sinus infection - oh how i love thy!

went to bed thurday night feeling great - woke up friday with a sour throat and a fever - how's that for a good night's rest?!

after sleeping most of the weekend - in the heat - i wasn't feeling better - so, i did what i hate to do - go to the doctor's - and i'm glad i did (did i really say that?)

not only do i have a sinus infection - but i have some fluid in not one, but both of my ears - fun, fun, fun! but i was able to get another $.10 off of gas after getting my meds. - the prescriptions helped me to push past the $50 mark - usually it takes me a month or two to spend that much at Gaint Eagle - but not this time!

here it is day 2 of meds. and i'm. . . not AS tired, don't have a sore throat any more but i am not stuffed up - where i wasn't before and my ears still feel oh so fluidy - i'm hoping it gets better cause i really hate doctor's.

francie

wow - i knew jr. was going to make a change in teams - but henricks? - what does that do for jeff gordon? -- will he still be the go to guy or will jr. be the man? i really thought he would go with rcr since that's where his dad was - but now henricks has them all. . . gordon, johnson and now jr. -- jr. wants to win a championship . . . well, that's good for the organization but what about the other two guys - gordon is hungry for #5 and johnson, he tasted the top and wants more too. not sure how it's going to play out - but i still like both gordon and jr. . . . and i can't forget about sweet little casey kane - he's so cute! but he's having a crappy season - but that's okay he's still a good driver in his own right.

okay -needed to vent on the nascar stuff -i haven't seen mr. slovan to compare rants - i'm sure we will do that on sunday.

in other stuff - visited my first vbs to rescue tuesday - it was cute - i sure am missing not doing vbs this summer at beaver - even though last summer was such a drama filled week, i can't help but hunger to see kids of all ages and backgrounds come to know Jesus - some who has never heard before. Father, may you pour out your spirit upon all kids this summer - may each vbs around the country be bold and share your name for your glory!

one other note - i was watching the replay of tuesday's sbc stuff this morning - i couldn't help but noticed during one of the motions being made by a messenger that in the background of the microphone area there was a lady knitting - how funny is that?!! she seemed to be very excited to be there and listen to the sbc poltics of the day!

okay - my time is about up - i need to venture south to cranberry for another night of krispy kreme fun!

isn't new suppose to be better?

well in the case of our new email provider - no -- so it's been one week since we switched to our new website and email - and still isn't better - aside from not really having access to my email much over the week - i'm not really liking the "new" and "improved" email. it's harder to navigate through - your messages don't really get deleted - they just move from folder to folder - and the spam - it's still there - isn't that the reason we switched? -- to decrease our huge spam in take. . . didn't work - and the site -- it's a mouth full to remember - i'm going to have to carry the site tattooed to my hand when ever i'm out and about in order to access my email - cause i'll never remember it. and to add to the frustration -- the email forwarded to us from the provider indicated that certain types of email will not be able to get through - such as hotmail, yahoo, gmail - etc. this may be seen as spam and not be allowed through to our boxes - that's not good - who knows how many emails i've missed or have not been able to send -- that's why i love the phone -- i can always pick the phone and call the youth leader or possible volunteer - but sometimes the first contact is through email via our website or another site i'm linked to.

but this too shall pass - just needed to vent.

francie

fresh fruit

not much going on -- finished the cooperative program course that apparently i needed to take but didn't know it until they placed a hold on my account to where i couldn't registar of classes - a bit frustrating but nevertheless the class is done - did learn a few things but not too much - but like my pastor said the lectures will be good to use for a new members type of class - being that southern gives us the permission to download and the us the lectures for free in churches - so, thanks to the cp monies my church has another free resource.

