{Everyday in May} - Mwen Pa Janm Bliye ...I will never forget

It's the last day of the link up and I'm a little sad...now I'll have to rely on my own creative juices to share :) 

I'll never forget the moment I stepped off that plane. A short 6 days after the earthquake, in 2010.

I have never been so ready and so scared at the same time.

I had spent 6 days trying to figure out how I would get to the people I loved. I was ready to be there. 

I was scared...I was scared to see, what I knew I would see. I was scared of it all. 

My dad and I arrived on a Hendricks Motors Plane.  After what seemed like hours, they processed our papers and we could leave the plane. we stepped off the plane...and the smell. 

I wish I had the words to fully describe the smell, but it smelt like death. After what seemed like hours, they processed our papers and we could leave the plane. 

I will never forget what I saw. Sometimes I wish I could, but it is there, always. 

Unless you saw it with your own eyes, you don't understand...

the devastation was so vast, the desperation in peoples eyes, the loss, the resiliency, people picking up rubble one block at a time, and the truck loads of dead bodies...

In that moment, as I was ready and scared...I knew, this was the place I would live. This place I would eventually call home.  I just knew. 

Those two weeks, were two of the hardest I have faced in my life. But it was during those two weeks, I feel God truly gave me a heart for His people. He showed me what it was to love them like He loves them.

During those two weeks, we loved people...in whatever form that meant, that is what we did. We secretly delivered food to families, we passed out water, we delivered supplies, we held babies and children, we held children who lost their parents, we held children who were wandering alone for days, we tried to find joy in the difficult days, we played basketball, we cooked meals for 50, we loved!

Mwen Pa Janm Bliye!
I will never forget!

{Everyday in May} - Letting Go

 

 

 

We were discussing this saying at Bible Study last night, you've probably heard it beofre...

 

"God won't give you more than you can handle"

 

I totally disagree with it. I think at times God does give you more than you can handle. I think it's because He wants you to draw closer to Him

He wants you to let go and let Him.

 

In Exodus 14, Moses tells the Israelites, that they only need to be silent, the Lord will fight for them.

 

I've seen this play out in my life in so many mays, but especially in the last 2 years.

 

I arrived in Haiti almost 2 years ago, single, alone and ready to transform education in Haiti. Two months in, the two staff members on ground left and I was left alone....I had people to guide me and help me make some decisions, who were stateside, but for the most part it was me...let me tell you,

 

It was WAY more than I could handle.

 

I couldn't change the circumstances, and I didn't want to throw in the towel...so I had to let God...I wasn't capable. It still was hard, and there were many days I wanted to leave and run from God's calling, but there have been so many blessings in the process of letting go.

 

So when God gives you more than you can handle...Let go and Let Him!!!

 



{Everyday in May} - Soundtrack of my Life

This one brought me back....way back. I have some awesome memories and since I am craving being at the lake...I have a lot of songs that remind me of summer :) 

1. Summer Nights - Rascal Flatts 

Seriously, this sums up summer in MN perfectly...

2. Cruise - This one isn't old, but it reminds me of home :) (And who doesn't love some Nelly)

3. Summer of 69 - This one reminds me of High School :: Football games, school dances, bonfires :: great memories. 

4. Don't Turn off The Lights - Enrique Iglesias 

I have a very specific memory of this...I was with my brother Chad and our friend Zach (the summer he lived with us)...we were on the boat driving to the beach...I was tanning on the deck and this was playing...we were young, carefree, and enjoying the summer..(Hope this one doesn't offend anyone)

5. Marry You - Bruno Mars

I couldn't find the actually video for this, but who doesn't like a good flash mob. 

Anyways, Claudy used to always play this song for me, while we were dating....it was also the song we left our wedding with  :)  Plus...a super cute proposal. 

6. Marry Me - Train

This is the song I walked into for our Wedding..

Hope you enjoyed my step back into time :) 

What are songs that remind you of your past? 

{Everyday in May} - Weekend Recap

This post is suppose to be only pictures, but forgive me. We had such a great weekend I wanted to share it with you!!

1// Laying on the hammock, with a diet coke, reading a book..I don't get much time for this...but was so thankful. 

2//Ice Cold Rasberry Lemonade..yes please

3// Pedicures, Manicures, & Basketball...as my friend Renee said, it's me in a nut shell

4// Went to the pool with these 3 cuties and their momma! 

5// Ready for church with my hubby. 

6//Claudy is the God-Father of this sweet little girl - Adele, her dedication was on Sunday

7// My husband on the grill...hmmm

8// Sorry for all of you vegetarians, but it doesn't get much better than fresh steak, potatoes and sweet corn. 

That's my recap of my weekend...

On running news..I ran an 8 miler on Sunday..I'm getting there!

Find me here at the hump day hop!!

