7.22.12-Always an adventure with me...

"They made us many promises, more than I can remember, but they never kept but one: they promised to take our land and they took it. It was not hard to see that the white people coveted every inch of land on which we lived. Greed. Humans wanted the last bit of ground which supported Indian feet. It was land - it has ever been land - for which the White man oppresses the Indian and to gain possession of which he commits any crime. Treaties that have been made are vain attempts to save a little of the fatherland, treaties holy to us by the smoke of the pipe - but nothing is holy to the white man. Little by little, with greed and cruelty unsurpassed by the animal, he has taken all. The loaf is gone and now the white man wants the crumbs."... Luther Standing Bear-Sioux

My heart breaks for the children of these plains, forgotten, pressed, and souls shattered to the unjust legal system set in place for them.  I can't understand how a people so beautiful are held to standards of filth and trash, because of what my ancestors did.  Bittersweet to be back in beautiful South Dakota, as I'm excited to visit the mass terrain again, but also saddened to see the continued decay of society.  Seeds of hope are still being planted, but are finding it difficult to grow...

 

7.21.12-When in Chicago....

Since my plane can't fly, I will do it instead....

7.18.12-Not Another Goodbye....

The people that found me when I need them most.  A family that cannot be replaced.

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....but another, "Until next time". 

Said goodbye to another beautiful soul today.  Another friend is moving on to the next stage of her life, and I couldn't be more excited for her.  She's getting hitched!  So grateful for her friendship, wisdom, listening ear, and unselfish love.  We celebrated her time with our small group tonight, knowing and continuing to pray for her peace, provision, and her dedication to God's will.  Thanks for a year of giggles, smiles, poolside chats, text messages, Disney memories, and stories of God weaving in and out of our lives.  

"They have come into my life for a reason.  They came in at the most perfect time, and God is moving them along at the most perfect time too."

God's love is not meant to be momentary or fleeting, but to abide.  -J. Leath

7.16.12-Finding Inner Peace

Be not indifferent.

With wisdom, there is also found humility, mercy, consideration, and love. Be not indifferent, but be wise and ready to do whatever is good and right, including loving those who may seem impossible to love. Christ died not only for his friends but for his enemies as well because he loved them too. Be not indifferent.

7.15.12-Continuing the Work of Jesus....

...peacefully, 

                         ....simply,

                                                 ...together.

7.14.12-Roommates

Vision is the picture of the future that produces passion in you.  -Daniel D'Oleo

7.13.12-Finding Humility

House in Springfield, Illinois in Enos Park

Live as Servants.

Even the Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Be a shepherd of God's flock;

give an example that others may follow, not because you must but because you are willing and eager to serve, just as Jesus serves as your shepherd.

Christ will see and reward your good deeds.  

Even if you receive no earthly rewards, you will indeed prosper in spirit.

Live as Servants.

Alton says, "I feel compelled to help people, and there are people that need things that I have and am willing to give.  And work is one of the things I'm willing to give people."

 

 A chance for us to volunteer to get out in the world, to do some good stewardship.  Because in our denomination we believe in showing the work of Jesus with our hands instead of our words.

Enos Park Cleanup

7.6.12-7.10.12 Love together, Don't 'ya Get Weary.

The proof that God's love lives in us is to open our hearts, eyes, soul, and mind to those that are suffering. Walk together children, don't ya get weary. Love together children, don't ya get weary. -Jennifer Leath
Church of the Brethren Annual Conference 2012, St. Louis, MO.

Annual Conference taught me a lot of things this year.  

What did it teach me?  

Division is evident and eminent.  

The church calls all kinds of missionaries, in all kinds of ways.

Don't be scared, even when fear consumes you.  

Love in never ending circles knows no gender, sex, or race.

When God speaks to you, you need to be ready to listen.

Independence from things comfortable and safe hurts.

7.11.12 and 7.12.12-Strive for Justice

The face on injustice...

