Changes

 Edit~ I am copying all of these old posts over from another blog site. This is quite entertaining. And, interesting to see where God has taken us since then......

Wow!  Where has the time gone?  The last couple of weeks have been full of changes, possible changes, discussions of changes, wondering about changes......   you get the picture.  Sending adult children off into the world is exciting, difficult, and full of all kinds of emotions.
Let's see.....I will start with Ashley, our 22 year old.  She is living at home still (YAY!!), and taking her courses in "Religion" online through Liberty Univ.  She's really struggling, and not having any peace about college right now.   She's praying for the Lord to fill her heart with HIS desires, and to show her whether it is good for her to continue, whether she should continue part time, or keep going like she is now.  She's not struggling with her classes.  So far, she's blown all of those away.   It's a struggle of whether this, at this time, is the right course for her life. 
Her mental plate (and, therefore, mine!) is full right now.  This week she is teaching music at our VBS, and loving it.  I don't know if I've said this here before, but she has been blessed this summer to fulfill a 11 or 12 year dream to go to Kenya.  The Lord really brought this whole trip together. She had been doing a lot of internet searching on what type of extended trip she wanted to do this summer, and nothing would ever come together or click.  Then, just like God, at the exact right moment, came this opportunity, and we knew it was time.  She will be going to Orbit, Kenya (20 or 30 min from Nairobi) for 3 weeks beginning July 28ish, with a missionary whom we have supported for about 11 years.  If you all remember the story I posted recently about her sponsor child there, who had been raped, had a baby girl whom she named Ashley, and then the baby recently died at one year old.......she will get to finally meet Mokoi this summer!  She is so very excited.  I think 1/2 the village is excited, too.  Because our family was the 2nd ones to ever sponsor a child in the village, the missionary, Cyndy, says that Ashley is literally a celebrity in the village.  ; )  So, this week, Ashley has been busy sending out fundraising letters, in between studying a monster U.S. History course (tons and tons and tons of reading) and VBS. 
Also, in the midst of this, the Lord has led us to check out some camp internships all across the U.S.  Ashley has a very strong desire to be a Christian Camp director, with the dream of one day owning her own camp, centered around horses.  We have dreamed together of lots of things it could include and expand upon, including church retreats, praise dance camps, hayrides, etc.  It has been fun to dream with her.  Somehow she stumbled upon an internship program in CA.  It is not the right one for her, but got us to thinking, praying, and researching.  I have a feeling that if not this winter, then definitely by next, she will be in one of these internships somewhere in the country.  The ones we have found are anywhere from 6 weeks to one or 2 years.  Six weeks is not near long enough, but she's not sure she's ready to move across country for a year, either.  So, we're just looking and praying for the one that is right for her.  I think it will be a tremendous opportunity for her, and very good for her. 
Next....Briana.   whew.  : )
If you remember I said about 3 or 4 weeks ago, that she and a guy friend of hers were going out as friends and seeing if there was anything stronger there.  Yep.  They are now officially a couple.  The Lord has given James and me great peace about their relationship, and we really like what we know about him so far.  Because they live 2 hours away, we had not been able to meet him, even though my parents had.  Yes, I've been dying to get back over there!!!  But, he has shown himself to be a friend and wonderful gentleman.  He's very artsy, which makes us smile.  Most of his life has been spent in Seattle, and he has lived in NYC for a while.  He is an actor, playwright, wonderful artist, singer, musician, comic...but, most of all a Christian, wants to serve God with his life, knows how to have serious and deep conversations, and did I mention, gentleman.  : )  Yesterday he (Troy) and Briana came over for the day to go to Dollywood...I had been able to get them free passes.   They had to come by the house to pick the tickets up.  Bless his heart!  I bet is was awfully overwhelming to be surrounded by the 6 of us!!  We only got to see them about 5 min., which was more than a little frustrating for me!  However, last night everyone was gone to VBS except me (the resident heathen. LOL) , and Troy and Briana, spur of the moment, came back over for supper before they headed back home.  It was so neat.  It was just the 3 of us, and they were here for almost 2 hours.  I loved getting to spend that quiet time with them.  So.....we shall see what the Lord has planned. 
We are going over to see Briana this Friday.  Shenandoah is in it's last week (36 shows total!), and Ashley and I are going to see the closing.  James and I are going out to dinner with Troy and Briana this weekend. 
Are you still with me??? 
A couple of weeks ago, we found out that Briana made Hairspay for the summer. YAY!!!  It's going to be fun, although, she's so tired right now.  If you've seen the show, she was cast as one of the 8 Counsel Members.  They are the main dancers on the Corny Collins show on the movie.  They dance up front and have extra parts, etc.  Today she told me that she is one of 5 of them who get to help out in the store during "Welcome to the 60's" when Tracy and Edna(?...the mom) are being all dressed up in their pink sparkly dresses.  I *cannot* wait to go see it.   Opening is June 25th, and we'll be there!!
Are you still with me????
Briana has also made the decision (with our blessing) that she is not coming back home after Hairspray ends Aug. 30, as originally planned.  She is going to be looking for a roommate/apt., possibly auditioning for the fall musical, depending on what it is, driving 45 min. to college and going part or full time  (depending on the musical) with a major in voice, and hopefully still taking one or 2 dance classes at the Playhouse. 
And, yes. This has all happened in the last 3 weeks.  Would you like to pray for me??!!  LOL.  One last thing, is that I am so incredibly thankful for my husband.  With all that has been going on, he has been such a blessing.  He has done most of anything that has been done with the younger girls the last couple of weeks.  My plate has been so full, and I am still struggling with not sleeping.  My body has become weary, and if he had not been here to pick up the slack, I'm not sure how I would have handled it. 
Hello????  is anyone still there?