Firsts

"See that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,

redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is."

~ Ephesians 5:15-17 ~

In a corner of your mind...

I think my favorite sight in Chicago since I've been here is the sunrise when it hits right between the buildings. If you look from my window, the view stretches immediately down Chicago Avenue to the lake...

Sometimes, it seems like the sun doesn't exist in the winter. It's finally peeking out again.

When I was little and we'd drive down to Redlands, CA to see Grampy and Grammy (dad's parents)...we'd look for bluebelly lizards on the rock piles. They used to bask in the sunshine :) Did you know, if you catch one and rub it's belly, you can actually put it to sleep? Then its tail falls off and little girls start screaming. ;) All that to say...I've felt like a bluebelly lizard the past couple days, soaking in all the sunshine :)

Moody hosted the Evangelical Theological Society conference this week. I didn't register for the conference, but for a $10 registration fee, you could attend any of the various speakers plus you had access to the book displays from top Christian publishers for a huge discount. Smart stuff! I was able to attend two of the papers this morning: Robert Culver, talking about Calvin's position on Church Discipline, and second was Andrew Schmutzer (MBI prof), discussing the Theology of Sexual Abuse. I walked away with so much to think about, but the over-arching concepts I took from each:

• Church discipline has three goals:
• To reflect the glory of God
• To encourage the salvation of the offender
• To maintain the integrity of the church

• Sexual abuse fragments the body and soul of the victim. Healing can take place over time--but it does not remove their suspicion of others. Those that make an incredibly affective impact are the "wounded healers"--those that have experienced similar situations and can help victims redeem the memories and past

Hm...interesting thoughts. As I walked out from those sessions, I had an overwhelming sense of anxiety for all those in positions of leadership in churches, especially pastors. I looked around the cafeteria wondering, are these young 20-something year old men studying to be pastors really ready and capable to take on the issues that you face when leading churches and families. Are these women ready to come along side and encourage, serve, and extend compassion. How many of us will find ourselves in similar situations as offenders, victims, or counselors of either? CRAZY. I pray protection and wisdom on the lives of all these people training for such ministry.

Final thought...God does this:
"I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul." -Jeremiah 31:25

Blessings. Em

To stand in contemplation of one's surroundings.

"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. it is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company...a church...a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past...we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one thing we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you! We are in charge of our "ATTITUDES." -Charles Swindoll

Day One

This is so weird...

So...I have a special someone to introduce... :D

So a blonde walks into a salon...

...and disaster strikes!

Once upon a time, Emily and her older sister, Amy, decide it would be fun to have a sister date at the salon. Emily needed her hair cut, and Amy opted to get a manicure. Amy decides Emily's hair would look nice with some slight red highlights when it's cut, so Emily says okay :) After sitting in the chair (aka the hot seat), it begins...

Emily: Hi! I'd like my hair cut like this and I'd like a few light red highlights.

Mind you, this is Emily's first time getting ANY sort of color in her hair. With the first stroke of the paint brush, it was too late to stop her. The hair-dress (who did not speak English well) began dying her hair....ALL of her hair. Emily laughed it off at first, convinced that it would just turn out a light red and hair would grow back. 45 minutes later, dye is being washed out and 3 managers and surrounding Emily with looks of horror on their faces...

Not blonde...
Not red...
Try BLACK! (with red tint in the light)

I believe the terminology they used was "Party girl style"...so descriptive of Emily, right? HA!

Manager 1: Do you work in an office...because this isn't going to work if you do....

Manager 2: You know, it's really not that bad...it's just a statement...

Hair-Dresser: Lo siento...I'm so sorry...siento siento...

Oh fun... :) At this point, Amy had to leave to pick up her dear husband in Austin, so Emily is stranded at the salon without a car and a party on her head. Her amazing friend, CJ, calls and says she'll pick her up. Meanwhile, the managers strip the color from Emily's hair and redye it a red/brown (which later turns purple). :P

Emily: You know, I don't think I'm going to have time to have my hair cut...let's just dry it and I'll get it cut another time. The color will do it for me today :) (nice fake smile)

As she walks out of the salon with her dye-stained forehead, neck, ears, and let's not forget the hair...CJ stifles her laughter as she tries to be supportive of her emotional friend. Emily finally gets home to her two beloved parental units, sitting walking the afternoon news.

