francesca Battistelli 

For now I am waiting, until I hear differently. But for now it is a clear, "Go."

Isaiah 6:8- Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

 

True Valentine

I am sure you all know what "holiday" is on Thursday, Valentine's Day. Personally I enjoy Valentine's Day, and it's not because I think it's romantic, or because I spend it with the perfect person. I just like the candy involved! ;) As I was talking to a lot of people, I realized I view Valentine's day very differently than others. I noticed some of this:

"Gosh, I really wish Thursday would just come and go."

"Valentine's Day... Ain't nobody got time fo' dat!"

"Maybe this Valentine's day will actually be enjoyable."

Don't get me wrong, I have crushes and stuff, but I don't mourn on Valentine's Day.

I have never once thought: "I wish I had a boyfriend to spend this Valentine's Day with." 

Am I weird?

I was reading a magazine (Christian), and it was talking about the different types of love. Eros (Greek for "Romantic" love) and Agape (Greek for "Christian" love). It emphasized that they were very different loves. It talked about how we should strive to act on Agape love, not Eros.

This brought me to a thought. "Why do we need a man-made holiday to express our love for one another?"
As Christians we should be showing Agape love everyday, all the time.
We shouldn't be showing love one day once a year, but all the time.

Here is my challenge to all your girls out there (myself included), this Valentine's Day lets strive to seek out Agape love. For now, put Eros in the closet. Truly act upon Agape and seek to love God more.

Dental Surgery

I am thrilled to say that Joshua's dental surgery went very well!

Out of the 10 teeth they said they may pull, only 2 were extracted!

Just two little molars had to come out!

Yayyy!

I came home to see this little dude zonked out on the couch.

 He was very drowsy all day from the anesthesia. 

He is doing amazing, he's such a brave little boy!

Not Just Another Face...

     1 year ago I sat here. A day like any other, yet nothing like any day before. A day that will live in my memory forever. 1 year ago, I saw the face of my angel. A precious boy who was alone, and hurting. A boy who need the love of a Mama, a Baba, and Jia Ting (family). I had no idea the journey that face would take me on, nor the joy that face would bring me.  

Did I realize that face would be forever etched in my mind.

Did I realize his laugh would forever echo in my ears.

Did I realize his name would be forever in my head.

Did I realize he would never leave my thoughts? 

Did I realize he would kiss my cheeks?

Did I realize that he would call me Jie Jie?

No

He was just another face. 

Another orphan, another boy, another child.

At that time.

Today I look back and realize I had no idea.

No idea that the face I was watching was the face of my brother.

That boy was my Di Di. 

The more I saw him the more I wanted him.

He was precious, adorable, and sweet.

I believed his name would be Levi. I wanted his face to belong to that name. Joined in Harmony was the meaning. As time went on and the name was rejected, I realized that was not his name. I honestly believe one day I will have a son named Levi, and he will be missing his arm(s).

**When I first saw Joshua it was in a video, not a picture. To see the video I watched a year ago, click here. (Password jake1)**

I'm Back

Hello everyone! It's Emma! Yes, I'm back.

It feels like ages since I last posted.

Weren't those guest bloggers amazing??

If you missed one: Michlyn, Hannah, Joy, and Leighanna.

I can't thank them enough! 

While I was gone, a lot happened! We traveled to Illinois to see Aaron graduate.

Although not all of us went to the graduation, we all did get to see him! 

He is different, yet the same. Stands taller, sounds louder, is skinnier!

Half of what he says I don't know what he's talking about. (Military language)

Lily and Josh were SO excited to see him! 

They played and talked to him. 

Every morning they couldn't wait to see Aaron.

While we were there, (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) our activities included:

Dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings

Laptop/Phone shopping

Bowling

Watching the Hobbit

More shopping

Spending time together!

Both Grandparents were there too, so we were quite the sight!

We had a wonderful time but Sunday night came and we had to say good-bye.

 His "A" school is in Illinois and is 200+ days.

He is an ETSA (Don't ask me what it stands for!) 

He'll be working with computers.

**

On another note. Tomorrow Joshua has dental surgery. Please pray for him, he got casted (again) yesterday and isn't doing well. Please pray his surgery goes well and legs aren't so sore!

 

Beautiful=)

Hey there! I'm Leighanna from Wildflowers in Bloom! I'm so excited to be guest posting for Emma today, yet at first when looking at her other wonderful guest posts..I was thinking "O mi goodness! What should I post about?! Everyone else's posts look so sophistacated and perfectly planned!" Well, I started writing about something that was an imitation of things I really truly think about...So, I took my "pen" ;) and decided to erase it all...And I'm here today, about to tell you of things I really do think about.. Anyways enough of all that chatter =) 

One of my favorite songs is Rebecca St James "You make everything beautiful"

The first time I heard it...I knew that song and the lyrics combined with the beautiful piano, and her voice would become a favorite, (and I hope it becomes one of yours!)

This song reminds me of so many beautiful things God has blessed me with.. 

-Patience to accept new things-

We all know life won't always be the same. We'll all go through many different things. Some will be easier then other tougher challenges in life. When we are tested and tried, God is making sure that we are perseverant in our faith with Him. As James 1:4 says; Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

-Guidance through life-

I mean, what if God just created us, and left, without any direction or instructions on what to do on our journey of life? However, because He is a merciful and kind God, He sent us instructions, and makes Himself available to us, whenever we need him. In one of Elisabeth Elliots books, she talks about her "911 biblical emergency number", except instead of "911" its 333, Jeremiah 33:3- Call to me, and I will answer and tell you great unsearchable things you do not know"

It's a inspiring verse, knowing that God is there for you..Whenever you need him, just like your local fire department. 

-Freedom-

God gives us freedom to walk away from our old life, all of our sins and havic, he allows them to be tossed into the sea, and forgotten . When I think of Freedom, I think of gorgeous, colorful butterflies, and when I was little my marmee put this verse with the thought of butterflies: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!- 1 Corinthians 5:17" 

While I'm almost done my little evaluation of all this song means to me, theres a last pointer that is very important! 

-You are Beautiful-

No matter what anyone else says, You are beautiful! You must remember that God created all of us with a purpose, (Jeremiah 39:11- For I know the plans I have for you sayth the Lord) and He created                   everyone in His image. 

I really hope you enjoyed this guestpost! Please stop by my blog when you have a chance, and thank you ever so much Emma, for forcing me to actually blog! It seems like its been forever since I've blogged, and I feel inspired right now to go blog on my blog! 

Have a wonderful day everyone! 

~Leighanna