remember the time

a new do

2012-01-19T10:25:00.005-06:00

Well I tried and I just can't do it....I am not a long hair person. I recently grew my hair out the longest it has been in as long as I can remember but I chopped it off Monday. Long hair is not for me. I don't like the tangles that come with long hair. I hate drying long hair. And I don't know how to fix long hair so it ends up in a ponytail most days of the week. All that to say I cut about 4 inches off my hair this past Monday and I love it.

here is a before and after picture...not the best pics but they will do

BEFORE

AFTER

Monday's My Way

2012-01-16T18:52:00.002-06:00

This edition inspired by Martin Luther King Jr holiday...

Every weekend would be a three day weekend and the work week would only be four days long.
And I would always want Monday to be the extra day off. We all dread them anyway so why not take them off? I was so incredibly productive having a three day weekend. One day to be lazy, one day to worship with other believers and one day to get the house clean and ready for another week!

All You Need Is Love....

2012-01-11T09:54:00.002-06:00

So this morning I have had the Beatles song..."all you need is love. all you need is love. all you need is love, love. love is all you need." Oddly enough I haven't heard that song in forever but love is something that has turned my world upside down in the last couple of weeks. Before you get too excited...no I have not found the love of my life! It's because the Lord has been revealing some truths to me about love. I will give you a warning that this might be a weighty blog because this morning because I find my heart broken and just need to process somewhere. I'm not writing to throw myself a pity party or manipulate people into feeling sorry for me.

For those of you who know me...you know my story. The last 12 years have not been the easiest of my life. My family was rocked by the reality of divorce and the overflow of that has led to the most hurtful and lonely days of my life. I thought that only small children could get caught up in the ugly bitterness of a parents divorce and yet as an adult I find myself more in the middle, drowning in the ugliness and have come to realize that because I am an adult there was no attempt to shield me from the mess that unfolded. It has taken me a long time to realize just how much this situation has impacted my life.

Fast forward 12 years from the divorce to this past few weeks. I had the opportunity to attend Passion 2012 which is a huge conference for college students in Atlanta, GA. I have always heard amazing things about Passion and I was so excited to go. As I sat through sessions 1 and 2 where Louie Giglio and Beth Moore spoke the Lord was stirring something in me. Louie talked through a passage in Luke where Jesus was on his way somewhere and he intersected a funeral procession. Though this was not on his agenda for the day it certainly was no accident. Welcoming the interruption Jesus did what only Jesus can do...He raised the dead to life. The whole session was about how Jesus is intersecting some of our own funeral processions...not literally or physically but our spiritual deaths. He threw out a few examples of what could be leading to our deaths spiritually and it was the usual--drugs, alcohol, pornography--but then he hit on something I have never thought about before. His last suggestion was that maybe we were on our way to death because of our own misunderstanding of who God really is and that what we have is merely just a form of godliness. In short, if we have the wrong view of who God is, what we have is not salvation but idoltry of a god who doesn't exist. And for some reason this resonated with me.

The next morning Beth Moore spoke and I had my journal and pen in hand ready to learn, listen and absorb all she had to share. She really is quite a phenomenal woman who preaches (yes I said a woman WHO PREACHES) God's word with authority and power. And she picked up with where Louie left off in Luke and started in chapter 8. It's a story we've all heard but don't really study because of it's content. It's about when Jesus was on his way to raise Jairus' daughter from the dead and as he is on his way he is touched in a crowd by a woman who had been bleeding for 12 years. Truth...if I had been on my period for 12 years I would have already taken matters into my own hands and put myself out of my misery. But here is this woman, who was unclean and not allowed to be in public, pushing her way through a crowd making all those she touched unclean just to touch the hem of Jesus' robe. And in doing so she was healed. But the woman did not go unnoticed because Jesus felt the healing power leave his body and wanted to know who touched Him. Just a couple of things I want to point out in this story (Beth's observations not mine):
1. This story again came as an interuption to Jesus and yet he was not depleted of his power in healing this woman to continue on to Jairus' home to raise his 12 year old daughter from the dead
2. When we receive healing and wholeness from Jesus he feels it too. He knew someone had touched him in faith.
3. we cannot be hidden from God. The woman could not go unnoticed and neither can we.
Beth shared this passage to drive home this main point...our greatest need for healing is usually in the area of our lives that is most private. And again this resonated with me.

To make a long story short I have felt like something has been holding me back for some time in my relationship with Christ. For the last few years I had it tagged has the failure and shame of losing my job as LSU but as I sat through this session I knew that wasn't it. Jesus and I have dealt with that issue and I have truly healed from that hurt and shame, accepted responsibility and the consequences for my actions and have moved on. But what is it still holding me back? So this was my prayer...Lord show me what it is and know that I am ready to be healed even if embracing more hurt has to come first.

Within days of uttering that prayer in the stillness and quiet of my soul the Lord was faithful to show me. Because of my circumstances which aren't crucial for you to know I had whole heartedly believed the lie that I am not worth loving. Deep down in the most intimate part of my soul I had to face the truth that I have really believed this and only then were my eyes opened to just how much this has affected every part of my life. I was living out that lie by believing God couldn't really love me. If the people who are suppose to love me the most on this earth can make their love so conditional how could God really love me. That bled over into my relationships with friends....when this lie festers I began to sabotage friendships unknowingly. Even my battle with my weight has been impacted by this lie. I have unconsciously sabotaged my own weight over the years so that I had a reason (obesity) to point to of why no guy could ever love me. And the reality of how toxic this had become in every facet of my life was hitting me like a ton of bricks. And this is where a line I wrote down in my journal from Beth's message really began to sink in...
"if we find ourselves in a toxic cycle of defeat it is because we have forgotten that we have been cleansed."

Someone recently told me that I would have to answer to God for my life and in all honesty they meant it to hurt me, to scare me, to manipulate me. But the thought of standing before a God I have come to rightly understand doesn't frighten me. Why should I fear someone who loves me unconditionally, who knows how much I screw up and knows the darkest secrets I could keep? The Bible says that perfect love cast out all fear and so I embrace looking into the face of Love, God is love! And as I have processed through that this is what keeps coming back to my mind as I seek to really know true love maybe for the first time in my life...

"Love is PATIENT and KIND. Love is NOT JEALOUS or boastful or proud or rude. IT DOES NOT DEMAND ITS OWN WAY. It is not IRRITABLE, and it keeps no record of being WRONGED. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices when the truth wins out. Love NEVER GIVES UP, never loses faith, is always HOPEFUL, and ENDURES EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE.....
All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. Three things will last forever--faith, hope and love--and the greatest of these is love."
exerts from I Corinthians 13 and then Chapter 14 verse 1 says this...

"LET LOVE BE YOUR HIGHEST GOAL!"

Sorry for the the really long post and for maybe being a little more transparent than some of you are comfortable with but I pray that someone reading this needed to hear some little part of what the Lord has been teaching me lately. If nothing else you know how best to be praying for me if you are willing.

all you need is love. all you need is love. all you need is love, love. love (GOD) is all you need. love is all you need.

Monday's My Way (edition 3)

2012-01-09T11:44:00.002-06:00

So far I am three for three with keeping up with the series....how long does it take to form a habit?

Here's what I have for this edition of Monday's My Way:

#1 red velvet cake would have the same nutrional value as a banana

#2 toasters would come with a self start timer so that my coffee and toast would both be waiting on me when I come downstairs in the mornings

#3 standard kitchen refrigerator/freezers would come with an icemaker that makes "SONIC" ice...can I get an AMEN?!?!

#4 siestas would be mandatory during the work week

#5 adult onset acne would not exist...SERIOUSLY!! not cool!

#6 hair would not need to be plucked, waxed or shaved...if it's not suppose to have hair then it just wouldn't grown hair in the first place

Happy Monday friends and welcome to my way of thinking!!

Monday My Way

2012-01-03T00:25:00.002-06:00

This insight comes after a day of walking all over the city of Atlanta, Georgia with 50,000 college students.
Again...Mondays My Way is how the world would be if I was in charge.

#1 all public bathrooms would be as clean, comfortable and accessible as my bathroom at home.
#2 all trendy clothes would be comfortable OR all comfortable clothes would be cute. Went for cute today and ended the day cold, feet hurting and tired of adjusting the layers of cuteness. Tomorrow it's tennis shoes, t-shirts and jeans.
#3 if you stand in a line for more than an hour then lazy boys should be provided.
#4 in a city where there is tons of walking there should be no hills and if there were moving sidewalks that would be even better.

A Must Read (my Wednesday recommendation)

2011-12-28T14:04:00.004-06:00

I am not a big read but after hearing everyone say how great these books are I finally gave in and started the first of the trilogy. I must say that the purchase was prompted by a long winter stay at my sister's house with no cable but now I am hooked. In fact I've become a little anti social reading my book. If you're looking for a good read you need to pick up this trilogy call The Hunger Games. The movie is coming out in a few months and for the first time ever I read the book before the movie and will probably be disappointed by the movie. (Thanks Jodi and Andrew)

yes please...

2011-12-27T11:37:00.006-06:00

So we Thomas' may not always get along but there is one thing we know how to do well...EAT!! I always look forward to trips home because I always know there will be good food. Whether it's eating out or cooking in this is an art we have (fortunately and unfortunately) mastered.

My personal favorite when I come home is a chain found only in Alabama called Milo's...best burger, fries and sweet tea that money can buy. The special bar-b-que sauce with grilled onion, cheese and pickles is amazing. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. Thank you Milo's for making bad days better and good days out of this world with just one tasty bite.

And this next picture was my Christmas breakfast feast. We normally have grits, breakfast casserole, sausage balls and things of the sort. One year I made from scratch cinnamon rolls but had to get up before Santa even came to make them. That process made a huge mess in my sister's tiny little kitchen. Oh and I almost caught the oven on fire when the filling overflowed in the bottom of the oven. Needless to say I haven't made those again. This year we wanted something different so I decided to make french toast with real french bread. I added a little cream cheese/powered sugar mixture in between the slices with some fresh blueberries and topped with warm syrup and hello...it was divine. In fact we had round 2 for breakfast today.

Oh and how could I forget the trip home...the eating good started early. I carpooled with my friends Andrew and Victoria Hunter who were heading to Tuscaloosa. So we left Pineville on Wednesday morning with one destination in mind and it wasn't where we were each going in Alabama. It was to a little hole in the wall place called "The Donut Shop" in Natchez, MS. It was a place featured in Alton Brown's book "Feasting on Asphalt." I'll be the fisrt to admit that I was skeptical when Andrew said they were the best donuts ever. I mean seriously I didn't get this jolly by not eating hot and now Krispie Kreme donuts from early childhood until now. But I stand corrected because they truly were the best donuts I have ever put in my mouth. Praise the Lord I don't go through Natchez often or I wouldn't fit in my car.

The other little gem we feasted on the way home was a little establishment called Newk's. I've heard of the place but the only time I am ever near one is when I am traveling alone with Matti and it's not a fast food drive through kind of place. Since I was with company we made the stop and left Matti in the car. It's a good thing my white bar-b-que chicken sandwich was amazing and the company was great because Matti went crazy in the back of the car barking at people walking by and all my previously wrapped presents now had nice size peep holes where she tore the paper. You win some, you lose some. Newk's was definitely a win!

Happy eating friends!

a new series: Monday My Way

2011-12-26T18:38:00.002-06:00

So after meeting my sister's friend Chuck who happens to be a follower of my blog...I decided it was time to start a series so that maybe I would be more faithful to my blogging. Truth is, I love to blog...I just forget to do it. So here is my first attempt and we shall call it Monday My Way. This series will be about how things would be if KB was making the calls on what was cool, socially acceptable,humanly possible, etc.

#1 stretchy pants and oversized hoodies would be appropriate to wear for ALL occassions

#2 farts would smell like fresh linen and would be no less acceptable than sneezing in public because just like a sneeze some of us can't hold it in (my mom always told me there is more room out than in)

#3 flip flops could be worn year round without your feet getting cold

#4 if it isn't suppose to have hair and thus requires plucking, shaving, waxing...well dang it then hair wouldn't grow there in the first place

And those are my initial thoughts for this Monday's addition of Monday My Way. Let me hear your feedback if you like the series or have other ideas for things I could do. I've seen people do "wordless Wednesdays" where they just post a picture for the day. I might jump on that bandwagon...who knows. Anywho...here's to stretchy pants!!

a month of thanksgiving overview

2011-12-25T12:18:00.002-06:00

For those of you who aren't friends of mine on facebook I did a month of Thanksgiving in my statuses for the month of November. I wanted to take a minute to recap them here so I can come back to this list easily on days I need a reminder to be thankful for the blessings in my life.

Day 1: The inventor of/invention of the Neti pot...for all sinus sufferers you know how life changing this is!

Day 2: the blessing of living in a country of abundance and convenience. Today I had someone paint my toes for me, a machine is currently washing my clothes and dishes and I can put my trash outside for someone to pick up. Seriously, I am blessed and take these things for granted.

Day 3: thankful I get to live life with college students! Even on tough days I'm thankful for God's call on my life to minister to students.

Day 4: so thankful for fun traditions that give me something to look forward to: mom's weekend, carving pumpkins, new pjs on christmas eve, etc. Mom's Weekend 2011 has been a blast so far!!

Day 5: as I sit here eating a home cooked meal and watching Alabama football I'm reminded how thankful I am for my family. I grew up learning the importance of dinner around the kitchen table and the value of SEC football. We may put the fun in dysfunctional but my family has made me who I am today and I love them!

Day 6: thankful to have amazing friends that are family especially since my family is so far away. No one has filled that role better since I came to Pineville than the Chandlers. From feeding me, to catching rodents in my apartment, to vacations, to home improvement projects, to just living life in true community. I love you guy and am so thankful for the three (soon to be four) of you!

Day 7: I'm incredibly thankful for my spiritual mentors in all seasons of my life. I'm still processing and trying to live out the things they have taught me through their words and their lives.

Day 8: I'm thankful for all my "kids" over the years of doing student ministry that have kept in touch and are truly my family. Blessed to be having dinner with one of my LSU boys tonight as he passes through town. (Chris Carter)

Day 9: I'm thankful for my job for the first time in a long time. I get paid to plan events and trips for college students. Seriously?!?! Who gets to do that? This girl! And I'm loving it.

Day 10: I'm thankful for laughter and for people who make me laugh daily. Laugther really is good medicine.

Day 11: so thankful for the freedom I enjoy and take for granted. Thanks to all our men and women who give their lives protecting our country. Especially thankful for the veterans in my life, my dad and pappy!

Day 12: still holding out hope I will get to be a mom one day but until then I'm so thankful for all the precious babies of my friends that I get to be Aunt Kabes to.

Day 13: even though I am so stinking sore from laying laminate floor I am thankful my parents instilled in me the ability to do things around the house for myself. AND I'm incredibly thankful for Cory's help!

Day 14: after a really frustrating day at work I'm thankful for two things...#1 the red beans and rice and cornbread that are currently cooking that will redeem this evening and #2 that the Lord's grace and patience with me isn't equal to the grace and patience that I've bestowed on others.

Day 15: I am so thankful today for my girl, Matti. She's been a great companion during some lonely days of depression and a daily source of unconditional love and entertainment. She's more than a pet (judge if you must)..she's family. We are going on five years together and I can't imagine life without her.

Day 16: I'm thankful for the genius who came up with pre-lit Christmas trees, wreaths and garland. It's not a spiritual or mooshy thanks giving today but as someone who decorates half our college campus I assure you it's sincere gratitude.

Day 17: I'm thankful for my friend Alana Pate! She has been my right hand lady for going on 6 years and my personal hair stylists who outdid herself last night on my new do.

Day 18: I'm thankful my dad is coming for a whole week to help me with home improvement projects around my apartment. Hopefully today was the last time I have to rig up my dishwasher to the sink faucet.

Day 19: I'm thankful our bodies are resilient and can recover quickly. After laying floors and moving furniture all day I am so sore but will be back to normal in a few days.

Day 20: Thankful for the peace of God that He intends to dwell in me daily. "Therefore since you have been justified by faith you have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 5:1

Day 21: thankful that 2/3rds of my family will be here in just a few short hours to spend Thanksgiving week with me in Pineville. Unfortunately divorce is a reality for so many families...mine included...so I won't get to see mom until Christmas but I love you and look forward to our New Year's trip!

Day 22: thankful Brayden Samuel Chandler arrived safely today and that he and Amy are healthy. I love my Chandler family of four!

Day 23: I'm thankful for my dad is a "handy man"...this week I'm reaping the benefits of his labor!

Day 24: I'm thankful for the opportunity to travel to Uganda three times in the last year. That place, the people (two in particular) and the experience have forever changed my life. I've realized how blessed and fortunate I am. I've also learned the importance of sacrificing to help meet the needs of others...that is when we are truly the body of Christ. Missions isn't just an opportunity for some, it's a glorious obligation for believers.

Day 25: I'm thankful that #1 all the apartments projects are complete except the floors in the last bedroom #2 I got some great deals today on stuff I didn't even know I needed #3 I've been able to just hang out with my dad and sister watching Storage Wars for the last three hours. Life is good!

Day 26: I'm going to bed for the last time with my family in my apartment. I'm so thankful they came and for all my dad's hard work. It may be a long time before he willingly comes back.

Day 27: I'm thankful that I can sit in my apartment (newly remodeled and decorated for Christmas) listening to Christmas music, drinking a cup of coffee and looking at the treel all alone but certainly not lonely! (that hasn't always been the case) #blessed

Day 28: I'm thankful today that I received y last car note in the mail!! The explorer is officially paid in full!!!

Day 29: It's been a busy day and it's going to be a late night getting all the decorations up for Gala and Christmas on the Hill...so I'm thankful today for coffee, especially the peppermint mocha variety!!

Day 30: I'm thankful for pharmacies and over the country meds on weeks like this when you don't have time to go to the doctor.

I recently read someone's post on facebook that said what if you woke up tomorrow with only what you thanked God for today? I'm so glad God doesn't operate that way but this month of giving thanks was a great reminder to be thankful for all that I've been blessed with.

Christmas on the lake (1st of many)

2011-12-24T18:02:00.005-06:00

We are celebrating our first Christmas on the lake this year so as I wait for the yummy food to cook I snapped a few shots tonight. Enjoy and Merry Christmas everyone!

and finally...

Me and Matti girl posing for our 2011 picture.
Merry Christmas from "my family" to yours!

the makeovers continue...

2011-12-07T15:46:00.010-06:00

For those of you who know me well or have been through multiple season you know how much I love change...the kind I can control. The two things that get changed the most are the arrangment of my apartment and my hair (cut and/or color). Well in the last month I've done both.

Here is my new haircut and color...with bangs. I never get bangs but I've actually enjoyed them so far. The picture at the top of my blog was just taken recently with the new do. This picture was the night I got my hair cut. I am not sure what I am going to do without Alana when she graduates. She has cut my hair for 6 years now and always does my hair and make up for big events.

I'm not the only one who got a makeover. My dad and sister came up/over to Pineville for the week of Thanksgiving to help me with some projects around the house. It was great having help and company and REALLY nice not having to make the 8 hours drive to Alabama. While they were here my sister, Teri, got a makeover of her own. I come from an accident prone family but usually my dad and I are the ones who get hurt. Considering we were the only ones doing manual labor that week it really is shocking that Teri got hurt but well....

on Thanksgiving morning she fell in the shower and hit her face on the sink. By the end of the night she had a pretty good shiner. The crazy thing is my dad and I were busy working on projects that morning so we were coming in and out of the apartment and never heard her fall or call for help. Needless to say she wasn't very chipper the rest of the day and we got strange and even dirty looks from people the next day when we were out and about. I guess everyone assummed my dad was beating us.

Teri and I weren't the only ones getting new looks. My apartment has pretty much been flipped in the last month. New kitchen remodel, new bathroom tile floors, new laminate floors...my apartment has never looked so good. Here are some pics of the new features in the 403.

the bathrooms

the kitchen

we actually painted the countertops to look like marble/granite and it turned out so well for so cheap! The cabinets got a fresh coat of paint and some new hardware to dress it up a little. I love the new baskets that we added under the cabinet to hold my spices which freed up a shelf for coffee mugs and then we added another shelf to hold the rest of my mugs. It's crazy how just adding a piece of crown molding around the cabinets made a world of difference.

