50 things to be thankful for

I woke up this morning with a terrible headache and allergies. If you can call how I spent my hours last night sleep, I only got 5 hours of it. But today is the day to be thankful, and so, no matter how terrible I may feel right now, I know I am very very blessed beyond what I deserve. And, in order to put things into perspective, my sister and I made a list of our top 50 things to be thankful for:

1. A magnificently loving Savior who loves us regardless of all our flaws
2. A mom who loves us and takes care of us when we are sick no matter what our age
3. A father who would give his life for us in the blink of an eye
4. Family and all the many ways they are always there for us
5. Friends who fill our lives with joy
6. Laughing til it hurts
7. Peanut butter sandwiches
8. Chicken noodle soup
9. Coffee and Starbucks









10. Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
11. Puppies to snuggle with
12. Stuffed animals to cuddle with
13. Disney movies
14. Rainbows to remind us of God's goodness
15. Majestic mountains
16. Texas sunsets
17. Reading when its rainy
18. Homemade hot cocoa
19. Cuban grandfathers :)
20. Melodious music
21. Grandma's homestyle cooking
22. Braum's peanut butter ice cream with hard chocolate coating (Rachael) Braum's cappuccino chunky chocolate frozen yogurt with hard chocolate coating (Natalie)
23. The Grand Canyon
24. Uncle Ronnie's bluebonnet paintings







25. Honeycrisp Apples
26. Culture
27. Concerts
28. Sisters







29. Memories of torrential rain in Mexico
30. Cooking with family and/or friends
31. Christmas cookies
32. Christmas carols
33. Hot apple cider
34. Snickerdoodles and chocolate chip cookies
35. Mexico mission trips







36. Apples to Apples with family and friends
37. Uncle Larry's lasagna
38. Giada's cookbooks
39. Homemade bread
40. Hot donuts on an early Sunday morning
41. Stars at night in Arizona
42. Birthday parties







43. Whitney's Mom's cheescakes
44. Pumpkin pie
45. Jiff peanut butter on a spoon
46. Roommates who make the world go round :)
47. Fortress of Doubletude nights with Whitney (Rachael) Photo shoots with Mandie (Natalie)







48. On the Border Dates
49. Sparky's hugs and back rubs that make everything better
50. Smitten Kitchen cooking blog

And so much more . . .

Have a blessed and HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!

Love always,
the Hedge girls

In His hands

Hello all,

I figured it was about time I post an update about my life. School is school is school, not bad and more than halfway through the semester. One thing is for sure: life is flying by!! This past month has had its many ups and downs. My sister has yet again been sick, but this time for weeks (poor thing). On top of it all I was not doing so hot myself, considering the onset of October brought on a nasty cold which took me over four weeks to recover from completely. Still, God is good and life could be much worse so no complaints.

I am finally beginning to feel a sense of direction for life after graduation. I have suddenly but very thoughtfully decided to change my career focus back to occupational therapy. This was my profession of choice when I began college in 2008, but I had an entire year of feeling unsure about that major and exploring other options for grad school. I like the idea of a fairly flexible but secure job where I can help people as well as not have to spend so much time working to bring in a decent income. This would give me more free time to volunteer and one day be there for my family (in the future of course) with a good income (which I can use to reach out to and support others more). I feel much more peaceful and in the Lord's will with my decision to again pursue OT.

Along with this decision came the realization that I would not be able to apply for grad school until next October. This will give me a year off from school!! What a perfect opportunity to spend a year working and serving others and traveling. I have already begun speaking with Mandie, and we are now planning on a trip to serve somewhere out of the country after she graduates in December before I go to grad school. We have not yet come up with any sort of plans for our departure (dates, location, costs, etc.), but are praying and asking the Lord to open the doors and lead us to where He intends for us to go. I ask that you please pray for God to guide and direct our hearts and make the path which we are to take evident to us both.