Silence and terror fills the air as they explode into a symphony of questions. "Who did this?! Did you pay for it? Maybe we can get an appointment somewhere else? I'm calling the managers...." 20 minutes later, Emily is back in a salon chair with the salon-owner trying to rescue her volcano hair.

THE FINAL RESULT:

Emily is no longer blonde. HA! Let's try that same dark brownish/redish color with a full highlight...a nice layered cut and some swoopy bangs...We're set!


*Sigh* pictures will come when I have the courage to let them be taken... :P but this gives you an idea...


:D moral of the story...everyone should just shave their heads and not worry about hair.

Happy Sunday!!!!

Bowling!!!!

Here are pictures from the Covenant of Grace Church bowling adventure! Though it was at 9:30 in the morning, we had a great turn-out and some amazing scores!

Bits and pieces

Confession: daily devotions are ridiculously hard for me. I am the epitome of inconsistency. BUT, despite that, God blesses the time I do spend in His word.

I'm reading through Jeremiah at present. Today I got to chapter 32.

At this point, Jerusalem has been captured by Nebuchadnezzar. Judah's king, Zedekiah, seems pretty fed up with life at this point so he takes Jeremiah and locks him up in his palace courtyard--a make-shift prison at that time. While he's in prison, Jeremiah interacts with a bunch of random people, but one man in particular approaches him and says in paraphrase: you have the right to redeem/buy this plot of land if you so desire it, even though you're in prison and have seemingly no use for it while you're locked up.

Now, who in their right mind, while locked in prison with no assurance of EVER being let go, would pay good money for land that he may never get to see or use? As I read this, I'm thinking, Jeremiah's an idiot. Haha oh Emily...if only you stood back and saw God's bigger plan.

SO. Even Jeremiah gets to wondering, why the heck did I buy this land in my present situation...so he asks God:

"Ah Lord GOD, behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. there is nothing too hard for You...

You have brought Your people Israel out of the land of Egypt...

You have given them this land...and they came in and took possession of it, but they have not obeyed Your voice or walked in your law. they have done nothing of all that You commanded them to do; therefore You have caused all this calamity to come upon them...

And You have said to me, O Lord GOD, 'Buy the field for money, and take witnesses'!--yet the city has been given into the hand of the Chaldeans."

But see how God responds...

"Behold, I am the LORD Yahweh, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?...I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will assuredly plant them in this land, with all My heart and with all My soul."

Why do we question God when we KNOW...WE KNOW (!)...that He wants what's best for us...with all His heart and soul?

Favorite places

On the roof, looking over the edge.

When my older brother got married, he used to joke about how mom kept him 10 feet from every woman. His wife thanked mom for that ;)

My first year of college, mom sent me a small package. Along with some always appreciated chocolate ;) was a small spiral bound book.

"The Little Wait Book"

Under the yellow cover were 3x5 inch pages with scripture verses on them. Verse upon verse of God's thoughts on waiting. On the last page, she had looked up the Hebrew translations for the word, WAIT:

• arab - to lay in wait
• arab- those that lie in wait
• ereb- lie in wait
• duwiniuah- wait
• duwman- quietly wait

Waiting has never been my strong point. I was the whining child in the back seat on family vacations..."are we there yet?" "how long until we stop again?" "are we there yet?" I'm somewhat surprised my parents didn't strangle me when they had the chance ;)

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"Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed..."-Ps. 25:3

"Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for You." -Ps. 25:21

"Wait on the LORD Yahweh, be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the LORD Yahweh." -Ps. 27:14

"Our soul waits for the LORD Yahweh; He is our help and our shield." -Ps. 33:20

"Rest in the LORD Yahweh, and wait patiently for Him...for evildoers shall be cut off; but those who wait on the LORD Yahweh, they shall inherit the earth." -Ps. 37:7,9

"Wait on the LORD Yahweh, and keep His way, and He shall exalt you to inherity the land; when the wicked are cut off, you shall see it." -Ps. 37:34

"And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You." -Ps. 39:7

"I waited patiently for the LORD Yahweh; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry." -Ps. 40:1

"I will praise You forever, becuase You have done it; and in the presence of Your saints I will wait on Your name, for it is good." -Ps. 52:9

"I will wait for You, O You his Strength; for God is my defense." -Ps. 59:9

"Truly my soul silently waits for God; from Him comes my salvation." -Ps. 62:1

"My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him." -Ps. 62:5

"I am weary with my crying; my throat is dry; my eyes fail while I wait for my God." -Ps. 69:3

