Simon Says Hi

Hi

Simon saw his picture on his Uncle Scott's computer and he kept saying "Hi" and waving to himself. It was so cute!

Well, the reason I'm blogging less and less is because we cancelled our internet, thinking we could get dsl. We were very surprised to discover that dsl is not in our area. I will not say anything about SBC because someone I know and love works for them. (right, Ashley?)

We would remedy our situation with dial-up, but Matt recently installed a new operating system on our compuer--Linux and our current modem is only Windows compatible. And then we will have the issue if picasa and hello are Linux friendly.

BUT we are waiting until we MOVE! Whoo-hoo! Last Friday, our realtor came over with an offer that we accepted! So our home is under contract, but of course, we are still in the 'option phase' where anything can happen with inspections, appraisals, and the buyer's loan. He wants to close OCTOBER 21st!

Ow, I have a toothache.

So, please pray for everything to go smoothly with an Oct. 21st closing. Then we'll see where God puts us.

Keep praying for Nancy and Josh. Nancy called on Saturday, relieving my immediate fears for her safety. She said they were in California, but in a nice way, she wouldn't give me the address b/c she knew I would have to tell the authorities. Somehow someone sent them money for bus tickets to CA. I didn't know teenagers could just get on a bus without ID or anything. That's crazy in and of itself.

Well, my immediate fears were relieved. But now I am wondering what next for Nancy? She can't finish her last year of school, I'm assuming, without being legally emancipated. What about her heart medicine-will she be able to go to a doctor? Is she safe? She mentioned Sat. that it's a little hard b/c she has ONE SET OF CLOTHES! Can't imagine that. Josh said it's legal for kids to work in CA at the age of 14, but it would be nice if he had the chance to finish his education, too. At least a high school diploma. And is he safe, really?

These are all just worries stemming from a limited worldly standpoint. Thankfully, God is bigger than my worries and His plan is above my understanding. I'm trusting, believing, and praying in faith for God's promises in scriptures to be fulfilled.

Tuesday Night Prayer

Well, here's a computer I can blog on for a second before I drive home.

Nancy (see previous blogs, Feb: "Sunshine and Rain at Once...) called me on Sunday afternoon, feeling sad and disheartened...I was able to encourage her in the Lord and remind her that the Lord has a plan for her. She hasn't sounded this sad in a long time, if ever. Nancy's been on my mind so much lately, even last week, I would wake up in the middle of the night and Matt and I would pray for her.

Then, later on Sunday, she calls in the middle of the night, saying that she and one of her cousins were going to run away and could I pick them up...but then she had to hang up the phone and literally run. I can't imagine running and jumping fences and even feeling like I had to run.

And, so she is gone from our sight for now. And that makes me really sad because she is like family to me. Really. And I'm sad not knowing if I'll see or hear from her again. She's 17, so I don't think she's considered a runaway. Or maybe we should say runto instead of runaway.

You know, the Lord can take what seems hopeless and turn it into something beautiful. Joseph said to his brothers, "You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good."

Please pray that the Lord would have his hand upon Nancy and her cousin Josh as they runto. Yay, I coined a new word. I believe that the Lord has set Nancy apart. Even in her brokenness Sunday, she asks me about the Bridge of Hope children with Gospel for Asia and how that was going. She said she's been praying for them.

Pray however the Lord leads you for Nancy, Josh, and their family. I'm believing in faith to hear great things about how the Lord has met their needs.

Read Psalm 116. It's Nancy's favorite.

Yay!

Yay. I can't wait to check out Lynn's xanga. She's in medical school and if my math is right, will probably be graduating this year from Southwestern Medical and then on to residency. We lost our good friends Lynsay and Craig to a residency in surgery in Connecticut a couple of years ago.

We have had our mail held for a couple of weeks, but we got so much mail this past Friday. (Cute card, Lynn! Simon Says, "Thank You")

Ha ha. Simon says...Get it?

Tall Decaf Non-Fat Iced Double Latte With Whip

We were so delirious last night, around 3:00 in the morning. Matt was saying that ordering at Starbucks was kind of like speaking in tongues. I guess the baristas are the interpreters. We so should have roused everyone for an exciting game of DISEASE!

Well, either I have learned how to finally make my own tasty latte or the coffee pot here is just better, because my daily latte is so good in the morning. At home, it's kind of weak. The only thing I have changed is that they use paper filters whereas we use the washable kind. Also, I left our more expensive has to be ground coffee at home and bought a canister of EXTRA DARK Folgers in the red cylinder thing. How funny if the secret to better coffee is a cheaper brand because that would be the coolest.

It would be like this summer when my Grandma said the dishwasher salesman said that the reason why a lot of people's dishes are spotty is because they use TOO MUCH detergent, filling in both the slider container and the open one in the dishwasher. He said we really only need to fill the one that closes; too much detergent makes the dishes spotty. I love finding out that less is really needed. OH wait, I just remembered that I am using Borden 1% milk instead of our usually generic skim (b/c Borden was on sale.) Hmmm....there are just too many variables. I'll experiment when I get home to determine the secret to perfect java.

We're going to hop on our bikes, when I finish this yummy coffee, and drive around some neighborhoods in Carrollton to get a feel for the area. This morning I had a nice surprise: a letter from my dear friend Dana was nestled between all of the boring mail that my parents brought us when they picked up Simon. Matt is on the phone chatting with M.Epperson. That's a fun last name: Epperson.

A Non-Pix Update

Well, we're housesitting for a GFA family for 2 weeks. It's been so nice, this last week, to be only 5 minutes or so from the office.

We had the chance to have dinner Wed. evening with a family here, and we are looking forward to sharing a meal next Monday and Wednesday with a couple of other familes. We normally aren't able to fellowship as much with our GFA family, so this has been nice. I am slowly feeling more connected and plugged in. Not that that matters.

Please pray that we'll be able to move soon!
Keep faith for us as mine sometimes falters.

Tonight is all night prayer at GFA which is also a nice time of fellowship. It's kind of like a lock-in with adults! Well, children and teens too, though as the night wears on, you'll start to see children one by one lying on the floor with their pillow and blanket. We just pray around them. Seriously, last month, I almost stepped on a child.