5.19.09

{ May 19, 2009 @ 9:17 am } · { Africa, Children's Cup, My thoughts.. Right now!, Uncategorized }
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Briefing.

This morning was my last Staff meeting at Children’s Cup :( It was a good one though! We worshiped, served one another by washing feet, handed out some new sweet air jordans to one another, and then was briefed on teams coming in from the states. My team, Celebration Church Interns, fly in Friday night to Joburg, where we will be staying the night at African Dreams, then driving back Saturday morning to Swaziland for an awesome day of Youth Group at carepoints. My final days are quickly sneaking up on me, but I’m excited for these next few weeks to do life again with the awesome Interns!!!! 

Last night was Asian Nite at Jessy and My house.. that turned into a farewell party for me.. ahhaa. Fun times.. IMG_4202

5.13.09

{ May 13, 2009 @ 4:48 am } · { Africa, God, My thoughts.. Right now! }
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Last Week.

I’m coming up on my last week here in Swaziland on my own.. My internship will be coming in next friday on the 22nd :)  

I’m traveling to Mozambique with Debbie and Patrick and some swazi youth for a few days. Debbie has a team coming in from the states, so I get to tag along a help for a few days :) I’m excited!!

It’s setting in that my experience here is coming to an end, but every second of it will always be remembered in my heart. I’ve meet so many amazing and interesting people along the way. Have had tough times with being home sick, and finally becoming humble about not having a car for four months… asking people for rides is not my thing, so I’ve been stretched ;) The friends I have made here will be apart of my life from here on out and the things the Lord has done within me are the most amazing things I’ve experienced thus far.

Here is a picture from the falls me and some of the girls went to this past Sunday.

DSCN2829

Until Next time…

5.7.09

{ May 7, 2009 @ 10:52 am } · { Uncategorized }
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Swazi Time.

I’m realizing that I only have three weeks left here in Swaziland… :) My internship is coming in 2 weeks from today :) !!!!!!!!!!!! I’m going on a road trip with some of the girls tomorrow to Nelspruit, South Africa..We are driving there tomorrow morning, visiting a REAL ACTUAL mall, ha. Going to Mug and Bean.. maybe seeing a movie, since there is no such thing as a movie theater here.. and then saturday morning.. we haven’t decided yet if we want to go do a Zip line or quading.. we will see! A missionary from Mozi has been staying at our house for the last two weeks.. and we all wanted to end an amazing time spent together with a last trip to hang out before chaos begins with the upcoming Pastors conference and my traveling back to the states ;)  

Oh, and I got my hair cut again.. haha :) it’s Shorter now! I will post a pic tomorrow!

Until Next time! 

4.28.09

{ April 28, 2009 @ 12:44 am } · { Africa, My thoughts.. Right now! }
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Daily Africa.

So, some of the girls and I sat down to think up of some AWESOME things you’ll experience if or when you live in Africa….

*Being proposed to at least once a day by a Swazi man

*While making lunch, a family of monkey’s pass by on your upper porch

*A missionary’s bed time is usually 8pm, with wake up being 5:30 am

*No phone call is longer than 30 sec

*The over whelming joy you experience when you actually find a can or sour cream in the local Spar

*Amazing headlines you read while driving to the Cup office every morning

*Going to a carepoint and at least one child will always touch your hair and be in complete Awe

*Everyday is the Kingdom’s National Pee-On-The-Side-Of-The-Road-Day!

*Hazard lights are a whole new meaning

*It’s common to walk out of Spar with the security guy wearing full SWAT gear and an AK-47 chillen in his right hand

*You see hip high Swazi man thigh in authentic attire

*When you feel obligated to know and greet every white person you pass

*A white girl driving a Kombie with “Bling-Bling” written on the back door is national news

*Your entire lawn is cut by a weed wacker

*Driving into on coming traffic is not unusual

*Sunday lunch out at a restaurant takes 4 hours to get….I will never complain when I get back to the states, haha.

