Come to me, all who are weary and burdened,
And I will give you rest.

Put my yoke, upon your shoulders,
It might appear heavy at first.

But it is perfectly fitted.
But it is perfectly fitted.
But it is perfectly fitted to your curves.

Learn from me, for I am gentle, and humble of heart.
When you are yoked to me, your weary souls will find rest.

For my yoke is easy, my burden is light.
My yoke is easy, my burden is light.

And it is perfectly fitted.
And it is perfectly fitted.
How it is perfectly fitted to your curves.

For my yoke is easy, my burden is light.
My yoke is easy, my burden is light.
My yoke is easy, my burden is light.
My yoke is easy, my burden is light.

Come to me, all who are weary and burdened
And I will give you rest.

here i am, posting

a picture update on my life (tamara):

last week i climbed mount everest!

and had a 4 year old child

half a sardine!

and also an alligator cake for said 4 year old.

Soccer for 5 year olds

In my head, soccer games for children were wrought with over aggressive parents who make their children feel like losers if they fail. So today, when I decided to surprise Jack who I babysit at his first soccer game, I was prepared for the worst. In fact, I loaded up with starbucks first, so at least I would be happy if no one else was.

I walk onto the field and there are 4 games going on....I quickly realize there are clearly older children playing to the left, and short children playing to the right. I start walking past fields of children who are clearly playing a sport with organization and skill. When I reach the end, I see a field full of blobs of children running, kicking, and falling. Ahhhh....5 year olds playing soccer.

I then proceeded to laugh....and laughed for about an hour until the game was over. They form this blob, which roams around the field following a ball until someone a) trips and lands on the ball, b) kicks it into a goal, c) starts crying. It was the funniest thing ever. What a joy to start my day out with this.

Now I'm going to go finish my support....maybe! I only need about $1400 a month! woohoo!!!

august

Celebrating my brother's 30th birthday with a feats of strength competition, which included a pinata

Play with the Layne's and another family at the park!

Celebrating Hartlee with an alligator cake

Summertime

been a while

I just got done with a 30 minute (free) massage and I fell asleep on the table. Now I just can't seem to wake up!

I haven't written in a while because there has been NOTHING to write about. I am still here in Colorado, still working on support, and still aching to be in Missouri.

The last several days I have cried at each thought of Missouri State University and the students there. I think of the women just preparing to leave home for the first time, saying good bye to childhood friends, making out with their boyfriends for the last time (promising that they will never break up, though we all know they will), getting bedding and picture frames packed. They all have a vision of what college is going to be like at MSU.....and I can't wait to see how God intersects their lives! Oh how I want to be there to be a part of that!

Please pray with me that my support would come in quickly. I only need $1700 a month and I will be able to report to my assignment!!!!!!!

surprise! here i am, still awake at 10:49. i have not been sleeping well (maybe because i've fallen into the habit of taking two hour naps every day) and so part of me wants to wait until i just can't keep my eyes open before crawling into bed. although, my sheets are looking pretty amazing right now....

but before i snooze, i wanted to be thankful.

my new staff training darlings
alicia
judy
that ice cream
my tattoos, as previously noted
my messy room
hartlee's sweet hugs at dinner
a bath
mother's day bath salts that karen gave me
gin and tonic (knee)
yikes. today was a struggle for thankfulness. perhaps i should go meet with the Lord of Hosts.

i really like my tattoos. i just wanted to share that. :)

and also, i really like sitting in the sun and never ever ever getting up. especially when i am sitting in the sun, reading a book, and keeping an eye on two precious children that make me laugh. and especially when i spend that entire time in the sun, with the children and the book, thinking about nothing in particular. i like that.

now i'm going to bed because it's 10:38 and i'm awake!

In 3 minutes I am going to a movie at The Palace so I won't write much, but...

I am in Missouri! I came out to Springfield for a vision trip and it was been better than I would have hoped! On the plane, as we were landing, my stomach sunk and I thought "what if I hate it?" But, as it turns out, I love it. Here are some highlights:

-I've seen 4 mullets
-Everyone has an accent. I can't say if they are saying "boot heal" or "boot hill" and when I ask they say "both"
-I saw a house with a toilet in the front yard
-There was a tornado watch

Oh! Time to go to the movie. I'll write more later...