Some times people try to knock it out of me, but I believe in music the way some people believe in fairy tales. Maybe the notes I hear, are the same ones they heard, the night they met. Maybe that's how they found each other. Maybe that's how they will find me. I believe that once upon a time, long ago. They heard the music and followed it. " -August Rush
Photo Blog Introduction...
I'm going to share with you a picture a day, that summarizes one of the most exciting adventures from that day. It could be something that happened to me, something that I witnessed, or something that keeps me asking more questions about my faith and love in a God that is beautiful and powerful. I am going to share it with each of you, in hopes that you can share the memories and moments with me on this Journey. Inspired by, Hebrews 12:1.
Birthday Cupcakes made by Shannon and Brittany....
Champion Ladder Ball Team
It’s nice to know you
We grow up being taught of the perfect man or woman, and we
spend our lives looking for that.
And so often we get so caught up in what that person thinks of us. The first thing I hear is always, “Do
you think he’ll text? What do you
think he thinks?” I really believe
that Love is one of those things that you give, regardless of whether that love
is reciprocated. If you really
love someone, you give and you give and you give, and you don’t think about
what you will get in return. It’s
not about what other people think of you.
It’s about love. Love is
enough.
Took a break from life to celebrate with some pretty amazing friends today. After getting a pedicure and seeing Brave-which was one of Disney's finest, I was excited for a night out. I was shocked how awesome the night was. Mike Davis and Toast to the Weekend with FIREWORKS
was surprisingly awesome. The best part? Stealing away into the
vineyards with a bottle of wine to watch the sunset and fireworks, while
still listening to some really great music. I think it makes my top 10
memories, which include the following real life experiences:
Reciting the Lord’s Prayer in the
Wilderness of Judah
Singing “Qui Sedes” in the church
where the Sound of Music Wedding took place in Austria.
Riding a Camel in Morocco
Walking on the bottom of the North
Sea in Cuxhaven,Germany
Construction/Translation in
Tijuana, Mexico for a family needing a home
Receiving a rose from Boyz II Men
during “Eat to the Beat Concerts” in WDW
Character Dance Party in
Tomorrowland during Spring Break 2012
Directing Brooklyn, NY Sr. High
Workcamp Summer 2011
Eating dinner with Anthony Rapp
from “Rent”
Blue Stone Vineyards, Birthday
Celebration 2012
It's
really awesome how something so devastating can actually be the most
beneficial and life-changing event-that my friends is the power of
Grace. I'm so blessed by competing memories for a spot in the top 10,
that sometimes I forget how it is that I got to this point in my life.
It's proof of my testimony and through God's word in Psalm 139.
"I'm never out of your sight...Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; Cross-examine and test me." I'm an unfinished piece of artwork....
God's birthday gift to me? Blessing me with beautiful, genuine friends.
This butterfly jewelry is hand made with real butterfly wings. The wings are encased in glass and framed with sterling silver by a co-operative of silversmiths. The wings are gathered from butterfly farms in Peru after naturally dying. Not only does this provide needed income for the farmers and silversmiths, but also helps prevent deforestation by offering alternative income in the amazon, and education about delicate ecosystems, creating sustainability and helping preserve wild butterfly populations. No butterflies are harmed in its making.
A good friend took me out for my birthday today to a Bowl of Good and then we couldn't help not going into Artisan's Hope. It was a bad idea, mostly for my wallet. We had a pretty awesome breakfast, which included Beans, Eggs, Salsa, and Mint Tea and then supported Fairly Traded Sustainable Jewelry makers by making a purchase. It was a pretty good kick-off to the Birthday Celebrations that were to follow.
Arriving at the hospital, there's a sense of fear and panic almost, as families are frustrated at the marathon they have to run just to get a parking spot and get into the hospital. The construction causes a slight catastrophe for parking. Not only physically, but also emotionally, since the beams aren't strong enough to hold the 3-ton/car 500 car parking garage. Super safe, I know. If the first parking garage is full, you have to go to the second one, and if that is the case, you have to take elevator one to floor D, then that elevator transfers to the second elevator, where you can connect to the hospital on floor B. Then you have to walk through the Heart and Vascular center to the West Elevators, but you have to go to the East Elevators because the West Elevators are out of order due to construction. But on your way, you have to remember to get parking to validate your time in the garage; otherwise it is $32.00. Then you take the East Elevators to the 6th floor and walk back across the hospital to the West Side, and finally on to 6West Neuro. By this time, in the humid, Southern Virginia heat, you're sweating. But you sit down, with your BoJo from Bodo's Bagels, which has now spilled all over you due to the trans-elevator journey you've taken. Sweat dripping from your brow, you decide to turn your phone on vibrate, so as not to disturb your family member's roommate, since they have double occupancy beds only to realize the phone is in the car. DAMN!