*KFC is a treat *To be honored with the only drive-through in Swaziland

*You get excited when its raining and the internet is STILL working ☺

*Poka-Dot shirts and Plaid pants are fashionable

*The 3rd season of “The Office” is the highlight of your week!

*The phrase, “There is starving kids in Africa” becomes more relevant when you know them all by name

*The highest ticket you can get by the Police is 60R= $6 US.. and American’s get the “American Discount” of 70R ;)

*“I date missionaries for their money” is a great joke for a missionary girl, ha. And Jessy wants to make a shirt for it.

*It takes at least 4 Keys to get into your house…Skeleton Keys just make the process more awesome…

*Playing pranks on people is no longer looked at upon as being childish

*..Everything is the same but different

Nobuhle Dlamini is my Swazi name ☺

*The pepper spray brigade is unleashed when Jessy and I walk out of the Cup Office alone at night to lock up and run to our car….P.S. Don’t tell our parents ;)

Taking a jog requires a can of pepper spray and a walking buddy any hour of the day

“Eish” and “How” become a part of your vocab for shocked describing words

Waiting for cows to cross the highway and roads is a daily occurrence

Geographically, Swaziland is known to missionaries by carepoint location to find places

TIA!

4.24.09

{ April 24, 2009 @ 10:58 am } · { Uncategorized }
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Waving a kombie down.

To day was switch serve day at all the carepoints in the Kingdom. The teacher’s switched with the cooks and the cooks with the teacher’s for each others jobs. I went to Logoba to help out since Mark and Kay are still in the states; Logoba is one of the carepoints they’re in charge of.  I also had to lead our weekly girls bible study there this afternoon.

I took some cute pictures with some of the little ones there as well

 


The way home to Mbabane was an adventure ;) KB’s kombie over heated, so we had to stop and try to let it cool. Luckily there was a homestead right down the hill to fetch water from. Unfortunately it never cooled down so we had to wait for Patrick’s kombie to pick us up. Being stuck on the side of the Malagwane was one of my things to do while in Swaziland… I’m just glad that I experienced it during daylight and not at night… 

The count down of days for my interns coming to Africa is in the 20’s!!!!!!!!!!! Yeah!!!!!! J They are actually on their way to a mini retreat to hike in the mountains with the ARC Conference following. Miss them!

 

Until Next time…

4.19.09

{ April 19, 2009 @ 8:55 am } · { Africa, My thoughts.. Right now! }
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33 Days.

Until my intern family comes to see me in Africa!!!! Yebo! :) I miss everyone so00o0o0o0o0o0o0o much! I’m actually changing my ticket home to June 1st so I can ride home with all of them. BUT, I have to send my ticket back to the states since its a private paper ticket of some sort.. So, on tuesday, I’m sending it back home through DHL here.. and I can’t do it on Monday due to the King’s Birthday… I DO need some prayer that I can get it back in time for me to fly home… I’ve had some issues with sending mail in my life.. but I hope this isn’t one of them.

Anywho.. I haven’t posted in a few days, and I’m sorry about that.. I can’t wait to see everyone!!!!!

I miss ya’ll! 

Until next time… 

4.08.09

{ April 8, 2009 @ 5:57 am } · { Africa, Children's Cup, God, My thoughts.. Right now! }
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img_3867Bangs && a Hospital.

This week has been an emotional roller coaster for me… I’ve cried A LOT.. I’ve laughed a lot and I’ve spent LOTS of time with the Lord. I’m being spoken to by Him so0o0o00o000o0o much lately and I’m soaking up every second. I’m growing both spiritually and physically out here in the Kingdom of Swaziland. Life is different when you come back to the mission field compared to when You come with a team. That has been one of my realizations for this past month. I’m not saying it in a bad way, just meaning its different. 

