Today, Septemeber 4th 2009...this is what I read and was blessed!

...from Isaiah 35... Joy of the Redeemed.

" The desert and parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. ...they will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God.

Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, 'Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, ...'
Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.

And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness. ...only the redeemed will walk there, and the ransomed of the Lord will return.
Gladness and joy will overtake them, sorrow and sighing will flee away." AMEN!!!

How wonderful and amazing is our Lord. He is good and what he does is good.
Read this whole chapter for your self and put your own Amen at the end. This is our God! We want to see these things in our own lives and in the world around. And I think it's safe to say that we all long for the words at the end to come true. Let his JOY fill you today!

power...

Today we had a time of prayer with our small kids at Casa Alba. So many days go by as I'm working there that I just feel I barely make it through the shift. Other days I'm overwhelmed because I know they need much, much more then just clothes, a bed, and food... they need healing, love, moms and dads, they need hope, grace, hugs, tears, safety. And then today, not only did these small children pray and thank Jesus for each other and ask for moms and dads to come, but we, as some of us living here and a team that came to serve our kids this week, also took the opportunity to pray over these kids. Tears came to my eyes as we laid hands and prayed over our children. The realization of God's plan for these kids and the opportunity to be apart of asking God to speak over them and about them and to call out truth of who these kids are and what they are to be and to disclaim what they are not, was incredible!
These kids are of high worth; they are wanted; they are loved - by the Lord and by us; and the plans for their life is great! I could see a picture of protection around them. A time to speak truth into their life and ask God to begin now to open their eyes and ears and heart to see and hear and know Him. These kids are young and mold able. This is the time to invest in their lives; to teach and encourage and love. How privileged I feel to have been apart of this day and to continue to be apart of their lives. May every day be like today and may we see His Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven! May our kids love and give and worship Him. And may they grow up to be all they were created to be! Amen and Amen!

rainy days

Spring has come to Marghita and so have the rainy days. First we had crazy snow, then freezing cold and ice everywhere; and now the spring rains! The warm days I love as well as the sun shine and lovely breeze, but the mud I could do without. I would bet the kids would say otherwise! What is better then a muddy pond in your back yard? It's warmer out and so you can play longer, your nice and dry execpt for your socks, and your boots squish when you walk?!! Seasons are changing and soon the time. The grass a bit higher, the trees will soon blossom and bloom, and the happiness and joy of new life will soon be felt by all.
So here is how it was just a bit ago, here is as it was today, and more will follow by what it will be.

Laszlo's thoughts, words, and songs.

Today when Laszlo was washing his hands, hands, hands (songs can be made from even the simplest request)... he jumped up to see him self in the mirror and exclaimed: 'I have curls!' Yes indeed! Always have!!! Who would have known...new discoveries every day!
And, the other day I was explaining why we eat. I said we are like the flowers, if they don't get water and sunshine they don't grown and if we don't get food then we don't grown. ...'and we need rain???' Well water, yes. So I know that he was listening because the very next morning he asked me: 'Am I big?' Yes, he is growing! Next week he will be 6!!!

be my everything

THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE! I WILL REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT!

"No matter what this day will bring
I will lift my hands and sing
Oh be my everything

I'll make my life an offering
In you alone, I believe
Oh be my everything,
My everything

When the world comes crashing down around my feet
And I can't see ten feet in front of me
Jesus, I know that you are strong when I am weak
So please help me, allow you to be
My everything

No matter what this day will bring
I will lift my hands and sing
Oh be my everything
I'll make my life an offering
In you alone, I believe
Oh be my everything,
My everything

And there are times when it seems as though you're far away
But I will hope in you, for this is the day that you have made
And thank you Jesus for this blessed gift of your grace
For helping me to see,
My need for you to be
My everything

No matter what this day will bring
I will lift my hands and sing
Oh be my everything
I'll make my life an offering
In you alone, I believe
Oh be my everything

No matter what this day will bring
I will lift my hands and sing
Oh be my everything
I'll make my life an offering
In you alone, I believe
Oh be my everything,
Oh be my everything,
Oh be my everything,
My everything"
(lyrics by Telecast)

