You've stolen my heart, yes you have

Sometimes you just need to worship in your own language.
When you are trying to learn a language mostly by immersion it's easy to think of everything (even church service) as a language study course. At least that's how it is for me. During worship I find myself mentally translating the song instead of just singing it to God. I'll be thinking "does that mean worthy or glory? wait, what is this song talking about?"
I try not to but I eventually slip back into it and then my spirit starts getting very, very thirsty. Have you ever had a thirsty spirit? It's kind of like the feeling you get when you have been working outside in the heat and you go inside for a drink only to find the water has been turned off and you have nothing to drink in the fridge. So I have been listening to english worship music online. It's been working ok, but I was still missing that live worship experience. It was an important little thing that I told God about. I didn't even really pray about it. All I said is "God I want some english worship." Then I moved on and mostly forgot about it. I didn't even mention it to Jose.  

Last week Jose was was on Facebook and said "Hey, Leeland is in Lima. You want to go see them?" I said sure. Now don't stone me but I'm not that into Leeland in general. Jose loves them and I like some of their songs but I probably wouldn't have even noticed they were here. I thought I was going for Jose.

They were singing at a church nearby as part of the evening service. When we got there a Man from Mississippi was preaching in English. I thought it was cool to get to just listen and not have to interpret or wait for Jose to explain why everyone was laughing (even when I get most of the message the jokes are hard to understand) After that the church worship team sang and it was nice. Then Leeland went up and sang "Yes you have". I just started worshipping. One of maybe 20 people singing in a room of at least 1000. At first I noticed but then I didn't and I just started crying. I felt Gods' presence right at the place where they say "this is all for you" In that moment the King of the world brought everything together so I could worship Him in english with other believers. He did it because I mentioned it to him in passing. Like a long drink of cold water. My God loves me so much!

He's stolen my heart. Yes he has!

And now the winner of the giveaway is.....


PAMELA WHITEHEAD
Congratulations! Email me (jkmission2peru@gmail.com) your mailing address and I'll get it to you asap

I love birthdays and a giveaway!

I love birthdays. Like really, really, love them. There have been times I tried to pretend like I didn't really care because I thought that was the grown up thing to do. But now that I'm a grown up I realize it doesn't really matter what other people think. I think birthdays are awesome! 

So this is my last birthday in my 20's I am turning 29 on Thursday. 

I like getting older...there I said it. ha Every year older I get I get a deeper knowledge of God and my life seems to get richer. So next year if I freak out about turning 30 just gently point me back to this post. ;) 

This year has been beautiful. Old friendships have been rekindled. New trails have been blazed in my world. I have become more confident and sure of what I want. What I want is closer to what God wants for me than it ever has been and it is beautiful.

My life is not charmed and I don't have a lot of money or even more than I need. 

I live far away from a lot of people I love and sometimes I get lonely for them.

I'm still not good enough at speaking spanish to have a decent conversation. 

But life is good. 

I have these three guys wherever I go to make me smile.

And God knows all the desires of my heart and has been 

granting even some of the silliest ones to me. 

Because that is how God is. He loves to bless those who delight in Him. 

29 is going to be a good year. I can feel it!

I also love gifts! 

So this year for my birthday (and because this is my 100th blog post) I'm giving away a present. 

 I love butterflies and think these are just gorgeous! They are native to Peru and the picture doesn't do it justice. Depending on how you look at it you see purple, dark blue or this teal color.

So lovely

fyi that is victor's thumb...mine is much girly-er. ha  

(girlyer is a word, even though spell check doesn't believe me)

My camera finally decided to bite the dust so Victor is the designated photographer now. 

He's good at it isn't he?

This is actually a window sticker. It's backwards because you put it inside your window and it looks right from the outside. I just thought it was funny because that is a llama jumping over the u so it's like the puma logo only with a llama. haha 

It's ok if you don't think it's funny. I still laughed. 

I might even add a box of my favorite tea in if I don't forget.

