February 15th - President's Day
List of 29 significant women who have throughout my life impacted how I see the world around me.
1. Pat
2. Letha Bishop
3. Martha Schmidt
4. Linda Witte
5. Renee Crane
6. MJ Grossman
7. Bekah Good
8. Laura Berge Jones
9. Miz (Ms Evans)
10. Heather Akins
11. Leah Swart
12. Krista Propst Clermont
13. Dana James
14. Julie Propst
15. Debbie Garland
16. Sarah Mann Ward
17. Bekah Crane
18. Lisa Sipes
19. Nancy Parish
20. Andrea Breland
21. *Eunice
22. *Rachel
23. *Abigail
24. Becca Ruppel
25. Bekkah Peabody
26. Jen Stewart
27. Lori
28. Ami
29. Beth Corzine

In honor of Valentine's Day - List #14 - 29 things I want in my valentine

1. Willing to get married in Portugal

2. Lived overseas/International

3. Leadership

4. Intelligence - challenges me

5. Humor - good times

6. Can fix things b/c I sure don't want to

7. Likes hot weather

8. Passion for those who have never heard

9. Servant's heart

10. Loves children

11. Approved by my family

12. Love to explore new places

13. Outgoing

14. Encouraging

15. Respected

16. Pushes me to try new things

17. Instigator

18. Guards his words

19. Communicator - Listener

20. Tall, dark and handsome

21. Likes to grill - I love some kebabs

22. Common interests - books, movies, outdoors, group games

23. Charming - brings me simple happy surprises

24. Not Ugly

25. Protector

26. Good family

27. Some Arabic skills would be nice

28. Welcomes and enjoys having others into his home

29. And to end with the obvious - Passion for Christ and the Gospel

#13 - 29 Games I have played and vote as very fun

1. Apples to Apples (Regular, Junior and even the Bible version so fun!)

2. Last Word

3. Whoonu

4. Cranium

5. Quelf

6. Uno (Princess)

7. Phase 10

8. Sorry

9. Hoopla

10. Hullabaloo

11. Zooreeka

12. Battleship

13. Game of Life

14. Connect Four

15. Candyland

16. Chinese Checkers

17. Sequence

18. Catch Phrase

19. Imaginiff

20. In a Pickle

21. Sleeping Queens

22. Clue

23. Marry, Date or Dump

24. Zigity

25. Dominoes (Mexican Train)

26. Jenga

27. Skip-Bo

28. Scene-it

29. Master-Mind

#12 - 29 Things to eat for breakfast - not to mention all the variations of each choice!

1. Oatmeal

2. Pancakes

3. French Toast

4. Omelets

5. Waffles

6. Cinnamon Toast

7. Bagel and Cream Cheese

8. Quiche

9. Muffins

10. Biscuits

11. Donuts

12. Coffee

13. Banana

14. Grapefruit

15. Cream of Wheat

16. Fried, boiled, scrambled eggs

17. Cereal (could make another list of these options)

18. Granola Bar

19. Smoothie

20. Yogurt

21. Juice (Orange, apple...)

22. Tea

23. Cold Pizza

24. Pumpkin Pie

25. Coffee Cake

26. Scone

27. Fried Egg Sandwich

28. Bacon

29. Sausage

29 Little Happy Surprises from my 29th Birthday

1. Woke up to bag of goodies from my new roomies

2. Oreos

3. Twizzlers

4. Peanut Butter!

5. Was told happy birthday via email, facebook, phone and in person

6. Was told happy birthday in at least 4 different languages (Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese, and English)

7. Car ride with girls to Olde English Tea Room

8. Laura Beth was our server at the Tea Room!

9. Mary Pat, Cindy, Briana, Autumn and Stephanie joining me for "proper" tea

10. Vanilla Tea and Scone

11. Knowing more than Mary Pat about proper tea - who would have thought!

12. Conversation with my girls

13. Carebear sticky notes, tea, recipes and more sticky notes - Thank you Stephanie!!!

14. Laura Beth brought out my scone with a birthday candy and song from the girls - who were pretty impressed with their singing skills

15. Mary Pat's driving skills

16. Class got out early

17. Seeing more friends at the library - Alex, Kate and Meredith!

18. Got to PSSWF and Paige had made me the birthday cake of birthday cakes! The first birthday cake I have had since my 25th bday cake Regah made for me.

