home beautifications

It's amazing how much "little" things can make a huge difference in the life of my little house. Yesterday my Mom and Dad came up so that my Dad could put down new tile in my bathroom. I've had the tile for a while now, and we'd just never been able to get together to do anything about it. So even though I had work (Sylvan) and then Oxford Manor Kids Club yesterday, they came up anyway and got to work without me! Dad had already refloored the bathroom (for the most part) by the time I got here. I got to hang out with my Mom while he worked. (Side note: usually I do help him, but the bathroom really isn't big enough for 2!) We ended up having to make a run to Lowe's for something, and while we were there, we picked up a curtain and valance for my living room window that has been uncovered this whole time. Dad hung them up before they left, and they look so nice!! He also helped me hang a picture that I've had (and hadn't hung) since Christmas. It makes the house look so "homey." I love it! It really is amazing what things like this can do. The bathroom now looks brand new (to me anyway). A couple months ago Dad and I painted in the bathroom and put in a medicine cabinet (which was a much bigger job than intended since Dad ended up having to run a whole new line of electricity into the bathroom for the lights on the medicine cabinet - my Dad rocks!). And I have my Mom to thank for the curtains. The same weekend that we worked on the bathroom, my Mom and I had sat in the living room hypothesizing about what would look good in that window for about an hour. During one of her and Dad's trips to Lowe's, she saw a curtain that she though I would like, so she bought it! (A bold move for her since I can be picky at times.) When we took it out of the package, it wasn't what we thought it was, so we took it back to Lowe's, and that's when we found the perfect valance to go over the curtain. When my camera has batteries again I'll have to take a picture so you all can see the latest improvements. I actually want to sit in my living room now! Oh... and today after church a guy is coming over to look at the major repair jobs that the house still needs. He is from my church, and he remodels old homes as a profession, so he'll know exactly what I'm up against when it comes to fixing my house. Let's hope he doesn't give me any devastating news!

In other news, a little over a week ago my best friend had her second baby, Lauren Avery Godfrey. When Savannah was born I was in South Africa, so I missed all of her being a baby. But this time I got to see the baby when she was less than a day old! She was teeny tiny (5 lbs 10 oz), so I was a little nervous about holding her at first, but she seemed to sleep just fine no matter how I held her. I love being an Aunt! :)




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

that must be some church...

Fun story...

When I first interviewed for the tutoring job at Sylvan, I was talking to the boss and she made a few comments that lead me to believe she was a Christian. She said something like, "we serve an on-time God" a couple of times, and was wearing a bracelet that I think had the verse on it "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (If not that verse, it was definitely a Bible verse.) When we finished talking, I asked her where she went to church and she said something like, "oh... I don't go to church... I may never go again." Hmm... I figured that the day she hired me probably wasn't the best day to go deep, but I just mentioned, "well, if you ever want to come the Summit, you're always welcome" and I left it at that. Since I started working there about a month ago, I've been fortunate to be able to hang out with a few of the other tutors who are around my age. As far as I can tell, none of them are Christians, so it's been interesting getting to know them a little outside of work. The cool thing is, they like me! God has somehow given me favor in their eyes, and I am praying for ways to reach out to them without freaking them out. Well... today I went to work and as I was putting some of the books away, I noticed a new tutor. I thought she looked familiar, but I couldn't see her whole face and I wasn't sure. My boss was in the room, so I went to her and said, "the new teacher... is her name Stacy?" And my boss said, "yeah... does she go to your church?" When I said yes, my boss and one of the other girls I work with said, "ahh..." Apparently during her interview, they'd asked her what brought her to Durham and she had replied that it was her church. They remembered me saying the same thing. Diane (the boss) said, "wow, that must be some church." To which I replied, "you'd better believe it - you'll have to check it out sometime." Both she and the other teacher (who is also an assistant to Diane) said something to the effect of "yeah I guess so!" Wow! How cool is God in the way He orchestrates things?! Please be praying for God's name to be made famous in the lives of the teachers (and the boss!) at Sylvan. I pray that God will use me in some way to help reach out to them and show them how much He loves each of them. God is so good!

