August 2012

2012: What will this year bring?

Emily Kissell                                                              August 2012

Junior year starts in just a few days.  Once again, I have to apologize for the lack of consistent updates this year.  I will do my best to keep this short while still explaining the evens thus far.  To begin, I will say that due to my still being in a wheelchair at the time of counselor orientation, I was not able/allowed to help with Signs and Wonders Camps in Kansas City (and therefore elsewhere).  That, and the fact that my lease had ended caused me to have to move ‘home’ to Minnesota for the summer.  However, before I made the move and after a few chaotic days of frantic packing and deep cleaning, I went to a healing service at the camp on their last night.  While there, at least a hundred kids prayed over my knees and I felt some strength return to my knees.  I was still in my wheelchair but could walk a little further at least.  The improvement, though small it may seem was great for me!  So, the next day, with my car packed with as much as I could (and the rest in a storage unit) I drove ‘home’ to Minnesota.

Summer back in Minnesota was challenging to say the least.  I had done the foolish thing of planning on spending my summer in Kansas City (and perhaps with some traveling for camps), and so when I was ‘homeless’ and handicapped, I was pretty upset.  I hadn’t applied for any jobs in Minnesota (in April) because I was expecting to stay in Kansas City.  By the time I arrived in Minnesota in early June, most of the college students had already been home and perhaps even had jobs.  Had I started applying in April (at least) I might have had a job for the summer.  In fact, most of that month was spent on the couch filling out applications.  At least on Sundays and Wednesdays I was able to help out with my kids church; leading small groups, teaching preschool, etc.

In July, some families in our church went up north for the weekend and we rented some cabins.  That was really fun!  Right before we left my previous boss at the daycare I’ve worked at on and off for the past 5 years called to offer me a temporary job for a week.  This ended up lasting three weeks!  It was so great to be able to work again and I had so much fun meeting the new kids and seeing the few that I still knew. I was even able to attend a church friend’s wedding at the end of the month which was so beautiful!

Finally, the first week of August arrived and I was able to be a counselor for 4 girls from my church at the Upper Midwest Signs and Wonders Camp.  The camp was so amazing and really I could write a whole page or two on it but this is becoming long enough.  I’ll just skip to the end and tell about the last night at camp which, again, was the traditional healing service.  The whole week there had been a guest speaker at the afternoon sessions (aka: counselor break time) from Bethel in California and he had been speaking and teaching about healing to the kids. The kids were so pumped up and encouraged by the healings they were witnessing every day!  So, when the last night came, there was hardly a thought of doubt in their hearts!  That night, at the service, I received prayer from many kids (and most of my girls stuck with me the whole time).  Near the end, I was actually feeling worse and I just wanted to give up, but one my girls said to me: ‘Emily, raise your hand!  Keep it up!’  So, with her helping my hand stay up, I went up for more prayer and the pain persisted.  Though my faith was shrinking back, the kids’ was increasing.  Finally, to my shock, I realized that he pain in my knees was decreasing…and fast.  I couldn’t believe it!  It was such a strange sensation because I knew that thought the pain was disappearing, I knew that the problem(s) in my knees was still there so I still had to take it easy.  The next morning (Thursday), as we went down to breakfast, some of my girls asked me why I was still walking like it hurt…and I had to keep reminding myself to walk normal because I could now.  After about 5 months of being in a wheelchair and walking strange I had to retrain myself how to walk!  Thank You Jesus! J

The day after camp, I woke up, packed the last of my things into my car.  I then went to a travel clinic to get the necessary shots required for my visa to Bolivia, visited my grandparents and finally headed back down to Kansas City!  I had wanted to switch to my nightwatch schedule immediately and as early as I could before school started.  However, I was way too exhausted from the roadtrip, packing, and the shots so I decided to switch the next day (Saturday).  But, due to the shots I woke up really sick the next day and slept way too much to be able to switch properly.  Yet again, my plans were just not working out!  Finally, Sunday came and my fever broke and I was able to switch!  As I write this, it is day 5 and I’m feeling better and better. 

Also, if you would like my new address please email me and I will be glad to give it to you.  I will try to take some pictures of my basement apartment (shared by a girl on a different schedule…and I rarely see her!).  I am so happy to be back in Kansas City and am so excited to begin the school year!  Please email or text or call me with any prayer requests you might have and I would love to pray for you!  Thank you for all your support!  God Bless!