"Let not those who wait for You, O Lord GOD Yahweh of hosts, be ashamed because of me..." -Ps. 69:6

"For my enemies speak against me; and those who lie in wait for my life take counsel together." -Ps. 71: 10

"These all wait for You, that You may give them their food in due season." -Ps. 104:27

"I wait for the LORD Yahweh, my soul waits, and in Him word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning---yes more than those who watch for the morning." -Ps. 130:5-6

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Anxiety comes from a lack of waiting on God. I'm good at anxiety :) Yesterday, my pastor preached from Genesis 13--the parting of Abraham and Lot. Abraham gave Lot the choice of land and because of his generosity, he did not receive the immediate gratification of good land. BUT...Abraham waited patiently on the Lord and experience the fullness of God's blessing in the promised land. The application to this was simply put...

Do we take immediate gratification instead of waiting for the lasting fullness of blessing?

It's hard to wait for God's best. I pray I have the strength to trust in God and father for what's best. I pray the same strength for you.

Worlds collide

I've grown up in three worlds.

CALIFORNIA was my home for many years. My family began there. I met Christ there. I made life-long friendships and created fond memories there. Then I moved and left much of that world behind.

TEXAS became a new home...new family...first time in a school...new life-long friends...new experiences...roots for where my parents would plant their family for several years. Then I graduated.

ILLINOIS was the place for college. How blessed I am to be able to attend the college of my choice. I have connected with incredible people and learned so much of God and His life for me in that place.

But what happens when worlds collide?











My dear sister, Tiffany (high school friend and now roommate) and I invited our dearest friends home with us for part of spring break. I was apprehensive of such a visit. To invite people into your home is to give a bit more understanding of who you were before college (or whatever the current situation may be). It allows them insight into your training---why you are they way you are now.

I am so appreciative of these people. Tiffany, Sarah, Becky (though she could not come this trip), Bruce, Jesse, Scott (and many other unlisted friends). These people have become family for me in many ways and have proved to be faithful and loyal companions--the kind that remain before, during, and after the hard spells. How rare...

These last weeks have been hell to walk through in the area of friendships. They have been hard for all. At times, it is easy to lose understanding and grace for others. It is easier to break frustrations on others and cause them to carry the burden of your own inadequacies. But those that are able to be honest and rebuke you...those are the ones to keep around.

I have learned ...
To not steer from a harsh rebuke, but learn to listen for its truth,
That you can't give up on friendships,
That God will keep surprises from you until He sees fit to reveal them,
That hurts will be healed,
and that reconciliation is not just a responsibility, but also a gift.

I pray your recent weeks have been as challenging and encouraging.

May blessings exceed in your life,
em

Will we reconcile?

This watercolor was done by a dear friend, Judi Gremminger, many years ago. It's of an enchanted estate in the California valley...Filoli Gardens. I haven't been there in years, but I remember it vividly. It was a place of peace. My family went there for special occasions or when we were overwhelmed. Somehow, looking at luscious flowers and towering trees reminded us of life, growth, and hope. Oh how I long to walk down those gravel paths again...

My heart is full and seemly overwhelmed by the day-to-day trials. I have FINALLY reached the conclusion that these struggles are never to end in this life. Wow. A brick in the face, isn't it? Injury and illness, pain and heartbreak, sorrow and struggle will always plague us in this earth. I do remember the HOPE I have in Christ, but I also just take time to step back and observe. The cycle is burdensome even with a believer's HOPE--can you imagine being without!? Tis hell in this life and all eternity.

I have been blessed to struggle these past few weeks...to wrestle with truth and with lies and to see the LORD prove that which is worthy. How bright truth shines when the dullness of doubt is cleared from it.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

More and more, I see the importance, yet the difficulty with living among the poor and homeless. As with any people that are not of our same social standing, I see so strongly how we as middle class Americans approach these people with presuppositions and unnecessary judgment. I've done my very best to engulf myself in this type of community in an effort to LEARN the ins and outs of homelessness. I have been amazed and sickened at my lessons. ALL SIDES ARE TO BLAME. There is not one person free of guilt for this huge problem. Oh, that all would take up their strengthened hands and serve one another! I have concluded that the keyword for all of this is: SOME.

• SOME homeless people are drug-addicts and alcoholics,
• SOME pan-handlers will take money and use it irresponsibly,
• SOME beggars are complete frauds...

...this should break your heart.