 Seek justice not only for yourself but also for everyone.

The face of innocence...

 It is in seeking justice for all that you please the Lord, 

The face of curiosity...

 showing our love and regard for your neighbors 

The faces of compassion...

 and your equal dislike of favoritism, deceit, and exploitation.

The faces of second chances...

Strive for Justice.

7.4.12- Sweet, Anna

Anna, you are sweet and beautiful, and I can't even begin to thank you enough for your generosity and spirit.  Friends like you are wonderfully made and radiate love throughout.    Love you to pieces!

 I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day,  greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy,  when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you...2 Timothy 3-5

7.3.12-Heaven in my Heart

....He puts a little heaven in our hearts so that we'll never settle for less... 2 Corinthians 5:5

I struggle with saying goodbye.  Perhaps it's because it's just hard.  Perhaps because Goodbyes, for me, were always permanent.  When someone said goodbye to me, they meant forever.  It wasn't, see ya in a few days, or months.  It didn't start like that though.  It started with them saying goodbye, but coming back.  But the time got longer and longer in between coming back until Goodbye was permanent.

But the last six months have not been about goodbye.  If you were to ask me two words that have described the last six months, they would be whimsical and fierce.  I prayed for months that God would show me His way and lead me along His path.  I never anticipated reaping His benefits in this way, but that's the beautiful thing about Him, you just can't plan.  You can't do anything but just live and wait. 

I have been blessed with beautiful friendships and colleagues with such knowledge and compassion, that I cannot even begin to describe how fantastic it is.  I'm not sure that I have ever fully prayed and seen results this grand.  One year ago, one of God's weakest children guided me to what I would consider freedom and true life.  Ultimately, this guidance brought into my life people with courage, conviction, beauty, and humility, all things I needed to learn.  He brought me closer to some, further away from others, and allowed me to open up in ways I would have never imagined doing.  So I know that it is with great sadness, but mostly happiness, that these same people are now moving on to some pretty awesome things. 

One of those friends, beautiful as she is inside and out, constantly reminds me that 'God brought them in at just the right time, and He is also taking them out at just the perfect time, so that new things can happen'.  She reminds me that it's okay to have these feelings, selfish as they may be, because then I can know that they are real.  Real relationships, ones that are honest and true, hurt in a way that makes you ache.  I find it humorous that a divorce that pierces your heart and soul can hurt less than someone going away to school or moving 2-hours away, or someone leaving for a 2-month mission.  After finding a niche and finding comfort, God has uprooted me, broken me down, and has allowed me to replant, once again. That my friends, is beautiful grace.

Fleet Foxes, Blue Ridge Mountains

Light up with me my dear,
Light up.
Under stormy night, tell nobody.

My brother where do you intend to go tonight?
I heard that you missed your connecting flight,
to the blue ridge mountains, over near Tennessee.

You're ever welcome with me any time you like,
Let's drive to the country side, leave behind some green-eyed look-a-likes,
So no one gets worried, no.
So no one gets worried, no.

6.30.12-Someone's House

Someone's house, somewhere, did this.  As for us?  Just some lost power, a few branches down, and a hotel bill for a few nights.  Their damage was far worse, another reminder of my fortune.

6.29.12-Taco Truck Madness & a Huge Storm

La Taurina, Taco Truck on Rt. 11

I shared the experience of the Taco Truck with some friends and they loved, as did I!  We actually did this on Thursday and then had far too much Chocolate PB Iced Cream afterwards.

...since God has so generously let us in on what he is doing, we're not about to throw up our hands and walk off the job just because we run into occasional hard times.  We refuse to wear masks and play games.  We don't maneuver and manipulate behind the scenes...  -2 Corinthians 4:1-2.


I've struggled with focus and attention being on the correct things.  I made a few errors over the past few days that could have been deadly, and I'm so grateful for competent people in my life that have my back. 


