Posts

Showing posts from 2015

30 Days of 30: The Last Days

Image
Well... after spending 10 days in Orlando, wrapping up my #30daysof30 took some effort. I was exhausted, but every second felt worth it and I'm so glad I had been able to go. And while not all the remaining days were as exciting, they were just as meaningful in helping me start out this new year of life in the best way possible. Day 23: Coke Float I had just flown back in from Orlando the night before and had to go straight to work. I had barely slept the whole time, so I was dragging just a little bit. But of course, there was a surprise on my desk. From sweet Jess again. And it was Inca Cola! My favorite drink from my trip to Peru last summer! And later that night, I went to my favorite ice-cream place for a coke float. All-in-all, it was a good way to come back home and keep on celebrating. Day 24: Got My Hair Did Goal... look good as a 30-year-old. So of course that means getting my hair done. My cousin came over and worked her magic on me. Day 25: When Plans

30 Day of 30: Days 8-22

Image
It's so hard to blog when you are having the time of your life! The month of September was AMAZING! I literally celebrated turning 30 for all 30 days . I felt a little silly doing it sometimes. Like how self-absorbed could I be? But honestly, each day reminding me to have joy in this life that God has granted me. To be thankful for the relationships and opportunities that have been given to me. To live without abandon and enjoy both the big and the little moments. I have no clue what the rest of 2015 will bring. Or even what this 30th year will bring. But celebrating my 30 days of 30 was a great way to start it out, and I'm glad I did it. Here's the recap of what else I did! Day 8: Peter Pan Date My sweet friend and co-worker Jess started the day out with a surprise on my desk! I am not big on flowers. But purple is one of my favorite colors, and this little bouquet was such a great start to my day... which I remember not starting out so great. I remember start

30 Days of 30: The First Week

Image
Eight days left of my 30 days of 30... and I have NOT been good and blogged about it as promised. But it's not over yet, so... let's start with the first week! When I came up with this idea last year, it was really just a dream. And then I started to really envision it and in August decided I'd make it a reality! And it has been so much fun. Day 1: Sept 1st (My actual 30th birthday) I woke up and wore blue (a tradition I began when I turned 13. My birthstone is a sapphire, so I always wear sapphire blue on my birthday). Got chauffeured to work, received tons of cards, notes, flowers, cupcakes, an edible arrangements... and then ended the day at the Pentatonix and Kelly Clarkson concert!!!!! It was sooo much fun. And I stayed out way too late... but I was happy.  Day 2: Absolutely exhausted and was a zombie at work, but somehow I made it through. I got more notes from kids. Wednesdays are our short day at school, but I had to go to Course Leader PD afterw

3 Days to 30

Image
In three days, I turn 30. The Big 3-0. I used to dread approaching that number. It would mean I was old. I was past my prime. All the fun in life should be over and done, and I should be a settle, responsible adult with a husband, at least four (of my imagined six) kids thriving and absolutely no pets. And not that I imagined that life would be bad--it would still be an adventure. But not the same fun, flirty and free type of adventure that your 20's are for. It also didn't help that as I approached 30, I was still single with no prospects, still had no clue what I wanted to be when I "grew up" and just felt lost in general . Twenty-five was the year I was most excited for. In reflection, I'm not sure why. It's not like 16, when you can finally drive a car by yourself (even if it's a hand-me down from your cousin). Or not like 18, when you become an "official adult." Or even 21, when you can finally drink (which I actually waited to do

Dreams and Fears

I've started to think about them often-- Beatrice and Scovia . They are the two Esther Home Girls that are sponsored through IF: Gathering and who I'll get to meet when I'm in Rwanda in July . I don't remember if I gave to the campaign that allowed their dreams to go to college possible, and so I've browsed through the small profiles/update we've been given , hoping to come up with gifts that can bring with me. Maybe a scarf? Or a set of my favorite colored pens? Maybe those things would be too small, too trivial? I don't know. And then I hear insecurity whisper: Maybe everything you have to offer will be too small, too trivial. Not just to the girls, but on the whole trip. And I tremble with fear. By nature, I am a pretty cautious person. I don't like to take risks, and any adventures I embark on are generally strongly vetted (or are only adventures because I finally decided to actually step outside  my home). But God has been nudging me

Heading to Rwanda in the Summer!

Dear Family and Friends, In February, I participated in a women’s conference called IF: Gathering. The theme this year was all about faith—if God is real, then what? If I believe in His word, then what? If I trust that He is good, how do I respond? At the end of the week, we were asked to think about our “next step of faith” and offered different ways for us to actively live out our faith. One of those ways was through a mission trip to work alongside Africa New Life Ministries in Rwanda. Rwanda is a small but densely populated country nestled in East Africa. During the 20th century, Rwanda reached a height of violence in the 1994 Genocide. Now, over 20 years since the Genocide, Rwanda has and continues to demonstrate to the world the power of reconciliation and forgiveness. Africa New Life Ministries is a child sponsorship organization that provides a comprehensive level of care to the students, ministering to both physical and spiritual needs as well as focusing on the comm

Ponderings...

I fear that I am not a good enough witness for Christ. I fear I am silent when I should speak. That I don't make the most of every opportunity to share His love and His truth. In some ways, I am proud of the strides I've made. In the last two years, starting with that first trip to Haiti, I've grown bolder in my faith. I feel more and more unashamed. I no longer shy away from speaking up about God's faithfulness and goodness in my life. But is that enough? Am I actively running the race God has called me to? 

The Art of Living Intentionally

Image
Thinking about my #OneWord365 and I found this old blog draft that I never posted. It's still incomplete, but it makes me feel that much more excited that I chose intentional as my word!  Since I've come back from India, I've felt the huge challenge of living an intentional life. I'm the classic, go-with-the-flow kind of girl, and while I don't think I've necessarily been simply a follower, I know I am more reactive in my choices than proactive. India showed me the power of what it looks like to intentionally give of your life and your time to others. And I've really been wanting to make sure that my life just isn't there , but that it's a life of impact. That I'm not wasting my days or my resources, but I'm making the most of them for the glory of God. And that takes some serious intentionality!  I just finished the book Notes from a Blue Bike , and she goes through how she and her family live intentionally when it comes to work,

#OneWord365

Image
Happy New Year, guys! It's crazy to think that 2014 is over and 2015 is here... and yes, I am quite aware that it's been here for almost a full month and I'm just  now acknowledging it (well, on the blog at least). Let's do a little bit of catch-up like we did last year , shall we... 1.  I still live in the same place (no new moves, yay!)... although there might be a new move in June. It's the cutest place I've lived in since moving to Houston, but the landlord is a bit crazy. My neighbors are amazing though... we all hold false hope that we'll find another triplex we can all move into at the same time (we can dream, right?). 2. I still teach and I'm still a course leader. And I still love both... but I'm also beginning to think about what might be next. 3. I can no longer call myself a runner, but I did buy a bike! 4. My family got A LOT bigger... my niece was born last April and my sister got married in December! The niece is the cut