{Everyday in May} - Dear Readers

Dear Readers - 

I started blogging in 2009, at a site called Thoughts with Tink (don't ask)...I started it for myself, as a place to process my journey. God was moving on my heart to "GO" and I wasn't sure what that meant...so I started documenting with what he was telling me. In 2010, I knew I was being called to "GO", so I started a new blog Nuesties News to document my life on the mission field. Now, my husband and I are moving home for a "time" and I'm not ready to give up on blogging. I like it, it helps me share, it helps me grow.

For those of you that have been following from the beginning, thank you. Thank you for allowing me to share my heart and life with you. Thank you for being a listening ear and giving me encouragement through those hard days. Thank you for supporting me to do God's work and to be His hands and feet. You have truly allowed me to share anything and that has been one of the greatest gifts. 

For those of you that are new to my blog, and started reading at The Redeemed Runner...thank you for allowing me to continue my journey. Moving home, doesn't mean our journey is over...there are hard days for us ahead...thank you for joining us in the journey. Thank you for inspiring me to write! 

Thank you!!!

PS...we were to have 4 interns arriving today and along with my good friend Katie. Can you please pray for them. All flights into PAP were canceled today. 

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I'm not gonna lie...this blogging everyday thing is tough, even with a prompt. So, I took the day off yesterday. 

I didn't read this online, I watched it, but loved it!!  Hope you enjoy it too!

{Everyday in May} - My Daddy Always Said

One thing my daddy always said, that I'll never forget...

...You're beautiful.

I know this is not the words that every daughter hears from her daddy, so I'm forever grateful to have a father that lifts me up and encourages me.

Growing up, I never felt that I had to have a boyfriend or have men in my life to make me feel special, because my daddy did that for me. He told me I was beautiful, smart and talented. I didn't have to search for it.

Thanks dad for the words that built me up and for the words I'll never forget.

I'm beautiful.

{Everyday in May} - Chosen

Today's blog prompt was to talk about our worst traits. While I have a lot of traits that are bad and drive me crazy. I have spent too much time in my life focusing on those. I want to focus on a good trait, one that I don't deserve, but a label I have because of Christ's redemption...

I am Chosen.

Dictionary.com defines chosen as "selected from several; preferred"

The Bible mentions the word chosen 118 times and in 115 verses. 

Colossians 3:12 says, "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience," 

1 Thessalonians 1:4 says, "For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you," 

James 2:5 says, "Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom,which he has promised to those who love him?"

1 Peter 2:4,9 "As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious...But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."

I have been studying this for several weeks now. I'm in awe. God has chosen me! I will never fully understand this or be able to fully grasp all that this means, but God loves me and has created me...I screwed it up...He redeemed me and sees me as PERFECT!!!

WOW!!

{Everyday in May} - Lessons I've Learned

I guess I missed yesterday in our series. I didn't really have anything to rant about, which isn't always the case, but...I guess I couldn't think of one yesterday!

1. Take Risks:

 I have heard a lot of people say, I could never do that or it's not safe...

Not that I think you should always do the crazy things, but sometimes amazing things happen when you take a risk. It's like when God asked the Israelites to step into the water, there was a risk involved. 

2. Follow Your Dreams

Many times in my life I have listened to people tell me they wished they would have done something, or moved some where. It was why, when I was graduating college...I decided to go. Do it now...don't wait. Don't hold yourself back! 

3. Love Hard

I've had no regrets for loving people. I have been hurt, but I've never regretted loving people. It's scary. It's scare to love people, they have so much power to hurt. Sometimes loving people hurts because you hurt for them, hurt for their pain. Don't lose out on life, because you are afraid of being hurt

4. Don't Waste Your Life

Life is fast, we are here for a vapor. Don't let it pass you by. Serve the Lord, Serve others, Love Well

5. Travel 

Step out of your bubble and see the world.  See how others live. Experience other cultures, other places, learn languages. 

{Everyday in May} - Favorite Posts

I just started this site in May, but prior to this blog, I blogged over at 

Nuesties News and because I deleted an old email address, some of my pictures are gone :)

This picture is totally irrelevant to my blog, but I'm so hot today...dreaming of cold :) 

Here are some of my favorite posts. 

Things that Make Me Uncomfortable - About difficulties on the mission field

Bring Life to These Dry Bones  - about my walk with the Lord

Be Silent - Learning to wait

Wedding Wednesday - All the details of wedding, this is a series

I Don't Understand - Struggles on the the Mission field. 

Hope you enjoy :) 

{Everyday in May} - When your Values and Compassion Collide

On the mission field, we are forced to make many decisions that are not easy. That is the reason we have values...we have guidelines we follow, so we can make a decision based on who we are. 

What I am struggling with most, is how to make those decisions when you no longer care about the value, because your heart is hurting so much for those people. 

How do you make those decisions when your compassion collides with those values. 