    Putting aside all my crying and thinking… I’m so blessed be experiencing what I am while here. My heart is changing every minute, more and more in tuned to God’s…. and I just sit here with my mouth wide open and my eyes wide marveling in amazement at HIs power, love, grace, mercy, a shoulder to cry on, a person to laugh with, just an Amazing Daddy! :)

I don’t know exactly know how to transition out of that into me cutting my hair.. hahaha. BUT, I went to get my hair cut this morning.. and came back with it shorter than expected… ;) Its not too short.. but SHORT for me. And my bangs were cut…. WAY too short.. so I have to pin them up until they grow back to a normal length.

And We went to the Hospital tonight too…. I went into the Children’s Ward-Mentally ill section. My heart has always loved them :) I can’t wait to start my nursing career and help out those little guys :) The picture is of me with a set of twins, Yeah! … and me with shorter hair. ;)  

Until Next time…

3.30.09

{ March 30, 2009 @ 5:07 am } · { Africa, Children's Cup, God, My thoughts.. Right now! }
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Teacher’s Meeting.

So, me sharing my testimony at teachers meeting has been delayed for almost two months now, but I finally get to share TODAY! :) Teachers meeting is held at a school hall down in Manzini and directed by Lad. All the teachers from every Carepoint get to come together once a week on Monday’s to  catch up with one another and go over the curriculum for the coming week. Everyone knows that I strongly dislike public speaking ;) , But since being in Africa, standing up in front of people has become a lot easier!!!! 

Until next time…

3.25.0

{ March 25, 2009 @ 11:07 am } · { Africa, God, My thoughts.. Right now! }
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Sinuses.

I’m sick once again :) . I was sick the same time last month as well… I PRAY that this isn’t a trend that my body is going to follow. I went to the Doctors this morning and got some Sinutab with Codeine in it… hahha. And I have to take it three times a day… So far I’ve been drowsy and floating on a cloud,hahah. I just have to prepare for the next 6 days of constant drowsiness!
Anywho.. Just a quick update of my life in Africa..

Until Next Time…

3.24.09

{ March 24, 2009 @ 5:21 am } · { Africa, Children's Cup, God, My thoughts.. Right now! }
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Clinic
Today will be the first day I’m on my own with being the Chemist for Carepoint Clinic! Benson has taught me well these past few weeks and the amounts and types of drugs we have in our Tackle travel box for clinic. The boys are all at a Baylor class for training all week, so it’s just Nurse Jess and I!
Other than that, I’m just trying to get all my school work done for Logos. It’s not hard curriculum, its just a WHOLE lot of reading. And when you’re going all day and come home exhausted, reading is tough to stay awake for. God’s going to get me through it though :)
I miss everyone back home.. VERY VERY MUCH!!!!! It will be 2 months for me in about 10 days since I’ve landed in Swaziland. I’m enjoying this season of my life and loving that I’m able to follow God’s voice and direction He has for me.

Until Next Time…

3.17.09

{ March 17, 2009 @ 11:16 am } · { Uncategorized }
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Cup Camp.

Ages 5-7 camp was this past weekend…. and was an experience! ;)

The kids were crazy hyper as usual, but hyper and praising God!!!! There were 150 kids total and some awesome african leaders. We played games, danced, and sang many songs all to the glory of God :)  

The highlight of my weekend was getting up at half past 4 in the morning to boil water for the kids to take bathes in at 7am. Starting fires with wet wood and pouring rain was a challenge, but I had some good convos with the other leaders.

Being in Africa and trying to do school work at the same time, to finish CLC, is hard hard stuff. I’m getting through it, just trying to figure out how to finish it all “on time” !!!!!

Here are some pics from this weekend!

3.6.09

{ March 6, 2009 @ 6:32 am } · { Africa, Children's Cup, God }
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img_3383I LOVED this picture! Ha, it was from yesterday at Fonteyn Carepoint(the one close to my house). I have Kids club again today, but out in Manzini. We have a big Youth Pastors “meeting” tomorrow morning and then Youth tomorrow afternoon. I actually JUST looked up some “gross” games for Youth to play… and… ha.. They are GREAT! ;)  

Anywho, I have to get going!

Until Next Time…

3.4.09

{ March 4, 2009 @ 2:50 pm } · { Africa, Children's Cup, God }
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The little one was in mid dance.. Jieva!!