Proverbs 19:21 “Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”

~Emily 

emilykissell@ihopu.org

If you would like to partner with me financially, you can send checks made out to IHOP-KC and send them directly to me or the base.  IHOP-KC is recognized by the IRS to be a religious order and any donations (so long as my name is NOT on the check) will be able to be tax-deductible.  It is very important, if you do want to have tax deduction, that you do not put my name anywhere on the check. 

If you send it straight to the mission’s base here please do not include any personal note or letter to me as they will discard of it and I will never see it.  There are thousands of people at this mission’s base and they cannot just personally deliver my mail to me.  You can simply put a post-it or a scrap piece of paper with my full name on it in the envelope or stuck to the check, it is better that you not write my name on the envelope.  Kansas City and the United States government require that at least 20% of my check go towards federal, city, etc. taxes, so I will only get to keep 80% of the amount.  If you wish to support me and do not want those taxes taken out you can simply make the check out to me.  “Contributions are solicited with the understanding that IHOP-KC has complete discretion and control over the use of the donated funds” 

May 2012 Update

2012: What will this year bring?

Emily Kissell                                                                      May 2012

School’s out for summer!  This school year has been hard and amazing at the same time.  This semester alone has probably been the hardest and most stretching one yet.  With the onset and increase in health problems, to the near death experiences of some of my friends, to gaining more of the unending knowledge of God.  Yes, this year already is proving to be a year of restoration!  My health may not be ‘restored’ just yet, but my heart and mind are in the process of restoration.  My mind is being renewed and restored daily.  My heart is being revived and restored.  Honestly, it is so much better to have a heart that is alive and well while still in pain physically.  I’m sure all of you would agree with me that quite possibly the most painful thing in life is heart-ache.  Yes, chronic pain, acute pain, broken/fracture bones, weak immune system, etc they all are bad, but what’s worse is to have broken heart on top of all of that.  The Lord is so good and kind! 

This summer (Lord willing) is looking to be a busy one; likely my busiest one yet.  This whole year actually looks like much traveling will happen, again Lord willing.  As many of you know, I have been wanting to be a camp counselor for the Children Equipping Center;s (children’s ministry here at IHOP-KC) ‘Signs and Wonders Camps’.  There are twelve camps total; three of which are located in Kansas City, and one is even in Poland! (pretty unlikely that I will be allowed to go there, although I would definitely NOT object to going if invited!). The remaining eight are all over the states: Colorado, Virginia, Mississippi, New Jersey, Ohio, Minnesota, Oregon, and Florida.  Most of these regional camps are local houses of prayer who are partnering with IHOP-KC’s CEC to put on these camps.  (I have yet to hear back from them if I can even help out…being in a wheelchair, I’m not exactly the most likely candidate)

The lengths of the camps range from 4-7 days long and are 0-7 days apart from each other.  Therefore I cannot attend each one (again, I still need their permission to be able to help out), nor would I be able to drive.  So, flying will be ideal and unfortunately renting cars would have to be an option because of the location of the camps versus airports.  Although, I may still be too young to rent cars anyway, seeing as I am only 24.  Another circumstance, after receiving permission to help out with regional camps, is that CEC is not able to pay for my travel expenses, so I will need to find my own way to the camps.  Regardless, I have been accepted to be a counselor for the local ones here in Kansas City and I have orientation this Saturday for the first camp next week! 

In other news, a week ago at my foot doctor appointment I was told I could stop wearing the boots.  This is so amazing since summer is officially here, hot and humid Missouri summers!  The moment I received the permission from my doctor to wear ‘normal shoes,’ I dug out my flip flops in my closet!  My knees still really hurt and so I am still confined to my wheelchair, but at least I can wear normal; weather appropriate shoes now.

Also, (more exciting news) I have been asked to be ‘in’ two weddings this year!  One in MN, over Labor Day weekend this September and the second is not in MN.  I cannot disclose any more detail than ‘not in MN’ for the second one, but I promise you it is VERY EXCITING!  Weddings are so much fun and I am so honored and blessed to be a part of each one!  (More info to follow) 

Sorry for the delay in these letters.  I really wanted to make them more consistent, at least every 2 months, but school got so busy!  I thank God daily for each and every one of you and am so blessed by all the support I’ve received from you.  May the Lord bless you and keep you; may He make His face to shine down upon you all!

~Emily J

Let me introduce to you: My 'old' buddy Boaz

Cupholder attachment (only one now and attached with duct tape!)...my genius idea!

Our first picture together (too cheesy?)