How do you say no to giving people food, when they are hungry? 

How do you not help people that are sick? 

How do you not help people finish school? 

The thing is, I know we have values for a reason....I know that if I feed someone today, they will be hungry tomorrow. Giving them food, is just a temporary fix. There are deeper issues...but aren't we suppose to feed the hungry? What about when people are sick, is it fine then to help even though it doesn't align with our values? 

I know there are no simple answers and the truth is there isn't a right answer, each situation may be different..but it's a struggle when there are so many needs everywhere! 

{Everyday in May} - My running partner

My dad running with me for a block during my last marathon. 

I started running competitively when I was in 6th grade.
It was in about my 8th grade year that my dad really started to push my running.

 He would wake me early each morning. I would grab my running shoes and he his bike and off we would go.

 He would always be a little ahead of me, which made me frustrated and run faster.
There were some meets, I didn't run to my potential and I would be pushed harder. Mediocracy was not an option.

While, I no longer run competitively these moments will forever stay with me.
They may seem extreme, but I'm so thankful for my father. I'm thankful he pushed me, challenged me, worked with me, and wanted me to be successful. While there were moments I struggled with it, I never questioned his love for me and that he always  was proud of me and wanted me to be proud of myself!

I love you dad!

{Everyday in May} - Favorite Photo

I hate pictures of myself.. 

I hate taking pictures of just me. It's so awkward. 

My husband is just the opposite. I could take pictures of him everyday and he would pose all the time. He also likes to take pictures of me. 

So...this is not necessarily my favorite picture, but Claudy's favorite picture of me :) 

He loves this picture because my hair is a mess and not perfect :) 

I do love that he thinks I'm beautiful :) 

{Everyday in May} - He Chose Me

Photo Credit: Kelly Schmidgall

Today's prompting on Blog Everyday in May was to write about something difficult about your 'lot' in life. 

I have been thinking about this for almost a week now. I can't think of one. Something's in the last two years have been difficult...being married and living with an average of 10 people each week

..or trying to handle the visa process for my husband

...or living in a third world country

but, I don't consider these things bad or my lot in life. It is what God chose for me. It was my purpose, what I was created for. Even though some of these things have been difficult, God, is a great Sustainer, a great Provider and My Solid Rock. He has gotten me through and received the glory! 

He CHOSE me! He chose me to do these things and for that I am honored. 

Ephesians 1:4 says, 

"even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him."

While I face trials and difficulties in life, I try to remember that He chose me!! What an honor to carry out His gospel, no matter what form it comes in!

{Everyday in May} - A day in the life

 To be honest, I'm not sure anyone cares what a day in my life looks like :)

But here goes. 

6:30 am - Coffee and the word...always in this chair. 

8:00 Time to start grading

10:00 - Hubby brought me a piece of watermelon. 

11:00 - Went to see how the group was doing, teaching knitting. 

12:30 - after lunch I made a batch of sun tea!

2:30 - I'm still in my office...It's time for a diet coke break to get me through the evening :) 

5:00 - Done calling my students for the day! Time to hit the road...had to wear old shoes, lots of rain...lots of mud!!

5:15 - Saw this cute baby donkey (bourik) on my run. Had to take a picture because he is soooo cute :) 

8:00 - after dinner...hung out with the group. We laughed a lot. 

8:45 - Ended the night, watching Jack Bauer and NBA with my hubby :) 

{Everyday in May} - These are a few of my favorite things

We have a sign hanging in our entry way that says 

"The best things in life aren't things"

While I do have a couple of things on here that are "THINGS" People are most important. 

The Lord - He is so precious to me. The fact that he has chosen me, makes me astonished. I love spending time in His word, especially on a porch with a cup of coffee :) 

My Husband - God gave me such a wonderful man! I'm so glad he is in my life!! He always knows how to make me laugh!

I have the best family in the world!! I love them all so much. I love that we enjoy spending time together! I'm truly blessed by the love of these people, who are there for me no matter what :) 

These chidlren are so precious, what a joy it is to be able to serve and love them!

Running - I love to run. What a joy and a gift!!

This is a view from my parents dock at their lake home. This is my favorite place. I love to sit here!! I have so many great memories at the lake, with my favorite people :) 

My Bestie - Betha...we haven't known each other forever, but I feel like we have know each other forever. She has been there for me through a lot of things and has always supported me. I'm sad we don't live closer. 

My friends. Not everyone is pictured, but I have great friends. Friends that sharpen me and encourage me!!

Scents and Seasons - I'm a sucker for a great smelling candle. I especially love seasons and love to change my candles based on the season (I don't have this one burning right now - It's not Fall, but fall is my favorite season.)

I grew up on a farm in Minnesota - What an awesome thing. Farming is a great way to see God's faithfulness and His provision. It's so easy to see how little control we have and how faithful He is!!

What are your favorite things?