Highlights

Here's some random bits of life that have happened here lately:

Funny things Natty has said-
   
     "Mommy, can I get a tattoo?"
     "I don't really love God.  I like him, I guess.  Maybe I'll love Him when I'm older."  This one, by the way, is hard for any Christian parent to admit that their child said when reading about a lot of other Christian mommies memorizing scriptures with their kids, listening to them praying for their friends, etc...  Natty has a very real, rebellious sin nature and it is terrifying to see it.  However, it reminds us that we can't force the gospel on her, that God's own Spirit must work to change her heart, even at this age.  We certainly are reminded to pray more fervently when she says things like this.

Natty's top 2 enjoyments of the Christmas season:
1. opening presents
2.  decorating the tree with Nana

Lisa's top 2:
1.  watching Natty open presents and decorate as well as share often why we are really celebrating
2.  food

Highlights of 2011, in random order
1.  spending 2 months with our parents visiting us in La Paz at the beginning of the year
2.  getting back into ministry after losing Zion
3.  celebrating Natty's third birthday with her favorite Bolivian friends and their mommies
4.  finding out we were expecting again
5.  back to back visits from friends in Minneapolis and Charlotte
6.  SIM annual retreat with the whole Bolivia crew- so glad Natty was old enough to enjoy the kids program this year
7.  enjoying the outpouring of love and help provided by our Mallasilla and church friends.  This included frequent baby-sitting, bringing of food, coming to visit with food, coming to visit with kids to play with Natty, lots of prayers and phone calls.
8.  coming back to the US
9.  hearing that my body looks normal and I could get off my rear and do something!!!
10.  celebrating Christmas in my hometown with my family

Aspirations for 2012:
Thrive.  It's hard to make resolutions when everyone seems to try it and then get to the end of the year and realize they didn't complete their list.  I'm not big on making resolutions, but I do like to look back at my last year and see what I did well or didn't do well and how I could continue or improve certain things.  This year is going to be unique because three months in, there will be a baby Jubilee born.  She will make it hard to do anything productive, other than take care of her for a bit.  Then, we'll go back to Bolivia and spend a few months adjusting back to life and ministry there, while continuing to balance the needs of 2 small kids.  And, we want to build a house.  Yikes!  So, my idea is that I might try to work in a good, though-provoking Bible study before Jubilee is born for my own edification and then just see what happens after that.  I want to continue reading the Bible through each year, which I feel I've got a good habit of doing...although I could stand to be a bit more consistent.  And, I'd like to be a bit more flexible with this baby's schedule than I was with Natty's- so that's something.  Generally, I would like to just make myself available as a friend to the ladies at church, have people over more and try to utilize the gifts God's given me without letting myself be taken captive by the introversion He's also created in me.

I'm currently reading a book called, Introverts in the Church: Finding our Place in an Extroverted Culture, by Adam McHugh.  It's giving me a lot of insightful looks into the depth of who I am and some of those chuckles of "that's so me!".  So far he's touched a lot on why the Western church tends to esteem extroversion over introversion and the unique gifts introverts can bring into a Christian community.  He's just starting to scratch a bit at how introverts can use their personality as a crutch or excuse to not be more involved in people's lives and I'd like to hear some more about this, as I feel constantly compelled to overcome my solitary tendencies.  However, there's a lot of good, "it's OK that you're this way cause God can use you like this" happening, which is refreshing.

So, randomness completed.  May you all be blessed abundantly as you look at what the Lord has done in your life in 2011 and look forward to what He may do in 2012.  I'm most excited about bringing a healthy baby into the world, Lord-willing and enjoying another 6 months in our home country.