"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us" - Walt Emerson

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Jr. Youth Girls

Last thursday night I took my jr youth girls cosmic bowling. It was fun, they seemed to have a blast! It's great being able to hang out with them and get to know them as individuals. Just thought I would post some pics :)




Sunday, December 7, 2008

Why I love 'little people' so much..

Little people..
probably half our population;
Many unacknowlegded
and unimportant.
Just small beings
who happen to be.
I think people misapprehend children..
they don't see how much littles
are the ones who really "get it"..
They are the ones to make you smile
when all you wanna do is cry.
They trust and know that they are loved
and are being taken care of.
They always forgive!
They couldn't care less how you dress,
where you work, where you live, what you drive,
who your friends with..
Its you they care about.
When they hug you, they mean it.
When they are happy, they show it :)
When they are sad, they seek comfort.. from us..
They are honest.
They have faith.. faith that we forget sometimes.
They love unconditionally.
These are our little people..
Why are not more like them??

On another note, I found a place to live.. I'm moving this saturday! I'm pretty excited.. I think I need a big change in my life right now. Change is good. Only 2 weeks till I go home for Christmas! I'm really looking forward to getting some time off and going back home for bit. I think I need a break from being exhausted all the time. The other day I was babysitting for Ellen and Kaelyn was teething so I had to give her tylonel and rock her a bit.. it made me miss my babies in Lesotho so much, i just wanted to cry! As sad as it sounds, I've been getting better at forgetting.. you almost have to. Its difficult to explain, but forgetting is just so much easier than going day by day remembering. Anyways, today is sunday so hopefully get a little more relaxing in. Until next time. xx.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Flustered

As I mentioned in my last blog entry, I have a hard time not focusing on the future and just taking things one day at a time.. yupp, still difficult! I feel so flustered right now, I almost can't even think straight for some reason. It's really a wierd feeling.. I'm in a place of "unknowns" and I'll be honest in saying I'm really not enjoying it, i really hate making big decisions. The thing is for me, being on my own and all, with no real tie-downs, I could pretty much make any decision I wanted! I hate that!! It drives me crazy being at a place where I don't know what I REALLY want to do with my life. Not to mention I'm planning on moving into a new place, but its exhausting looking for the right place and trying to find a roommate. Then it gets me thinking about contracts I would have to sign and that means "tie-downs".. it scares me.. I'm trying so hard to trust God and know that He is taking care of me and things will work out, but it's not always that easy. Sometimes I wish He would just tell me what to do in these situations... but i guess then there would be no need to trust Him..

Friday, November 14, 2008

Feeling the exhaustion..

It's been a while since I've left a new post so it's about time I write another..

Pics from Pumpkin Carving last month






So life definitely hasn't slowed down for me here! It's funny, I take the entire weekend to recoperate and get rested (if i get the chance) and it only takes one full day and I slip right back into exhaustion. I am ALWAYS tired! I know I bring it on myself working so much, so I really can't complain.. but I do what I gotta do out here!

We finished up our 4 week series with the junior youth on wednesday which went really well. Not only were we mentoring/teaching the kids.. I think we were teaching ourselves in the process. I'm trying so hard to think about things in a "30 day" persective.. it's really not so easy as we get so caught up in things always looking ahead and planning or worrying about the future, that we don't just enjoy each day God has given us. I find for myself I am often way too focused on the future, always anticipating SOMETHING! Not that anticipating is bad, but it keeps me from living out today - if you catch my drift.. I guess the challenge for myself is to focus more on each day as it comes, enjoying it to the fullest, than constantly doing or planning everything in regards to the future. A big one for me :)

I went home last weekend to see Sylvia, Wilma and Lizzy one last time before they head back to Lesotho. It was good, but I really don't like good-byes.. I will miss them so much! But they are where they are for a reason, and all this is obviously a part of God's plan for them :)

The weather has been so moody here lately! Snow, freezing rain, sun, wind - take your pic. It's really not all that fun for driving, but welcome to Northern Alberta!

