Chapter Closed

I finished up in my apartment today and I am officially moved out. I've moved out of a lot of places but this move has a little more meaning than normal. First of all, it means my time with Ann is over. She is as happy as she can be in the nursing home. She doesn't even realize that I'm not with her all of the time. I think that is a blessing. I enjoyed those 8 months with her. They for sure weren't all good months and I know I didn't do all that I could have for her but I believe they were happy times for her. Our times on the deck eating ice cream, our walks down the road, our suppers together, her calling me "Mo" and then when I would leave she would say "Mo Go",  her leaving me notes, and her doing the laundry and dishes and feeling good about "helping" me will always be sweet memories with Ann. She taught me a lot.

This move also is a sign of the time coming closer to me leaving here and doing missions. This is the Lord releasing me of something holding me down here. I feel that the Lord is taking away every excuse that I have to not GO. Another sign of this is my car. My car was for sure totaled. Paid for. No longer a responsibility of mine. No longer a payment over my head and holding me down.

Not only that but the Lord has provided a car for me to drive. A FREE car. Now, it's nothing new, pretty, nice, or special but that FREE makes it look a WHOLE LOT better. Jason had a car a few years ago that he used some. It was paid for. It was just an "extra". Jason's brother was in need of a vehicle so Jason gave him this car a couple years ago. And just THIS week, his brother calls and says he is getting another vehicle and wanted to know if Jason wants this car back.
**Edit: this exact free car did not work out! The Lord provided another vehicle that is basically free! :)

Coincidence? I don't think so. God? YES!

I am just amazed at how God is taking care of everything for me. How He cares enough for ME to take care of all of these details in my life. He is closing chapters but in doing that He is opening new ones. He is showing me that He's ready for me to GO and do something. I get so excited about GOING and then sometimes it hits me that GOING also means LEAVING. Leaving my family. Leaving my friends. I know this is a piece of it. It's part of it. I'm willing to do this. Even when it hurts. I just stand amazed at how God loves me enough to call me. To fix it all so that I can GO when He's ready. I'm so unworthy. But I'm thankful!

Day 11 - A picture of something you hate.

EASY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I HATE snakes. I know everyone says they hate snakes but I hate them because they are jumpy... I hate anything that is jumpy. I'm not scared, really. Just don't like the suspenseful-ness of a snake. But in that case I hate suspense movies, too. I hate anything that makes me jump or that I don't know when it's gonna attack or jump or scare me! I don't like it. I like to be able to predict things.

Day 10 - A picture of the person you do the silliest things with.

I'm a pretty "silly" person, so again, this is gonna have to be more than one person. Or maybe I should just put a picture of myself on this one, because I'm always silly no matter who is around! :) But just for the fun I'll add some pics of who I'm silly with.

Manny and I are ALWAYS silly! ;)

We have fun... :)

We're never serious with these boys.

I think this pic has been on my blog like 3 times... but it fits all the categories. :)

OH, Brian Cohen. Always silly.

hahaha. Hannah has Danielle (left) and me (right) in a  head lock! :)

having fun at the pool.

Gracie is the queen of silly lately!

Haha. Kaitlin!

Me and Jessie :)

I've must have been REALLY heavy!!!!

Hilary and I are rarely serious!! :)

Doug is always being dumb. :) 

We take "living life to the full" quite literally. We are always having fun and laughing! I do believe laughter is one of the best medicines!!! :)

Day 9 - A picture of the person(s) who has gotten you through the most

Finally, an EASY one! This one is definitely DEFINITELY my mom and sisters! Gah, they have protected me, guided me, sheltered me, and prayed me through MANY things! It doesn't matter the situation. We've been through marriages, divorces, fights, break ups, decisions, a dozen moves... I could write all day about it... but I won't bore you with too many stories plus I'm tired!  I love these girls more than anything. :) We're quite a team!

Day 8 - A picture that makes you laugh.

There is NO possible way that I can just pick ONE. I have too many fun times and hilarious friends. So I will post a few. :)

I just LOVE the expressions on both Mom and Gracie's faces! :) Too funny!

Oh Chepe. He is at San Martin in El Salvador. I was sitting in front of him and he would pull my hair then cross his arms real fast. I would turn around and say, "CHEPE!" And he'd said, "NO, NO" with the HUGEST grin on his face! He did it OVER AND OVER!

This is Doug. ALL. THE. TIME. :)

Oh, Chris Trammel. This was his hand at the end of the game.... The point of the game is to get RID of your cards!!! I think he ended up with almost 200 points from this hand.

haha. My sisters, Nuff' said! LOVE them.

FUN TIMES at Souled Out. I love Danielle's face. She closes her eyes in EVERY picture with a flash! :) 

I love fun times and laughs. :)

Day 7 - A picture of your most treasured item.

Dadgum...some of these are just plain hard! How do I have a MOST treasured item. Items are just things. You can't take them to Heaven with you! I don't think I have a most treasured thing.  So I'm gonna change this one... Because I can. Because this is MY blog and I make the rules! Ok? Ok. Thanks. :)
Now, the new title is "A picture of your most treasured people". Does that make sense!? Well... It's MY blog and I say it does! Ok? Ok.