19. Got sung to again at PSSWF

20. On the way home talked with Mom and Dad

21. Got home to roommates!

22. Cupcakes from Marsha and birthday card from ladies in my small group

23. In the mail got Birthday card and gift from Heidi and Doug!

24. Birthday call and song from Allison

25. Realized I haven't had a "normal" meal today - think I need to eat something not sugar!

26. My nieces made and sent me birthday pictures! I love them

27. Birthday Call from Meredith

28. Taking the evening off from schoolwork, thanks Mom and Briana for telling me it was a good idea

29. Watching One Tree Hill with roommate Briana

+1 - My Dad said he sent me a new book - it's coming in the mail!

Conclusion: Last Birthday of my 20's very good

#10 - 29 Random things I did today

1. Woke up

2. Made tea

3. Made cinnamon and brown sugar oatmeal

4. Enjoyed tea and reading Matthew

5. "Walked" with a video (it's too cold outside!)

6. Straighted my hair

7. Checked email

8. Worked on organizing/streamlining volunteer training material

9. Picked up copies for PSSWF

10. Answered the phone

11. Went to class

12. Handed in homework

13. Went to Panera's

14. Ate soup and bread for dinner

15. Went to a cooking class

16. Talked about plans after graduation

17. Talked with a friend about her bad dream

18. Complained about the cold weather

19. Drove home

20. Searched for a good song on the radio

21. Looked at my planner a billion times trying to fit more stuff in

22. Realized after my careful planning that I have to add more stuff I don't want to do

23. Had a banana with peanut butter this morning

24. Made this list while watching One Tree Hill Episode

25. Talked with roommate about her day

26. Replied to a text

27. Delivered an invitation to a shower I for my friend

28. Filled out paperwork

29. Decided to try and go to bed early

#9 29 Simple Things that make me happy

1. Doors

2. Pictures of family and friends

3. Tea

4. Blueberry Cobbler Coffee

5. Peanut Butter

6. Butterflies

7. Yellow flowers

8. Fireplace fires

9. books

10. comfy chair and blanket (with a book and tea)

11. Sunshine

12. Walk around a lake

13. Window seats

14. Going to the Zoo

15. Sleeping in

16. Evenings with friends

17. Cupcakes

18. Decorating for holidays/seasons

19. Getting letters or packages in the mail

20. Skittles

21. Cinnamon Scones

22. Fun Flavored Popcorn

23. Fazulia

24. Sunrise over the water

25. Being warm

26. Good conversations

27. Stamping and Scrapbooking

28. Good Chick flick

29. Listening to my music loud and singing along

#8 I Almost forgot! I would have been so sad in the morning if I had missed a day so early in the challenge - so for lack of thought and want to go to bed I am stealing Heidi's stream-of-consciousness list idea about SuperBowl Sunday

1. I made no plans for the evening

2. I was excited in church when I saw that Puggles was cancelled for SuperBowl Sunday. (That is my usual Sunday night activity with 2 year olds at church- love them)

3. I was excited when my new roommate suggested we make taco soup for the "event"

4. I realized I would not be watching the game because we do not have television

5. I did know it was the Saints vs the Colts

6. I was pretty impressed with myself that I had heard of Peyton Manning before

7. He's a quarterback, they throw the ball, right?

8. I don't really get football, I only watch it with my Dad so I can ask a lot of questions

9. I did want to see the commercials, so found them online

10. I then proceeded to follow the links to focus on the family

11. I will always wonder why the beer commercials are the best

12. We watched a chick flick in the middle of the Super Bowl

13. I like the Colts uniform better than the Saints

14. I learned more about Tim Tebow than I did about football

15. I did watch the score, as I waited for more commercials to come online

16. I also checked facebook to see others comments

17. I am super excited about the new Robin Hood film with Russell Crowe

18. I was excited that my roommate had oreos and I ate a few

19. On Super Bowl Sunday I took an Ethics quiz, and read 3 chapters of a book about Healthy Church

20. On Super Bowl Sunday I loaned a book to a friend for her New Testament class

21. I accidentally watched a few second of the game when I hit the wrong tab on the nfl internet site, I quickly got back to the commercials

22. I would have enjoyed watching the game if someone else was there to explain what was happening

23. I finished addressing invitations to a shower for my friend Autumn, and wrote cards to my Grandmas on Super Bowl Sunday

24. My roommate announced it was the first day of my Birthday Week!

25. I really wish this list didn't have to be 29 items long...I don't have much to say about Super Bowl Sunday

25. The taco soup was really good - I added Tabasco sauce and tortilla chips to mine, my roommate added sour cream and cheese to hers.

