Cati Goes to Haiti

We like to go on dates! Sometimes life carries you quickly and sometimes it seems to drag on. Sometimes it seems to do both at the same time. I saw numerous memes about how January had 15 years or 543 days in it, and I must say, I share the sentiment. It felt like a really loooooooong month. But when you have a long month, that means much can be accomplished? Right? I've never been one who was big on New Year's Resolutions. They seem heavy and nearly impossible to meet unless you have the grit and determination that seems so fleeting. So, I didn't really make resolutions persay. I did set some goals to be accomplished at any point during the year, so as not to put so much pressure on January 1 and really, the month of January as a whole.  Sure, some of those goals I started working towards straight away and will be continued through the whole year... >> Getting into a healthy routine {working out and *trying* to eat a better diet} >> Build and refres...

Some of Wood's family Every month when I write my blog post, I try to think of what is happening in my life. What am I learning from it? How can I share my growth with others and maybe encourage them too? Sometimes a simple update is what is needed. What I can say for this month is that there are so many things that I'm working through -- personally and spiritually. There are upcoming transitions. There's trauma. There's happiness and struggle. I was having a hard time trying to decide how I could put all of these things into words. Some of it I need a little bit more time with to process. Some of it I'm waiting to see how things all pan out.  This morning I sat down to do my morning quiet time and BOOM ! The perfect culmination of all the aforementioned things was there. I read Psalm 31. Y'all, it's chock full of all the good things.  I'm sitting in a season of waiting. In some ways it feels like the season of waiting might never be over. It...

This sweet gift was the inspiration behind this post and serves as a constant reminder. Life has a funny way of making you wait. But is it really life that's making you wait or is it God trying to teach you something? God has a funny way of proving that the waiting is all worth it.  Six months ago I was making myself over-anxious about decisions that I had no control over and that weren't even relevant at that point in time. I was pushing far too hard. I knew that I needed to sit and wait and that it would all work out when it needed to. However, my flesh didn't want to let go. It wanted final decisions. It wanted action. But it still wasn't the right time.  So, I had to take a pause. I had to take a step back and focus on the things that I could control and wait for the rest.  What's the biggest thing that I can control? My PRAYERS . God hears us when we talk to Him. He hears our concerns. He hears our desires. He knows our hearts, mo...

Because how cute is he? It's been a few weeks since we last heard from one another. To say that life in Haiti has been a little bit hectic, would be an understatement. Between school, English, meetings, people making various trips, and overall life, we seem to be meeting ourselves coming and going.  So, today, I have a short update about all the things happening as well as some exciting news!  ----- School has been rolling since August 1, but it's been filled with many four day weeks due to our schedule and things coming up. We're finally starting to (sort-of) get back into a five day swing. The kids are off to a great start. They've already finished their first piece of writing and are headed into persuasive writing now. We are learning more in-depth about poetry and geography this year and are making plans for our economic unit.  Micah working on Biology Micah has faced the weight of a high-school work load this year as well as the struggles that come...

Isn't he the cutest? Don't mind the mouth full of food...he was SOOO happy this particular morning and was laughing at EVERYTHING! I know it's been a little bit over a month since I got a new post out. It's been quite hectic around here lately. We have a lot of new and exciting things going on around Hope Community Project. Click here to read more about the three big things that we have going on as an organization.  In my own personal life, God continues to be at work shaping, molding, and stretching me. For the last several months I have felt like I've had almost a "driving" word for the month and this month is no different. September and October have been filled with GRACE and PATIENCE.  God continues to put me in situations where I'm learning how to handle raw, real emotions in the face of conflict, homesickness, and new endeavors. The struggle is real, but God is present. I know I've said it before, but there is so much beauty in th...