AND MY FAVORITE PROJECT SO FAR....
My dad hooked up my portable dishwasher permanently to the water under the sink so I don't have to hook it to the kitchen sink. I love my pops! He's a handy man and so is Cory...I got a whole new apartment for ZERO $ in labor charges. Thank you both!!

a pleasant interruption

2011-12-06T14:22:00.008-06:00

So in all honesty Cory and I were both worn out from laying flooring but the real reason we stopped is because it was time to welcome Baby Chandler #2 to the world.
Now introducing Brayden Samuel Chandler born on November 22, 2011 weighing in at 8lbs 30z and 20inches long. I couldn't be happier to stop laying floors to hold this little bundle of joy. Welcome to our crazy world Brayden!

This is the outfit I bought for his big brother, Noah, that he never wore because he had outgrown it before he was even born.

And this is the pose we have affectionately called "Surrender" because he doesn't stand a chance against his rowdy older brother.

Because of the busyness of life right now with the holidays and events I've had going on I have only gotten to see this sweet boy twice but I look forward to lots of cuddle time in the near future. Congrats Amy and Cory on your family of four!

the elves have been busy

2011-12-06T10:43:00.004-06:00

So I've been a busy little elf around my apartment the last month or so doing a complete makeover of my apartment. After taking my new position at Louisiana College I decided it was time to plant roots and make some improvements to my home of going on 6 years. I totally forgot to take before pictures of all our projects but oh well...you can still appreciate the work that was done.

FIRST PROJECT--pulling up all the carpet and laying laminate flooring throughout the upstairs! Wish I had done this years ago for the sake of my allergies. I can tell such a huge difference with all the carpet being gone.
This was after we pulled up the carpet in my bedroom....who knew there was tile under there this entire time? And that would be Cory Chandler hard at work. I owe that guy my life for all his free labor.

This picture was the start of the floor being put down...

And this picture was after almost all of it was laid...

We only have one more room to lay down, the stairs and all the molding. For now the elves needed a break.

Adventure Trip #3

2011-10-02T14:01:00.001-05:00

This weekend was LC's fall break which meant it was time for the annual Adventure Trip! We left at 6am on Thursday and spent three nights camped out in the mountains of Tennessee. We always have a very diverse group of students go which makes for an entertaining trip. Thursday we traveled all day and then set up camp. My dad and Scotty have joined us the last two years to do all the cooking for us...what a blessing! Friday we went on a 6000 foot long zip line tour and then rafted the Ocoee River. Here is my sad confessions: #1 I grew up rafting the Ocoee and still get nervous every time #2 I'm apparently so out of shape that there isn't a muscle on my body that doesn't hurt right now. We had a blast though and watching my 67 year old dad zip line upside down was certainly one of my highlights this trip. On Saturday we went to the Chattanooga Zoo, ate at the Mellow Mushroom and went to the IMAX. We got an unplanned adventure because there was a blue grass festival and a paddle board race going on at the river front that we got to enjoy. And then came today...an early departure from camp to get back to Pineville at a decent time. We had gotten up, broken down camp and hit the road by 6:04am eastern time. Wowzers! We had an awesome trip though and pics to come soon.

welcome back kabes!

2011-09-26T12:31:00.002-05:00

I feel like every blog entry the last six months has started with an apology for falling off the face of the earth because...well...it has! Sorry. In the absence of blogging there has been a great discovery though...I've found "kabes" again! For those of you who've only known me from 2006 to present or better known as my LC years, you have no idea who kabes is. Kabes is one of the nicknames I picked up in my high school years from my friend Jay McFarland and it has stuck with me. All through my 8 summers of working Centrifuge kabes is all I was known by. I feel schizophrenic just writing this blog but oh well...kabes is back. I came to Louisiana College broken, hurting and suffering from depression. That's a bad combo when you are starting a new job, much less one that is incredibly stressful that requires you to put out fires every day, field complaints, etc, etc, etc. To say that the last five years have been hard is an understatement and yet I wouldn't change them for the world. I have learned so much about myself and so much about the graciousness and love of the Lord.It's been a tough season but a necessary one.

The seasons have changed now! The Lord has allowed me to be refreshed. As I started my new job as the Student Activities Director in August my biggest fear was that students would be dissappointed with the change. You see the old student activities director is a good friend of mine. Eric is fun, playful, loud, life of the party kind of guy. Since I've been at LC those are not things that would describe me at all. From the emotional state I was in to the demands of my job the fun loving kabes was lost. I knew stepping into this new job that given some time she would make her way back out as my stress level changed, as my spirit was nourished, as I got rest and the pace I was living life changed. And well my friends...Kabes is back! I'm being reminded every day that I really do love students! I really do enjoy being on a college campus! I really do enjoy just hanging out and being part of kids lives! I don't dread coming to work every day. Quite honestly the greatest compliment I have been paid the last month has been various people noticing a change in my demeanor. Unfortunately and regretably no one at LC has ever experienced Kabes until recently. Welcome back kabes!! Welcome back!

For those who've loved me through the last six years....thank you! Thank you for understanding that we all have rough patches that the Lord ordains for a reason. I can't promise it won't happen again but in the mean time I am loving the life and the season the Lord has laid out before me. I'm trying to soak it up like a sponge and invest wholeheartedly in students and in friendships that have suffered through the dry season.

"give thanks to the Lord for he is good! his love endures forever!"

Overwhlemed...

2011-08-29T10:19:00.003-05:00

To say that the last month has been overwhelming is an understatement. The last thing I want to do is turn this blog entry into one big complaint but I am ready for the pace of my life to slow down so that I can begin to enjoy my new job, my friends, my family, etc. These last few weeks I haven't known whether I was coming or going and that is no good for my sanity. This picture pretty much describes how I have felt....trying to eat from an extremely large spoon. Or as my friend and new boss Eric would say..."we've been drinking from a fire hydrant."

Here's an overview of the last few weeks:
August 1-7th Head Advisor training and the start of training my replacement
August 8-12 Residenct Assistant Training and continued training of my replacement
August 13-14th MOVE IN DAYS for students
Agustu 15-19 Welcome Week and Registration and continued training of my replacement
August 22-26 First week of classes, continued training of my replacement and the beginning of going insane because I still didn't have an office, voicemail, emails, etc

This Saturday I finally came up to the office with the help of Christian Vige and did a complete make over of my office. Pictures are on my facebook wall if you want a peak.

Today is the official start of my new job and the release from housing issues, etc. Life has been a little overwhelming, a little stressful and unfortunately in the pinch I have not always responded with grace. I started today with a good cup of coffee and some sweet time in the Word and trusting that when Paul says that God is working in me giving me the DESIRE and the POWER to do what please Him that it's true. So here's to living in the power, knowledge and truth that Christ at work in me!

Happy Monday friends!

Preview...

2011-08-01T22:02:00.002-05:00

Sorry you haven't heard from me in a while....lack of blogging has not meant lack of fun and exciting things going on. The next two weeks are going to be insanely busy so there will not be much blogging BUT this is just a preview of what you have to look forward to in a few weeks...

I went to Uganda again for two weeks and I have pictures and stories coming your way!

I went to the beach on vacation with the Chandlers and have lots of pictures of Noah in the sand and funny stories to share.

Oh and I took a new job!! Yep, after five years of pouring my life into Residence Life at Louisiana College I am moving on...I've been praying for quite some time about a change in position/location. I wasn't expecting the Lord to answer my prayer by keeping me at LC but I am thankful that He provided a way for me to stay and make a job change that is a better fit for me. Housing was taking years off my life. As of today I am the new Student Activities Director. I get to plan on the student events on campus. Fun! I got a raise, I don't have to move out of my apartment, I get a fun and less stressful job....this was a win win situation all the way around. I am still working with the new housing director to train the head advisors and RAs over the next few weeks and then I will completely transition from housing. The Lord is good and I am walking away feeling accomplished in what we've been able to do in the last five years. I leave the new director in good hands with a great staff and I am leaving the staff in good hands with their new director.

With that being said....lots has happened in the last month I just haven't stopped to blog about any of it but that will happen soon.

a dog that is well loved....

2011-06-25T13:26:00.005-05:00

....will never know they are even a dog!

I know many of you won't agree with that statement but for those of you who've had a pet that has snuggled close to you after you've had a hard day, wagged their tale off every time they see you come through the door, brought you their bone because it was all they had to give....then you understand how they become part of your family.

I completely realize that my Matti girl is spoiled rotten and totally ridiculous but she has seen me through some rough, lonely days of depression...she's made me laugh, she's made me feel less alone in an empty apartment, she's been my traveling buddy....she's my friend and my baby.

This sappy post brought to you for two reasons...#1 Matti is about to go stay with my sister for a month while I travel the globe and I miss her terribly just thinking about not seeing her for a month. #2 Some dear friends of mine who love their dog as much if not more than I do, lost their baby this week. My heart is broken for them and has really gotten me even more sentimental where Matti is concerned.

Here's a picture of "The Jada Bug"...we will miss you sweet Jada. Praying for you Parker and Ashley.

life lately...

2011-06-21T08:43:00.007-05:00

Well summer time has arrived....my favorite time of the year I must add. I love all things summer! I haven't really blogged much because nothing really blog worthy is going on. This will be a catch all entry an attempt to let you know what I've been up to so far this summer.

There's been a trip to Dry Creek to speak at Girl's Opp with Kristen and Kellie...there has been my version of pool time (with and without friends)...there has been lots of grilling and eating watermelon. The latest adventure has been the purchase of a kayak. I haven't gotten it out yet but hopefully as soon as I get back from Uganda. Oh yeah....did I mention I am going back to Africa next week? I am leading another team for ISF to my Uganda for two glorious weeks and then after I return I will be going to the beach with the Chandlers. So I am pretty much going to be off work the whole month of July...GLORY! That's just a glimpse into my uneventful but fabulous summer.

Romans 8:28

2011-05-26T13:52:00.002-05:00

"And we know that God causes everything to work together for good for those who love God and are called according to his purpose."

I shared last week about that verse and the sermon that I preached to myself all the way home from the movie theater. This week I am writing a four series bible study on that verse. Every June for the last four years I have spoken at Girls Opportunity Camp at Dry Creek and I love it. Most of the girls that attend this camp are from the inner city and have lived a rough life. If you know me at all you know this kind of camp is near and dear to my heart. Next week I will be speaking at that camp once again and I am teaching four sessions on this verse. Here's the breakdown of what I am going to be talking about...

Session One: "And We Know..."
the reason we can know that God works for our good is because it's his nature
We're going to go through a quick overview from the OT to the NT of what each book tells us about God's character

Session Two: "for our good..."
we can trust that God is continuing to work things for our good because of the good works he has already done....the work of salvation and the gift of his spirit
*worry not I am not going to get all charismatic on them but the Holy Spirit dwells in us for our good

Session Three: "for those who love God"
we are going to talk about how we practically love God on a daily basis

Session Four: "for those called according to his purpose"
we are going to spend the last session talking about what God's purpose is for our lives....not what we want to be when we grow up, but what are we created for

So I share that little bit to say if you read this pray for me. I am certainly loving the writing process of this bible study and I know it's already speaking volumes to me. I pray it meets each of these girls where they are and shows them they have a bright future ahead if they will walk with the Lord.

sweet 16

2011-05-23T15:25:00.002-05:00

So for those of you who faithfully read my blog I have a question to pose to you today...what did you do for your sweet 16th? The only thing I really remember was that I had made plans to drive me and my friends to the Birmingham Bulls hockey game and ended up failing my drivers test so my older sister had to drive us. After the game I ended up going to a grocery store and buying myself a mint chocolate chip ice cream cake and sat in our basement with my friend Angela and ate almost the whole thing. Wasn't one of my most stellar birthdays for sure. I can tell you what I didn't do for my sweet 16...I didn't tell everyone to not buy me gifts but instead raise money for missions.

I was truly blown away by this story yesterday...
One of my teammates for Uganda this summer is also one of my LC students. She called me yesterday to tell me that one of her former campers (she worked at SkyRanch) wanted to help her raise money for her trip and so instructed everyone attending her sweet 16 party to donate money to Amber's trip instead of giving her gifts. Talk about an amazing 16 year old...and what a testimony to the impact Amber had on this girl. She called Amber to tell her she was sending her the money and Amber was incredibly gracious but told her that she had already raised more than enough. Amber told the girl that her friend (me) was still short on her funds for the trip and would she consider dontating the money to me. The young lady told her she would pray about it and call her back. When she called Amber back she told her that she felt that the Lord led her to help Amber get to Africa and if what was needed was money for a teammate to go then I was welcome to the money. Imagine my disbelief yesterday as Amber tells me of this 16 year old girl...whom I do not know, not even her name, has donated $500 towards my trip. Amazingly enough that last $500 had been hanging over my head for quite a while and I tear up even as I type this at how it was provided. The Lord wanted to make sure that there was no doubt in my mind that he provided!

I don't know your name my friend....but thank you for blessing me and thank you for being obedient to the Holy Spirit even at such a young age. And Amber, thank you for the impact you've had on this girl and for graciously recommending where she give the money. I am blessed!

look who's turning one

2011-05-21T10:57:00.002-05:00

Last Sunday afternoon we gathered to celebrate the birthday of Noah Lee Chandler. I can't believe on the 25th of this month that little guy will be one year old. Man this year has flown and that kiddo has changed my life for the better. I love him to death and his mom and dad too. Here are some pics from his birthday party and man it's tough to narrow them down.

...the birthday boy...

...happy birthday to you...

...checking out the decorations

...loving my cake...

...and loving the attention

The Chandler Family: Amy, Noah and Cory (and baby #2)

...opening presents (love the paper and cards the most)

...just sitting and enjoying the grass...

SPLURGE FOR MISSIONS....

2011-05-21T00:24:00.009-05:00

I am just now getting around to uploading about 400 pictures from my camera and ran across the few I took at our fundraiser night at Splurge Frozen Yogurt. Splurge is a locally owned and operated frozen yogurt bar that I love. The ladies who own it were gracious enough to let Amber and I have a fundraiser one night from 6-9pm. They donated two gift cards for us to raffle off and then donated 10% of their sales from the night and 100% of all tips. It was a smashing success and the owners were blown away that so many people came out to support two individuals for missions. We were their second largest fundraising event...2nd only to the down syndrome foundation...duh, of course they beat us. Here are just some of the people that came out to support us...the place was packed from 6pm until 9pm and it was amazing.

sometimes the best sermons....

2011-05-18T22:34:00.003-05:00

....are the ones you preach to yourself!!!

Not really sure where to even start this blog entry, to be honest. It's been a rough month or so in my neck of the woods. I feel like I have been on an emotional roller coaster. Things I thought were so clear have become muddy and depending on the day I am not real sure which side is up. I can't go into too much detail without incriminating myself or without hurting feelings but I have felt lost the last few weeks on where the Lord is leading me. I'd like to do the easy thing and get back on prozac and feel nothing but my heart knows better than to exclude the beautiful and tender emotions the Lord has graciously given me.

Now that that is all so perfectly clear for you (ha ha)let me tell you about the sermon I had to preach to myself tonight and man was it a powerful one.You know when you're sitting in church and you feel like the preacher has been reading your thoughts and is preaching right at you? Well when you preach to yourself there is no mistaking who it's aimed at...and tonight I was the preacher and the audience. What was the inspiration for my sermon you might ask? Well after a really rough day at work I just needed to not be at home sulking all night so I did what I have come to thoroughly enjoy since I hit my 30's and care less about what others think of me...I went to a movie by myself. I saw "Something Borrowed" which I thoroughly enjoyed. Like most movies there was nothing morally right about it but I needed a good laugh and instead walked out with a sermon illustration. You see in the movie the main character, Rachel is getting ready to be the maid of honor in her best friend's wedding to her long term crush. Isn't that the way it always goes?? Before the end of the movie she puts on her big girl panties and confesses her love for the guy and I won't ruin the ending for those who plan to see it....but as I am driving home processing the movie I say to myself "doesn't it always work out the way it's suppose to"...sigh. As I hear myself say this my thoughts were no longer about the movie plot but became an instant reflection on Romans 8:28 "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to whose who are called according to his purposes." And at that moment I just began repeating to myself "God works all things together for MY GOOD when I love him and when I walk according to his purposes for my life! I am not kidding when I say I kept repeating that over and over. Here's the thing...I am in a transitional place right now in my life and I have been more focused on me trying to work things out for my good but clearly that's God's role. My part in all of this is to LOVE HIM and to WALK ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSES and when I do those things he is faithful to do his part.

The funny thing is that I really don't live that far from the movie theater but I had "church" in my car all the way home. As soon as I finished preaching to myself and let that message really sink in I just burst into singing Shane & Shane's "we love you Jesus" that just simply says: "we love you Jesus for so many reasons, for death and life and freedom...even now we love you!" I don't have any more clarity about the next chapter of my life than when I went into the movie and I am okay with that but I know that I can trust God to work things out for my good so I can stop wrestling and beating my head up against a wall as though it all relies on me.

fundraising and hoodlems

2011-05-07T16:15:00.005-05:00

Odd title, right? Well this week my time has been consumed by one of the two. This time of year is always interesting on a college campus because wrapping up the year and finishing finals always leaves the natives restless. Seriously, with less than a week left of school students lose their minds. This week has been full of dealing with the police, sitting in disciplinary hearings, breaking up fights, catching thieves...and all this time I thought I was just the Residence Life Director. I am convinced that between my experiences the last five years (yes five years...we will talk about this in a minute) at LC and my addiction to Criminal Minds that I could totally get a job in law enforcement with no formal training. Needless to say that students have seen the crunk side of Kabes this week!

As for five years at LC...that's a record kids. Aside from my time in school I haver never stayed in one place longer than 2 years. At the two year point at LC I made it my personal goal to get to my five year recognition. On Thursday night we had our recognition banquet and I DID IT!! A new record that I am proud to hold.

And then there is fundraising. This week has been all about fundraising for Uganda. I found out two weeks ago that our trip was almost $1000 more than last year because of gas prices. Needless to say this rattled me and my human nature wanted to bow out of the trip but the wise ones in my life reminded me that the Lord will provide. Amber and I quickly put our thinking caps on to figure out how we could raise the money. On Wednesday night one of our local businesses, SPLURGE FROZEN YOGURT,allowed us to do a fundraiser and committed 10% of their sales for the night. In addition, they donated two $20 gift cards for us to raffle off. Between donataions, raffle sales and revenue we made $610 in just three hours. The store owners were blown away at how many people came out to support two individuals. Even after this fundraiser I still had more money to raise. So, today I ran concessions for the Louisiana State Bible Drill which was held on LC's campus. In just four hours I made almost $700. The Lord is so faithful! Not only were the two fundraisers a big success I am still selling necklaces and I have gotten three checks in the mail today that I wasn't expecting. PRAISE THE LORD!! He has left no doubt that #1 he is in control and he is my provider and #2 he wants me in Uganda this summer.

Thanks for your prayers and for keeping up with my life. Sorry to leave you hanging lately....it's been crazy around here.

quirky...

2011-04-28T21:38:00.002-05:00

So today I did probably one of the most quirky things I have ever done...and well, that's saying a lot coming from me. I had a hectic day at work with a computer that is crashing from viruses that were probably contracted from Nigeria. I grow to dislike that place a little more every day. Not only did my stuff get stolen from my bag, but my straightner burned up and didn't realize it until Easter morning and now my office computer is dying. I spent most of the morning trying to save documents to a hard drive in case it can't be salvaged. It's also just a busy time of year doing housing assignments for all returning students and the Board of Trustees are here for two days for meetings. All that to say I was running around all day, non stop, and was ready to leave the office when 5pm rolled around. I knew if I went home I would sink into the couch only to arise for bed at an early time so I decided to pick Matti up and go "out" for a little while. I stopped by our local snow cone stand and got a peach snow cone with cream on top and then drove around looking for an adventure. The local park doesn't allow dogs and the park that does is a little bit of a drive and lets not kid ourselves with gas prices the way they are...I wasn't ready to venture too far. So where did we end up??? A cemetery. Yep! You know you've had a rough day and just might be an introvert when you prefer to hang out with dead people. I just parked the car and walked Matti around the grounds while enjoying my peaches and cream treat. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and will probably make this a routine kind of outing. I realize I am weird but you take what you can get in a small town.

Here's hoping your Thursday was not as hectic or quirky as mine. If you're reading this please join me praying for my home state...ALABAMA...that was ravaged by tornadoes on Wednesday. As I watch the news and see pictures I am heart broken for the people who had to start putting what was left of their lives back together as the sun came up this morning. Tuscaloosa, home of the University of Alabama...Crimson Tide...was all but demolished. I never thought I would see the day where this college rivalry wouldn't matter but today was that day. My prayers are with the students, faculty, staff and all those in the community that won't be back to life as normal for a long time to come. Praise be to God that the casualties were much less than they certainly could have been....and may he be glorified in the midst of this as people come together to help and serve one another. "We will praise you in this storm!"

