finally

I am so tired! So I don't have much time to write. But... today I went to a wedding, and for the first time EVER I left and wasn't even thinking in the least about being single or how much I want to get married. I honest to goodness, left that wedding thinking, "Wow - God's grace is amazing and He is so worthy to be praised!" I realized as I was thinking about it later, that not once during the wedding did I even think about my single status or my future wedding. That's so wonderful! I know the bride and groom were praying that they would disappear in God's presence. I believe their prayers were answered. To Him be ALL the glory!!

goodnight :)

Link to pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bonnieb81

missing my other home

Strange... It's going on 9 months that I've been here in the States, and yet sometimes I still really miss being in South Africa. I can't even explain it really; I just wish I was there! It's funny, every once in a while I'll think of somewhere that I used to go in SA (like a store or something small) and think I want to go there, and forget that it was in a country thousands of miles away! Of course, I do eventually remember, and am then saddened that I can't go! I miss people too. I don't think I realized then how great I had it. I mean, life's great now too, and my friends here are amazing. But in SA, I had lots of ministry friends... friends who shared my heart and passion for sharing Christ's love with others. Not that my friends here don't care (please don't think that!)... it's just not most of my friends' main goal in life. I had lots of friends directly involved in missions/ministry in Jo'burg, and boy do I miss that. I'm not generally the instigator of great discussion, but to be amongst friends who ask all the right questions and get me to dig deeper... that's what I miss about my Jo'burg friends. I haven't been challenged lately. I have been by life! But not so much by my friends and our discussions. So... Jo'burg folks (if you're out there keeping up with me!), please know that you are missed dearly! I pray that one of these days I can come back and see you all once again. One of these days...

Link to pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bonnieb81

I am a lucky girl...

Maybe blessed would be a better word... at times I have the tendency to believe the lie that I am all alone. Sometimes when things get bad with the house I am so close to just throwing in the towel! Of course, sometimes I think that is exactly what God wants... He wants me to stop trying in my feeble efforts and trust Him fully. How can I even dare to say I am alone?!? A few years back, a pastor from another church was trying to convince me to stay at that church and he said, "churches are like families; you don't choose them, God places you into one, and knits you into it." Well, great wisdom, pastor! I knew when he said that, that the Summit was going to be my family. That was probably 4 years ago now, and The Summit is indeed my family!! Just in the things that happened today, it involved... 1)a Summit guy who sells plumbing and connected me with a guy who seems to be giving me a great deal on my sewer hook up, 2)Neil Baker, whom I borrowed a ladder from, 3)Melissa Knight (my roommate) who painted all afternoon, 4)Mark (Mel's boyfriend) who also painted and then went with me to Lowe's to pick out stuff to make a closet (he's constructing a closet!), and 5)Jon Thommarson who floored the attic for me so I can store stuff up there! Five people, and that's just one day. I am most certainly NOT alone! Thank You, Lord, for placing me into an awesome church, and knitting me into the beautiful fabric of this family. You are so good!

In other news... I HAVE A JOB!!! Yesterday (Wednesday) I was called and offered the Pre-K position at Central Elementary School. I'm so excited! I feel really good so far about the company I'll be in (Head Start) and the people I'll be working with. I think this is going to be an excellent learning time for me too. Plus, I'll be making almost $4000 more than I did at my Childcare Network job, AND I'll have benefits - FINALLY!

Well, it's late, and I must get to bed! Thanks for checking in on me!!

Bonnie B.

Link to pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bonnieb81

demolition!!!

Wow... and 2 closets became 1. Crazy stuff... Melissa (my soon-to-be roommate) came over tonight to bring a few things and to look at paint samples. She also brought Mark, her boyfriend over to check out these closets and see if anything could be done to make her closet bigger. Well,
turns out something could be done! My wonderful Dad left a big hammer here for my use, and it finally was put to some very good use. Mark had a great time knocking the wall down that was in between the 2 closets. Soon Melissa will have a nice big closet!

