Happy Birthday Voda!!!

Girl! You are looking good at 29! I hope you have a great birthday. I wish I could give you a shout out or take you to a yummy Meican fiesta today! We have been friends for almost 29 years! (That is crazy considering how young we are) I am thankful that through all these years our friendship has remained. You are one of my best friends and I am thankful for you and proud of all your accomplishments! I will pick you up a little African speciality (I promise it won't be elephant dung this time!) I Love you sister!

Would You Rather Wednesday?!?!

Would you rather be homeless for a year living on the streets in Los Angeles or live on a secluded island (like Survivor) with your best friend for a year? Death is not an option.

Happy Birthday Dad!

Dad,

I love you so much! I wish I could see you or talk to you today to let you know how much I love you. I am so thankful for you in my life and the encouragment you always give me to seek out the Lord in all things and trust Him.

When I am really happy or even really sad I always want to talk to you as I know you will pray for me and encourage my heart.

I look forward to seeing you in a few days. I hope you have a great birthday and have mom take you to a buffet! Go crazy!!

Happy Birthday Mason!!!

Mason, your Aunt Hollie loves you so much!!! I wish I could be with you today to give you kisses and tickles. I hope you have a great birthday and you get lots of fun presents. I love your tender heart and the way you love your sisters. I pray that every year you learn more and more about Jesus and grow up to be like Him. I love you Mason!

Uganda: Here I Come

Well I am almost packed and getting ready to take off to Uganda. To give you some tid-bits on Uganda its known as "The Pearl of Africa" and while civil war has destroyed much of it's infrastructure, it's beautiful. Most of the country is green and fertile. It sits astride the equator bordered by Sudan to the North, Kenya to the East, Tanzania and Rawanda to the South and the Democratic Party of Congo in the West. Uganda covers the area of the state of Oregan and has a population of about 20 million. Kampala (where I will be) is the capital and has around 1 million people.

The official language is English although Luganda is spoken a great deal in Kampala. Swahili is the second official language. It is 10 hours ahead of us here in California. I feel a bit unprepared for the trip and a bit anxious at being taken out of my comfort zone. Yet, I can rest in the fact that the Lord is soverign and I've been praying that He will use me and that no matter what comes my way I will have a great attitude and give thanks to Him for this opportunity. I know I take the luxuries of my life for granted. Although I am thankful for them it gets to a point where I think "i need it." It makes me realize how blest I am but also reveals a heart of pride and selfishness. I want to be broken of that.

The main thing our team will be doing is putting on a conference entitled "God and the Justice System" with a University over there. We will also be meeting with different agencies like the International Justice Mission. And of course visiting the Amani Baby Cottage. I am really looking forward to it.

How can you pray for me??!?!?!?
1. Pray that the Lord will use me (and the team) and also reveal areas where I need to be broken.
2. Pray for my health. This is a big concern for me as I haven't been feeling the greatest.
3. Pray that my attitude remains one of joy in all situations.
4. Pray that I can be an encouragement to the missionaries that I meet and that I can help them with their load and be willing to serve at all times.

I love you guys and am not sure if I will be able to post while I am away. Keep checking because I do have a few posts ready.....Do you think I could really neglect Would You Rather Wednesday!?!?

*Today I am so thankful to the Lord for giving me an opportunity to learn more about him and see how Great He is. I am thankful!

The other night I went to Mexicali with Matt, Kelli and Ivy. During dinner Ivy wanted to eat a lemon. I knew this would make for some fun shots. I leave for Uganda tommorow...I cant believe it! I will post more information on the trip before I go.

*Today I am thankful for rainy mornings....(especially when you can stay in bed). It's amazing to think how the Lord created rain for us.

You Decide....

Have you ever been really excited about a purchase and you come home to share it with your roommate, husband, wife, friend or anyone and they are not as excited about it?!?! Well that was me the other day with my beloved Tricia. I bought a new beach bag slash "I need a carry on bag for Uganda" and I thought I found the perfect bag! It was stylish, bright and sturdy! Here was our conversation:

Hol: "Girl, you are gonna love my purchase (with eudes of excitmemet!)

Tric: "What did you get?"

Hol: (pulling the new bag out) "This cute new bag for my carry on and the beach....dont you LOVE it?"

Tric: (laughing a little)"Yes Hol. it's cute."

Hol: "You don't like it."

Tric: "No, I like it, I just would not look at that in the store and think that's the cutest bag ever.." (that was the jest of it)

Needless to say.....my bubble was burst just a little (but praise God for a roommate who shares her honest opinion with me!) SO I need you to decide...

A. Holla Hollie!!! That bag is Hot!

B. Bag Bust! Not as cute as you think!

*Today I am thankful for a night out with my girls....I LOVE you Jen and Tricia! So thankful that you are in my life to love, challenge and encourage me! Truly a blessing from the Lord.

Would You Rather Wednesday?!?!?!

Would you rather have X ray vision or bionic hearing?

*Today I am thankful that I get to spend the evening with Jenny and Tricia!!!!

My Favorites....

I Heart Gavin DeGraw. I never get sick of listening to his music. This is his new album. Check it out.

Health Update....

A lot of you have been asking how I've been feeling and I finally have an update!!! I went back to the doctor last week and got the results of some bloodwork from a few weeks ago. It seems I have developed allergies to things that I have never been allergic to before. In addition to pollon and cats (a lifelong allergy) I'm allergic to 4 types of trees, three types of grass, peanuts (I love you creamy peanut butter...i will miss you!), soy, corn (seriously?!?!), and a couple other things.

My doctor told me to go back to the specialist and do more thorough food testing. The human body is so weird AND amazing too me. It was a little sad (as i will miss certain foods) but I'm glad I'm finally starting to figure things out. Hopefully I will begin to feel better.

