The Little Things that Become Big Things When God gets involved!

The 8 nieces and nephews!!  I love them all!

We are about to start our second week back to school from Christmas break, and I am still thinking about what God did while I was in the states for Christmas.  December 22nd, I boarded a plane to spend a little less than 2 weeks with my family and friends in the states.  I am so very thankful that God provided a ticket home for the holidays.

Handmade stockings by Mama

This was the first time in 7 years that we were all together for Christmas, all the kids (and spouses...except mine, he didn't show up this year) and 8 grandkids were under one roof for meals, fun, laughter, and catching up.  I have to say that it was the loudest my parents' house has been in a long time.  It was such a joy to be a part it!

Besides the amazing time with friends and family, there were a few things that stuck out to me as God moments.  He is always working even in the little things.  He has taught me since I have been here in Bolivia to look for those small amazing moments that only He can provide.

The first God moment was receiving a gift from my friend, Sheila Dove.  The night I got home my mom said she had a present for me to open before everyone arrived.  Returning from her office with a mail envelope, she told me that this had arrived for me the week after I left to come back to Bolivia from the summer.  After opening the envelope, I pulled out a white, 3-ring binder full of paper.  I saw there was a note on the front as I flip it over.  This was a journal of prayers that she had prayed for me throughout the year.  It was filled with prayers from scripture and from her heart.  Every day from August 1, 2012 to August 1, 2013 she took time to write out a prayer for me.  WOW!!  I was overwhelmed by the love that was on those pages, not only from her but from the Word.  What an amazing blessing it was to start my time with family knowing that this beautiful woman prayed for me 365 days in a row!!

As my family started to arrive at my parents' house, I was amazed at how great it was to hold them in my arms again.  I love their hugs!!  As Christmas dinner, dessert, and present opening ended, our family Nerf war commenced!  It was so fun to think about how the last time my older nieces were involved in our war, they were between 6 and 8 and now the youngest niece was 3.  Everybody was involved throwing something, shooting something, running from someone, sweating, hiding behind pillows or doors, gasping for breath, and teaching the younger ones how to shoot the different guns.  It was enjoyable to be able to shoot my brothers (insert evil laugh) with toys we played with when we were young.  However, that was not the best part.  When the war and clean-up were over, we sat around the living room and shared what we were thankful for.  When it was my oldest brother's turn, it was so nice to hear him say he was thankful to be home!  To hear my older nieces say they missed me and loved me was music to my ears.  What a joy to be loved by family!

My bros playing their Bolivian instruments

Being silly!

Toward the end of my time home with family, my parents and I took a road trip to Atlanta for a wedding of a dear friend!  As I sat in back seat of the car and observed my parents, I could tell that their love for each other had grown over the years. They have always kissed in front of us and made loving comments to each other (grossed us out...see picture below:) ), but this time I experienced their love for each other in a different way.

When I was younger, my dad did a lot of bird watching.  He enjoyed the beauty of each bird.  I would sometimes hear my parents counting the hawks they saw as we rode home from my grandparents.  It never seemed like something mom enjoyed.  My mom loves to read, yet all I remember seeing my dad read was the Bible and textbooks. On this road trip, it was such a joy to be able to experience my mom's exclamation of the beauty of the thousands (I think millions) of birds we saw flying...I would explain it as a tornado of birds.  It was an amazing sight to behold!  It was also fun to watch my dad enjoy a book read aloud by my mom.  We both loved her voice for God (a southern black woman).  They have adopted the interests of each other naturally, not through force or obligation...just love.

I praise the Lord for opening my eyes to what great parents I have and to see how their love has evolved over the years.  I am blessed to have them as an example of how to continually love a spouse through the ups and downs.  They are pretty great!

The middle children causing trouble in the background!

Pop and Ma with the grandkids

I have been abundantly blessed with a family that loves!