Grateful.

So....my last blog post was depressing...and I’m sorry. I’m really overwhelmed right now and it translates into whining sometimes.

I have decided that no matter what, this summer, I will be grateful. I don’t know if anyone reads these thoughts of mine. And I don’t mean to be cheesy, but sometimes I write here just to write. For me, there is something therapeutic about expressing your thoughts in writing and hitting that ‘publish’ button. I feel a little better after I organize my feelings into words and read over them.

Summer is not an easy season for me. It’s a huge blessing...but it’s not easy. I think having a grateful attitude will help me stay focused on why I do what I do. So here it goes....

Day One:

I am grateful for the people I meet working in this ministry.

This week there is a priest staying on the grounds during a conference happening close by. Today, for no reason at all, he came by the office and brought me a frapuccino. Talk about making my day!

Sometimes I deal with very difficult people.

Christians?! Difficult?! Gasp!

It’s true. Sometimes people are rude for no apparent reason (even Christians). But overall, this ministry has given me the chance to meet and know some amazing individuals. I have met youth ministers and children’s pastors who absolutely love students...who pour their lives into the lives of young people. I have met precious senior adults who have literally spent their lives following after God. I have met pastors and leaders who take the time to pray for me...bring me a Milky Way on registration day...email me and tell me that they appreciate what I do here. I’m so grateful to know them...to serve alongside them from time to time...to be able to learn from their wisdom and life experience.

I don’t think I would know these people if I wasn’t where I am, and my life would be much different without them. Today I’m grateful that God chose to write them in as characters in my story.

Weary.

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” - Galatians 6:9

God brought this verse to my memory this morning on the way to work. I know what I’m doing is good...I know God has me where I am for a reason, but let me tell you – I’m weary. I can’t sleep because I’m stressed about summer...I wake up late and hit the ground running...and lately every evening has been filled with some kind of work or event. I feel overwhelmed and tired and summer HAS NOT EVEN BEGUN. Things will only get more crazy from here! You would think with it being my sixth summer full-time I would be a pro at this point, but it just seems like there is nothing you can do to be completely ready for the organized chaos that takes place here over the next couple of months.

I’m trying to rely on God’s strength. I’m trying not to get aggravated with my co-workers and sponsors and family and repair men. I’m trying not to think about the fact that my bathroom faucet is broken and my grass is only partially mowed and I have no close toed shoes, or time to buy any. I’m trying not to feel guilty because I can’t help at all with church or the school board for the next few months. I’m trying not to focus on the fact that I have been running for eight weeks and eating better and I have GAINED ONE POUND. No, not lost. Gained. I’m trying not to think about the fact that instead of being outside in the sunshine during summer, I will be getting up earlier, staying inside under fluorescent lights more, and wearing jeans.

I’m trying to remember the students who gave their lives to Christ last year...who came into camp depressed and left smiling...who came out of their shell and made friends...who walked down to the altar and said they didn’t want to lie anymore...who nailed their sins to the cross and poured their heart out on paper covered tables.

I pray so much that I would see their faces instead of my frustration. I pray that I would die to self and know that He is right (as He always is). “...in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

So I choose to be grateful for this day. The good and the bad. Whatever it brings. I choose to trust that God is faithful and He will keep His promises. I choose not to grow weary of doing good.

Fresh Bread = Love

Today I want to tell you about an AWESOME lady I met last fall at my friend’s church. Her name is Holly and she is the founder of a local organization called “Fed by Bread”. I heard her tell the story of how this organization began and just fell in love! Holly is a descendant of German farmers who migrated to Oklahoma. Her parents and family still live in Oklahoma and farm wheat there. This is the wheat she uses to make homemade bread and cinnamon rolls. But the amazing part of this organization is not the bread itself (although, is there anything more wonderful than fresh baked bread? I think not!). The amazing thing about what Holly does is that every bit of the profit made from the sell of these items goes to sustainable development projects in sub-saharan Africa.

Every Tuesday and Thursday this inspirational lady bakes all kinds of yummy bread...honey whole wheat, chocolate chip, 6 grain goodness and others, along with homemade cinnamon rolls. She is a local gal so she delivers to the Corpus Christi area. If you are from the area you HAVE to order some of this deliciousness! You get to eat homemade bread and support the hungry at the same time! It’s basically my dream come true. :)

She also makes great tote bags and preserves. I gave a few of these out as Christmas presents last year:

I love so many things about this organization:

1. Holly is an inspiration! She is using her gifts and passions to support those that many people overlook.
2. Organizations like this are an awesome way to support the needy while buying something that you ARE GOING TO BUY ANYWAY. You already buy bread. Why not pay a little more, get something organic and DELICIOUS and make a difference at the same time? It’s ideal.
3. It makes a wonderful, unique gift for anyone! Who wouldn’t love a tote bag with fresh bread and preserves? It’s a great gift for everyone from your mother-in-law to your kid’s teacher.
4. Each item that you order has an attached story that tells you exactly where the profit from that item is going. It’s so personal...and it helps you to be aware that you can make a difference. The hungry, abused and overlooked are not just numbers...they are real people with real stories.
5. I’m not exaggerating when I say that this stuff is SO GOOD. The chocolate chip bread with coffee? Come on. I ordered a pan of cinnamon rolls when my family was in town and we had them on Thanksgiving morning. It was so convenient and it just tastes great! You can even order the cinnamon rolls unbaked and have your family wake up to the smell of that gooey goodness.
   

You can check out this great organization and contact Holly on facebook.

Fresh bread. A delicious way to “Love More.” <3