i'm going home this weekend - twice in three weeks - it's amazing! - but going home for the annual blair county relay for life - my mom doesn't ask much of me but this is something i know means alot to her - so, every year i make great strides to go home and send the weekend at madison park, walking and looking at all the tent set-ups in tent city -the the free meals from the outback are good too! but the high light has to be walking the surviors lap with my mom -- every year become more and emotional and means more -- to see the see of survior shirts and to reflect and remember those who lost their lives to cancer - it's something! it's also a great bonding time for me and my mom - we laugh, cry, and remember my grandma - who died of stomach cancer at 3am in march 15, 1993 - yes, you read right - on my birthday - so, my birthday is bitter sweet in many ways.

okay enough updates of my mundane life - i've been enjoying the fresh fruit that is now lining the shelves of my local stores -- everything from in season watermellon, cantalope, strawberrys, and right now my fav. peach!! -- i love the smell of a fresh, ripe peach - it's heavenly! speaking of fruit - i need to go and buy some more to snack on for tonights adventures at krispy kreme!

see ya!

going home next weekend -- can't wait. it's only been since march since the last time i was home - but it seems like forever. it will be good to get away and just relax, not to mention fussing over my mom for a few days. i wish i could do more for her but i'm not really sure what else i can do.

i wish i were going home this weekend - but i have a few miles to go before i sleep - my way of saying i have one more weeks worth of stuff to do before i actually vac. for a bit.

looking to take summer classes at the end of june and first week of july -- trying to figure out how i can swing two weeks of classes with two weeks in between them - to good counseling classes that i feel like need to take: 1. intro. in biblical counseling 2. biblical counseling through the psalms - that one sounds the coolest but it's the earlist one at that - not sure if i can swing this one.

okay need to go and grap dinner.

francie

So, I click on the Altoona Mirror, the local paper from home, as I ususally do to just see what's going on at home and the headline chocked me up -- the Altoona Alliance Church burnt down on Sunday afternoon. As the pastor and a few of the leadership were praying in the worship center, they were interupted by folks yelling that the church was on fire -- the article read that the church was totalled. The pastor was quoted as saying that the church wasn't the building but the people, as he turned to and pointed to members praying and singing together in the church parking lot.

My heart went out to them and as I pondered all night at Krispy Kreme I though how sad it's going to be to drive past that spot when I go home in a fews and see the devastation. And then in today's paper there is this picture. A shell of what was the Altoona Alliance Church. I read the article but my eyes kept going back to that picture. What if it were Beaver? What would be my reponse? The pastor noted in the article that the Altoona School's have offered the jr. high for their use on Sunday but he's not sure about where they will be come Monday. A 250 member church - what's next? Where do they go? It's amazing and encouraging to see the body extending love and compassion. The pastor also commented that churches and small business from around the Altoona area have offered help. But my second set of questions that came to my mind were -- what an opporuntity to get beyond the building?! To often we are tried to our buildings -- yes, they are nice and convienent but do they help or hinder our mission of spreading the good news of Christ? Again, I was led back to what if Beaver burnt -- what would we do? I don't have the answers to that. . . I would hope we would be like the early church in Acts and skip rebuilding and move to meeting in each other's homes - think of our brother and sister's in China -- their churches are the body meeting in homes and they are blosoming!

The article ended with the pastor inviting the community to join the church for prayer in the parking lot this wednesday -- i may not be able to be in Altoona but I can still pray. and that I will! One thing to be reminded of. . . God's presence is not in a building. He doesn't dwell in a room or parkinglot rather He has set up his dwelling in our lives - He has written His laws on our hearts -- He shall be our God and we shall be His people. So, despite the building being totalled -- Altoona Alliance still can rejoice and praise because they have the presence of the living God among them - the stuff may be gone but God isn't and will never be destoryed!

i'm sorry

two words that are so hard to say. . . why?

i've thought about that greatly over the past month and. . .

at least for me in my life the why can be answered with counting the number of fences i've hedged myself in with or the height of the walls i've placed around me in order to protect myself. i first have to stop feeling attached and start allowing God to defend me to protect me -- there is no way i can protect myself better than my Savior. so, i allow pride, guilt, shame, hurt, pain, selfishness, anger, embarressment, and self to mound a defense which usually leds to further pain, hurt, and such to those around me and to myself -- all in the name of self preservation.

