It's A Do Over

"Joy comes in the morning." Psalm 30:5

I've read this verse many times before, but never did it click in my mind what exactly this verse meant.
Life can sometimes be stressful, or disappointing, upsetting, or angering, when I say sometimes I mean a lot of the time.  Things don't go our way, or someone says something that upsets, or hurts us, and we let the emotions for those negative moments consume us.  We allow those few moments to determine our attitude, our actions, and how the rest of our day will be.  But ultimately it doesn't stop there, we carry those emotions with us and we let them determine our  tomorrows.

We aren't promised our tomorrows, life is short, way to short to let something that happened yesterday, ruin our tomorrows.  "Joy comes in the morning" Psalm 30:5   When you wake up each morning, it's a do over.  It's a new day to fix broken relationships, send apologies, to choose a positive and joyful attitude.  It's a new day to let go of what happened yesterday, because you can't do anything about what has already happened, and to make the decision that you will strive to make your tomorrows better than your yesterdays.

Tomorrow, when you wake up...let the joy come and fill your heart!  Make the decision to have an attitude of love and a mind positive thoughts!

Songbirds and Angel Tree

Hello lovely people!

I'm not sure if I have blogged about Angel Tree in the past years, but it's a wonderful opportunity for others to give a gift that will be used in ways you never thought possible!

Angel Tree is a yearly project that Reece's Rainbow holds. It runs from November 1st - December 31st.   You sign up to help a child, of your choice that is listed on their site, and it is your goal to not only raise $1,000 for the child, but also find them a forever family!

Now if you don't know what Reece's Rainbow is check out their site!  I'll go ahead and give you a brief summary now though.  Reece's Rainbow is a certified 501(c)3 non-profit organization.  They raise awareness as well as help find families for orphans with Down syndrome, and other special needs in other countries. :) Beautiful ministry, formed of beautiful people!

I have done Angel Tree 3 years in a row, and I love it more and more each year!  It's such a great thing for the children, because they have a dedicated advocate, and they get tons of publicity, in hopes that their mama, and papa will see them!  I just think it's brilliant!

This year I am an Angel Tree warrior for a sweet songbird named Lark.  Lark will be 3 years old in November, she was diagnosed with Down syndrome, and has the sweetest grin.

Here is an update on Lark from May 2013:
"Lark is wearing a hearing aid, is well reacting to the sounds in the environment, "sings" when she hears music.  Stands with help or needs to hold her hand, walks with some help, started to try to put the pyramid rings - sometimes needs help in this activity .  Very much interested in other children especially when the play around, started to repeat the movements - pushes the car, takes the toy, claps her hands.  Learned to eat cookies holding in her hand.  Drinks from a cup which is held by an adult."

Precious right?

Well I'm the lucky girl that gets to share her priceless grin, find her a forever family, and raise $1,000 for her! I take such pride in this opportunity!   I have been thinking of fund raisers that I can do to help me raise this $1,000 for Lark.  But I need some new ideas!  If you have any I would love to hear them! ;)

Any who,  I wanted to propose the opportunity to you all, if you are looking for a way to give this Christmas but aren't sure where to put your money, I would suggest Lark's grant!   Children have a better chance at finding families if there are larger amounts of money in their grants!  Adoption is expensive, and you can help with the cost! :)

You're donation of $5, $10, or $20 would help me reach my goal, and help Lark find her family!  There is a donation button on the left hand side of the blog that is labeled 'Angel Tree For Lark'  if you feel led to donate please do so through that button!  :)   I will also have a tab at the top of the blob labeled 'Shop', where I will have some Lanyards and Key Fobs for sale!  All proceeds will be donated to Larks Angel Tree fund!  :)   So take another look at this precious grin and consider helping Lark find her family this Christmas!

Your Heart Has To Be Right

Missions trips are fun, and exciting, they are eye opening and life changing, they inspire you, and they break your heart in ways you never thought possible.   But ultimately none of that matters if your heart isn't in the right place.  You can't go into the missions field, and be focused on yourself or your issues, or who said what.  Because when you enter the missions field, life automatically becomes about everyone else, your problems get set aside for the time being.  Life becomes about serving, and bettering the lives of others.

You see I would love to venture over to Africa at some point in my life, I truly would!  But right now I don't feel it's where God wants me.  When I jumped into the thought of Africa, I did it with the wrong heart. I had just gotten back from a missions trip to Mexico with my youth group that hadn't gone to well.  I convinced my self that since that one trip to Mexico didn't go well that, that was not where God wanted me.  Which wasn't the case at all.  I told myself that God wanted me Africa, and I tried to find all the reasons why I knew this was right.  But ultimately things with my health just didn't add up, neither did the money situation. I knew that this wasn't where God wanted me but I refused to acknowledge that.  I continued to pray and ask God to show me that it was right, and He continued to turn my heart back to Mexico.  He continued to remind me of just how in love I am with the language, people, food, the kids, and just the country in general.  I knew where God needed me but it took me a while to realize that.

When I went to Mexico in March, I had the wrong heart.  There were issues going on between myself and others that I let consume my heart and attention.  Because I let myself become consumed with those issues, I wasn't able to give my all  and serve those people, the churches, the kids at the orphanage, and the ones at VBS.  I realize now my  mistakes and my faults, and that I let myself get consumed and forgot the reason that I was down there.  God has since renewed my heart, as well as my mind.  He has shown me clearly where I am needed, and has re-lit the fire in my heart, for the country of Mexico that had gone dim.  

So please, oh please make sure your heart is in the right place before you jump into the missions field.  Because if we aren't 110%  focused on the people God has sent us to witness to and benefit, those people will be neglected.  They wont experience the unconditional and wonderful love of Christ.  We can't give our all if we are concerned with, and focused on ourselves.

Change Of Plans, And Content Heart

Some concerns have come up recently, and I have made the decision along with talking to my dad that Africa is not a wise choice at this time.  My mom believes that the reason none of these other missions trips are working out is because God wants me in Hermosillo.  Which I have been praying about, and since praying about it my heart has felt this constant ache for the people and the country of Mexico.   I'm in love with the language and the little tan faces, I don't think I can stay away from them!   I will be spending my time write now, finishing up learning Spanish and I will be going back down to Mexico sometime here in the next few months.  Thank you to those of you that generously donated to my Uganda Fund.  I plan to use that money for future missions trips to Heromsillo.  But for those of you that would like me to do so, I will refund your money.  

Thank you again, and please join me on this journey to be God's hands and feet.

I'm ready to go back.