Road Trips...

So, I went on a road trip this last weekend. It was definitely a grand experience, especially since it was a father/daughter road trip. My mom ended up getting sick at the last minute, so I ended up being 'mom' for a few days and driving my dad to Vegas for his continuing education classes. We left about 5:30 on Wednesday evening after a long day of work and drove off into the sunset--literally. After getting out of the ridiculous bumper to bumper traffic on the Az freeways, we were all of a sudden one little lone car driving through the barren desert as the sun was setting directly in front of us. Under normal circumstances, I would have gauffed at how dry and brown everything was and how I can't believe we live in a place that is so 'ugly.' (which would have gotten me a quick reprimand from my desert-loving mother who always sticks up for our good 'ole Az, thx mom). But this time, however, I had a different outlook on it. After spending two weeks plodding around the endlessly green countryside of the UK, I began to see our desert in a new light. Sure, I have an obsession with green vegetation and will be the first to jump and gawk at how amazing it all is when I see it (as most of you know). But, I still do love the desert at heart. It is purely for a lack of seeing such thriving green surroundings that drives my love for the verdant green parks and mountainsides...and such novelties do bring me joy. However, there truly is nothing like a vast spanse of desert lands that are spotted by majestic saguaro cacti--especially when the sun is setting behind an outcropping of rocky mountains. It harkens back to the times of the 'wild west' when settlers were flocking to the open free spaces of this land. How they must have seen our deserts, as they were traveling on horseback through the very regions we were driving through that night. I always think back to the wild history of the west when I'm on the road--and that was enough to satisfy my eye. As much as I complain about how hot or how ugly some of our state is, I earnestly have a great appreciation for it and really can't imagine not having grown up here and being blessed to see the sights I've seen off the beaten track. Anyways, it was a great drive up to 'ole Vegas.
While my dad was locked away in endless meetings, I decided to explore the glories that are the "strip." And again, as much as I pass judgment on the evils that exist in Vegas, I decided to set aside my self-righteous judgments and wander the streets that I have always declared to detest so much. With our hotel being at the way freakin' end of the strip, I put on my wrong walking shoes (figures) and walked the 25min walk to the other end and back, not to mention in the 110 degree heat. When I returned to Mandalay Bay, I paid to see the acquarium which turned out to be one of the best things there.....I made the official decision that if reincarnation did exist, I would choose to come back as a Stingray. There's just something about that animal that gets me. I do enjoy looking at sea life, but I have never really had this great passion for or draw to the ocean. But, the stingray, wow. It's like it just glides through the water without a care in the world. Maybe it's the way that it moves-the grace and fluidity-that stikes me. Probably because I feel so often that I am the complete opposite in my own movements. (aka, Costa Rica crutches and the numerous other injuries I've incurred due to my lack of coordination). anyway, I just think they look like amazing creatures and God sure had quite the creative touch when He made those, along with the other great sea creatures.

After my outing and the miles that I seemed to have walked, I returned to the hotel to peel off my stupid gladiator-esque sandals that pretty much cut huge slits into my feet. I have two feet of blisters to show for my efforts that day. Note to self *when going walking for an unknown distance, make sure to wear comfortable shoes. The rest of the night was great--hob-nobbing with all the eye people at the vision trade show thingy. The one good thing about it was that dad paid for us to have the 'wine tasting' that one of the companies was hosting. Which meant, 4 different tables full of wine and cheese samplings. yum.
So yeah, that's pretty much the trip. For those of you wondering, I did go gamble for a few hours that night. In fact, my dad and I stayed out till past 3am that night (shocking) hittin' up the 5 cent poker machines. It was great fun, but unfortunately, neither of us won much. In fact, I lost 3 bucks off it. Oh well. I guess next time I need to go for the higher risk factor ones and try for the 25cent ones. Look at me--I'm such a risk taker ;)
After the quick turn--around business trip with dad, this is what I got from it: deserts are fun, walking during the middle of the day in them are not, comfortable shoes are a must, stingrays are freakin' the bomb, they should invent dessert-only buffets and I'd be one of their biggest customers, gamblings pretty much a waste of time especially if you're a non-risk taker like me, or pretty much just have no money to burn, I'm glad I'm not a doctor and don't have to sit through 4 straight hours of 'classes,' wait, I'm still in 'classes' crap!, and lastly....there's pretty much no place like home (although seeing other places is a very close second in my book). OH, and more lastly (yeah i know my english is terrible) my dad's pretty much amazing :)

Home....

