MOVING!!!

Well I DID move in real life, but as for this post it's referring to the worldwide web move for db.  That is, to wordpress.  Within seconds of Julie's comment I was gone.

You can find me at www.keepingupwithdb.wordpress.com

Super simple, just change the "blogspot" to "wordpress"

Yeah boy!!!

db

Privacy

I always go back and forth about making privacy settings that restrict access to this baby, but then it's really just a hassle.  And am I really saying things that are revealing?  Bah.  ALIAS makes me think everyone is out to get me!

db

Haiti Prayer Requests

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Jesus, in Matthew 28:19-20)  

A group of us from Living Hope are going to work with Joy House ministries in Gressier, Haiti from June 17-26.  Our team includes: Jessica M, Brittney M, Justin W, Cary A, Josh K, Carlos C, Mike A, Melissa E, Dena & Allen P, Kristen S, Liz A, Chelsea S, Rachel A, Jenny K, Matt W, Grace H, Whitney B, Kristen G, myself and Butch S.

Here’s a rough itinerary, that’s subject to change when we get there but it’s the general gist:

Saturday (18^th)            Arrive, meet, greet, eat, worship, sleep

Sunday                          Worship Service

Monday - Thursday     9am - Noon:   Pastors Conference, Village Evangelism/Prayer Walking

                                       1pm - 3ish:     Kids Klub all ages

                                       4 pm to 6 pm  Church Leaders Training

Friday                           9am - Noon:     Village Evangelism/Prayer Walking

                                       1pm til ready:  Prepare for Celebration Awards; Worship Ceremony  
                                      *The service will be sometime between 4 pm and 6 pm 

Saturday (25^th)            Head home   (return to CS at 3am 6/26)

Prayer Suggestions

“…and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Acts 1:8b

THE TEAM:

- Focus on GOD and what HE wants from us, not our own agenda. Intimate times w/ Him; REVIVAL! Clarity in what God wants to teach us and how He wants to use us.  Use this to increase our obedience to Him.

- Our eyes will be opened to spiritual warfare not only in Haiti but everywhere; that we will become prayer WARRIORS.

- Literally broken hearts and tears for the lost; filled w/ compassion for the poor, oppressed, widows; hearts of flesh not stone.

- Unity & flexibility; we’d be an encouragement to believers in Haiti and Joy House staff.

- Boldness to share the Gospel!!  For Haitians to trust in the finished work of Jesus!

- Community while we’re there – no isolation; family-like bonds. Team members who still need financial support for the trip, increased faith

- Favor w/ communicating with Haitians; learning the language – pick it up quickly.

- Salvation for those back home; changed lives of believers praying and going.  Families and loved ones of those going: rely on the Lord and church body (salvation, increased faith).

-Diligence & faithfulness for our prayer warriors (200+) – that God will show all of us his goodness and that he is still faithful to answer prayer.

- Safety, against sickness/injury; hydration!

DANIELLE:

-HYRDATE HYDRATE HYRDATE! Hydration the source of all my requests!

-Malaria medicine: that I won’t get nauseas/sick (I stopped taking it in Nicaragua about half way through because it was making me so sick) I take it daily from the 15^th-July 2^nd! 

-Motion sickness (there’s a hot, bumpy, long car ride to Gressier) and in Nicaragua I didn’t make it!  Staying hydrated should help!

-Boldness to share the Gospel, I’ve learned I’m a chicken even in no-risk of rejection circumstances.  Also as I share with people upon my return, that I would not shy away from what the Lord taught me there, how He changed me, and where He is at work.

 VERSES on my heart as we prepare to go:

 Matthew 22:37-40

Ephesians 6:10-20
Psalm 73:23-26, 28
Joshua 1:9
Isaiah 58:11
Luke 10:2
Psalm 15  

Thank you so much for your prayers.  Without God moving, this is just another trip.  Love y'all!

db

Weirdo Wednesday

No it's not themed posts yet, but for whatever reason it's as if I'm on speed today.  I am like a bouncy ball being thrown off the walls in a rotating hamster exercise wheel (if that makes any sense!)

Today I learned a few things:
1. You can tell how bored I am by how much I post on Facebook.  Be it comments on other people's posts, or frequent posts of my own...if I am bored (which for the past 5 days I have been) I WILL post insane amounts of nonsense all over that thing.  I am going cold turkey on it right now though! AHHH!
2. I need to start praying NOW to let go of my husband/kids if I ever get any, and by that I mostly mean giving them over to God fully and not being possessive.  If there's anything the end of this first year of "teaching" has taught me, it's that I am going to be a little too possessive of my own children/family, and might even live vicariously through them (as seen in my recent desire to do aerials and pirouettes).