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

so what's new?

I have a few minutes to spare this morning for once. Typically I'd need to leave the house soon to go to school, but this morning I'll be making a stop at the "minute clinic" before going to work. I've been fighting off a cold for a few weeks now, and the last week it has turned more into what I think they're going to tell me is a sinus infection. Yuck.

Anyway... those select few of you who read this may want to know how the house is coming along! I haven't been able to do a whole lot lately because money is tight. Winter is an expensive time of year when you have gas heating! Never again will I choose to have gas heating!! (although, with this house, there was no choice) Hopefully the warmer months are coming, and I won't have to fork our exorbitant amounts of money just to keep from freezing. :) I am thankful for heat though. A few weeks ago the heating unit died... and during the coldest week of the year so far! The nights were getting down to about 13 (Fahrenheit). We have space heaters in the house, but if both Jasmine and I ran them on high, we blew a fuse! So, since she didn't want to go anywhere, I got to go hang out with Jessica P, one of my newest and coolest friends from the Summit. We're in the same Bible study, and I'm so grateful for her hospitality! I was offered a place to stay by many people at the Summit, which just confirms for me more and more that the Summit is my family away from family. What do people without church families do when they're in a pinch? I have not the slightest clue. I just know that I'm thankful for mine. :-D I guess the other news regarding the house is that in a couple of months I'll be roommate searching again. Jasmine wants to live on her own, so she'll be moving out soon. I like having a roommate... being alone is no fun! So please pray that God will provide the perfect person, at just the right time... someone who will love this troubled little house as much as I do! ;) I trust that He already knows who is coming, and I'll just have to wait and see. umm... Oh! I few weeks ago I learned that a guy from my church restores old houses! Why didn't I know this sooner? I literally see and talk to this guy and his wife every Sunday morning, and I didn't have a clue. He is willing to come over and take a look at my house sometime, and maybe he can help me out on getting the work done. Maybe by this summer the major repairs will be done! In God's time... in God's time... I have to keep reminding myself of that. :) God has been teaching me a lot about that lately. I don't have time this morning to go into all that He's been doing in my life, but trust me when I say that He has brought me to a great place - a place where I must rely on Him and wait upon Him. There's no better place to be, right!? Well, time's about up... hopefully I'll be able to get some meds at the minute clinic and be breathing in no time! Thanks for checking in on me!


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

new favorite song

What would I do without music? God so often uses songs to minister to me in ways that no person ever could. Here's my new favorite... for today anyway... it seems to change a lot these days. :)

"Yesterday" - Mary Mary

I had enough heartache and enough headaches
I've had so many ups and downs
Don't know how much more I can take
See I decided that I cried my last tear yesterday
Either I'm going to trust You or I may as well walk away
'cause stressing don't make it better
Don't make it better, no way
See I decided that I cried my last tear yesterday
Yesterday, I decided to put my trust in you
Yesterday, I realized that You will being me through
There ain't nothing too hard for my God, no
Any problems that I have
He's greater than them all, so
I decided that I cried my last tear yesterday

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

small victories

Ok, so I'm back in the world of blogs.... we'll see how long I can keep this up! :) I entitled this blog entry "small victories" because I've seen a few of those lately, and I'm learning to embrace even the tiniest of victories in order to get the very most of out this blessed life God has given me. I started thinking about this yesterday when some friends and I were talking about our jobs. One of the girls is a physical therapist and she said that she had just recently seen a patient sit up for herself for the first time in months. I thought for a second, and then one of my precious kids from school came to mind, and I responded, "Oscar asked me a question today!?" You see, one of the little guys in my class is an English language learner, so his speech in English comes later anyway, but to add to the mix, he has speech delays. He doesn't say very much at all, and on Thursday we were working on some art he was doing and he looked at me said, "this go here?" I know... he's 4... and most 4 year olds say much more, but for Oscar this was HUGE! I got super excited, and so did he... though he didn't even know why I was excited. (Oh, how I wish I had a video of this kid when he gets excited... it would melt your heart!)


