Off Topic

Today I decided that I am going to get a little off topic and talk about a few things that are happening in my life, so please excuse my post if it doesn't make much sense and I go from one topic to the next.

So I think I am almost done week 2 of my spending fast and as weird as this may sound I feel like I have way too much time on my hands. This cannot be a good thing, though I suppose it is a good thing. Did I or should I say we as a family really go shopping that much that we didn't even realize how much we actually did it and how much time we were spending doing it. And here I thought we were making progress with becoming less of consumers. Clearly the process is happening now. Also let me add how tricky birthday shopping can be when you only have 7 stores to choose from and your shopping for a 2 year old. I could have taken the easy way out and just grabbed a gift card, but come on how exciting can a gift card be to a 2 year old when it's not even exciting for me as an adult. But I managed to pull together a pretty good present and I would have to say the birthday girl seemed pretty happy.

Now onto the next thing. Recently I have learned that I am a behind the scenes kind of girl. Ha who would have ever thought that? I always wanted to be a famous person when I was kid...maybe even sometimes I still dream of it. But for the first time I went and volunteered where I had to physically be seen by complete strangers, and boy was I out of my comfort zone. Just before I was about to pull into the place I prayed to God that he would help me get through the evening. Well I made it through the evening and my eyes were wide open the whole time about how blind I was to world around me. Here I thought to make a difference I was going to have to go to a different country, well folks that is not the case. I can drive 20 minutes to see what a difference I can help make. Now back to the behind the scenes thing. Though I will continue to go back to help volunteer, I definetly feel like I am being led to help in creative ways. I never considered myself creative but I'm telling you, it's finally coming out and I am loving it!

Have you ever felt like your heart was going to explode? Ya, me too. I had that moment today when I was given three blogs to read. At one point I was bawling at the kitchen table while a bunch of kids were looking at me like I was crazy cause I was staring at a computer screen. Plus it didn't help that not one but 2 of the blogs showed pictures of Haiti, where I am heading to in March 2013. Yes, let's ruin Jo-Anne before she even gets there. But I will take it as a sign of it preparing my heart.

After today, I sit here and wonder, Why Me? Why I am so lucky to live in such a marvelous place, where I can choose to have something? Why was I chosen to do the things I do? Sometimes people question the way my life has changed. Shouldn't they be happy that I have become a better person, that I want to make a difference? I thank God that he has been so wonderful to give me a second chance. My life is in no way the way I had imagined it to be, but it's far better. So if I need to continue to change for His glory, then I am His.

"For I know the plans I have for you,"says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
                                                 Jeremiah 29:11