The beginnings...look how clean he looks! :)

Yes, I even went through a corn maze with Boaz! :)  It only took me like 1 hour (I think?).

Well, as of about a month ago, my bones and joints had been getting worse and worse.  Eventually bad enough to get me back in the wheelchair and off my feet/knees.  I went back to the foot doctor to try to find some answers but no such luck.  Apparently no breaks or fractures (which is good), but my sensitivity and pain is still inexplicable.  So, the doctor had ordered a blood test and an MRI (which I have yet to schedule).  He also gave me 2 boots and a handicap sticker thing. 

Funny story before I continue: so last year when I was in the wheelchair for 2 months, I also had a handicap sticker form my normal doctor.  It was this white paper that said a form number on it and she just told me to put it on my dash each time I parked.  So for about 2 months that’s what I did.  But, apparently, as I learned from the instructions of my foot doctor’s nurse, I was supposed to go to the DMV to get the actual sticker from them!  OOPS! Haha I never knew and it’s a good thing I never got caught because fines are ridiculously high!  Lesson learned…moving on (p.s. the sticker only cost me $2)!

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Speaking of learning lessons…last time I ended up in the wheelchair due to my stubborn and prideful attitude.  Yes my toes were sprained (all of them!), but because I didn’t take it easy, I ended fracturing various parts in my feet (2 spots in big toe, and top of my foot).  That should have just led me to use crutches, but practicing them in the doctor’s office was quite chaotic and I almost hurt myself even more.  So, the doctor agreed with me and sent me home with the handicap form and to stay put in my wheelchair until I’m healed.  On top of all of that, my knees have been bad ever since high school, when I was diagnosed with junior rheumatoid arthritis and had a really bad fall on my knees. 

Anyway, this time, I wanted to learn from my mistake and do better this time around. When my joints started to get bad again and my feet started to feel worse, I didn’t get in the wheelchair immediately because I still held out hope for healing first.  However, a week or so passed and I was hobbling around too much, so I finally gave in and sat back down.  My friends can attest to my hesitation and of course not-so-great attitude and embarrassment about having to be back there.

Well, that’s it for now I think.  Not sure how to update people on the status of my health, in all honesty I feel a little awkward about it.  But there it is…oh yeah and only last thing: my wheelchair’s name is Boaz!  (Boaz means ‘swiftness’ in Hebrew!:))

~Emily :)

God was with me ALWAYS!

Testimony/when I got ‘saved’ the first time: I must first state that I do not have perfect memory of every single detail so it is not 100% accurate.  But what happened is true.

When I was 3 years old, I was angry at something my mom had done, or maybe it was something my sisters had done.  I am not sure what exactly it was because I was too young.  Regardless of the trigger, my anger grew (also known as: the toddler temper tantrum).  Eventually, I packed up a handkerchief (with what, I do not know) and ‘ran away’ from my house with my neighbor friend who was with me.  We got as far as the bushes just past my backyard when we heard my mom’s authoritative and concerned voice behind us from the deck of my house.  At that time and age the distance we had gone had seemed so far away, but in reality it was maybe 30 yards.  I turned around at the tone of her voice and I knew I was now in trouble.  She yelled for us to return home right away.  I am not sure if I hesitated or threw a tantrum stating that I was running away from home.  However, my next memory is of me on my bed and my mom sitting next to me.  I was crying or had just finished crying.  I probably got a spanking as well. 

My mom was talking to me about disobeying her and how by my doing so that I had also hurt Jesus’ feelings.  I disobeyed Him too! I was devastated!  (Looking back now I would call that ‘conviction’ and maybe even some ‘fear of the Lord’.)  My mom went on to ask me if I would like to live for Him and invite Him into my heart.  I wanted to and so, right there, sitting on my bed, after being caught and facing the consequences of my disobedience, I prayed with my mom asking Jesus to forgive me and inviting Him to live inside of me forever! 

As a 3 year old, some might claim that the simplicity of my prayer was not salvation to the fullest extent and the sincerity in my heart was not completely legitimate.  And, that is partially true; I did not know what I was saying…I didn’t know what all of it meant exactly.  But honestly, sitting here, thinking back on it, at the age of 23, I still do not understand it fully.  I just know that I really meant what I prayed to Jesus that day.  I know that He heard my weak, little prayer.  I know that He accepted my childlike faith and belief in Him at that moment.  I know that He forgave me and cleansed me.  I know that He drew close to me and started living in me from that day onward.