Yet...

• SOME homeless people are refined and polite ladies and gentlemen,
• SOME are business men and working women that once belonged to middle class America,
• SOME are hard-working diligent fathers and mothers, putting their children through school,
• SOME want to have a house, a job, and a family just like anybody else.

The SOME statements could continue forever. Up until high school, I had no real exposure to homelessness and poverty. Chelsea, a dearly missed friend and sister, was a huge influence in opening my eyes to this and to loving unconditionally and sacrificially. My presuppositions to that community were this:

Homelessness <--Laziness & unemployment
therefore, to solve homelessness, all we have to do is reverse the direction...
Get a job-->Pay for a home

Raise your hands--how many of you identify with this belief?

Almost all of you should be waving at a computer screen about now.

Saturday was a pleasant day. That evening while walking with a friend, we were approach by one of the local guys we see in front of the YMCA a lot. I don't think he remembers what his name is, most of the time, because it's usually different every time we meet him--that and he's normally fairly intoxicated ;-) While the friend I was with talked to him, a few feet away was another lady. I assumed immediately that she was also homeless since she was hanging around our confused drunk friend. I looked over to her and she waved shyly. I motioned for her to join the conversation and extended my hand to introduce myself. Her name is Maria, a beautiful and kind lady of 39 years. The two of us sat for 20 minutes or so talking about various things we had in common: church, music, education, etc. **My presuppositions hit me in the face as she pulled out her cell phone and asked for my phone number. She told me about her apartment and the life she leads. I was shocked at my own assumptions. Marie wanted a friend, not an evangelist. She didn't want money, she wanted to talk.**

DO WE TAKE THE TIME TO FIND OUT THE TRUTH?

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I find myself writing letters a lot. Funny how I never liked (still don't) to write papers for assignment purposes, but I write all the time to express my thoughts. I journal at least once a day, be it prayers or the mumblings of a cluttered mind. Back to the letters-thought, I've noticed that is my preferred method of communication (apart from face-to-face). Who has never experienced the joy of finding a letter in your mailbox...your name beautifully printed on the outside, and page after page of thoughts directed to you written inside!

Perhaps it is the other way around...a letter can give you the worst pain in your soul...the dread of reading news or one's opinion that you just can't bear to read. Words forever inked on a page for you to read and reread as long as you choose.

I've decided that I write too many "reconciliation" letters and not enough just for fun/encouragement letters. Expect letters soon. ;-)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I'm happy to be so...happy to be here. I long to see my family.

The Law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes."
~Psalm 19:7-8~

As if God would withhold anything good from us?

It began in the garden, it has yet to end...our doubt of God's goodness.

Genesis 3:1-5
"Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which Yahweh Adonai had made. And he said to the woman, 'Has Adonai indeed said, 'You shall not of every tree of the garden'?' And the woman said to the serpent, 'We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden God has said, 'You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.'' Then the serpent said to the woman, 'You will not surely die. For Adonai knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like Him, knowing good and evil.''"

As if God would withhold anything good from us?

Psalm 81:13-16
"Oh, that My people would listen to Me, that Israel would walk in My ways! I would soon subdue their enemies, and turn My hand against their adversaries. The haters of the LORD Yahweh would pretend submission to Him, but their fate would endure forever. He would have fed them also with the finest of wheat; and with honey from the rock I would have satisfied you."

As if God would withhold anything good from us?

Psalm 23
"The LORD Yahweh is my shepherd; because of this, I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD Yahweh forever."

As if God would withhold anything good from us?

John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it through Him."

As if God would withhold anything good from us?

The things you never cared to know...

(1) Link to the person that tagged you. (2) Post the rules on your blog. (3) Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself. (4) Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs. (5) Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website

My 6 things are.....


1) I collected rolly-pollies until I was at least 7 years old.

2) I am (for the most part) from Texas, but do not care for country music (though "she thinks my tractor's sexy" has to be the greatest song ever written).

3) I fill up a journal at least every month, but I don't like writing papers.

4) I've secretly always wanted to take dance, art, cooking, welding, and music-mixing classes/training.

5) One day, I'll have 17 kids--most likely all by adoption :)

6)If I weren't a Christian, I'd be a hippy in Santa Cruz california--dreadlocks, grass skirts, hand-painted VW van, a pet ferret, and a beat up guitar.


And I tag: Amy :) yes, just one person :)

Busted!

