Wednesday, November 16, 2011

A little Advocacy

Hello lovely readers,


Last night instead of doing my usual homework routine after work I went to a meeting about Living Water International an organization that builds water wells to people in 3rd world countries to provide them fresh clean healthy water. Did you know?


Sorry the bottom part is blurry it "A Child dies every 15 seconds because of the lack of clean water. It costs us an average of $0.96 to to provide clean, safe water to one person for one year every dollar makes a difference."
I am not meaning to sound like I am on a soap box so please forgive me if I do. I have a heart for children with that statistic was not settling with me so I went to this meeting to find out how I could help and maybe a chance to go on a trip with them to help dig a well. I have actually never been on a trip like this so I am not sure what to expect or how to prepare but right now I am praying that if God wants me to go doors will remain open. But in the mean time I have decided to save my money to donate to this cause... in that I am not going to reduce how much drinks I buy when I go out. Like not buying soda, coffee, or other beverages and put that money aside for this cause.

A Living Water well
First, I will say yes that Living Water is a christian organization but rather you practice that or not we all need to address that the water crisis needs to be resolved. We are so lucky to live in America where we have clean water every where. Think about how much water you use from your shower, brushing your teeth, using the restroom, washing your hands, or making that cup of coffee. I know last summer in Boston our water was contaminated by a leak and it pratically shut down our city but we could still go buy bottled water and we survived the few days. But I can't imagine what it is like for people to go find water every day that was contaminated and knowing you had to do drink it but it was going to get you sick and maybe kill you. Also as a girl I would be the one to take the watering can (the orange bucket in picture) to walk 5 or so miles to get water then walk back with it full weighing 40 lbs, I know I am not that strong and if I had to do that every day I would not have time to be getting the education I have. Water is tied to everything.
I am feel so blessed living in America with so many freedoms and purusing the dreams I want to pursue so I am going to try to find a way to take my blessing and give to others. Right now it is with my money, I hope soon it will be with my time, going to Central America for a week and helping dig a well. Also this Christmas with Advent Conspiracy I am going to try to be more thoughtful with my gifts. Even if your not a Christian your presents can be more focused on presence and helping others. We all need to help this world.


Think about how you can help.


Please if you want more information on this please click on the links in this post.

Monday, November 14, 2011

A little road mapping


I will admit I look back at my life a lot. I am sure a lot of us do. Sometimes we look back and we see happy times with family and loved ones. Sometimes we see pain heart breaks and challenges. I think we can all agree that that is the mix of life. I know many times I look back over my life (which hasn't been that long) and see things that didn't make sense in the present but now I know they have made me who I am. For example when I was 10 my Nana passed away. She was the first death I ever really experienced and I wasn't happy that she was gone but with in a year of her passing away my mom moved us out to the west coast. My mom made me repeat the 5th grade, all these events I didn't understand but now I see how shaping they were. If I hadn't moved to the west coast, I don't know if I would have ever been brave enough to move myself to the east coast, and it is here I have found my own little home. And living on the west coast where people didn't know me my whole life most people assumed my pesky speech impediment was an accent, and I no longer got teased for it. After my repeat of the 5th grade my grades got better and I took some time to just get in the flow of it. Also my 5th grade year I had an awesome teacher, Mr. Bacon, who besides my parents encouraged me to write. But in the moment my Nana's death, the move, the repeating 5th grade none of it made sense... but I think how puzzle pieces fit together to make me me.


I don't know about you but sometimes I look back and I can only see the mistakes I have made and I hold on to those tighter than I hold on to my accomplishments. I know there are a lot of motivational quotes that say don't let mistakes define you but it is hard for me. Even when all the world is telling me "I am good" I feel myself criticizing myself ( I am my worst critic). You might be thinking I am in a low place in my life again, and actually that's not true I am just over thinking things and just writing it out helps.

I had a relationship with a guy, over a year ago, but he was the man I thought I was going to get married to. I have a deep desire to be a wife (as you can probably tell from my other blog posts) so when I thought I was going to marry this guy I put all my hope into that relationship. I felt I gave it my all and when it ended I had nothing left. Now of course I had great friends who held on to me and lifted me up. But it took me a really long time to get over him. And I still work on it but there is a deep part of me that knows I need to move on and a really anxious (anxious because I want to be in love again) that is telling me I want to move on. But some how deeper down I worry... I worry about making the same mistakes all over again, I worry about being crushed all over again. I guess those all factors of life.


As I was writing that last part I remembered the quote "if you're not willing to sound stupid, you don't deserve to be in love" so I googled it and found out it was from the movie "A Lot Like Love" but as I was googling the quote google was showing me this other quote "If you're not willing to risk it all, then you don't want it bad enough" - Unknown. So maybe I just need the reminder if I want something bad enough I will have to face the idea I will make mistakes (we all do) but I can't hold on to my mistakes I have made in the past. I just need to let them teach me and not define me. 

I looked up the word "risk" on Pinterest and got some interesting quotes, here are my favorites...





So maybe I shouldn't be so timid by my past mistakes and take a little bit of risk... I know the Lord has blessed me so far and not matter what happens next he will use it to shape my future.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

I enjoy being a girl

Okay minus all the drama, that just seems to happen because we are girls, and girls just have drama... if you are thinking "nu'uh" you have been lying to yourself.

This will be my only mention of the show Gossip Girls on this Blog.

Last night through a conversation I remembered why I love being a girl

1. We can wear dresses/skirts/ carpi's or pants to the office and still be good...
guys can only wear pants no matter how hot it is outside.

2. We can cry and everyone ask if we are all right...
guys need to be tough and if they cry we are confused.
(though for some odd reason I love when my dad cries... he shows me he is sensitive).

3. We can be sensitive...
guys have sensitive sides but hide them.

4. We can also be tough...
guys are sadly told to only be tough.


5. We can dance stupidly...
guys have to be cool.
(Come on we have all seen the movie Hitch).


But my favorite reason...

6. We can like girly things, for example Jane Austen
and still like boyish things, for example football...

Guys are told to only like boyish thing and if they do like girl things
eye brows are raised, or they have to hide it.

 I know there are more reasons but this is what I thought of.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

A Sap at Heart (part 3)



To My future husband,

I don't know your face,
or the color of your eyes
but I look forward to the day you hold my hand,
and knowing you will be holding it forever.
I look forward to the day
we say those three little words,
that mean so much.

I know I put up walls,
that we will have to knock down together.
Sometimes it will be harder than we think.
I know my heart is a little a bruised
but it will love you.
And when life gets hard,
I look forward to your shoulder to cry on.
Then in your own special way,
you will hold me and tell me things will be okay.

I know God is watching us
leading us to one another,
I don't know when and where
so I pray for you.
I pray that God is molding you,
into the man He wants you to be.
I pray God is guiding your steps
so you are going in the ways He wants.
I pray God is guarding your heart
and giving you strength to be patient.
I pray God is making you into the man
I will openly submit to.
And that God is always your number one priority
so I can happily be your number two.

I pray for us together
in the good times and the bad
that we will be a team
looking out for one another,
holding on to one another,
never letting go of our love
and never letting go of Christ.
I pray we keep our focus
on the one that matters most
so when we raise our children
we can teach them the way to go.
Let us not forget the rings we will wear
symbolize a completeness
that can never be broken.

Whenever I miss you,
I lift you up to God.
I know He will bring us together
in His own wonderful, perfect timing.
So I ask for patience as I wait for you.
And pray for my heart not to wander,
so I can give it to you
on our wedding day,
and everyday after.

Have a good day my husband to be,
can't wait to meet you.