Words of faith?

Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.

~ 1 Peter 3:15, NLT

This is the verse emailed to me today. Very fitting. Yesterday I spent my ENTIRE day with an addict. A total addict. As I have grown and become a little wiser, I have come to realize part of my "spiritual gift" is that of discernment. I can tell within five minutes of meeting someone what they are about, and what they are thinking. I knew what this girl was about. I knew she was about total drama and all she was after was monetary gain and prescription drugs. The monetary gain, of course, was not because she wanted new clothes or anything of the sort. She was solely out to seek drugs. Sparing 95% of the story- we ended up in the emergency room. She was desperately seeking a high, and she was going to go about any means to get it. I usually have no compassion for people selfish and stupid enough to take advantage of others or "the system", but I felt really compelled to help this girl. I certainly had naysayers- and normally I would have been one of them. I spent my entire afternoon with this girl and I prayed for words of wisdom to give her. Finally, I realized it's not up to me. God was going to have to move in me to get through to her. After faking passing out on the floor to call an ambulance (so she could obtain more drugs) and begging me to take her BACK to the hospital, I finally had to leave her. I have an uncle who is very addicted to drugs. He has lost almost EVERYTHING. I haven't spoken to him in over 2 years. I saw the same thing happening to this girl. She's going through a very bitter divorce, and she has 2 daughters who won't have anything to do with her. I know she has been dealt a bad hand, but who hasn't hit rock bottom, or been to the depths of despair? Very few people I know have had that "perfect life". I tried to talk to her and reason with her. She has not left my heart. She is so beautiful, and she was "supposed" to start a promising job tomorrow. I hope all is true and I pray that it's not too late for her. I didn't leave her in anger, but I left her with someone wiser, who could guide her even better to the ultimate WISE one. I have faith that she will get through this dark time in her life.

Disappointment....

I went to the final meeting for our Nicaragua trip last night. We got the run down of the week and what to expect. However, I was a little disappointed. We received our list of assignments, where we will be stationed all week, and I was NOT put in the dental clinic. The team going this year is a small team- smaller than usual- and there is not even a dentist from the states going. I am the only dental assistant going, and I was put in the pharmacy. It broke my heart a little. I tried not to complain because I feel so blessed to be able to even go, but I was so looking forward to doing dentistry in the mission field. Then it really made me upset to know that I was the only dental person going on the whole team and I got put in the pharmacy. So, trying not to complain too much, I questioned it to our team leader. Somehow, (even after the pages and pages of personal information, employment information, reference information, AND education information) it slipped by that I was a dental assistant. Not quite sure how, I thought that was the point of giving them that info, but he was very excited to know that there was a trained dental assistant going. So, he told me that he was going to try and swap me out with someone in the dental clinic so I could be put in the clinic. I don't mind working in the pharmacy at all, but in the pharmacy, there is not very much contact with the patients. Some are working in the back and some are just passing out pills. I love talking and interacting with patients, and even though we don't speak the same language, I really am looking forward to hearing some of these peoples stories and about their family life. (Since there will be a translator.) So, hopefully it will work out that I can be put in the dental clinic some. If not, I still know that I am going on this trip for a reason and I know and pray that it will still be a life changing experience.

It's a hard-knock life....

I know there are people who have much bigger loads than I do, but here is how my week has been so far: I am sick with one of those delightful summer colds, Chad pointed out that the main family car we drive is about to hit 200,000 miles this week, and my washing machine is on the fritz again--I think it's on it's last leg. Oh, and there's no money in the bank. And it's only Tuesday. Well, at least I know where my heart is. I guess I better get my prayer journal out and make use of the few minutes of quiet time I have. Life could be worse.

Fourth of July weekend....

My aunt Beth from Dallas came for a long overdue visit from Dallas. She is amazing and we love her so much. She is actually the daughter of my grandfather's second wife. She grew up in Africa and she has an amazing, wonderful attitude and is always so upbeat and such a beautiful person. If you can't tell from the few pictures, her signature color is purple. Purple everything. Clothes, nail polish, anything she can get in purple. We will miss her, but we had such a good family time and fellowship this weekend. We gathered at my cousin, Micki's house, who recently moved here from New Albany. I only wish I would have felt a little better. I didn't feel as though I socialized as much as I usually would have. I love my family and am so grateful for all of them!!!!!

Meanwhile, my youngest brother, Brent got to spend his July 4th in New York City and got to see the Macy's firework show up close and personal. So jealous am I.

Mandy vs. Victoria's Secret....

To all you men who may read my blog (if any), you may want to close your ears (or should I say eyes) to this post.

So, I am a huge fan of V.S. Yes, their unmentionables are sometimes WAY overpriced, but I have found that there is NOTHING more comfortable. Sometimes, it's worth the extra buck or two... or several....

Well, I can't remember exactly when this first occurred, but it may have been as long ago as before my pregnancy with Ethan. So I went to V.S. just to browse, and decided it had been a while, and I would get fitted for a bra. I've lost and gained weight repeatedly over the years, and my chest usually falls in line with the weight gain/loss.

