2016 Women's Retreat

Happy Friday, sweet friends! The temperature's are in the 40's this morning here in Oklahoma and it is finally beginning to feel like fall. Unfortunately it's going to be short lived as temps are supposed to be back in the 80's. Oh well, I'll enjoy the high 60's today while I can.

Over a month ago, I flew back to New York for the wedding of my brother, Cael, and his now wife, Kirstin. When I found out the wedding date, I realized that it was the weekend after a women's retreat at one of my favorite places on earth! 

Mission Meadows is near and dear to my heart. I grew up going to camp here for a week each summer and then was on the summer staff for my first three year's after college. I have had some of my most memorable encounters with the Lord at this place and it's very special to me.

The annual fall retreat is a gathering of women from several church's from all over. It is a fun weekend of worship, fellowship, and a great speaker. I attended the retreat in 2014, a time that was a test of faith and trust for me. I had moved back to the United States in July and was in the process of applying for jobs. I think the retreat was about 2 weeks before I applied for my job at Dillon!

The bell tower, where I spent many mornings drinking coffee with friend's during the summer months. The summer of 2008, I met here several mornings with 3 other ladies to drink coffee and pray for one another.

I had fun taking pictures as I reminisced about all the wonderful memories this place holds.

Me and my mama! We braved the rough waves and went kayaking. It was short lived since our arms were so sore from paddling against the waves but we did make it out when there was a break in the rain which was our goal.

It was such a wonderful, relaxing weekend spent with my mom and women from my home Church. I was sad to see the weekend come to a close although I was ready to sleep in a real bed again! Until next time, Mission Meadows!

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress."

Psalm 46:10-11

Birthday Boy

Friends, this is absolutely crazy. My baby brother is 20 today. 20! How in the world is that even possible?! Seems like yesterday he was born and became brother #5 for me. 

So proud of this guy and the man that he has become. He is well into his second year of college and  baseball. He is doing awesome!

We are still working on his picture taking skills. He likes to give me this look quite a lot. :) 

Never a dull moment with this one. Miss having his goofy self around all the time to make me laugh.

Happy 20th, Tage! I hope it's a great one and that you know how loved you are.

Friendversary

Facebook informed today that it was one year ago that I met these three lovely ladies. This past year has been a blast and it's thanks to these girls. They welcomed me with open arms and always made me feel included and loved from that first night we met.

I had just moved to Tulsa just over a month earlier and was stepping out of my comfort zone to check out a ladies Life group in the area. I have been blessed to have incredible women a part of my life and I knew if there was even a chance of me liking Tulsa, I had to meet some girls to hang out with. I am so glad I stepped out of my comfort zone and went to that Life group a year ago.

It has been an amazing year with lot's of laughter and memories being made.

So thankful for these friends!

2015

What a year 2015 has been. As I sit here reflecting on all that has happened this past year, I can't help but stand amazed in all that God has done. I started the year in a new city where I knew no one and I am ending it with an evening spent with friends. He is faithful.

January was spent settling into my new home, city, job, and life in Tulsa. It was also the month when I joined the "glasses and contact club." And what a joy it has been to be in that club (note the sarcasm). January as also the month where I traded in my New York drivers license (tear).

February highlight was a visit from my mom, dad, and Kiah! And my first experience of snow in Tulsa. Let's just say my family was beyond thrilled to be able to experience a Tulsa snow. :) 

March brought many fun memories with friends and my 29th birthday! It was also the month of concerts and conferences including Winter Jam to see Skillet, Jeremy Camp, For King and Country, and many other great Christian artists, a Kari Jobe concert, and a women's conference!

April was the start of tornado season. All I have to say about that are 3 words. "Not a fan." But with that also was the arrival of spring and the flowers began to bloom. I also went to a great 2 day event at Church to "find your life purpose" as well as an adoption conference which was very informative.

May was a month of making memories with friends and having my aunt come visit for a weekend! I had so much fun spending the weekend with her and showing her around Tulsa.

In June, I traveled to Korea for two weeks to co-lead our Korea Family Birthland Tour. It was so much fun returning to Asia but this time to a country I had never been to before! I had the opportunity to visit with many of the kiddos who are matched with our families and take pictures and videos for the adoptive families waiting anxiously for the approval to travel and bring their sweet kids home. As much as I loved traveling and seeing a new country, I was more than ready to return home by the end of my two weeks overseas.

In July, just four days after I returned to the US (I arrived home on the 4tho f July), Kiah arrived in Tulsa for a week! She helped with our China Heritage Camp and it was so fun having her here just hanging out. After a week of having her visit me in Tulsa, we flew to NY together where I spent a week and half with my family. The other highlight of July was July 8th when my niece, Quinlan Grace, entered the world! I was able to meet her when she was about a week old which was such a blessing. As usual, my trips to NY go way too fast and it very quickly it was time to return to Oklahoma.

August was a month of catching up. Between traveling to Korea for two weeks, having Kiah visit for a week and then flying to NY for almost two weeks, it was a whirlwind few months. August was a great time to just relax, get back on a normal schedule again, and catch up with friends (all of us had such different schedules this summer and we barely saw one another!). We also went to see one of my favorite speakers, Steven Furtick who is the pastor at Elevation Church in Charlotte, N.C. What an awesome night of worship and teaching.

September brought a fun women's night of worship with friends, journaling, beginning several new Bible studies, and enjoying the last few days of summer but the pool.

October was all kinds of fun! The Tulsa State Fair took place in early October where one of the bands featured was For King and Country! My women's small group took a trip to the pumpkin patch and the end of the month was filled with memories of carving pumpkins and a Halloween party.

The first week of November I flew to Orlando, FL, to spend a a few days with my precious Kate (AKA: Charlotte) and her family! Many of you will remember her from my time in China. It was so good to see her again and to see how loved she is in her forever family. God writes the best stories! November finished out with a weekend trip with friends to Branson, MO, and Thanksgiving with friends.

December, my favorite month. I tried to make the most of it this year since last year since I really missed out last year having just moved to Tulsa. Ugly sweater party, special Christmas activities, and a trip home to be with my family for Christmas. It doesn't get much better than that.

Wow, what a year 2015 was! It makes me tired just looking back on all that took place and all that the Lord has done. I am always ready for the start of a new year but I am especially excited for 2016. Not sure exactly why, but I feel as though it's going to be a big year and I can't wait to see what plans God has in store.

Happy New Year, sweet friends! Thank you for you love, encouragement, and friendship. I am so thankful that the Lord put each and every one of you in my life.

{Wordless Wednesday} China Memories

Fourteen Years

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11

Today is my beautiful sister's 14th birthday.

14 years.

I still have a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that she is not a little girl anymore but turning into a beautiful young woman.

She is caring and has a heart of gold.

We can't imagine our lives without her!

 She has a heart for those who may not fit in or have many friends.

And she puts up with all of her big sister's picture taking.

Most of the time she is a good sport about it.

She has a smile that makes other smile right along with her.

One of my favorite memories of this past year was seeing her in her birth country.

At Forbidden City

and on the Great Wall of China.

I especially loved watching her love on my sweet babies.

God knew what He was doing when He brought us together from half a world away.

Those 16 years of waiting and praying for a sister were worth it.

Happy 14th Birthday, Kiah Hope RuiQing.

I love you more than you'll ever know and am so thankful to call you sister.

"I thank my God every time I think of you."

Philippians 1:3