Easter Sunday~Resurrection Day

2011-04-24T18:29:00.006-05:00

I love Easter! I feel like everything comes to life and rejoices....as it should. Today marks the day that our lives and our futures were forever changed. Jesus Christ took the full wrath of God in our place...endured a shameful/painful death and then defeated death so that we could be made right with God and live forever in His presence. Praise the Lord for Resurrection Sunday.

When I was a teenager I always chuckled when we sang this song on Easter...the music just always seemed corny to me, but as I have gotten older it has become one of my favorites. In fact Easter doesn't seem complete if I have not heard it or sung it.I actually woke on Friday morning and started singing it as I thought about all that Friday stood for. What song you may ask? Well here are the lyrics and if you got to sing it in church this morning know that I am jealous!

Low in the grave he lay, Jesus my Savior.
Waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord.

Up from the grave he arose!
With a mighty triumph o'er his foes.
He arose a victor from the dark domain and he lives forever with the saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!

Vainly they watch his bed, Jesus my Savior.
Vainly they seal the dead, Jesus my Lord.

Up from the grave he arose!
With a mighty triumph o'er his foes.
He arose a victor from the dark domain and he lives forever with the saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!

Death cannot keeps it's prey, Jesus my Savior.
He tore the bars away, Jesus my Lord.

Up from the grave he arose!
With a mighty triumph o'er his foes.
He arose a victor from the dark domain and he lives forever with the saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!

So thankful for this day and getting to spend it with my Pineville family...the Chandlers. Last year we were celebrating and awaiting Noah Lee's arrival. It was fun to have him around this year and I'm looking forward to next year when he is walking and we can hunt easter eggs.

things you won't see just anywhere

2011-04-15T16:12:00.002-05:00

Today has been a rough day for me in Lagos, Nigeria but I am trying to laugh my way through as I count the days until we are home. Instead of complaining about all that has gone wrong I thought I would turn my attention to some funny things we've seen during our adventure here and share some laughter with you. Unfortunately I didn't bring my camera and so there is no photo documenting any of this so I will try to paint the best picture I can. I call this entry "things you won't see just anywhere" ode to the many funny signs we've seen...

a large billboard in the airport read--
AIDS!!!Now that we have your attention please do not leave baggage unattended and play safe. (really???)

on the back of a public transport bus (which there are thousands of)--
I love my mother

on the side of many walls throughout the city--
Do not urinate here again

on a sign in the bathroom at the airport--
Please do not stand on the toilet
Please do not wash your feet in the wash basin

Tomorrow is the national presidential election for Nigeria...so glad we managed to be in the country for that at the rate all other African elections have gone lately. Here's the irony...their current president who is up for re-election is named Goodluck Jonathan. Yes, good luck to you Mr. Jonathan and please make sure my friend and I make it out of your coutnry alive.

Oh and it's not just anywhere that someone speaking English needs a translator when communicating with someone else speaking English. I've earned my keep translating for Angie this week :)

We brought one of the new tablecloths from LC with our new logo on it...a quite expensive tablecloth I might add and drove up to our first venue to see it tied to a wall flapping in the African wind. OOPS! Chalk that up to things you never saw coming and therefore couldn't have prevented.

And my personal favorite today was trying to be adventurous in my food ordering. I am not really a picky eater and will usually try anything once. The guys we are with continue to comment on us eating the same thing every day so I tried to order something new and different and boy did it backfire. This is the only way to explain how it happened. While I was ordering and waiting on our food Angie stepped away to use the restroom. As she walked back up I was given my tray of food and caught a whiff of something that smelled like poop. I looked at Angie strangely as if to question whether or not she stepped in poop only to realize the smell was coming from my plate. I kid you not...this speciality rice on my plate literally smelled like poop and for the first time I could not stomach it and had to send my order back. I felt terrible knowing that it was a delicacy in Nigeria and I had just wasted a plate of food but I was getting sick just smelling it much less trying to eat it.

And that my friends is just some of what you won't see just anywhere. Here's to world traveling and seeking adventure!!

Rapunsel...Rapunsel let down your hair

2011-04-13T16:44:00.002-05:00

I know that probably sounds like a funny title for a blog coming to you straight from Nigeria but it's all I've got. I need everyone to refer back to my blog entries from a year ago when Angie and I went to audition for the biggest loser and realize that Angie and I always know how to stumble into an adventure. We have been in Nigeria since Monday afternoon around 3:30pm and have spent almost every waking hour in our hotel room locked away from the world. We have joked repeatedly that we wished we didn't both have short hair as we stare out the window dreaming of Rapunsel. Funny thing is that we aren't really sure why we are being kept tucked securely away inside. There doesn't see to be any major threat to our safety. Regardless, if we aren't teaching a seminary or in route to the airport for flights to neighboring states we are sitting in our hotel room. Tonight we are at least fortunate to be in a hotel with running hot water and wireless internet. We've been laying here reminiscing over our last few days and laughing hysterically. The gentlemen we are here with are nice but have been a little smothering. One of them is always with us even when we are just sitting in our room...at times its a little awkward. Fortunately we've had food delivered to our room throughout our stay...some good, some not. Unfortunately the guys we are with have taken the food police role and are monitoring what we eat and when we eat because they want to make sure we are well fed. In fact today we have been force fed twice. There comes a time where you lose the ability to be gracious and kind and just have to put your foot down...today was that day.
I have made myself notes to blog about our experience, including a time log of just how long we've been locked in hotel rooms so more blogs to come.
For now my tylenol PM is kicking in so I am checking out.

More news from Nigeria soon.

off the grid

2011-04-10T00:56:00.003-05:00

Well the world traveler is back at it again. I am leaving in a few short hours for a work trip to Lagos, Nigeria. I will be out of the country for the next ten days and would covet your prayers. I haven't fully recovered from my Uganda trip so the thought of days of international travel and adjusting to different time zones seem quite daunting. I know this trip was God ordained and so I will trust him and his sufficiency. In all honesty, once the travel part is done our time in Nigeria will be at a much slower pace and I will probably get more rest by being away. THANK YOU LORD. The purpose of this trip is to recruit international students to attend Louisiana College. We have a large number of international students coming from China in the fall and so we hope to balance out those numbers with my personal favorites...Africans. Here's hoping for a successful trip, rest and just enjoying a different part of Africa...even though my heart resides in Northern Uganda.

*pray for safe travels
*pray for rest
*pray that I don't come back to the same chaos I did three weeks ago after returning from Uganda
*pray for my Matti girl...she's already pouting now that she's seen the luggage out
*pray for safety while we are there
*pray for God ordained conversations with potential students
*pray for my assistant, Alana, as she holds down the office in my absence

see you soon!

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

2011-04-02T14:11:00.004-05:00

That is a hymn I have always loved and been blessed enough to experience throughout my walk with the Lord. This week in a mighty way I have seen the Lord show is faithfulness and provision to me in a time where I didn't even realize I how desperately I needed to see it. About a month ago I posted a support letter that I had sent out to my friends and family asking for prayer and financial support for my summer trip to Uganda. I am pretty sure that in that post I talked about just how hard it is for me to ask for help in that way but the Lord was pushing me to be obedient. Knowing that I raised support last summer to go and was blown away by people's generosity made me feel guilty to ask again so soon for money. Just last month I went to Uganda and knew that I was suppose to take a step of faith and pay for it knowing the money would be provided and that sacrifice on my part was required. The time of the trip couldn't have been more perfect because it's tax season and the majority of my trip would be paid for with my return. However, I still owed $800 for the March trip and then came home to emails that I needed to start sending a large sum of money for the next trip. To say I was overwhelmed a little defeated was an understatement. In addition to all of that I have been processing how to go about seeking monthly donors to send me to Uganda for an extended period of time since the IMB (international mission board) does not appoint missionaries to Uganda at this time.
And then the Lord showed me his faithfulness....
Just this week my mom and I have sold almost enough of the jewelry that I brought back from Uganda to pay off the March trip. People who ordered them from other places received their beads and mailed me checks that far exceed the amount they owed for their merchandise. In addition I got an update email from ISF that I currently had $1500 in towards my trip this summer...that's half already paid for. All of this came after a very significant happening. One of my RAs sent me a support letter for a trip he is taking this summer to Nepal. I was torn knowing how much money I needed myself and being able to put myself in his shoes. The Lord just gave me a peace and a gently prodding that I needed to send money for Cody's trip and so I did. the next day after the check was in the mail was when I got the call from my mom finding out how much she had sold, an email from ISF on how much had been received and a several shoppers stopping by my office buying more beads. On top of that I had a random friend send me a message that they wanted to begin sending me $25 a month to use how I see fit. WHAT?!?! My first monthly donor before I had even made that need known. Lord thank you for blowing my socks off this week. And forgive me where I doubted. Lord I believe, but help my unbelief!

Great is thy faithfulness, o God my Father.
There is no shadow of turning with thee.
Thou changest not thy compassions they fail not.
As thou hast been thy forever will be.

Great is thy faithfulness.
Great is thy faithfulness.
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed thy hands hath provided.
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.

Summer and winter and spring time and harvest.
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above.
Join with all nature in manifold witness.
To thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Great is thy faithfulness.
Great is thy faithfulness.
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed thy hands hath provided.
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth.
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide.
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.
Blessings all mine with ten thousand beside.

Great is thy faithfulness.
Great is thy faithfulness.
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed thy hands hath provided.
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.

true religion...

2011-03-29T23:00:00.003-05:00

James 1:27 says that true and undefiled religion is this...to care for orphans and widows. I am truly humbled to say that more friends than I can count are personally going through the adoption process to show a fatherless/motherless child what the Gospel means. There is no greater way to grasp the reality of being adopted into God's family, to be heirs with Christ than to rescue the least of these and cover them with love. I am learning so much from my friends as they endeavor to make forever changes to their current families and open their arms and homes to so many unknowns...and we won't even talk about the financial sacrifice involved. I am blessed by such amazing people that are following God's lead in their lives.

Two of those friends I met back in 2003 working Centrifuge at Panama City Beach. They rocked my world then and taught me about forgiveness and second chances. They taught me how to love and laugh and enjoy life. One of them in particular told me how to deal with "bitter mondays"...and now I am all the better for having them as friends. I have great love for Tina and Kevin Propes. Since our time in 2003 they have brought two children into the world, Dawson and Abigail. Today Kevin and Tina left for India to go pick up their third child, Rahul. Tina's blog has had some very profound thoughts and raw emotions about the excitement and the grief of adoption. The next two weeks will be a whirlwind for them and then they will bring Rahul home to meet his brother and sister. If you're reading this I hope you will join me praying for Tina, Kevin, Dawson, Abigail and Rahul.

attention to detail

2011-03-27T16:38:00.005-05:00

....no not me....the OCD one.But the title of this blog comes from seeing a sovereign God show me that He pays attention to detail and along the way He let me see small and LARGE glimpses of that truth. I just want to give you some examples of seeing the Lord perfectly knit this team and our experiences together in a way that only He could:

* Sara Beth and I have been dreaming about going to Africa together for years and though I will be paying for this trip for a while the Lord gave me complete peace about taking the time off work and charging the trip to my credit card...didn't really understand all the hows and whys until the end of the trip and now living on a tight budget to pay off this trip seems like no sacrifice at all

* serving along side the team from Williamson's Chapel...there is no other church I can imagine having spent the week with. Knowing that in the near future I will be living in Nebbi and will be coordinating volunteer teams for Acres of Hope it was a God thing for me to serve along side this church team and to see their heart and have them see mine because we will be partners in the gospel in Uganda for years and years to come

* meeting Whitney Saucedo from Samartian's Feet...what a kindred spirit. We both have a love and passion for Uganda that was growing in us before either of us ever stepped a foot on Ugandan soil. We both had a hard few days initially and it was a joy to pray with her, cry with her, search for things to laugh about and then come to the end and see the Lord completely redirect our expectations and find a strength within each of us that knows we could spend our days serving in Uganda and overcome the obstacles that seem insurmountable at the beginning

* serving with Lacey and Amanda who come to meet up with us from Kenya. Both have been serving in Kenya for that last six months so if ever there was someone who could help walk me through the process of relocating overseas it was these two ladies

* seeing the Acres of Hope land for the first time...I have no words for all that was stirring in me at the time. As we joined hands and prayed over the land some really cool God things happened...first a group of children and women began to gather around to see what these mazungos are doing and as we finished praying they all began to clap. Now I know that had no idea what was said but they knew we were praying in their backyard for a reason and it's as if the Lord sent his applause through them to give his blessing to this sacred place. And can I just tell you that every time I heard Geoffrey and Stanley say "Acres of Hope" my heart welled up with joy that I almost could not contain. Secondly, as we were on the grounds Sara Beth brought up that in August she, Amanda, Stanley and Geoffrey prayed on this land that God would give someone the vision for this place to come along side them in this ministry. To make a long story short we were able to track down the date of that visit and then track some emails of Andrea's (the pastor of WCW) and realized that within 24 hours of SB and them praying the Lord had stirred in Andrea and Kathy's heart that they didn't need to go to India but that they needed to explore other options. Before too long Andrea connected with Sara Beth and as you see the rest is history.

Praise the Lord for God's attention to details when we can see them and especially when we can't. The Lord's timing is perfect....and he's never late but always right on time.

More processing, stories and pics to come but that is what I am pressed to write today.

my kindred spirit, Whitney

Our applauding crowd at Acres of Hope

these are my new friends from Charlotte, NC...Williamson's Chapel West
(names not in order of picture but Andrea, Scott, Layne, Andrew, Lance, Kathy, Pat, Eryn, Morgan and Julie)

overwhelmed

2011-03-26T18:33:00.003-05:00

I am not really sure where to even begin processing the experiences, events, people, etc from my second journey to Uganda. As people have asked me this week how my trip was my instant response was hard but incredible.I feel like those two words contradict one another but for me on this journey they were the perfect mix. You see when I went to Uganda this past summer I was like a child at Christmas. After ten years of longing to go to Africa I was finally able to go...so I was soaking in the entire experience like a sponge. I loved everything about the experience...the food, the culture, the heat, being dirty, wearing the same clothes over and over...you name it, I loved it. This time going back my perspective was a little different. I went this time with eyes wide open to answering the question..."could I really live my life day in a day out in this culture?" For those of you who aren't aware I have felt the Lord's leading me to Uganda after last summer and so this was a question that I needed to find the answer to. I don't really think I experienced any culture shock the last trip. Between soaking it all in and being a source of stability for my team it just wasn't an issue for me. This trip I think culture shock hit me like a mack truck. To be honest I wasn't expecting it to shake me like it did and I spent the first few days being incredibly disappointed with myself. Why was it hard for me to have to use the bathroom in a hole in the ground and why was it that hard to take a bucket bathe? I'm not really sure but it just was. My first night in Nebbi while staying in a dear friend's home, I went to bed crying wondering how this could ever work. After talking with Sara Beth, our team leader, I decided to go stay in the hotel and just process what in the world was going on in my head, my heart and with my emotions. Though the time in the hotel with running water and a flushing toilet did help, I was quite ashamed that I couldn't cut it and was afraid that I had greatly offended a dear friend by not staying in his home. Before the week's end I had used more than my share of squatty potties and spent the night with another friend in his families' home and found myself coming around and being more okay with the situation. Is this going to be a major adjustment??? ABSOLUTELY! Is it enough to keep me from serving in Uganda and seeing Acres of Hope come to fruition??? Absolutely not.

Geoffrey if you are reading this....thank you for your patience with me. I hope you and Joy know that I love you like my own family and my decision to go stay in Gaaf had nothing to do with your hospitality and everything to do with the Lord rocking my world and making sure that my YES was on the table. Thank you for having us in your home!

wake the dead

2011-03-22T22:04:00.004-05:00

Just wanted to let you know that I am not dead....though lack of blogging may indicate otherwise. I just got back from Uganda on Saturday night. After I have recovered from jet lag and caught up on all that is on my desk I will finish processing this experience and start blogging about it. Stay tuned for stories and pictures.

Philippians 1: 27-30

2011-02-21T22:14:00.002-06:00

So it's been a while since I started a new set of verses. For those just joining I am trying to memorize the book of Philippians this year. Paul is a wordy fellow...rich with meaning, but wordy nonetheless. I am just 30 verses into a 104 verse project and the thought of that is a bit overwhelming.

Here are the verses for this week..

"Just one thing: Live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, working side by side for the faith that comes from the gospel, not being frightened in any way by your opponents. This is a sign of destruction for them, but of your deliverance--and this is from God. For it has been given to you on Christ's behalf not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him, having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I have."

Two things I will be chewing on this week as I am meditating on and memorizing these verses....#1 what does a life look like that is worthy of the gospel? #2 rejoicing that my deliverance has been GIVEN to me on Christ's behalf...yes indeed, the battle is won!

As I get ready to post this entry and drift off to sleep I want to encourage you to make scripture memory a priority. I am sad that for the the first 33 years of my life it hasn't been. In fact I've had to be brutally honest with myself lately that I lack discipline in all areas of my life. For now this is the area I am working on and I am falling in love with Lord and His Word all over again.

sticky situation

2011-02-21T09:47:00.003-06:00

I haven't posted in the last week because honestly there hasn't been anything post worthy. However, that all changed this weekend. I was making a minor repair at the apartment that required the use of super glue and got it on more than the item I was glueing. The metal tube had gotten bent one too many times apparently to the point it was split open. When I went to squeeze the tube my hand was filled with super glue and I had a mini panic attack. All I could think to do at this point was not let my fingers touch. Before that I grapped for a napkin and realized that wasn't bright because I now had a brown napkin stuck to my hands. After holding my hand out to let the glue dry I began trying to peel it off. OUCH! That's not gonna work because I am getting more than just glue when I pull. Where do you go when you need useless or useful information...thank you GOOGLE app on my iPhone. Almost instantly I found a recommendation to use acetone based nail polish remover. Of course I had none so with nasty hand and all I made a quick trip to walmart. Thank you Walmart for selling 100% pure acetone...which by the way I got carded to buy. Apparently when I am in a panic state with my hands covered in super glue I look younger than 18...good to know. Once I got home it only took a few minute of soaking them in acetone to dissolve the glue and we were back to normal with just some out of control dryness to deal with...I'll take it.

So there is your handy tip for the day. If ever you get super glue on your hands or somewhere you didn't intend you now know that pure acetone will do the trick every time.

support letter

2011-02-11T14:01:00.003-06:00

Dear Friends and Family,
I pray this letter finds you doing well, especially for those of you I never get to see. I write because I have great news and another exciting opportunity. Many of you received a letter from me last year because after 10 years of longing the Lord graciously allowed me to go to Africa. I tried to send everyone a follow up letter of my adventures but to sum up last year’s trip briefly I will use these words…LIFE CHANGING! My heart came alive in Uganda in a way that I cannot explain. After three amazing weeks, I left Uganda knowing I would soon return. The Lord has been working in my heart and changing the plans I had for my future. Eventually I will be serving the Lord for an extended period of time in Northern Uganda. The timeline for that move and the many details of how I will get there are unclear for now. I will keep you posted and ask that you pray alongside me for God’s will to be done in my life. For now I have the amazing opportunity to lead another team of college students to Uganda this summer with International Sports Federation.
With all the planning and preparing for a permanent move to Uganda, the task of raising money for the trip in June 2011 seems like a daunting task. To be honest the Lord is doing quite a work in me with regards to my faith and the reality of do I trust Him to provide for me. With that being said, it’s out of obedience to the Lord that I allow His children (my friends and family) to help me and not try to take the world on by myself. The reason you are receiving this letter is because I need your support in a number of different ways.
• PRAYER---I don’t say that lightly as not to offend anyone or make them feel as though they have to give financially. I genuinely need your prayers as the trip approaches: wisdom to lead this team, a servant’s heart to serve the team and the people we minister to, the finances to get to Uganda, time to prepare while still working full time, for emotional stability as I return to the place my heart loves, etc. I currently have a blog that I would encourage you to read periodically as time for the trip approaches. I will post prayer needs on the blog (www.kbthomas.blogspot.com). You can also send me your email address and I will keep you updated via email (kbthomas@lacollege.edu).
• FINANCIALLY—Yes, it is true, I do need financial support as well. The cost of the trip is $3000. I don’t make the request lightly. I know that all of my friends and family are stretched financially just as I am. Please know that any amount you can give is so appreciated and makes a difference. All donations are tax deductible. You can contribute financially in several different ways: paypal—simply go the www.sportmissions.com and you will find a link for paypal where you will be prompted to enter your contact and payment information. Please make sure you include my name in the information content. Mail—if you prefer snail mail you can simply mail a check to International Sports Federation, PO Box 2788, Acworth, GA 30102 and write my name in the memo line.
Thank you for your constant support in my life and faith journey through the years. I am who I am today because of your influence in my life and getting to walk with you at different seasons…for that I am so thankful. Thank you in advance for your prayers and your financial support.

