Smile because were alive

I am in La Paz for a few days to finish up the visa process. It is definitely a process and I am so excited to wrap up all the paperwork! 

Sometimes it hits me how crazy my life is. God has brought me so far since I was a little girl wishing for 100 children. His faithfulness and timing is perfect every time. 

There are days where my energy is completely used up. I lay all the kids down for bed, give kisses, sing a goodnight song or tell a story, tuck them in again after they go to the bathroom for the 3rd time and then the house is silent. That is when there is still the dinner dishes to wash, school uniforms and lots of little socks to wash by hand, a house to straighten up and clean and lots of older kids who drop by every night to talk. And finally after the last conversation ends, I crawl into bed and am asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow. 

But I wouldn´t change it for anything. 

I want to use up my life loving and serving and LIVING because it is so short.

Was so encouraged skyping my papa the other night as we talked about living JESUS. In every moment we LIVE Christ. Be it brushing little teeth, or folding clothes or just sitting and talking we can glorify God with every moment we have here on this earth. 

We are travelers. This world isn´t our home. But we were given this time as a gift. So enjoy your life. Try new things, have adventures and praise God for every new day you are given. Live and use up your life for Jesus.

The kids here make fun of me and tell me that I smile too much. That makes me smile more. I can never smile too much. I want to be filled with joy at each and every thing. Because all I know and all I have and all I am is a gift and a blessing.

Much love from Bolivia,

Lily Fluharty

What's my life?

I have a day off today. A day to rest and be quiet and hear silence. A day to recharge. A day to rest. Been learning so much about resting. Which makes me smile even writing that because here in Bolivia I am so very busy.

9 of the kiddos in my home

6:00 my alarm rings and then it is nonstop. 

Kiddos to wake up and sometimes bathe, pijamas and dirty sheets to wash, a house to clean, hair to put into little pigtails,  breakfast to make, dirty faces to wash, getting them of to Kindergarten, playing and dealing with tiny fights, lunchtime, getting the 2 boys off to Kindergarten, more clothes to wash, fingernails to clip, lice to look for and kill, children to play with and sing with and talk with, a MOUNTAIN of clothes to fold each day (haha this never ends), more children to bathe, eating dinner, singing songs and reading Bible stories, tucking little ones into bed and kissing them goodnight... Then the house to straighten up, dishes to wash, talking and laughing with the other Tia and finally crashing into bed. 

My 5 boys

And in all of this I am learning to rest. To rest in God. Because in the midst of all the chaos and the activity I am His and He is mine. I am complete in Christ. I am going to mess up, get frustrated with any number of little things, or respond poorly or lose my patience but I know that I am forgiven. I am loved. And in that love I can rest. And because of that love I can love.

It fills me with so much joy! And it also fills me with so much energy to continue loving and serving and living here with my 10 little crazies because I know that each day that I have here is a gift and is part of God's plan for me. So I rest in His plan. I don't have to worry about tomorrow because I know that God will be with me tomorrow!

Isn't that amazing!?

Lolina, the newest little one in Casa de Esperanza

The other night one of the older girls ended up crying to me and told me that she is so tired of feeling alone and lost. As we sat talking I shared with her that God has a plan for her. We don't know what plans God has for us. It could be something big and amazing or something small and simple. We don't have to know the details. But His plan is that we live with Him. We live with Him and FOR Him. 

The boys here looooove Lecrae and one of his songs goes "What's my life if it's not praising you?"

I want my life to SING praises to Jesus. Because without Him I am nothing.

Please continue praying for these children! Especially be praying for the older kids!

Much love and blessings from Bolivia!

~Lily