My prayers today, are still prayers of salvation, in that I almost daily ask Jesus to forgive me and invite Him to take over my life.  I daily surrender to Him and ask for help all the time.  But as far as the sincerity in my heart not being legitimate, I do not believe that at all.  My memory is nowhere near perfect but I can remember the pain I felt when I realized that I had hurt Jesus.  Yes at 3 years old, I am human and all of us have gone astray.  Just thinking about that moment hurts my heart because I was so broken over that.  When I prayed that prayer to Jesus I was not simply repeating words from my mom.  I meant it and believed it. I felt different and lighter after I finished praying.  I received His forgiveness and mercy and salvation.  I even remember, from that day on, thinking about Him and talking to Him in my thoughts. 

I wish I knew the exact day that this happened, but I always think it’s around this time of year.  My birthday is about a month away.  I don’t remember there being any snow on the ground when we ran away, so maybe it was summer or spring.  Regardless of the date or season, I consider that to be the first day of my salvation.  Yes, I was only 3 years old.  Yes, I made the decision, not because my mom told me to, but because I felt the conviction and I didn’t like the icky feeling.  Even at the young age of 3, I believe that my prayer was legitimate and serious before the Lord.  I believe He accepted it and has held me accountable to it ever since.  He answered my request for Him to live in me that day.  Yes, it is a daily thing of asking Him to save me and the Bible even encourages us to be saved daily (Philippians 2:12 “Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.”)

Many might say that kids cannot think or feel on their own until they are at least 10-12 years old, before then they do not grasp the conviction and detrimental effects that sin has on our lives.  I beg to differ.  Jesus even tells us to be like little children every day. (Matthew 18:3 “Then he said, "I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.”)  Child-like faith is what will help us through salvation every day.  Why?  Because it just sounds too good/easy to be true to us most of the time.  But when kids hear something put simply, they believe it without hesitation.  They trust easily.  They believe easily.  This is a pretty scary thought sometimes but, I so want to be like a child again.  Wisdom and discernment are of course necessary.  However, to just believe and not doubt, that is one of the most freeing feeling in the world. 

Anyway, not sure what exactly my point is in this post.  Lately I have just been remembering (trying to remember) my childhood and where God was in the midst of it all.  I have been asking questions like:  “Holy Spirit, did You speak to me when I was little?  When did You start speaking to me?  Jesus did I love You when I was little?  Did my little love count?  Etc.

I have been having a great time in this conversation with my Heavenly Father about this and I want to encourage you all to do the same!  He so wants to talk to us and reveal Himself to us.  Be blessed and be like a child again, I dare you! :)

~Emily :)

IT IS NOT OKAY!

My heart has been heavy and broken this week!  Anger and deep sadness have overwhelmed me.  Sleep has escaped my eyes as I think about and pray about all of the events and circumstances of this week.  Where can I even begin? 

Well, I guess I can just preface it all with some ironic context.  First, a couple weeks ago I watched 'Cyber Bully' on Netflix.  It is a lifetime channel movie based on a true story about a teenage girl who is bullied not only at school, but then online on a social networking site.  Things get so bad that eventually she just breaks down and attempts suicide.  Luckily she lives, but there are so many who don't actually make it out alive and well.  Bullying was not the only thing going on in her life, she had also been dealing with divorced parents and friendship tensions. 

I know in my life, when I was depressed and eventually developed suicidal thoughts, it was NOT just one thing that caused those thoughts to enter into my mind.  Many things added on top of one another, and me feeling as though I had no one to talk to about it (as well as not exactly knowing how) helped the process along.  Hopelessness, despair, feeling alone, isolated, deep sadness, and other emotions overwhelmed me daily.  I looked to so many different things for help, but there were moments when I just thought my only option was to end my own life. 

Even knowing what I knew from years of going to church, camp, bible studies, personal prayer times, nothing could remove this hopelessness.  I hated when people would say 'Emily, I cannot help you...only Jesus can!'  I just always thought that was a lame excuse and they were just giving up on me because they no longer cared and I was too much of a burden.  But now (due to recent and past revelations/events) that it is in fact truth!  It is offensive and hard to hear when there are feelings of deep hopelessness and depression sets in full gear.  However, the 'reason' it is true is that no one, no other human is worthy to help.  Weak, broken, sinful people cannot change your mindset because they are too weak, broken and sinful.  Jesus is God made flesh!  He is NOT weak, He is NOT broken, and He is NOT sinful.  None of these, though He is fully human is true about His nature because He is fully God.  He chose to sacrifice Himself for us and for our sins.  He was the ONLY one who could do this because He was sinless and without any flaw.  That being said, He is truly the ONLY one who could not only help, but wants to help!

