Like Totally RADICAL

AFRICA: I received my passport in the mail! I can not believe how fast it took - 2 weeks. I have no idea how I got my passport so fast because I didn't pay for a quicker service. Praise God that I had no troubles with my passport. Tonight is our first team training, and I'm so excited to learn more about the mission trip and the people I will be going with. This weekend I plan on beginning my journal for this mission trip. I have always kept a journal during a mission trip, but never my thoughts before the trip. You can see a picture of the cover below. My amazing Mother-In-Law gave it to me as part of my Christmas gift.



In preparation for the mission trip, I have decided to read "Radical" by David Platt. I'm hoping that after reading this book that I am radically changed (Radical defined as favoring extreme changes in existing views, habits, conditions, or institutions). My goal is to read at least a chapter a week. There are nine chapters in the book and this week I read chapter 1. Wow...I feel challenged already. This is my favorite quote from the chapter, "My biggest fear, even now, is that I will hear Jesus' words and walk away, content to settle for less than radical obedience to him." I do not want to settle for less! Obeying him can be so difficult, but we make it difficult. Why are we so afraid to take that step out of our comfort zone and obey him? Reasons: Fear. I'm not good enough. What will people think? Etc. Should any of this matter if that's what Jesus called you to do? By not obeying we are settling for less. Ouch. This is something that I struggle with on a daily basis. Also this chapter reminded me of the cost to chose to follow Jesus. I won't go into detail about this topic. I'll let you read the book for the details. :)

It's Like Finding a Wedding Dress...

HOUSE update: Travis and I have looked at about eight houses, if not more - in person. We were interested in one particular house and visited the house for a second time. After viewing the house more closely, we decided it wasn't meant for us. I was feeling pretty discouraged after viewing the house that night. I think I was just overwhelmed with school stuff and trying to find a home at the same time. Before we left the house, we had a good talk with our Realtor, and I felt so refreshed about the situation. Finding a house is like finding a wedding dress. You just know when it's the right one. :) So we had agreed to take at least a week off from looking at houses so that I could play catch up on my school work.

During the week, a beautiful house was emailed to Travis and I and we were VERY interested. The week was over and I am less stressed, so Travis and I decided to give it another shot at looking at houses (which will be Saturday!). We contacted the realtor to schedule an appointment to see this particular house only to realize that the house is ALREADY under contract. My heart was broken. I started to blame myself and play the what if game. What if I hadn't taken this week off to catch up on school stuff? Could we have been the ones to have the house under contract? Driving home during my 40 min commute, I had a good cry and talk with God. I really needed that break from house hunting in order to do school stuff, for this is a very trying semester for me, but why did the house go under contract SO quick - less than a week!? So I quit playing games and FINALLY gave it to God, in my car waiting in Huey P. Long bridge traffic, in the sense that if we are meant for that particular house, the contract will fall through and we will get a shot at it. (of course we would look at it in person first) If the contract does go through, then I know that God has a different house for us. Amazing how the burden lifts as soon as you give it to God. The pressure is off of me for finding THE perfect house. It's like finding a wedding dress, you know when you find it. I know we have a house out there, and in time, we will find the home God intended for us to purchase.

Below is a pic of me the moment I found my wedding dress. I was so happy to have found it. It wasn't the first, second, or third dress I tried on. I went to a few places, tried on quite a few dresses, but when I found it, I didn't want to try on another dress. When you find it, you just know it!

But the greatest of these is LOVE

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." I Corinthians 13:13

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!! I hope each one of you feel loved today, and that you each share some love. :) I felt love today from a stranger - they let me into traffic. So I decided to share the love and do the same for another vehicle later down the line. Which is a big deal to me, especially when there is a lot of traffic. :) (One day, I'll get patience down when it comes to traffic.) I'm a firm believer that we don't NEED a particular day in order to express our feelings. We shouldn't take our love for someone for granted. We definitely should be expressing how much our friends, family, and/or significant others mean to us from time to time. But I'm also not against a day that is specially set aside to tell people that you love them. I am looking forward in spending quality time tonight with my husband. - No distractions, no school work (all books left in my office!). We will be doing one of our favorite things together - cooking and eating! :D Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo is on our menu tonight with a Chocolate Fondue for dessert! Jealous? You should be. ;) How are you spending Valentine's Day today? Or sharing the love?

AFRICA update: I almost have all my funding for the mission trip! It's been amazing watching God work. I am SO thankful for the support of my family and friends for my mission trip. I have also become very emotional each time I open up a letter. God is definitely working on my heart. I have submitted my application for my passport, and I am currently waiting the 4-6 week period for my passport to arrive in the mail. Submitting my application went very quickly. In fact, I think it took me longer to ride the elevator than to review and submit the paper work. Also, next week will be my first team training meeting. I'm really excited about starting the trainings!

HOUSE update: My husband and I have looked at houses twice now - a total of 7 houses. There is a forerunner out of the 7, and I REALLY like the house. In fact, we are going see the house once more on Tuesday. Our current position is praying for direction on wither we should put a bid on the house, or wait for more houses to come onto the market. We've got our reasons for both choices.

I'm hoping to post more blogs in the future, that are not just about updates. (More like some of my older posts) But school has really gotten me bogged down this semester.

Keep living in love!
-Miche

Taking It Easy

As you can see in the picture, Travis and I took a small cruise vacation this past weekend to Cozumel. We had a great time taking it easy and relaxing. This was our late anniversary celebration. In short, we lounged by the pool, ate to our hearts content, took advantage of 24 hr frozen yogurt machines, enjoyed some entertainment on the ship, and enjoyed the presence of another couple that joined us for vacation. Check my facebook if you want to look at more pics. I love playing tourists!

SEMESTER update: Since my last post, I've picked up another class. Yep, another class. I am REALLY at my max this semester. Here's my break down: 1 lecture, 4 electronic, 3 online, and managing the tutoring lab. I am being very challenged this semester. I've quickly learned to be flexible this semester. You have to be when trying to teach in a computer lab and the computers/internet go down and the copy machine is broken all in the same class period. I now have a plan b and am currently working on a plan c. But I won't go much more into detail with my classes. Hate to bored all my readers out there. :) I'm very thankful that God has blessed me with the gift of teaching and a job that I love! I know that all these extra classes are only for a season, but I'm so thankful for God in providing the extra income to put towards student loans.

AFRICA update: I have taken all of my shots needed for the trip, although I'm not complete done with shots. I will be following up on the Hepatitis A shot in 6 months to complete the series. My doctor was also kind enough to prescribe a few meds in case I get nauseated or diarrhea. Better safe than sorry! I am very thankful that my doc is looking out for me, because I didn't even think of something like that. This week I will be applying for my passport. Prayer Request: God please let the process be smooth and quick. I will be cutting it close with the time issue. Thank you to all my supporters out there who are following along. :D

HOUSE update: Travis and I met with our relaters, whom are sisters. The meeting went very well, and I feel very comfortable with them. We were able to get to know each other a little bit, and narrow down our search for a house. This Saturday, our relaters have lined up 6 houses for us to see. I'm pretty excited, since this will be the first time we will be looking at houses - in person! We may find THE house or we might not. Either way, I'm looking at this experience as a win win situation. Why? Because I will learn more about what type of house I want to live in.

Until my next update...
Keep living in love,
-Miche