Cambridge. However, makes me feel as if I were in Italy. Still one of my favs.
Old church. York.

Another one of my dreams-crew boat on a river





And for all of you who missed it, there's another 'Jenny face' for ya. This time, in Glen Coe, Scotland
Cold. It was cold. And wet too. Darn loch ness.
Need I say more. Simply, wonderful. I could pitch a tent and live right there.

Just can't help myself. Amazing park in Wales.
Haha. "Whilst". love it!








(For Erin,) the closest thing to a chickmunk and the crazy park lady feeding them. that'll be me one day
Uh, creepy street in Cambridge. I don't know what's scarier, Tucson ghetto alleyways, or this.
Gina was abducted on a footbridge in London. haha, I'm pretty sure she was.
So there's for my only 'artistic' shot. (hence, no artistic bone in my body, but i try). I thought it was kinda cool.
Ok, so I never quite found my Scotshunk, but he was close enough. and in kilt, nonetheless.
Another great park. Edinburgh.
I tell you, unless I'm crazy, that looks like the British Isles in the clouds. go figure.






the phrase of the trip, "mind the ___".

Apparently, I have my own pub. Sweet!

The most (here it comes) quintessential old Scotsman, waiting at the train station. Precious!




A touching statue in the Glasgow bus stop. I liked it.










Pretty much the greatest park ever (hyde is in a category by itself, for nostalgic reasons) Park in Dublin






Ok, don't really understand what this means, but a ton of kegs running on a track at the Guinness brewery--it just looked like fun.
Haha, I had this great urge to steal this sign and put it up in my room. it just screams Jenny. ;)
Bath











Finally back from all my wanderings.....it feels like a dream from far ago that I actually went. What's better than becoming a vagabond for two weeks and getting lost in the land of architecturally brilliant cities embedded with wonderfully green parks. such a different world.
So, in light of my taking too many pictures (as everyone knows), I wanted to include a few of my favs. And just an underlying note, the pictures don't do the places justice. They're all just places that you have to see with your own two eyes and not a camera lens. So all of you, go!!

"The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page." -- St. Augustine

I'm off....

Well.....i'm off to the UK. wish me well, all!

"...I realized that the deepest spiritual lessons are not learned by His letting us have our way in the end, but by His making us wait, bearing with us in love and patience until we are able honestly to pray what He taught His disciples to pray: They will be done." Elizabeth Elliot a wise lady, a hard thing to learn.

a story....

So funny story from this weekend...let's see if I can do it justice by retelling it