God Bless,
KB

This is a copy of the support letter I am sending out this week. Not sure why I still, after years and years of doing missions, have trouble asking people for support. In most cases people are thrilled or at least willing to support your going and serving. YET, I struggle to ask all the time. May the Lord continue to teach me how to trust Him to provide!

supplies needed for Uganda

2011-02-10T13:02:00.008-06:00

I am getting ready for my next trip to Uganda. This time nexts month I will be back in my heartland. I won't lie, my ticket is being purchased today and I have so many mixed emotions about returning. That is neither here nor there. As I get ready to return there are some things that Geoffrey and Stanley have requested in terms of resources. I thought I would share them here and if you would like to chip in we welcome your help if you know someone who would be interested in making donations.
Stanley is in need of a used laptop. If you have an old laptop that still have internet connection capability and word processing it has all that we need. I would also like to take Geoffrey an ipod full of Christian music and podcast sermons to keep him encouraged as he does the Lord's work in Nebbi. A new or used one either one will do the trick. And last but not least we need some more evangelism tools. What they have found to work incredibly well is the evange-cube by e3resources.org
The company makes a picture presentation of the gospel that is easy and effective. They also make an HIV/AIDS awareness cube so that we can teach children and adults about how to prevent the spread of this terrible disease that is leaving so many of them orphans. The company also makes a soccer ball that is effective with the school age kids...we call it the "living ball" and each of the colors on the ball walk you through the gospel presentation. If you're interested in making a donation you can contact me and I will make an order or you can order the products yourself and send them to me. I will be leaving March 9th from Birmingham. If you can't get them in time for March I will also be returning in June. Thanks in advance for your help!

To order these products check out www.e3resources.org

let it snow. let it snow! let is snow?

2011-02-09T15:27:00.003-06:00

I know people in parts of the US are fed up with snow....and for those people I am sorry. Me, however...haven't gotten my share of it yet. I love SNOW DAYS! We just got an email that classes are cancelled and offices are closed until noon tomorrow. All we got last week was ice...hoping for some actual flurries, but sleeping late is sleeping late regardless what the weather is doing. Mornings are rough for this girl and I spend at least 20 minutes laying in bed thinking of reasons to call in...tomorrow I don't have to. See you at noon world.

Philippians 1:19-26

2011-02-07T10:36:00.002-06:00

I took a week off from adding new verses to the memory bank. I wanted to make sure that 1-18 were truly there...there for good. This journey has been quite amazing so far. I've always been able to memorize the words to a song after hearing only a few times but never been able..or never tried rather, to commit to memory a huge chunck of verses from God's Word. And here they are...the new verses for the week:

"Yes, and I will rejoice because I know this will lead to my deliverance through your prayers and help from the Spirit of Jesus Christ. My eager expectation and hope is that I will not be ashamed about anything, but that now as always, with all boldness, Christ will be highly honored in my body, whether by life or by death. FOR ME, LIVING IS CHRIST AND DYING IS GAIN. Now if I live in the flesh, this means fruitful work for me; and I don't know which one I should choose. I am pressured by both. I have a desire to depart and be with Christ--which is far better--but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. Since I am persuaged of this, I know that I will remain and contiue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that because of me, your confidence may grow in Christ Jesus when I come to your again."

That is a lot to chew on this fine Monday morning after a long weekend. I shall come back and debrief this later but for now I am starting to plant it in the recesses of my heart and mind.

Winter Storm 2011

2011-02-04T17:36:00.007-06:00

Apparently the last 48 hours was to suppose to usher in the worst winter storm the US has ever seen. Louisiana College closed down Thursday at noon so I made a quick run to the grocery store and headed home to enjoy my nice long weekend. According to the news and the weather app on my iPhone, Pineville was due a "wintry mix" last night up until this morning. When Matti woke me up at 5:35am to go outside I was expecting snow and all we had was freezing cold ran that my poor dog refused to go out in. No snow? Not even a flurry? Nothing but freezing rain. I was disappointed, I wont lie. I decided to drive around campus anyway and though we didn't get snow...we did have our own little ice glazed Narnia. Here are just a few pictures I captured.

"she was always runnin..."

2011-02-02T09:46:00.003-06:00

So Tuesdays and Thursdays are workout days with Hayden this semester. Usually by the mid afternoon of a workout day I have an upset stomach just because I am nervous about what is coming that afternoon...can I do it....am I going to look foolish...am I going to leave feeling ashamed or that I let Hayden down? A whole number of things run through my mind and I have worried myself sick before workouts even get here. And the crazy thing is that to date there have been very few things that I couldn't do that he has asked of me but within a week or two I can do it. Granted a lot of things I do at my own pace and not as fast as my workout partners but hey...I weigh as much as the two of them combined and I am much older so it's to be expected.
Yesterday, however, was a different story. I am a sufferer of chronic migraines that have many different triggers...chocolate, caffeine, stress,PMS and weather changes. Enter migraine yesterday because the weather was high 60's in the morning and by later afternoon is was in the low 30's...what in the world. I knew workouts were going to be cruel not only because of the weather but I had a nagging headach that was soon to become a full blown migraine. The bending, jumping, squating and do all this while holding my breathe was going to be the thing that pushed me right over the edge. However, I didn't want to bail on my partners or disappoint Hayden and so I showed up knowing that my workout for the day was going to be different. If I couldn't do anything else...I could run. And so that is what I did....while Lizzie and Shannon worked out doing strength training I ran and ran and ran. I was bundled up like nobody's business because is was 36 degrees but I was running...snot and all. In fact I ran two miles in the blistering cold and it was enough to blow off the steam from my day and before it was over the headache was gone. Hmm! I felt quite accomplished and was proud for not giving into that dang headache and settle for just going home to my bed. In the words of one of my workout pals,"you tell that migraine to suck it!" And that's pretty much what I did.

my ordinary is quite extraordinary

2011-01-30T19:38:00.003-06:00

This weekend has been filled with rest and relaxtion...just being a good ole home body, which I love. On Friday evening I was in my jammies by 6pm with dinner in the oven and two redbox movies to enjoy by myself. To some that would seem boring or lonely but it was quite welcomed. I watched "Secretariat" and absolutely loved it. On Saturday I got to sleep in a bit and then spent most of the late morning and afternoon with Amy and Noah. An afternoon on the town with two of my favorite people was just what the heart needed. The rest of the afternoon I spent running errands pricing things for the new home office renovation. And today...well today was spent pulling the home office together. I made some minor changes to the plan and all is done except putting some shelves above my desk. Pictures to come! I love it and look forward to spending some quality time in there working on Acres of Hope stuff.
So as you can see quite an ordinary weekend...but to me it was quite extraordinary. The house is clean, the last bit of laundry is going now and I am ready to start this week with everything in order.

*the picture above is one of my projects for the home office. I've had this window for a while but couldn't figure out what to do with it...I love the finished project!

Re-run

2011-01-28T13:24:00.002-06:00

As I was struggling over my lunch break to get up and down the stairs in my apartment after my first day working out, I had a flashback to this post from last spring when workouts started. Enjoy the re-run....

I look forward to the day that everyone has told me is coming when I don't hurt like this. One friend even commented on my facebook that I would even crave working out. Time will tell and I hope she is right.

Here is my funny but necessary antic for the day. Hayden text messaged me yesterday and asked me how sore I was on a scale from 1-10. I wasn't really sure how to answer that knowing that day 2 is always worse than day 1...but I was certain I had to be at a 10 anyway. So out of necessity I have come up with a soreness scale to be able to answer his question more accurately. So here goes....
1-4 are all managable numbers....even numbers that I have felt without working out!
5 "ooh I am feeling muscles I didn't know I had"
6 when walking past my treadmill I long for the "good ole days"
7 I dropped something on the floor and say "screw it" and leave it there. If it was food the dog will eat it...if it was a piece of clothing I will wear something else!
8 I have had repeated thoughts throughout the day that "the human body was not made to do this!"
9 I strongly considered sleeping on the couch to avoid walking up the stairs or even worse...considered letting Matti use the bathroom in the house and clean it up later to avoid walking back down the stair (but then again see #7..bad idea)
10 Not being able to perform basic necessities of life without major pain or shedding tears. For example sitting down or getting up from the toilet. Moving your head instead of your arm when brushing your teeth

Today is definitely a mix between #5 through #7. The only variation from the first time this list was written is that I am very aware those muscles exist now but I don't appreciate them reminding me there every cursed step I take.

back on the wagon....

2011-01-27T21:33:00.003-06:00

Well it's no secret because the lack of blogging is proof that I fell off the workout wagon. I was doing so good and had lost 20lbs last semester. After a trip to Uganda and a nice round of pneumonia for several weeks, I was out of routine and never got back to it. I spent the month of January getting some runs in with my friend Shannon to work up to the month of February when workouts would officially start again. Well Hayden wanted to jump the gun and we started back today. What does that mean? Tomorrow is going to be torture getting out of bed, getting on and off the pot, walking up and down stairs. Glory. Here's to sticking with it this time and see great results. Encouragement is greatly welcomed and I hope to make you all proud.

Philippians 1:12-18

2011-01-26T19:41:00.002-06:00

And so the memorization of Philippians continues...

"Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has actually resulted in the advance of the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard, and to everyone else, that my imprisonment is in the cause of Christ. Most of the brothers in the Lord have gained confidence from my imprisonment and dare even more to speak the message fearlessly. To be sure, some preach Christ out of envy and strife, but others out of goodwill. These do so out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; the others proclaim Christ out of rivalry, not sincerely, seeking to cause me anxiety in my imprisonment. What does it matter? Just that in every way, whether out of false motives or true, CHRIST IS PROCLAIMED. And in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice."

This is quite encouraging to me...especially serving at a Christian College where I wrestle with some students and staff members and their motives for why thy engage in the gospel ministry. What matters is that in the end CHRIST IS PROCLAIMED....the rest as they say will "come out in the wash."

hello...goodbye...hello...goodbye

2011-01-25T22:32:00.005-06:00

So does anyone else out there feel like within 48 hours of getting paid that they no longer have any money? Seriously, LC's payday is the 23rd of the month and on the 24th all my bills arrive. By this time I usually have nothing in my house to eat so a trip to grocery store is required. So within 48 hours bills have been paid, the pantry and fridge have been stocked, the gas tank has been filled for the first of two times this month a little money has been set aside for "entertainment" a little has been moved to savings for future trips to Africa and we are back at a ZERO balance. Hello paycheck and goodbye paycheck. Why is it again that when we were kids we couldn't wait to grow up? What was so appealing about watching our parents go through this process because I have come to realize this is the "norm"?
Glad I got that out of my system...I think it every month around this time and now it's off my chest! Happy February everyone...here's to living on pennies and wishing for a sugar daddy!

A more optimistic blog to come soon.

PS...for all my college students reading my blog....don't rush to get out of school, the grown up world isn't all it's cracked up to be. There is a good reason they created masters degrees...to prolong the inevitable.

on a mission

2011-01-21T12:35:00.003-06:00

With the money I got for my birthday I purchased my first pair of TOMS shoes. If you aren't familiar with these shoes then you are missing out...much like I was for many years. The mission of TOMS shoes is ONE FOR ONE...meaning for every pair of shoes you buy they give a brand new pair of shoes to children in need. Pretty cool huh? Shoes with a purpose is what I like to call them. On top of going towards a great cause these shoes are unbelievably comfortable. For people like me who hate wearing shoes they are the ideal. My first pair are burlap and I would wear them everyday if I could. The only reason I cant is because they don't match everything...thus, I am on a mission this weekend. Angie and I are going to take a quick roadtrip to Ruston so I can get a black pair. With two pairs...one black and one brown I should be covered when it comes to most things in my wardrobe. So, while I enjoy a random roadtrip and hopefully my new pair of TOMS you should check them out on www.toms.com and find the pair perfect for you.

Back to School....:

2011-01-20T08:15:00.003-06:00

Yesterday was day one of my CS Lewis class and I am even more excited now than I was before. We have quite the reading list for the semester and I am beyond thrilled to add 10 CS Lewis books to my personal library. Here is the run down of what we will be reading and the order that we're reading them:

Surprised by Joy
Till We Have Faces
The Screwtape Letters
Abolition of Man
The Weight of Glory
A Grief Observed

Surprised by Joy is CS Lewis' autobiography which so far has been quite good. I love reading about the humble beginnings of a man who has had such an incredible impact in literature and is considered to be one of the greatest theologians of all time. Cheers to ya Jack Lewis!! After Surprised by Joy we will start Till We Have Faces, which Lewis writes in his autobiography is the book he considers his best and most meaningful work....how can I not get excited about that?

Happy reading.....

discerning and "hog wash"

2011-01-18T12:00:00.002-06:00

I have been trying to figure out how to blog tactfully about a recent church experience I had. To say that I was blown away by the things I heard would be an understatement. The title of this blog accurately describes what I heard preached that day...HOG WASH. I could go into great detail about the many things that rubbed me the wrong way that people were just eagerly digesting but I will leave it with this one.

Throughout the sermon the preacher used various translations of the Bible ranging from the Message to the King James to the New Living...whatever wording fit his point best. At one point he read from Revelation chapter 1..

"The one who reads this is blessed, and those who hear words of prophecy and keep what is written in it are blessed, because the time it near." v. 3

Oddly enough he camped on the first phrase "the one who reads this is blessed" and continually emphasized that the Bible says "those who read God's word are blessed....you don't have to understand it....you just have to read it." Say what?
I've lost a lot of recall from my seminary days but I am pretty sure that God intends for us to study His word for understanding. In fact, isn't that one of the roles of the Holy Spirit...to help the believer in discerning and understanding scripture? To drive his point home he added this littler zinger, "you don't have to know who the whore of Babylon is...you already know enough whores." While it is true that knowing who the whore of Babylon is doesn't determine my love of the Lord and understanding of His word...that illustration falls way short of teaching us that we don't have to understand God's word.

This morning as I was working to memorize my verses from Philippians for this week I camped out on this particular verse...

"And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment," Phil 1:9

It seems that Paul was praying for and encouraging believers that they were to grow in the knowledge of the Lord. Biblical love is not empty sentimentalism but is anchored in TRUTH...which hinges on the reality that we must first understand that truth. Paul prayers that they were have discernment, meaning that they would have insight and moral perception and the ability to apply that knowledge practically.
Not only does Paul write this to the people in Philippi but in almost every one of his letters he admonishes believers to grow in knowledge and discernment. It seems as though Paul felt is was very important for us to understand truth. In fact I think Paul would say that to read and not understand and apply would be HOG WASH...liking looking at your reflection in a mirror and do nothing to change your appearance.

Sorry for my rant but I just needed to finish processing that experience and be done with the craziness. If you stuck through this blog entry to the end...I pray that today you grow in knowledge and discernment of our Father's Word!

going to my heartland

2011-01-17T17:42:00.002-06:00

Well as of today it is official... I am going back to Uganda this year...not once but twice! I will be going March 9-19th with Samaritan's Feet and will spend the majority of time visiting the orphans, getting their pictures, stories and videos so we can get them sponsored. Then I will be going back June 28 through July 14th with International Sports Federation. I will be leading the team for them again and will soon be recruiting my team. If you want to go to Africa and love on some orphans shoot me an email at kbthomas@lacollege.edu and I will get you some information about the trip.

If you want to sponsor either of the trips I would be indebted for your contributions and prayers.

more to come soon....I am up to my ears in primer and paint....the office project has commenced.

dreaming up some new projects...

2011-01-16T15:25:00.003-06:00

So I guess the best way to start this blog is by having a little confession time. Here goes... I, KB THOMAS, AM A COMPULSIVE REARRANGER! There I said it. I know it...the people who have lived with me and work with me and have been friends with me for more than one season know it. I love change...at least the kind I control. I love to rearrange my living room or bedroom or office quite often. I love the change and feel like it makes me more productive. It usually starts with the need for a good cleaning and before you know it the entire room is in disarray and furniture is being moved around. I can't help myself. If I go for a while without rearranging I get a little antsy and that is where I find myself this cold, rainy, Sunday afternoon. I want to change something and the itch has been to redo my middle bedroom and make it into a cozy office space. The obstacle: MONEY. I have it all laid out in my head what I want to do. I have the wall color picked out (most changes don't require paint but this one does), I have the material for the curtains picked out, I have an idea of how I want to build a desk and shelves to optimize the space for scrapbooking and writing. It's all in my head and I have sat in that room and envisioned it a thousand times already. One day I will have pics of the remodel but for right now it remains the catch all room. That may just be my gift to me after tax refunds come back.

I also have another pending project that WILL get done as soon as the rain stops coming down. There is a trash shed in the backyard of our apartment complex where everyone throws their trash. Our maintenance guys used to be really good about picking up the trash everyday but lately not so much. In fact, not only do they leave it for weeks at a time, they took almost all the actual trash cans out so it's just a big concrete slab to throw trash. Normally I wouldn't care enough to do something about this nasty problem but Matti has come to love the trash shed and digging for treasure in there. I've come to tweak the old saying "one man's trash is another man's treasure"...now it's "one man's trash is my dog's treasure." I am not okay with this. She eats things that make her sick, she drags trash all over the yard and she has been waking me up at 3am wanting to go out and when I take her out to pee she makes a b-line for the trash. This has got to STOP! My solution...I am going to build a gate on the shed made of 2x4s and chicken wire. Ah la trash stays in, dog stays out. I've done the measurements and have enlisted help, now I am just waiting for the rain to stop. I will post pictures of my project when it's complete. Until then I leave you with a pic of the trash shed that I took this week.

Philippians 1:7-11

2011-01-15T22:00:00.002-06:00

So I ended up spending two weeks on the first set of verses but they are locked in my brain now. It's on to the next set of verses. If you are just tuning in I am trying to memorize the book of Philippians this year. If you want to join me this is the verses for this week.

7 It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart, and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and establishment of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how deeply I miss all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, 10 so that you can approve the things that are superior and can be pure and blameless in the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.

Paul certainly does make his letters easy to memorize...lots of words...but here goes another week.

UPDATE ON GRAHAM: Thanks for your prayers. I got an update from Jen that she is pumping and they have started feeding Graham through a feeding tube. Not exactly what we would consider ideal but he is getting nourished and having a full belly has put him at ease tonight. Keep the prayers coming.

Seems like just yesterday I was sitting in a hospital room with Amy working through nursing issues...little different scenario and now look at this kid. This picture was taken this week of him eating baby mac-n-cheese with veggies and he didn't like it one bit.

Graham Gene Charles Rice

2011-01-15T10:49:00.005-06:00

I have been so blessed to be aunt Kabes to the kids of my dearest friends for years now. On Thursday I got to welcome my newest nephew, Graham, to the bunch. I've only seen a picture but I love him already. He weighed 8lbs and 10oz and was 19 inches long.
Graham has been in the NICU under observation since he was born because he has fluid in his lungs making his breathing labored. The fluid is also putting pressure on one of the valves of his heart causing a murmur. Please pray for Graham if you're reading this. Because of his condition Jen has not yet gotten to nurse him and the delay is causing problems on her end now that they need to be able to give him milk. I realize that is a weird request but most of the people who read my blog are woman and you understand. Jen would be crushed if they had to start Graham on formula...she's just a granola mom and desperately wants to be able to nurse and I pray she gets to do just that!

Thanks in advance for your prayers for Jen and for Graham. I am hoping and praying that not only will he get to nurse but before the end of the weekend he will be tubes and IV free and ready to be held by his big sis Evie and his precious grandmother who I call Mama Karen. I know they can't wait to get this little man home.

C.S. Lewis

2011-01-14T10:21:00.002-06:00

I am just a little excited right now...
I just found out that one of my favorite professors at LC (Dr.Whatley) is teaching a class on C.S. Lewis this semester and I am going to sit in on the class. The great part about it is that I get to learn and enjoy the class without the stress of paying tuition and without the responsibility of writing papers and taking tests. Woohoo!
I am sure many blogs this semester will be about what I am learning so stay tuned. I have secretly always wanted to be a C.S. Lewis nerd but never taken the time to start from the beginning and read through his collection. The time it now....

