Still snowing...

Well, it is still snowing here! The winds are high, the temperatures are frigid (15-18 F), and the snow is falling. We've had close to 3 feet in 2 days. That's a lot!

I am still sick with the flu that has turned into a cold... I guess it's better than having the flu, but I hate the sneezing and congestion and eye watering. Gets old. Being outside right now makes me cough and the cough hurts my lungs, so no snow shoveling for me for a while.

Talk to you all soon. Keep praying for wellness and the safety of everyone in the snow!

Still...

Still sick with the flue for the second day in a row. I woke up this morning at 4:18, and I couldn't sleep. I was feverish and had pain all over my body. So I took some Tylenol, tried to watch some I Dream of Jeannie in my room, but I moved downstairs to lay down on the couch and watch some old movies. I was really out of it and ended up fallling asleep. I had to go to the office for a couple of hours to send in some forms for the youth summer camp, but then I came home right away and ate and slept and watched more movies and had a fever here and there with the painful cough. Oh how I hate the flu!!!

Well, it's snowing again outside... nice! Keep me in your prayers!

Again?!?!

Well, my record for not being sick is four months. I woke up this morning with a deep seated chest cough and aching all over my body. Yes, I think it is the dreaded flu. Right now I'm feeling OK enough to blog, but earlier this morning I was just out of it. It's not that I'm flat on my back sick, but bad enough to just be home and watch movies and TV.

Anyway, we had another good Friday. Adam spoke about dating to the kids. We had fifteen kids. This next Friday, we are going to start a "kiosk" -- a place where we can sell food for the last hour we are together (from 9-10 p.m.), and I will be leading the kiosk. I am excited about it -- we bought pizza baguettes, hot dogs, Oreos (difficult to find for a good price here, but we found them!), candy, and soda.

Yesterday, I spoke to the 6th-10th graders about prayer for the second week in a row. Last week, I spoke to them about boldness in prayer (using the parable from Luke 11 about the friend at midnight), and this week I spoke to them about persistence in prayer (using the parable from Luke 18 about the unjust judge. It seemed to go well... I got a nice comment from one of my friends in the church yesterday. I told her that I taught the kids yesterday, and she said, "You know what? I was talking with some of the girls, and they said it was so much fun whenever you taught, that you really take part in the games, and are just a lot of fun!" I thought that was so nice to hear because sometimes I doubt if I am making an impact, but it looks as though I am!

Well, I'm off to rest now... prayers for continued health are much appreciated!

Wow!

Last night we had 23 kids at youth group! 23! That's a new record. I never like to base success soley on numbers, but it is definitely a sign of success... the kids are inviting their friends who are inviting friends. So exciting!

Please pray for three of our youth -- they need to be saved. One is VERY close to being saved. Pray that the Holy Spirit would move on their hearts to be saved and would protect them as they make the decision to follow Jesus.

Blessings on you all and good night!

And so things get easier...

Things do get easier over time when love is lost, but at the same time it is still difficult because I thought I would be over this all a lot sooner. But I just need to allow myself to process every thought and emotion and bring it before the feet of Jesus, so that He can bring me to great victory through it all. It is like He is taking the broken pieces of my life and placing them into a beautiful mosaic -- which can't be seen unless I am able to stand back and look and look at each and every painful situation in my life through His eyes. Objectivity doesn't come quickly. It takes time. And I need to allow myself to feel the pain and at the proper moment to move on.

Well, on to other things... I have put up pictures of the Lighthouse Pizza party. You have to go to http://gepik.photosite.com and click on "Lighthouse Pizzakveld." (Sorry the active hyperlink isn't working.) Enjoy!

And so it is with love and all things surrounding it...

Unrequited love is painful when experienced. I've found it is doubly hard when everyone expects the best to happen, and it doesn't.

I am puzzled. I am hurt. I am wounded. I am human even though I am in minstry. Having God with me in this doesn't make the pain any easier, but He gives reason to hope and breathe and even love again.

For now... I sit and cry and come to Jesus... it's all I can do.