My dad had continuing education classes on Sunday up in Oro Valley at El Conquistador resort-translation, about as far north as Salt Lake city. Ok, not that far, it just felt like forever when you're racing to meet them out there and not miss the end of that smashing Suns game where we kicked complete hiney. So yeah, I slightly sped a little, ok maybe a lot, to make it out there when I realized that my gas tank was nearly on E--a little close to the actual red line, but I didn't think I had that far to go and I sure didn't want to miss the Suns, heaven forbid. So I figured I'd just get gas on the way home later that night.
After the game, around 930 or so, I was ravishingly hungry and needed some dinner, so we all left in search of some. My dad got in my car to drive, when the gas light dinged at him. Oops, I said, I was gonna get gas on the way out..and now we can just get some on the way to dinner. After a few minutes with him behind the wheel, he started freaking out and saying in a stern voice, "I can't believe you Jenny, you're below the red line!" Now, you have to kinda know my dad. He never ever gets angry, so when he does, you know you did something very bad. That tone came creeping into his voice as he kept going on about how low my gas was, what in the world had I been thinking, and oh gosh you're on vapors. I tried to lighten the mood (as I always do when I'm in a tense situation) and tried to make jokes about how silly this was, how great it would be if we did run out of gas, etc etc. basically, lots of jenny's typical lighthearted stupid comments in an attempt to make everyone happy.
Dad wasn't buying it. He pulled over into the far right lane on oracle and was driving about 35 when the speed should have been about 55. Cars kept zipping by us, and I joked we'd probably just get pulled over for going too slow. we proceeded to keep going slower, and slower, and slower as my dad was promptly lecturing me about how I should never drive alone at night with my gas tank that and how many things could go wrong, and where in the world is the closest gas station. We finally found it, and by this time i was starting to sweat bullets actually wondering if we could possibly run out of gas. My dad turned the car left into the circle k at seriously a snails pace...by this time, Jenny's lighthearted jokes were gone as my dad exclaimed "oh great," in his sturn-dad voice. we had to go up over a small rise into the gas station, and by the time we reached the top of the rise, the car sputtered and stopped. I threw a look of panic at my dad as he exclaimed, "see, I told you Jenny. now you have to get out and push, get out and push!" and I freaked out that (of course) my dad was right and here I am in the wrong and I have to get out an push. I threw open the door and yelled (without thinking) "how do I push?" i turned around with this deer in the headlights look just to see my dad with this hugely sinister grin on his face.
He started laughing hysterically and barely got out that he was kidding about the whole thing. He was so proud at himself for fooling me soooo greatly that I heard about it the entire weekend. I must admit, it was pretty good, and he fooled me so well I bought it hook line and sinker. Although, if anyone again knows me, it's not that hard.
Still really funny though. Gotta love dads. and I sure love mine. :)

Aedh Wishes For The Cloths Of Heaven
~ William Butler Yeats.

Had I the heavens' embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.

another loverly day.......

Well, for a day that didn't start out so well (aka, the worst sleep ever interrupted by a horrific dream where I accidentaly killed my relatives in a desert while I was being chased by crazy army men...dont ask, I must've eaten something very strange to illicit that type of dream), it sure turned into another wonderful day. I woke up early with the sun, made my coffee, and jetted off to the park to estudiar and spend some tiempo with the Lord. It was so peaceful and nice out that I just had a good time talking with God---allowing Him to refocus my heart on Him all over again. God knows I needed that, and I believe that He brought me there just for that reason. I think that sometimes, I just get things better when I'm outside. Not that there's anything magical about it, but when I'm out of my little school-driven life and out staring at the ginormous mountains in front of me, my vision just shifts to what's most important to me....and that is knowing my Lord.
The rest of the day was alright I suppose---work was crazy as always, but gosh I do love those kids. I've only got 3 more days left. Gosh I'm gonna miss them. some of them are starting to grow on me. maybe I can just take one home for fun and keep her for a while, then give her back. they're more fun that way.
the next best thing of the day was Salsa Night on campus....the glories of the salsa club. The nearly 8-piece live band was amazing. I love any music live, but boy (gee golley) that was sure fun. Watching everyone dance just brought back so many memories of my time in Costa Rica, my family there, the people....just everything. I miss it so. I miss the culture. I miss the rhythm of everything. And yes, for a white girl, I don't have much, but it was fun to get my spin on on the dance floor. Next year, I'm gonna rule that place, just wait and see ;)
anyway, it was just a great day. Praise the Lord that He has given me great friends to enjoy these times with....maybe sometime in heaven we can have a salsa club night. maybe God won't object ;)
P.S. Go Aubree----you're my hero.

Fantabulous day...

