"Leave outcomes up to Me.  Follow Me wherever I lead, without worrying about how it will all turn out.  Think of your life as an adventure, with Me as your Guide and Companion.  Live in the now, concentrating on staying in step with Me.  When our path leads to a cliff, be willing to climb it with My help.  When we come to a resting place, take time to be refreshed in My Presence.  Enjoy the rhythm of life lived close to Me.  You already know the ultimate destination of your journey:  your entrance into heaven.  So keep your focus on the path just before you, leaving outcomes up to Me."

~Jesus Calling (devotional by Sarah Young)

I am so blessed to have friends that not only love and encourage me but that also care for me spiritually.  Last year for Christmas a friend gave me the devotional book Jesus Calling.  I was so excited because one of the items on my list was to find a new devotional so this meant I didn't have to tackle that task myself!  The daily devotionals always have a way of speaking to me and honestly, most days I feel like they were literally written just for me.  Tuesday's reading is one that has been on my heart for awhile.

Leave the outcomes up to Him and live in the moment--easier said than done.  I am a worrier and I love to have a plan.  I love to make lists, have a goal, and love to see progress.  Leaving it all up to Him and not worrying about the end result isn't so much me.  And yet, I'm realizing more and more each day that this is the only way.  Right now I'm in a really good place.  I feel like I'm in that resting place where I'm truly happy and I feel His presence.  And yet when I look around I start to worry.  I hear one of the little one's say or do something she shouldn't, something that isn't appropriate and my heart breaks because there really is no adult around that is going to teach her differently.  I roll a little ping-pong ball back and forth with a little toddler and I literally want to freeze this moment where he is barely 2 years old and so innocent.  Will he be a good kid, will he do well in school, heck will he have the opportunity to go to school, and my brain goes on and on.  I see a dad in the clinic with his seven day old baby girl and his face is priceless, he is proud.  So proud.  In the back of my mind though, I wonder if he will stick around and if he will truly love and encourage his baby girl even after the new-ness wears off.  And yet, I'm "simply" called to walk with Him and to live life in the now.  It's truly refreshing to be reminded that it isn't my job to come up with the plan.  I'm starting to realize that when I am present and living in the moment, I let my guard down and it's easier to laugh, conversation is deeper, and hope is abundant.

thankful

"Sometimes the little things in life mean the most."

~Ellen Hopkins

Currently there is a trend on facebook where people each day are writing what they are thankful for.  It has been fun to read and I almost joined in on the fun--until I remembered I have a hard enough time keeping up with everything else in life=) As I was sitting in Chambrun today I thought about what I would post--what would I be truly thankful for?  My thoughts went from my relationship with Christ to my family and friends...then all the way to running water and coke.  The list was long and after awhile I realized that it was simply the little things that add up each day that I'm truly thankful for.  I'm thankful that on my walk to Chambrun I have just a few minutes alone to think.  I'm thankful that as soon as I turn into the village I'm greeted by my favorite kiddos who are all racing to get the very first hug and kiss.  I'm thankful that when one of my little friends gets hurt he or she comes and curls up in my lap.  I'm thankful that something as simple as paper flash cards can make learning multiplication facts into a game and something fun.  It makes my heart so happy to see the children sitting with their school books open while they work on homework--thankful that NVM has a school filled with teachers who love the students.  More than anything, I'm truly thankful that I get to live in Haiti.  

Cutest smile ever!  

Natamara was hard at work sweeping!

For more photos click on the link below.  You do not need to have Facebook to see the pictures!

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