That conversation was taking place during a car ride to Southeastern seminary last night to attend a "Girl Talk" night. Carolyn McCulley was speaking, and I was like a 4 year old at a Doodle Bops show. You see, Carolyn McCulley is the author of a blog that I adore (www.solofemininity.blogs.com) She is an unashamed single Christian woman, and she lives the life that I am so striving to live. She wrote a book called, "Did I Kiss Marriage Goodbye? - Trusting God with a Hope Deferred." Great book! I found and read it while I was still in South Africa, and it helped to prepare me for the life I'd be forming for myself once I arrived back in the States. It was her book that first planted the "house-buying" seed in my head! (I think that's a good thing... most of the time... heheh) Anyway... it was a very intimate setting last night... very laid back and casual. I even got to meet and talk to Carolyn afterwards. And get this... she had mentioned in her talk that she'd been in South Africa, so I had to ask her where she was. When I mentioned that I'd lived in South Africa too, she asked if I'd emailed her (which I had). She remembered me! Small victory... oh yeah... :)

Right now I am typing this at the computer in my pastor's house. A friend of mine and I are were babysitting his and another couple's kids tonight. How cool is it that I have the privilege of playing with and getting to know the Greears' kids? I know that oftentimes the drawback for some people of a big church is that they think no one will know them. A coworker of mine said just a couple days ago that she didn't like them because if she were having a problem, she'd want to be able to call up her pastor and be able to talk to him without having to first explain to him who she was. When I came back to the States, I thought I wouldn't like the Summit anymore for very similar reasons. But God has blessed me so much! First, He gave me eyes to see that the pastors at the Summit are just men... and their wives are just women. They are special, yes... but they are not the be all and end all of the Summit - God is! And if I had a problem, there are numerous Summit people I can call upon. But second of all, God has granted me the opportunity to know the pastors and their families, and that is so wonderful. Hopefully I'll have the chance to hang out with their cool kids more later... but for now... they're home! Time to go!! :)

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

It's good to be home...

Today I...

-woke up without an alarm clock AND without a cat meowing at me.

-enjoyed a liesure cup of coffee and a light breakfast with Mom and Dad.

-stayed in my PJs until about 12:30.

-had a visit from the lady next door (she's been our neighbor since before I was born!).

-showed my parents how to do DDR and then coached my Mom as she learned!

-wrapped too many presents to count.

-got hit with wrapping paper rolls... also too many times to count. ;)

-made dinner for my Mom and Dad (a whole meal, and NOT from a box!).

-helped make some of the food for tomorrow's Boisvert Christmas dinner.

-had peppermint icecream for the first time since last Christmas.

-geared up for a crazy day tomorrow with my nephews and nieces.

Ah... it's good to be home. :)

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

yikes...

Wow - it's been over a month since I last updated. I wonder if anyone's even reading this silly little blog anymore! It's crazy how addicted to it I became when I was in SA... I guess I figured life was more exciting then, and people would want to know about it. I've learned now, that life's excitement isn't found in one specific place, but in following Christ to wherever He calls me - even to a little old house in Durham, NC! This house it exciting... that's for sure. Let me think... what's new? Umm.... Gosh, this is harder that I thought it would be. heheh

Well, for starters, I have a new roommate and she is absolutely wonderful!! She's been such a God-send. We have a lot in common. She's a teacher (high-school Spanish), is into missions, sings, and she's even a fellow Tarheel! :) She goes to a different church here in Durham, which works out great... we see each other enough to have a great friendship, but not enough to get sick of each other. I'm very thankful for her!! It takes a special person to live in this lovely house with me. :)