So, pretty much one of the most enjoyable afternoons in a while--and if only because I was doing what I do best---be a bum in the park. I don't know what it is that draws me so, really it's just being outside, and today was definitely gorgeous. SO, we all went, sat, banged on the djembe and guitar like a bunch of hippies, rode the swings, tossed the frisbee, ate the eegees, and I'll just stop there. basically, it was amazing. it felt like summer is finally upon us (minus the scorching temperatures). I felt like the pressure's off, life is good, until finals hit. aw well. one day at a time. Thank God for days like this :)
P.S. oh, minus the very sad event of a stray dog hanging out with us for a while, if only to leave and chase down a baby bird that fell out of a tree...and proceed to hop around it and playfully bite at it for at least 10 minutes and at least had it in his mouth for a bit of that....i'm not sure if that bird was having the great day that i was.

So today at work, it felt like the whole world was against me. Let me explain. You know how pastors always slip into a sermon about God's love for us (or something along those lines) how they fully understood it once they had their own kids and blah blah blah, which doesn't mean much to me seeing as I haven't had kids yet. (or...I have, but i just dont see them much since they live in a tent in my backyard). Sidetrack...anyway, something about that stuck in my mind as I dealt with the kids. I dont know if it's something strange in the Tucson drinking water as of late (hah, as of late, try as of forever since who knows where T-town water originates, probably the sludge from sewers, the ones the ninja turtles came out of.) again, another sidetrack. I kinda felt in a way like God today...hah, not even close, but maybe some little bit. I felt that as much as I tried, every single kid in the room would not listen to me or obey the rules of naptime. They all just did what they wanted, they lied about taking stuff when I saw them do it, they fought with eachother, they tattled on one another as if to justify their own misbehaving, they pretty much did everything I didn't want for them. Granted, they are 5 years old, and sometimes they just dont do what you want them to do. All I wanted was that they have a nice short nap so that they wouldn't be so tired later in the afternoon. I mean, as much as I'd love to have an hour of naptime myself, it's really for them.
but in a way, this crazy picture started coming to me. Isn't that a lot like our Lord? The One who created us and the One who sits there and watches every stupid sinful thing we do, everytime we fight with others, lie to others so as to make ourselves feel better, twist the truth and gossip about others so we look better, and pretty much just do what we want. How incredibly painful must it be for Him to watch us ruining our lives with these things, filling them up with things that will just waste away and won't bring us any closer to Him, tearing others down just because we don't 'like' them. Oh, how it must break His heart.
I felt like I just saw all the worst of mankind today in those kids. I"m not saying that to be dramatic at all, but I seriously saw how many hateful things can be done by even these little kids. Example #2= this one little boy was carrying around a little stuffed bear during the activities, and even came and showed it to me. I didn't think anything of it until I looked across the room a few minutes later, and there was another boy speaking loudly and angrily to the boy with the bear. I walked over to try to break them up and solve the problem, when the one boy started hitting the boy with the bear. I stopped them, and after a while finally found out that the bear belonged to the boy's little sister who was sick, and the other one had just taken it out of her cubby hole. So , the other boy (being the nice older brother, as endearing as that may seem, it wasn't very cute when he started kicking and hitting the other one only to get back at him), decided that he was going to do everything he could to get back at the bear-stealer, even after we all talked it out, the boy appologized, and put the bear away. For the rest of the classhour, the angry little brother kept trying to kick the bear-stealer, sit in front of him so he couldn't see the teacher at group time, and even at one point, picked up a wooden play ladder and tried to hit him over the head with it. Luckily, I was there to grab it just in time, and took the boy aside to ask him what in the world was he eff-ing thinking. (ok, maybe not in that strong language) but i was getting tired of this vindictive behavior. after all, this boy is 5 freakin' years old! i mean, seriously.
So he started crying, told me about his sister who was gone to the day to the doctors, and how she had accidentally left her bear at school. He then went on to say that the bear-stealer need to be punished, and he wanted to hurt him. He even named another boy from the class(who was his best friend) and said that they both would get back at him on the playground and beat him up. I was shocked at all this, simply over a bear.
So to make a long story short (too late, i know), I couldn't believe that even though these were little 5 year olds who may not even understand everything , they can still come up with this hatefulness towards others and want to hit back when someone hits them. It's just a natural thing to do for them, one little kid hits or kicks you, then you hit or kick them back even harder.
I guess that's why Jesus was so revolutionary. He didn't do that. He's the one who even said to turn the other cheek. Out of all this, is there some sort of application? how bout this--humanity is sinful. It definitely is in our nature to want to hurt those who hurt us. That's why our Savior came, that's why He died in our place. Someday, we will be in a place where there is no more hurt, there are no more tears, there is no more sin. And better yet, we will be in the presence of a most holy, most loving Father who simply wants to love us and make Himself known to us, His creation. There's a picture for you. It may not mean much, and I may just be rambling here, but one thing I'm greatful for--these small glimpses of God's love for us. That in spite of all our wickedness, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us so that we may have a way back to Him. and praise the Lord for that. :)

