Book Time

Did I mention I like books?

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Well, every year, there is a huge book sale in February with literally thousands of books at incredible prices. Super, super cheap you can walk away with tons of books for little money. I look forward to this time of year each year to get ready to dive in a sea of books.

They even categorize it. From religious, teens, fiction, non-fiction, cookbooks, etc. It's super user friendly and so much fun.

Last year I wasn't able to go and the book sale is only for 2 days once a year. I'm planning to bring my Grandpa (also a book lover) sister and Mom. So be prepared when I start blogging about all my finds. I can guarantee that will happen.

When I go to the book sale, I usually make a list of books genres I want to get or a certain author if I'm that lucky. Most of the time I always find what I'm looking for because so many books from everywhere are donated before the big show. 

What I'll be looking for:

• Foreign language phrase books
• Photography books
• Travel Books
• Piano Books
• Sims (My secret computer game craze)
• Shane Claiborne 
• John Eldredge 

Ofcourse, you never know what you will find, so I usually come back with way more than on my list. 

Is there a sale that you look forward to every year? 

Happy Book Shopping! :)

Rain Come Down

Rain is like little droplets of gold. Falling onto all our eager faces, eyes wide in astonishment, skin reaching out to the clouds. 

At least it's like that in Arizona. So rarely do we get to experience the joys of rain. The beauty of the clouds pouring down crisp, cool drops of water that smell like the Earth itself. Purifying the gunky air of toxins and pollutions cleaning our souls spiritually as well. 

For me, when it's rainy outside and the clouds are dark and beautifully dreary, it puts me in a writing mood. My eyes see the world as living poetry and I get inspired by many things. The dripping of water from a leaf, the sounds of feet splashing into puddles, the feeling of damp feet that got too wet outside. As you  may read this, you can tell how desperate my soul is for rain. I do my best work when it's raining. 

I would be perfectly content if it rained once a week, every week. It puts the world in a different lens. Colors are richer because the bright sun doesn't wash it out. The smell of wet soil and trees is stronger than every, creating the perfect melody. Something is so different when it rains. 

Where I'm From

In my Creative Writing class, at school, my teacher assigned that we write our own version of the poem "Where I'm From' by George Ella Lyon. Sitting there at my desk, thinking of the words to write, made me remember things from my past. The memories I cherish even now as I'm turning into an adult. The things that have stuck in my head my entire life.
Here is my version.

Where I'm From

I am from mud pies and homemade tree houses
I am from gas station Doritos runs
I am from warm essential oils,
Rosemary, lavender, thieves.
From globs of paint and various brushes
I am from airplane peanuts,
Moving boxes and clear tape.
I am from notebooks and pens, 
From over read stories. 
I am from camera's flashes.
From long rides home. 
I am from crosses and scripture,
From unlearned verses.
I am from foreign accents and morning breakfast tea.
I am from burning fire, 
Molded by clay hands.
From pianos and motherly hugs that secure.
I am from corny jokes you can not help but hear,
From Georgia's forest and summer-time sodas.
I am from words and thoughts that hope to captivate. 

By: Pepper Hales
 

Jonathan and Charlotte-Unintended 

Jonathan and Charlotte. I cannot remember how I heard about them, but I saw a Youtube video when they auditioned for Britain's Got Talent. Their performance was extremely talented. Two teenagers with strong, unique voices that sang opera as if they were professionals. This is a song of their first album, and I cannot begin to explain how I love this song. When I listen to a song that I like, more than like, I become addicted and listen to it over and over. It's a little ridiculous but I'm sure there are some people out there who do the same. This is their version of Unintended by Muse, which I like very much. Before this I hadn't even heard of Muse before. 

So to say, both of their versions are hauntingly beautiful. You can decide which you like most. 

Muse- Unintended 

This isn't much of a post but I am so busy at the moment with school. I will be updating regularly about school and other wonderful things in life, preparing some interesting blog posts I hope you will enjoy. Either way, have a fabulous week! 

Kickboxing 101

  School started back up for me and I am starting my Monday and Wednesday mornings with a 50 minute Kickboxing class. I just did my first class a few days ago and wow, it is a work-out. We did 20 minutes of exercise because the other 30 minutes were for the syllabus and the instructor explaining about the course. I can only imagine 50 straight minutes of that!

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  It will be tough, I can already tell, but I'm glad I'm going. Maybe in a few weeks, I'll regret saying that, but for now I am super excited. A good work-out in the morning will boost me up for the day and give me a positive attitude. Woo!

