"In a New York state of mind"

It seems like when something big is happening in my life, I am more aware of the topic being mentioned around me.  Tonight I was flipping through channels while I was doing stuff in the house and "The Voice" was on.  One of the gals was singing "In a New York state of mind."  It caught my attention.  I am not familiar with the lyrics but it got me thinking of my state of mind.  Even though I leave for NY in less than 48 hours my mind has been a battlefield... the Lord must be about to do something BIG because the enemy is attacking hard. 

Anyway a dear friend called today to just chat.  Candace was such an encouragement and blessing!  Agreeing with me on the recent disappointments but reminding me that my trust and hope needs to be in Christ alone.  A good friend is like iron sharpening iron... both get sharper!!

My mind and hard are focused on Christ and what HE has in store!

100 more things to do...

100 More things to do...

Because I am more than halfway through my first bucket list... I am realizing there are so many more things that are out there to do that need to be included....

This will be a work in progress because I am not sure I can come up with 100 more items but we shall try!! http://perfectbucketlist.tumblr.com/list

1. Live intentionally
2. Visit Bora Bora
3. Swim with the dolphins
4. Go to the tunnel of lights in Japan
5. Visit Rio, Brazil
6. Explore Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany
7. Pay for a stranger's tab at a restaurant
8. Dance with my daddy at my wedding
9. Visit ground zero
10. Go on a Disney Cruise
11. Visit the Sistine Chapel
12. Take his last name
13. Make a fruit bouquet
    

    

    
    
14. Experience the Christmas holiday season in New York
15. Travel first class- OAK to SLC 8/19/2013
16. Have a daughter and name her after my great grandmother
17. Be a spectator at the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade
18. Go on a date to the zoo
19. Meet an online friend
20. Eat pizza in Naples, Italy
21. Send a message in a bottle
22. Go to Budapest, Hungary
23. Shop in New York City
24. Set foot on all 7 continents
25. Adopt a child
26. Visit the walk of fame
27. Drive down Route 66- June 2014
28. Kiss under mistletoe
29. Shoot a gun- May 2014
30. Go zip lining
31. Attend a new year's party
32. Get a disney balloon
33. Have a natural birth
34. Adopt a dog
35. and name him Hamlet
36. Move to a different country- Uganda Sept 2013
37. Drive an expensive car
38. Go to China 
    

    
39. Eat a decadent dessert at a bakery
40. Drink coffee in Seattle
41. Go for a run walk in central park
42. Go to Barcelona, Spain
43. Send an off the wall birthday gift to an unsuspecting friend
44. Donate my hair
45. Spend a day at the spa
46. Attach a lock to a love bridge
47. Visit Auschwitz
48. Go on a night picnic
49. Visit Mall of America
50. Have my fingernails professionally done
51. Build a blanket fort with someone I love
52. Try a new flavor of pizza in New York
53. 

    Build an exquisite gingerbread house
54. Buy a pair of white shoes and doodle on them
55. See a wholphin
56. Be a stay at home mom
57. Tie messages to balloons and let them go
58. Eat belgian waffles in Belgium
59. Build an animal at Build a Bear
60. Carve something into a tree together
61. Visit a vineyard- California 8/2013
62. Make cake pops
63. Take a photo everyday for one year
64. Visit Lanai
65. Stand under the Hollywood sign
66. Order dessert first at a restaurant- Ghiridhelli 8/13
67. Build an igloo
68. Get through a long distance relationship
69. Step foot in each ocean
70. Visit Ikea in Sweden 
71. and purchase something there... just because!
72. Live off of $100 for a month
73. read 50 books in a year... one of the joys of living in the village!
74. In a difficult situation, act like a Southern lady even when you don't feel like it.
75. Read through the entire Elsie Dinsmore series
76. study through the Bible and write a devotional
77. learn zumba
78. learn pilates
79. enjoy a cup of hot cocoa in front of a roaring fire with the one I love
80. Go on a ride with a sled pulled by dogs
81. research something I enjoy and get it published
82. write a book about my adventures
83. eat the local delicacy- fried grasshoppers in Kampala
84. learn to stand up paddle board
85. Dive with the sharks
86. Encourage someone to do something they have never thought of doing
87. Buy a fancy dress just because
88. Try snow sking
89. Hike diamond head
90. Go to Polinesian cultural center
91. Bless a child with a paid for education
92. teach a child a new game
93. Live off the grid
94. See Lion King on stage
95. See Phantom of the opera on broadway
96. Get through grad school debt free
97. Kiss the Sphinx
98. Sit on the beach in Zanzibar
99. Visit Mombasa
100. learn another spoken language fluently
101. make a woven mat
102. Plant a garden and eat the fruits of my labor
103. Have a caricature done

As I am going through other blogs with bucket list items looking for ideas I am finding lots that I have already done so I thought I would start listing those as well...

