Mom

Just today, as I think over the multiple conversations my mom and I have had today on this Saturday, I am so humbled and thankful for her servant heart. She is in Mississippi, working as an accountant, wife, mom to brother Benton, and friend while at the same time being my biggest encourager all the way in Ecuador.





While doing all this, she is planning a wedding. and doing A LOT. But she does it all with a huge smile on her face, loving that she can serve me in that way. What  a blessing to have such a wonderful mom to take care of me like that!





In her free time, she ties ribbons on cards, sews flower girl dresses, picks up gifts, goes house shopping with Miles, organizes guests lists, meets with the cake lady, shops for me, runs countless errands, and skypes with me every minute she can so that I can feel a part of everything that's going on. What a super mom!







I cannot say thank you enough to her for all that she has done for me and is presently doing. She has always given 100% of her time and energy to meeting the needs of her family, and so much of the time, I've taken her for granted. But not today! She deserves a big bear hug and kiss, which I so long to give to her from across these country lines! But she is going to have to wait just over a month until I get home to thank her in person. :)



This was when mom came to Ecuador -- such a special time :)



What a special time we had when she came to visit me in Macas last August. She was a breath of familiarity and fresh air as I was just getting settled into a new country and I was so thankful she was there! (Especially for her cloroxing all the mold off our walls!) ha There aren't too many moms that would fly across continents to clean mold for their daughters in another country!





On top of all the wedding errands she is doing, she is such an emotional support for me, encouraging me when I call home with teary eyes, reminding me of the wonderful opportunity The Lord has given me in Macas. This is the most important thing she does. She helps me put my eyes back on Jesus.



Thank you Mama for the special mom you are to me and the way you show your selfless love for me and our family! You are a very special lady and I am so blessed to have you as my mom. I cannot wait to get home and spend mornings with you sitting on your bed with a bowl of cereal while you get ready for work. Being so far away has helped me to realize how much I treasure our special friendship.

I love you dearly!
Happy Mother's Day! Felíz Día de las Madres!

- Your Laurita


and of course...how could I forget her most faithful companion, Jarvis! :)

Stretching the Bow

I've been waking up rather early in the mornings, (4am not on purpose!) and having some wonderful time with The Lord. Yesterday, I was reading in My Utmost for His Highest, one of my favorites, and read the following quote several times to soak it in.

"God is aiming at something the saint cannot see, and He stretches and strains, and every now and again the saint says - "I cannot stand any more." God does not heed, He goes on stretching till His purpose is in sight, then He lets fly. Trust yourself in God's hands."

This year in Ecuador has been a time of stretching for me-- wonderful, challenging stretching. The comfort always remains that Christ knows exactly for what purpose he is stretching and preparing me. What a peace that brings! What beauty that he doesn't listen to me when I complain about the stretching and begin to get weary from the load, but continues to take me outside my comfort zone to prepare me for something ahead. 


He goes on stretching till His purpose is in sight, then He lets fly.

Don't be discouraged if you are in the midst of stretching. He is preparing you for the flight ahead of you that you can't see yet. He soon will let you fly, higher than you could have before, closer to him, and with a better view of the situation below where you used to be. Take comfort in His preparations. 

I'm finding confidence that The Lord has taught me lessons this year in Macas that He will continue to use for His glory when I return to The States and begin a new life as a wife and teacher and friend. What a beautiful thing is the way he patiently walks beside us, leading us closer to Him.

May all your wanderings today point your eyes upward to Him. 

He is worthy of all the glory!

Much love from Macas,

Laurita

Reading

I've been doing lots of reading lately, something I enjoy immensely, and have learned a great deal from it. I just finished reading Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover, and although he writes this plan for the person who is in the midst of debt, I learned so much about wise, biblical money management. He encourages people to "live like no one else so that later you can live like no one else." His principles are based on the idea that we need to live without the luxuries that we grew up with under our parents' homes and learn to live with less. In doing this, we can prepare for a more secure future for our children and ourselves one day. Really great! Highly recommend!

I just began reading what I already knew was going to be a highly convicting book, Kisses from Katie. I have been reading this girl's blog for several years, learning about her story of going from a upper-middle class suburban homecoming queen to a adopted mother in Uganda of 14 little girls. I've only just begun but am highly convicted of the unnecessary luxuries that I afford myself when there is so much more I could be doing with my resources. Stepping outside our comfort zones and loving like Christ loves is a command from The Lord, and I can already see how much adjusting needs to happen in my own life.

Make time for reading because we always have so much to learn!

May you be filled with an awareness of the abundant blessings you've been given this week!

Que Dios le bendiga!

-Laurita