Here is my first story with V.S. : So I get fitted for a bra, and the woman argues with me over my bra size. She tells me I am a size this, and I tell her I am a size that. She says there is NO WAY, I am so tiny, so I can't be any bigger than this. I say, well, I may look tiny and a size this to you, but I really do wear a size THAT. I was getting really annoyed with her (I mean, could she just measure me already?!) and Chad was in my peripheral vision laughing his head off. I have never really been self conscious about my chest size, but I know that I am not a busty woman. I have been pretty much okay with that. Until now. This lady would not stop with the small chest comments. So, she finally fits me, and we come to a compromise. I was bigger than what she said, but smaller than what I said. Okay, I'm over it.

My next incident occurred just last week. I was out at Metro because I wanted to run by Burlington. Well, V.S. is having their clearance, so I decided to stop by. I was just browsing (again) not really in the market to buy anything. Well, I purchased one of their fragrance products that I had fallen in love with last year because on this particular day it was marked down to $3. So, of course she has to try and talk me into buying something else. So this is what she says to me: "Feel free to keep looking around. Did you notice how much we have on clearance? Have you ever worn any of our bras before? I mean, I think you might be big enough to fit into one." I kid you not. She thinks I MIGHT be big enough to fit into one? She then realized what she said and tried to backtrack. She started commenting on how tiny I was and that I didn't look like I could have given birth to two children. Whatever. I'm over it. Again.

So today, we were out shopping. Decided to stop by V.S. at Northpark. I found one of the type bras I wear on sale for $15-- normally they are $50. I didn't really know what size to get since I have stopped nursing, and have, well, shrunk. I asked someone to measure me. So she takes me in the back to the dressing rooms. As she wraps her measuring tape around me she says: "Man, you sure are tiny!" WHAT? What do I say to that? I mean, I have been insulted ENOUGH. All I could say was, "Yeah, I know that, thank you." Of course, my big mouth tells Chad who seems to find it HILARIOUS.

Okay, so I am over it. Yes, I was big and busty during pregnancy and nursing, but dang. Give me a break. Victoria's Secret, you sure do need to keep your mouth shut. Pun intended.

Summer Part II.....

Flossing his teeth like a big boy!

Stuck inside while everyone is out there!!!!!

The dog is so tired and spoiled rotten!

My dad and youngest brother, Brent.

My mom and Brent.

Caught! Again.

Brent and me.

Brent and Brennan. Brennan wanted to see Uncle Brent in one of his uniforms.

He loves Brent!

My two favorite little boys.

Swimming.

Brent and his girlfriend, Melissa.

My mom, Brent, and me.

Yes, we are rednecks around our house. They both lost their clothes at some point....

A look of guilt.... on both their faces.

Summer......

So, it's been quite a busy summer lately. And it's been a hot one. Very hot. The one thing I can say about the heat is that I've been sleeping very well at night- which is quite unusual for me. I can't believe how fast the month of June came and went. At the end of this month, I will be attending my high school reunion. I'm still in shock that I am "that age". I feel like my 20's came and went before I blinked. Although I still have a couple more years before I'm "over the hill" and 30. Okay, so I won't be over the hill, but I'll feel like it.

Brennan starts school in about 6 weeks or so. I'm still in disbelief that I have a child old enough to go to kindergarten. It just occurred to me that Ethan and I will be left alone at home all day after Brennan starts school. I don't want to sound like an awful parent, but I think it will be good to have Brennan gone during the day. He needs structure outside of our home. I'm so nervous because he has never been to a preschool or daycare environment and we've been having serious discipline problems with him at home. And we've tried EVERYTHING. Denying him privileges, taking toys away, naps, timeout, and spankings. I've cried and cried and have been hoping this is just a phase he is going through. He was such a wonderful, laid back baby and toddler. Somewhere between the ages of 2 and 3 is when he really started changing. We go to church several times a week, and there is somewhat of a structured environment there, but it won't be anything like school. Either one of two things will happen: he will make a total 180 and behave better than he has before, or he will freak out about being in school all day and act out worse than he is now. It's been so bad that I've considered calling the doctor to see if he has any recommendations. I'm frustrated and I'm out of discipline options. He doesn't lack any sort of attention from Chad or me, or anyone else. He has a very stable home environment and he is surrounded by more love than any child could ask for. *sigh* I really pray it's just a phase.

Moving on..... I am preparing to go to Nicaragua in a month. I have been blessed by the opportunity to go and I am really trying to prepare my heart and I have been praying that it will be a life- changing, humbling experience that I will bring back with me when I return. God has really opened a door for me to go and I am so thankful because it has always been my desire to do dentistry in a mission field. So far I have not had to pay a dime for my trip (other than my passport) because people from my church have anonymously given me money, and we have been able to raise a good deal of money from our rummage sales and a couple of other things we have done. We are having a bake sale in a few weeks, and hope to earn some money through that. I only lack about $300. It seems as though everything is falling into place for me to go. I feel honored that I was even approached about going. I didn't think the opportunity would come up this year. I thought I missed out on the chance after not being able to go last year because I was pregnant. So, needless to say, I am so excited! And the closer it gets, the more excited I become.

So, it's been quite a busy summer. Vacation Bible School was last week and it went well. My brother got to come home last week and stay the entire week. We had some great family time. When I get a chance I will post some pictures. For some reason it takes me forever to be able to upload pictures to my blog. I'll post some soon though.