WHERE DO I COME FROM?

I was just browsing through some old posts and some friends blogs and ran into one that some had answered regarding "Where do I come from?" As I saw an old black and white picture on my friend B's site it made me think of two pictures that I keep on top of my tv. I scanned them and there they are above. The top picture (I am the blond, sitting on the ground next to my mom) was taken just months before my mother's death. I was five years old. My little sister, Cindy was just six months old when my mom went to be with the Lord. The other picture was taken before that, I am not sure how old I am there, maybe around 3 or 4, but as you can tell, it looks like I am already excited about being outside and fishing! That is my older sister, Carolyn with me and Dad in the picture.

My mom was a tiny little woman, not even five foot tall, and never weighed over 100 lbs - well, maybe when she was pregnant. I can't imagine us with her today - I am definitely the largest of the three girls, and the tallest at almost 5'8", but even Carolyn at 5'2" would tower over her! I don't remember much about her, but all that I have heard about her from those who knew her has made me glad. I do know that she loved the Lord and desired to raise up her children in His ways. I know she was a faithful, loving friend, and that she had many friends. I know she loved my dad and I know she loved me. Another of those perks of eternity will be that I will get to really know her and to be able to make up the time we have missed, though not as mother/daughter, but as co-heirs and sisters in Christ. Another thing I know is that she LOVED to eat black-eyed peas and rice and all three of her girls have inherited that! She had brown hair, but blue eyes - and she is who I get my blue eyes from. Although I do not look anything like her, some older relatives tell me every once in a while that I will have a facial expression that reminds them of her. That brings me joy!

WHAT DO YOU THINK???

Sandra and I went to the beach this last weekend on a much needed quiet weekend! It was a very pretty resort about a 2 1/2 hour drive through beautiful green agricultural area. In fact, the same drive that I took last week when I was out on my antsy drive. We were sitting outside in this wonderful little hut they give you (need better word than hut as it was quite nice) so you can sit outside by the ocean with roof over your head and cushions behind your back! It had sheer cotton drapes which we definitely kept open to be able to both see and hear the water lapping on the shore! The only thing I am afraid to tell you is that I was there for three days and did not get in the water - am I getting old or what?!?!? I took a picture of the hut from the beach at night with the lights all around it - it is the top picture.

As we were talking together and looking through Genesis we found where it wasn't until after the flood that God gave us animals to eat - before the flood we were vegans! I didn't know that before. Then Sandra brought up that she was reading some book and it talked about the fact that Eve was not shocked or suprised that the serpent came up and talked to her! That had never dawned on me either. So, it could lead you maybe to surmise that animals used to be able to talk or communicate with us! How exciting for this animal lover!! You know, it talks about how on the New Earth the lion will lay down with the lamb and the snake won't bite. We will be back like in the garden - where we will be in total harmony again with the animals. I can't wait!! That is only one of the small joys we will have in eternity! Sandra said she was even more excited that we would be in total harmony with one another - no more strained relationships! And, of course, the big one, we will be perfectly united with Christ - able to worship Him perfectly and have unblemished relationship!! HALLELUJAH!!!!

By the way, that beautiful little boy is my nephew Bradon - I took that picture last Christmas when I was home - can't wait to get home in November to see how much he has grown!

Belonging?

These are just some pictures I took as I was roaming around the countryside yesterday afternoon. I'm not sure if you can tell it, but the sunset was over a large field of rice paddies which are beautifully green. I was half exploring, half heading down to a new beach area that I have found (it has been around forever, just my new discovery) to check out a resort that I had heard about.

I was wandering around because I was feeling antsy and alone, and I know it probably sounds weird, but my car has always been a place of refuge for me. It's funny, I just remembered that as I was writing this. I always head for nature and animals if I can find them. In Thomasville, I head down those beautiful red clay roads through the woods and here I head for the agricultural area and the beach - and it just so happens the agricultural area is on the way to the beach. My car is a place for me to talk out loud to the Lord, to listen to music and just look for all the many beautiful things the Lord has created and given to us to appreciate. Yesterday it was this beautiful "flower" in a tree, an old man working in a field with his carabou, and a gorgeous sunset over the mountains in the distance.

As I was listening to a Sarah Groves CD ("Conversations") The song titled "Going Home" seemed to really capture the way I am feeling these days.

I've been feeling kind of restless, I've been feeling out of place I can hear a distant singing, a song that I can't write, but it echoes in what I'm always trying to say.

There is a feeling I can't capture, it's always just a prayer away, I want to know the ending, things hoped for but not seen, But I guess thats the point of hoping anyway.

I'm confined by my senses to really know what You are like, You are more than I can fathom and more than I an guess, and more than I can see with human sight. But I have felt You with my spirit, I have felt You fill this room and is just an invitation, just a sample of the whole and I cannot wait to be going home.

Going Home, I'll meet you at the table. Going Home, I'll meet you in the air. And you are never too young to think about it. Oh, I cannot wait, I cannot wait to be going home! Face to face, how can it be? Face to face how can it be? Face to face how can it be????

Sometimes we think it is when we are "out of sorts" that we long for Home, but maybe we are just in the midst of being in this fallen world, tired of living in our frail, depraved bodies, constantly bouncing against other frail, depraved bodies, tired of being in the battle, tired of being where we don't belong - on this fallen earth. Maybe we are meant to long for that other place - where the battle is over, the world is no longer fallen, but totally as beautiful as God created it and "Face to face!!" I don't think I will ever hear those words, "well done," but I know that I will hear, "Well, Cheryl, you sure screwed it up, but precious daughter, I do love you!

Ocean Pics

I took this one sunset while I was at Beach Camp with 100 kids!! We have a church that comes from St. Louis; The Kirk of the Hills, every other year and takes all of the kids in our street childrens homes to a camp at the beach. This was our first year since we have opened ABP4 and have added 25 children - which now means 100 kids!! Yikes!! It was a crazy, but great week with all the kids and the team from The Kirk as well. By the way, this picture was taken in the puddles of the low tide as the sun was setting.

One of the most precious gifts the Lord gives us is our brothers and sisters in Christ! I have known this for a long time, but just reminded this past few weeks having some old friends close. The team leaders from the Kirk have been friends of mine for over 20 years and I have been a part of their family as their children were born and as they have been growing up. Michael is now 19 and a sophmore in college and Katie is starting school in a week or two as a senior. Boy, their parents are sure getting old! It was such a joy to see how the kids have grown - physically, emotionally and spiritually. The awesome thing is is that they love me and I love them, more and more as the years go on. I can't tell you how good it was to have old precious friends close - and how hard it was to let them go home! There were several on that team who have been here every trip since 2002 and it is amazing the bond that we now have. One great guy who I had never known before 2002 now prays for me every day - EVERY DAY!! What more can you ask for? It is amazing the relationships the Lord gives us that we will be able to enjoy through all the rest of eternity. Sometimes it is the pits being far away from home and trying to live and minister in another culture! But, the Lord has given me many great eternal relationships that I would have never had being here - both with Filipinos and many Americans I have met from teams coming in. Even in the midst of all the hard stuff there is the joy of being part of Christ' Bride!