So, here they go.... In NO particular order of treasured-ness. And yea, I made up that word. Should I remind you again that this is MY blog and I can do that? No? You know that? Ok. :) 

Sweet babies off of Reece's Rainbow that are on their way HOME to families! Jesse (soon to be Sarah)

Darla (soon to be Gracie)

My boy Gunner :)

Mal  and a sliver of Kayla!

Sweet babies of Nicaragua!

Mom and Jason!

Chels and Han!

My Daddy.

Goodie!

My man, Jose!

These boys: Gareth, Seth, and Cory! Some of my faves!!

Crazy Gracie!

Reece's Rainbow babies still waiting for a family! Maxim.

Reece's Rainbow baby. Catherine.

My El Salvador dolls. Ernesto.

Oh, my Carlos.

Rudy!!! Love him.

Torres kids :)

Another Rudy!

Souled Out friends!

Josh and Han!

My sweet sisters.

Day 6 - A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day.

Ok, I stole this idea from Bekah because I could NOT think of a better one! :)

If I had a picture of myself in the future I would post it. That's who I'd like to trade places with for one day. I'd like to see who I married. Where I'm living. How many kids I have. Where my relationship with the Lord is. How well I've obeyed Him and how well I've followed His calling on my life. I wanna see if I'm living in another country and what kinda work I'll be doing. I think if I could just see a glimpse then I would relax. I am not in too big a hurry to get married but I'd like to know that I AM gonna get married. I sure don't want/need kids right now but I'd like to see how many I'll be having. And how many will be adopted and biological. I'd like to just see. Then, I'd be happy to come back to now and enjoy some time being me and living out God's will. But, that can't happen so I'll just try my best. Knowing that God is there and guiding me to be WHO HE wants me to be.

Wouldn't you like to see yourself in the future, too?! Just for a little while?

Day 5 - A picture of your favorite memory.

 This one is a tie as well... 

One of my favorite memories in my first trip to Nicaragua. I didn't know it at the time but it was the beginning of a life long love for missions. I never dreamed that the Lord would open up a love in me for this. I had never even been on a mission trip, much less out of the country! I changed on that trip and I will never ever be the same. Now, the Lord has called me to missions. Called me to do that my whole life. And I couldn't be  happier about it. If I hadn't of gone on that first trip I would have never known that calling on my life! :)

Another of my favorite memories is my very first D-Group at Souled Out! I had been to Souled Out numerous times but had never had my own D-Group! I grew tremendous amounts by just leading girls. When you are a leader you are held accountable. You have to be more mindful of your decisions. There are still not many decisions that I make without wondering how it would affect these girls if they knew what decision I was making. I am so thankful for the experiences and growth that I have encountered in my D-Groups!

Day 4 - A picture of something you wish you could forget.

This one is TOUGH.

Who takes a picture of something that you wish you could forget?!?! I know I usually take pictures of things I'd like to remember. There are things in my life that I wish I could forget. Things that I have done that have carried me farther away from the Lord. Things that did not benefit me or the Kingdom. But I know those things, in turn, made me wiser. Made me more aware of the devil's tactics. Romans 8:28 says "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." So even those things I DO wish I could forget... I know they worked out for the good for me. 

Day 3 - A picture of the cast from your favorite show.

If you have talked to me very much in the last few months, you will know that I have been addicted to Law & Order SVU. I started watching it on Netflix when my cable was messed up. I started on Season 11, then watched Season 10... Then I decided to just start at the beginning. I have watched Seasons 1-3 and I'm on Season 4 now! I know, it's pathetic! Haha. But I love that show! :) And from watching it, I'm pretty sure I could get a job as a detective! Haha!

Day 2 - A picture of you and the person you are closest to...

Ok, so this one is IMPOSSIBLE... I am closest to more than one person! I would have to say that I'm probably closest to Hilary and Callye. Like I said in a previous post... we are not 3 separate people... we are each 1/3 of a whole. :) We fit. I love these two more than anything. We have some of the craziest messed up fights and arguments but then we're there for each other when the times comes. Love them! 

This is hard because I do have some absolutely wonderful friends that I am close to, as well. Love all of you!!!

Day 1 - A picture of yourself with fifteen facts.

1. I am the baby... and always will be!
2. I've been spoiled by not only my mom but my two big sisters...
3. I had kidney surgery when I was ten months old. I was very sick which led to much of the spoiling :)
4. My daddy left when I was two... but I would have it no other way. This way I don't remember things.
5. I am the only Merany I know. Thanks MOM. :)
6. No one EVER gets my name right on the first try. EVER!
7. I have only ever had one grandparent. My Granny.
8. The residents at the Etheridge House have been my "grandparents" and I wouldn't trade them for anything or anyone. They've filled that void. Some more than others!
9. My two big sisters are my best friends...
10. God gave me the best brother ever when Callye married Brad. And they together gave me my wonderful, crazy, high maintenance, dramatic, and adorable niece, Gracie! 
11. Quoting movies with Hilary is one of my favorite things to do. Even though all of my quotes are from Hope Floats, StepMom, or Remember the Titans. :)
12. I tend to talk very ghetto when I get tired or when I'm around certain people! :) It's fun.
13.  Souled Out Church Camp is one of my FAVORITE times of year!!! By far!!!! :)
14. I LOVE spending time in El Salvador and Nicaragua.
15. I love that I know the calling that the Lord has placed on my life.... Now we just have to make it happen! It's getting closer :)