when one does this, one can go on with life like nothing is wrong - basically cutting the branch off that is wounded or is hurtful - thus, giving the impression of no pain - but that's not the case -- it's just an illuion. the pain and hurt is buried beneath the feelings of defense. it's only when one allow's God's healing Words to be like a saive and begin to fight off the infection - that's when the healing begins and the defenses fall.

it's at the point when "i'm sorry" doesn't seem too hard - but yet it is - what's the reason now. time, distance, fear of rejection -- all rooted in a spirit of timidity that Paul assures me that is not from my Father -- I have a spirit of sound mind and life that my Lord has given me -- I just need to recieve it and wear it -- basically, i need to trust - trust not in me or man - but in God, my redeemer and friend.

the time is now - that's coming clear to me -- so, i will praise Him - because healing has happened, i can forgive and seek forgiveness - not because of how i feel but because of in whom I belong. i can't be in Christ if angry, bitterness, and strive is in my heart. that's not Christ's character and thus is can't be mine -- i need to love without ceasing, i need to be gentle and kind. i need to seek them over me - i need to put them before me. God took me away in order to speak words of compassion to me - now i need to do the same to those who have hurt me and i've hurt. we all made many errors in judgement - but it's now time for me to step out and drop my defenses and trust God to do the rest. 2 wrongs don't make a right -- i miss them -- i miss you out there.

spring is here and so are finals

man i just took exams in both of my classes and don't even have the grades back yet and now it's finals. so this weekend will be caughting up on reading, watching the final few classes, and studying my butt off! Thank goodness i have a few days off this weekend.

as i look out my office window, the trees outside are so green -- i love this time of year - the smell of fresh cut grass, the flowers - i'm thinking i'm going to go to walmart and buy flowers to plant rather than try the seed thing again this summer. i purchased tons of flowers last week for our open house and they were nice and cheap -- not to mention i don't have to wait for them to grow to see the flowers bloom.

had an interesting week - was accused of not paying my rent and thus, almost evitted - went to the court house and found out who really owns the house i live in, pulled over in beaver and played the dumb girl thing and had the cop feel bad for me, found out that one of my worst days at krispy kreme ever was not a total waste -- the easter weekend saturday i managed to tick off a lady in drive thru resulting in a 800 complaint call and get secret shopped all in one 6 hr. shift. BUT. . . yesterday the retail and site eval. came back and wow i didn't do too bad -- although i forgot to upsell - the secret shopper had nothing but positive things to say about my service - and to to boot she nailed me both in store and through drive thru - it was nice to go in last night after some very long days there to be recongized as having done a good job. i'll admit, i was proud because that day sucked really bad - but God was in control and turned my crap into beauty. also this week, i've had the best conversations with several of my volunteers -- it's refreshing to know that God not only sends folks to help serve but also for us to minister to them as well -- I praise God for the Becky's, Paul's, and so many other volunteers who give up time, talents, and resources to just be available and to see God use them. I met Pizza Joe himself - that was cool!! who would have thought a chicken club 7" round pizza during lunch time would result in my talking with Joe who started Pizza Joe's -- he didn't have a name tag on nor did he tell me who he was but from our conversation i knew -- sharing that with Kevin was cool because i remember 5 years ago being told Kevin needed to meet that man and to know that God got ahold of Joe and now he's being discipled and is sowing into God's work - that's cool -- i began to think if maybe that's another reason i'm at the Kreme to not only have a personal witnessing ministry but also to build relationships with Johnny Paycheck and others inorder to have them meet Kevin and be used by God to sow into this ministry. -- it's funny, with in one week of each other I will celebrate 5 yrs. at the Mission and 1 yr. at Krispy Kreme -- God's got a sense of humor!

