nothing is random.

I received an email from my boss asking if I wanted to attend his monthly Rotary luncheon this week as a guest.  He heard there was going to be a presentation made from a group of High School students who had raised money for a school in Africa, and he thought I might enjoy the presentation.  He was right.  Yesterday I attended the luncheon and I was absolutely broken (yet again) in the face of my God.  His works are awesome... and they are everywhere. 
On our way to the luncheon we discussed how - even though we were running late - I wanted to try to sit with the students involved.  I wanted to speak encouragement to them and tell them briefly my story (I thought they might enjoy hearing that I have been, and am returning soon, to Africa.  I wanted to encourage them in their efforts and thank them for their hearts in supporting a global project such as this (where ever in Africa it may be).  I was just overjoyed that a group of High School students would mirror my heart beat (God's really) and were moved to support Africa, and Her children.  Of course, as God so perfectly arranged, when I arrived there was one empty seat... at the table right next to the two girls making the presentation.  #1: Not only was the High School represented Hoover HS (MY HIGH SCHOOL) but #2: These girls had raised money for RAYS OF HOPE school in Uganda... the EXACT school I will be serving with Sozo in in less than a month!  WHAT!?!?  God, seriously - I couldn't take it.  I was overwhelmed and moved by this divine connection as our conversation developed over lunch and I heard about the most perfectly woven connections that ONLY our Creator himself could have orchestrated.  This seemingly random luncheon turned out to display God's glory - right there at the monthly Rotary meeting.  It gives me chills even writing about it now.  Of all the schools, in all of the villages... it was EXACTLY where the Lord has also led ME.  Thank you sweet Jesus for your continual confirmation - and for being in every single detail of this journey. 

Taylor Yates & Payton Williams - of Hoover HS (Interact Club)

I was presented with this coin after telling my story about serving in Africa. 

I will be going to Hoover HS on March 7th when the money is presented for Rays of Hope School in Uganda!  I can't wait to stay in touch with these sweet girls and see how God uses them, as young leaders, to change the world... starting with Uganda!

asante.

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE SISTERS OF SIGMA KAPPA

WHO HELD A FUNDRAISER TONIGHT IN AUBURN

TO SUPPORT OUR MOVE TO UGANDA!

#DoveLove

on air.

Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,

and he delivered them from their distress.

He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.

Then they were glad that the waters were quite,

and he brought them to their desired haven.

Psalm 107:28-30



Dana and I had the wonderful opportunity to be guests at a local radio station (WDJC) on their Wednesday morning segment called "A Call to Prayer" today.  I was extremely nervous driving to the station as the prayer requests started flooding in via e-mail, face book, twitter, and countless callers.  The enemy was at work trying to make me feel inadequate to pray for such great need and I feared I wouldn't be able to connect to the callers and offer appropriate encouragement and prayer.  I kept speaking truth to myself over and over, mainly: "for God gave us a spirit not for fear, but of power and love and self-control" (2 Tim. 1:7).  I knew this morning wasn't about me or anything I needed to be able to do.  It was all about God, and our connection with Him through through His great love and mercy - displayed by the death and resurrection of His son, Jesus Christ.  I was clinging to that truth.  Of course, I burst into tears as soon as I stepped foot into the studio.  No surprise there.  I get so overwhelmed with the presence of the Holy Spirit I'm literally broken every time, without fail.  It's awesome.  The time at WDJC flew by.  We listened to caller after caller with both requests and praises.  It was like every time we were faced with the weight of a great need, we were met with a story about how God had provided.  Miracles!  In Birmingham.  He's ALIVE, and I love it.  I won't soon forget: Wes, who is a new Pastor with a growing group of youth.  Andrew, who is fighting for his life after a near fatal car wreck last night.  Mary and Joseph, who are rejoicing from God's healing touch.  Mothers, trying desperately to conceive... and the several marriages, trying desperately to stay together.  I am confident that God is working in and through each of these stories and I was honored to join them in prayer today.



Do not be anxious about anything,

but in everything by prayer and supplication

with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

life and death.

Happy 32nd Birthday Suz! 

This past weekend was great... a weekend filled with family and friends usually is.  

We celebrated my sister's 32nd birthday, and we celebrated the life of my 91 year old grandmother.  

I love how both events constantly bring us back to family. 

I cherish these opportunities for time spent with the ones we love,

especially the ones we don't get to see as often as we would like.    

I plan to blog later this weeek about my grandmother, Nell E. Kelley, who passed away on Valentine's Day (the significance of which I love) after many years battling Alzheimer's Disease. 

I can't stop thanking the Lord that her long strugle to remember is over,

and that her memory is now perfectly restored.  

Thank you so much to everyone who offered kind words of support this past week as "G'ma Kelley" was finally laid to rest in Nashville. 

She will be missed.



I thought the service was simple and beautiful.

Jesus said to her,

“I am the resurrection and the life. 

Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live." 

John 11:25




Colt and I after =)



benji.

Happy 30th Birthday today to one of the best friends a gal could ask for -

Ben LaMaster! 

I love you Ben and wish I was there with you today to celebrate!! 

Don't worry, I'm only 2 weeks behind you.  You won't be alone in your 30's long!  =) 

Reppin' threads, B'day style, in DC. 

love.

1 Corinthians 13

New International Version (NIV)

 
 ¹ If I speak in the tongues^[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,^[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
 ⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
 ⁸ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. ¹¹ When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. ¹² For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
 ¹³ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

meet super woman.

