even numbers

Tomorrow. 24. ha! I remember journaling about this momentous event when I was little. It would be the pinnacle age. Or so I imagined. All wise, all knowing, all settled...well, sort of. "Perhaps I would have a degree, career, and family by then," I would ponder. Hmmmm...the understanding of a 7 year old. Putting my life in the typical cookie-cutter Americana mold. Sure hasn't turned out to be what I expected. While the majority of my high school classmates have taken great joy in following that model, I am on quite the other end of things. Taking my sweet time on schooling, scoping out my diverse career options, and still even wondering if marriage is for me. (Wow, did I just say that out loud...yeah...)
How have I come to this point? 24 years after the dawn of my arrival? I have fought, plead, cried, screamed, laughed, and broken into song on many occasion. Asking God what if's and maybe's, or perhap's. And He seems to say, "Look back" and "Wait". Two things that are satisfying and unnerving all at the same time. As I see where He has taken me, or even carried me through the last 23 years I am convinced that He will keep His promises for yet another year.
Thus, here is to 24. 24 new possibilities. 24 fresh outlooks on life. 24 reasons to be a better person. 24 happy people to love.
24. more?

 

Welcome to the United States of America.

in the quietude.

I feel like I'm on a journey of discovery right now. Understanding my place in life. Understanding my motivation for the things that I do. Understanding what I'm doing here. Understanding how to just BE... 

There are a ton of things sprinting through my mind right now. God what is your place for me? What should be the root of my motivations? How can I trust You more deeply then myself in a society that trains people to be self-dependent? When can I become so able to listen to Your voice that all other noise is muted? 

I'm beginning to have a strong appreciation in the silence of being alone. For when I am alone, I am able to process some of these questions and thoughts. Yet, it is also in the quiet that I begin to get antsy and impatient as well...Dah! Oh, the longing for complete dependance upon the Lord in these times of seeming nothingness...which are really meant to be times of complete fulness. 

 

i have come to realize that nothing can be done by happenstance. 

Soy Estudiante...aiai!

The joys of becoming a student again! So those who have been a student for 6 years or more would refute that statement...however for us newbies it is  quite exciting! I suppose some may categorize that statement as slightly bias seeing as how it is not your average school that you get a massage every day! hah! I just smile and say, "I have to give one every day as well", thus equaling out the amazingness!  However, there are some subjects that are slightly more challenging. Such as A&P, I had to clear out the cobwebs for that one to sink in a little better. As a whole, the classes are refreshing :) And now I get to be on the other side of the desk again... Obnoxious student? Yes I am. hehe...but it is so much fun! I understand my teachers a whole lot better than before, thus I know when to stop. Eh-hem...which a few of my students could have learned when I was teaching them :) (You know who you are.) Yes...so, that's my story. And to be quite honest...I think I got off pretty easy with good students. Sigh* Love them. Love where I am now. Wish I could put them together :) 

think about it

Funny how a simple statement can really urk you. My cousin was trying to get me to learn how to do a backflip on a trampoline and my brain just would not connect with my legs to flip over... After the 20th try, I decided to give it a rest for the day. Bah! Yet, I just hated the feeling of semi-quitting.
Recalling my failed attempts at backflipping, a statement came to mind: "Is the Risk greater than the Reward?" Thoughts flooded in, "if you land wrong you could break your neck! or arm, and even if you just break a finger...your starting massage school in 2 weeks" "do you really want to be a gimp or, at that, a parapalegic when you begin classes??" Hmmmm, in this case I weighed the Risk greater then the Reward of...of...being able to actually do what I couldn't do before.
My mind went to lots of other things that I have done on the flip side. "I think I will jump off of this 40 ft cliff into water...my Risk is high, but man, that Reward will sure be nice when I feel weightless before hitting the water below." Some may think that more stupid then the previous situation, yet my mind works differently in these cases.
But, what about when the Reward is amazingly "wow", the Risk is huge, but you are so addicted to that "thing" it makes the Reward appear puney?
aha! think on this: What was Jesus Risk and Reward for coming to this earth and saving humanity??