  Being fit for me is beyond just having a healthy diet and exercising. For me, having the endurance and strength will also give me more ways to serve in ministry. With building houses, carrying heavy loads, recusing people from danger, what ever it may be. Having the strength to go for a long time can make it so you are more able to help.

  My family has always been healthy. I've taken my daily vitamins my whole life and we strive to buy organic. (Thanks Uncle Sam for the food stamps!) But I've never been good at continually working out. I'll go through a phase lifting weights or trying to run around the block, but I've always given up or gave an excuse for myself. With not having a car, my family walks and takes the bus everywhere, but that wasn't cutting it for me.

  This past week I have forced myself to go running every night. I'm not a early morning runner. As the week has gone by, it has been getting easier to run and easier to run farther and farther. It has helped my blood circulation since I have bad circulation on my legs and it leaves me feeling great!

  I didn't really make this my 2013 resolution, but I want to be more healthier and active this year. It's good for me physically, but also emotionally. I pray that God will give me the strength and the will power to keep going. One thing I did learn is I cannot do this on my own, even exercising my body.  I need to pray to God to give me the determination and wisdom when I go to run or do kickboxing because I am nothing without Him!

Some Health verses I like:

The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs...and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. 

Isaiah 58:11

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-His good, pleasing and perfect will. 

Romans 12:2

But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;against such things there is not law.

Galatians 5:22-23




  
 
  
 

Reasons to Flee

 My heart is not content. Nor my feet. They itch, crave to run free and see.

  These are my reasons to flee. 

1.  To see how people live, how people love and how people live in community. 

2. Taste culture. Try one of their most favorite dishes, or one of their most common dishes. 

3. See the history that made the the country it is today. Buildings, bridges, churches, groves, gardens, rivers, oceans. Each step holds an amount of history that contributed to the society in some way.

4. To look see beyond what I think I know. I want to know their needs, their fears, joys, sadness, excitement, traditions, their relationship with the Creator. I want to see God's creation and learn.

5. Experience. I want to bottle up every thing I learn from traveling the world. I want to capture beautiful people, beautiful moments in life. With a camera or a journal. A blog post or a crumpled up Cafe napkin with  coffee stains that reminds me of a scrumptious meal. I want to always remember where I've gone. And day dream for the places I'll go.

6. To serve God, serve people and show His love. In ministry, in passing, in mission trips. To travel around the world and share God's message and the promise that He holds. 

I want to pack a bag and grab a flight and go somewhere amazing. I want to go to a small town where it may be boring to the inhabitant who's lived there too long, but breath-taking to me. What may be their usual dinner, a new flavor for myself. Everything would be different. How they talk, act, eat, see, drive, pay, love, live, laugh, smile. But I can hardly wait to see it all. I can only imagine all the places and people I will see. All the places were I will go, and the unique people I will meet. 

From Denmark, to Paris, Italy, Greece, London, Dublin, Germany, Scotland, Spain, Romania, India...

I want to see them all.

What I need now is patience most of all. To wait and see what God has in store for me. But I admit, it's hard at times. Reading through travel magazines or watching Rick Steve's (Ha, cheesy I know!), reading a travel book, it all tugs at my heart. I want to flee! Fly away to adventures. I know will come, but I just have to put my trust, patience and every longing into God's hands, because He knows. My Lord knows. 

And too, I'm a camera nut, so it's my calling to capture everything! 

On a side not:

I still cannot believe that I went to England. England and Wales! A historical country where my best friend lives! It will be two years since I went this May. A few pictures of my trip in 2011.

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

Isaiah 6:8

Rahab

  Today, I finished a book by Francine Rivers. It is called Unashamed. The story of Rahab, the prostitute and the redeeming love God gives her. This book really helped bring her to life. I have read the story, heard it, but never like this. Francine Rivers narrates the story from Rahab's eyes, with biblical and historical facts so everything lines up.

  It made it so personal, as if I was there with Rahab. On the edge of my seat, waiting to see what happens.

  Waiting to see what God has planned for her. For me, bible stories can be so hard for me to personally imagine. I know that they happened and that there is something always to be learned by them, but it's hard to really relate to the character, get their take on the story. This book made it so I could really see Rahab and the amazing woman she was. 

  Francine Rivers, has five book on five women of the bible, who God choses to do great things with. This one was about Rahab, but there are four others about Mary, Ruth, Bathsheba and Tamar. I highly recommend that you check them out, as I want tor read them all. They are shorter reads (Unashamed took me about a few hours) but you learn so much about the women of God, the time period and just how God can use anyone to do great things. 