"Drink while you swim"

Or kill two birds with one stone? Literal translations sometimes make no sense. An encouraging thought while I study languages for missions. Oh boy...

Oh man, this has been the most frustrating few days, academically. My brain is looking at a mirror and seeing it's great lack of intelligence. I'm taking a philosophy class. Oh my goodness--I thought I knew how to think...I think i was wrong :D It took me (with a partner) 30 minutes to decide if we agreed on a statement about the universe. WHAT THE HECK!? The statement was by a man who believed that in order for divinity to have created existence, it would have had to exist, meaning that before there was divinity, there was existence. Uh...make sense out of that one if you can.

In addition to crazy philosophy, I've started my major-specific classes relating to missions. Cultural Anthropology and Intercultural Comm. If you ever want to be convinced that you DON'T know anything about people and SHOULDN'T go outside of your own, take these classes. They'll scare you pretty good :) On the other hand, if you know that you're suppose to be in cross-cultural work, be prepared for INCREDIBLE realizations. In the first 20 minutes of one class, I experienced the tiniest piece of what it means to be a minority--one that can't understand the language, can't ask for help, is dominated by the ruling majority, and has to play by that culture's rules. SOOO interesting to think through. Like the illustration above--the title is a direct translation to English of a common Sudanese phrase. To an American, "drink while you swim" is a strange phrase, and to a Sudanese person "kill two birds with one stone" or "straight from the horse's mouth" might cause incredible confusion! Let's not even begin to talk about minor tonal differences in languages that COMPLETELY change the meaning of what you're saying. In one of the Sudanese dialects, a slight change in tone could tell the difference of saying, "Fine weather today" versus "I'm pregnant"--not a mistake I want to make! Oh praise the Lord for the funny ways He can humble us in any culture :)

Since school is my life, I will continue sharing from what I'm observing here. Every institution has a statement of beliefs that are composed of the bare-bones, but they of course cannot include EVERY detail of their doctrine. So throughout your time in that institution, however long or short, they will infiltrate their classes, via books and opinion, the rest of the institutional beliefs. At first they're subtle--then not so subtle. It is, essentially, a method of brain-washing. Not necessarily bad, but something to consider.

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Share with me what your personal opinions would be about these questions. Please answer as simply or complicated as you wish:
**Is the Holy Spirit's work of illumination limited to that which is taken from hermeneutics and exegesis of Scripture?

**Just because a method of evangelism produces valid results (meaning souls saved by Christ), does that make it correct and/or a method to be replicated?
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The word of the semester for me is: Consistency. "Reliability; uniformity; the quality of being consistent" (yay wiktionary). My amazing roommate/friend and I have been working through various aspects of our daily lives (yes cliche, but true) and figuring out practically the areas that need work. My general list has mostly to do with time-management and habitual devotions. I was not raised to keep a consistent schedule, though I'm sure my parents would have loved it :) I was the wild child when it came to being responsible and unfortunately I am paying the price. I STINK at making/maintaining habits. One of my favorite pastors preached a sermon series on creating/maintaining godly habits. Talk about conviction! Living a godly life is so interconnected between physical/spiritual! Think about it--more rested means more alert and aware while reading/living out principles of Scripture. It's almost one of those "DUH" moments. You'd think we'd learn after a while! SO...if you think of it, pray for me and Tiffany this semester that we would be consistent in good habits and godly lifestyle. Thanks :)

Alright--I need to get off my blog and get back to work/hw. :) Too many thoughts and not enough getting accomplished.

A great many blessings to you today and hopes of a beautiful evening for you. (PS--it's snowing here. My roommate's happy) ;)

Em

To see your face in glory

My father posted this on our family web-page. I wanted to share it--he words it best.

My Dearest Children:

My Mother, Grandmother Marjorie, leaped into glory this morning at 5:50. She had struggled with breathing all night and during my time with her the Lord called her home.

Our hearts are heavy with loss but as Pms 166:15 states "precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints." We rejoice that her battle is over...she fought the good fight and finished the course, she kept the faith.

I'll let you know further information soon.

We covet your prayers today for strength to complete the necessary arrangements.

All My Love
Dad Cohoon



Pray for us--pray for my father. We praise God grandma is not suffering--but we miss her.

