Forgetting What My Life Has Cost

from Worlds Apart by Jars of Clay:

"I look beyond the empty cross
forgetting what my life has cost
wipe away the crimson stains
dull the nails that still remain
more and more I need you now
I owe you more each passing hour
battles between grace and pride
I gave up not so long ago
so steal my heart; take the pain
wash my feet and cleanse my pride
take the selfish take the weak
and all the things I cannot hide
take my beauty take my tears
this sin soaked heart make it yours
take my world all apart
take it now take it now
serve the ones I despise
speak the words I can't deny
watch the world I used to love
fall to dust and blow away
i look beyond the empty cross
forgetting what my life has cost
and wipe away the crimson stains
and dull the nails that still remain
take my beauty take my tears
this sin soaked heart make it yours
and all the things I cannot hide
take my beauty take my tears
take my world apart
take my world apart
I pray I pray I pray
take my world apart"

I hope these lyrics get at your heart the way they've been getting to mine...

Next Steps

I was re-reading my prior blog entry and was reminded that while I was working at Tauernhof I was praying about the next step in my life. Let's be honest, I've been wondering about the next step pretty much continuously since I graduated from college. Well, it turns out I somehow failed to notice the next step until I was thousands of miles away from home, at a Bible school in the Austrian mountains (ah, timing).

As many of you know I am passionate about orphans and adoption. I am fairly convinced that I will adopt a child at some point in life. Occasionally I look up photolistings of children waiting to be adopted and pray for them by name. I even had the opportunity earlier this year to spend 3 amazing months at Grace Children's Home, an orphanage in Mexico. Not getting it yet? (I can't blame you... after all, it took me almost 5 years to figure it out). I'll spare you the brain strain and give it to you straight.

The

next

step

is.....

........

........

Graduate school!

I am hoping to go to graduate school this Fall for a Master's degree in social work (MSW)--the goal being a career in child welfare, adoptions, foster care, etc.

That said, I am in the process of applying to 6 different programs in 6 different states in the US (I looked to see if there were any programs abroad but had no luck... I guess it's time for me to stay Domestic for a while).

Where am I applying you ask? The schools in the running are:
San Jose State University (California)
Portland State University (Oregon)
University of Kansas (Kansas, duh)
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (Illinois)
Asbury University (Kentucky)
Boston College (Massachusetts)

I am excited to pursue this long-awaited next step and appreciate prayers for the application process.