26. I was nervous for the Colts, and I wasn't even watching the game!

27. I was sad they lost by so many points, this is why I can't get into sports - I was sad and it was all based on having heard of the one guy before and liking their colors better!

28. I enjoyed Super Bowl Sunday - more for the chance to relax than the football

29. I wonder who started this Super Bowl Sunday tradition - I think I like it - so I must say thanks

#7 29 ingredients/food items that are now in my kitchen
1. Flour
2. Sugar
3. Salt
4. Pepper
5. Cinnamon
5. Brown Sugar
6. Oatmeal
7. Coffee
8. Tea
9. Chili Powder
10. Tabasco Sauce
11. Spagetti Sauce
12. Spagetti Noodles
13. Can of Beans
14. White Chicken Chili Seasoning packet
15. Garlic Salt
16. Peanut Butter
17. Ranch Dressing
18. Ketchup
19. Mustard
20. Lime Juice
21. Crushed Red Peppers
22. Apples
23. Bananas
24. Apple Sauce
25. Olive Oil
26. Salsa
27. Tortilla Chips
28. Corn
29. Mixed Veggies

February 6th

29 TV Shows I will admit to having watched and enjoyed

1. Gilmore Girls

2. Alias

3. One Tree Hill

4. House

5. C.S.I.

6. Grey's Anatomy

7. Little House on the Prairie

8. The Cosby Show

9. Family Ties

10. Who's the Boss

11. Growing Pains

12. The Office

13. Saved by the Bell

14. 90210

15. Felicity

16. Friends

17. Lizzie Mcguire

18. Boy Meets World

19. The Monkees

20. Dr. Quinn

21. The Twilight Zone

22. Even Stevens

23. Home Improvements

24. Dexter

25. Amazing Race

26. So You Think You can Dance

27. Reba

28. Full House

29. Dharma and Greg

List #5

Authors I have read recently, have in my collect or would recommend to others

1. Roland Muller

2. Calvin Miller

3. Beth Moore

4. Linda Dillow

5. Kay Arthur

6. Jennifer Rothschild

7. Tripp (Instruments in the Redeemer's Hand)

8. Dr. Reid

9. John Stott (The Cross of Christ)

10. J.I. Packer (Knowing God)

11. Francine River

12. Lynn Austin

13. Catherine Palmer

14. Elizabeth Prentiss (Stepping Heavenward)

15. A.T. Robertson

16. John Bunyan

17. Hannah Hurnard

18. Bilquis Sheikh

19. Khaled Hosseini

20. Max Lucado (Six Hours one Friday)

21. Linda Chaikin

22. Philip Yancey

23. Dee Henderson

24. Janette Oke (Love Comes Softly)

25. Gilbert Morris (Winslow Series - at least the 1st 10)

26. Laura Ingalls Wilder

27. C.S. Lewis

28. Liz Curtis Higgs

29. Jane Austen

29 Things I know about or learned from my Mom

1. My mom was born on February 4th - Happy Birthday!

2. My mom's name is Joan Marie (Enbody) Gillihan

3. My mom is very brave - it takes a brave person to leave America and take her family of 4 little girls to Africa, not brave people don't go there

4. My mom enjoys morning hours well - In every home she has a spot where she sits in the morning to read and get the day started well.

5. My mom keeps the house clean without hassle - she simply and quietly takes care of one room a day and keeps everything in order without much ado

6. My mom does not demand to be heard, but she does have an opinion

7. My mom is a skilled hostess -I will always strive to make people feel as comfortable and welcome in my home as they would in my parent's home