The little one was in mid dance.. Jieva!!

 

Beautiful

Beautiful

3.2.09

{ March 2, 2009 @ 9:28 am } · { Africa, God, My thoughts.. Right now! }
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Walking.

After a LONG, but Awesome weekend, I thought I was having the Full day off, but a text at 1am today told me other wise. ha. I had  a good talk with Monica this morning over breakfast, so it was worth the early rising I had to do.

I walked around town this morning/afternoon just to think a bit for myself. Made a hair appointment for 8:30am on Thursday-which is a record time for me getting my hair cut. ha :) I’m going back blonde as well! I miss it too much and my natural hair color is growing back out to blonde. I might as well just make it easier for myself :)

The mark for me being in Africa for a WHOLEmonth is in 2 days, ahhhh- it hasn’t seemed that long at all. I’m so ready for this week to begin though. I have my body transitioned with the time and food, hahaha, Finally. These next three months are going to be a great experience for me and walking closer to the Lord. I keep getting the golden question of, “So what do you want to get out of this experience at the end of your four months”. And my golden answer is, “We will see in June :) “. Being in the internship for the past two years has really taught me to be ready at any moment and especially this year with Lee as the Director. I believe he’s brainwashed us…hhahaha. Kidding Lee! Kinda… :) So, that is the reasoning behind me answer. I know that God has me here for a purpose and a call that I have to fulfill. I’ve gotten mini answers from Him on what He has in store for me, but I think it’s more exciting to find out the Big picture at the end of every experience in life, instead of knowing the outcome at the start. Expectations are thrown out the window and relying on God with all your heart, mind, and soul is the beautiful thing to experience.

More homework for Lee’s Leadership class,Yebo! ;)

Until Next time…

2.27.09

{ February 27, 2009 @ 7:46 am } · { Africa, God, My thoughts.. Right now! }
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Youth Retreat.

Today I’ve been riding around Mbabane with Pat to get everything we need for the youth retreat starting tonight! So sorry for the lack of posts this week, but i’ve been sick since last Thursday, and I’m finally feeling better than I was. 

Home sick is the description for me of this week. :( Things are going to get better, I just have to keep trusting in God! Yeah :)

Whelp, I’ll be back on here next week due to the retreat this weekend..

Until Next Time….

2.17.09

{ February 18, 2009 @ 4:38 am } · { Uncategorized }
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Silly Kids.

Today was clinic with Jess and Don out at two carepoints. Even though this clinic didn’t have as many kids as usual, they were all so playful- even one of the cooks was feisty! ha- She was sooo cute. I really enjoy being able to tag along for clinics and learning more and more about my upcoming studies in Nursing :)  

Benson taught me so more SiSwait while we were waiting around as well! And learned how improper is was to give somebody something with your left hand, interesting to say the least :) I was able to take so sweet pictures too, check them out!

Yebo! …Until Next Time…

2.16.08

{ February 16, 2009 @ 4:02 am } · { Africa, Children's Cup, My thoughts.. Right now! }
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ATM CARDS.

My card FINALLY works, Yes!!! It only took two weeks, but It finally works for me..Only GOD. :)

Other than that, My Children’s Cup schedule starts officially today! On Monday’s I go out to Manzini for a weekly Teacher’s meeting. This is where all the teachers from every carepoint come out and connect with one another. I went last week and it was great! I found out a lot of info about the girls and boys of every carepoint through there teachers. On March 4 I will get to share my testimony to the teachers, in hopes of soon connecting with the girls of their carepoints. 

School studies are slowly killing me, ha. I pray I can get through Africa and school at the same time- Stretching is my key word for this experience ;)  

Whelp, Jess and I are off to find me some kind of comfy pillow in swaziland. I’m coming to realize that its possibly non-existent. TIA! 