In other news, I think Sam hates me... he's been hding all day... although, I know cats, and how they are. So really I'm not offended. I just hope he's ok. He seems so scared!! And of course, he had taken refuge in one of the no longer existing closets. Poor baby! He must think his world is falling down around him - quite literally!! I hope he'll reaize soon that he's ok here.

I also had a second interview today... a second one with the same company I interviewed with a couple of weeks ago. I really like the people I'd be working for should I get this job. I have to trust God in this decision though! He knows what is best, and whether I am best fit for this job or another candidate. We shall see soon!

Oh, I found another problem! (act surprised) There seems to be a plumbing leak somewhere... ugh. At least someone from The Summit is coming tomorrow to see what needs to be done to fix that. Praise the Lord for a church full of amazing people who I can call on when there's a problem. I sure do hope I can be one of those people to someone somday!!

Well, it's way past my bedtime. Demolition was not part of the plan tonight, so I'm getting a late start to bedtime, but it's finally quiet around here. I can finally sleep!



Link to pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bonnieb81

Say hello to Sam

Ok... I think it's official that I am a "cat lady" now. Eish! I have 3 cats now! The newest guy is not mine... he's just my foster cat for now. His Dad, Cliff, just moved in with Chris Baker, who is allergic to cats, so Sam's moved in with me. I guess I'll have him till Chris or Cliff get married (or until they get sick of each other as roommates... whatever comes first!) He looks mad in the picture, but I think he's just scared... new home, new cats to deal with, no Cliff... sad kitty. But don't worry, Cliff, he'll be just fine.

So, after last night, I think Satan was still trying to make me miss something today. I was supposed to be at church to practise at 8am, but my alarm messed up and I woke up at 7:45!!! Yeah... 15 minutes to wake up, get dressed well enough to be infront of people, and get there in 15 minutes? No way... but I did get there in 25, and I don't think most people would've known I got ready in 10 minutes. :) I don't even know how I did it! It was awesome to sing with this amazing group of singers. I haven't sung with a small group in quite a while, and it was such a blessing to me. They all welcomed me in right away (even though I was the late one, holding them up!). God is so good to me.

A little update about the house... not much has changed, BUT... Robin, a great (and very organized) friend of mine came over after church today and helped me put things away. I was at the staring point... you know the one... where you just keep looking at all the boxes and have absolutely no clue what to do with any of them! Well, she helped me get rid of a good deal of them! I still have a lot to do before my roommate comes this coming Saturday, but we got so much done today. This house is looking more like a home every day!

Link to pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bonnieb81

Satan's crazy tactics...

I tell you... Satan never stops, does he?! Most of you faithful readers out there know that in South Africa (for the first year and few months anyway) I helped lead worship in various churches in various ways. When I came back home to the Summit, there was no need for one more voice! I stayed out of the choir scene till I just couldn't anymore... and finally joined the choir a couple months ago. :) Well, the choir gets a break in the Summer and a small praise team leads worship for the church on Sunday mornings. I've never asked the worship pastor to be involved on these teams because (I'll be honest) I don't want it to be a pride thing ("I can sing, let me on the team...") I'm not saying I'm all that great or anything... I just know my weaknesses! Well, this Thursday, Jason called me and asked if I'd fill in for one of the girls at the last minute. (Jason is the associate worship pastor, and we sang together in college.) Wow! What an honor and an exciting time for me! I've been listening to the music and practicing nonstop since Thursday, loving the songs and praying about the words in them. I learned long ago that it's not at all about performing, but rather worshipping, and inviting others to worship with you (thanks to Chris!). Well, the past few days I seem to have had a sign on my head that says, "please share with me your dating woes!" Uh... I don't remember putting that sign there, and to be honest, I'm not the best person to talk to about them. Maybe people apparently forget that I'm single too... and have been for quite some time. When friends complain to me that it's been a couple years since they've been in a relationship, I want to stop them there and say... um... try 25! Argh. Here's the thing that makes me mad at myself though. I should NOT get upset about stuff like this! I want to be mature and grounded so solidly in God's Word and His awesome plan for my life, that I can be there to offer Godly wisdom (rather than experiential wisdom) to my friends. I have absolutely no reason, no reason at all to complain!! :) God is blessing me over and over again here lately. He's shown me time and time again that I'm where I'm supposed to be. He's introduced me to some new people who are ministering in a neighborhood 3 minutes from my house, and I'm going to start working with them! This past week I got to love on some Hispanic kids, and they've brought me such joy! A couple of weeks ago, my pastor, JD, preached an amazing sermon on singleness. It challenged me so much to not waste a single minute of my life waiting around for some guy to show up. No way! He has called me to amazing things. I count it an honor above all honors to be called into ministry for Him. I might not know what that exact ministry is right now, but it's in me. My heart leaps at the thought of working for Him! You know what? Finding a guy with that same heart is difficult. And by golly, I'm not going to settle for someone who isn't heading in the same direction as me. :) Part of one of the songs we're singing tomorrow says, "I'm not content just to walk through my life. Giving in to the lies. Walking in compromises." And those words ring so true to me. I'm not going to walk through my life listening to the lies around me that say I should be dating. The lies of people who tell me something is wrong with a 25 year old girl who's never been in a serious relationship. God created me with a purpose and a plan. I am going to run to Him as hard and as fast as I can. God help me stand firm against the lies and the schemes of Satan. I won't let him win!!