oh yes!

Hahahaha.....i'm sorry, but this picture just makes me laugh--all the time. Is that really possible? I need a dog like that. although, i'm feeling this strange urge to want to give the poor thing Mouth to mouth. hmm, weird. but hey, ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

I really like trees.


yeah,



that's about it.



someday, i hope to have a lot of them at my house. not in it, mind you. although, that'd be nice. but just outside of it. just right outside of it. so i can still look at them. all the time.
and smile.

Me extrana a mi amiga....

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

So yeah, it's valentine's day, and a happy one at that. Didn't get any pretty flowers, so this picture makes up for it. :) thank you, Costa Rica, once again.
I dont really have anything else to say in particular. It's been a difficult few days, but God has definitely come through and provided me with some amazing times and conversations with friends. I'm not very good at showing my appreciation for my friends and all that they've meant to me, but I really do love and value all of them. I would like to be better at communicating that. Ah well. For now, I'm just happy to be where I am, learning what I am. As much as I yearn for certain things in my future to happen the way I think they should, I am positively convinced that God's will is far better and I would rather He make the details happen instead of me attemtping to plan or dream up everything. He can do a far better job. I'd rather join Him where He is. That's all I seek, day by day.

letting go

"The growth of all living green things wonderfully represents the process of receiving and relinquishing, gaining and losing, living and dying. The seed falls into the ground, dies as the new shoot springs up. There must be a splitting and a breaking in order for a bud to form. The bud "lets go" when the flower forms. The calyx lets go of the flower. The petals must curl up and die in order for the fruit to form. The fruit falls, splits, relinquishes the seed. The seed falls into the ground...There is no ongoing spiritual life without the process of letting go. At the precise point where we refuse, growth stops. If we hold tightly to anything given to us, unwilling to let it go when the time comes to let it go or unwilling to allow it to be used as the Giver means it to be used, we stunt the growth of the soul." ~Elizabeth Elliot
So I read that today, and it really made me think. Lately, I feel as though God is asking me to let go of so many things I hold onto in my life. To let go, and trust that He is big enough to provide my every need. This certainly is not easy to say the least, but I am confident that during this process of learning to give up my desires to Him, He is going to grow me in so many ways and His will will be proven to be good and perfect.

Here's one last tidbit from her, I thought she said this well. "...I realized that the deepest spiritual lessons are not learned by His letting us have our way in the end, but by His making us wait, bearing with us in love and patience until we are able honestly to pray what He taught His disciples to pray: They will be done."

speaking of zoo...

So, what if our zoos actually looked as exotic as Costa Ricas?
So, I just want to wonder for a minute what in the world God must've been thinking when He created something that looks like that. I mean, what a weird quazi-alien-bear-looking-pig-nosed-thing it is. God definitely has a creative mind. Oh, and i got to pet that sloth too. weird, but kinda cute in a way.
and yeah, the zoo was great, the bathrooms weren't.