Summer Ponderments

So!!! It's been another bunch of weeks of drafted and saving and not blogging and drafting some more. 
I just thought I'd give a brief update on my life since I will soon be without internet and will disappear off the face of the earth to most people... I shall still exist to a few people. :) 


So... the Brazil thing.. that happened 2 months ago now... the seeds that were planted in me from that are still growing and I'm starting to see some fruit. Perspectives ended and it was the very last day of Perspectives I had a bit of an epiphany moment!  I was reading along in my Bible and came across Matthew 19:29-30 "And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first." 
I think I've read these verses a million times before.. but they jumped off the page. As hesitant as I am about giving up YEARS to live a less than comfortable life... I think I've come to realize that it's worth it and God will reward me with joy for it. 


The only thing is, I did not have joy while i was *in* Brazil and that worries me. I do not wish to commit to many years with out joy. Granted.. the joy has come to me now and I can smile and all that God has done with my time in Brazil.. But I truly hope that when I go overseas and serve Jesus by loving people from other cultures and countries and living situations.. that the joy comes on a little quicker than it did on my last trip. And yes.. I will be going. Some day, some way, to some place some where. That's about all I know about that for now. 


For the time being.. I shall continue working towards a degree that would help me in getting overseas to serve Jesus. I feel like I've been set on being a teacher since 8th grade.... but I'm actually have seconds thoughts about that.. I shall continue towards that.. but we'll see what God has for me by the time i actually graduate. 


It's summer!!! I've been enjoying these last 2 weeks at home with my siblings. We've been finger painting, sidewalk chalking, throwing frisbees, enjoying the freshcut grass, the lilacs, the kitties, watching movies, playing cards and other such fun adventures that are to be had at home. :) 


I've also taken on a wood-working project for a friend. I've never been especially skilled with crafty things..  But my friend came to me the week before finals week and said he wished to have a walking cane and described it a little.. 

take a chunk of wood

work it on the lathe

sand it!

I don't know what I was thinking but.. I decided to take on the project and see how I could do.  

Pick  a chunk of tree.. 

draw a handle on it. 

Band saw!

Cut it out.

I spent quite a lot of time in the basement wood shop getting myself covered in sawdust to make this thing. It was a lot of fun!

Take the pieces and put them together
after you sand them down a little

Put them together and you have a cane!

So it's not done yet.. I still need to engrave it and varnish it off to make it look pretty. But I'm rather proud of it as it is my first major wood project. I've only ever made little wooden things like ornaments and picture frames before and so this was a lot of fun. 

I hope to show off the finished product soon!

Uhmm.. that's about all I have for now. :)