Grandparents Visit, Mexico Trip, and School

So, it's been quite a week for me.

First of all, I will begin with a prayer request. As you probably know, I will be traveling to Tijuana, Mexico two weeks from today to work with orphans. However, this week the US State Department has issued a travel advisory for all Americans traveling to Mexico. Tijuana was specifically named as a hot-spot for violence. This week, I have spent a massive amount of time researching the violence, meeting with the leaders of the trip, seeking advice on how to proceed with the trip, and praying continuously for wisdom on what to do. As of now, I fully intend to continue with the trip as planned. I have a great sense of peace about going. While I am still fearful of what the situation may be like, I am confident that the leaders of the trip will take appropriate actions to help ensure our safety. Please be in prayer for our safety, wisdom, and fear as the trip gets closer!

On to fun news, my Maw-maw and Paw-paw and Aunt Ann are here visiting me this weekend! They came in from New Orleans and Colorado, respectively. Unfortunately, it has been raining all weekend, so we had to scratch a trip to the mountains, but we are still having a great time. Last night, we went to dinner at Calhoun's on the River and then took a short driving tour of downtown Knoxville. Today, after a quick trip to the doctor for Paw-paw's ear, we went on a tour of campus, then had lunch at Moe's on the strip. Tonight my roommates and I made dinner for them (Thanks so much, guys! You're the best!!). We also had a cake for Maw-maw's 80th birthday. Roomie A did the fabulous decorating job!



School is absolutely crazy right now. Midterms are this week and next, I have papers due, and two groups projects this week and next! I definitely won't be getting a lot of sleep the next couple of weeks, but then it's on to Mexico for Spring Break.

And just for fun, here's a couple pictures of Roommate A and I after Wacky-Tacky Club at YOKE. I have to say that's definitely the most colors I've ever had on my body at one time.

30% Chance of Rain

So, last night before I went to bed I checked the weather. I always do so I know what I should wear in the morning and since I typically get up late and am running around trying to get out the door on time, it's easier if I know ahead of time. Weather for Knoxville, Monday, February 2 was: 30% chance of rain, high of 44. Great. I get up this morning, late as usual, notice it really doesn't look like rain outside and decide not to take an umbrella. I mean, I know there's a 30% chance that I'll get wet, but hey, I'll take my chances.

So, I go to class. No rain. I get out of class. Little rain. Library for an hour then on to my last class. Is there rain? Of course not! There's SNOW!! And tons of it. I'm talking the kind where you have to squint your eyes so you don't get snow in them! It was so pretty! Then, logic takes over and I remind myself that it's not going to stick because the high is 44, which last time I checked was above freezing. I go on to class. After class, I am shocked to find that the ground is covered in white!! How exciting! On the drive home, I slid on the road because there was so much accumulation on the ground. It is so pretty and it continues to fall at a fast rate. I think that makes 2 solid hours of snowing now! My office closed and now I get a snow day. On a day with a 30% chance of rain.

Here are some pictures of our beautiful rain, I mean snow:

A Heart for Adoption...

If you've known me for any extended amount of time, you have probably heard me talk about adoption. International adoption in particular. I LOVE the idea of adoption and think that it is such a cool representation of truly being the hands and feet of Christ and it's such a great illustration of what Christ did for us!

I think that all Christians have an obligation to care about orphans. Does this mean that every Christian has to adopt? No (but I do think everyone should consider! :-). But it does mean that everyone should care.

So, it made me really sad to read this article earlier this week. It's about how international adoption has dropped significantly last year. Please pray about this!

Despite the drop in adoptions, there are still really cool things going on in the adoption/orphan care world. Children's Hope Chest is an orphan care organization in Africa and Eastern Europe and Shaohannah's Hope is an organization founded by Steven and Mary Beth Chapman as an adoption resource and orphan care organization. They are both really awesome organizations!

AND it's Adoption Awareness month!

I know I will adopt one day, and it's really cool to think that my future child may already be alive, just living in Eastern Europe! And since I talk about adoption with my roommates almost every day, it has been weighing heavily on my mind lately. Let me know if you ever want to read some good adoption blogs...I have several that I follow regularly!

Veteran's Day

Today is Veteran's Day. For me, that meant a day in class, just the same as every Tuesday. However, even as I was going through my everyday routine, I was very aware that there are men and women overseas who are fighting so that I can continue to enjoy my freedom. I am forever endebted and grateful for their service to our country.

When I was looking for some type of Veteran's Day story to post, I found this on Steven Curtis Chapman's website (in case you don't already know, I LOVE SCC, especially because he loves ADOPTION!!). It's a neat story and song that he wrote in honor of a soldier who lost part of his leg in Afghanistan. What an awesome tribute!

This video is also a really neat tribute (it includes images from the Passion of the Christ, so if you're bothered by that I wouldn't watch it).



Have a blessed day.

Really Strange Story...

I'm talking to my sister on Skype right now, but she needs to try out her RSS feed so I decided I needed a post for the day, so here's my random news story:

http://www.livescience.com/strangenews/081105-ap-jogger-rabies.html

Have a great night and be careful jogging!