Mom's surgery went well, she's resting at this point and doing just fine.
Mom went back to the hospital and had her seventh brain surgery. No one on this earth demonstrates courage and strength like this woman. She has persistence like none other. "But who are we to tell God how to run his affairs?
He's dealing with matters that are way over our heads" -Job 21:22
Regina and I took a fun day trip to Charlottesville to explore their computer buying options. When we drove up to our first option, and saw a chained fence and padlocks across the windows-we decided there may just be a classier place to buy a computer. We did our shopping, even bought a new dress and sunhat---which has been used to the maximum already. Then we decided to treat ourselves to a fantastic dinner at Mas Tapas. I discovered this place when I used to work at Rosetta Stone and my colleagues introduced me to the fantastic world of authentic Tapas outside of Spain. We started with a pitcher of Sangria, because honestly, how can you eat Tapas without authentic Sangria? Then the following is what we had to eat.....
Babaghanouz(the traditional spread of roasted eggplant, garlic, and yogurt w/brick oven bread)
Pequeno Plato de Queso(sliced, aged raw-milk Manchego, local apples, on a slice of hearth-baked bread)
Datil con tocino(fat, juicy, pitted Medjool dates roasted inside of applewood-smoked bacon)
Empanada(locally-cultivated oyster and Lion’s Mane mushrooms, goat cheese, impastata in a flaky pastry w/crème fraiche)
The last time I was here had some really sad memories associated with it, so it was nice to have a dinner with someone full of truth and honesty. Something that is genuine, which was so hard to find. I think the girls in my small group and the girls that I work with are incredibly strong women and help me build up my courage and confidence each day, knowing that my powerful God is the source of it all. Someone asked me, "So, tell me, how did you do it? I mean, I know Jesus was there, but how did you come through?" As much as I hate sunday school answers, there is nothing I attest the strength towards more, than the simple and extravagant Grace of God. It is more than enough...
You can have anything you want, dear. You just need to stop waiting for someone to tell you, you deserve it. -Evelyn
Everything will be alright in the end, and if everything is not alright then, trust me, it is not the end. -Sonny
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel was spectacular, words kind of fail me to its beauty. I truly suggest that anyone should go and see this fantastic love story of life. It's a sweet story about several elderly people that have come to that unfortunate transition in their life where they are questioning their next step, literally Life? or Death? It's tragically beautiful, in that anyone, the young and old and beautiful can relate to their crossroads of life. There is racism, love overcoming all, disappointment, sadness, reconnections, defeat, loss, gain, and beauty wrapped in this delicate English film. Gosh, it's so good! "This is a newly different world, the challenge is to cope with it. And not just cope, but to thrive. India, like life itself I suppose, is about what you bring to it." The culture and music of the movie are rich and deep and make me anxious in anticipatory excitement for Burma (which is a mere 6 1/2 months away). I just bought the soundtrack to the CD--only $10.99 on iTunes :)--and I am sunbathing in it's radiance. I told myself that I either want to pass safely in my sleep before I hit my geriatric years, or live on in pure joy of life like Evelyn in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel: for the Elderly and Beautiful. She says, "The measure of success is how we cope with disappointment." May it only be so....
The most profound thing any doctor has told me....he looked me in the eyes and said..."Do as I say, not as I do *wink wink*". He was referring to eating Kline's Iced Cream every night. We agreed that it was okay to eat Klines every night, every single night. And he's a doctor, right?
A sign outside of the Chile's in Williamsburg, VA near the Williamsburg Souveneir shop. There's nothing deep that accompanies this photo. I think the hot pepper says it all.
…it means ‘stands against the wind’. I am just one weed that stands high in
the wind, while all the others blow to the ground. But not me. I
am strong. Even in a windstorm, I
will not fall over.