"slaves of Christ Jesus"

2011-01-12T08:11:00.002-06:00

I shared with you in a previous post that one of my goals this year is to memorize the book of Philippians. Each week is dedicated to not only memorizing about 6 verses but spending time really meditating on those verses and what they mean. This morning I spent some time doing a few word studies and the one that has really resonated with me is the idea of being a "slave of Christ Jesus." In the very first verse this is how Paul and Timothy identified themselves. They don't introduce themselves as "hi, I am Paul, I am from ______, I am ______, I have _____, I went to school at _____, I work at _____." Their one identifying description is that they are slaves of Christ Jesus...meaning they are in a state of willing bondage under the control of Jesus Christ.

In thinking about this it took me back to my trip to Uganda this summer. I will never forget the first time we met with a group of believers for worship on a university campus and the students began introducing themselves. The very first one said, "I am John and I have been a follower of Jesus Christ for 5 years." I sat back and was just humbled that that was the one and only thing he saw fitting to describe himself. Meanwhile I was pillaging through what I wanted to tell them about myself. Shame.

I have a confession....I am still not there yet. In fact as I studied that this morning and I write this even now I am ashamed and under conviction that yesterday instead of being a slave of Christ Jesus I spent almost the entire day being a slave (and victim) of my circumstances. Back in August my car was hit by a student on campus and the agreement was that she would just pay for the damages out of pocket. Here we are in January and she still had not fixed my car. Even worse she came to see me yesterday and told me that the reason she hasn't paid me is that she feels that I am taking advantage of her and she feels that I am partially to blame because my car was parked in her spot. By the time our conversation had ended with raised voices and tempers flaring my blood pressure was through the roof. For the rest of the day my head pounded, my attitude was poor towards anyone I encountered and I told anyone and everyone who would listen how ridiculous I thought this situation was. I am still upset about it today and probably will be until the situation is reconciled but it doesn't have to determine my attitude, my joy, my demeanor towards others.

Today....my goal is to choose to live like a willing slave of Christ Jesus...not a slave to my circumstances, not a slave to my job....a slave of Christ Jesus who will always act with integrity and in my best interest, who will love me unconditionally and who is the giver of all peace and joy. If you read this today or whenever you read this...pray for me. Paul is gracious to remind me in verse 6 of this same chapter that I am still a work in progress and it was God alone who began a good work in me and God alone who will complete it. My job is to follow his lead and not be an obstacle in my own path to becoming more like Jesus.

announcing....

2011-01-12T07:57:00.002-06:00

the 2011 NATIONAL CHAMPS.....the AUBURN TIGERS!!!
For any of you who know me well you know that I love me some college football, especially the Auburn Tiger variety. I love college football as much as any man...which I know is weird but when you are born in the south and grow up steeped in college tradition it just sticks with you. After going four perfect seasons (1983, 1993, 2004 and 2010) in my lifetime we finally had the opportunity to play for the BCS championship. It truly is a day I won't forget for a long long time. Our last championship was in 1957, clearly not in my lifetime but I remember the three perfect seasons that came and went with no closure. I am PROUD TO BE AN AUBURN TIGER...always have been and always will be.

I know college football isn't everything....it's not even the biggest thing but on Monday night it brought great joy to this little Auburn girl planted in LSU territory's soul!!

FINAL SCORE: Auburn 22 vs. Oregon 19

Philippians 1:1-6

2011-01-07T09:27:00.002-06:00

I mentioned in my "resolutions" blog entry that I am trying to memorize the book of Philippians this year. Here are my verses for this week if you're looking for a challege as well...

v.1 Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus: To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons. v.2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. v.3 I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, v. 4 always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, v.5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. v.6 I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

What a promise and great news that we are still a work in progress and will be until the Lord returns to claim his own. I don't know about you but that allows me to take a deep breath on this Friday morning. I know in my heart and mind that I have a long way to go in this journey but what a relief to know that God not only knows that but orchestrated it that way.

Happy Friday!

great news...

2011-01-06T16:24:00.002-06:00

I received an email from Geoffrey in Uganda today that made my day. If you remember back in September when I was doing the $5 challenge and asking 100 friends to give $5 so we could get the orphanage registered and secure the land..I was blown away by the support and was able to get the money to Geoffrey quickly. Here is the email I got from him today:

Hey K B - I am excited to break the news that finally Acres of Hope Uganda is legally registered by Uganda government as an incorporation. meaning we can fully operate anywhere in Uganda and own both movable and immovable assets and also run our activities freely and legally.
With this I would also like to registered my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to you and to all that contributed financially through you,toward the registration of this ministry in Uganda.
Thank you big big Momma
May God continue to bless you as usual.

Geoffrey

That is such wonderful news! I can't wait to go back at the end of February/beginning of March and find our what the next step needs to be in raising money for the actually building of the children's home, primary and secondary schools. I am praying big that people in the States will step up to the plate and give, send teams of construction people, etc....I long for the day when Acres of Hope is standing and full of happy children who just want to be loved. I will keep you posted.

get it together girl....

2011-01-04T12:58:00.002-06:00

So funny story...today was my first day back to work this year and boy am I struggling. I just got a phone call from a non-traditional prospective student asking about housing. As she finished she said "I think that is all the questions I had." And my response, "okay, well if you have any other questions don't bother calling." Needless to say I quickly caught myself and said "I mean don't hesitate to call...welcome back to work...I need to get it together, sorry about that." She laughed, I laughed and as I type this she called back to ask another question so I guess all is well. WOW! May be time for another round of coffee!

On a happy note....day 3 of no soft drinks is going well and today starts my official workout routine. Thanks to the blogging world I found a workout partner so I am supper excited I don't have to go it alone. A huge thanks to Shannon Smith for blog stalking and coming to my rescue.

January 4th and here is the update:
eating healthy--CHECK
no soft drinks--CHECK
just printed the guideline for memorizing philippians and putting my journal together so ---CHECK CHECK

off to a good start so far but we are only 4 days in...what is it they say, it takes 28 days to form a habit?!?! 4 down and 24 to go!

New Years Resolutions: 2011 edition

2011-01-01T20:06:00.003-06:00

I usually don't make New Years Resolutions because it seems by doing so makes it nearly impossible to achieve said resolutions. This year I refuse to settle for that and am posting my resolutions for all to see. I guess if you don't set goals for yourself you have nothing to aim for....so here goes.

It no particular order:
* pay off my car note
* pay off at least 1/2 of my student loans
* lose at least 50lbs
* blog at least once a week
* stay debt free on my credit cards (got those paid off this month!!)
* memorize the book of Philippians

Specifically where the weight loss is concerned I have some new life style changes to put in place. It's no secret I fell hard off the workout wagon...and now it's time to get back on. I have yet to find a workout partner but I can't let that stop me from getting back in the routine. Hayden is willing and ready to kick my tail again. So here are my life style change goals:
* no soft drinks
* cut back signficantly on sugar
* no eating after 8pm
* fast food no more than twice a week (let's be realistic)
* eat more fruits and veggies
* workout at least three days a week

I am heading back to Pineville tomorrow and all of these are about to be put in place. Wish me luck and keep checking back on the progress. The goal for 2011 is better spirtual, emotional and physical health. Here's to a healthier and happier me!!!

DUMB AND DUMBER...

2010-12-07T13:16:00.005-06:00

So I just realized that I had totally forgotten to share this story until I was uploading pictures on my computer Sunday night. I will preface this with there is a reason why you have to have a boating license and now I know why. Picture this...the Monday of Thanksgiving week I was home in Birmingham with my family. Over the summer my dad and Scotty purchased a pontoon boat and I have never gotten to see it or ride on it. The weather was going to be beautiful on Monday so dad had the boat put in the water and we planned a family day at the lake. We had picked up lunch on the way and so Teri and I were eating our Subway sandwiches while dad drove the boat. When we had finished out lunch and said why don't one of you drive so I can eat...my sister quickly jumped up and took the wheel. She looked at me and said "this never happens...he never lets anyone drive the boat." It was quite entertaining to watch my dad give her directions to where we were going because he would pick an obscure point of reference in the direction we were going and Teri could never figure out

what he was talking about. Needless to say there was much abuse taken at Teri's expense. Granted they were obscure references but I was always able to spot them. After a while I asked for a turn at the wheel. The pressure was now one....I felt like if dad referenced something I had to say "got it" in .8 seconds or I was going to be like Teri. I had great fun driving...especially getting to go much faster than Teri cranked it up. It came time to head back to the dock and that is where is got fun. Teri asked dad which pier he was going to park the boat at and his response was "I'm not the one driving the boat...KB, which pier are you going to park the boat at?" I knew he was only kidding but the competitive nature in me welled up and I said I can park this thing...no problem." Having been told by Teri that he normally doesn't let anyone drive the boat I seriously doubted he was going to let me prove my mad skills but as we approached the pier I was still in the drivers seat. AND THEN ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE....I just want to say for the record I did an excellent job and couldn't have gotten more parallel to the dock than I did on my first try. However, it would be crucial to have lessons in the gear shifting prior to trying to park a boat for the first time. As soon as I was parallel to the pier with Teri hanging off the back end and dad hanging over the front, I hear dad yell..."put it in neutral"...I don't know how to do that so of course as I figure it out we have drifted a little too far past the pier. So dad yells..."put it in reverse." Something you should know about a boat...when it's in reverse it is not going to be obvious at first and back up quickly so I thought I must not have gotten in gear so I pushed the throttle down some more and boy did we go in reverse....problem being we will going quickly in reverse with the back end of the
boat tied to the dock. PROBLEM!! All I hear is dad yelling...Teri yelling and the cracking of wood that indicated we were about to pull the dock off the boat was about to be ripped apart. When all was said in done we were all laughing hysterically...I amost pee'd my pants. It was hilarious and both the boat and pier were in one piece. Like the title suggest though it was the story of dumb and dumber and I will let you decide which is which after the next story...

So we have secured the boat and gotten the cover put on and dad wanted to take us over and show us the trailor they are getting ready to buy on the lake. The currenty owners do not live there year round so we nosied around the trailor looking in the windows and walked down to the pier. The couple had just recently added a new deck on to their pier and so we were admiring it. Dad noticed their was a ladder built on to the end of the pier so he pulled it up to inspect it. I must say is was a quality ladder minus the nest of fish eggs that were attached to one of the lower rungs. Dad told Teri and I to watch out as he let the ladder go to fall back in the water. We both appreciated the warning so we didn't get soaked by the splash. As we were walking away we here "oh sh&*" and we turned around to see that the ladder has come loose from the pier and has now sunk in the water. I am laughing right now just thinking about it. Funny thing was that dad was closing on the contract that day so I asked him if he was going to call and renogiate the price and tell the owners that there was no ladder on the pier. Well in the Thomas family where there is a will there is way. Dad scavenged through the people's shed and found a rope and hook and went fishing for the ladder. When he finally got it he told me sister to get down on teh pier and grap a hold of one side and hold on to it until he could get down and help her pull it up. Guess what was on the side he has pulled up for her to grab...the nasty sack of fish eggs. I might have to go to the bathroom just thinking about it...I can still hear her just carrying on..."I am not going to grab that nasty ladder...I am not going to touch those fish eggs"...with dad responding just as loud "grab the da*& ladder Teri." Are you wondering what I am doing at the time...trying not to pee on myself and holding everyone's phone and wallets in case this situation goes south in hurry and people end up in the water. My momma didn't raise no fool! We, or shall I say, they managed to get the ladder out of the water and our day of adventure was brought to an end.

I can honestly say I have laughed that much with my dad and sister in a long time. Lucky for us it was a Monday and no one else was out on the lake to see all this stupidity take place...it will just have to live on in our minds. We're all getting older and our minds are that great which is why I decided to blog about it.

"PLAY BALL"

2010-12-03T13:22:00.005-06:00

....so it's one of my favorite scenes from Christmas vacation where the fireworks are going off and Aunt Bethany starts singing the star spangled banner and everyone joins in...then she yells..."PLAY BALL"...I love that senile old lady. Well aside from being my favorite Christmas movie it will also be the theme for this weekend.
At 3:00pm on Saturday my AUBURN Tigers are taking on the South Carolina Gamecocks in the SEC Championship Game. The currently #1 ranked Tigers will clinched a position to compete in the National Championship with a win this Saturday....WAR EAGLE BABY!!

Tis The Season...

2010-12-02T11:25:00.002-06:00

The holiday season beginning with Thanksgiving and going all the way through New Years is my absolute favorite time of year. I love that people are generally in chipper moods (not all, but most). I love the decorations...especially driving around looking at white christmas lights on houses. I love the food...I could swim in my dad's cornbread dressing. And I LOVE THE MUSIC. I have been playing my Christmas music since long before Thanksgiving. I am usually opposed to such things because I don't like to bypass Thanksgiving..BUT...I have realized that one of the things that I am so thankful for is this season and the birth of Christ so why just limit it to the 31 days of December. If you don't agree that's fine, we can still be friends but it's my blog and I can write what I want.

Here are just some my favorite Christmas songs thus far this season....in no particular order. If you're looking for something to listen to this are just my suggestions.
* O Holy Night sung by Martina McBride (you can't find a better version)
*Joy to the World and All I want for Christmas is You sung by Mariah Carey
*I'll Be Home for Christmas sung by Anne Murray
*Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas sung by "ole blue eyes"...Frank Sinatra
*Born to Die and Glory in the Highest sung by Shane & Shane
*Breath of Heaven and Grown Up Christmas List sung by Amy Grant
*Don't Save it All For Christmas sung by Avalon
*Christmas in Dixie sung by Alabama

That's a good start....hope you enjoy.

And if you're looking for a good Christmas movie here are my top picks for the holiday season. You will find these movies playing non-stop in my DVD player from now until January.
*ELF
*Christmas Vacation
*The Holiday
I know these aren't the classics like White Christmas and It's a Wonderful Life but I enjoy a good laugh and these three never disappoint.

In other holiday news....I have set a fist ever record for completing my Christmas shopping. I was done with my shopping before Thanksgiving Day with the exception of one gift that has since been ordered. I usually don't get my shopping done until, oh, the Christmas Eve. I think this year is was possible because I always feel pressured to get the "perfect" gift (which doesn't exist) and make sure that I don't jip someone out of a good gift if they get me something really good. The pressure was off this year. Financial hardship has fallen on the Thomas family because of unemployment or retirement and I am pretty much the only one giving gifts this year. I am excited to be able to give to my family with no expectation of a gift in return and it completely took the pressure off finding the perfect gift. Who would have thought?

My house has also been overcome with the smell of all things pumpkin baking in the oven...fresh ground coffee with peppermint mocha creamer...and the aroma of homemade gumbo and chicken and dumplings. I just love being home and being domestic this time of year. I just love sitting in my living room with nothing but the lights of my christmas tree filling the room. So, are you catching what I am throwing out here? I LOVE THE HOLIDAY SEASON!!!

I wish all of you a happy and healthy holiday...tis the season in deed, shall we not forget the reason why we celebrate.

It's the small things in life....

2010-11-18T10:57:00.007-06:00

This time of year I usually make a list of the top 50 things that I am thankful for. I've obviously been slacking on my blogging and every day when I check facebook or twitter I see people's daily thanksgivings for the month of thankfulness. I decided today was the day that my list was created. Crazy thing about this list is that after a life changing trip to Africa I have found great pleasure in the small things this year and so that is what my list is about this go around....it truly is the small things that happen on a daily basis, things that aren't elaborate, usually don't cost any money...but make my day brighter. This are in no particular order so enjoy:

1. Being at the hospital for Noah Lee Chandlers grand entrance into the world.

2. Falling in love with a dog more every day because she is so stinkin cute when she sleeps.
3. Coming home and having Matti greet me at the door like she hasn't seen me in ages.
4. Free haircuts from a dear friend.
5. Using a towel fresh out of the dryer.
6. Seasonal flavored coffee creamers...thank you pumpkin spice and peppermint mocha.
7. Being the first one to use the bathroom at work in the mornings...I love finding the toilet with the lid still up and blue in the bowl (weird I know).
8. Making Noah Lee Chandler cackle...it's precious!
9. Having a biscuit with homemade pumpkin butter made by Amy.
10. Finding a great new station on Pandora radio that makes the work day better.
11. Walking around the corner in the morning and seeing my Christmas tree lit.
12. Walking out in the backyard and seeing new blooms on my plants.
13. Getting home from a grocery store trip and realizing I have so many options to choose from.
14. SAM's hotdogs....they are amazing.
15. Watching Auburn football on Saturdays.
16. Catching up with old friends over the phone or on facebook.
17. Cleaning out my closet and taking bags of stuff to goodwill.
18. Finding a "too good to be true" deal on something you didn't even know you needed.
19. A good heart to heart with a student.
20. Taking Matti on a walk around campus on a beautiful Fall day.
21. The first morning of Daylight's saving time change.
22. Finding a book that I just can't put down.
23. The first time I was able to run a mile this year without stopping.
24. Blowing my diet and realizing that today is a new day!
25. Getting to camp with my dad for three days in Tennessee.
26. Having my mom and sister come for Mom's weekend.
27. Resetting my gas gauge after filling up at the gas station.
28. Getting new plug in air freshners for my house.
29. Getting to go home for the holidays.
30. Finding the perfect ringtone for someone so that when they call you literally laugh out loud.
31. Buying new undies.
32. Eating a Reese cup egg or two.
33. Getting to sleep in.
34. Getting bear hugs from Cliff Magee almost on a daily basis.
35. Rearranging my office or living room.
36. Stumbling on a great movie on TV on Saturday afternoon when you should really be cleaning the house but instead you settle into the couch.
37. Getting a note from a mentor that starts with "I'm so proud of you..." (thanks Tommy McGregor)
38. Getting a thank you note from a student's parent (it's a rare thing)
39. Getting a new bottle of shampoo and conditioner.
40. The way my teeth feel after leaving the dentist office.
41. Laughing until you cry for no reason at all.
42. Finding money in the washer or dryer.
43. Finding boyfriend tees on sale at Target and buying one in every color (that's for you Jill)
44. Mastering another Louisiana dish (I've got Sara's gumbo down now)
45. Pecan cobbler from Portabella's
46. Buying an ice cream cake and sitting around with a group of girls digging in without an occassion except we wanted ice cream cake.
47. Hearing the LC marching band play "Living on a Prayer"
48. Getting to hold a sting ray.

49. Buying chickens for two wonderful families in Uganda...you would have thought we gave them a million dollars.

50. Having great friends and family who read my blog because they care what goes on in my life...love you all dearly.

Back from a week in Paradise

2010-11-08T10:56:00.002-06:00

Well I am sitting at my desk on Monday morning eating an apple, drinking water and trying to figure out why my desk is swaying. Diet and workout begin today and vacation is officially over. We had a blast on our cruise though. I enjoyed getting to hang out with friends outside the office and I always love vacationing with my pops. I got to do some amazing snokeling in Jamaica with Eric and Lauren....then I got to swim with the sting rays in Grand Cayman. I won't lie that was a little unnerving to me at first but once I got used to them I love it. They are like big babies...they love being held and petted and fed. Our tour guide was fabulous and made our trip unforgetable. He was explaining to us the differences between male and female sting ray. The females are really large and the males are really small. As he was showing us a male and female side by side he said "now this is the joke portion of my tour....if I died and came back as anything I would want to be a male sting ray for two reasons. The ratio is 1 to 8, male to female so the odds are in my favor. The second reason is this (as he pulls up to things from the back of the sting ray)...I call this one Oscar and this one Myer" (and then he proceeds to laugh). Who knew male sting rays were so well endowed.
Our last day in Cozumel was a bust. We went to an all inclusive result to spend the day on the beach only the waves were too rough for us to snorkel or get in the water...the "mexican buffet" was terrible and because of the weather I couldn't parasail, which I had my heart set on doing.

Regardless of our last day in Cozumel and a cold, rocky day on the boat the last day headed home....we had an amazing time. Pictures to come but for now here is a picture of me and the sting ray I got to hold and kiss on.

Cruises, Costumes and soon to be Cursing...

2010-10-27T12:24:00.003-05:00

So this is going to be a catch all blog since I have been horrible about updating my blog. My apologies....the semester is just flying by and dragging me keeping and screaming with it.

CRUISES....well we booked a 7 day Carribean cruise over a year ago and it's finally here. We leave out of Mobile on Saturday for 7 glories days on the high sea. We will be stopping in Grand Cayman, Jamaica and Cozumel. I am excited (and a little anxious) about vacationing with friends and co-workers but we are all desperately in need of a break. I shall tell of our adventures (at least those web approved) when we return.

COSTUMES...we recently had our annual homecoming hoedown and I went all out this year. Your's truly dressed as a cowgirl wtih cow printed chaps and all. The same costume will make an appearance at the Halloween party on our cruise. Since it's debut at hoedown I have added a cowgirl hat, a holster and pistol and a whip. More pictures to come.

