Counting

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, a time to give thanks for the many ways God has so freely blessed us!  With that said, here are a few things for which I am thankful:

Many of the small things like laughter, weekends, coffee, texting, music, and fall colors bring with them some of the simplest joys in life and make me smile. I think one really misses out on a lot in life if they cannot recognize blessings that some wrapped in papers called ‘ordinary’ and ‘familiar.’

Often, some things are not truly appreciated until they are no longer readily available at our fingertips. That includes the encouragement of godly friends who love the Lord, the time spent with a family who loves me, a wonderful boyfriend. These things can be taken away. I am so blessed to have all of these in my life!!

Perhaps the greatest level of thankfulness happens on the spiritual level, for blessings that are spiritual are the greatest blessings of all, are they not? What anticipation can compare to the hope of eternal life that I have through Christ? What greater physical treasure do I have in my possession than the inspired Word of God—God’s Message revealed to man? What other power should I desire to have controlling me than the indwelling presence of the Spirit? Who cares more about me than God Himself? What greater privilege do I have than to be among those called “the sons of God” and to have direct access to the Father through prayer? The list really could go on…and on…and on…for the spiritual blessings of the believer are endless. However, it really boils down to one thing: I am thankful to be “in Christ” through the blood of Christ shed on the cross for my sins.

Count your many blessings

name them one by one,

and it will surprise you

what the Lord hath done. 

. . .and the [unwelcome] countdown is coming close to an end:

8 days left with family and friends in this land that I call home.

The more touristy side of things...

We spent two days at the beach this week--just having time together as a family.

Of course, what else would we wear?

It has been a long time since I have walked on the beach...

Need I comment?

From the top of the sand dune.

Of course, we're only missing one person: Patrice!

This little guy was the cause for quite the experience (thanks Jared for your willing contribution!)

Breakfast and some more serious conversation at the cute little hotel that we had all to ourselves.

I really like this picture :)

We don't exactly have this in South Dakota.

Jared--complying with the adults in the group. :)

Teaching a new game: Catan!! I think there are a couple more Catan fans!

H.O.M.E.

After being gone from Brazil for three years, here are a few thoughts about the last 24 hours of my life:

"Senhoras e senhores: sejam bem-vindo a Fortaleza" --

I cannot describe how wonderful it was to hear the stewardess announce these words!

After six airplane rides, I could pretty much tell you all about the safety procedures in case of an emergency.

I now understand why Dad isn't all that crazy about flying: it is stressful enough trying to figure things out for myself, but then multiply that times six, well, yeah...

The view of the ocean and skyscrapers together makes me smile.

I think I've been away from Brazil too long: I am experiencing a little bit of what some people call "culture shock."

Seeing family after two years does something to you that doesn't happen on a regular basis....

I know it has been too long since seeing Jared when he is pretty much as tall as I am!

It may have been three years, but Brazil pretty much looks the same as I remember it to be.

I am h.o.m.e. with my family!

to let the cat out of the bag...

I really wanted to wait to let people know, but I don't think I can keep it a secret for much longer... (Yes, I'm extremely excited!!!)

Everyone at school keeps asking me why I'm so excited, giddy, glowing, and so on whenever I think about this coming summer... (Some are convinced that it has something to do with a guy, but of course it has absolutely nothing to do with a guy--unless my dad and my brother count.)

In case you haven't already guessed it:

I. a.m. g.o.i.n.g. t.o. B.r.a.z.i.l. f.o.r. t.h.e. s.u.m.m.e.r!!

That means I will be with my family for around 2 1/2 months!!

By the time this summer rolls around, it will have been three years since I left Brazil and two years since I last saw my family...

YES, I'M EXCITED!!!! SUMMER, I CAN HARDLY WAIT TO SEE YOU!!!!

Memories...

Merry Christmas! I hope you all are having a wonderful time together with family as you celebrate the incredible birth of Jesus Christ!