okay - this post has been so random but that's really how i feel my life has been the past month or so - randomness that leads to me seeing God in the most cool ways

tonight i get to celebrate with my friend jessica -- twins!! And I praise Him for those He has put in my life and those He has removed from my life -- it's all for His Glory. life changes, people change but God never does -- that's a promise to build on.

i can't sign off without commenting on this -- today is the national day of prayer -- i understand why we have it but shouldn't every day be a national day of prayer? shouldn't we always be communing and communicating with the Father -- Isn't that a lesson we learn and see modeled through Christ? Why is it that the lowest attended services in churches are prayer meeting if churches have them at all? now it's like me calling the kettle black - i'm not able to attend beaver's prayer meeting regularly - they are on wednesday's and i generally am working - but that doesn't stop me from praying - but i am missing out on a huge blessing -- if you've ever attended a prayer meeting - a real meeting where the spirit leads and not the clock - well. . . then you know the power that God displays through and to those doing battle on their knees! some of my precious God moments are with students in prayer or at my church with my spiritual family on our knees praying for God's leading, for God's man for our church, for healing, etc. i would have to say the best program or event i've lead at the mission was when i first started and we had to down-size. . . morale was low - God put on my heart to prayer - and weekly, 3 of us would meet before chapel at 7:30am for intercession -- how powerful!! and then where was the thursday morning prayer times on campus -- only 2-3 of us but we had sweet fellowship and most defiently we were in the presences of our Savior - kneeling at the throne of Grace even though we were in Skye Lounge. I trully believe God will not heal our land or churches until we cry out - not just for help as the children of Israel did in the time of the judges but in true heart and gut repentence - that will only happen when we bow our knees and hearts to be still and allow God to try our hearts and show us the evil and allow Him to be the Redeemer - to clean our hearts.

Let's not just pray to day but everyday!

did you ever have one of those weeks where you just didn't feel good but didn't know why -- well. . . that's been me this week. not sure if my sinuses are whacked out and causing these headaches but i've not had headaches like these since my infamious head being eaten by my ghetto van a few years back. the headaches associated with feeling like i'm going to toss my cookies and even some unbalancing when i walk or move is very familar to the vertigo i experienced with my head injury -- all i've wanted to do is sleep - but i can't - open house looms in the near future. as much as i hate doctors, this is too weird for me - i just may have to break down and visit dr. michelle in chippewa.

other than feeling not to with it, i'm a bit behind in o.t. - have exam this week - but haven't felt like studying - now i have to cram - it's due tomorrow - got to love it! why does it seem everything hits at once - i have exam tomorrow, i have two groups coming to the mission - which they are overlapping a bit, and it's my week to clean the church -- it's going to be a long sleepless weekend.

so what's my problem? why am i late every week? it seems that no matter how hard i try - every sunday i'm late for church -- today was one missing shoe. it seems that satan is working hard to cause me to be distracted - well . . . it's not working!

today was great - i love hanging with folks in my church. i think one of the smartest moves we made was to have the lunches every sunday after church - it's such as great time to hang and to family together - breaking bread and just being with each other. i love laughing with my family. i love sharing what i'm learning and picking pastor less' brain in certain profs. i love that i get feed - and feed well!!! but mostly, i love just being real with each other. the next challenge is me taking on the main dish for one sunday -- they need to see i can cook!

today was great to hear brother jim speak -- to hear what God is doing in uganda -- wow! and jim's message - so ties to the book i just read for my o.t. class - i love that God is connecting the dots for me in what i'm learning.

okay time to go check my laundry

so, i'm sitting here waiting. . . waiting for my volunteers to arrive. i can't start anything that needs to be done for fear they will come and i will not be ready for them and i can't go anywhere for fear of not being here when they get here. . . so, i sit and wait. if you know me, that's not my strong suit. but that's the game i play in my job. . . hurry up and wait!

so as i wait i thought i would just update for a bit.