As for the house, there's not too much to update on... seeing that I've had absolutely no extra money anywhere to spend on repairs. I have discovered a couple leaks in the roof (yikes!), and the kitchen has flooded a couple more times. Thank the Lord my parents helped me buy a shop-vac a few months ago! That things sucks up water like nobody's business. heheh I'll be honest... I've had a few days when I really have had to cry out to God to show me why I'm here in this house! I don't always get an answer right away, and I'm sure I don't know everything yet, but He always sends me the awesome peace that passes all of my own understanding. I am growing to love this house more with every passing problem. :) (sounds a little like marriage... haha) I had a thought a little while ago... I was reading an old journal entry where I was praying for God to grant me wisdom. Well, wisdom doesn't just come from the sky. I really think God is using this house to teach me wisdom in many areas... financially (home-ownership costs a lot more than I had planned on!), physically (I'm learning to fix a lot of things!), and spiritually (one word - TRUST!). I mean really, how many 25 year old single females have learned the things I've been learning over the last 6 months? It's exciting to be in a place where God has SO MANY ways to teach me!

Other random updates...
*A few weeks ago I went swing dancing for the 1st time ever and I really liked it! I wasn't half bad either. I'll have to go back sometime soon. :)
*This past weekend was Christmas Spectacular - the Christmas show that the Summit worship choir puts on every year. WOW!! That's all I can say about that.
*I'm still loving my job... only 11 school days until Christmas break... but who's counting? ;)
*Tomorrow marks a year for me in the full-time teaching profession. And I'm still living to tell about it. heheh :)

I guess that's all for now folks! Thanks for checking in on me. :)

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

Things that make me smile...

In light of a friend’s recent blog, I decided to make a list of my own! Enjoy!

Things that make me smile (in no particular order!)

1. Jesus Christ
2. my adorable nephews and nieces
3. being the youngest of 3 and the only girl ;)
4. big hugs from my kids at school
5. coloring
6. comfy pajama pants
7. my South African kitties
8. having great parents
9. the Summit worship choir
10. turning the radio on just in time to hear the beginning of my favorite song
11. ferris wheels
12. game nights with friends at my house
13. SMSes (text messages) from friends thousands of miles away
14. my pink and brown down blanket
15. waking up early enough to be able to spend time just hanging out with God in the morning
16. good coffee
17. good hair days
18. days when I don’t have time to put on make up and I still somehow look decent
19. taking pictures
20. looking at old pictures!
21. late nights when anything (anything!) is funny
22. listening to South African bands and knowing my friends here haven’t seen or heard of them (especially when I actually met them in SA!)
23. fixing the duct work under my house (with PINK duct tape)
24. being part of a church who knows what missions is – and DOES it
25. my big comfy denim couch
26. girly movies
27. Half Baked Ben and Jerry’s ice cream
28. watching fireworks
29. holding babies at Oxford Manor
30. Glade plug-ins
31. Yankee candles
32. camping with family and looking like gypsies!
33. paying all the bills and still having some money left over (what’s that feel like again??)
34. surprise phone calls from family and friends
35. girl talks :)
36. gel pens
37. fun stationary
38. turtles
39. singing in my car at the top of my lungs
40. sleeping in on a Saturday
41. reading old journals and seeing where God has brought me from
42. scrap booking (when I actually do it!)
43. saying something to my kids in Spanish, and them understanding
44. long talks with my Mom
45. laundry fresh out of the drier
46. meerkats (man I miss those guys!)
47. being done with the circuit at the gym
48. lightning storms
49. realizing that my kids are actually grasping something I’ve been trying to teach for a month
50. blogs
51. watching tadpoles turn into frogs
52. watching caterpillars turn into butterflies
53. stuffed animals
54. going to bed knowing that I actually did all I wanted to do that day
55. playing with play-doh
56. baking homemade chocolate chip cookies
57. laughing so hard my stomach hurts
58. finding the perfect gift for a friend
59. friends who help me fix up this old house
60. knowing that I am a PRINCESS! A true daughter of the King! :)

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

My house is finally warm!!