I started the following while I was still at school, but I never got around to posting it, so I thought I would do so now... =)

**************

I was listening to some Christmas music the other day [this was the middle of November]…You know, all of those traditional carols such as Hark the Harold Angels Sing, It Came Upon the Midnight Clear, The First Noel, and so on. As I sat listening to them, I was taken back in time…I was no longer sitting in the school library, attempting to work on my reading assignment that was due the next day. Rather, a dozen memories flooded through my mind: all of the sights, feelings, and sounds of Christmas rushed back to me. Suddenly, I was back in Brazil.

Suddenly, I could just about taste those pepper nuts that were still hot and fresh out of the oven. I was sitting around the table with my family, eating pepper nuts and sipping hot cocoa. We had just finished setting up the tree. All of the overhead lights were off…in their place twinkled the Christmas lights that had been in storage since the last Christmas. Yes, it was 90+ degrees outside and the fan was on its highest setting, but oh, those pepper nuts and hot chocolate sure tasted good, and the special time with family, just sitting there and reminiscing together as a family, more than made up for it.

Suddenly, I was walking around the neighborhood with my sisters, enjoying the evening breeze. The three of us: Patrice, Melissa, and I. We had fun just being sisters.

Suddenly, I was in Fortaleza, at the mall. The decorations were so beautiful. There were even English songs playing! To go gift-shopping as a family was so much fun, even though more often than not, we saw what store so and so had just emerged from...

Suddenly, we were in a frenzy to get ready for the Christmas Eve program at church. Last-minute preparations were being made: the costumes were ready for the live nativity, the food for the all-church potluck that usually followed the program was fixed….The little kids sang Away in a Manger, active little boys ran around in angel or shepherd outfits… We got to see various friends who were visiting their family…And oh! The amazing beans and rice and Brazilian BBQ--it all added to the atmosphere of the celebration!

Suddenly, I had just finished eating an amazing meal of an all-from scratch chicken fajitas, along with some of the most amazing Christmas punch ever. I was in the living room, the lights were dim, some kind of music was playing, I was surrounded with the family that I love (yes, even the dog and cat were nearby.) Dad opened the Bible to Luke 2 and began to read: “And it came to pass, in those days…”

Suddenly, it was Christmas Morning--that meant that the family activity for the morning was making food. Sometimes it would get a little stressful, but it was worth it because our extended family in Brazil--the other missionaries in our area--came over to celebrate the new-born King!

Then, just as suddenly…I was back at CBI, in Hot Springs, SD. It may be a while before I get to physically celebrate Christmas in Brazil again, but I don't think even the longest time spent in the United States could ever erase all of the Christmas-time memories that took place in Brazil-- my land, my home--with my family.

*smile*

A while back, I was struck by the significance of a smile...

It can make the world of a difference to have someone look at you and simply smile...

A smile can say more than a dozen words put together...

These people make me smile...

Who makes you smile?

My Life--here and now

Wow, can it only have been a week ago that I was headed to the airport to say goodbye to my family? Was it only a week ago that the dreaded time came when I reached out and hugged my parents, brother, and sister for the last time for two or three years? Was it only a week ago today that my life totally changed, and will never again be like it was a matter of days ago?

Yes, it was. It seems like it can't be already a week since my family boarded the airplane headed to Brazil, yet at the same time, it seems like ages since those tearful goodbyes took place and forced me begin a new chapter of my life.

Life is totally different now: it is so strange for it to just be Patrice and I sitting together at church, to be responsible for making sure there's gas in the car, to not have those good night hugs from mom and dad, to live with another family and adjust to their way of going about each day. . .

Fortunately, even though I will not be able to see my family for a long time, we do have the blessing of modern technology! Yay for email, Skype, and facebook! So far, I think my sister and I have received at least two emails a day from my parents! What would we do without practically instant communication?