As far as what I will do until Mandie graduates from her program and our trip is planned, I still do not know for sure. Many days it is hard to be patient for the Lord's guidance, but I trust He will show me where I am to go. He has never failed me before. I have popcorned various ideas: going to live with my grandparents for a few months, moving back home to work and help my mom with the clinic, or staying in Denton and continuing my work with CIS and maybe volunteering more with the International Student Fellowship. But in the end, it is up to Him.

Final thoughts for this post: I am currently going through Step studies, and I am becoming an avid believer that everyone should go through Steps if they have the opportunity. It is not easy, as the study addresses many difficult and taboo topics in the Christian community. It forces you to really look at your heart and sins and failures directly through the eyes of Scripture. While I do not struggle with any obviously visible sins, this study has challenged me because it deals not only with external actions but also internal thoughts, beliefs, and feelings. In Samuel 16:7 it says "The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." This is why I think this study is for everyone, from the most obvious of sinners to the most outwardly righteous.

But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Isaiah 64:6

God bless!!

Life

It's been a month since my last blog, and, looking back, some of the memories and events from this month feel like they happened years ago while others seem like only yesterday. Life has been full of twists and turns, along with the adjustment to a new routine and life back in college. Oh college, how I abhor and love thee all at the same time. With each passing day, I become more and more frustrated with the secular worldview presented by some of my classes and oh so determined to seek Christ and what His word says in every aspect of my life. On the other hand, I am ever grateful for all I have learned about life in general and the thinking of the world (at least the US) through my time here at school.

The ideas of graduate school or working or interning or at least doing something productive with my life when I graduate are becoming more of a reality with each passing day as graduation quickly approaches. In all honesty, at the moment grad school is my favorite choice, though I must admit this varies with the day/week/month . . . you get the picture. In my mind, Christ is always first and He has never failed me before, so why would He start now? My current objective is to wait patiently and quietly for His guidance (unfortunately easier said than done) as I continue to pursue the tasks He has placed before me at the present moment. He will give me a peace about the path I should take next year in His perfect timing, as He has done consistently for me in the past.

So enough about me. Please pray for my students and co-workers at CIS. Pray Christ softens their hearts and gives me opportunities to share with them the good news He brought for all. Also, pray for my sister and our roomie Whitney who are both sick at the moment. Lift up my friends from Sullivan City that they may impact those around them in their community. Just take a moment to think and pray about the many hungry, thirsty, orphaned, widowed, diseased, and oppressed all around the world who need the hope only available through Christ our Lord.

Blessing to all!!

And so it begins . . . or will . . . very soon

With school and a new semester around the corner I am both excited and unsure about the future. I am working on completely surrendering my life, plans, heart, and soul to Christ, and so I have been spending time praying and seeking His will (though I definitely need to do some more of this). With graduation quickly approaching, it is sometimes difficult to trust He will have it all worked out. Please pray I do not begin to rely on my own plans but always keep my focus on Him alone.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
Jeremiah 29:11-13

I have a job for the upcoming semester!! I will be working with junior-high kids in an after-school program called Communities in Schools. What a privilege it will be to serve these students, though I am so naive as to think it will always be easy. I'm sure there will be students who try to push the limits, but I will learn to roll with the punches and enjoy the good moments. I have already begun praying for my students and will continue to pray for them as I meet and begin working with them. Pray for opportunities for me to show them what I believe through both my words and actions.

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek."
Romans 1:16

Buenas Noches

Home Sweet Denton

Drove back from Austin area this morning after floating on the Guadeloupe River with good friends yesterday. The river was both fun and relaxing. Thank goodness for the cold water to keep us cool in the 100+ Texas heat! Yesterday was my first time ever to swing on a rope swing into the water. Brady somehow convinced me to do it, and I must admit I have no regrets. I couldn’t help but go again.