We are not meant from this world. :)

Resilient

A young man arrives in Chicago--Midway airport at 1am. He settles himself in a chair and, though exhausted, is so excited about finally coming to the one place nobody thought he could get to. He sleeps for a few hours before bursting awake and taking the first train into the city. Thirty minutes on the El train, and four heavy suitcases later, Chris arrives at Moody ready to settle in and get started. After experiencing a little of SDR's (Student Dining Room) home cookin', he starts the process of signing into residency at school only to reach a dead end. Fine print from acceptance letters is all the sudden bold, 36 type print and staring him in the face.

$2,000 TODAY, $5,000 BY APRIL

There was no way he could afford that and no way the school could or would budge to work it out. At 4:00pm this evening, Chris had to go back to Midway airport and take the last flight home to Sacramento.

Talk about discouragement.

The first time I met Chris was when I picked him up to take him back to the airport. I didn't hate my job until that moment in time when I wished I had a million dollars to pay for his tuition. The 45 minutes back to the airport as we waded through traffic, he told me that he was the first and only Christian currently in his family. No family members supported his decision to study the Bible and prepare for Islamic evangelism and church-planting. He was a strong young man, covering his disappointment with humor, but with exhaustion and sadness written on his forehead nonetheless. By the end of our drive, I wanted to hug him and cry. I can't wait for all of you to meet him in eternity and hear the testimony he shared with me.

Needless to say, I came home with renewed gratitude for the grace on me to be here. God forbid I take this for granted.

If at first you don't succeed...

Just give up and go back to bed. :)

It was my evil plan to stay home a few more days over Christmas break by getting the flu. YES! Best thing EVER! HA! It came quickly and solidly knocked me off my feet, making my dear father postpone my flight to Chicago 2 days. Extra rest was much appreciated despite the coughing, wheezing, headaches, and fevers. When I was a child, the only time mom would buy gateroade was when we were sick. I used to want to get sick JUST so she'd buy it. "Mom, I'm sick. GET THE GATEROADE!!!!" Well no gateroade this time :(

I am, once again, in the windy city. It's hard to believe this is becoming a home to me. A year and a half gone by and a frightening look at the next half. Oh boy. I'm excited. Perhaps not ready, but excited.

I am reconciled to the fact that I will never KNOW what will take place next. Though I have planned a class schedule and a job, who knows if God will have me complete that before moving me elsewhere. Thus far, I plan to work myself to the ground with 19 hrs of class, a part-time job, and a significant amount of college-experience time :) I have so much preparation to do for the summer as well.

I keep intending to send out emails and updates, but alas I am negligent. To those unknowing--I will be going to Ghana for (approx.) 8 weeks during the summer months. Oh my word, I'm so excited! Life-dreams coming true--but incredibly scary at the same time. I'll be shadowing a Ghanaian woman, Judith, as she makes her rounds to the homes of liberated Trokosi women. I'll be assisting in counseling them and writing their stories as they share with us. These stories will be compiled and used to begin a sponsor ministry similar to that of Compassion Child or World Vision. There is a small potential we'll also get a few opportunities to go into the shrines (where the Trokosi are freed from) and share the gospel with the priests there. Amazing opportunity!!! Praise God! Please pray that I would be diligent to prepare for it well and not procrastinate. I'm so good at last minute. :-P

That's all for now, folks. Be blessed and encouraged by His goodness. Be amazed that He remembers us when we forget Him.

Em

Christmas at the Cohoon/Bruckart House

Josh's new beard.

The brunch table on Christmas day ("kids" table)

Emily on Christmas morning...hiding.

Michelle and Josh after stockings.

Dad turned into a reindeer? hm.


Aren't you jealous of our family? ;) I hope your celebrations were as much fun and craziness as ours. Blessings :)

The Debt Every Man Must Pay

One of my dear friend's experienced the passing of a parent while we were in our senior year of high school. Her father had battled MS for many years and the Lord finally saw fit to take him home.

Weeks and months following the funeral, I found myself driving out to the cemetery where he was buried. The silence provided a calm and appropriate place to pray. Needless to say, Chicago is not quite as quiet as that cemetery, so it is a favorite piece of any Texas visit to go back to that silent place and hear peace and rest.

My last visit, just a few days ago, there was a fresh grave--that of one who must have been a beautiful and wonderful woman. Among the mass of flowers and farewell gifts was a small cross that had this favorite prayer inscribed on it. Read it slowly.

Lord Yahweh,
Make me an instrument of Thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light; and
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much
Seek to be consoled as to console;
To be understood, as to understand;
To be loved, as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
(written by Saint Francis of Assisi)