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)

 
 

Take His Hand.

It is now officially 2013. Ha, even as I wrote this I have to go back and replace the 2 with a 3. That seems to be something I have to teach myself in the beginning of each year.
  The day before the year ends, it seems as if we look back at all the things of the year.
  There are things we regret that happen.
  To us or to someone we know. Or to a stranger. The new year brings promise of a new chapter, a new hope. I think it varies for each person. For me, it would be a new adventure. 2012 has been so many things.
  Exciting, heart wrenching, interesting, saddening, informative, compassionate, adventures, peace, shock. So many words to explain a year, I could go on and on. For the things that happened this year, good or bad, I wouldn't take away even if I could. I learned so so many things. Saw so many things that shocked me, opened my eyes to a different world. It developed me into a more cultivated person.
  With 2013, I will see and learn so many new things. Meet new people, go on amazing adventures and continue on a breath-taking experience with God. He will take me so many places and use me for so many things.
  The same goes for you. There are hurts in our life that only God can restore and with a Father so loving and gentle, He will gladly take away your pain. He wants to go on a wild adventure with you. He wants to know you. All you have to do is take His hand.
  It's really incredible.

P.S Today we are going to see the sun rise at the top of the mountain. A beautiful site for the beginning of a new year. I'll keep you posted.