I'd Like To Thank The Academy

... and also - YOU!

Thank you for GIVING: From those who gave $5, to those who gave $2,000... or those who were practical and gave space to store my things for this year, or gave time spent in doing my taxes via email. To those who support me financially on a monthly basis, or those who surprise me with "coffee money" or clever care packages. For your gifts, I thank you.

Thank you for PRAYING: There have been so many times that on an extra difficult day, I'll check email or Facebook, and there will be a note... "I'm praying for you." Those four words have a way of boosting my spirits. Making me realize that 1) the battle is NOT mine... it's His, and 2) I am not fighting it alone. Not only am I following a Leader who has already won, but I have comrades on this battlefield, both near and far away. For those prayers, I thank you.

Thank you for WRITING: The emails that are filled with normal, "This is what I did with my day" details. The quick little "we miss you" messages on Facebook, the cards and letters that come via snail-mail, the pictures that come of people and places back home... and the "I'm proud of you" notes. For this Words of Aff girl... they meet such a deep need. And for those words, I thank you.

Thank you for SENDING ME: To my family... your support and whole-hearted agreement that this year I belong in Costa Rica, and not NH... this means more than almost anything. Knowing that I'm here with your fullest blessing gives me the courage to keep saying "yes" to His call. For entrusting me to an awesome God, I thank you.

On the days that I go to bed smiling, because I've had life-changing experiences,
and on the days that I fall on my knees sobbing, because the spiritual warfare is so intense.
On the days when I laugh and think, "Just when did this become my life?"
and on the days that the weight of all that I'm missing at home is too much to bear.
On the days when Jesus is so real, I feel as if He's with me in my bedroom,
and on the days where life seems extra "lifey" and my humanity is extra... human.

Each one of these days has been possible because I am surrounded by love.

And for all this, I thank you.

(Our balcony, after a stunning rain storm)