FULL of Events

So much to catch up on....

World Mandate was great! I love the conference for many reasons...Worship, the teachings, and praying for the Nations!! There were about 3,000+ people gathered at this conference to pursue Jesus harder and understand HIS heart for the nations. How the conference is set up is we have 4 main sessions spread out over Friday through Sunday and then on Saturday we have small breakout sessions. The theme for the weekend was "The Harvest - the TIME is NOW!" It was emphasized through each session, which was encouraging those who have not stepped out of their comfort zone and said yes to the Lord, to go spread the gospel to the outermost parts of the world. *The entire time I thought of my kids in Zambia and how even though we have planted seeds there, they need to be constantly loved on and encouraged as they are growing spiritually. They are still the in midst of so much darkness. Anyways, it made me so excited about getting there in about 100 days. God is so big in how He will use you, you just have to trust Him and say YES to wherever He shows you to go. 

Main Session Worship

Another one of my favorite parts is the Boiler Room (prayer room). Its set up in different sections: Praying for the Nations, Praying for a specific topic, Statistics and facts about a certain topic, and other saddening aspects happening in the world today. It's set up to give you a perspective on many things that you may not be aware of in the world. It kind of messes you up a little bit because of the harsh reality of it all. One of the areas that was hard for me to bare was Child Trafficking. So many children are sold into the sex trade and they have no way out. A lot of this happens in Southeast Asia, but a lot of other areas as well. There was a picture of a group of girls that I got to pray over and place under the cross (there is a video below). I still have their faces in my head and it hit to the core of my heart. I was overwhelmed with emotion because of their situation. These children did not choose their life, but now they are forced to live in it. They have no hope and are crying out for someone to come rescue them from the unimaginable reality they are in. 

Here are some videos of the Boiler room...

This week being back at work has been great! I have moved office space with windows and where it's a little more quieter for me to work. Praise the Lord! :) However, this week has been cut short because of the crazy weather in Texas...if you live in Texas you know what I'm talking about. We got hit with a big ice storm and most of us don't really know how to drive when things like this come our way!! hahah...So I didn't go to work Tuesday and 1/2 the day Wednesday. When I woke up this morning (wed.) my car was frozen and the street was completely iced over. So after waiting until noon I was able to drive. There is a funny story about this lovely ice all over the road...I was loading my car with boxes full of food for the summer (pictures below) and as I was putting them in the back of my car I slipped and fell straight on my back...oh and the boxes came tumbling on top of me!! It was a little painful to say the least and my body has been feeling it all day! haha...I'm sure you could picture it!! 

*My Car this morning... :(

*You can't tell, but the road had a nice layer

 of ice that I eventually slipped on!

As I just mentioned...I had to pack boxes for this summer! Yes..I had to buy enough food for 3 whole months!! The crazy thing about it is I have to send all of it now and won't see it for 3 months, but then it has to last another 3 months once I get there. Its so beyond me and I don't even know exactly how much food to take. I can only pack 8 boxes and I have 6 so far!! The reason I have to pack them now is that I have to send them in our container we are shipping this weekend. It takes a minimum of 3 months to get to Zambia. All of this is so new to me and I am learning to really plan in advance if you well. I just pray that I won't forget anything...

*So here is some of my food and boxes I'm

 sending for the summer...I hope it last until August!

Hope you all are having a fun week!

Blessings,

Joy

PS - I have a video of my precious little ones in Zambia...it will be posted next!! You will want to see this!! :)

Colorado Trip & Wedding #2

Well my time in Colorado was wonderful and I loved being with my family every minute! I couldn't believe how nice the weather was for winter skiing in Colorado. Usually this time of year it's in the single digits...which sometimes is way too cold for me to be on the mountain. However, it was in the 20's the whole week. We got some snow the first few days we were there which made the skiing even more perfect! My nephew and 2 nieces picked right back up on their skills on the slopes. It was so fun watching them come down the mountain just laughing and singing. And I have you know that my nephew, Jesse, tried snowboarding for the first time and did amazing!! All in all, it was a great trip that went way too fast! :(

Here are few videos...

*JJ (my sister) and Ruth and Esther Skiing*

*This was the most hilarious thing ever!

