What a week!

Last week was so great and so hectic! As I get pictures I will add them to my blog but for now I will tell you about my fantastic week!

Monday 6/18 - Spa night at the Oasis! This is such a growing event each year. This is the night of pampering for the women. There are areas for professional hair cut, massages, manicure, pedicure, paraffin, makeup consults, metabolism consult, food, chocolate fountain, lounge areas and so much more. Now you can't get in to everything in the 2 hours but you can feel spoiled. I worked it last year and had a blast massaging feet and painting toes. I was back up this year and was able to have a manicure, paraffin and massage. WOW!

Tuesday 6/19 - Happy Birthday to ME!!! Dinner with friends turned out fantastic! Since I'm leaving for 2 years and even my sons are not nearby, I took advantage of free birthday dinner at a local Italian restaurant, Provino's and email everyone I knew to come. there were 13 of us and it was a great time of fellowship! What was so neat was that I had at least one person from every aspect of my life in GA -- work, previous church, current church, the gym, new friends and old friends! What was even cooler was that everyone ended up knowing at least one other person there so no one felt isolated! God is so good! They even brought me cake! The down side is that later in the week my dog, Sophie, got up on the counter, knocked it off and ate the leftover cake! Well I guess that was a good way to save me from the calories (but it was so good).

Wednesday 6/20 - I got to work in the church nursery! I enjoy calming fussing babies and making a connection. I marvel at the peace God is able to present through me and the insight of which children need cuddling and which ones just want some space. I'll miss the babies.

Thursday 6/21 - Was a whirlwind of getting off of work early and finish preparing for my "Moving to Africa Yard Sale". My dear friend Tina helped me out so much! She got me organized and priced everything! No drawer, closet, nook or cranny was safe!!

Friday 6/22 and Saturday 6/23 - Okay, you can never be prepared!! I know the sign said 9 am because I had half the stuff in the house to get out. Oh well! Raise the garage door and they will come!!! And come!! And come!! Praise the Lord but it wasn't until 10:30 that I could even take a sip of water! A special thanks to my neighbor Pat who came to my rescue with a dolly and helped move out furniture and load up cars for those first few hours. I didn't have all the big stuff out until Sat. and that's when I found out the big stuff sells better on Fridays. Oh well, the remainder is in the garage for the next Friday I can take off of work.

Oh I forgot the coolest thing! I was able to talk on the phone with Ben Rodgers in Africa Sat. morning! 1/2 way around the world! He helped assure me of things and encourage me and let me know that the hardest thing will be to learn to slow down. (Sounds great right now for me.) "If the pace in the states is considered 100% then Swaziland will rate about 40%." No one will rush to wait on you at the bank or store. Relationships will become more of the focus. The other reality check was I can kiss high speed Internet goodbye. I will be using a computer but fast access will not be a term I will be able to use. Oh, well. I learned lots of other facts but the most eye opening new tidbit of knowledge is that women wearing shorts or short skirts in Swaziland is like a woman walking around topless in the states. Ben said in Mbabane a lot of things will seem the same as the states yet the more you acclimate the more different you find things. He said it will take a good year to really get the feel of the land. I'm so excited and eager to grow in I'm sure so many areas.

Sunday 6/24 - The day of rest!! Oh my I'm sore. All that lifting and sorting and just being out in the heat over the weekend! Worship was great and so was my nap after church! God is good and I can't wait to see what this week brings, but I promise not to blog the whole thing. Ha!

Thanks for reading this whole thing if you did. It was just such a tremendous week I wanted to log it for my record of the "Real Adventures of Sandra Chesterman". Have a blessed week!

Congratulations Dawn!

God is so good! He sent me a dear friend Dawn who I met at the gym! She calls me "chicklet" which makes me feel both young and thin!
We were so meant for each other; to encourage, share and intercede for each other. Dawn made going to the gym something I longed for when I had to miss a class. After workout we shared in the locker room about our spiritual growth as we worked through physical, financial and work related problems. It was exactly what I needed! She has been a part of my growing confidence in being sensitive to the Holy Spirit moving in my life. Thank you Dawn! And thank you God for sending her to me!!!

Now you ask why am I talking about Dawn??? Today she graduated!!! Life has taken funny turns in Dawn's life and high school graduation was not part of that path. But today she got to walk across the stage in cap and gown. She studied hard and got her GED!!!!! I'm so proud of her!!!

YOU GO GIRL!!!

Getting ready!

My mind is whirling! What is it going to be like? What do I need to take? What do I not even need to save?

I'm going through all my "stuff" for my big, raise money, downsize my belongings yard sale! No closet or drawer is safe!! How do you plan for what you might need for 2 years (okay, I will probably be home for a visit somewhere in there). I can now get rid of all those things I stored away for those "just in case I need this some day" stuff like some neon green puff paint or the purple winter glove I can't find the mate for or the thousands (not exagerating) of seashells I have collected to do some project with. (I did kept a few.)

I'm excited about going and what God has in store but sometimes I find myself thinking about my sons, who say "You go mom!", "We thinks it's great!", "We'll be fine!". But it won't be so easy for them to bounce ideas and process decisions with me when I'm on the other side of the world. In going through the drawers I found a prayer I had copied down years ago:

"Be there, Father, in the moment of decision

when two paths present themselves to Kris and Michael.

Especially during that time when they are beyond my direct influence,

send others who will help them do what is righteous and just."

Amen

Thank you God for reminding me today that you understand my concerns and have it all under control! I'll take this with me just in case I forget! You are so awesome and I am so blessed!

"May the Lord bless you and keep you."

Getting Started

This is all so new and happening so fast!
I can't believe I'm saying that after waiting 6 months to confirm I was going to go to Swaziland! I was so tired of the wait and now it's official, I'm going and now God is going to work it all out in less than 3 months! Whoa!
I'm learning to blog. I'm consolidating my belongings and having a huge yard sale 6/22 and then putting my house on the market. I am going to be getting my pledge cards and other financial material and raising my support. I'm still working full time with the Gwinnett County DFCS. But I'm planning a trip to see my family in St. Louis the week of July 4th and will also visit my old church. This is so exciting! Got to go get some stuff done! Thank you for letting me share my experience with you. Pictures will be coming as learn more on how to use the system! "May the Lord bless you and keep you."