Return of the Dead...Car

Oh Yes!!! I want to shout it from the mountain tops: I have a working car once again :) WoooHoooo!

Hopefully, I'm not jinxing myself by talking about my car. But I am just so happy to be mobile and less restricted in where I go and when I go.

No doubt, my car definitely needs a wash, some oil (maybe even an oil change), and possibly a new front right (passenger side) tire. Hopefully, I will be able to get 2/3 of this done tomorrow, in addition to some other activities on my to do list.

Crossing finger- that this car will now last me at least another year or two, and that nothing else major will go wrong with it. I'm trying not to be superstitious about this or pretty much anything else in my life, because I believe in God and God is so much more than superstitions. I'm really praying that God takes care of me- providing and protecting me (Which I am pretty confident he will. I mean he always has and is- so I'm certain leaning on God is a really safe bet.)

Anyway, I just wanted to share the good news with you :)

Have a superday!

Phew, THAT was a close one!

I was camping with some friends this last weekend when one of them mentions going skinny dipping in the pool next to our campsite. I'm like, "heck yes!" Skinny dipping was definitely something written on my bucket list, but never did I actually think the opportunity would ever arise to check it off the list. It was only moments later when another one of my friends returns from checking out the pool to report there is a surveillance camera overlooking the pool.

Not gonna lie, I was a little bummed, but really relieved that one of my friends noticed it before it was too late and that she was smart enough to check for such things.

Note: Always check for surveillance cameras and what not when attempting risky business.

Give & Take

The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away.

Believe it or not, I am finally having my car fixed. Woohooo!

A lot has been learned from this experience. I was pondering that last days of my car before it broke down. I remember I had to go back and forth from my apartment to campus, because I kept forgetting stuff. I was really annoyed. After about the fifth time of getting in my car, I was crying. I know, I know! You're thinking wow, drama queen! Overreact much?! Truth is, you're correct. Not only am I a drama queen, I was totally overreacting.

[In my defense; however, this was during finals week (a week in the semester when a college students stress levels are at their peak & hits an all time high). I cannot remember exactly but I am pretty sure I was PMS-ing or menstruating at that time as well (go figure!); so I was definitely cramping while my hormones were jumping all over the place, making me really moody. And most of all, I had not slept at all the past 48-72 hours. Literally, NO SLEEP! I was sooo extremely tired and I wanted nothing more than to sleep in my heavenly bed with no disruptions or disturbances of any kind for the weekend. And yet, I could not because there where very important documents I had to have submitted no later than mid to late afternoon. I spent much of the morning and early afternoon going over my documents, finalizing them and what not. After going to campus multiple times to turn in the various documents, I came home to see an important attachment that belonged with one or the other of the documents that I just submitted, which I probably forgot because I was SO EXTREMELY stressed, sleep deprived, and out of kilter. And on a side note, I don't like driving very much. So that fact that I had to keep getting into my car and drive back and forth to campus on account of my own stupidity or forgetfulness when all I wanted to do was sleep, put the frosting on the cake.
So, Yes I was way overreacting but with good reason.
ALSO- I couldn't sleep after submitting my school work because I then had to drive an hour to pick my little brother up from his dorm room to visit home for the weekend. LUCKILY, he was able to drive home. So, I slept in the car on the way home, and then some more once I arrived home.]

Anyway- let's not get too off track from the moral of the story.
I was crying and screaming in my car about how much I don't like driving, how tired I was, how all I wanted to do was sleep, why does this crap happen to me, BLAH BLAH BLAH!
(*Big mistake on my part*)

You know what?... God was listening to me and said, "Okay I'll take care of this." And he did, by allowing my car to break down on winter holiday. While I was waiting for triple A, God was saying, "There. Problem solved, that takes care of that! You don't like driving so much, so now you don't have to."

The bible says, "ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." Matt 7:7.
I asked for a car, and God gave me a car.
I bitched about my car and driving my car, and God took it away from me. (Not literally, since I still have my car but he took away the ability for it to be driven.)
So, after suffering the consequences by having to take the city bus, mooch rides from family and friends, and miss out on some fun activities & events because I had limited transportation, I have learned some valuable lessons!
And now God is answering my prayers and providing me with the ability to have my car fixed and working once again. And I am sooo excited.

Let me tell you- I will never be ungrateful for my blessings, no matter how big or how small, ever again! Even my troubles. Because I think our troubles are blessings in disguise. Yea?

I will praise God when I rise in the morning, all day long; in all I do.

Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.