(wow... blogging is really therapeutic!)

Link to pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bonnieb81

air conditioning!

Wow... I slept so well last night! Last night was the first night that I finally had air conditioning flowing into my house. I'd had the A/C on before, but it was not really getting to the house. It turns out that the duct work under the house was really messed up, so I was cooling the crawl space rather well, but not the house! Well, my Dad works for a company that deals with duct work for big companies, so he knows all about duct. So that was our big project yesterday. And it really was a BIG project! I don't know what happened under the house, but just about every possible line into the house was damaged considerably. Dad did most of the work by himself, but a few times he needed my help! It was really cool for me to be able to help him. Growing up with 2 older brothers, they were (and still are most the time!) the ones that help Dad fix things, but yesterday I was his only choice. So I got to go under the house with him and get dusty and muddy! I hope that as more project arise in this house, Dad will be able to use my help, and two things will happen... one, I'll learn more about fixing things, and two, Dad and I will get to spend more time together! Two great things!! :)

Oreo and Wallace are also finally here. I brought them back with me Sunday night. They hid for about 24 hours but this morning when I woke up, both of them were sleeping with me on my bed. They used to sleep with me in South Africa (on a twin bed!) but as my parents' house, they weren't allowed back where the bedrooms were. I think they're glad to have their roam of the whole house again! It's great to have them here with me again. I missed not having them!

Well, I have a long list of things to go shopping for. I think that list is neverending! Yay for SuperTarget! :)

Link to pictures:
http://community.webshots.com/user/bonnieb81

Happy Birthday to Me!

Yay! Robin Crabtree made me a special turtle cake for my birthday. She knew I collected turtles, but didn't know why. She had no idea that turtles have a very symbolic meaning for me... they remind me that God has placed me exactly where I am, and that He has a purpose for everything that is going on right now... a timely reminder since I've lately found out more and more problems with my dear little house! The young professionals (YPs) went extreme bowling last night, and then afterwards we went to Robin and Lauren's apartment. They had decorated so beautifully! It was so much fun to celebrate my birthday with many newly acquired friends. God has been so great and faithful to me in the last year. I can't wait to see what He will do this year in my life!
Today has been a very eventful day for the house. Stephen Baker came over to put up some light fixtures. We (he) encountered some strange electrical issues, to which he kept saying, "this is so weird." Welcome to my house! :) There's now a fan and lights in both the living room as well as my bedroom! Progress! I also decided to tear down the weird bamboo looking ceiling in the living room. It's a long process since they used about 5000 staples to hold that stuff up! It's looking good though so far... I'm still not done. I'm taking a break!

Jon also came over and cleaned out my gutters. What an amazing guy! I don't know what I'd do without all my awesome friends. So all in all, it's been a great birthday! And tomorrow I get to go home and see my family, which is always lots of fun! :)

Thanks for checking in on me!

Link to pictures: http://community.webshots.com/user/bonnieb81