And last but not least...CURSING...why is that you say? Because I have slacked on my workouts since I got back from Uganda. I came back with pnuemonia and after battling that for several weeks and the semester kicking off I find myself months removed from working out and I am feeling it. As soon as we get back from the cruise my grueling workouts will commence and I assure you there will be cursing (at least under my breath).

Happy Hump Day my friends!

Adventures...oh we had adventures

2010-10-22T10:43:00.004-05:00

It has been an insanely busy few weeks with Mom's Weekend and then the Adventure Trip and then homecoming week and now I am getting ready to head out on a 7 day cruise. No rest for the weary and I wouldn't have it any other way.

I am way over due for a blog update so I thought I would share some pictures from our adventure trip. We camped out at Raccoon Mountain in Chattanooga, TN and went white water rafting on the Occoee River. We had a blast and didn't freeze too much. And sadly enough we ate better while camping then I usually eat when I am home. My dad and Scotty pulled their RV up to camp with us and did all the cooking. YUMMY!

Great trip...great students...fun memories...we shall do it again next year!

A Cup of Coffee and a Heap of Conviction

2010-09-21T09:53:00.003-05:00

I visited my local LifeWay this week and picked up two new books. My love for reading developed when I was in seminary...because I was never a reader before then. Now I crave a good book that will challenge me, help me dig deeper into God's Word and help me fall more in love with my Savior. So what did I pick up this time?

The new buzz has been all about David Platt's book "Radical" so I wanted to see for myself what the hype was about. I was fortunate to attend seminary with David and we went to the same church where he served as the missions pastor. Before graduating from seminary he actually taught one of my evangelism classes and almost on a daily basis we were all in tears with a burden for the lost. You won't find a more passionate heart when it comes to world missions. I knew this book would be good but I wasn't quite sure I was ready to wrestle with the truths laid bare on the pages. I'm only four chapters in and it's been quite a challenge. It's an easy read getting through the text but the application...well that's another story. The nutshell summary is David giving a challenge to believers to forsake pursuing the American Dream to embrace a life completely surrendered to Jesus Christ. The truth is that this shouldn't be a "radical" life but to the outside world and unfortunately to a lot of professing believers this concept is pretty "radical." Truth be told if we truly lived this way the only thing "radical" would be the impact we had on the Kingdom of God here on earth.

The second read came pretty hesitantly. My dear friend Tina Propes turned me on to John Piper in 2003 when we worked camp together. I just recently finished the first Piper book I picked up in 2003. Just kidding....but he isn't an easy read by any stretch of the imagination. His writing is meaty and though you may get through a chapter it will probably take two or three readings to comprehend what you've read. If I'm in this boat alone please don't tell me how easy of a read Piper is for you. I grew to appreciate the writings of Piper in seminary but had to take a sabatacle recently because of the idol he was becoming for our Christian Studies majors. I felt like I was hearing the name Piper more than I was hearing them talk about Jesus. I reluctantly picked up another Piper book this trip. The name of the book is "Taste and See"...a book of 140 meditations on savoring the supremacy of God in our daily life. Much easier to take in 2-3 pages at a time...and it's been a great springboard into my time with the Lord in the mornings.

I'd recommend both if you're looking for something to read these days.

What a weekend....

2010-09-12T18:31:00.006-05:00

This Saturday was our first home game of the season. The atmosphere on campus was simply electric. Residence Life hosted a tailgate party complete with an inflatable water slide, games, prizes and yours truly grilled about 1000 hotdogs. In fact when I got to the game I smelled like a walking hotdog and there was nothing flattering about that. Even though the game started at 6:00pm it was still in the 90's at kickoff and even after the game. Gotta love Louisiana weather! Here is a picture of Noah "enjoying" his first Wildcat football game.

Poor little guy was all dressed up in his Wildcat jersey but got way too hot. As soon as Amy took his clothes off he fell asleep. What a fan!

Unfortunately our Wildcats are now 0-2. We lost last week to Belhaven on the road and lost to Huntington College last night in overtime. It was such an amazing game...the Wildcats were trailing going into the half and made an incredible comeback to tie the game and go ahead in the 2nd half. Huntington tied the game in the last few minutes to send the game into overtime. Our defense just struggled to hold them and we lost 62-56...what a heartbreaking game. I have never been so proud of those guys as I was last night. They played with heart, determination and grit to the bitter end!! Keep your head up boys and get ready for Mississippi College in two weeks on the road.

In other exciting news this weekend I learned a valuable lesson. It's dangerous to cuddle too closely with a 70lb boxer who startles easily. I was taking my normal Sunday afternoon nap and was cuddled up with ole Matti and apparently went to snuggle with her a little closer or something and scared her in her sleep. Result....Matti's noggin to my cheek bone = one heck of a headache, a bruised cheek bone and the start of a black eye. Good thing I'm not married or people would think I was getting beat up at home. Check out the start of my shiner...

It certainly wasn't a boring weekend...that's for sure!

bad timing!

2010-09-09T10:38:00.002-05:00

I have been neglecting my blog lately and for that I am sorry....it's been insanely busy around my neck of the woods. I am, however, taking a short break to express my frustration in the incredibly bad timing of our cable being out on campus. For some reason we are not picking up channels 15-22...which include ESPN and ESPN2 and for any of you who know me well enough you know I am a die hard AUBURN TIGERS fan....and they play tonight on ESPN against Mississippi State. Needless to say I have been on the phone with the cable company most of the morning trying to get this issue resolved before 6:30pm. I may have to visit our local pub if something doesn't get worked out today.

WAR EAGLE!!!

just me and little man...

2010-09-03T08:52:00.003-05:00

I took a mental health day on Wednesday and spent the day with my favorite little guy...Noah Lee Chandler. I absolutely adore that baby boy. We ran errands and did some shopping and just hung out at home with Matti and I loved every minute of it. Spending the day with him was great for my emotional wellbeing and was just a foretaste of what's to come this weekend. Amy and Cory are going to Atlanta for the weekend for the LSU season opener and Noah is staying behind with his Aunt Kabes for the weekend. Three days of single parenting will surely tell me if I am as ready for motherhood as I think I am. Either way...I'm excited to spend the weekend cuddled on the couch with my monkey watching SEC football. I am sure there will be lots of pictures to come!

Too Much Fun For WEEK ONE

2010-08-30T09:11:00.002-05:00

Well I have fallen off the face of my blogging world because it has been one crazy semester! The Lord brought me out of a spiritual drought at the right time. Had I started any other semester the way this one has started I might would have been committed to the looney ben. During RA training we had to move an entire wing of beds from Cottingham (the women's dorm) to Tudor Hall (the men's dorm) in order to make bunk beds and sleep three freshmen to a room. We are definitely experiencing some growing pains at LC. We have the largest freshmen class in the history of the college and no where to sleep these guys. For now they are sleeping three to a room and most of them aren't too happy about it. I'm so thankful for my RA staff who make the big bed move like champs!

About the time that phone calls stopped coming in from upset moms about the Tudor Hall situation...the dam broke in CDA. The very first day of classes I was having lunch with a friend and came back on campus to find fire trucks at CDA and the building was flooded by the fire sprinkler system. Really?!?! First day of class and this is how it starts? I quickly sent out an SOS and my RAs came running to move 45 girls out of the building. For two days we moved girls, their stuff and all the beds from CDA to the empty wing on Cottingham. Needless to say the phone starting ringing off the hook again with upset parents wanting to know what the plan was. Every time the phone rang I just had to chuckle because I have yet to find an instruction manual in my office that says, "if a dorm floods do this, this and then this." We are just taking it one day at a time and trying to keep girls happy.

To say it's been a crazy semester is an understatement but here's to hoping for an uneventful Monday starting off week two.

A New Semester

2010-08-14T18:16:00.011-05:00

Well, I have officially kicked off the start of year five at Louisiana College as the Director of Residence Life. I have the gray as proof that position isn't always easy, but it's a fun job and there is never a dull moment.

I've been missing in action on my blog for the last two weeks because I have been in training all day, every day with my 2010-2011 staff. The first week of training was with my head advisor staff...I love them to death! We had a lot of fun and got a lot accomplished in a weeks time. Here they are...

Hayden, Myra, Lizzie, Sara, Cory, Brian and KB

The second week has been spent in training with the rest of the RAs. By far the best staff I have ever worked with...I love them! I'm looking forward to an amazing year serving along side them. Here are just a few pics from our week of training...as you can see we played as much as we worked.

the head advisors making their giant clock that chimed "ode to joy"

one of the groups completing the "magic carpet" initiative at Dry Creek

this group was completing the "mohawk walk" initiative with a twist

playing the newly wed game...here are the cheaters..
I mean the winners, "the Terrells"

this is Lee Jones at our "white trash holiday party"

It's been a great week! Move In Day is tomorrow and we are busting at the seams with freshmen! I'm looking forward to a great year with a great staff!

why did the chicken cross the road?....

2010-08-01T22:07:00.009-05:00

Funny you should ask why the chicken crossed the road. That's a joke we've all heard and yet in Uganda I discovered that the punchline is probably not "to get to the other side"...but rather "so I wouldn't cut his head off!" I realize that needs a bit of an explanation so here goes.

We hadn't been in Uganda long when I noticed just how many chickens were roaming around. In fact the first morning when I came out of my hotel room there was a chicken just walking in the parking lot. On our way from Gulu to Nebbi we stopped and purchased 7 chickens. Three of which were to be for our team meals and then we bought Geoffrey's family 2 and Stanley's family 2. We learned that eating chicken was usually a holiday treat and while we were there we were served chicken almost every day. You would have thought that we had given Geoffrey and Stanley a million dollars by buying them chickens to take home.

Back to the chickens....which I affectionately named Shadrack, Mishack and Abednigo. Probably shouldn't name animals that will soon be your dinner. We purchased the chickens and then tied them to the top of the van with our luggage. Those poor guys had to ride 4 hours strapped to the top of the van but all 7 were still there when we arrived in Nebbi. As the guys were loosening the ropes from our luggage (which was also holding the chickens) one of the little boogers got loose. Without any hesitation I reached for him and swiped him up by his legs. Not sure what got into me but I knew I couldn't let dinner get away. My team was quite impressed with my handy work.

If you haven't picked up on the fact that I loved every minute of being in Africa and had a desire to soak it all in...nows your chance to get a full glimpse into my experiences. While driving to Nebbi I told Geoffrey that I would like to get to kill one of the chickens that we were going to eat. I was mostly being serious and partly kidding. I have always wanted to learn how to ring a chickens neck and I knew if I was ever seriously going to move to Africa then I had to be woman enough to kill a chicken.

One morning...just happened to be the morning I wore a white shirt...Geoffrey and Stanley came to pick us up to head to some schools for ministry. Geoffrey told me that he needed to run to the bank but that Stanley was going to take me to his house so that I could kill the chicken that Joy was going to prepare for lunch that day. Oh joy! So remember how I thought I was going to ring the chicken's neck? Yeah, not so much. When we arrived at Geoffrey's, Stanley began to show me the process of how I was going to put Mishack to rest. You'll see the process in the next series of pictures but I had to stand on the wings with one foot, the feet with another foot and pull the neck up so I could chop off his head. Yep, I said chop. What happened to just breaking it's neck? Not the way they do things in Uganda. Not only did I have to cut his head off...they gave me a knife that was about as sharp as a butter knife so I had to saw the little guy in two.

Worry not...I didn't get any chicken blood on my white shirt. I was a champ at killing the chicken even though I was a little freaked out by the fact it's head was still clucking in my hand and it's body was flopping around under my feet and the two were not attached. All I know is Stanley told me not to step off the chicken until he stopped moving...so I didn't. Here are the pics of big big momma providing for the team.

I promise that is the only grusome story I will share about my time in Africa but I was too proud of my chicken killing adventure not to share. I promised my sister a new Uganda story by the end of the weekend and this was the easiest to tell.

more laughs and adventures...as promised!

2010-07-25T12:25:00.013-05:00

So I was looking through my pictures and realized I need to back track for two quick stories that happened during our time in Atlanta...

The day before the team arrived in ATL I was out running errands for SaraBeth in Cheryl's car and got pulled over by the police. I truly was baffled as to why I was being pulled over because I knew I wasn't speeding. When the cop appeared at the window and asked if I knew why I was being stopped I could with all honesty say, "I have no idea." Come to find out Cheryl's registration on her jeep was expired and lucky for me it is the operator of the vehicle who gets the ticket. What a way to start a trip, huh?

Second back tracking story...during our first day together we did a blindfold walk as a team. As you can guess I was the only one who could see where we were going as I led the team through a parking lot and field in search of orange cones. This was just the first insight the team got into realizing that I was going to be leading them blind into a lot of adventures. I was struggling in giving them directions. I would tell them left when I really meant right. I realized that I can't flip directions in my head when I am facing them. The funniest is when we started down a hill and for some reason I told them we were about to go up a hill. Jimmy was in the front of the line and took a large step up to find the hill and almost hit the ground face first. Luckily I was there to block the fall. Again, just the start of realizing that even though I was the leader I didn't know much more than they did about what was ahead of us. In fact they would ask me all kinds of questions on a daily basis and I would just start making up answers. I would usually preface my answer with "well the last time I was here...." and they would just laugh and remember that I had never been to Uganda either. Here are some pics of our blindfold walk through the field.

okay now back to Uganda adventures.

So after landing in Entebbe and waiting in line to get our visas I had a small nervous breakdown...all internally of course. We had to have documentation of getting a yellow fever shot in order to enter the country. I told the team no less than 10 times the day before we left to make sure that the documentation was with their passport. In fact I kept reminding them and told them that the only part of Uganda they would see would be the airport if they forgot it. Guess who got to the airport and didn't have their yellow fever documentation? Yours truly. I knew exactly where it was..in the ziplock bag in my luggage with my allergy shots. Glory. Only by the grace of God did we make it through customs without having to show proof of vaccination and man was I relieved that it wasn't my luggage that was still in Amsterdam. As soon as I got my luggage I dug out that piece of paper and I had it with me at all times from then on out. Needless to say the team got a good laugh at my expense.

Morning one in Kampala we wake up and Geoffrey is nowhere to be found. No worries...at least that is what I kept telling myself. When I asked the lady at the desk if she knew where he was she told me he had not been here all night. A little confused I just said okay and walked out of the office. I knew Geoffrey has stayed with the boys so I figured he must have gone into town for something. We ate breakfast and got our bags ready for the trip to Gulu. As we loaded up the vehicle that was going to take us to the bus we quickly realized it was only by God's sovereignty that the boys bags didn't arrive. You see what happened is that the five of us, plus Geoffrey, plus the driver and all of our luggage (5 duffle bags and 3 big plastic containers with supplies) now had to fit into a toyota 4 runner. Yep that's right...a 4 runner. This was just the first of many times I would be told to sit in the front seat so that everyone could fit in the vehicle. The joys of being the chubby kid. Not too far from this day I would start affectionately be called big big momma. I am okay with the new name because being big in Uganda is a honor. I've been living in the wrong place my whole life, apparently. So here is just a glimpse into how packed the car was as we headed to the bus station.

Nothing like forced closeness?

Then came the six hour bus ride to Gulu. Just a warning this next part is not politically correct so if you are easily offended browse down to the next paragraph. For those of you who know me well this will not be shocking at all. I have grown up knowing and using the phrase "they were packed in like a bunch of mexicans" which is a reference to putting too many people in a little space. I have a new phrase now because Africans can pack in just as tight as Mexicans can. We were packed in like Africans on a six hour bus ride to Gulu. Matt, Maggie and I were crammed on the backseat of the bus with three African guys. The guy I was sitting by was named Stephen and he was a believer. He told us lots of stories of the rebel army and how he had escaped on three different occassions. The two most memorable things about sitting by Stephen were him using big big momma as a pillow. More times than I could count he would fall asleep and find himself sleeping on my arm, shoulder..wherever he landed. The other thing I remember was him buying us so much food. The bus would stop about every 45 minutes and people in the town would rush the side of the bus to sell their items. Every stop Stephen would buy us food...chapatte, corn, goat on a stick, kazava, grilled bananas, mangos, mango juice...you name it. I even got some boiled peanuts which made me feel like I was back in Alabama. The food was so good but we were all about to pop if he didn't stop buying us food. Stephen just wanted to make sure we got to experience true African food. CHECK!

The absolute funniest part of the bus ride...I heard a child start throwing up and looked up to see his father catching the throw up in his hand. Here we are in a close, confined space and this kid is hurling his cookies all over the bus. I was a little grossed out as I began digging in my bag for a napkin or wetones...something to pass up to the man. It was about that time that I looked up and realized that Jimmy was sitting right across the aisle from where all this is happening. I about died laughing...what are the odds that one of the two team members who doesn't have a change of clothes would get thrown up on. Classic. Luckily he dodged the bullet and only got a little splatter but I am still laughing about it as I write this post.

So that gets us to Gulu where our first days of ministry started. I will have to sort through pictures and see where to go from here. Stay tuned....

We Never Lacked for Laughter...

2010-07-24T11:29:00.017-05:00

I guess following team introductions and then telling about how my spiritual drought came to an end...the next step is telling of our adventures. To say we never lacked for laughter seems like an understatment. We laughed with each other and at each other from day one. I certainly can't keep track of all the things we laughed at but I will try to document enough for me to always be able to look back on and for you to get a glimpse of the nuts I spent three weeks with.

Day One of training camp...Heather arrived from Blountsville, AL and I was anxious to meet my Alabama soul sister. We discovered early that we were living in a small world when we found out she had dated one of my cousins. Couldn't wait to meet the girl that was so excited about going to Uganda that it oozed over the phone whenever we talked. She arrived in Atlanta and was meeting with SaraBeth to pay off her trip and take care of all her paperwork. I need to preface that Heather got to expereience the Lord's faithfulness in raising money for the trip because she had her trip paid for and then almost double. The Sunday before coming to ATL her church took up a love offering and so she had an envelope with cash in it to turn in...when it came time to give the money to SaraBeth...she couldn't find it. I watched that girl tear her bag to pieces looking for the envelope. I knew at that moment that #1 I loved her already and #2 I needed to keep up with her passport if I was going to take this kid to Uganda and bring her back. Luckily I took a tour through her bag and found the envelope tucked safely in her bible.

Day Two of training camp...discovering that none of us had soccer skills. All I knew when I signed up to lead the trip was that we were going to Africa and that we would be working with orphans...all the other details were just fine print. I discovered when arriving in ATL that we were a soccer team, oh glory. Our first practice was a trip to say the least. Not only were we all exhausted after 30 minutes of play, we didn't know jack about soccer and we were about to head to the land of futbol. The Lord has a sense of humor. Here are just a few pics of our first soccer practice. The boys taught the three girls how to head the ball and let me be the first to tell you that if you don't hit the ball in just the right spot on your head you will have a killer headache.

After soccer practice came our next challenge....balloon animals. Who knew those things were so hard to blow up and even harder to make into something recognizable? We learned really quick that Jimmy would not be the balloon animal MVP. SaraBeth had blown up about 30 balloons to teach us how to make swords, hats and dogs...and in a matter of 5 minutes our boy Jimmy had popped 20 of them trying to make a dog. I saw yet another glimpse of the Lord's faithfulness becuase I was able to make balloon animals like a champ...no soccer for me! Before we left Atlanta I learned how to make a dog, a lion, a teddy bear, a sword, a hat and how to make Jonah in the whale...impressive, huh? Here are just a few pics of our balloon making lesson:

I knew it was going to be a great trip from the beginning because we laughed a lot together and genuinely enjoyed one another's company. Who knew that training camp was just a foretast of the laughs we would share.

Day one of travel...we went to check in at the ATL airport and Jimmy and Matt didn't show up on my e-ticket. Oops! I got the girls checked in and then began the process of trying to get the boys checked in. Matt's check in went smoothly and off he went. Then there was Jimmy...oh Jimmy. I will have to upload the pic from my iphone soon but Jimmy was being checked in by a lady who spoke very little English and I knew at that moment we were in trouble. When she took the two bags Jimmy was checking in and put them on the belt I knew in my gut we wouldn't be seeing those bags again. I asked her four different times if they were checked to Entebbe, Uganda (our final destination) and she told me yes. NOT SO MUCH! When we arrived in Uganda those two bags were no where to be found. The girls were relieved to know that the two bags Jimmy checked in were his and Matt's. We had to go through an hour long process of filing a claims report and of course the lady didn't give Jimmy a baggage claim ticket. It wasn't until four days later that we finally got the boys luggage. In the mean time we did laundry in a bucket because I had packed detergent. The girls loaned the boys some atheletic shorts...which was funny because they were sporting the daisy dukes on the soccer field. And poor Matt didn't pack any clothes in his carry-on despite his mom's instructions so he had to wash his undies every night...Jimmy had a spare. We loaned the boys shampoo and soap and Jimmy even used my deodorant. Talk about getting close really quick?!?! Needless to say the boys were great sports about the whole thing and were relieved when their luggage finally arrived after spending days in Amsterdam. Here are just a few pics of the boys in Heather's shorts:

I think in the Message the verse might would read..."greater love has no Heather...than to let Jimmy wear two pair of her shorts, one as shorts and the other as underwear." What a trooper!