Excited about visiting the land of the Ogala Souix Native American Tribe on Pine Ridge, South Dakota. If you want to know what it is like where I'm going, watch this documentary. I don't feel like any additional writing will suffice the feelings I have towards this land, they say it perfectly in this documentary. It's about forty minutes, but definitely worth watching about a people that are often forgotten; yet, occupy a huge portion of our 'United' States.
Photo Description: Driveby of a trailer park in Bridgewater with a sign advertising homes adjacent to the park starting at $229.900. Sick. This makes me sick.
The focus and priorities of this world are astoundingly nauseating. The greed and cruelty that surfaces with transparent motives sickens me. The types of passions that we find today and the ways in which we demonstrate our love sickens. Betrayal and hurt surrounds, and It's as blatant as this, but as subtle as.... Out of chaos life is being found in You. Just when I find perfection, someone with alternative motives steals it away with greed...and I'm tired of being an example that is just mediocre. So I choose to walk away from the transparent motives, lies, and greed and just simply be.
No wonder I am so distracted from the things that are important to me, so draw me back in...
You can have all of me, anything, everything
I just want to be even closer....
Feeling incredibly distracted this past week, and I'm not sure why. I find myself being pulled in many directions, but also in directions I am not sure are good. I think my heart trusted too soon, too quickly. Read Romans 12:2 that says in so many words, don't copy the behaviors and customs of this world. don't copy the behaviors and customs of this world....and yet I find myself so distracted by just that; the behaviors and customs of this world. Tonight I deleted several numbers from my phone, cleared my memory, and started fresh. I need you to not be my distraction, to allow me to carry on with what I think is important--clearly big bang theory. BAZINGA. Seriously though, It's my hope that I can return to the passion and quest for knowledge again. I'm ready for a change and for something new, but how can I do that when I'm holding on to the old? Honestly? I just want to be closer to you, I want you to take anything, everything. I want to be consumed by your path, and yours alone.
BURNOUT. burnout is the result of people working in conflict with their deepest values.
It's so frustrating working in a profession where very little discussion can occur outside of work about work. My friends and family just don't get it, unless they are right there beside me. My job is like no other. It's not just about patience. Or Patients. It's about putting your values, your thoughts, your beliefs completing to the side, and pushing past judgement and insecurities, and going to the source of the problem for the sake of the ill.
I love my job. I love the adrenaline, the stress, the encouragement, the support, and the help----but it comes from within only, because others just don't get it. Before when I was tired because I spent the entire day on the phone, now I am tired because I sat down once in 12 hours-to pee. Before when I was stressed it was because I failed to send out a proper email, now I am stressed because someone is dying. Before when I was physically tired from sitting at a computer all day, now I am physically tired because I lifted over and over.
sometimes i just need ice cream more and more often :).
Work of art.He’s crazy about you and he’s so proud of you.He just looks at you and is in love with you.There may be things that you don’t like
about yourself that he just adores.And he wants to communicate with you that that’s how he sees you.Her heart needs to understand that she
is your creation.
When you take Gold in its cooled, hard form, It is
beautiful.But when you melt the
Gold, you place the flame to it, the impurities start to come out of the
Gold.But the coolest thing is
that there is nothing quite as beautiful as seeing Gold in its liquid
form.It’s unreal.Once those impurities burn off, the
hotter the flame the quicker they burn, it is incredibly beautiful.There is a beauty in you…But as you say
to yourself, I just see yucky stuff.Know that the passion is increasing in your heart, and your impurities
are coming to the surface.It’s
coming up and out.As he brings it
up, burns it up, and increases the passion, it’s gone.He wants you to know it’s gone.It comes up and out.And it’s gone.He wants you to see the beauty.
“Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You fight for it,
strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the
world looking for it. You have to participate relentlessly in the
manifestations of your own blessings. And once you have achieved a
state of happiness, you must never become lax about maintaining it. You
must make a mighty effort to keep swimming upward into that happiness
forever, to stay afloat on top of it.”
―
Elizabeth Gilbert,
Eat, Pray, Love
I took my first set of engagement photos today, and it was such a fun time and experience. This is just one of my favorites, out of nearly 900 pictures! I can't wait for more opportunities.
"You know, sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage.
Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I
promise you, something great will come of it." -Benjamin Mee, We Bought a Zoo