Yebo…Until Next time

Swaziland: 2-9-09

{ February 8, 2009 @ 4:51 pm } · { Africa, Children's Cup, My thoughts.. Right now! }
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WoW. I’ve been in Swaziland for the past 5 days and it’s DEFIANTLY a change. Living on my “own” is a struggle at this point because of no vehicle.. but I’m trying :) Other than that, everyone here has been more than helpful. I’m Loving the culture change, the language, and the beautiful scenery I get to wake up to every morning. 

Yesterday was youth at the carepoints… where we played some interesting games! Ha. One game we had to lick the creamy side of the oreo and then stick it to our foreheads and THEN shake it down the front of our face to try and get it into our mouths…. :) it was overly funny! The next game was with marshmellows, where one side had to throw and the other side had to catch with nothing but their mouths! Yeah! 

Here are some shots!

3 More Days….

{ January 31, 2009 @ 5:08 pm } · { Africa, Children's Cup, God, My thoughts.. Right now! }
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…And AFRCIA!!!!!!!!! I haven’t been on here is a LONG while, but I’ve been SuPeR busy with school, church, and getting ready to leave :) My emotions are all jumbled up at the moment. The feelings of excitement, nervous, sad, ready, not sure, and the list goes on. I know that I know that I know ( and no, that’s not a typo) that this is where God has me, I’m in His overall plan now in life where I’m at. 

Children’s Cup is the organization that i’ll be partnering with while in Swaziland, and I’m excited to be a part of their family for the next 4 1/2 months :) I’m thinking I know what i’ll be doing, but I probably have more in my future there than I expect at the moment, ha. I’m letting go and letting God! 

Whelp, I’m off to finish up my Comparative Religions paper and then The Chart House with the family! Yeah!! 

..Until Next Time… I’ll be in Africa playing with the Children!!!!!

10.16.08

{ October 16, 2008 @ 6:00 pm } · { Africa, God, My thoughts.. Right now!, Uncategorized }
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Overwhelmed.  I definitely learned something huge this week, about not becoming frustrated with the position you’re in when nothing seems to be happening. I’m not going to expound on the situation, but God pretty much showed up in a big way to me last night. Being in ministry, life never gets put on pause for a chance to relax or regroup your thoughts.  It’s a constant, never-ending, always unexpected way of life. :)

Even though I’m exhausted and always having 9 things on my mind at once, God is strengthening me in every part of my life.

Preparation for Africa is well too. Only about 3 more months! :) Yeah!

Until next time….

.:LoVeS:.

10.5.08

{ October 5, 2008 @ 8:53 pm } · { Africa, My thoughts.. Right now!, Uncategorized }
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Africa. How in the world can P.Mike make me feel soo00o0o bad about not blogging enough… from AFRICA!!!!!! ahaha I love ya!

Anywho, I DO apologize for the missing blogs these past two weeks :-/ School is tough to say the least, but I wouldn’t change anything for the world!! =) I also found out that I may have a flight buddy for my trip over to Swaziland!!! Yeah!!! Her name is Shannon and her heart is left back in Africa just like mine. She’ll only be over there for two weeks, but it’s the starting process for the plans of being a full-time missionary in Swazi. I’m so00o excited for her and also for having a partner in crime for the 100 hour layover in Dulles. ha.

One more thing, I have brown hair now!!!! No longer a blondie ;) Here’s a picture!

9.18.08

{ September 18, 2008 @ 10:25 pm } · { God, My thoughts.. Right now!, Uncategorized }
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“Hello Wrist!”  Ha! So, this story I’m about to tell happened yesterday…..