*Riding up to go to dinner

(the building you see is where we stay)

As soon as I got back, I had my second wedding to go to! YIKES! My sweet friend, Regan, from Baylor was getting married in Fort Worth. It was a beautiful ceremony and fun reception. I got to see a lot of my college friends including roommates and chi o's. That is one thing that I love about Weddings is that it brings everybody together for such fun events. I was definitely exhausted after all of that and needed a couple of days to recoup before jumping back in to work after being gone for 10 days. I love traveling and doing fun things, but when you have a lot of on your plate back at work...it's really hard to hit the ground running again.

I have managed to gradually begin catching back up on things here at Family Legacy. This is our busy season and with each day that passes it's brings us one day closer in leaving for Zambia. I can't believe that I have 114 days left...AHH...so much to do!! God has been so good through it all and as we merge closer and closer to our departing date, I can't help but just thank the Lord for all that He has done! I am still so humbled each day to come and be an advocate for these orphans in Zambia. 

This weekend I get to finally go to a conference!!! It's World Mandate in Waco, Tx. The church I went to at Baylor is called Antioch Community Church and they are the ones who host this conference each year. What I love so much about it is that you get to hear what God is doing in so many other parts of the world and how He uses ordinary people to do extrodinary things for His Glory and Name. I love worshipping as a corporate church with those who have a passion for Jesus and His purposes on earth. I can't wait!! 

Walking Deeper with Him,

Joy

Wedding Weekend

I have had a crazy weekend and I am actually now in Colorado with my family, but to catch you up I was in Wichita Falls for one of my best friends' wedding on January 10! It was by far the best wedding I've been to in a long time. I loved seeing great friends, enjoying the down time with Julie Anna and then standing next to her honoring her commitment to Ryan Hammett. From the very first song in the ceremony, to her walking down the aisle, to the announcement of them becoming husband and wife, it was absolutely beautiful! We all had tears of joy! What a sweet representation that the Lord gives us of His pursuit for us in a wedding and marriage!! 

The reception was just as fun as the wedding...there was a great band, amazing cakes, and yummy Lebaneze food! We didn't leave until midnight and then I didn't make it to bed until about 2:30am. It was worth it though! I love being able to celebrate these moments with my closest friends. It really is an honor to support them, but especially to know that God has been planning this and has scripted their lives to partner with each other as they run after Jesus together! 

Here are some pictures from this weekend...

*Jenny, Jules, and I at the Rehearsal Dinner*

*Pre-Wedding Moments*

*Jules and KJ - Check out the Veil!!*

*The Aboussie Family*

*The Hammetts*

(She had a beautiful cake)

*Ryan's Cake was great too!*

I am now in Vail, Colorado with my family for the week. It was a quick transition from driving back home to jumping on a plane the next day. It will be nice to relax and soak up some family time on the slopes!

Hope you all have a great week! 

Blessings,

Joy

Happy New Year!

Wow...2009! I can't believe another year has come and gone. It really amazes me of just how good God is and where He has taken me. I am SO moved by the love and grace that the Lord has poured over me this year. I can't wait to see how God continues to use this year has a stepping stone for what is to come. I believe that the Lord has brought me full circle in several areas in my life. I won't list them out or re-explain them because I have already done that so many times in previous blogs. I just know that this year will be significant for reasons God only knows. I can't wait to see what all is to come...

As for my activities today for New Years...I actually jumped in the car with one of my really good friends, Sarah (who I first met in Zambia), and we headed to the ranch for the day. We ate lunch with my parents and Grandma. We have a food tradition on New Years : Mexican Corn Bread and Black Eyed Peas. It is sooo good!! My Mom has always made me eat at least 1 black eyed pea ever since I was little to have a prosperous year...and now I eat several spoon fulls!! Haha!! Anyways, we had a nice lunch, watched a little football, and then saddled the horses and rode for a couple hours before we headed back home.  It was a good day having some quality time with a great friend and my family! 

*Me and Sarah riding the bay and poncho*

I hope all of you have enjoyed the holidays and are getting yourself ready to venture back into the work schedule. I know that I have thoroughly enjoyed these relaxing days, BUT now..it's time to get back to work and tackle some projects!! Have a great weekend! 

Loving Jesus more everyday,

Joy