Randomness From an Exhausted Brain

• I am so tried I can hardly keep my eyes open.  Since Wednesday evening (it's now Saturday evening) I don't think I've made it to bed before midnight.  Hoping tonight breaks that streak!  But, it's all been worth it as I have been able to assist with a yard sale benefiting two missionary families in our church.  God showed up in a big way and I am so excited to see how He will continue to provide for their trips to spread the Gospel to the ends of the world. 
• I'm not sure why, but I cannot stop watching 19 Kids and Counting.  I am so amazed with how organized, fun, calm, and loving the entire family is.  Oh, how I pray that our family could be that close and that loving, even as our kids grow older.  I was amazed at God's timing that I was watching the episodes with their preemie Josie as my cousin was just beginning her own journey with her preemie Olivia.  It gave much hope and encouragement, and also kept them on my mind to be praying for them.  God is good!
• Watching God work in people around me is so amazing.  He takes care of the big and small details alike.  He answers prayers, provides crazy big things, handles the small things we would never think of.  And though I love watching this, Satan really uses this in me to bring out the competitiveness which steals the joy I should have for others.  Rather than looking at the gifts God is raining down on others, I start looking that things that I don't have, the places I am not going, and my prayers that seem to go unanswered.  It is a real struggle for me to trust God, reign in this feeling, and rejoice in Him, regardless of what's happening at the moment.
• My house is gross.  I've been at church pretty much non-stop since Wednesday and Kevin has been pretty busy with work this week.  This means that nothing has been cleaned.  Guess what we're doing next week! I am praying that the memories we've made and the service we've done for the Kingdom will outweigh the kid's memories of this messy house!
• We have one week of Afterschool Adventures left.  It's been a rough semester.  We've had a lot of highs and a lot of lows.  It's been frustrating, tiring, and very trying. But, we've also had some really sweet moments that have been encouraging, inspiring, and hope-filled.  Praying hard that God will provide couples to adopt all of our kids for Wednesday nights so they can get a sense of close-knit, loving family studying God's Word together.  
• I am so thankful for a sweet moment with one of our Afterschool moms.  I know it was totally God because I would never have done it on my own.  After a challenging evening with one of the children (in which one of our school teachers who knows and loves the family had to step in to help control the child), we had to talk with his mother.  Confrontation is so not my thing, so I am so thankful this beautiful, loving teacher was there to handle that.  I could see the stress and frustration on the mother's face as she expressed having many of the same problems with her son and just didn't know what to do.  She was at the end of her rope.  God really moved in my heart that we needed to pray with her right there in that moment.  I asked if we could, she said yes, and we prayed together right there in the street.  Again, I don't doubt for a moment that it was God who moved me to do that because that was not something I would ever do on my own.  I don't know if anything has changed, but I feel so blessed that she allowed us to spend those few moments in focused prayer with her and for her and her family.
• I live for bedtime.  Is that just me?
• A group of ladies from church went to see Mom's Night Out this week. So much fun!  And much needed!  So thankful to have that time with some very dear friends and some ladies that I enjoy but don't really spend much time with.  It was great!  Lots of laughs, a few tears, and a blessing for all.  We should do that again soon!
• Lord, thank You for letting me see glimpses of You in the big and small.  Continue to open my eyes to see You in everything.  Lord, open my heart to those around me.  Help me to love them like You love them.  Help me to see them as You see them, not as the world sees them.  Fill me with Your love, grace, compassion, and words.  Give me a desire for You and Your Word that I might be an example for my children and be able to teach them in the way they should go.  Lord, show us how to be Your hands and feet, here and around the world!