Autumn Comes Unnoticed

Hello my people! Can I just say thanks for reading my blog. Sometimes when I’m writing, I’m thinking “Do people really want to read this?” Thankfully I always get emails from my Mom, Laurie, Emma, Pop-Pop, Uncle Bob, Aunt Jo and my Dad saying that they read my blog and are praying for me. Thank you Lord for a family that loves me and faithfully prays for me :D. Also I have numerous friends who I manage to talk to each week (or everyday –  Sheri…) and they assure me that they like to read my blog and see my pics…stay tuned for new kitty pictures :D

I will take over your blog with
 my cuteness...In my sleep!

OK I know it’s been two weeks since I’ve written. We were busy with various crafts last Sunday so I did not have time to sit down and write it. I have found myself with some free time whilst the others are watching TV so I made myself sit down and get my thoughts on…paper.

Ok what is new? Well we’ve had a few women’s bible studies and I am loving them. The book we’re doing is great and it really makes you take an honest look at your life. Always a good thing. I appreciate that most of the women are a bit older than me and have lots of great insights.

Original Christine, Emma, Morgan
 and Quentin Creations!

I’ve been helping with the children’s program in our church and things seem to be going well. They’re going to do a play for Christmas. Actually a musical I think. I’ll be helping with that. Making the costumes in fact. There are some middle school girls who still come down for children’s church and they take what we’re learning seriously and seem to enjoy it.  Celebramos el aniversario de nuestra iglesia este Domingo. We celebrated our church’s one year anniversary this Sunday. Arroz con pollo and cupcakes! YUM. 

The kids and I made about 70 cupcakes and decorated them. It’s so humid here that the icing kind of slid all over the place…We discussed more about the purpose of the church and things that we could personally change about the church. It was a really good time.

Feel my wrath!!

I’ve been learning a lot about myself while I’m down here. I think this happens to most people when they’re in new situations. Or maybe I’ve just been more introspective with less people to talk to and bounce my ideas off of. In the past, I have always surrounded myself with lots of noise and lots of people so in some ways, I don’t know who I am. I’m learning about my limits, my abilities, how to deal with struggles, how to be more joyful. The hardest lesson I’m learning is humility. Now if I went into detail here, I’d be undoing all my lessons learned. One thought though. Do you know how hard it is to go from having your own car for 6 years to depending on other people for rides?  Enough said I’m sure.  Trust me that I still have a lot to learn when it comes to being humble.

Oh no...I fell asleep mid-jump again!

I promise to be good...
(He's crossing his toes!)

I got to Skype with David, Ashley, Sheri, Dad and Laurie this last weekend. (And Ashley again today!) I loved it! Just seeing their faces was fantastic. Right now I am eagerly anticipating the arrival of David (my oldest brother). I wish my whole family could come down, but I haven’t seen him since January and that is too long. Just a few days now! We will take lots of pictures and I’m sure the next blog post will be all about our adventures. We Rankin siblings are the adventurous types – especially when we’re together :D.

OH – I never did mention what the crafts were that we did on Sunday. We made paper mache pumpkins. Not to celebrate Halloween – just to get the house looking more like fall. I admit that I forget it is November with frequency. No leaves changing, no cold temperatures, no snow. I have plans for a Thanksgiving craft too. We’ll call it the kid’s art component…A.K.A…. making cornucopias.

  We also dyed some string and made friendship bracelets AND I tried out this really cool way of painting your nails. You float several colors of nail polish on the surface of water, swirl it into cool patterns and then dip your nails in it. Check out the picture. Worked way better than I thought it would!

Two last things. I was introduced to www.Pinterest.com this week. I’m a little addicted. If you’ve never checked out the site, it’s basically people posting pictures of everything from home décor ideas, to ideas for a classroom, to favorite movies and books, to easy DIY projects. Anything you can think of –you’ll find awesome ideas for on this website! Finally, this week some time I should be able to go with a visiting team from Canada to give out these low smoke stoves. They take less wood (cheaper), burn hotter (better cooking), are cool to the touch on the outside (safe for kids!), relatively light (in case you want to cook outside), and almost smokeless (much better for your health!). It’s one of the ministries of a couple that attend my church. Typically the families would have to pay what they can for the stove, but this team that came down raised money especially so they could buy and give away stoves. There is an educational session that the families who are receiving a stove will attend. Should be a great experience! Pictures and more details in my next post if I do indeed get to join them this week!

Just waiting until you're not looking then
 I'll jump on the table and steal your food!

 I love you all and thank you so much for reading my blog. Miss you all a lot too! <3

“And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me”

- 2 Corinthians 12:9