In honor of....

YAY I'M GOING BACK!!! In honor of the most amazing purchase of the weekend (a roundtrip fare to London), I thought I'd post this. What a thrill! I really don't have any more to say about it, other than have a hugely ecstatic grin on my face and a near eruption of sheer joy at every thought of going to my land of parks and green trees! oh, and tee and scones and amazing accents ....and the list goes on.

One thing is for sure...it's going to be a rockin' summer!

and also in honor, here's a great poem i was reading ( i know, i read poetry now, crazy!)

The Rainy Day

The day is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
The vine still clings to the mouldering wall,
But at every gust the dead leaves fall,
And the day is dark and dreary.

My life is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
My thoughts still cling to the mouldering Past,
But the hopes of youth fall thick in the blast,
And the days are dark and dreary.

Be still, sad heart! And cease repining;
Behind the clouds is the sun still shining;
Thy fate is the common fate of all,
Into each life some rain must fall,

Some days must be dark and dreary

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Life is to be lived.....

So, I have been neglecting my photographic representation of the green things of this world--so here's a picture that makes me happy. That doesn't look anything like the jungle I like to think of, but that's actually in the mountains of Costa Rica. Que lindo!!!

The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature. ~Anne Frank

And also, today, I was reminded about how easily I lose sight of things. After a fantastic lunch with the most amazing couple ever, the Miller's, I remembered one amazing thing. Life is meant to be lived. They have had such a full life and marriage, that anyone who spends about 30 seconds with them can tell that they are enjoying all God has put before them. It is so easy for me to get caught up in the moment, in the unknowns of life, in trying to figure out what the heck I'm doin each day that I forget to really live it to the fullest, because a) God gave it to me, and b) it could be my last.
So, these thoughts brought a memory to mind of my time in Costa Rica. More specifically, my oh-so exhilerating zip line run through the hills and jungles. Now that was more than words could say, and probably the closest to flying I've ever been. This picture doesn't do it justice, but it was truly wonderful to be in the moment right there-gliding over all God's creation. Not that I can do this every day, but I hope my future is full of terrifyingly wonderful experiences like this.

But hopefully those adventures won't be with any more minor handicaps (see below). How bout that livin' for ya--I did that entire zip line/hiking up hills/craziness with that darn cast on which made my foot purple and swollen. The pain was worth it though. Vale la pena!! or so they say.
So here's to living life to the fullest, every single day, as my grandpa always tells me. Or, as a wiser man once said, "I have seen that nothing is better than that man should be happy in his activities, for that is his lot." Solomon, Ecclesiastes 3:22...or..."it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him.." Ecc. 5:18.

Pura Vida.

Call me McGyver

So this is what you do if you don't have a sled. You improvise. Unfortunately, it's never as good as the original.
But still a riot either way. Good times.

oh, to have those days

So, I was having a pretty crappy morning yesterday, I'm not gonna lie. I was feeling overwhelmed and just oppressed on the whole. All I wanted to do was to crawl into my bed at home and never come out into the world again. Sounds dramatic, I know, but that's how it went-a mass pile-up of so many worries and concerns, all seeking to drag me down into the muck of distraction and oppression. As the morning progressed, I got to the point where I knew what I had to do. Cry out to God. I knew I couldn't go on without Him. From that point on, my day drastically changed. Simply confessing all my worries and lack of trust to God made all the difference. God took me out of myself and my supposed sorrows and brought me back to Him.

At work yesterday this little adorably cute girl, Ximei, came up to me on the playground with this huge smile on her face, looked at me as if to say something, and simply crawled into my lap. No words, no hesitation. All she did was sit with me for a while, which she had never done before. This affection and quiet trust brought a picture to mind. It was how much God loves it when his children come crawling up to rest in His lap....no words, no complaints, no whining. Laying that all aside to simply 'be' with Him, to believe in Him with childlike faith. To know that He is in control. Now isn't that a cool picture. What a blessing. The rest of the day, I couldn't get that image out of my mind. How I long to crawl into my Father's lap. To lay aside my selfish pride and confess how much I need a Savior, how desperately I need my Lord to guide me and love me. Praise God.

Sigh....

So, I figured I needed a picture to match my emotions at the moment. What could be better than my erupting prehistoric-like volcano picture from Costa Rica? Not that I'm really that ragingly (is that a word?) angry or anything, but I just felt that this was the one. I'm tired of being frustrated by all the unknowns in life-of having to wait on God and His timing for things. Perhaps it's just my selfish nature of wanting to control my future, of wanting to tell God how I'd like things to turn out or how I would like to serve Him. I guess in my limited eyesight, I feel like I know exactly what would be perfect for me and I know exactly what needs to happen. Truth is (and this is a shocker), I know nothing. Things could change so quickly in a time as short as a day. Do I really believe that God can do the impossible with my life? Am I so blinded by my own selfishness and unwillingness to give my future over to God that I miss what He's doing in my life right now? I always feel like I have so many questions for God as to why things turn out the way they do. Over anything, I'd rather take my honest frustrations and questions to God, but I'm really trying to learn how to simply come before Him and rest in His love and understanding. To find rest in the arms of the One who has everything under control. To rest in the neverending mercy and patience He shows me when I always get hung up on what seems like the same issues or complaints. He is faithful and will always be. He knows what is best for me. It is in His way that I desire to walk. Now if only I could just get over myself. Exactly the reason why I so desperately need a Savior. I guess that's all of my ramblings for the evening.
I love the Lord for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy......The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. The Lord protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need he saved me. Be at REST once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you. For you, O Lord, have delivered my sould from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling....Psalm 116
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. TRUST in God; trust also in me. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."~ Jesus, John 14:1,27

Thoughts for the morning

"Behold, children are a gift of the Lord..." Psalm 127:3

..and those are some beautiful girls-mis amigas de Imuris.

more to come about that trip soon, so stay tuned.



Here is something I was reading this morning that really spoke to me.

"I do know that waiting on God requires the willingness to bear uncertainty, to carry within oneself the unanswered question, lifting the heart to God about it whenever it intrudes upon one's thoughts." ~Elizabeth Elliot

"You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever." Psalm 16:11

Lord, teach me to listen. The times are noisy and my ears are weary with the thousand raucous sounds which continuously assault them. Give me the spirit of the boy Samuel when he said to Thee, "Speak, for thy servant heareth." Let me hear Thee speaking in my heart. Let me get used to the sound of Thy Voice, that its tones may be familiar when the sounds of earth die away and the only sound will be the music of Thy speaking Voice. Amen.
~A.W. Tozer, a very amazing man