All you have to do to be entered in the giveaway is leave a comment. 

(If you comment anonymously please put your name so I know who you are)  

If you want an extra entry you can tell me your favorite birthday or year or something that makes you happy.

Honestly this couldn't be easier :) I will announce the winner in my next blog

Lucky number Seven...or something

There is no more lovely, friendly and charming relationship, communion or company than a good marriage.  ~Martin Luther

Wednesday Jose and I will celebrate our seventh anniversary 

Come, let's be a comfortable couple and take care of each other!  How glad we shall be, that we have somebody we are fond of always, to talk to and sit with.  ~Charles Dickens 

Sometimes I find it hard to believe we've been married that long and sometimes I feel like we've been together all my life.

Love does not consist of gazing at each other, but in looking together in the same direction.  ~Antoine de Saint-Exupery

He knows me better than anyone else. He always gives the best advice and makes me laugh a lot. He is my best friend and my all time favorite person. 
Sometimes he drives me crazy. Sometimes he just drives crazy. :) 
But he's always the person I want driving. 

He's the best dad I've ever known. He's always really busy with ministry stuff but he still takes time to hang out with our kids and play with them. 

Wrestling with daddy. 2 against 1

He has a true Fathers heart and is passionate about raising sons. 

Natural and Spiritual

Jose with some of the men he mentored in Katy.
One of his proudest moments was seeing these men get commissioned

Have I mentioned that he's my favorite person?

That's right ladies he washes dishes. I told you he is awesome! 

He's also incredibly romantic

Grow old with me!  The best is yet to be.  ~Robert Browning

Honestly, I'm really, really blessed to married to this crazy, hilarious, awesome man of God. And I wouldn't trade him for anyone. He's not perfect and I'm not perfect but we are perfect for each other. I thank God for giving me such a fun husband!

A happy marriage is a long conversation that always seems too short.  ~Andre Maurois

I love you Jose. Thank you for being my husband.

Happy 7th anniversary!

Heres to 77 more (because we are definitely living to be at least 113) ;)

Next week will be my 29th birthday and my 100th blogpost so I am celebrating by giving stuff away.

Stay tuned....

Happy November!

November is one of my favorite months. I love the Holiday season and the preparation for Thanksgiving and Christmas. This year we will be celebrating in Peru. I will be making Thanksgiving dinner for my first time ever! I haven't gone looking to see what they have available for a traditional style thanksgiving dinner. (I'm not even sure if they they have Turkey!) I'm looking forward to the challenge though
I have to say I thank God for the foodtv website and allrecipes.com without them I would be making everything up as I go along because I did not bring any cookbooks.

As I have mentioned before it is Spring here. Which feels really strange. I want to decorate the house with fall colors but everywhere I go there are pinks and purples and signs that say "welcome spring!" It feels a little weird. I have to admit though It was cold when we got here in August and I am ready for it to get warm (the weather here plays at getting warmer, then there is yet another cold snap and I spend my days in the house wrapped in a blanket) My children are getting stir crazy too they need to spend days in the park releasing their wiggles. So as much as I want to decorate the house like it's fall I am really happy that Spring is here.

I have begun a daily habit of drinking tea here. I have always liked tea. I mean I drink it when I go to starbucks and whenever I'm wanting a warm caffeinated beverage (I'm not much for coffee, though I have tried to be) I'm usually a cold drink girl though. Sweet tea (I'm southern alright?), coke and water almost frozen are generally how I roll. My favorite kind of hot tea here is Hierba Louisa. MMmmMM.

So anyway, I've been thinking of doing a giveaway on here. Peru is home to some of the best chocolate, and coffee (I hear). Plus they have some pretty cool little handmade things, and we can't forget the tea. So anyway. I'm still looking into the logistics of sending a package to the states and what I can/can't send etc...But if you want me to do a giveaway, comment on this post (with your name if you post anonymously) If I get enough responses I will do one