Whats next for me.. in all honesty, I still have NO CLUE where to go from here.. sometimes I get a little stressed about it all, but this is (as I mentioned) where I need to start taking things one day at a time and stop worrying so much about the future. Things will happen as they should in the right timing! TODAY MICHELLE, TODAY:)

That's all for now..

Thursday, October 23, 2008

30 days

We are doing a series in church and small groups called "Live like you were dying". It's only been the 1st week and it's already got me thinking a little deeper about life... Suppose I only had 30 days left to live, where would I go? What would I do with those days? Who would I spend my time with? What's imporant to me? Where do my priorities lie?? Alot to think about...

So yesterday was the 1st night doing the study in our junior youth small groups (about 8 girls in my group). It was cool to discuss this issue with them, and hear what they would do with their last 30 days. My girls are great!! They are all so lively and out-going, each with a fun-loving, unique personality :) Tonight the girls and I are doing pumpkin carving followed with some delicious pumpkin pie. Looking forward to it, should be a fun time!

Last weekend was great! Wilma, Sylvia and Lizzy were here and stayed at my place. It was nice to have the company for a little while. Lizzy came to the office with me for the day on thursday, it was pretty cute I must say. She was working hard and feeling very important! I'll post some pics :)






Anyways, for all you who read my blog, I'll leave you with a couple questions to think about. Feel free to comment! If you had 30 days left to live and you could take one last trip anywhere, where would you go and why? What one thing would you do that you've never done before? Ponder on this.. Where do YOUR priorities lie? 30 days left - what's most important??

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving

Well today is thanksgiving sunday - much to be thankful for! So much that we take forgranted.. I'm thankful for my wonderful family, I'm very blessed to have one. I'm thankful for my friends, life would be empty without them. I'm thankful for my jobs, my home, my car, my church, daily provision. I'm thankul for the freedom that we have here.

After coming back from Lesotho, I've come to see how I've taken things fogranted every day.. how lucky am I to have all of these things?? When I think about thanksgiving and all I'm thankful for, I can't help but think about the kids at MIS.. it brings tears to my eyes.. It's not fair how I can have such an abundance of blessings compared to what these kids have. They deserve so much more! And I definitely don't deserve all of the blessings that God has given me. I wish I could give each one of these kids what they so deserve most, a loving family. It breaks my heart knowing some of these kids may never know what its like to have a family and be loved in such a way. I want to be able to do more for these kids..

I'm feeling a little down today, wishing I could be there giving many hugs and kisses. I miss them so much, I can't even describe how much.. Their little smiles that lit up each time we entered the room, eyes full of wonder, and their little feet running towards us, tiny hands grasping ours.. If I close my eyes long enough I almost feel like I'm there again.... But then I remember I'm worlds apart from them... Life feels pretty empty without those little guys.. so little.. yet so incredibly important in our Saviour's eyes!

Friday, October 3, 2008

Where has the time gone??

Quoting Lifehouse:

"What day is it,
and in what month?
This clock never seemed so alive"

Seriously, I can hardly wrap my head around the fact that its ALREADY October 2008!! This time last year I was booking tickets for my trip.. eeek thats a whole year gone by in a flash.. I specifically remember the day we left for Lesotho, wow what a day filled with nerves and emotions, and now it's 8 months later. I miss Lesotho...the kids.. I hope God brings me back there someday.

Friday has come and I am completely exhausted!! I could barely pull myself outa bed this morning. My body is adjusting to working both jobs now, which means minimal amounts of sleep! But in time, I'll be used to it. At least I'm enjoying it, and they extra paycheck is definitely worth it! We confirmed our small groups at Junior Youth this week, so I am pretty excited:) I love my group of gals and I can't wait to get to know each one more!

~Sala Hantle~
(stay well)