Wrapping Up

Well....17 hours left!

I am "on" (working) from 4 pm until bedtime tonight. Once the Littles are in bed tonight my duties here will be finished. It's not real that we won't be the Big Sisters here when the Littles get back from break. But it is time. We move out and the new Bigs move in.

My car is gassed up, fluids checked, loaded (weighed down), directions printed off and GPS ready...tomorrow morning I will get up, get ready, and start my trek to Georgia.

I get to meet some new friends as Rose Creek Village (halfway point between Branson and Atlanta) where I will be staying the night. I get to go to an outdoor symphony with them. Sounds fun to me and I am looking forward to this time.

Sunday I will continue my drive to Georgia. I will basically breeze into the Mooney's (family I will be living with) and spend less than 24 hours with them before catching a flight to California!

My awesome family has made it possible for me to go and visit my sister Alicia for 10 days at no cost to me (besides what I spend in California). I am so excited! I will have time to think and process and enjoy the beach and most importantly enjoy the awesomeness of my sister's company.

I will then head back to Georgia and settle into life there and look for a job.

As I am in California...blogging and sharing some of what the Lord has been doing is top on my priority list. Stay tuned...

Things you can be praying for:

• Rest, refreshment, a good time of processing while in California.
• Continued Provision (finances, job)
• Pray for me as I transition and move to a new city and community.

Highlights

I feel like it has been crazy busy here since returning from pre-summer break. However, below are a few quick highlights from the following month:

Visitors: My cousin Jay and his family came to Branson for vacation and we got to have lunch.

Graduation: My Nonnie and Mommie came up for my graduation. It was a total blessing and so special to have them there as our class was honored and we remembered how the Lord has worked in each of our lives. Our graduation ceremony was August 7th even though we are not finished until tomorrow (August 30th). It is just easier this way.

Reconciliation: I cannot go into the details but I had a really hard, but really good weekend the day my Nonnie and Mommie left.

Rendezvous: One of the Littles and I went out to this coffee house in Springfield called Rendezvous. We both brought our writings and spent two hours reading them to each other. It was fun. We have been wanting to do this for a time, but it hadn't worked out. We got it though right before she went on break.

Parrots: One of the Big Brothers here, Matt, is married and has three kids (a fourth on the way). On occasion I go over and play. I love it. Below is a picture I took last night while babysitting for the last time. It's the best. It was hard to get everyone to be ready at the same time. They are precious and such a joy.

IMPORTANT Address Change

Please NO LONGER use my Missouri address. Where I currently live is considered a business address. This means that I can not fill out one of those nifty cards at the post office and ask them to forward my mail--they will not do it. On property, they will only forward two pieces of mail for me before they start trashing it.

If you mail something to me TODAY (September 20) there is a chance it will just end up in the trash and that would be tragic.

My new address is:

408 Hearth Place

Lawrenceville, GA 30043

Thanks!

Perseverance

We have three weeks left with our girls! CRAZY.

We just had a really rough room night. I time of the week that used to be what I look forward to has turned into something I dread each week. It ended up okay in the end, but Chelsie (co-big) and I are at a loss as to what to do.

The girls post-summer break starts in three weeks. This is a rough time. We are doing our best to be fully invested, but to an extent walls are being put up. We know we are leaving. The girls know we are leaving. I have a few girls who have decided a relationship with me doesn't matter and its hard. There are other girls here who are just really going through hard times right now. This has its good moments and its bad.

The really hard times here are what make the good times good.

I have said this before and still find it to be true. I am still savoring the good times, but I think the hard times seem harder because time is running short. I am not sure what certain relationships will look like when I leave here and I really have to trust the Lord with that and not try to take it into my own hands.

I am having a harder time being patient with my fellow Bigs. I try to not be selfish--but it still creeps in. I try not to be moody--but I am. I try not to care the girls reactions to me--but I do. I try not to think more of myself than I am--but I do. I try not to care as much about the people here--but I do.

Where is the balance in this time? How do we best love each other during this time of soon to be transition? How do I pursue others in a way that communicates to THEM that I care? How do I care for others in a way that is good for them? Do I turn a blind eye to things I see to make my last month better? Then is it really better?

Pray that I would have love.

Pray for wisdom.

Pray that I would not grow weary in doing good.

Pray that I would do good, love mercy, and walk humbly before God.

Pray that I would be selfless.

By they way...

I have found Galatians 5/6 particularly good for me during this time. It's about freedom in Christ, bearing each others burderns, loving each other, and not growing weary of doing good.

Need Met--Above and Beyond

Thank you to those who prayed for my support to come in and to those of you who gave.

I stated a need of $1000 and the Lord has provided $1100!

He goes above and beyond. Thank you to everyone who was one of God's tools in meeting my financial provision.