I've started this blog about 20 times... I'll write for about an hour detailing out how much my sister means to me... and then deleted the whole dang thing.  And then repeat.  There doesn't seem to be anything I can say that accurately describes the real life Super Woman that is in my life... my sister, Susan.  Super Sister.  Super Wife.  Super Professional.  Super Entrepreneur (see for yourself).  SUPER Mom.  She amazes me.  Every day she amazes me.  I look up to her, and desire to be just like her in so many ways.  She's got it all.  She gives it all.  And she keeps going.  I'm sure there will be MANY more detailed blogs about my amazing sister, Susan, as the days pass.  For today, I only want to share some of my favorite photos with you of she and her precious family.  She's Super Woman, don't you think? 

full.

Here I am again tonight on my knees at the throne of Jesus...  amazed, and thanking Him for all that He has done in my life.  Truth is: I've spent most of the past few months here, and my prayer is that I don't get up any time soon.  Tonight, I am full... downright overflowing really with His goodness.  I'm full from the fabulous dinner I shared with two of my favorite people, sure, but I'm also filled with the abundance of blessings I've received over the past few days...

This weekend, for example. I went to Destin to visit the best friend a girl could ask for - her name is Ashley Boles Klima, or "Boles" as I call her.  The fact is, I oftentimes don't even feel worthy of a friend like Boles.  I don't return her calls in a timely manner, I shy away from needed confrontations and I sure can't offer any advise on marriage or baby... anything!  Although our lives look very opposite today, almost 16 years ago Boles decided to sit next to me ("the new girl") in 9th grade choir class at Hoover High, and we have been inseparable ever since.  I could spend all night documenting the craziness we've been a part of - but this is MY blog and I better not drag her unknowingly into this laundry airing session without her consent.  Anyway, spending this past Saturday with Ashley, and her husband Joe, was refreshing.  I guess spending time with a true best friend always is.  I don't know for sure if Ashley agrees 100% with  my reasons for going to Africa - but she has never stopped supporting me - and I know she never will.  She knows the deep desires of my heart, and the things my flesh has always longed for: marriage, a family of my own, etc.  and as besties we have always longed to walk through these stages of life together.  I was in Kenya (sitting in a broken chair in an "internet cafe") when I read the e-mail Ashley sent to tell me she was engaged!  I was so excited... but I wasn't there.  I know I was right where God intended me to be - it's where my journey to Africa began!  But my flesh still strugles with my absense in Ashley's life that day... and so many others.  Boles is my voice of reason.  She literally stood over my socked feet in the Merrell Outlet store this weekend while I pulled up my Compass Bank app trying to verify my funds - and insisted "Laura Belle," as she calls me, "your Chacos just aren't going to cut it over there - you have to protect your toes!  I can't be worried about your exposed toes while you are gone!" ... as she proceeded to march my box of Merrells up to the register and BUY ME a pair of incredible shoes for my trip!  Seriously?!  Who does that!?  Boles, that's who.  With her hard-earned bonus money from work, Boles bought ME a pair of new shoes - so my toes would be covered.  Because like Jesus, Ashley cares about the smallest of details... and even my toes are important to her.  I'm her undeserving... speechless, best friend.  I'm actually wearing my new scoots as I type this blog, just because they remind me of the ridiculous abundance of love and support I've received from Boles... and so many others.



 I also attended a baby shower on Saturday for baby Brayden.  His parents-to-be, Chris and Carla, are true warriors for Christ and I am honored to call them my friends.  Myself, and many others, have been praying for this pregnancy for years... and in God's perfect timing - Brayden is now only a few weeks away!  (I will keep you posted once he makes his debut!)  Carla and I have shared many long talks over bags of cherries in the ocean... talking missions, boys, and more missions.  She knows my heart - and she has been so supportive!  Sitting next to me as I type is my new devotional book that Carla gave me when I left her Saturday night - "Voices of the Faithful" - Inspiring stories of courage from Christians serving around the world.  Wow - is this the most perfect gift, or what?  The thoughtfulness behind this book brings me to tears and I haven't even mentioned the card and selfless donation that accompanied it.  Chris and Carla have participated in Global Missions on several occasions before, and I am so blessed to have them as prayer warriors interceding on my behalf while I am in Uganda. 

Chris, Carla, and baby Brayden =)

So there... I'm full tonight.  Full of love.  Full of support.  Full of encouragement.  Full of salad, truthfully, from the dinner I can't even blog about yet - my emotions simply won't allow it.  I'm exhausted.  Beth and Martha are simply precious treasures that I'm not going to even try to explain now.  Just know that I am full.  I'm so happily overflowing.  I keep humming the lyrics: "I know I'm filled to be emptied again..." from one of my favorite worship songs.  I can't wait to wake up tomorrow and be emptied again - into this hurting and suffering world that so badly needs a Savior.  I know the Lord fills me daily by His Spirit, so that He can empty me, for His namesake and for His glory.  Use me Lord.  Please... use me.


told ya



“We are cups, constantly and quietly being filled.

The trick is, knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out.”

- Ray Bradbury





hummingbird.

meet The Hummingbird (left) and her daughter (right)...

Please join me in praying

blessings over this precious family tonight.

I love them.  You would too!

 “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” Matthew 18:20