1. Go vegan
2. See a volcano erupt
3. Visit Amsterdam
4. Finish a scrapbook
5. Live in a college dorm
6. Meet Minnie Mouse
7. Build a snowman
8. See a moose in the wild
9. Swim under a waterfall
10. Lay in the road in the middle of the night
11. Catch a jar of lightning bugs
12. Go to Universal Studios
13. Go to Hard Rock Cafe- London, Orlando, Myrtle Beach, Cairo, Lahaina, Honolulu,
14. Have a water balloon fight
15. Go to Sea World
16. Try fried ice cream
17. Visit glass beach
18. Buy my first home
19. Be confident enough to wear a bikini in summer
20. Make up a recipe
21. Learn how to crochet
22. Learn how to knit
23. Try Mochi ice cream
24. Skinny dip in an ocean
25. Go to Myrtle beach
26. Swim with a sea turtle
27. Own a bunch of reptiles (technically I guess they were Jared's)
28. Receive a dozen red roses from a man
29. Stand on top of a mountain
30. Go to Disney with my best friend
31. Pet a Kangaroo
32. Learn how to sew
33. Make a quilt
34. Eat crepes in Paris
35. Rescue an animal
36. Ride in an airplane
37. Climb a tree
38. Visit South Korea
39. Try ketchup chips
40. Try funnel cake
41. Eat and not feel guilty
42. Wear heels to prom
43. Visit Paris
44. Visit Tokyo, Japan
45. See the Eiffel Tower
46. Try Sushi
47. Ride an elephant
48. See the Great Pyramids
49. Move to Hawaii
50. Fit into a medium
51. Eat chocolate at Gheridelli
52. Eat fish in San Franscisco
53. Run down curviest street in the world

Dealing with disappointment

Everyone has those days that they "get up on the wrong side of the bed".  Normally other people notice the grouchy behavior and comment.  However when you live by yourself and admit to having a bad day... you know its bad.  Thankfully there was no one else around today to experience my fussyness.  Not sure it is hormones... tiredness... anxiety... or just emotions from being disappointed but I have battled over it all day.  I have prayed... cleaned despite... napped... spent time in the Word... and still can't shake the feelings.  So  I thought I would write it out. 

A couple of days ago, I was requested to send school paperwork to assist in the starting of the school in Uganda.  Basically with the school starting in January, they are looking for someone to administer sooner rather than later.  After sending the info, the peace about going to Uganda and my future plans seemed to shatter leaving behind a lot of unknowns and anxiety.  I leave for NYC in less than 10 days... expectations of meeting up with friends while there is just not happening. 

Ultimately I do know who holds my future.  HE has a great plan for my good and HIS glory.  At this point my brain knows it but there is doubt/unbelief in my heart.

Lord, what I need right now is your peace that no matter what happens or what you're calling me to... that it will be good.  I specifically pray for certain friendships.  I am really struggling with all of the unknowns... the ups and downs... either make this or break this!  As much as I have tried to guard my heart... I am in deep.  If I go much deeper and this is not of you... it is not going to be good.  Protect my heart and help me to trust You fully.  Lord I cast my anxiety and unbelief at your feet.  Show me what you desire of me to do and pursue.  Renew my first love.  May I love with reckless abandon knowing that you hold my heart in your hand.  May you bless this trip to New York... may I be an encouragement and blessing to everyone I meet.  Open new doors... keep me safe, well, and protected... go before me.  Thank you for the opportunities you have allowed and provided.

Packing for NYC

Ten days and counting... decided it was time to pull out the winter clothes.  I have been working to make sure I fit into last years clothes by cutting out sugars and carbs for the past month.  This has worked tremendously well to trim a little so that I "comfortably" fit into my clothes.  However trying on sweaters, jackets, and scarfs when it is 80+ degrees is not comfortable.

Anyway started packing a weeks worth of clothes plus gifts for the hosts.  Normally I could care less what I look like when I travel... in my min comfort counts.  However this is NEW YORK CITY we're talking about.  Can we do cute, stylish, and comfortable???  Oh and maybe warmth is something else to take into consideration....

Well now that the majority of the sweaters are packed... I guess it is time to figure out a carry on...

Hunger for eternity

Last night I really was struggling with anxiety over the future.  Something happened that didn't line up with what I thought should be happening and to be honest it rocked me a bit.  That is until I hit my knees and cried out to the God of the Universe.  I was quickly reminded that there are going to be times of dissatisfaction to make me hunger for the things of eternity.  If I am truly seeking His will for my life than who do I expect Him to do things my way.  Again a chance to trust and obey.

An American freedom

Today is Election Day... the day that decides 4 years of our countries leadership.  For many this is a momentous day when their candidate wins... for others whose candidate loses it can be disheartening but either way the course of history can be changed by one vote. 

This post is not going to be about who you should vote for... your opinion is your opinion... but that you should VOTE!  We are blessed to live in a democratic nation that allows our voices to be heard.  We have the freedom of speech.  If we don't like the way our country is going WE have the right to change it!!

 After traveling to many other countries throughout the years, I have realized that many of the freedoms that I have taken for granted are not FREE for others to experience.  Simple things that even in our country haven't been free for all to do for very long... like women voting.  We have the right to express our opinions... we have the right to worship freely without the fear of persecution... we have the right to education, land ownership, a just judicial system, ... and the list could go on!  This is all because we live in a place called the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and our constitutional rights!

Before anyone starts thinking I am being cocky and taking these freedoms for granted... my heart is heavy for all those men and women that have given their lives so that I may have these freedoms.  For these men and women my heart is filled with gratitude!!  It urks me that there are people out there that won't vote today but want to honor the veterans next week.  Honor your veterans by voting.  A non-voter has no right to complain if they are not letting their voice be heard in the manner that counts.

So on this day... no excuses... JUST GO VOTE!!

Living Intentionally

The goal for this year has been to live each day intentionally.  Basically meaning when an opportunity is given by God... to take it and run with it.  So begins this trip...

During fall break, I received an email from Hawaiian Airlines telling of these $465 RT flights to JFK from HNL.  These were too good to pass up, so I posted on facebook to see if anyone else would be interested.  Within minutes, Kim, a friend from grad school replied that she was interested and had a sister that lived an hour outside the city.

So long story short the night before having my wisdom teeth pulled we bought our tickets.  So super excited!!!  Anyone that really knows me knows I am a planner.  Spur of the moment actions rarely happen.  Well mark this down in history as one of my rare spur of the moment actions.