The continued books of the Linage of Grace series:

                                                             

  

To learn more about Francine Rivers and her books click here

The 12 Days of Winter Break

  As I have said recently, my winter break is almost over. Then it's back to college. I am eager to start school, but have enjoyed my winter break immensely. Relaxing, being with the family and slowing down life for just a little bit. Here is a glimpse of what my winter break was about. 

1.  Organic English Breakfast Tea

My Mom got this tea for me at Christmas. I love the taste, the smell and all the memories it brings me back to when I went to England. And I have a perfect mug to match! 

2. Red Letter Revolution: What if Jesus Really Meant What He Said?

This book by 

Shane Claiborne and

Tony Campolo makes you really think how you live out what Jesus said. The authors are brilliant and filled with wisdom, telling about how Jesus really wants us to live. Each chapter makes me think about if I've taken the red letters in the bible seriously.

3. Smash Book

A present from my family in West Virginia! It is so much fun to Smash and put all my best keepsakes inside to cherish for later. 

4. Kaboodle

I love organization and this made me so happy when I received it for Christmas. Some think that Kaboodles are old school, but I love the fact they hold all your things together and look cute. 

5. Good ol' Sleep 

With no schedule till school starts, I have caught up on sleep. My bed is so comfy, as you can see!

6. Dishes 

Doing the dishes is not very fun, but at my house dishes are always needed to be done. We have 6 people in this house, two of them messy little boys. We have equipped ourselves with the best supplies to clean the dirtiest mess, especially during the holidays!

7. A Breath of Fresh Air

My family is a fan of ferns. They not only clean the air of bad pollution but make any room whimsy and fresh. We live in a gas run house and the fern especially love soaking it up. My Mom made sure to stock up this winter. 

8. Arrested Development

I have watched way to much TV this week. My Uncle got me hooked on the series 'Arrested Development'. Its basically about a dysfunctional family in crisis when CEO/Father of the family gets arrested for fraud, leaving his son to run the business. Such funny humor and characters.  

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9. 1 Million

This is probably my favorite cologne on Earth. Whenever I visit a JCP (rarely) I grab the cologne and spray it a million times into my purse. It's a mixture of sandal woods and old books. I know that sounds weird, but I love the smell of old books. 

10. Jumping on the Trampoline

For Christmas, my brothers got a trampoline from Santa. It is a great way for them to use their energy and for the rest of my family, a great way to exercise while having fun. Boy is it a workout! I try to jump on it every day and It really does help me get toned. 

11. Blogging

How I truly enjoy blogging! Having the time to sit down and plan out my blogs has been so great to recuperate. With this new year, I plan to have many more interesting posts. 

12. Prayer Beads

 While reading 'Red Letter Revolution', Shane Claiborne explained how prayers beads are good reminders when you are praying and can cure a case of ADHD.  Each bead represents something different. There is one for our sins, heart troubles, kindness, peace, love, the world, self-control, gentleness, King's Prayer and more. I like to use mine while I have quiet time in the morning or bring them with me wherever I go as a reminder.

The Most Beautiful View

I captured this moment, the leader praising God as the sun is finally rising. Such a beautiful moment. 

 On the 1st of the New Year, my mom, sister and I climbed up 'A' mountain to watch the sunrise. It was nearly 30 degrees or less with wind, our packed toast gone ice cold, and bones shivery. It was there before the sun climbed over the mountains  we met a group of international ASU students who had made their own adventure up the mountain  It was a group where every New Year's day, they would pray for the city, ASU, restoration and the leaders of the city and government. On top of the mountain.
  The leader of the group invited us to join in with them for praying. We worshiped with only the harmony of many accents mingling together to create such a unique chorus. As we prayed, the sun streamed though the buildings and the massive Cardinal stadium. Our eyes were some of the few to see it rise for the first time of the new year in 2013.
  It seemed you could feel God's presence among us, with our prayers and our words as they turned into steam as they touched the air. When we came up here, we wouldn't have thought someone else was doing the same thing. Coming up here to worship and praise God's creation and pray for the new year.
  Afterwards, we all took communion. An older lady of the group had a baggy full of communion crackers, the ones where they are extra crispy and taste like rice. We had no wine or juice, any of the traditional liquids, but that didn't matter. I think it was being there far away from the city that we truly got to enjoy God. Look upon His creation. His beauty and awe-inspiring world.

Whole View of the City

Prayer Sheet of the things we prayed for and a Psalm.

My mom (left) me (middle) and Sarah (right)