i hate this weather -- it needs to be nice -- not that i'm ready for the hotness of summer but i'm so tired of being cold. and to make matters worse. . . all of my inside projects for groups are about done -- it's needs to get nice so i have things for groups to do.

open house is coming up and you all know i l - o- v - e them! i think that's enough said on that!

tried to take my n.t. exam last week - but couldn't -- they e-campus portal was being updated and was unable to log in -- so, now i have two exams this week to take - got to love it! getting ready for summer classes and going to ky - looking forward to venturing south and being on campus as a real student.

had easter with my pastor and his wife and another church member -- actually it was fun! went to geneva with jeff and he actually dated my roomate - a bit weird but it's cool to know there's someone else in my church that can understand me a bit.

okay, my group is here -- need to go

reconciling what was with what is. . . why is that so hard to do? in many ways it feels like a life time ago but really hasn't been that long. yesterday i was told i was quieter than usuall - yes, i'll admit i was a bit stoic but not because i was mad at anyone as this person thought - i was just wrestling with how to move forward without losing or forgetting what was behind. last week's venture to gcc was a reminder of what was - strange but a good reminder. yet what's ahead excites as well. growing wings and flying all part of the cycle of life - if birds never flew they would surely die.

as a first semester freshmen, i had to read a book entitled - you can never go home again - at the time i thought it was stupid and one of those required things i just wanted to finish to check off of my list - but too often over the years, i've referred back to that book or let's say just the title -- "home" whatever that is for you - whether it be a physical site, a residence, a job, a person, etc. - will only remain the same in your head - it changes and grows just as we do being away - sometimes the changes are too great for one to go home again. that's what i'm pondering.

in other news: my second critical book review is done and in the can - ahead of time - go me! this one was harder despite having completed a first of it's kind ealier in the semester - it was harder because a 49/50 on the first trip out lends it'self to alot of pressure. i actually think this one took me longer to finish.

priase God for the second job - i've needed the funds really bad lately -- extra fees for school that i was unaware of, twice broken down car issues, repairs in my apartment . . . -- God is so providing for me and i still have money to eat -- and eat healthy i may add!

okay, i guess that's all for now

birthdays, broken cars, and the bible

well, march 15th has come and gone and in true francie birthday fashion it was interesting. i had desired to go home and be with my parents but my car had other plans. instead, i spent the day tyring to get my car fixed to no avail and enterprise didn't have a car to rent me - so, i make that sad call home telling my mom i wasn't coming - i was crying, she was crying - it wasn't pretty. being a good supportive mom, she encouraged me and told me not to cry that i could just come home later or over the weekend - but it was my birthday and i wanted to go home! so, i take a shower to get the grease off of me - i decided to take a walk, not like i hadn't walked enough that day - 6 miles total in dealing with my car - but i just needed to blow off some steam and chat with God - when my phone rings - i was told that i was having visitors in a bit. so, i take my trash out and wait - what started out as a crappy day ended very well - my church family came over and had a party for me - it was nice - i may not have been able to be with my blood family - but my spiritual family was even better.

the next day i was able to get my car in the garage and get a car from enterprise - my weekend at home with my parents was salvaged! i had decided to give myself a birthday present - a tatoo - i've always wanted one - but instead of a tatoo, i purchased AAA plus - my membership had lapsed and i hadn't gotten around to renewing it - Happy Birthday to me!

in other news, my classes are going very well! i finally got the grade back for the book review i did - the one where i was kicked out of the lib. in ambridge - 49/50 or a 98% -- i was a bit worried - i can write that's not the problem - the problem was i wasn't too certain as to the structure and format of the actual paper -- i've never written a book review to the standards that was called for - and the little style manual didn't have the examples attached to it as it showed it did in the book - so, i was working in the dark. my n.t class is great too - my midterm was easy - haven't got the grade yet - but it was great to compare the gospels in the way we did and i'm looking forward to deeper study as the semester rolls on. right now, i'm chewing on the books of ruth, judges, and I sam. for o.t. - wow - so much i've never realized before! i can't believe i'm almost through with my first year of seminary - but i'm not done for the year - summer stuff is calling my name -- i'm so looking forward to venturing to ky and spending my two weeks on campus meeting profs. and experiencing seminary life, even if it is summer mode.

