It's Fall!!! I think.

  Oh my goodness! I can't believe I haven't been on here for over a month. Time must be flying but it doesn't feel like it out in the desert. Lol, I hear about snow and colder weather but down here it is still shorts, flip flops and frappuccinos. It's weird to come to Starbucks and see the fall drinks out but then read the temperature and it's still high 80's and 90's outside. The nice thing is Starbucks tries to freeze you out, so I am typing this wearing a long sleeve sweater and drinking a hot soy chai with caramel....and then I'll go outside and it will be back to the heat.
     Life here is chugging along. Test taking and paper writing. Meetings for work and trying to manage finances. School is getting crazy busy and the reality that I am a maters student in an accelerated program hit hard these past two weeks. At one point I had a midterm with two essays, a take home midterm with two more essays, do an assessment on a child, write a paper about the assement, a journal about my internship, write a research paper...oh and work 2 jobs and go to class....lol all in one week...needless to say I was a wee bit overwhelmed. But the nice thing is it was the same for the rest of my cohort, and most of them had a ton of other stresses I didn't have (husbands, kids, death in the family etc) We were all a bit of a wreck...oh and during this fantastic week both of our professors went out of town and left us to our own devices. After some complaining and whinning to each other, we all decided it was a bit too much and somehow I was delegated to write an email asking for an extension on the research paper. That is always nerve racking to me,because I am the person that if you give me a deadline, it will be done. I signed up for the program, I knew what I was getting into and I should be able to get it done without any favors...however after a long phone conversation with my mom she told me to write the email.  I did it and.....we got the extension. So cool, but also probably the only one we will ever get in this program. We used a life line pretty early in the game. But oh well, we are all in one piece and sane.
  Other news, I am now working with a child that we think has sensory intergration issues and dyspraxia. Fascinating kiddo and I am learning so much. I can't really give much more information for confidentiality purposes, but look it up on the internet, so cool how the brain and body can be different. My other little guy is making some good strides. Learning lots of words and now we are working on using them in play. It's interesting, to say the least.
    I also had a phone chat with one of my dearest mentors....and man God has blessed me so much with this woman. I love getting to talk to her and she seems to just key into my feelings and emotions and I don't have to give any explanation. She read this verse to me this week and my outlook has totally been changed. Not only that but God has also provided some other bits of wisdom and inspiration this past week, take a look!!!


"Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her. There I will giver her back her vineyards and will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. There she will sing as in the days of her youth, as in the day she came out of Egypt."  Hosea 2:14-15 (Emphasis added)

O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need for further grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire. O God, I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty still. Show me Thy glory, I pray Thee, so that I may know Thee indeed. Begin in mercy a new work of love within me. Say to my soul, " Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away."Then give me grace to rise and follow thee up from this misty lowland where I have wandered so long.

Jesus I need to give myself up. I am not strong enough to love You and walk with You on my own. I can't do it, and I need You. I need You deeply and desperately. I believe You are worth it, that You are better than anything else I could have in this life or the next. I want You. And when I don't, I want to want You. Be all in me. Take all of me. Have Your way with me.

 (Both from the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan)

And this song!!! I just heard it today at a church that I visited. I had previously gone to this church and had major issues with the church, but I thought I would give it another try. I prayed that God would just speak to me through the service and I heard this song and.... well you see...

The Desert Song  by Hillsong

Verse 1:
This is my prayer in the desert
When all that's within me feels dry
This is my prayer in the hunger in me
My God is a God who provides

Verse 2:
And this is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved
Of more worth than goldSo refine me Lord through the flames

Chorus:
And I will bring praise
I will bring praise
No weapon forged against me shall remain

I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory and He is here

Verse 3:
And this is my prayer in the battleAnd triumph is still on it's way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I'll stand

Bridge:
All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship

Verse 4:
This is my prayer in the harvest
When favor and providence flow
I know I'm filled to be empited again
The seed I've recieved I will sow
I know, I know, I know!!!!!! God is AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!