Thank you to everyone for praying for me. The Lord is my great physician, and He is faithful to not let anything happen that is outside of his control, even my health. I truly am thankful for my health and know that there are many people who are a lot worse of than me and can't afford treatments.

*Today I am thankful for tortilla chips (corn based) that I can't eat anymore.

On Tuesday some work friends took the train to Pasadena for a day of fun. This is a picture of me and some of my office girls hanging out at the park. I'm so thankful for them!

*Today I'm thankful for heating pads for sore body parts!

Would You Rather Wednesday?!?!?!

Would you rather have the abilities of a pro athlete and have no other talents or be musically inclined (above average) but have no athletic ability?

*Today I am thankful for water after a good work out. Ummmm good.

A Lesson Learned...

Yesterday I was given the chance to think through this last year and reflect on how I've grown. I was quickly reminded of all the times I failed and opportunities missed where I didn't savor each moment and remember that the Lord has me exactly where he wants me at that given moment. I think of all the times where I could have impacted someone's life but missed the opportunity because I was too caught up with the piles on my desk. It makes me sad.
In the times of feeling stressed or overwhelmed if I would have just taken a moment to stop and remember how good and great God is, how he has me exactly where he wants me and how he loves me more than anything or anyone I know I would have been blest because of it.
I don't want to be that person. I want to make more time for people and not worry about all the STUFF I have to do and reflect on how much the Lord has blest me beyond measure.
I was asked to think of what passage of scripture impacted me this year and I immediatly thought of Psalm 62:5-8 "My soul waits silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation, He is my defense I shall not be moved.In God is my salvation and my glory.The rock of my strength and my refuge is in God. Trust in Him at all times you people, pour out your heart before Him. God is a refuge for us." There were many times this year where I ran to this passage and sought refuge in God. It brought me many days of encouragment.

*Today I am thankful for my time Wendy. I love you and am thankful for you!

Uganda...

In less than two weeks I will be leaving to go to Uganda for a missions trip. There are a couple things that I will get to do but the thing I am most excited about it is going to the Amani Baby Cottage. (www.amanibabycottage.org)
A guy from work told me that it gets boring after a few days because all you do is hold the children and play with them all day...ummm....YES PLEASE! I have a heart for these kids. I know I will want to bring them home with me.
When I was a social worker I was always drawn to those kids who were shuffled around and were less likely to be adopted. My sister and brother in law are finishing up the foster care to adopt program. I'm excited to see how the Lord will use them (and ME) to impact a child's life and raise them to love and fear the Lord. I am glad that the Lord turned their hearts toward adoption. I can't imagine anyone more perfect for our family than Ivy. A blessing.
Even though there are so many uncertainties with the trip I'm really praying that I go ready to serve and willing to make the most of every opportunity for the glory of God.
More on the trip to come....

* Today I am thankful that I get to spend the morning at work in prayer and the Word. (what other job let's you do that?!?!)

Happy Mother's Day Mom!

Mom, I hope you have a great and you feel loved and cherished. I wish I could be with you today to do the things you love to do. I'm so thankful that the Lord blest me with such a great mom. See you in a month! Make dad take you out for dinner (and not a buffet)!

Graduation 2008

Last night was TMC's graduation. It was fun for me as it was my first graduating class since I started working there. Hugh graduated and i was so proud of him. I can't believe four years has passed. The first picture is of Luke and Megan from my office and then Hugh and I.

*Today I am thankful for Saturday mornings....my favorite time of week.

Top 5....

TOP FIVE

5 things you can't live without under $5:
1. Chapstick
2. Hand lotion
3. Toothpaste
4. Hazlenut fat-free Creamer
5. My mixed Cd’s

5 favorite movies: in no particular order:
1. Shawshank Redemption
2. Hoosiers
3. The Notebook
4. Sixth Sense
5. Usual Suspects

5 songs you could hear over and over again:
1. Above All: Michael W Smith
2. My Life, My Love, My All: Kirk Franklin
3. Overjoyed: Stevie Wonder
4. Nice to Meet You (Anyway): Gavin DeGraw
5. Stuck on You: Lionel Richie

5 people who influenced your life in a positive way:
1. The Lord
2. Mike Scales
3. My dad and mom
4. Tom Patton
5. Lynn Leonard

5 things that stay in your purse at all times:
1. Cell phone
2. Chapstick
3. gum
4. wallet
5. hand lotion

5 Moments that you knew changed you forever:
1. Deciding to trust and follow after God
2. Accepting a job at the college
3. Moving to CA
4. going overseas
5. being an aunt

5 obsessions you have right now:
1. Work
2. blogging
3. Music
4. Ivy
5. Chocolate chip cookies

5 Places you'd really like to go:
1. The Beach
2. Hawaii
3. Mexico
4.Jenny’s house
5. Lam’s house

5 people you'd like to see do this:
1. Lamya
2. Tricia
3. Voda
4. Lynn
5. Becca

Would You Rather Wednesday?!?!!?!

Would you rather have the voice of Carrie Underwood or the homemaking skills of Martha Stewart?

*Today I am thankful for the way the Lord uses people in my life to grow me.

Person of the Week: Birthday Girl....Wendy Penberthy

Wendy is a friend that I met through my sister. We have gotten closer over the last three years and she has become like another sister to me. It's her birthday today so I thought this would be a great way to let her know how much I love her.

Wendy I appreciate you. I'm glad we have the type of relationship that we can say exactly what we're thinking. Thank you for walking through the good and bad with me over the last couple years. I know the reason you stay on me about certain things is because you love me and want the best for me. Thank you for opening your family to me and always making me feel like I'm a part of it. I LOVE your kids and am thankful that you share them with me. I love you sis and am so thankful for you today and every day!