I was helping out a friend today and played with her 2 sons ALL day.  It was so fun but extremely exhausting because it's only a million degrees outside.  Lesson #3 I learned - get a minivan or some sort of SUV that has back air vents for your kids!  They didn't complain in my car but I KNOW they were hot!  We went to the movies, mall and the equivalent of a Jillian's/Dave & Buster's game center.  It was insane!  But a lot of fun.  Here's a few pictures I wanted to share, mostly because this is with a 3 year old and he totally nailed the "faces" we were trying to do on the first try when taking pictures.  I was very impressed!

Angry Face

Bubble Face

Silly Face

"Fish" face: I failed

Genuine laughter between pics

My absolute favorite: "Starbucks Junkies"

Well there's a post for ya Julie & Jessica, my two faithful readers!  Please be in prayer over a job I just applied for in my district.  And something else that's happening tomorrow at 7.  Can't really go into details but let's just say that if it's good, I'll have to share! ;)  I'll keep you updated!

db

Re:direction

I am going to take this next week to do some serious soul-searching for my blog.  In talking with a friend last night I realized that I DO love to write, and while that wasn’t the purpose of my blog originally, now that I have it I might as well use it.  But what would I write about?  It was easy to update you on what was going on when I was in England (when I felt like writing) or when funny things happen at school or work…but now, in the beginning of summer, I’d like to rekindle this relationship I have with writing.

He had some good things to say about blogs.  First off they should be no more than 400-500 words (AMEN!) and they should have a specific purpose.  This is where it gets tricky.  I KNOW you don’t want to hear a ramble so you’d like it short.  Shoot, I’d like it to be short (you already know how I feel about long blogs).  But as for the specific purpose of a blog, that’s where I get stuck.  When you go to an Italian restaurant you go because you want Italian, and you definitely don’t go to Schlitterbahn to watch a movie.  So for what reason will you be reading this blog?  That is something to be determined between now and the next post!

And this is 235 words, FYI. ;)

db

School's out for Summa...

So it's officially over.  If I keep staying in school districts I can retire in 29 years. HOLLA. ;)

Only cried twice today, thankfully - and was embarrassed at that.  But I don't know how you can't love these kids deeply as a teacher, ESPECIALLY if you're loving them like Christ.

Still no job and as of now, there's only 3 things planned in my life from here til I die...
My Bandera trip, Haiti mission trip, and moving out at the end of July.

Other than that, I'm wide open! Whoa, freedom! What to do? What to do??!  My body's response will probably be to get sick since it's so faithful to do that on my first days of freedom.

HAGS! (I signed WAY too many yearbooks today)

db

Off with your head! Dance til you're dead...

6th grade talent show was today, and even though the title of this post was not a song performed in the show - it's stuck in my head.  I LOVE my kids. Love them. At the beginning of the year I made a point to know all the girls names in the school, and the boys not in my class just came with time.  Now that it's the end of the year, I am so glad I took this approach to school.  I know it's a little different, but I wanted to invest in those girls.  And turns out, that's also my downfall because while I got to know them and hopefully be a positive influence, it'll break my heart when they leave!

Some of them performed in the talent show (there were some great acts!) and now I am just reflecting on this whole year...all without a roommate.  J has been gone since Sunday to East Asia and will be back next Wednesday - CRAZY!  Life is still in the air which is also not helping since I don't really know how to approach the last day of school (next Friday).  Do I savor the moments with the 6th grade kiddos because they'll be leaving and I'll be staying?  Or do I savor the moments with the teachers because I will be moving to another school?  Or do I savor it ALL because I won't be there and I won't be here.  Unpredictable isn't all it is cracked up to be - but I'll be trusting that it'll all work out.  Sooner rather than later hopefully! ;)

Watching The Holiday while I write this or even while I'm thinking of this isn't too helpful either - brings back those England memories.  Have I told you lately that was the best decision ever!??!  And I'll remind you that I happened upon that decision in August and left 4 months later.  I still think that's the craziest thing ever if I really think about all that entailed.  So spur of the moment.

And ever since I've been living that way, enjoying the ride.  So crazy how you can change so much in less than 5 years.  Ok well that's that.  Just updating you since it's been a little bit.  Sorry it's a novel!

Check this out, it's the dance I'm talking about on YouTube. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iANVUyZAJfE

I hope if I have kids that I have a girl and she is an all around athlete including dance...especially dance.  How crazy is that?!?!  But seriously aerials are legit.

db