This deserves a BIG thanks!

So, I have been very busy this summer. Even on my weekly uses of the internet, I usually just check my email and Facebook. Only occasionally do I check blogs. Well, I finally did, and found this and this on my friend's blog.

Joanna- Thank you!!!

It is great to get the award, considering how little I blog ("when she does blog" :-) ). And her recognition for what I am doing this summer is much appreiciated. It has been a stressful and growing summer. There are times where I feel the counseling of the kids is the easiest part because God is growing me in so many other ways. Hopefully when I get home I will be able to process most of what went on this summer and share it with you.

But for now, I could use your prayers. There are about 10 more days left and things are getting stressful- leaving the kids, leaving the staff, preparing for one more semester of school.

I have been writing a lot of random thoughts this summer, so I will leave you with my lastest musings:

I'm not falling yet
but I look down and the net to catch me is different
I have jumped off this cliff before
but the net is new
I fear it won't hold
but You wouldn't do that to me
he told me just jump
...ok, fine, here....I....go....
"Ahhhhh!"
falling with faith

My cup overflows

It is amazing and strange how God works. There are many times when I have to try so hard to see what He is teaching me and open my eyes to the lessons I am learning. But never, until now, have I been so overwhelmed with lessons to be learned. I can't keep up at all. This summer has brought the opportunity for so much growth- too much.

I expected to learn about myself as well as how to relate to and counsel these kids this summer. But now there are many things that are wearing on my being. Well, maybe not wearing...just using. There is the care that I have for just about each of the students here. And the fact that I can't do all that much for many of them; just small relationships are all I can give. Then there is the expected learning about counseling. Add to that the processing of what I believe and new knowledge about who I am and how I was created. And top it off with relationship issues, including two different guy friends and trying to work out relationships with the females here.

There is too much. There are too many things that I could be learning and gathering, but I can't take it all in. It's like trying to drink all of the water being poured into my glass, but it just keeps coming. So I drink faster, but then the water doesn't satisfy and makes me sick.
"God, give me a bigger cup to catch all of these lessons!"
"You don't need a bigger cup. What you have is fine."
"You mean that it's ok not to gather it all in?"
"Yes, just remember what you can, and don't worry about the rest."

Wow, this summer is SOOO much more than learning how to counsel and helping kids. I am being challenged on so many levels. And I love it! "Thank you, God. Help me to learn what You want to me to get."