~School, school, school...

I leave for Honduras in approximately 90-ish days.

I'm not freaking out right now.  Why?

ENG 393
ENG 336
LIT 460
LIT 301
LIB 495

I have a garage sale this weekend to get ready for.

Needless to say, I don't have time to worry.  At least not about my trip.
However...my best friend leaves for Uganda in FIVE DAYS!!!!

As you can see, we're already kind of going crazy....

I'm going to miss her. A lot. 

If ya'll want to keep up with her, check her out at http://reynafuentes268.blogspot.com/

~Halfway there~

God is an amazing provider! I am so incredibly thankful for the friends and the family (and even some random people I meet at Dairy Queen) who have supported me financially. 

I hit the halfway mark this morning after receiving an email from someone wanting to sponsor me!!! 

I am excited, but not surprised.  I knew at the beginning of all this that I was supposed to go to Honduras.  God made that one VERY clear.  With this knowledge, I knew He would provide for my every need.  I'm just astounded at how quickly He's doing so! 

Seriously, don't EVER doubt God's goodness!  I'm writing this for those days when Honduras is going to be difficult and I need one of those moments where I preach to myself.

Music and such...

I'm a very music oriented person.  I wake up to music, I go to sleep with music.  Music is always playing in my car.  Music is always playing in my room.  If I'm cleaning the house (notice the if), I have music playing.  When I'm cooking, I have music playing.  And when music isn't playing, I'm playing it.  So, as you can see, music is a big part of my life.  It has the ability to encourage me or bring me down.

Last night, my mind starting worrying about Honduras.  Questions kept flying through my head.  Doubts kept pummeling my thoughts.  I told God, "I need some encouragement.  I'm not going to make it to Honduras without your constant reminders that You're with me."  And into my head pops the lines, "I know who goes before me, I know who stands behind..." And immediately, those doubts were annihilated.  I grabbed my iPod and started making a playlist entitled "Honduras."

Here's the list of songs that made the cut.  Songs that remind me why I'm going and Who's going with me.

1. Set the World on Fire by Britt Nicole (Say It)

2. Have Your Way by Britt Nicole (The Lost Get Found)

3. Glow by Britt Nicole (The Lost Get Found)

4. Whom Shall I Fear by Chris Tomlin (Burning Lights)

5. Always by Kristian Stanfill (Here for You)

6. This Too Shall Pass by James Curlin Band (Stories to Tell)

7. Go Hard by Lecrae Feat. Tedashii (Rebel)

8. Background by Lecrae Feat. C-Lite (Rehab)

9. The Lord Our God by Kristian Stanfill (Passion: Let the Future Begin)

10. Whom Shall I Fear by Chris Tomlin (Passion: Let the Future Begin) *this one needed to be on there twice!

11. Here's My Heart by David Crowder (Passion: Let the Future Begin)

12. One Thing Remains by Kristian Stanfill (Passion: White Flag)

13. Sing Along by Christy Nockels (Passion: White Flag)

14. Build Your Kingdom Here by The Rend Collective Experiment (Homemade Worship by Handmade People)

15. Anchor by Satellites and Sirens (Satellites and Sirens)

16. Forever Reign by Kristian Stanfill (Passion: Here for You)

17. Dare You to Move by Switchfoot (The Beautiful Letdown)

18. Worn by Tenth Avenue North (The Struggle)

19. By Your Side by Tenth Avenue North (The Light Meets the Dark)

20. Break Every Chain by Will Reagan & The United Pursuit Band (Hold On)

These songs have encouraged me in the past and continue to encourage me.  I am so thankful for songwriters who love Jesus and have a desire to worship Him through song.  Not only are they worshiping God in their own lives, they are leading others to worship God.  What a beautiful ripple effect.

~Winter Coats and Sunburns~

One thing's for sure, Texas Weather gets crazier every year.  I began Friday morning at the garage sale in a coat, a hat, a scarf, gloves, and a pair of boots. By about 10 am I had shed down to my t-shirt. Was I expecting to get a sunburn? Not on your life!

Garage Sales-
They're a lot of work.
You deal with a lot of stupid people.
People don't realize that when the tables are covered that means we're closed.
People don't realize that 8 o'clock does not mean you can come at 7 am.
People don't realize that we don't take kindly to your rude tone of voice and comments.


They're a lot of fun.
You make new friends.
You hang out with old friends.
You discover stuff you never knew existed.
You watch your friend pick out a pink toilet seat cover for his house...and watch his reaction when he realizes the seat cover is actually pink.
You get to talk to some really fun people.
You try on crazy clothes.
I had the chance to practice my market Spanish. That was fun!

They're a big blessing.
Blessing? What's that you say?
Yes.
A blessing.
I discover each and every day how overwhelmingly generous my church family is.
To those who donated things to sell, thank you so much!!!!
To the Garage Sale Queen, THANK YOU!!!! Not only did you allow us to hold the sale at your house, you brought along your reputation which attracted quite a few customers.  You have absolutely no idea how blessed we are by you and your husband!!!
To those who helped cart stuff around, set stuff up, monitor people, work the "register," y'all were all insanely awesome!!!

Overall, it was an extremely successful weekend!!! God provided in crazy ways and even threw in a couple cool stories. One of which is the story of an oven that wouldn't sell. We had it priced at $20, then $10 then "Make an offer" and finally, a "Please steal me" sign was placed on it.  In other words, we didn't want to have to move it again.  When the garage sale was finished, we left it on the street for someone to pick up.  Instead of picking it up, someone paid $30 for it.  God is not just in the big things, but in the little rain drops of blessings as well!