Wow, it seems that a lot has happened this past week. We hosted our first large team (62) and all went well. We made some great new friends and figured out how to function with large groups. However, we'll have to see how things go the week we have 103! Yikes!

Last Wednesday night I spent some time with a team member who has a great blessing. God was really speaking to him about some things that I needed to hear and some things that I needed to do and think about. Without going into too much detail, it was a time to be able to let go of past hurt and bitterness and bestow forgiveness that leads to freedom. It was so amazing to hear what God had been telling him so very clearly and how that related to me and things that were keeping me from truly living the abundant life Christ offers. It was a chance to realize there were things from the past that I was holding onto that I just needed to surrender. What a blessing the past several days have been as that burden has been lifted!

This has been a good weekend as well and lots of time has been spent with friends. Friday night was a Yellow House staff bonding night as we watched Lord of the Rings: Two Towers. Always a great movie. And then, because we were being spontaneous (or something) we watched the Prince and Me. I was surprised Ms. Jeri made it until almost 1:30 a.m.! Saturday was lazy and in the evening several of us ventured out for dinner and ended up getting Quiznos and returning to the Yellow House where we watched the end of Forest Gump.

This morning I was up at 5 a.m. to shower and take Mishona, Sheila and Daniel to Mardi Gras Marathon. Sheila and Daniel ran the 5K and Mishona ran the half marathon along with several other staff and church members. It was great fun to cheer them on. When we returned home Ms. Jeri and I continued our spontaneous weekend by driving a bit out of the way to go to Starbucks before church.

Our teams arrived around 5 p.m. and orientation went well. Some last minute surprises had us scurrying to make changes with work assignments, but all in all it looks like it is going to be a great week. After all, with 60s and 70s in the forecast, how can it be bad? :)