Countless people have asked me "How are you doing?" To be honest, I'm not sure; I think the truth is still sinking in--maybe I'm subconsciously hoping that I will wake up and find out that this is all an awful dream. I really cannot put into words (I probably could, but I'm not sure I'm willing yet for you to read it) what I'm feeling right now. All I can say is that "God's Grace is sufficient." On my own, I don't think I can do this, but I'm trusting in Him to be my Provider, Protector, and Parent while I'm here, separated from my family not only by hundreds of miles, but also by a continent and an ocean.

The next few weeks and months will probably be some of the most trying times of my life, but as I read in Psalm 66 yesterday, "Come and hear, all you that fear God, and I will declare what he has done for my soul." I'm trusting God to show Himself very real and present, and in the years to come, I will then be able to look back at this time and say that He has been faithful, just like He said He would be.

Here is a song that I love and would like to share it with you:


Even in the Valley --
High upon this mountain, the sun is shining bright.
My heart is filled with gladness, here above the cares of night.
but I’ve just come though the valley of troubles, fear and pain.
It was there I came to know my God enough to stand and say:

Even the valley, God is good.
Even in the valley, He is faithful and true
He carries His children through like He said he would.
Even in the valley, God is good! God is good! **

This road of life has led you to a valley of defeat,
you wonder if the Father has heard your desperate plea,
But there is hope in that rugged place where tears of sorrow dwell,
Can’t you hear Him gently whispering: I’m here and all is well?!”

**Emphasis added--don't you love those words?



In Him Alone,

Angie

Becoming a Reality (in three weeks)

The days are beginning to come to a close; my time with my family is almost gone. There are precisely three weeks left until my parents, Melissa, and Jared board the airline at Kansas City Internation airport on June 9th, leaving Patrice and I here--HELP! As you can imagine, my emotions are commencing to make a very real appearance!

For the past ten days or so, I stayed with the Franklin family, whom I will be staying with after my parents leave. Because I just started a job, I really couldn't go along with the rest of my family when they went up to Montana to visit relatives and two of our supporting churches. It was during this time of separation that the reality of this pending "nightmare" began to sink in: it really is going to happen--I really will be living apart from my parents in the very-near future!

While at times the thought of going off to college sounds exciting, thrilling, and full of adventure, the accompanying implications of living here in the US, separated from everyone and everything that is familiar, is enough to dampen my spirits a bit. A few times throughout the last few days, I have felt almost overwhelmed with the realization of the reality of it all. "Can I really do this?" I've often asked myself. Each time, my mental answer has been: "Well, it's still a long time off in the future; you'll handle it when the time comes." Well, now the time is almost upon me, and I'm not sure if I'll be strong and get through it or not!

It was with such thoughts and emotions boiling near the surface of my heart and mind that I arrived at church last Sunday. As several of my past posts have already mentioned, we have been going through a fantastic series in Sunday school that is by Dr. Jim Berg, examining the character of God and confirming time and again that He is more than enough for our every need! By the end of the hour, I sat amazed at the way God works--the lesson was exactly what I needed!

Why do I say that? Well, would you believe that the very subject of the entire Sunday School hour was our emotions--the very thing I had been struggling with for the past few days? Perhaps the most revealing truth was that "my thoughts dictate my emotions!" So basic, yet so real! If I don't think about something, I won't have emotions about it! Conversely, in order to sustain an emotion, I must think about it!

Now, I'm not saying that in order to get through the next few days and weeks I will simply ignore the inevitable. No, the facts will not go away by mentally saying they don't exist. What I am saying, however, is that it was very freeing, to me, to discover that it is possible for me to control my emotions and sadness about this all! I do have the power to choose what I think about and by avoiding the negative thought patterns of "poor me" that have threatened to make their appearance with increasing frequency lately, I will also be avoiding the negative emotions that accompany them! I don't know. . . am I making any sense at all?

Needless to say, even with all that said, please keep me and my family in your prayers. While I know countless missionary kids have gone through this very thing and have survived (!), this is a first for me.

Trusting in Him,
Angie