okay enough for now - need to get back to my studies.

francie

sadness, the order of the day

so i get up this morning venture around beaver county into ellwood city to check on the toiletries donation boxes - i go to my office all excited to report and what am greeted with. . . but sad new. it appears the body found in a field near the lawrence county vo-tech was that of one of our clients of family care -- it appears the lady was beaten and her throat slit - she was found naked and bearly recogizable. this lady was a client of family care - i spoke with her about two months ago when my co-worker was off sick and i was filling in - my co-worker shared at that time this ladies background and tragic story with me -- but she also shared how she was making some headway in sharing the gospel.

and now this. . . my co-worker is upset - it's a sad state of afairs - and then there is the family -- of this lady -- if you read this - please pray that God will pock through the events to heal and save.

this is the 3rd killing in the past few weeks - last week a body of a lady was found in one of the housing projects near our old thrift store/warehouse -- that lady was a former resident at covenant house -- as we talked at staff meeting yesterday and again today - the urgency to share the good news with each we come in contact with - whether at the mission or just in our every day lives is great and we must never overlook it or waste a moment God gives us - because it just maybe the last moment's for a person to draw near to Christ.

this is a great wake up call to me and my fellow rescue mission missionaries - please pray for us - matt, joe, bobby (staff in the true life men's programs) - linda, mitch, ron, alyssa (staff and volunteers in family care) - brenda, vickie, jackie, ruth, liz, jant, and a few others i can't remember (staff at our covenant house, women's shelter) - marisue, manny, mocher, miss nettie, lenard, and a few others (staff at our sankey after school center for children and teens) - kevin, marylee, dawn, lorrie, kathy, chuck, ed, and myself (staff in the admin. areas of the mission) - please pray for us.

making sense of this book

who would have thought this little 136 page book would be the wild goose at the end of a long chase?! saturday i set out for ambridge to read this book in order to write a paper that night and sunday - well. . . that would prove to be harder than it seems. i'm sitting oh so quietly, which i know is hard to see me being quiet, but i was! i was lounging on a soft sofa reading said book when security come over to me and asks me who i am - now the desk guy knew i wasn't a student - but i was sent over to the lib. from the lady in the book store - he told me i could read the book as long as i didn't leave the lib. with it - so i'm thinking it's okay - i was wrong - security proceeds to tell me that i would have to leave - so, i pack my bag up and head out - i spend the rest of the night driving all around the area trying to track down this book - which i didn't find. i was going to go to grove city college and read the much thicker alterative book but due to the ice storms yesterday - was unable to do that -- so, i get up today and call the lady at the seminary bookstore - she tells me they do have it after all - i venture back to ambridge and explain my adventures on saturday to her - at that same time - said sercurity boy come in and takes over the story -- he tells me he was sorry for being so rude and says he didn't have all the facts - but now it's monday morning - my paper is due today -- well . . . i'm a bit late - my prof nows and is okay - i will have it done tonight and emailed in w/o any deductions - God's gracious! -- my point is -- in a way - i'm glad i couldn't read the other book - it sounded too technical and sciency for me - this book is actually really good - and more practical to my daily walk - not to mention it's shorter! i've been a student all day - minus the few church visits and donation box visits i've done -- it's been nice to put being a student ahead of work in both areas of my life. even in being a student i'm still the mission worker - God's blending my many worlds to fit together -- sitting in the beaver lib. today reading - i sat beside a young guy who had a book i purchased at ollies a few months back - i asked him if it was good - we started talking about the whole emgerent church thing -- come to find out he's a pastor in new brighton and actually has heard me speak on the mission - i've been to the new brighton clergy meetings once - he told me to stop over some time -- stink'n cool - in the past few months He is opening several key doors in beaver county for the mission -- it's cool for me to see this - i've spent so much time hitting and missing in meeting pastors and trying to get our name out there in five years at the mission -- what will be even more cool is when we have an office in the area -- doesn't hurt that i may be at my church -- and krispy kreme - wow - saturday night at hanging with diane and her boys -- fun but more importantly i got to share more about my walk -- she's like a big sister type - the whole catholic thing aside - i can see and sense she is open - she asks questions all the time - and last night carol -- who would have thought the songs God puts in my head that i allow to blurt out in singing would lead to being asked to bring in my praise and worship cd's to listen to on sunday nights -- so - next sunday we will be listening to david crowder, matt redmen, chris tomlin, and my boy arron shust instead of bobfm!