Yes, my house is now officially warm. I know the heat's been working for over a week now, but I finally had a housewarming party tonight! We had a pancake supper, where people could make whatever kind of pancake they wanted to. It was tons of fun. For about the first hour there were only 4 of us here and I was about to be bummed, but then all of a sudden everyone started flowing in! About 20 people in all were here tonight, and I'm pretty sure that's a record #! I cannot even begin to express how awesome it is to know that God has placed so many amazing people into my life here in Durham. These friends are my family away from family! Each one of them contributes to my life in an individual and unique way. God works it out all so perfectly, doesn't He? Some friends can fix things, others can clean, others can cook, others give encouragement when I want to burn this old house to the ground! This house is my home. And I love it, and everything in it, more all the time. Here is the link to some pictures from this wonderful evening... Enjoy!

Housewarming Photos

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

Bonnie - the home repairs gal!

Well, something finally happened today that I MUST write and tell you all about!  Back in July I posted about my Dad fixing the duct work under the house.  I was really excited because a couple of times I got to help him and I got to go under the house and get grimy with him!  heheh Well, today when I came home, my roommate informed me that no air/heat was coming into her room.  So, I started investigating.  I looked into the first and easiest solution, but alas, that looked fine.  Then I did the first thing any girl in my position would (or should) do.  I called my Dad!!  But… Dad is in New Jersey…  He talked me through what the problems could be, and then I went to work.  I changed into my old clothes, grabbed the flashlight (thanks, Dad!) and headed under the house.  And wouldn’t you know it, the line of duct into her room was completely separated.  Heating the crawlspace = not good!  Once again, I called my Dad to get advice.  He talked me through what I needed to do.  I grabbed my duct tape (which happens to be bright pink!), scissors, and another flashlight.  Away I went into the darkness otherwise known as the crawlspace.  I’d never been that far back before… that was Dad’s domain last time.  I propped up one of the flashlights kind of as a spot light, and used the other one to see more clearly.  Though I’m sure I was much slower than Dad ever would have been, I got the job done!  I was able to reattach the pieces (3 in all) and now there is air flowing in my roomie’s room!!  I so wish I’d had a camera down there.  Imagine me lying flat on my back in a shallow crawl space, taping duct to metal to duct.  I love it… if you look into the crawl space, you’ll see one bright pink patch job!!  And that’s my handiwork.  I feel so accomplished. Funny thing is, I really enjoyed doing the work!  I guess I like knowing that I am capable (with the help of a great Dad and an awesome God!) to fix things.  Hooray for moments of learning!

To change the subject and tone of this a little… I’m a little sad tonight about my work situation.  Some of you  know that I have had a difficult child this year in my class.  It’s been a challenge, and it’s been getting harder.  Today was a crazy day for this child, resulting in the rest of class having to leave the room for almost 2 hours until someone came and picked him up.  Some higher-ups made the decision to remove him from my class for the time being and place him into a special education class.  I’m sad in some ways, and also slightly relieved in some ways.  I fought to have this little boy in my class.  He was doing so well.  But in the past couple of weeks, things have continually escalated.  We have to focus on him so much that I fear the other children are losing out.  I have been praying daily for wisdom to know what to do with him.  I guess today God took the problem out of my hands and let someone else make the decision, and I must say that I thank Him very much for that!  It was too hard of a decision to make myself.  Maybe now I won’t be as stressed at work as I have been lately.  I can finally relax a little and return to the fun Ms. Boisvert that I so want and love to be!!  Please pray for the family of this child.  I won’t go into details because they’re not necessary, but trust me when I say that the family needs as much prayer as possible.  Maybe he will receive the help he needs and be able to return to my class in a couple of months… we’ll just have to wait and see!

Ok, I have to finish on a happy note. :)  I went to the NC State Fair Saturday night and I got to ride TWO ferris wheels!  The friend who was with me was quite the trooper.  If you’re reading this… I owe you big time! :)  Those of you who don’t know, I love ferris wheels.  I don’t really know why… I just do!  Hooray for ferris wheels!

Phew… my fingers are tired now.  Time to get ready for bed!  Thanks for checking in on me!

I'm still here!

No, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth. I've just been very busy and tired! Even now I am trying my hardest to keep my eyes open, and it's not even 10pm yet. I'm getting old way too fast. I think that's what happens when your job is to teach, look after, and entertain 17 4/5 year olds for 6 hours a day. I'll be quick for now, but I hope to update more soon. I am still LOVING my job. As tiring as it may be, it is quite rewarding to be in a place where you really know you're making a difference in the lives of some great kids. I'm starting to settle in to this new role of teaching in a "real school" and having a lot more work than last year! Head Start is full of paperwork!! But it's all part of the job I guess. :)

The house is coming along slowly... I got the gas hooked up last week! But the oven doesn't work. :( Thank goodness for a home warranty. I'll get the oven fixed no matter what the problem for only $55. Hopefully I can really cook soon. I can't remember the last time I posted... I got the house hooked up to city sewer finally too. No more old rickety septic tank! I guess the only big project left (for now) is fixing some roofing issues and the floor in the living room that could cave in at any given moment in time. The main problem being having no money anywhere in sight to pay for it. I am starting to understand how people get so easily entrenched in debt, and I'm NOT liking it! I pray for financial wisdom daily!

Well, I must be getting to bed. Ms. Boisvert needs her beauty rest for sure! I'll leave you with a fun little quiz I just took...

You Are Fall!

Thoughtful Expressive Creative Poetic Smart

What Season Are You?

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

Finally a Princess...

I'm finally getting my crown! Sadly, it's going to be on my tooth and not my head. :( Yep... I have to get a crown on one of my teeth. Not a very thrilling visit to the dentist today! I don't think I really like this whole growing up and paying all your bills yourself thing. Lord, teach me to budget wisely!! :)

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

I stopped counting...

Someone asked me a couple days how long I'd been back in the States. And you know what? I had to stop and add up the months. A couple months ago I knew at any given moment exactly how long I'd been here. And it hit me... I've stopped counting! I fit here again, and I love being right here, right now. How great is that?! It's almost like I had to get through the roughest part of reverse culture shock and then it has been smooth sailing since then. I mean, it wasn't long ago at all that I was very VERY "homesick" for South Africa. Now I am loving the life that God has me living here is good-ole Durham. He has given me a handful of great friends, a wonderful job where I see a real ministry opportunity, a newly reignited passion for learning Spanish, and of course... my all-consuming house! heheh :) Life is good... and God is GREAT!



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

oops....

I put a hole in my wall tonight... and this time not on purpose... oops! I mean really... I barely touched it and now there's a hole. This house never ceases to bewilder me. New adventures everyday! I guess now I'll be one step closer to finding out what's behind this strange blue wall (in the spare room / office). Everything about this house is strange! Today I had a plumbing fiasco. I was about to leave for work, and I hear "*flush* Bonnie, we have a problem!!!" The toilet had overflowed and was leaking through the floor again and into the basement (which is also the dining room). Argh... so I called various people and finally got ahold of Neil Baker (aka my Summit dad - heheh) and he recommended a plumber. I called him and he was out within 30 mintues. He was able to do a temporary fix, but there's a much bigger problem, and pretty much all the piping will need to be replaced. Good thing I have a "big-job" plumber coming next week, so it won't be too much to tack on this extra job. Oye... days like this I wonder what the heck I am doing! It's exciting, that's for sure. I'm learning a lot, and that's definitely cool. I'm sure that 20 years from now I'll look back and know exactly why God's teaching me these things... right now, I'm not so sure. heheh But I'm glad He knows. ;) And on that note... I'm going to bed. I have to rest up for Oxford Manor Kids Club tomorrow afternoon and then the Latino Worship Center tomorrow night!!

Buenos Noches!