8. My mom got married at 18

9. My mom ran out of gas once in the middle of Kenya.

10. My mom loves my dad

11. My mom loves me and my 3 sisters

12. My mom loves her 2 grandsons and 4 granddaughters

14. I think she would also want included in this list that she loves her 3 son-in-laws

15. I hope she is still praying for a 4th

16. I learned from my mom that raising the volume of your voice is unnecessary

17. My mom has lived in four different countries

18. My mom used to make me a portion of chicken pot-pie without the crust

19. My mom rarely if ever sees an entire movie without falling asleep

20. My mom raised 4 independent and very different daughters who are all like her is many different ways.

21. My mom taught me how to cook, sew, and pretty much everything.

22. My mom enjoys working with children.

23. My mom loves well.

24. My mom is patient, kind and gentle

25. My mom has love, joy and peace

26. My mom made my bed for me my first day at RVA

27. I will always remember my Mom telling the story of Amy Carmichael

28. My mom likes sitting by the fire and so do I.

29. I love my Mom

#3 - Places I want to go...and haven't been to YET

1. Turkey

2. Iran

3. Syria

4. Jordan

5. Oman

6. Cyprus

7. Florida

8. Alaska

9. Ireland

10. Chad

11. Sudan

12. Egypt

13. Libya

14. Morocco

15. Lebanon

16. Italy

17. Mediterranean Sea

18. Red Sea

19. Black Sea

20. Cambodia

21. Scotland

22. Australia

23. Austria

24. Thailand

25. Tibet

26. France

27. Spain

28. Maine

29. England

This list was probably the easiest list ever - I want to go everywhere!

February 2nd - List 2 of 29 lists of 29...

29 Places I have been (in no particular order)

1. Washington

2. Oregon

3. Virginia

4. Kansas

5. Ohio

6. Arkansas

7. Missouri

8. Kisumu, Kenya

9. California

10. Antananarivo, Madagascar

11. Tennessee

12. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

13. Stonetown Zanzibar

14. Oklahoma

15. Uganda

16. Amsterdam, Holland

17. Dubai, UAE

18. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

19. Aden, Yemen

20. Mumbai, India

21. Kaiserslautern, Germany

22. Hyderabad, India

23. Lisbon, Portugal

24. North Carolina

25. South Carolina

26. Georgia

27. Vancouver, Canada

28. Boston, Massachusetts

29. Texas

List 1 of 29 Lists of 29

I have decided for this month of February to embrace the fact that I will be turning 29 and give myself a challenge. Plus, I like blogs and am sad that so many have stopped updating, so I am going to improve starting with myself.

So for my first list...

29 things I am thankful for from this weekend

1. Sunshine

2. Good friends

3. warm blankets

4. fun sledding in the snow with those good friends mentioned above

5. books

6. taco soup

7. phone calls

8. conversations via gmail chat

9. washer and dryer

10. New roommates

11. a comfy chair to sit in

12. oatmeal cookies

13. tea and hot chocolate

14. worshiping with brothers and sisters at home

15. Not having to drive anywhere on the snowy roads

16. Alias

17. Psalm 119

18. my planner

19. borrowing books and not having to buy them for class

20. music

21. did I mention sunshine and how it streams into our living room from the back porch in the morning? Love it

22. pizza pans that work as terrific sleds

23. getting to know new friends

24. realizing once again how great my friends are because they love and seek after Christ

25. dish washer

26. table and chairs = eating at table on chairs with friends

27. peanut butter (it had to be on the list somewhere)

28. rest

29. I am thankful for the start of a new year and all the potential it holds

I am Blessed

The pictures say more than I can. How greatly blessed I am just to be a part of this family.

Sara Groves 'Hello Lord' lyrics

Hello Lord, it's me your child I have a few things on my mind
Right now I'm faced with big decisions And I'm wondering if you have a minute, cuz
Right now I don't hear so well
And I was wondering if you could speak up

I know that you tore the veil So I could sit with you in person
And hear what you're saying but Right now, I just can't hear you.
I don't doubt your sovereignty I doubt my own ability to

Hear what you're saying And to do the right thing And I desperately want to do the right thing

But right now I don't hear so well And I was wondering if you could speak up

And somewhere in the back of my mind I think you are telling me to wait
And though patience has never been mine
Lord, I will wait to hear from you Oh Lord, I'm waiting on you

Right now, I think you're whispering

I love Sara Groves and how the words of her songs seem to capture what I want to express. This song so perfectly expresses how I have been feeling this last semester. I am beyond excited to think that I will graduate in May and have accomplished something in the last two years, but what is next? If you know me I have always had a pretty well thought out plan - details for the day and the next couple years. Well, this summer I realized that everything I had pictured for myself was not happening, nor would it be happening in the near future, so where does that leave me? What am I suppose to be doing? I will do, my record is pretty good at taking on the seemingly impossible and getting it done. But I need to know, I need some assurance of what the right thing is and I have none. I am not a person guided by feelings, but I just don't feel good about any direction right now. When I was living in Aden, I knew without a shadow of a doubt that was where I was suppose to be, and when I walked into ALC I knew I would be returning, but now I am in a state of hesitancy. And I feel like I am running out of time. Do I work on patience or get up out of my pity party because things are not how I would like them and start running full force in a particular direction? So many questions. Lord, could you speak up cuz' right now I don't hear too well...

Two Years...