Before He went to the cross for crucifixion, He prayed intensely to the point of bleeding for us and about the destruction of sin that He would take on fully.  In Luke 22:39-46, Jesus is alone in the Garden of Gethsemane, with only a few disciples standing watch and praying with Him nearby.  Jesus walks on a little farther to pray.  But when He returns to His disciples who were supposed to be praying with Him and standing watch were asleep.  

Luke 22:39-36 “Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives.  There he told them, ‘Pray that you will not give in to temptation.’ He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, ‘Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me.  Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.’  Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him.  He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.  At last he stood up again and returned to the disciples, only to find them asleep, exhausted from grief.  ‘Why are you sleeping?’ he asked them. ‘Get up and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation.’” (NLT)

Jesus' closest friends and His disciples could not pray with Him for a little while in His darkest moments.  I don't want that to be said about me, as His friend.  When He is saddened about something I want to share in His sorrows.  Likewise, when He is rejoicing over something, I want to be celebrating with Him.  

If He hates sin, I want to hate sin.  

If He fights for righteousness, I want to fight with Him.

If He loves even those who hate Him, I want to love my enemies.

If He is the servant of all, I want to be a servant.

If He hates wickedness, I want to hate wickeness

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Last week, I finished reading a book entitled 'A Cry for Justice:Overcome anger, reject bitterness, and trust in Jesus who will fight for you' by Shelley Hundley*.  I highly recommend it.  I was able to relate to a lot of the things she spoke about in the book and was also able to understand and see things in a new light.  A fresh outlook on situations and circumstances in my life and how the Lord felt about it has given me more peace and joy!  (*You can purchase this book online at amazon.com for $10 and under.)

He hates wickedness and He is my Judge, not just my Lord, Saviors, Bridegroom and King.  The things that have been done and said to me in the past, He cares about and He calls them wrong!  The physical and emotional abuse I was so traumatized from in my childhood is no small thing in His eyes.  He calls wrong things wrong.  No matter the scale, and not comparing to others' pain...He cared then and He cares now.  Given that revelation of the truth of who He is, has helped me to understand that I can let it go because He won't.  He will judge those who did me the wrong, and me for wronging others.  With that last part in mind, and also knowing what Matthew 6:14-15 says "'If you forgive those who sin against you, your Heavenly Father will forgive you.  But if you refuse to forgive others your Father will not forgive you.'" (NLT)  That terrifies me and helps me to then go about forgiving all those who hurt me, both in the past, and in the present.  Now, as I move forward in forgiveness, I find myself even crying out for mercy on their behalf, because if I want to be shown mercy, I must also show mercy.  Matthew 5:7 " God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy." (NLT)

All this being said, I now want to share with you a terrible event that happened this past week.  

Last Tuesday night, right as I was logging off of Facebook, a status caught my eye.  It was from one of the moms that used to have kids in the daycare I worked at in Minnesota.  She had said that her daughter (13yrs. old), one of my best buddies at the daycare, had attempted suicide because of school bullying!  I sat there in shock, not knowing whether to cry, or call her, or get in my car and drive to Atlanta where they now live.  After a little bit, I then called a friend of mine whose mom owned the daycare, and told her about it.  Shock is such a lame word to use to explain what I felt.  I felt terrified, sad, angry at this injustice against her, angry (in general), thankful that she was alive, and so many more emotions!  I cannot even imagine what her mom and family felt.  I am not even going to try.  The next 3 hours consisted of texting intercessors to pray for this little girl, crying, sobbing, obsessively refreshing facebook newsfeed, and crying out in prayer for this girl.  I eventually fell asleep way past my bedtime.  I don't care that I only got a short sleep that night or nights after.  

I couldn't help but acknowledge that what happened to this girl...that could have been me when I was about her age.  Yes, I attempted, but never got that far, never to the point of needing hospitalization.  I hate that this happened and I have been talking with my friend, Jesus about it.  I had been praying the week earlier to become closer to Him, I wanted to feel what He felt about things happening in my life, in the lives around me, in the nations, etc.  He answered my request!  I don't know how to explain it exactly, but as I prayed for this little girl, I began to feel this deep sorrow that seemed to be planted in me as I prayed.  I began to feel righteous anger towards the wrong that had been done to her.  A burden to pray was planted in me, one that I am grateful for, even though it hurts and takes a lot out of me.  What happened is NOT okay.  No one can comfort me with words like 'It's ok Em...it's going to be okay.' No actually, this is NOT okay!  I know they mean well, but we need to realize that this is NOT okay!  We need a Judge!  Jesus will judge the wrong done to her and others around the world.  Right now, what victims like her need to realize is that Jesus not only loves her, but that He loves her so much that He is going to avenge her!  Yes, it is terrifying, but He is just and true in His judgements.  