So when they tell you about your trip down the river, they mention a little waterfall near the end and tell you that you have a 50/50 chance of falling out of your tube when you go down it. Well, I didn’t fall out, but Mandie and I did get caught in the current and had to be rescued by a nice man we didn’t know (the guys with us just watched us struggle, silly boys). After surviving the waterfall, I had no choice but to go once more, this time without getting caught in the current

Today was very busy. After I got home in the morning, I packed up and headed to Denton. Last time to move!! I am officially back at my apartment and no longer living between three homes. In Denton, I met with my beautiful friend Ericka at Starbucks to chat before heading off to a work meeting which involved paperwork , paperwork, and (what do you know) more paperwork. I then came home to a delicious dinner of chicken parmesan, thanks to two very sweet girls (Rachael and Whitney).

God has been so good to me this summer. He has taught me much in this short period of time. I am still a broken sinner, but He has given me some direction and focus as I take on this next semester. This will be the first time I work and go to school, should be interesting. I know I will have to learn how to prioritize my time better and be willing to say no to people.

Talking about saying no, I have realized a very big flaw in myself: people pleasing. I oh so many times put other people’s thoughts and opinions over God’s, and this is so terribly wrong of me. I am a self-diagnosed perfectionist who wants everyone in the world to like her. This is not possible and always unsatisfying considering I am never able to please everyone or to be a completely perfect person. Thank goodness Christ loves me so much that He came to die for me anyways. I am so unworthy of such a sacrifice.

Anyways, I could go on and on forever, but I won’t. God is good and gracious and his love endures!!

For 5 Minutes Life Was Simple

With our last day over and everyone heading out in the morning, I am both sad and pleased. It has been such a joy to have such flexible, easygoing trip participants. What a blessing!

Last night we held a block party for all the children and families of the colonia in which we had given out shoes earlier in the morning. After enjoying a few hours of playing with the almost 150 children and eating a delicious meal of hot dogs and hamburgers cooked by our most fabulous cook, Maurice, we all sat down to listen to the new and upcoming band, The Running Back, put on a short concert.

To really understand the experience, I must first paint a picture of the scene that lay before me. The sun had just sunk below the horizon and a most lovely breezed flowed through the valley. The band was facing toward the wind as, like a ginormous fan, it blew their mid-length hair from their face. The children and families sat all around both talking softly and listening intently to the refreshing sound of both guitar and voice intermingle, pleasantly permeating the air. To counter the dark night, the vans had been pulled behind the crowd and their lights turned on as makeshift stage lights for the cement parking lot "stage." At different points throughout the performance, children ran between the performers or danced joyfully behind them. As I sat on the steps of the church to the right of the band with the wind blowing the hair from my face, I marveled at the sight in front of me. For just a moment, the world was at peace. For just a moment, the worries of life dissipated. And for just 5 minutes, life was simple.

Tonight at our devotion, Craig, one of the band members brought up the following verse:

Jesus said to him, " 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment"
Matthew 22:37-38

Through these words, Christ condenses all of His commandments into one, simple command. It is us who complicate life with all our worry, distrust, and tendency to put other things in life, good or bad, before our love for Him.

McAllen - Day 1

Today has been both a success and a blessing. I just finished spending a wonderful evening with all of my fantastic trip participants. It has been so neat to see people ranging from age 13 to 84 come together for the sole purpose of reaching out to the children and families down here near the border.

Tonight after dinner, we went around the room and had each participant introduce themselves and tell about their past experience with missions. Many of them had never been on a trip before, both old and young. I cannot wait to see how Christ touches their hearts as they see the poverty and brokenness that exists right here in our own backyard. I pray their lives are forever changed by this experience.

It has been almost exactly two years since I have been to The Valley, and I am so thrilled that God has given me the opportunity to once again come to this beloved area. No matter how many times I have been here, I am always broken and blessed when I leave. It serves to remind me of how much I really have, and how much I really owe everything to my loving and redeeming Savior. To Christ be all the glory!!

Please continue to pray for the children we will encounter tomorrow. May we be Christ's hands and feet to them, and may they see Christ, not us, through our presence. Also pray for the mothers we will be reaching out to. Pray for softened hearts and open ears as we share the gift Christ offers for all who will believe on His name and give their lives over to Him. Muchas gracias y buenos noches.