I realized this week that it has been exactly two years since I 'moved' back to America. I really cannot believe that it has already been two years, I feel and talk like I just got back a month ago. While I know this time in America has been growing me and challenging me to see life through yet another new perspective, I find myself constantly looking forward to the day when I get to go back. I had a class assignment this week that required me to evaluate what kind of legacy I am leaving behind. Am I leaving a legacy that makes the Lord's name greater? I find myself all too often focused on today and myself. My challenge for myself today is to make the most of the gift that God has given me today. To thank Him for all that he has done, is doing and will do in my life and be content to trust in Him alone and walk by faith. I want to leave a legacy of one who walked by faith and saw the power of the Gospel in her life.

Some of you know that the Getty's lyrics are some of my favorite...

I love this new song title By Faith

By faith we see the hand of God

By faith we see the hand of God

In the light of creation's grand design

In the lives of those who prove His faithfulness

Who walk by faith and not by sight

By faith our fathers roamed the earth

With the power of His promise in their hearts

Of a holy city built by God's own hand

A place where peace and justice reign

We will stand as children of the promise

We will fix our eyes on Him our soul's reward

Till the race is finished and the work is done

We'll walk by faith and not by sight

By faith the prophets saw a day

When the longed-for Messiah would appear

With the power to break the chains of sin and death

And rise triumphant from the grave

By faith the church was called to go

In the power of the Spirit to the lost

To deliver captives and to preach good news

In every corner of the earth

We will stand...

By faith this mountain shall be moved

And the power of the gospel shall prevail

For we know in Christ all things are possible

For all who call upon His name

We will stand...

I got this off of Heidi's blog, and since I really should be studying I thought now would be a good time to answer and blog 45 random questions.

1. Do you like blue cheese? No, yuck.
2. Have you ever been drunk? No
3. Do you own a gun? No.
4. What flavor of Kool Aid was your favorite? Grape
5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? Yes, it's irrational I know but I do.
6. What do you think of hot dogs? I go back an forth, love them cooked over a campfire.
7. Favorite Christmas movie? Too many to choose; Babes in Toyland, Charlie Brown, Elf
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Coffee
9. Can you do push ups? I can
10. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? All of it! I have started quite the collection from around the world
11. Favorite hobby? Reading
12. Do you have A.D.D.? O.C.D? Nope!
13. What's your favorite shoe? the brown ones Hannah left behind
14. Favorite place you have travelled to? Africa, Asia and Europe
16. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? Water, Diet Dr. Pepper, hot tea
17. Current worry? hmmm, I should be studying for a mid-term on Monday
18. Current hate right now? I've had a pretty good day, maybe I will think of something tomorrow
20. How did you bring in the New Year? In Canada with Mom, Dad, Heidi, Doug and a bunch of other friends.
22. Name three things you own that are near you: sitting on my rug from India, leaning on my pillow from Pier1, next to my pink backpack from L.L.Bean.
23. Do you own slippers? Yep, love them - one pair I got one Christmas years ago, and another from my old roomie Allison
24. What color shirt are you wearing right now? purple
25. Do you like sleeping on Satin sheets? I loved my old Sateen sheets so satin could only be better.
26. Can you whistle? If I concentrate really hard, sometimes
27. Favorite color? purple or yellow
28. Would you be a pirate? I'm just not that daring
29. What songs do you sing in the shower? Usually I don't sing
30. Favorite Girl's Name? Love all my nieces names...Sahara, Cambria, Tirza and Selah
31. Favorite boy's name? Zebulon
32. What's in your pocket right now? nothing
33. Last thing that made you laugh? probably Ingram
34. Best bed sheets as a child? CareBears! The pillow had one side bedtime bear the other sunshine bear!
35. Worst injury you've ever had as a child? Falling from a tree swing at Brackenhurst and landing on my tailbone
36. Do you love where you live? I am so ready to move on, it was fine for a couple years
38. Who is your loudest friend? ??
39. How many dogs do you have? No pets

40. Does someone have a crush on you? I wish
41. What is your favorite book? I could never decide

42. What is your favorite candy? starbursts, skittles, or M&Ms are hard to resist

43. Favorite Sports Team? I would have to watch the games to have a favorite
44. What song do you want played at your funeral? In Christ Alone, By Faith
45. What is your least favorite animal? sharks

My Weekend

I had a fabulously, though way too fast, weekend with the DeLaughters.

Didn't have time for many pictures but did get a few.

These kinds of weekends make me wonder what I am doing way over here in NC.