And then there were CANKLES...yep, that's right. After two days of air travel four of the five of us discovered we no longer had ankles. Needless to say Matt got some laughs at our expense and eagerly volunteered to take a picture. I'll take cankles over wearing a bright green shirt for five days in a row any day. (sorry that was probably too soon.)

...more stories to come.

A New Stone

2010-07-22T07:56:00.005-05:00

This is probably the best way to start a journal entry about my trip. This story is the beginning and the end of this chapter and with time I will post the in between stories. First let me start by explaining that I have always loved the story of Joshua in the Old Testament. For some reason his story just resonates with me. I found myself going back to his story in preparation for the trip. If you're familiar with Joshua you know that Moses sent Joshua, Caleb and 10 others to spy out the promised land, Canaan. This was the land the Lord had set apart for the Israelites and the place they were longing for as they wondered 40 years in the wilderness. The time was soon approaching and Moses sent the 12 to go ahead and scout out the land. When the 12 returned the other ten reported that there were giants and going into this land that God had promised was impossible...they wanted to just return to Egypt where they were captives. Ironically enough the Lord struck those 10 dead. Joshua and Caleb had a different perspective however. They saw what the other 10 saw but more importantly they saw a land flowing with milk and honey. Their focus was on a land their God had promised them and nothing would deter them from that land.

I shared with me team that I felt like we were being sent as scouts to Uganda. Geoffrey is in the process of building an orphanage and has a passion and a vision for orphan care there. The Lord just impressed on my heart that the five of us were being sent as scouts to catch a glimpse of that vision and return here to report and help gather the resources. My prayer as I challenged the team is that our perspective in coming back would be to report what God allowed us to see...not the obstacles. I know Satan would love to get a foothold and have our attitude be one of "thank God I am back in America and I could care less if I ever go back." Oh how the Lord was faithful to allow all five us to see the promises and the hope that awaits in Uganda.

Further on in the story of Joshua you'll remember that Moses never got to lead the people into the promised land...Joshua was their leader when the promise was fulfilled. As the people crossed through the Jordan River on dry land the Lord instructed Joshua to have the leader of each of the 12 tribes take a stone from the water's bed. Once they reached dry ground they were instructed to build a memorial with the 12 stones so that they would always be able to come back to this place and remember God's faithfulness. The memorial would also serve as a way of telling their children and grandchildren about this season/chapter of their lives.

Like I said...this story has always resonated with me. In 1998 I got my first tattoo and it served as one of "my stones" that I could always look at and remember how I saw experienced God's faithfulness and knew his nearness. In 2000 I got my second stone. For two years I have known I wanted a third tattoo but I didn't know where I wanted it and I didn't have an experience to connect it with. That was important to me.

As I went back and read the story of Joshua again the day before we left for Uganda I saw a part of the story I had never seen before. Just a few verses past where the 12 stones were placed by the 12 tribes it says the Joshua took another 12 stones and put them in the river. I had never noticed this part of the passage...but wow how it gripped me. You see those 12 stones were just for Joshua...no one else could see them, no one knew they were there, but they were just between him and the Lord. Not only were they for him and his God but the only time Joshua would ever see those stones again was if the Jordan River dried up...only in a drought would he see that reminder...just when he would need the reminder the most. Even as a type that my eyes are welling up with tears. For those of you who have journeyed with me for a while you know, or maybe you don't...the last four years of life have been a drought for me. I feel like I have been in the wilderness and have the bumps, bruises and scars on my spirit to show it. Everything in me was hoping that my trip to Africa was going to be the start of a chapter of restoration and joy. When I read that passage the day before I left it was as if the Lord just leaned in and whispered sweetly in my ear that the river was coming...but I've allowed you to see the stones in the drought.

From the minute my feet touched the ground in Uganda there was a mighty river. I haven't felt that alive in a long time, actually probably never. I couldn't soak in enough of hearing the Lord and seeing him at work around me. His promises and blessings were bursting at the seams for me. And here is why I adore my heavenly Father...He was faithful to daily remind me that is was ALL HIM...and not becuase I was Africa that the restoration had begun. I didn't have to return to Louisiana and dread that the wilderness was waiting because it wasn't about a place, but about God, my sustainer.Dont' get me wrong, I left a huge part of my heart in Uganda and honestly think the Lord will have me back there for an extended period of time one day...but I came home renewed, restored and soaking in the river.

So with that experience (deep breath)...I knew it was time for a new stone. I knew two years ago that I wanted the word "redeemed" but I didn't know where on my body or in what script. As we were sharing the gospel one day using the evangecube which walks through the gospel using pictures, it became quite clear where the next stone was going. There was a picture on the cube of Jesus reaching his hand out to receive you and the nail scars were still fresh and very visible on his wrist. That picture was magnified in my heart...his suffering and death are the reason, the only reason, why I am REDEEMED. What better place than on my wrist to remind me that Christ has redeemed me. Christ has redeemed my mistakes, my sin, my past, my future and the day is coming when all that is broken will be made right...REDEEMED. I finally decided to get the tattoo in Hebrew because in the Old Testament, which was originally written in Hebrew, redemption was only a promise...but the promise was fulfilled in the New Testament through Christ. I wanted a reminder that even though I am redeemed now and have been since I professed Christ as my savior...there is still a great promise of redemption coming when I don't have to thirst through a drought, walk the road alone, grow weary from working or experience heartbreak.

The thing I loved about the people of Uganda was their simplicity. Because they have so little, they have an unbelievable joy and hope when they have Christ as their Savior. I feel like they know what it means to yearn for Heaven...to yearn for what has been promised. Too often I find myself so satisfied with the things of this world that I am content to wait and wait for the Lord's return. This new "stone" is a reminder to me not only that God was and is faithful in the drought of the last four years, but there is a time coming that all things will be redeemed and I want a spirit that yearns for His return. Come Lord Jesus, Come!

So, that was quite a long post but is the reason for the new tattoo and the bookends to my first trip to Africa. A word from the Lord, his restoring touch and a way to always be reminded. Now that the bookends are in place I will begin writing the in between stories soon, there is just still so much to process.

The Lord is Faithful....

2010-07-19T16:43:00.006-05:00

To say that the Lord is faithful seems like an understatement....but it is the only way I know to start this blog. I shared that our team verse was Ephesians 3:18-21 and wow did the Lord ever keep his promise to do exceedingly and abundantly more than all we could have asked or imagined during our time in Uganda.

I mentioned in the last post and on several other occassions that I have been trying to get to Africa for 1o years. My biggest fear is that it would either be all that imagined and more and I wouldn't want to come home or that it wouldn't be what I expected and I would be disappointed. Let me just clear it up right now...I was not disappointed. I feel like my heart found it's rightful home in Africa. I have never felt so alive. I am already praying that the Lord would fling the door open wide for me to go back for a longer period of time...even permanently. Enough about that though...let me share stories.

First let me introduce you to the team officially now that I can add pictures to the blog.

from left to right: Maggie, KB, Heather, Jimmy and Matt
I couldn't have asked for a better team to travel Uganda with. The Lord kept us laughing with and at each other for two and half weeks. The more I was with them the more I loved them. I was like a proud mom sitting back taking thousands of pics and watching them play soccer and lead songs and love on kids. I beamed with pride every time I got to hear one of them share the gospel and my heart beat out of my chest every time I children would raise their hands...ready to follow Jesus. As we traveled from school to school, from district to district in Northern Uganda..I am proud to tell you that we have over 6000 new brothers and sisters in Christ. Every night we would sit together in utter astonishment at the way the Lord was working. The apostle Paul was right when he wrote "At the NAME of JESUS every knee will bow and tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord!" All we had to do was be faithful to share and Christ made himself irristable the people we shared with.

My mom asked me why I loved Uganda so much and all I can really say is that the people were simple. When you met a believe you knew without a doubt that their hope nad their joy was Christ alone. Jimmy and I were talking one day in the van and the best I could muster up was that these people knew what it meant to yearn for heaven. They don't have the busyness and the distractions that keep them satisfied here on earth...they work and exist longing for a new day...to be one day closer to "home". And even in that explanation it doesn't do them justice. I took thousands of pictures just capturing the love, hope and courage you see in each face.

The trip wouldn't have been possible without our Paul and Timothy...otherwise known in Uganda as Geoffrey and Stanley. These guys made our trip absolutely incredible. They have both local pastors who have taken the Great Commission seriously...they host teams and spend most of their time traveling around sharing the gospel wherever they are permitted. Geoffrey has started an orphan care ministry and is in the process of raising the money to open an orphanage and school. Right now he has currently placed 50 orphans in foster homes with familiers who are believers. To say these guys are amazing is truly an understatement. They treated our team like family and when it came time to leave them we felt we were leaving a huge part of ourselves behind.

Geoffrey

Stanley

I'm honestly not really sure where to start or what to tell and if you've seen my facebook page then you know that choosing which pics to post is an impossible task. This will be a long process and will take many many blog entries so stay tuned. I will try to slowing walk through the days slowly but surely.

For now I hear a nap calling my name. I have had a terrible cough for the majority of the trip. I have affectionately called it my "black lung" and every time I start coughing my teammates tell me to stay with them..not to go towards the light. Well I made it to the doctor this morning only to discover that the "black lung" is a case of pneumonia. I feel much better knowing that...I really thought that jet lag was whooping my tail more than ever before. Now I feel justified in how tired I am. Keep me in your prayers as I ease back into life...work is calling tomorrow.

More posts coming soon.

Leaving on a jet plane...

2010-07-01T01:01:00.001-05:00

....don't know when I'll be back again!

Only kidding. I'm leaving today for Uganda after months of anticipation and ten years of longing to go to Africa. Please keep "the fab five" in your prayers as we travel for the next 48 hours. Several of my teammates have a fearof flying and I am so proud of their courage to follow God's call even when it means facing their fears. Pray for our protection both traveling and as we spend two weeks ministering in Northern Uganda.

You can also pray that the Lord gives us supernatural strength as we play soccer in the heat everyday. We played for less than an hour yesterday and it wiped us all out pretty good. The Lord is faithful!

I've tried uploading a team picture but blogging from my phone isn't ideal. Check out my facebook page for a picture of my team. I love them all dearly already and pray that the Lord binds Satan from causing any dissection or disunity among us. We laugh a lot together but have already become open and transparent with each other...the Lord is good.

Thank you for your prayers and I will keep you updated the best I can.

team verse

2010-06-28T11:39:00.002-05:00

In my training manual as the team leader it was suggested that we have a team verse and memorize it together and focus on it throughout the trip. I have been thinking about what that verse should be...I mean seriously, there are so many promises in God's Word...so many ways He has shown His faithulness. Something kept drawing me back to Ephesians 3:18-21...these verses have resonated with me for a long long long time.

And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish inifinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.

I pray that each of us on the team will truly begin to grasp just how overwhelming our Father's love for us is....and that He longs to fill us with his fullness so that we are not lacking power for anything he calls us to do. I have big hopes for this trip and I get a little teary to think that my hopes and dreams for this trip don't even compare to what God has in store for me...for us.I pray he opens our eyes and our hearts so we don't miss it! Praise be to the CREATOR of the universe for making himself known to us and working in and through us. I can't wrap my mind around that...honestly!

I meet my team tomorrow and I am quite excited!

Update on the river kayaking trip: I had a blast going kayaking on Saturday. I've never kayaked before and I love it. I did have one minor mishap where I flipped my kayak going down a rapid backwards. I have a battle wound to show for my adventure but nothing that won't heal in time. If I didn't live in Louisiana where all waters are gator infested...and if I hadn't watched so many episodes of RIVER MONSTERS I might would consider buying a kayak.

first leg of the adventure...

2010-06-26T09:00:00.002-05:00

Well the time has finally arrived for my trip to Uganda! I arrived in Atlanta last night where I will spend the next few days preparing for my team. While I am here I am going to get to reconnect with some long lost friends that live in the area. Sara Beth and I were catching up last night and realizing that it had been 4 years since we had seen one another...how does that happen? I will get to see Billy and Elizabeth tomorrow and get some love from Bailey, Jesse and finally get to meet sweet Jack! Today we are going river kayaking and I will get to catch up with two old friends from my college days. My soul is full and rejoicing in just how much God has blessed me with some amazing people at every season of my life.

My team will arrive on Tuesday for training camp and I am anxious to meet them. We will spend two days preparing for ministry together. We got a rough idea this week of what our schedule will look like. I wanted to include that for you so you would know how to pray for us. You'll notice that the majority of what we will be doing is playing soccer...I'VE NEVER PLAYED SOCCER A DAY IN MY LIFE! I am so thankful that what began this adventure was getting in shape and losing weight...at least now I will be able to run and play and try to keep up!

July 1st we will depart from Atlanta for Uganda. We will fly from ATL to Detroit...on to Amsterdam for a short layover and then into Entebbe in Uganda.

July 2nd and 3rd we will arrive in Uganda and have two days of orientation and will travel to North Uganda where we will spend our time doing ministry.

July 4th we will be joining a local church for worship. Geoffrey has asked if one of our team members would like to preach and I am praying through that...you can certainly add that to your prayers. Uganda culture doesn't have a problem with women preachers so I could be the preacher for the day but I am waiting on a word from the Lord.

July 5th-9th we will be playing soccer and doing outreach in several schools

July 10th we will be doing orphan home visitations

July 11th we will be joining another congregation for worship and then doing soccer outreach in the afternoon/evening

July 12th we will be playing soccer in more schools

July 13th-14th we will get to go on a 3 day safari

July 15th we will leave Entebbe headed back home.

We have some very active days ahead so pray for strength and endurance. Please pray for that everyone stays healthy and adjust to the 8 hour time difference quickly. We really aren't sure what the living conditions will be. For most of our time we will probably have no electricity, take bucket bathes and use squatty potties...pray for a flexible spirit and that our team would laugh and embrace the challenges!

My biggest perosnal request would be this: I have longed to go to Africa and know that this is going to be a life changing trip. My fear is that I will be an emotional wreck when I return. I do not want to be that bitter person who hates America and wishes she were back in Africa to the point of making everyone around me miserable. I want to be thankful for the opportunity that the Lord has blessed me with and come back changed for the better. I know this will be just the first of many trip to Africa and I would be totally okay with God calling me there full time...but most importantly I want to be where He wants me and be wholeheartedly invested in that place and those people wherever it is...be it Africa or Pineville.

Here are the names of the my teammates so you can pray for them by name:
KB Thomas--team leader
Maggie Lingenfelter
Heather Odom
Matt Jahnke
Jimmy Thate

Thank you in advance for your prayers! I look forward to having great stories and thousands (not exaggerating) of pictures to share with you.

photo shoot with Noah Lee Chandler

2010-06-20T16:53:00.009-05:00

So you have probably noticed that my blogging has decreased significantly since Noah Lee Chandler entered our world. I can't make apologies for that...I am loving this little boy and spending as much time with him as I can. I will be leaving this week for Uganda and will be gone for almost three weeks and before I get back the Chandlers are leaving for their trip to NC and wont be back until two weeks after I am back home. If you do the math that's 5 weeks I won't get to see sweet Noah. He hasn't even been around for 5 weeks yet so I will miss half of his life. Okay, so that's a little dramatic but I am still trying to get some quality time with him and his parents before I head out. I got to be his first official babysitter this past Thursday and I was a wee bit excited. Cory and Amy went on a date to dinner and a movie and I got to spoil Noah for a few hours.

Since Father's Day was just a few days away I thought I would take advantage of my time with Noah and have a mini photo shoot in hopes of getting some good pics to give Cory for Father's Day. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED...only they were so cute I couldn't keep them a secret. As soon as Cory and Amy got home I showed them the pics. Amy and I even went to Walmart on Friday night and used the pics to design his birth announcement. Here are just a few of the many many pics I took of lil man that night.

CREATURE OF HABIT!

2010-06-13T18:37:00.002-05:00

So, I am learning something about myself just a few weeks into the summer. Okay, so maybe it isn't an entirely new lesson, just one that is being reinforced with every passing day. I, KB Thomas, am a creature of habit. I thrive on a routine!! I haven't always been this way...or at least not this bad. I chalk it up to getting older and needing to have some order in my life. From the time I graduated high school until I started my job at LC 5 years ago I lived a very spontaneous...ever changing life. Every summer I was doing summer missions or working Centrifuge in a new location. After graduating college and starting seminary I moved from city to city and job to job. I loved my life and all the adventures the Lord let me experience. Now that I have settled into a job and been in one place for almost five years now...I thrive on the routine of life and when the routine is off I feel disheveled. Case in point, we host a different camp every week of the summer here at LC so we are constantly checking people in and out. Every camps' needs are different, their check in and out times vary, emergencies happen at the oddest hours, camp directors personalities are drastically different...and therefore, no week of the summer is the same. I really never know what to expect on any given day going into the office. Don't get me wrong...I love camps and miss almost every day of the summer being able to work camp...but when summer rolls around and all other offices on campus get a break I feel like I go into coffee and survival mode.

Sadly, because Hayden is working as an intern for summer camps and Sara is working as my assistant in Residence Life our workout routine has struggled the last two weeks as we have all gone into survival mode. Fortunately I am still losing weight and getting as many workouts in as possible in a given week. We are trying to figure out how to get back on schedule. So far it's required me to get runs in by myself which is never fun. Sara is married to a youth ministry and so there have been several nights where her schedule has been booked with church activities. This week her church has night VBS so we are going to have to get in morning workouts if they are going to get done. Have I mentioned that Sara isn't a morning person and requires a lot of sleep? No pain, no gain...right?

All that to say...I'm actually thankful that I am learning how to lose weight, eat right and incorporate exercise into my "real life"...it's challenging enough to learn new habits in you're normal routine...much less learn it on a TV show in a bubble and then have to come home and incorporate it into "real life." If I can roll with the punches of the summer and still manage to get a workout in every day regardless of my schedule or where I am in (Dry Creek, Uganda, etc) then I will be set when the school year starts back and I can get into a routine.

HAVE I MENTIONED I AM GOING TO AFRICA IN TWO WEEKS?!?!?!?!?! Cause I am!

Now that is good stuff...

2010-06-07T22:04:00.003-05:00

So I am going to venture away from weight loss news and Uganda updates for one blog entry to share with you some "coffee for my soul"....

I've been settling into the couch the last few nights with a great cup of Community pecan praline coffee with southern pecan creamer and quite an amazing book. I attended a Beth Moore simulcast almost two months ago and picked the book up there and have just now had time to dig my teeth into it. I'll be honest...I've never jumped on the Beth Moore bandwagon of daily bible studies she writes because I am honest with myself to know I will never finish them. You have to be incredibly dedicated and have three hours to spend daily working through the material. Okay, so three hours may be a stretch but not too much of one. Anywho...though I have only done one of her studies, I have quickly fallen in love with the utter transparency she has poured out in her latest book So Long Insecurity, You've Been A Bad Friend to Us!

If you haven't seen it on the shelves or heard about it I would encourage you to check it out. Given the title of the book I wouldn't blame you if you bought it online (Amazon.com has it on sale right now)...what woman with insecurity issues wants to carry that book title to the counter. If you do...I promise there is great freedom and healing coming your way.

Here is just an exert from the chapter I read tonight that was too good not to share!

"God Himself formed human emotions. He knows how easily the heart can be broken. The mind can be marred. He knows life hurts...because people hurt...and then hurt people. He also know the resilience with which He made us and the innate capacity within each one of us to be restored. Remade. He knows we are capable of loving even when we feel unloved because He loves us enough to cover those who don't. He knows we are not nearly as fragile as we think we are, but we will act like who we believe ourselves to be. He knows we have the capacity to be astoundingly extraordinary, and not just in spite of where we've been, but BECAUSE of it."

"God knows we're insecure. But we do not need to be. And He will not leave well enough alone. He has enough security for both of us, and for those of us who call Christ Savior, He slipped His own secure Spirit within our simple jars of clay. It is within you to be secure, dear one. Do you hear what I am saying to you? You have it in you!"

No cup of coffee taste as sweet as those words right there. God knows all of my fears, failures and insecurities and has made a way to release me from them. Praise the Lord!

All that to say....check out the book ladies...you won't be disappointed!