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

news from Ms. Boisvert

Wow… so I have a lot to update you on!  A lot has been going on in the past few weeks.  The biggest thing is that I started my new job!  I still don’t have kids… they won’t start until next Wednesday, but I have quickly learned that there is A LOT more to this job than just teaching the kids! For those of you who may not know, I just started working with an organization called “Chapel Hill Training Outreach Project.”  Under that umbrella is the Head Start program, for which I am a teacher.  The coolest thing about this job, is that I really do work with a lot of people.  I’m not just a teacher stuck in a classroom with no help!  Besides having two other teachers in the classroom (who are great!) with me, there are family service coordinators (in English and Spanish), mental health services, special ed services, health and nutrition services… I’m not alone trying to help these kids!  Head Start works with the whole family and it is one of our goals to empower families to get the help they need to succeed.  I LOVE it!!  I’m also extremely blessed to have a Teacher’s Assistant who is not only good enough to be a lead herself, but is a really strong Christian!  It’s so nice to be able to be open with our beliefs and talk about faith issues whenever we want to.  We haven’t met our bilingual aid yet, but we both say that if she’s not a Christian already, she will be by the end of the year! haha :)  I also found out that the bilingual family service coordinator is a Christian, and he works in a Spanish church about an hour from here.  I am going to go visit the church on Saturday!  That’ll be an exciting first for me… I’ve been the only white kid in Zulu churches before, but never in a Spanish speaking church!  I can’t wait!! :)  At least I know how to say, “I am only learning Spanish!” haha

Not much is new with the house lately.  There’s a funny smell in the house that I just can’t figure out.  My friends say it’s fine… so maybe I just have an overactive nose or something.  I just don’t want to have a smelly house!  Hopefully the plumber will be out on Tuesday of next week, then I can get the gas hooked up… and hopefully soon I’ll also have an estimate on home repairs.  So many hopefuls!  This house is teaching me patience!  

Well, I must be getting to bed.  Ms. Boisvert needs her beauty sleep!  (That’s right… I’m Ms. Boisvert now, not Miss Bonnie! hehe)

G’night!  And thanks for checking in on me :)

thoughts from others... :)

One day I pray to be wise like these women!!

No matter how efficient, smart, or independent we happen to think ourselves to be, sooner or later we run into a "brick wall" that our intelligence or experience cannot handle for us. We can fake it, avoid it, or blunder through it. But a better solution would be to find someone who has walked that way before and has gained wisdom from experience. - Gloria Gaither

All of us need to be surrounded by people who are invited to hold us accountable and who question the questionable. - Beth Moore

Our vision is so limited we can hardly imagine a love that does not show itself in protection from suffering. The love of God did not protect His own Son. He will not necessarily protect us - not from anything it takes to make us like His Son. A lot of hammering and chiseling and purifying by fire will have to go into the process. - Elisabeth Elliot

(and lastly, the only one who trumps Elisabeth Elliot in my world...)

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. -God (in Proverbs 27:17)
(right, Mel? ;))


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

Yay! Today Jon went with me to Lowe's and helped me buy a lawn mower! (Ladies, it's always good to go with a guy so some salesman doesn't take advantage of you!) My lawn was in serious need of mowing. Jon had already come over once to use his weed-eater to at least tame the grass so that it wouldn't kill a lawn-mower. If I didn't do something soon, it would've needed that again, and as great as Jon is, I knew he wasn't doin' that!! So yeah... I have a lawn mower. I'm such a home owner! It was hard work mowing the whole yard (it's little, but it's a BIG hill!!!) but the work was rewarding. It looks like someone lives here now. Imagine that! :)



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

Detroit!

So... a few weeks ago I realized that I only had one day off between my summer job and my new job with Head Start. So what do I do? The only logical thing there is to do... I went to Detroit, Michigan!! I know it seems random, but that's where Melissa, my roommate and friend from South Africa lives now. I had to get out of NC and away from the house. I love the house! But I needed a break from it. So I emailed Melissa and within about 12 hours, the decision was made that I'd fly to Detroit in a week. I literally bought the tickets the Saturday before I left the following Friday. Though the trip kinda hurt my bank account, it was worth it. I had an awesome time hanging out with Melissa and catching up. It was fun to see the way she's decorated her apartment. Strangely, we've done a lot of the same things... and we don't even live together!! Scary... :) I can't say we did anything monumentous... other than going to IKEA on Monday before I flew back home. That was awesome! Oh, how I wish there was an IKEA store closer than 3 hours away from us here in NC! I got lots of decorating ideas though that I hope to implement here in the house. Well, I'd better get to bed... thanks for checking in on me! :)
Bonnie B.


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

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