Awana Sleepover!

I didn't have to work! And so I made it for the annual Awana sleepover!

It was loud. It was crazy, silly, rambunctious...and so much fun!

We had eleven beautiful 9-12 year-old girls...we played games, they ate picnics of sweets (& yes, I resisted!) we did fun mod podgey candle holders, they we played more games, and a few more games... and had story time!

No other way to say it...other than it was a really sweet time.

Highlights:

I wore a green sweatshirt last night. Three of the girls, for no explicable reason decided green was the color to be celebrated yesterday...so they kept proclaiming "I LOVE GREEN" and then they'd run up and cling to my arm...precious.

Moments of running around playing tag, playing & sardines in the dark...

Offering piggyback rides, making up words...

One of the girls was telling me how her native name is Sunshine. So of course I asked her to offer me a native name...and what did she come up with..of all names? Deniici!

The word for moose...the same name I gave my kitten! I had to laugh!

Her second attempt...the native word for porcupine...didn't decide to keep that one either...

After devotional this morning at breakfast several girls decided to share a verse they've committed to memory this past year...BEAUTIFUL.

Keep praying, friends, I feel like I'm really starting to build relationships with some of these girls. Most of my Awana girls are the same girls that come to the youth group endeavor in Gulkana...so some weeks I'm seeing them a couple times a week! They are quickly stealing my heart and have become in many ways like the little sisters I never had. I love them to pieces and I pray that I will continue to be able to walk with them through the next couple years, to really be a "big sister" who they can talk with and pray with as they enter into the too often maleficent teenage years...

Pray for opportunities to share truth and encouragement, for opportunities to pray with them...that Christ would somehow, in someway be known and seen through me. Pray for the crazy work schedule, that somehow I'd have these special ministry days (Wed & Sat) free!

Flashback & a few faces for you!

A picture from Halloween that I just got from the Meltons! Well...from their blog...

Lee (the husband of Deborah, one of our providers) is the man-clown.

This man keeps us laughing around here! So thankful for him!

Ansley the sweet girl in the middle is the Melton's daughter!

She is a joy bubble and always full of smiles! I have loved playing games with her and her family... and making cupcakes with her for the Awana Family Fun Fair.

Love these people!

In other news...

I turned 25 on Superbowl Sunday. Ouch. Another year, another milestone.
Feeling older...and even when I don't...my pores do...

Somewhere between the age of my Awana girls asking me if I'm twelve...and the age when most women at the clinic ask in general conversation if I have any children....hmmm.

The moose were looking in my window this morning... I missed it...but there were tracks everywhere...and my cat was hiding behind the fridge when I came inside.

Tim's car needs surgery...it decided to leak out all it's oil yesterday... Oh, and he's going to Guatemala in March...so soon! Pray for him as he prepares for this short term missions trip!

I've been working a lot of nights lately...going into my last stretch for a while tonight & dreading it. Please pray for me. For contentedness, for peace, for joy, for learning opportunities.

The Biola students who were planning on coming up for a clinical rotation this spring have bailed out...sad! I was really looking forward to hosting!

Myla, one of our delightful office ladies (the mother of sweet Carsten) just officially received her U.S. citizenship! Had a red, white & blue party tonight!