Prayer Request

A friend of mine (she has asked to remain anonymous) has been told by her doctor that she may not live through the night. She has cancer and had stopped responding to treatments a month or so ago. I, along with her family and many of her friends, believe that this is not to be the end for her. God still has more glory to get out of her life. So, I am asking that those of you that believe that God heals would pray for the healing of this sister.

Thank you.

Memories ...

Tonight is one of those nights where you take the time to think back on your life ... all of the people and the little moments that made you into the person you are. And I have to say - although tonight that look into the past is making me rather sad and melancholy - I have had a really, really great life. Raised by both of my parents. Spent much of my time in church. Always had friends I could call on. Did well in school. But most importantly - I had a God I could always, always, always rely on. No matter what. He was always there. And He will always be there. And not just for me - for everyone that follows Him.

That was just a reminder to all of you - God is real. And He loves you.

Hey look, I'm posting on my blog!

As you can see, I am again making changes to my little corner of the internet world. Trying to put together a blog that says, "Hi, I'm Christine. Now please forget about me and focus on how wonderful my God is." Easier said than done, especially when you don't have internet access at home (this is a recurring issue for me). BUT, I am going to try to post once in a while ... really ... I am ... pinky swear ... (note the word TRY).

PAUSE

Hi everybody! Since I apparently have decided that I'm not going to be writing on here very often, none of you know that I'm at a leadership/discipleship/ministry training in the middle of the USA for the next 8 weeks (I've already been here for a week). I have SO much that I want to type out here and let all of you know about, but I've decided instead to put the blog on hold until I get home. I found that just thinking about what I wanted to share and how I wanted to share it was very distracting. And I want as few distractions as possible right now. I've dedicated and set apart these 9 weeks for the Lord and I want to keep them that way.

When I get home I will either be closing this blog or changing it all around. My life and thoughts have gone in a new direction (a wonderful new direction) and if I choose to keep this blog I'm definitely going to make it more of an extension of the new me.

I hope all of you will still be around in 8 weeks. Because if I choose to keep this blog I think it will end up being pretty inspiring. God is definitely working.

See you in 8 weeks!! :)

Allergy testing and H2O

The newest round of tests for my itchiness are allergy tests. I had the environmental test two weeks ago. They pricked me with 14 different allergens. Turns out I'm allergic to cats, tree pollen and dust mites. Now I'm in the midst of a chemical test where they put patches of the chemicals most commonly used in everyday cleaners and shampoos and stuff like that on your back and leave them there for 2-3 days. We'll see how that goes.

This morning I showed the patches to the boys I nanny. The oldest one (he's 6) was super interested and asked lots of questions. And when I told him the patches were bothering me he very sweetly offered to let me smell the cleaners in his house and he would watch to see if I sneezed. Later on he asked me if I was allergic to H2O. I said no and then he asked if there is carbon dioxide in H2O. Instead of answering him I asked him some questions of my own:
Me: "What does the H stand for?"
6-year-old: "Hydrogen."
Me: "Right. And what does the O stand for?"
6-year-old: "Oxygen."
Me: "Right. So is there carbon dioxide in water?"
6-year-old: "No, but there are two Oxygen atoms and one Hydrogen atom."
Me: "Umm ... Right."
He's too smart for me. :)

This is probably materialistic of me ...

But I want an iPad. Mostly because I want to be able to update my blog from anywhere. I have all kinds of adorable things in my head to tell you during the week, but I rarely succeed at actually getting them on my blog. So sad.

The thing is, I don't even really want an iPad. Too distracting. I need an update-bloginator. Someone should invent that.

BIG things revisited ...

A little while ago I wrote a post entitled "BIG things" about two things happening in my life that I couldn't share about yet. Well, now I can share ...

The big thing that I was excited about is the possibility that I may be going to the Philippines for a few months to help out at a Christian orphanage/boarding school called Happy Horizons Ranch. The ranch rescues street children and girls that are involved in sex trading/slavery. It would be a tough place to minister, but I've always had a call to help children and the stories of the girls that are there break my heart. Unfortunately, the door has been slightly closed (more accurately - delayed in opening), but I am still hopeful that God will open the door in His timing. Even if the door to the ranch ends up being permanently closed, I know that God will show me where He wants me to go and give me what I need to get there.

The other big thing, the one I was petrified about, is that my doctor sent me for a lot of testing because she believed that I had lymphoma. I have had intensely itchy skin for over a year and no one can figure out what is making me itch (before you say anything - it's not eczema or dry skin. Trust me.). After three blood tests, two x-rays, one CT scan and numerous doctor's visits I have been given a "clean bill of health" when it comes to cancer. No lymphoma. YAY!! Now of course we have to start a different round of tests, but that's ok. As long as we're working to figure it out.

In other, more happy news, my mom an Jay are married!! :) I'll post about that as soon as I get pictures.

But we still have God

I just attended the wake of a three-year-old little boy.

Three-years-old.

He passed away 13 days before his fourth birthday.

The casket was so tiny.

His mother was radiant and comforting others.

Why?

Because God carries us.

Happy Resurrection Sunday!

BIG things ...

Two major things may be happening in my life in the near future. One I am absolutely thrilled about and one I am absolutely petrified about. I can't share beyond that yet, but I need prayer. So if you're thinking about it ... please pray for Christine and her upcoming joys and challenges.

No matter what happens (or doesn't happen) I know God is in control and I know that He will give me the strength to do whatever He asks of me. But I need to remember to trust Him and have complete faith in Him and His promise that He has plans to give me a hope and a future. Thank you in advance for your prayers - it's so comforting just to know that the body of Christ can join together in prayer, no matter where they are.

"Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgements, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen."

~Romans 11:33-36