New Years Eve 2008

Bed time... little Cera: 'can we read a book?' me: No, it's late and time for bed. 'well can we pray?' yes, we will.
Cera is 4 and her prayers start well and then just end up telling a story about the Christmas tree we have, and her birthday that was just a few days ago and yet she thinks and hopes it will be again soon, and her walk to the store. She also asked me today was it was night time and I tried to explain that ever day the sun it up and it's day time and then it goes down and the moon comes up and it's night. To that I got a - Nu Cred ca soare mege jos. (I don't believe it goes down.) She was quite matter of fact. And when I tried to explain the New year coming and that there are 12 months in a year and then we have a new year, she didn't get it and just kept asking why were were having a party and who's birthday it was. She is just so excited about birthdays since hers was just last week.
So then, back to bed time prayers... Laszlo begins to pray, like every night: 'Multumesc (Thank you) for Cora (my mom), Dan (my dad), and Mama lui Katie' (my roommates mother who was just here with us for Christmas). Top 3 in prayers for tonight! Then he continued to be Thankful for: 'the Big Christmas tree & the Small one. Amin!'

And we are so Thankful for our ONE Christmas tree! It was a gift and we have enjoyed it....especially the decorating! Well actually, I must stop myself and say, Laszlo was right. We have the big, real Christmas Tree in the family room, and a small fake one on the dresser in our bedroom. So he was right!

(more pictures are to come, but here are just a few)
And....
HAPPY NEW YEAR! LA MULTI ANI from Romania! or as Laszlo said on the phone to my mom: 'Happy Birthday to you, you, you!'

just thinking

...just thinking that it's been a bit since i've last updated my blog. i've been meaning to this past week...but my mind and heart is full and so when i start to think i'm just a bit overwhelmed and wonder how i can really put it all on paper; especially so that's it's short and not a whole book! but right now i'm just down loading some pictures of laszlo to send to my dad for his birthday tomorrow. we made and mailed a card to him last week, running almost the whole way to the post office to make sure we got there before it closed! laszlo was so excited and just kept saying - 'run courtney! faster! we need to get to get to the posta! fast!' i also need to burn a few more pictures onto a cd for my dear friend and her family that are leaving in just a few days. so then thinking of her, i feel sadness in my heart as i think of saying goodbye - again. i know life is full of comings and goings, but the thought of saying goodbye is not a pleasant thought. i've said goodbye alot these past few years that i've been over here in romania. mostly to family, but also to friends. i hate goodbyes. i used to think they'd get a bit easier, but they don't, ever! but, in spite of all that, i'm also so excited for this lovely family and the next part of their lives that are about to begin! and then thinking (once again) of them, i think of the journey they've been on and the one i'm one and the one we will be on till the end. i think of the amazing lessons we've all been taught, especially these past few years in romania. there has been lovely and wonderful times shared with each other as friends and fellow workers. there has been many children that we have fallen in love with and cared for and watched grow up and some that have left to families. but we have also seen and felt pain and hurt. when you feel and let your heart love, that is what happens. but the lord has provided and brought comfort and help and love and precious babies in the midst of all that. he has created strong friendships and allowed us to be apart of each others lives on a daily basis. we have seen him work and i, at least for me, can say that it's wonderful to be apart as well as watch closely as the lord moves and works. tonight i feel overwhelmed as i think about all the lord has done for us and our friends and our kids! my heart is just in awe of him. he is good. he is blessing. he is my portion. he is my provider - the faithful one and the one i can trust. he is the greatest teacher, using his word and his people he created to be apart of that. life! so then, i guess i can say my life is full, my heart is overfull and my thoughts are as well. he knows me well and so i come as i am before him in thanks and also to lay my heart before him. i can't bare all this on my own. i don't think i'm meant to. i wonder, can i make it though the next few days as goodbyes happen again? and i'm thinking, how does sadness and joy mix? and hope? cause i feel both right now. and can i make it through the holidays with out family from home? i have before but can i this year? and what about all that is to be with sweet laszlo? i want to say i don't think so; but i know that's not true...because i have before and i know that he is faithful! maybe the title of this entry should be 'thoughts and feelings'. these are my thoughts, at this moment; tonight.