Too excited and can't stand it

So I leave two weeks from tomorrow for Japan to visit my boyfriend, Brandon! I'll be there 12 days and I'm so super excited, I can't stand it! He is Mr. Wonderful to me. We decided about six weeks ago or so that I was going to head back over to East Asia to see him and I thought, "My goodness this is going to be a long wait!" And it has. But the closer it gets to February 11th (the day I fly out), the harder it is to wait and the more excited I get about it. I'm already starting to make lists of things to pack and what I'm going to wear. First time to Japan. First boyfriend. First time to celebrate Valentine's Day (for real). This is a time for many firsts and many great firsts!

Two weeks and counting...

Congratulations!

Congratulations to my sister, Jennifer, and my new brother-in-law, Alex, who were married Friday, January 23, 2009 at 6:30 pm.

Yep, my little Jennipoo is married and off with her new husband. I'm really happy for her. She looked absolutely amazing in her dress and he looked happier than any groom I've ever seen standing at the front of a church waiting on his bride.

It was a small wedding; just what Jenn and Alex wanted. Thirty people were in attendance with the pastor of our home church performing the ceremony. After the wedding and all the family photos everyone retreated back to the Kimbrell house for dinner. Menu-delicious! Jenn and Alex shared their first dance together as husband and wife and Jenn and my dad shared their dance together with plenty of tears flowing for all to see. But Jenn strutted around our house showing off the pockets in her dress, her wedding band and her husband she was so proud to have standing beside her. The strutting was typical of Jenn, as she has been doing that since she could walk. Although as a child she was strutting around in a bathing suit, not in a wedding gown. :)

Jenn tossed the bouquet at the end of the dinner. And guess who caught it? Me!!!! I think it was rigged, but who cares. :) And with a basket full of goodies and favorite snacks and Jenn's two bags she packed, the Pattersons (Jenn and Alex) headed off for the honeymoon. They were so happy and just beaming from ear-to-ear.

So here starts a new stage of life not only for Jenn and Alex but for the Kimbrells. No matter how you look at it, the Kimbrells are no longer a family of five, but rather a family of six, as we have gained a brother. My little sister is a married woman now and a gorgeous one! Thank you for letting me be a part of it Jennipoo! Love you, mean it!

 

 

I was able to spend the afternoon with my friend, April, yesterday. We met in China and now have met in the US as well. It was such a great afternoon of Target shopping and coffee. Such a blessing to me! We're smelling our fingers because we're amazed at how good they smell! April bought some Jasmine perfume/lotion and we sampled it. We've decided that this is a good purchase for her, as she's living in China. When she smells those "China smells" all she'll have to do is hold her fingers up to her nose and smell those instead. Or better yet, just put lotion on nose! Such a great time!

My eyes

Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace

I would say since 2005 this song has been playing in my head on a regular basis. It's a simple tune and one that just pops in. I found myself singing it this morning while on a walk with my dad and our dog. It just "popped" in! What a simple message to remember. The Lord reminds me of a few different things when I sing this song.

Turn my eyes to Jesus-keep my focus on Him. Look to Him for answers, comfort, provision, healing, love, strength, protection, etc.

Look full in His wonderful face-it truly is wonderful. And so often I forget that. I do forget His goodness and the glory of His being (every part of Him). I think if I look to Him and His wonderful face, the shimmer of Himself will shine from me for all to see.

The things of this world will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace-perspective. That's what it is. This was a lesson I started to learn when I was in Thailand this year. I can look at anything and see the bad in it. I can look at anything and see the sin, the hurt, the horror, the uncertainty, the unfairness, the injustice, the hate. But to look at His glory and His grace is to remember the sacrifice He made. It's to remember the unconditional love. It's to remember His promises to heal, to protect, to strengthen, to comfort, to give good gifts to His children, to discipline, etc. Also to look at this life with a higher purpose; that I'm not here to satisfy myself. I'm not here to wander through life just waiting for death. In the light of all of that my perspective can change. I can know that I don't have to live in fear of everything that the world sends my way. My God is stronger than all of that. I don't have to wander through life. I can live with purpose and confidence, for my God is bigger than all of that.

What is it that you see when you look at Jesus' wonderful face? What are the things of this world that keep you from seeing His glory and grace?

Turn your eyes upon Jesus today. See His greatness and glory. Let your focus be on Jesus and not on the things of this world. Let Him change your perspective on everything. He can and will. For He is a great God!!!!

Chinese phone number

This evening I received a phone call from a Chinese man for the fourth time since returning to the States. How weird! I was able to talk to this man in Chinese and explain to him that I wasn't a Chinese person, but rather an American. And I asked how he happened to call me. He explained that a Chinese friend of his had had this number before it was given to me. So that's why they keep calling. I don't think this is a coincidence...

Still left to do

So following Sara and hittin' that list of some things I've been blessed to do in my life and others that are still out there waiting for me to experience!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (NEVER gonna happen)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland (Disney World)
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis (on accident while I was in India)
10. Sang a solo (yes, yes I have - long ago at our church Christmas pageant)
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch (I'm definitely counting cooking here)
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning (3x)
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language (I've learned one)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
39. Gone Rock Climbing

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David

41. Sung Kareoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check

68. Flown in a Helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt (It was my own that was quite awful!)
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

A needed time of renewal

Yesterday being Sunday, we were headed to church. I honestly didn't want to go. My expectation of it was not high; just not expecting God to speak to me. But still glad I went. I walked through the doors, found a seat among that thousands of people and quietly asked the Lord's forgiveness for doubting Him and then asked Him to please speak to me and let me feel His presence. He surely is a good God.

He did speak to me. He encouraged me in the place that I am in my life. I felt empathy at where I am and what I'm trying to desperately to figure out. He gave me definite answers, but instead reminded me of the life that He's called me to. I am here to love Him and love people. And as I've been "floating" on searching for what it is that He wants me to do next, I've somehow neglected what He's given me at the present. Maybe I don't need to worry so much about what is the next thing that He wants me to do.

God also reminded me last night of how much I love ministry. I can't imagine not being a part of ministry the rest of my life. Not that it has to have a formal title to it, but it's in my blood that I can't escape it. So in light of that I've been encouraged in a way as to what my next steps might be. There are nothing definite, but maybe a direction that I could be headed.

Thank you Lord for the encouragement and for just sitting with me and listening as I rummage through all my thoughts and feelings. You're so patient with me.

Exhausted

I babysat all day today for a two year old and a four year old. They were so cute and so much fun, but man am I tired! We played with trains, played Thomas the Train on the computer and played with an absorbent amount of playdough that ended up all over the floor. I managed to sit in some of it and I think it has permanently stained the back of my jeans. But mei ban fa. Still a fun day!

And let me say really quick that I was sitting there watching these two boys play with trains I was thinking of my financial situation. I don't have a job and still have bills to pay. And yes, I'm a bit worried about it. I know I shouldn't be, but I am. Worry about nothing; pray about everything. So pray I have; while still worrying. The whole point of this is to tell you how good God is. He's provided for me to be able to pay my bills this month with a surprise paycheck that I wasn't expecting as well as these little odd jobs that I've been getting: house-sitting/dog-sitting and baby-sitting. I wasn't expecting them, but thank the Lord I have them! Thank you Jesus for providing me the funds to continue to pay my bills!