2010 Resolution Review

As mentioned in a previous blog, I had the fantastic opportunity to parasail, also enabling me to cross something off my bucket list :)
Now, as I sit here at my office desk without much to do but try to pass time, I was thinking about my 2010 "resolution" list (inspired by my fabulous cousin Stephanie) and decided I'd do a little recap.

Let's see....(looking at my list)

1. Complete peace corp application.
Still not completed. I've been procrastinating terribly on my essays. It just seems like every time I sit down to work on them I read the question(s) and my mind just goes "Dhuuurrr..." I definitely need to make more of an effort to truly reflect on these questions and let God be the author.

2. Get a summer job.
FAIL! I have yet to find a legit job for what remains of summer and this upcoming school year :(

3. Me and God time (@least 10mins. everyday).
No matter how much time I spend with God I always feel I could spend more time with him.

4. Stretch everyday.
Another fail. I thought I would do much better at this one. I was doing well when I first added this to the list but truth be told I since my sister's wedding just about the only time I stretch is at cheerleading.

5. Thoroughly clean room, rid of unnecessary junk.
(Check!) Task completed! Although, I have a feeling this might have to happen once again once I finish senior year.

6. Complete summer reading list.
Not only did I complete my list, but I well surpassed it. I'm currently reading Blind Dates. Although, I think this will be the last one of the summer.

7. Say "No."
(Check!) I've been doing well with saying "no" and being sure not to overwhelm myself by doing too much.

8. Learn to manage finances (spend less, save more).
Well for awhile I thought I was beginning to do quite well with this one. Until recently. I went on vacation and spent quite a bit more than I should have on souvenirs and what not. I definitely learned a valuable finance lesson from this: memories and pictures are plenty souvenir enough for me!

9. Fix car, or sell and buy a new one.
With much excitement I am delighted to say "I'm getting my car fixed!!" I'm having it towed Monday to get a transmission and a new battery :)

10. Practice photography.
Oh yes. I have loads of pictures from vaca that I've been editing and what not. I'm definitely looking forward to posting them to my flickr page.

11. Write a bucket list.
(Check!) Done. Now the task it to complete the bucket list before I kick the bucket.

12. Listen more, talk less.
I've been doing much better at this, although, like #3, I feel there is still room for improvement.

Now that I have bored you with my 2010 resolution recap. If you're still reading- Thank you!

I'm getting tired and bored. So I'm going to see if there is anything else in the office to entertain me until clock out time. Until next time!

Ruth: Necessity or Luxury?

Are you content?

"And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, and the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful." -Mark 4:18-19

"The crowd that followed Jesus to the lakeside was so large that He had to get into the boat on the lake, and as the gospel writer records, "There he sat, with the whole crowd on the beach right down to the water's edge!" Many in that crowd earned their livelihood by sowing and reaping, the so they could envision the parable.
What were the worldly cares and false glamour of wealth in that day, we wonder. Surely according to our standards, we would have considered them minimal. No indoor plumbing, no car (very few had even a donkey), no TV, no boat, and no snowmobile.
We need to take inventory of our possessions. Which are necessities? which luxuries? Next time we go shopping, we would do well to pause and hear the Lord say, "Do we really need that?"
Take inventory!

My home is filled with things I don't really need, Lord, and yet I go out and buy more. I haven't even cupboard space enough. Help me not to get caught up in that rash of compulsive buying. Weed out the thistles that would choke out the Word!
Amen.

Cora Harris MacIlravy

How often have we heard him knocking at the doors of our hearts; not only when we were sinners, but even after we had tasted  and knew that the Lord was good and had proved his infinite love.

How dull we are when it come to a realization of the love of Christ. We are like little children who watch the beautiful colors and dazzling light in a priceless diamond, but know not its value.
We have no conception of what it cost our Lor to purchase redemption for mankind; we know not His suffering. We shall never know the anguish that broke His heart as He hung on the cross, deserted by all who had claimed to love Him.

Oh, that we might love Him more! It seems that He demands so little from us in comparison with what He has given us. Even a little turning of our love toward Him, and His heart responds to us, and the warmth of his love sweeps over us like flamming billows. Even a little turning of our faces toward Him with determination to go on into all He has bought for us, and He hastens to meet us.

"Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck." -Song of Solomon 4:9

EVERYTHING IS SPIRITUAL

*Everything Is Spiritual*

Above is a link to a super great video. The video is about an hour and a half. I do encourage you to make some time in your day to watch/listen to it. It is so good!

You are an itentional creation of God, joyfully made from the Lord's love.
Choose to see wonder, beauty and awe.
There is a bigger story being told and we get to be a part of it.

xoxo