During my track time yesterday afternoon, I was given the opportunity to help facilitate an “extension gathering” at an old folks home in the mentally unstable ward.I went with three other interns: Breea, Austin, Ray. It was BY far the best day I’ve had in a Long time! Mrs. Nancy Weems is the host leader and did an amazing job with the church service. So, after the service, we wheeled all of them back to their lunch room for desert……… ha. This is when the fun started! We met a woman by the name of Julie, who was an absolute sweetheart! Now remember, we were in the part of the nursing home where all of them have some kind of mental disorder… So, we started talking to Julie, and out of no where she started talking about how her fingers were connected to her knuckles and her knuckles were connecting to her (Blank),.. this is where she couldn’t remember what her ‘wrist’ was called… so i helped her out. She suddenly looked up at me, then looked at breea and then looked back down at her wrist and said, “why, I don’t believe we’ve met before! Hello writs!” aaaaaaaaahhhhaha. You ask what’s the Moral of the story? Old people are amazingly funny and you should volunteer your time to go hang out with one at a nursing home. 60% of the elderly in nursing homes never once get visited by family or friends, that’s a sad statistic.

Until Next time…

.:LoVeS:.

9.10.08

{ September 10, 2008 @ 12:33 pm } · { Africa, God, My thoughts.. Right now!, Uncategorized }
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Humility & Contentment.  During prayer this morning, those were the two things that kept seeping into my thoughts. Philippians 2:3-5 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same attitude of mind Christ Jesus had….”. whoa. If we admit it or not, our flesh defiantly likes to look after itself rather than the people surrounding. But JESUS Say’s Die to your flesh and take up your cross, EVERY day…. not whenever we feel like it ;-) . Hard concept? No. If we all would look out for one another, instead of just caring about ourselves first, we wouldn’t have to worry so much about our own self..right? :) Not being harsh, just honest.

For me, being content in where I’m positioned right now is an amazing feeling. Never have I once felt ’secure’ in my state of being. I feel that God has everything under control, which He always does! But, I’m the worry wart :-( so this is a hard place for me to get to. It’s feeling content not only in my personal self, but with relationships as well. :)

This week has been a release and a equipment for my heart. Preparing for Africa is a whole new experience for me. My heart is breaking more and more for the people of Swaziland, and this passion I have stirred up inside me in so immense that it’s indescribable! I can’t wait to be a servant for Christ to carry on His love to these people. To give a sense of hope and belonging.  The country is beautiful in so many ways, but their Government has seriously laid an oppression upon the people-even down to children and teenagers going to school!! Having to pay more and more every grade for tuition, which most of the people barely hve any money to eat one meal a day. Then College is FREE!ahh, it just makes me want to scream! They really don’t want their country to grow and learn in order to better the place or themselves AT ALL. Isaiah 60:10- “ Foreigners will rebuild your walls, and their kings will serve you. Though in anger I struck you down, in favor I will show you Compassion.” Lord, my prayer is to allow me to serve and be a light to the great people of Swazi.

Sorry for not posting lately… I’ll promise to do better!

Until Next TIme….

.:LoVeS:.

8.27.08

{ August 27, 2008 @ 10:43 pm } · { God, My thoughts.. Right now!, Uncategorized }
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Retreat Accomplished. The beginning of year intern retreat was….. Amazingly AMAZING!! I’m so blessed and honored that God is allowing me to be a part of this years group. SUCH world changers we have :) This year has taken a complete 180! It has only been three days and we know s0o0o much about one another. I don’t have much to say tonight being that I’m extremely tired.. Lee (CLC Director) pretty much wore us all out with the- Amazing Race, the morning ‘find your way back to camp’ run, a intense game of capture the flag, and a total fire fall down holy ghost experience on the beach the last night…

Just, simply, AWESOME. ahh Yeah.

Until next time..

.:LoVeS:.

8.22.08

{ August 22, 2008 @ 3:04 am } · { Africa, God, My thoughts.. Right now!, Uncategorized }
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Hurricane Faye.  She is being a turd. ha. Today was fun….. I didn’t sleep AT all last night :-(   But, I was able to around 9 am this morning. I then slept till 2 pm. And, now, I’m WIDE awake again…. Grrrr.

I’m SUPER pumped about this next year!!! God’s hands are all over my life :0) I know for a FACT that I’ll be a changed person this time next year. He has placed certain people in my path for amazing reasons and I’m so thankful for each and everyone of them.

I have s0o0o0o much to say, but I’m really tired of looking at this computer screen ;)

Until next time..

.:LoVeS:.

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