When my attention is unfocused and I forget the reason why I'm here, God sends a storm to shake me up and remind me how to be humble and grateful.  One of the biggest storms I've seen in my life occurred on Friday night.  Thinking we're invincible, we decided to sit and watch the storm from my back porch.  It started with some wind and then just happened fast---with gusts that could pick up a kids pool and carry it across the town, or a child's high chair.  This is cliche, but I don't really care.  It was a visual reminder to remember what people are with me during a storm.  It's easy to see those with me physically during a physical storm, but when it comes to a storm that isn't tangible?  He reminds me that they are still there.  And I think that is what I needed to see.  He needed to remind me of His power, His strength, and His control. I can't say it enough how grateful I am for the people that are in my life, and how they came to be that way.  It's not just a blessing, it's more; it's grace!  

6.28.12-It's hot out there, folks....

It's hot out there, folks, my iPhone says so...

6.27.12-Is it Enough?

Finished, Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracey Kidder about Paul Farmer and successfully completed another Graduate Course.  Paul Farmer is someone to be honored for his sacrifice, diligence, and conviction.  He sacrificed family, a marriage, and a life to save children and people dying from Tb and HIV/Aids in a country that could not afford to pay for rotting mangoes.  Some words of wisdom to ponder...


Giving people medicine for TB and not giving them food is like washing your hands and drying them in the dirt. -Haitian Proverb


Clean water and health care and school and food and tin roofs and cement floors, all of these things should constitute a set of basics that people must have as birthrights.-Paul Farmer


It saddens my heart to know that as I sit here with my iced chai and blueberry scone, that there are children out there that can have a damn blood transfusion because they can't afford to buy blood--even bad blood.  PEOPLE!  THEY CAN'T EVEN AFFORD BLOOD!!!!  I get angry at myself because I can't be more, do more.  I can't be the sacrifice that I need to be, to get done what needs to get done.  It's hazy and unclear the direction of what my sacrifice will be and how it will play out, and that's so damn frustrating sometimes.

6.26.12-The Beginning of Goodbye...

Kelsey's Going Away Party

Dear Betty, I came to Wellesley because I wanted to make a difference. But to change for others is to lie to yourself. 

...My teacher, Katherine Watson, lived by her own definition and would not compromise that, not even for Wellesley. I dedicate this, my last editorial, to an extraordinary woman, who lived by example and compelled us all to see the world through new eyes. By the time you read this, she'll be sailing to Europe, where I know she'll find new walls to break down, and new ideas to replace them with. I've heard her called a quitter for leaving and aimless wanderer. But not all who wander are aimless, especially those who seek truth beyond tradition, beyond definition, beyond the image. 

This is just the beginning of a summer of goodbyes to a lot of very dear friends.  The first to leave?  My beautiful friend, Kelsey.  Yet another one of my serendipitous acquaintances and short journeys.   We share a similar journey, and so therefore, I understand her need to continue on elsewhere.  I'm so proud of her, she just passed her boards and is going to work at Wake General in North Carolina.  She has courage to transition into a new role of a nurse surrounded by a completely new environment.  Congrats Kelsey, but you will be missed...

6.25.12-Early Morning

I had an early morning scare, with a fire in my kitchen.  So, what better way to spend the extra 2 hours before work than to make breakfast and spend honest time with Him.    It's moments like these, and feelings like these that make me desire Him more each day.  I think when we get so lost from God, he sets off a fire alarm somewhere, wakes you up, and says, "Know Me!"  "Be with me!"  "Come back to me, and just sit in my silence."  So I did.

6.24.12-Always Room for Love

...that's why we live with such good cheer.  You won't won't see us drooping our heads or dragging our feet!  Cramped conditions here don't get us down.  They only remind us of the spacious living conditions ahead...-2 Corinthians 5:6-7

A perfect way to end the weekend with this cute little munchkin.  Had a great breakfast with Brandy, Jeff, and not so baby anymore Matias.