One prayer request as I close though...I had two of my shots today for Uganda and they hurt so bad and have left me feeling yucky and achy this afternoon and evening. Pray that this passes quickly.

UGANDA update

2010-06-06T11:40:00.003-05:00

Let me just say a big THANK YOU to all my blog readers and prayer warriors out there. Plans for the trip are progressing nicely. I am beside myself with excitement ready to go. There are only a few things left standing in my way as the clock is ticking down to our departure time. Here are some things you can pray with me about in the weeks to come...

1. PRAISE that my passport has arrived!

2. This week I will be getting all my shots for the trip. Who knew you had to have so many shots to go to Africa :) Please pray that my body responds well to the shots and that I raise enough support to help cover the cost of the shots. Our immunizations for the trip were not included in the amount we had to raise and unfortunately they will run each team member almost $500 (the Lord is faithful!)

3. I am still raising support for the trip. PRAISE that so many have sacrificed for me to serve the Lord in Africa...THANK YOU! Pray that all the people who have received my support letter will do one of two things...GIVE...and/or PRAY FOR MORE SUPPORTERS! I am getting really close to having all my support. What a confirmation from the Lord that HE has provided this opportunity!

4. This week two of my team members have backed out for various reasons. Please pray that the additional five members of this team would rest assured knowing God has lead them to this team and will provide for them financially, emotionally, physically and spiritually. Pray that Satan would in no way get a foothold on this team or be allowed to stir doubts or fears in our hearts. PERFECT LOVE CAST OUT ALL FEAR.

5. Pray that I would be sensitive to the Lord's leading in my life as I prepare to lead this team. It's kind of scary leading a team somewhere you have never been. I don't know what to expect but I trust that the Lord has gone before us, will be with us and will come behind us in all the work we do there. Pray that I would be selfless and attentive to what my team needs from me as we serve together.

Thank you again for your constant support and encouragement...you will never know how much it means to me. Keep praying for my discipline in weightloss as I continue to press on toward my goal of losing 50lbs before the trip. Reality is that I will not be able to lose 50 since I am only at 20lbs and have three weeks until we leave...BUT, I am so proud of how far I have come, how strong I am getting every day and how good I feel...that is just as great as reaching that first goal...AND IT WILL COME!

Going to the Chapel....

2010-06-06T11:25:00.006-05:00

Well it is officially wedding season around Louisiana College. I feel like I have gone to a wedding almost every weekend since summer started...all my babies are growing up! As you can imagine wedding cake is not on my diet and as much as I try to be good at the reception at least one small piece of cake makes its way to my plate..oh well!

Here are just a few pictures from Hannah and Cory's wedding from last night. All of my workout buddies were in this wedding so it was fun to see them looking hot in their brides maid dresses!

the Bride and Groom

Me and Alana (hairstylist and makeup artist extradonaire)

Sara and KB

Emily, KB and Laura

Sorry I have neglected my blogging lately....worry not, I am still alive and still working out. For the last two weeks I have been a little preoccupied with Noah being born and you know I have to get lots of snuggle time with him and last week I spoke at Girl's Opportunity Camp at Dry Creek...pictures and stories coming soon! Fear not, I am back and ready to blog...at least until I leave for Uganda!

16 pounds and A Bundle of Joy

2010-05-26T14:57:00.008-05:00

I've been out of the blogging loop for a couple of days because I have been a little preoccuppied. Noah Lee Chandler finally made his appearance into the world yesterday (May 25th) at 4:32pm. He weighed 9lbs and 7oz and was 23 inches long. He is quite a big boy and had no intentions of coming out on his own. Amy ended up having a C-section and did a great job bringing this little miracle into the world. I am sure you can't imagine how excited his Aunt Kabes is to finally meet him and take lots and lots and lots of pictures. I finally got to hold him today and I am completely in love. This little bundle of joy has stollen my heart and the only way I could love him more was if he was my own. Here are some pictures of Noah on his birth-day.

daddy, mommy and aunt kabes before his big arrival

here's the big boy with his head full of HAIR

little chunky monkey

drinking from a bottle without a nipple...we already have a toddler on our hands

getting to hold Noah for the first time (my heart melted)
(one day old)

More pictures of Noah to come...I assure you!

As for workout news...I hit the 16lb mark today. So far 16lbs in 5 weeks and feeling pretty good about life! The hamstring is still not 100% but I am slowly getting back into doing lunges and squats again. Bless me! Next week will be the real challenge. I am speaking at a girls camp three days next week where I will have to be disciplined enough to get in a workout or at least a good run in the morning before the camp schedule starts up. I am creature who thrives on a schedule and routine so here's to making healthy eating choices and getting a workout in when my schedule is completely different. Luckily we will be canoeing 10 miles down the river one day so I am assured a good arm workout. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Happily Ever After....

2010-05-23T22:03:00.004-05:00

I have been waiting for this wedding for a long time. Matt and Megan got engaged over a year ago and we have anxiously been awaiting their wedding day. Megan has served as an RA and head advisor for me for the last two and half years. Matt was also an RA and LC student of mine. I affectionately call him "paw paw" after our trip to Turkey when I was partially crippled from a dislocated hip. Everyone on the team started calling me "maw maw" and then one day a Turkish girl asked if Matt and I were married...and thus he became "paw paw." I love both of these kids to death and am so excited to see them start their life together. Megan just graduated from LC and starts PT school in Shreveport on Monday..so proud! I am going to miss having them around.

Their wedding was absolutely precious....so sweet and so Christ honoring. Eric Johnson performed their ceremony and did a fabulous job! I loved everything about the ceremony and how they honored Matt's dad who passed away many years ago. It was just a very emotional and sweet wedding. Now the reception...it was a blast! They had the reception in a barn and it looked fabulous! There was lots of great food...good music...people dancing..just a great time! Probably my favorite part of the reception was the photo booth where you could take 4 different poses and then have them printed out. The booth automatically printed 4 for you to keep and 4 that someone was sitting there scrapbooking and you could leave the couple a note underneath your photos. I loved that idea!

Here are some pics from the reception:

the Galliens arriving at their reception...

the beautiful bride...

first dance...

the photo booth wedding favors...

a sparkler farewell...

DILEMMA

2010-05-21T22:52:00.002-05:00

So this whole weight loss journey started when I was not chosen during the Biggest Loser season 10 auditions....and what an amazing journey it has been so far. When Angie and I auditioned we were under the impression that they were casting season 10 and season 11 so auditions wouldn't roll around for another year. As I accepted defeat I decided my goal would be to work so hard that I wouldn't be eligible to audition the next time...that means I would have to lose 100lbs this year. I am well on my way.

Here lies the dilemma...we found out this week that the casting directors are getting ready to hit the road again to conduct auditions for season 11...which will be couples. What to do? Honestly I am quite torn because now I kind of want to finish this on my own just to prove to myself that I can. Is that crazy? I sort of think that the whole reason for me applying the last time was the wake up call I got from the process. Time will tell but I am leaning towards not applying again.

As for the workout...I did two workouts again today. I got up and hit the field at 7:15am this morning to run two miles with Emily. I have to be honest...getting up early was hard. I love my sleep! As hard as it was to get up, running in the morning without eating and getting lots of water was rough. And do you know how quickly it gets hot in Louisiana in the summer...even early in the morning? Weight loss isn't for the weak and nothing worth having comes easy...at least that is what everyone keeps telling me. I got my early morning run in though and then hit the field at 5:45 with Laura for a pretty kick butt workout. One of the new elements we added in today was rolling tracker tires. It took both of us just to stand it up but it was a great arm workout. Hayden would have been proud.

TWO-A-DAYS

2010-05-20T19:04:00.002-05:00

So I was feeling froggy yesterday, apparently. I went to workout with Emily at 5:30pm like normal. Right now I am limited to what I can do because of my pulled hamstring but I did what I could. Are you ready for this...I ran TWO MILES! I ran the first mile in 12 minutes. I have never run a 12 minute mile. I was feeling so good when it was over that I looked at Emily and said "let's go for two!" Emily thought I was kidding until I started running down the field as she headed to the bathroom. I ran another one and was feeling great! I can't believe how strong I am getting and how good I feel. In fact, Sara doesn't get to workout with us on Wednesdays because of church so I told her I would go run with her after church. So after running with Em...I went for another run with Sara. And...I ran another two miles. I've never run 4 miles in my life collectively until yesterday.

I had another milestone yesterday. Ever since we started working out with Hayden I am the only one who cannot do girl push ups. I have to do my push-ups on a bench so that I am not having to hold all of my own body weight. After running two miles I felt like it was at least worth a shot to see if I have gotten strong enough to do a push-up from the ground...AND I DID! I did about 15 without blinking an eye. Who am I? A strong, determined, weight losing machine!

After running four miles yesterday I am convinced that before the end of the summer I can be ready to RUN, not walk a 5K...so that is my goal. After completing a 5K my next goal is doing a triathlon. I'm loving life right now and feeling better than I ever remember feeling. My clothes are getting too big and I am losing inches like crazy. I have lost 2.5 inches on my neck, 4 inches off my hips, 2 inches off my waist and an inch off both arms, both thighs and both calves. YEAH!!!

Mayday Mayday...Man Down!

2010-05-18T21:44:00.002-05:00

Well it was bound to happen and last night it was official...I have my first workout injury. Actually it happened two weeks ago but I just pushed it over the edge last night. I was walking up a hill two weeks ago and felt something pull in my hamstring. For two weeks now every workout has been pretty painful, especially stretching, doing squats and running stairs...but last night we were stepping up on this box that was about two feet high and after the first step I was in pain. Lots of pain! I tried to walk it off and not be a "ninni" as Hayden has often called me. We went to run stadiums and that was painful but I did it and then came time to hop and I was in tears. Hayden finally realized I wasn't being a "ninni" and that something was wrong. I quit running stadiums and went back down to the field just to run some 110s while Sara and Emily finished stadiums. I am happy to report that I almost ran an entire mile without stopping last night...it won't be long now. When Sara and Emily finished we ran gassers...kill me! I hate those so much but I never stopped running. I had to bail out of leg throws but I did all the rest of the ab workouts.

This morning I went to see John, LC's athletic trainer and had my leg checked out. I have a pulled hamstring and have to take it easy for a week. That's a pretty big setback to my 50lb weight loss goal before Uganda but my spirit is not broken. I will do what I can this next week and get back to it when the hammy is better. Apparently week five is my brick wall but I am going to bust on through to the other side and find skinny Kabes on the other side!

Africa T-shirts fundraiser

2010-05-16T21:37:00.004-05:00

So it is no secret that I am going to Uganda because I have been talking about it like crazy...as if I were getting married. I am in the process of raising support so I am selling T-shirts to help raise the money. The shirts are $20.00 and a great way for you to remember to pray for me while I am in Uganda. I will have the shirts in hand in two weeks so now is the time to place your order. Pictured below is the design of the shirt..they are black with white, turquoise and gray in the design. I can get adult small through XXL. If you would like to place an order just email me at kbthomas@lacollege.edu with your name, size(s) and address if you are not in Pineville/Alexandria. As soon as I receive your check made out to ISF I will put your shirt(s) in the mail. Thank you so much for your continued support!!

Please mail checks to:
KB Thomas
403 Cross Street
Pineville, LA 71360
make checks payable to ISF

Division III Regionals: LET'S GO CATS

2010-05-16T10:44:00.010-05:00

This weekend we are hosting the Division III Regionals for softball. Our Lady Wildcats are on fire this season. Coming into the tournament they were the ASC Champions with a 41-6 record. We are currently ranked #1 in the nation and don't seem to be letting go of that position anytime soon. Game 1 we beat Laverne 1-0...a little bit of a heart attack game since that one score was on a walk, but we will take what we can get. Our second game we beat Mississippi College 6-2 and sent them packing from the tournament. Now I have grown up as a football fan in the SEC so I know competition and nasty fans and I am not sure we have anything on the parents of softball girls. There was a bad call made during the game by an umpire (luckily in LC's favor) and the parents from MC were quite nasty the rest of the game. Oh well, stinks for ya'll. Luckily the two points we scored on that bad call weren't the game winning points.

Tonight we played game three against the Pirates from Southwestern and beat them 10-2. We are now the only undefeated team in the tournament. Yeah baby! We play for the championship today at 3:00pm and when we win we are World Series bound. Way to go Lady Cats...so proud of you ladies! Watching them play is amazing. Nothing like sitting in the sun all day with the sound of cracking bats, the smell of sunscreen and burgers on the grill and watching some girls enjoying victory. BOOM BOOM!

Here are just a few pics I have taken at the tournament:

a little team tradition this season...BOOM BOOM

team prayer with Chaplain...Brad Duffy

Cliff Magee rocking out the National Anthem...play ball!

just a little game intro ritual with Jodi and Aimee (center fielder and 1st baseman)

#7....my girl, Amber Thomas...stellar catcher for the Cats!

#23 our resident slugger...Jodi Montagnino

UGANDA SUPPORT LETTER

2010-05-13T13:30:00.004-05:00

I commented in the last post that I had sent out my support letters. My sister took her letter and scanned it and emailed it to several of her friends in Birmingham...THANKS TERI! She copied me on the email so I thought I would post it on my blog for any of you who didn't receive a letter. I assure you it was because I didn't know you were following my blog or because I didn't have your address. I can certainly use all the financial and prayer support you are willing to give.

As of today the people on my team are Heather Odom, Matt Jahnke, Myra Eggleston, Catey Heller and Maggie Lingenfelter. Myra and Maggie are both LC students so I am excited to get to experience this trip with them. Catey is a student in Shreveport where my friends Mary and Jamey serve as college ministers. Mary and Jamey are in the process of adding to their family of 3 boys by adopting a child from Uganda. This will be a really neat experience for Catey to feel like she is part of their journey. I also received an email from Mary two days ago and she is seriously considering going with us. I would be honored to have her on the team and would love to see the Lord's hand in using this to lead them to their new son, Gideon Ray. I can already sense the Lord at work in a mighty way putting this team together....it has doubled in less than two weeks.

I sent off my passport to be renewed on Monday. It's hard to believe that it has been 10 years since I went out of the country for the first time. The first passport started with an Australia stamp and the new one will start with Uganda. Here is the amazing thing...I actually look younger in the new photo than I did 10 years ago...how's that for aging well? You can certainly pray that there is no hold on getting my passport back. The turn around time is 4-6 weeks and we leave for Uganda in 7 weeks. YIKES!

I am also looking into all the immunizations we will have to have for the trip. As if 4 shots a week for allergies aren't enough we are going to visit the health unit and get shot up some more. I know for sure we have to have yellow fever shots and something for malaria. Prevention is ALWAYS better than needing to be treated for something funky.

Enjoy the letter and thank you in advance for your investment in this journey!

OKAY JUST KIDDING...my computer is saying that the file is unrecognizable. I will try to attach the letter soon.

Losing some weight....and losing my mind!

2010-05-13T09:42:00.004-05:00

So my days are totally off on keeping up with my workouts. I do know that this is officially workout week four...and I have survived two field workouts already this week. Can I get a drum roll please?....as of this morning I have lost 14lbs! I am under 280lbs for the first time in a long time. I am just trying to imagine what 50lbs is going to feel like and I can't wrap my mind around it..much less 100 or 150lbs. BRING IT ON!

Yesterday was pretty rough. I was having stomach troubles all afternoon so every exercise was a mental battle not to poop myself. I even told Hayden at the start of the workout that I would throw up for him (check) but I would not poop my pants for him (that's reserved for the Biggest Loser casting directors, ha ha). I still gave it my all but there were a few times when I was running sprints that I thought I might get more than a calorie burn. In fact, I spent a lot of breathing time at the fence trying not to hurl yesterday. Running when it's 90 degrees outside in Louisiana is not for the weak.

Hayden did tell me that I was getting stronger and running faster so that is a good sign and always encouraging to hear!

As of today most people should have received my support letters in the mail so pray that I get a good response...financially and with prayer support. I know the Lord is going to provide and I am anxiously awaiting to see Him at work! I have truly been blown away thus far to find out how many people are following my journey and your support and encouragement mean the world to me! If you're reading this know that YOU CAN DO IT TOO!!

Day 16: "solitaire"

2010-05-10T22:12:00.003-05:00

So remember the time I got stood up by all my workout partners? Yeah that was today! So guess who got a full workout with Hayden's undivided attention and let me assure you that is not a good thing! Another brutal workout with lots of new stuff added in. I don't think I like Hayden's philosophy that every workout should be the hardest workout I've done. That's the kind of thinking that will kill a fat kid...but I suppose that's the point, huh?

Today was a lot of shoulder work again. Have I mentioned that I hate push ups? There was also lots of squats...Hayden still hasn't gotten the memo about the thighs not needing to grow. And then we ran snakes...that sounds fun doesn't it. A snake is running the width of the field then doing a shuffle run side ways to the next five yard line and then run backwards the width of the field. And then do it over and over and over again. For the record I also hate running backwards. I feel retarded when I run backwards. One day I am going to learn to keep my mouth shut about the things I hate doing because those are the things Hayden loves to make me do. In fact, when it came time to run 110s you better believe he made me run one backwards without stopping for 110 yards. Needless to say that I love and appreciate Hayden but today I didn't like him! And I am not happy with Sara and Emily for standing me up. It is on come Wednesday ladies!

On a non-workout note...I got passport photos done today and sent off my passport to be renewed. I have 7 1/2 weeks until we leave for Uganda which means that passport needs to come back ASAP. It also means that I have 38 more pounds to lose. YIKES!I may be a chunky monkey but I have aged well. Surprisingly enough I look younger in the new passport photo than I did 10 years ago when I had it made...go me!

Happy Monday friends....and Happy Birthday Bono! And for the record, Noah is still hanging in there. I am so ready for that kiddo to be born!

Day 15: "vindicated!"

2010-05-09T19:47:00.003-05:00

So this is probably going to make me sound like an evil troll but I feel vindicated from my first workout that made me throw up. We have a new workout partner joining us this coming week so on Saturday I took her out to ease her into our routine before she worked out with Hayden....and I made her have to throw up. I was totally sympathetic because I have been there and lucky for her she was able to compose herself but I did feel vindicated that I got to push someone to the edge like I was pushed. Sorry Em!

I got a great workout in though...tire throwing, a few stadiums, lots of lunges and running. I was feeling good afterwards. I was able to run a whole set of stairs without stopping for the first time and I was hopping up those stairs like a bunny rabbit...a heavy bunny rabbit, but a bunny nonetheless.

As of today I have hit the 12lb mark and I am feeling great. I have a little pull in my hamstrings for some reason but I am loving this new lifestyle.

All of that was on Saturday after graduation. Today is Sunday...MOTHER'S DAY...happy mother's day Mom! I have been incredibly productive. I've bathed Matti, done all the laundry, cleaned most of the apartment and cooked dinner for some friends. I was in the mood for some chicken casserole so I invited Alana and Angie over for dinner. Chicken casserole, a yummy salad with artichokes and a pastry puff with fresh strawberries and homemade whipped cream....you can just call me Martha Stewart. I also repotted a few plants today. It's been a good day!

I also managed to sync my iPhone for the first time in ages and ran across several pictures I forgot I had. I'll share one with you that I love! One of my new favorite people, Felipe, gave me his soccer jersey to hang on my wall this week. Felipe graduated on Saturday so now I have something to always remember him by. One day he was in my office and commented how nappy the LC football jersey I had was...and now it has been replaced by a snazzy LC soccer jersey. Ironically I have an LSU football jersey from my favorite Hispanic in Baton Rouge and now I have an LC soccer jersey from my favorite Hispanic in Pineville. Thanks Felipe!!

graduations...makeover and sleeping dogs

2010-05-08T15:59:00.015-05:00

Unfortunately I didn't get a Friday workout in...it's been a busy week. We've been moving students out of the dorm and doing spring cleaning. Praise the Lord...it's summer time. I got to do a little shopping in the trash pile and scored a great new wicker bench so my front patio got a makeover.

In the business of the week I managed to capture some great new pictures of Matti. Clearly you see how she spends her days. Lazy dog. She has a tough life around here.

We finished off the week with graduation this morning. It's hard to believe I have been at LC for four years and these graduates were my first freshmen class. I feel like we've grown up together. I will certainly miss these guys and gals as they move on to the next chapter of their lives.

J-gal

Shannon Smith

Dave Thomas, Jason Kees and Anna McGee

Felipe Escobedo

Sarah Allen and Megan Berry

Jessica Ward

Brian Verrett

Stacy Elder

I love these crazy kids and wish them the best wherever life is taking them now. As for me...it's been a great weekend. Looking forward to game night at the Johnson's and hopefully getting a workout in at some point.