No this is not me...but it is one crazy nutso picture, don't you think?? I wonder who is more uncomfortable, the baby or the mommy?

How would you like to wake up to this every morning?

macbook. the unbreakable is temporarily broken.

traveling vacation

From Prescott to Bakersfield to LA to Las Vegas back to Bakersfield...All in one weeks time. Oh the adventures untold! Needless to say, there were only small repercussions. Hmmm, twas a price to pay, but the trips were sweet.

Beginning in Prescott: My emotions were on a roller coaster ride as we packed my car to leave that beloved camp. It would be the last time in a long time to be there. And how I savored every moment. The rain was coming down in buckets toward the time to head out...so I waited a little longer in anticipation of the 8 hr. journey to my other home. I can't believe Brian Haynes managed to fit a massage table, 2 bins, 3 big bags, a small side table, my guitar, and several bags of misc. items all into "Jimmy Tex" (my '99 Jeep Grand Cherokee). Though I had no rear visibility, and rode by my lonesome the trip was a success!

From Bakersfield to LA: With about a day at my parent's house to unload, hug, kiss and then leave again, I found myself right back in the car again. Only this time, I actually had a backseat and rear visibility again. The time down there was a blast! Greeted with homemade tortillas and mole made from scratch I went to Hispanic Heaven. Thank you Abuelita Tina! From then on it was a mixture of creative outfits and tromping all over the town...by metro!
Ok, so I've been told that I don't have much street smarts. Listen here, I went on the bus and metro with lots of eccentric, and very normal people--and survived! So there. I'm a bit smarter, I suppose.

One of the highlights was going to the vintage shops. It was transporting each of us back in time. I could quite figure out which era to be in, so they were combined sometimes.
Along with the shopping came dress up, of course. The next day was @ the Getty Museum. Now, if you have not experienced this wonderful fusion of art, history, and nature...which in fact is free...then you must take time to do so. Much culture to be enjoyed, indeed. But, it didn't stop there! That night we experienced the best Vegan Thai cuisine in LA! By far it was a dance of flavor with our taste buds.

Oh the joy, indeed...playing in fountains and singing our own operas, it was pure and unrestrained fun.

As for the trip to Las Vegas: Boy, who knew that I'd have the wonderful privilege of driving for another 7 hours. Yet, at the thought of my adopted little sister and her family, it was all worth while. I watched Angel graduate from high school to enter her next step of life. Nutso that I just did that, what, 6 years ago? Ok, so I'm beginning to feel old-ish. The service was really nice. Ending the whole shabang with a delightful trip home driven mostly by the lovely Pamela...thanks a million, lady!

Oh, yes...sleep, thats whats supposed to come next when you get home from a string of gypsy-like adventures. Yet, I suppose that can wait. Until then...signing off, finally sort-of settling in one place for a "long" period of time. Perhaps.

Isn't it nice that when you are a wee one, you can pretty well wear anything and look cute?  

Take for instance this gorgeous specimen: my niece, Faith. She looks absolutely darling in this outfit. Yet, if I walked out the door wearing the same thing, I may get some stares. 

Oh, the joys of being a kid! In any case, I think we should care less about fashion statements, and just be as little children again. After all, the giant cartoon-like flowers and oversized rimmed hats just might come back in style one of these days.

"And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary" Galatians 6:9

the Blog

Now you may be thinking, how unoriginal of her, entitling the first entry...the blog?? Now, I'm not sure if it due to a lack of creativity or just being tired, but I'd just like to write a little something. Thus the lame name.

Two things: I'm happy to be alive, and I am stoked about the future. What does God have in store for tomorrow? I do not know. Okay, so maybe I have some idea because we do have a pretty stringent schedule here at Souls West. But, yet there are still unknowns. I find myself hoping for those unknowns much of the time. Throw routines out the window! hehe...the beauty of change and spontaneity.