okay - need to go and finish my paper!

This reminds me of that Robin Williams move where the lady swam in the pool of pasta -- how cool would jumping into a pool of jello be?!!!!


I haven't posted any of these post cards in while -- truthfully, none have really caught my attention -- some are too much for me to post -- but i like post secrets -- it's interesting to see what people will tell a total stranger - knowing that their secret may be seen and read by millions -- what's the attraction to anonmity? is it that we somehow don't have to fess up or own/take responsiblity for our behaviors, actions, thoughts, or deeds -- or is it that just sharing with someone that doesn't know us and in turn we precieve will not judge us - is that what the attraction is -- is that what causes the release of guilt/shame - being peace to the person's life who is sending the post-secret? I don't know -- but from one own expereience -- when you share things from your life that are hurtful have brought pain or damaging - you do run the risk of being judged and hurt by others -- but that's why the scripture points out not to put your trust in men but put your hope in God! -- man only looks at the outward and what he can see, hear, and tough - but God -- God looks beneath and inside to the real you -- He's the one we need to share your hurts and secrets -- only He can being true peace and relieve -- man's relieve is but for a temporary period - but God's is eternal and life chaning! God forgives man doesn't -- man remembers and holds grudges - God forgives and casts them as far as the east is from the west - and now there is no condemnation! Do I hurt - yes - but not for what i was told i should be hurting -- God healed me a year ago - He touched me and made me whole -- i'm hurt because man only saw the surface and didn't seek God for what was beneath-- one day you will see me as God sees me - not for what i did in my past.

okay, the last time i tried to post there was an error in the blooger system and i wasn't able to - i lost what i had typed -- so, it's been about a month - have i mentioned i hate pa in the winter -- it's cold everywhere i go - the only one warm spot is my office at the Mission.

the past month as been a typical -- a bit different than in previous years -- figuring out this whole FACTS thing - paying my first installment of tution for the semester, ording books, forgetting E-campus passwords, speaking at several different churches, being sleep deprived, having interesting God conversations with kk co-workers, lamenting on those who have left the programs, seeing new people visit beaver, being seen as more than just that girl who works at the mission and used to work with college students at the beaver falls clergy meeting -- having them give me my first opportuntiy to "preach" - albeit, a short devo. but at a lenten dinner service -- something that wouldn't happen in baptist life, realizing my world and veiws are changing - i'm at beaver for the people not because it's southern baptist - denomination really doesn't matter to me anymore - really reconnecting with my roots, enjoying the new look of nascar.com -- that kasey kane is a hottie! - i think i'm going to root for kane, kevin harvick, and of course gordon - i think mr. slovan would smack me if i didn't. i'm realizing how much of a homebody i'm turning into - i like my bed, the down time. I'm seeing the book of james with new eyes - thanks mostly in part to pastor's deep teaching. understanding just because they are gone - those families will always be part of beaver - wondering if the vast majority of my life has been a waste - still not sure what's next - but okay with it -- missing somethings but not missing most of it - lamenting over sore toes -- in a nutshell that's been my month. there's more i could say - but i need to get ready for a vbs fair that's tonight - i get to go pimp the mission!!