Some might say that bullying may be pretty 'low' on the 'sin' scale, but my God did not make a scale to weigh which sin is worse than others.  Sin is sin.  Wrong is wrong.  Right is right.  Truth is truth.  This is hope.  

I want to be such a close friend to Jesus that He takes me with Him as He goes to pray.  I want to be one who stands watch and prays with Him.  He wants partnership?  Then I accept!  

Luke 18:7-8 "' And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?  I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?'”(NIV)

Well, that's it for now.  Please keep this little girl and her mom and family in your prayers as they continue the rest of their lives and for their healing.  It is a wonderful miracle that this little girl survived and I am so thankful!  I know there are many other stories with a different outcome and my heart breaks for those as well!  I am so thankful that He has delivered me and healed me from my depression and suicidal thoughts.  I know what it is like to live day to day, night after night of unending torture in my thoughts.  But now I know that not only is it possible to live free, but I really am living free from the depression that held me down and from the thoughts that tormented me night and day.  PRAISE THE LORD HE JUDGES AND HAS MERCY!  Oh how He loves us!

~Emily :)

p.s. this is the verse that has meant the most to me in the times when depression and suicidal thoughts were being weakened by His love.  (not just these few verses, but the whole chapter is helpful)

Psalm 94: 17-19 "Unless the Lord had helped me, I would soon have settled in the silence of the grave.  I cried out, 'I am slipping!' but Your love, O Lord, supported me.  When doubts filled my mind, Your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer." (NLT)

(I also like this version):

"Unless the LORD had given me help, I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death. When I said, “My foot is slipping,” Your love, O LORD, supported me.  When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul." (NIV)

Hello 2012! What do You have in store for me this year????

Well, sorry about the delay in posts.  I had promised to post pictures of Christmas house decorations and such.  So, those are posted above/below(?). 

Anyway, so far this year I have switched to a brand new schedule.  I am still doing the NightWatch at IHOP-KC and our prayer room hours remain the same: midnight to 6am.  However, instead of sleeping during the day (6am to 3pm) we have switched to sleeping from 3pm to about 10/11pm.  Basically my prayer room hours are now ‘early morning’.  I am on day 11 of it right now and it is going okay.  School doesn’t start back up until the 23^rd and so I have a lot of free time and not much to do. 

I feel like I am going through culture shock, being awake when stores open, instead of only being able to shop at 24/7 places (Walmart…) and seeing the sun a whole lot more.  The weather this winter is not at all like winter, the highs everyday are in the 50’s,but freezing at night.  It reminds me of living in Cochabamba, Bolivia in a way.  Cochabamba is nicknamed the ‘land of eternal springtime’ because year round the high is in the 70s and in the winter it’s only cold at night and early morning really.  I remember in the winters going to school with layers, and hand warmers in most of my pockets.  But by recess it was so warm that we would spend the first bit of recess in the bathroom removing layers.  Then, at night, when the sun went down it would get cold again.  So it’s not exactly the same but I am struggling with the layers by like 10am here.  :)

Well, aside from mentioning that Christmas at home was good and IHOP-KC’s annual conference: onething (Dec.28-31^st) was also really good, and busy…I am not sure what more to say other than…

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

~Emily :)

p.s. I don’t usually do ‘New Years Resolutions’ but I can say that I will try my best to write more consistently this year, both in blogging and newsletters. 

CHRISTMAS 2011!

 Decorating the big tree! :)  

We felt it would be appropriate to dress the part

And take breaks every now and then for some carol sing-a-longs!

The end results of out decorating 

(the giant candy canes didn't make the cut this year...)

 My mini tree looked better than ever this year!

Indoor snowball fight!

Back home in MN for Christmas, even my puppy Jackson gets into the Christmas spirit!

His ugly Christmas sweater...

...And his Santa outfit!

Well, I wish I had taken more photos of this season but there's only 348 until Christmas 2012! :)  I printed out some christmas cards with the picture with Bethany and I under the tree but couldn't afford to buy enough to send to all of you so instead you all get a mini e-photo album!

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!  :)

~Emily :)