I still have a little ways to go to raise money for Ecuador. The early deadline was May 1. Now I have an extension to June 1st with an extra $200 added. I still have about $1300 to raise. I've sent out my letters and now I have to  have faith. If you'd like to receive a letter please let me know. If you would just like to donate you can do so by clicking this paypal button:

By donating here your donation will not be tax deductible. If you would like for it to be tax deductible you can send a check to:

Cornerstone Summit

869 Hwy. 105 Ext.

Suite 3

Boone, NC 28607

You can check out the trip here:

http://www.missions.me/12quito.html

It's almost been a whole week since my 23rd birthday and I can't even express how much love I felt from everyone! I was showered with hugs and "Happy Birthdays" and cards and gifts and just...LOVE. I woke up to a decorated table with a card, balloons, a gift, coffee...I came to school with kids who were more excited about my birthday then I am. They were ready for hugs and gift giving and celebrating. Teachers were coming in and telling me happy birthday...I was receiving cards in the mail. Oh my gosh how powerful LOVE can be. There is a great comfort in feeling love. I never knew I could feel so much love not only from just people, but from my kids.

The tears start to fall when I think about how much I love my students and how much they have loved me. They were my first class, ever. I'll never have another first class ever again. I even saw some of them when they were in the 3rd grade and they are growing up so fast! I don't want to let go of them! As happy, cranky, mean, nice, emotional...etc, I can be.. they have loved me through it no matter what. They know me like a book. Even so much that there have been days that they have said, "Ms. Trimble, have you not had your coffee this morning?" As mad as that probably made me in the moment, I can't help but smile about it now. I'm not quite sure how I'll be able to let these little ones go. They have made me so PROUD in so many ways. I can't wait to watch them excel towards greatness.

My first year of teaching is almost over and I am still very thankful!

Insert Hashtag "Thankful" Here

This may seem like it is out of the "season" of thankfulness or it may seem cliche to some, but how can you always wait till November just to say what you're thankful for? If you have the ability to even think a thought, you should be thankful.

Tonight on my way home, I felt overwhelmed with gratitude. There are SO many things to be thankful for in my life. It made me reconsider dwelling on the things that used to seem to big in my life. God has BLESSED me in ways that I couldn't even imagine. He has this unique plan that He's set in place for me causes me to prosper. I'm so incredibly thankful, it brings me to tears. I could be in so many other places and have so many other issues, but I don't! I'm right here, right now, and I AM BLESSED!

This Wednesday, I celebrate 23 years of life...with many more years to come. In my..almost..23 years, I have had so many things, ugly and nice, that have come my way. But I'm still here. I'm still standing. I have so much to be thankful for! I'm thankful for the things of the past, the present, and even the things of the future that I haven't even experienced yet. I wish you could see the excitement that I have right now as I even type these words! Oh my goodness...I am so stinkin' THANKFUL!

I am thankful for- in no order:

My life.

My working body.

My heart that is filled with so many doors.

My jobs.

My car.

My Pastor.

Cornerstone Summit.

My Friends.

My Family.

Insurance.

My house.

My clothes.

My oh so comfy bed.

My phone.

Love.

People.

Children.

Food.

Coffee.

Bestest of Friends.

My thoughts.

My prayers.

Hugs.

My Mac.

My hair- yes, I went there.

Laughter.

Smiles.

Zinc, my turtle.

Tears.

The list could go on forever. But, most importantly.

I'm thankful for a God that loves me unconditionally, that loves me before, during and after my mistakes, that has so intricately designed me for a way and a purpose.

I am thankful.

Last Week

This week seems to be one of the busiest weeks I've had.

I've started a new job for a couple of weeks now at a great restaurant, I'm preparing my kids for EOG's which start next week (oh my goodness) and at the same time raising money for our Ecuador trip. God has giving me so many different opportunities...a new job, a job and a missions trip that WILL be provided for. I decided that I wanted to do something this summer. So I thought, why not pick up an extra job and start paying things off! I've got an awesome schedule to work with so I will still be able to enjoy the summer without any school. I'm starting to get anxious about the end of the year though. And not so much because I'm not necessarily guaranteed a job and not about EOG's, but I just know that I will definitely miss every single one of my kids! They are my first class ever and I will never forget each little piece of their personality that they walked into the 4th grade with. i need to figure out what to do with Zinc the turtle. I would give her to a student for the summer..but I just might miss her too much.

For an update on my trip: 

This is our last week of raising funds for our early submissions. As of right now, I have $1,615 to raise by this Friday, May 4th. I may not see it yet but I just know that the Lord is going to be faithful during this time. 

He is well aware of the things that I need to go on this trip and He supplies all of my needs. I'm start to prepare myself now for this trip to come. It is exactly 2 months from today. I've really been trying to prepare my heart for people. Not just the people of Ecuador but for all people. We're called to show the love of Christ to everyone, not just the people that we are friends with or the people that we are comfortable with. How can I truly love the people of Ecuador and not love the people around me or the people that I will be traveling with. I've really had to break down some walls that lined my heart and hindered me from even truly receiving the love of Christ. There were so many things in my life that I allowed to to seep deep within and affect me, even without really knowing it. When my Pastor or a speaker would hit on those things, even something as simple as "there are hurts in this world of betrayal and abandonment" I would instantly feel a weight on my heart. It was like a knife being jabbed into an open wound. It's been such a process for me to move past these things and accept the overwhelming love that Christ has for me, in EVERYTHING. Not just the things that I may see, but in truly everything. I want to share that same love. You can pray with me about God not just healing my heart, but truly softening it for His people. His heart breaks for His people and I want to be sensitive and aware of that. I'm praying for an overall sensitivity to everything, especially when it come to my trip. I want to be led for the things I need to prepare for, the things that are happening now in Ecuador and when I get there and the things that are to come afterwards.

Break my heart, O Lord, for what breaks Yours.