grilled cheese and God

so this post really isn't about me - but it's still worth writing about.

today was the second installment of women's club through the family care dept. at the mission. usually during these women's fellowships linda has a lite lunch, a craft and a devo. time -- last week she felt God prompting her to not have a craft - but to just spend time in the Word. so they did - her report after was exciting.

well. . . today, i actually forgot women's club was happening until my 12:30pm appointment didn't show up and i needed to go get lunch. after the fellowship, linda reported that today was even more amazing. she saw one of the ladies step up and pray outloud - the lady confessed that God had spoken to her yesterday and told her if linda asked someone else to pray she needed to do it - that's a big step! and then linda saw ruby - one of the ladies - who has very low self-esteem and cannot read - share how God is anwering her desires to be more bold - linda shared how ruby just shined and testified - esp. to the ladies who came who don't know Christ. linda also shared how the ladies are just soaking up the Word - desiring to grow and feed more from Him then from the lunch prepared.

linda and i spent the remaining time of our work day just marvaling at what God has and is doing in the lives of the clients - even when we don't see it -- as i prepared to the stuff i need to go and speak at a church tonight, i couldn't help but be reminded that despite the budget issues, the ever decreasing staff, the tons of work projects and not enough quality volunteers - God's moving - and He will despite and inspite of this.

i look foward to hanging with the awana kids - it wasn't too long ago that another group of awana kids and workers ministered to me when i was in need and i was there to speak to them - God's body is awsome!

francie

it's january. . .

it's january and it's warm. . . how rare is that for pennsylavania?

it walked out of my house this morning at 8:30am with a short sleeved t-shirt on ready for another day of crm fun - and it was pleasant out!

the world's coming to the mission! this saturday night kevin will be picking up a gentlemen from hatti to spend several months learning english and just being mentored and adapting to our culture - how cool is that?!! kevin shared this rare ministry opportunity a month ago at etl and we've all been praying for ways to help minister to this man. it will be great to sit and hear him testify to what God is doing in this country where vudo and witch-craft run rampid.

krispy kreme continues to be an adventure -- the new 2nd shift manager, derick, has been opening up not only about work related things but also about life - i've had open doors to drop Jesus into the mix! and it amazes me that these two vastly different worlds click -- both for thanksgiving and christmas events at the mission -- the krispy kreme folks all were so interested to know what was going on and why - several even donated towards the projects.

gearing up for another semester of learning -- 3 classes this time around - my now fulltime! --

my car's fixed - oh wait -- didn't post on my lastest car adventure! well. . . picture it: 3am i just go to bed after a fun night of dounuts, sleep for a few hours - wake - shower - roll out to make it to etl and what do i see? . . . you guessed it! glass all over the road - once again my knack for car disasters hit -- my car was hit -- blown tire - my side mirror. . . totally gone! and dented wheel well and fender - but for once, i had an accident that was, for the most part, easily fixable - after police reports, insurance calls and stuff like that - the ghetto beast rides again - complete with a new windshield! - NO MORE PARKING ON ROUTE 18 - it's the side street for me.

christmas was restful - home for a few days - it's now time to get into winter at the mission mode - weekend groups, vbs fairs, getting ready for the dreaded spring open house.

a new twist for this winter will be the girlscouts of beaver and lawrence counties hygiene products drive and events at the beaver valley mall - a day of mall sitting, smiling, saying the girlscout pledege. .. say it with me . .. on my honor i will serve God my country and to live by the girl scout law - or something like that.

i'm personally doing well - tired - my sinus infection kicked my butt - but i'm slowly regaining my strength. God rocks - he continues to guide me and reassure me He's got my next steps - even though i'm not sure.

but i guess this is long enough for now -- until next time. when i'm sure it will be butt cold and snowy!