the little things...

Wow, life can become so busy and overwhelming with various things that need to be done that it is so easy to overlook all the little things in life.

I remember when I was growing up how I would pride myself in doing little things for people and even judging others based upon the little things they did consistently in life. Ahahaahaa one of my criteria's for my "husband" was for me to judge if I saw consistency in giving and selflessness in the little things that he did. 

Remember in the wedding singer, with Drew Barrymore. There was a scene towards the end where she travels on an airplane for the first time with her fiance. He was sitting in the window seat and Drew was sitting in the middle seat. Drew clearly stated that she had never ridden on an airplane and he obviously had, so she expressed her excitement and how she wanted to look out the window. Now in my opinion, if he was a decent guy he would have switched seats with her. But, he was like, "ah... I like the window seat too, so how about you look over my shoulder to see outside."

EWWWWWWWWWWWWW, I was about 15 years old then and I remember thinking that he was such a jerk and how I would never ever marry someone like that. 

Ahahahaa, so yes yes, Im not married so I kept my promise to myself eh? eh? =D

But yes yes, so lately I have been praying for joy in ministry and the daily things in life and God of course has once again proven himself to be faithful.

Lately, I have been reflecting upon the things in life that are given to me daily and that I can easily take for granted.

1. People. Those I lived with, had life group with, shared a meal with, served with.

2. Encouraging emails. Ahh, thanks for taking time out to email me and share your lives. When I hear about all that you guys are doing and experiencing I am really blessed and motivated to press on in ministry because we truly do have a partnership in Christ.

3. Text messaging. This is such a good way to keep in contact with people.

4. Food. Im all about good food. I love cooking, experimenting, and eating together. The other day I ate cereal for breakfast (cereal btw is the last thing I want to eat in the morning, cus Id rather eat something warm like ramen or rice=), but yes yes... I ate cinnamon toast crunch and cut up bananas to put in. It was good...you should try it...ahahahaa...^.^

5. Toilet paper. Ahahahaa for reals. Sometimes I wonder what it was like back in the day =)...but then i stop when my imagination takes me too far...=).

So yes yes...daily things right...but things I can honestly overlook at times. Obviously there are so many more things that I can be thankful for (which I am), but at 11:30pm at night, these were the things that I remember and want to share.

Take care PEOPLES! I am going to try and update 1x weekly at least.

Miss Yous & Much Love...

Struck Down

"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not adandoned; struck down, but not destroyed."

Lately, I have been having a rough couple of weeks and to top off my rough weeks, I had a robery at my office 2 days ago during our lunch break and my wallet was stolen.

Logically, its not that huge of a deal, and honestly I have so much to be thankful for even in this situation, but honestly because I have already been going through hard and stretching times, my wallet being stolen was the last brick that needed to be placed on a tower of leaning bricks to strike me down.

I broke down yesterday for the first time since I have been in Austin. I believe truly that church planting is not easy. Its not easy because it takes a lot of time and sacrifice, but even more than that, its not easy cus theres just so much spiritual battle.

Its so ironic because I feel like the more I try and fight to overcome, the more battle that is placed my way and then to top it off situations will come at perfect moments to knock me down. Knock me down just enough to humble me, to cause me to lean upon God, to break me to the point of desperation, to desire to RUN, but not enough to actually allow me to quit.

I know logically that my wallet being stolen is easily replaced. I mean I have to change all my cards, I have to take the vehical exam again, I lost a good amount of cash, and theres a random man out there who knows my likes and dislikes, who has my photo identification and all of it disgusts me to know that this creep knows even pieces of who I am.

But after a day of being able to reflect upon God, to repent, and to internalize, I now have to pick back up and dust it all off and just move forward.

Yesterday a friend emailed this verse to me.

Do Not Forget the Lord

Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land that the LORD promised on oath to your forefathers. Remember how the LORD you God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years. Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so that the LORD your God dsciplines you. 

- Deuteronomy 8:1-5

And yes, I have to confess, I failed this test because in this situation, God was not the center of my thoughts, nor was our Thursday prayer walking something that I wanted to part in.

But, its okay, God's grace is sufficient and covers me.

Im honestly not fully over this situation, nor am I filled with an abundance of joy. But all will be okay. Press on, move forward, and keep my eyes on Christ...=D

52 years of love! =D

One sight in the world that truly melts my heart...awww...ahahaha is when I see an old couple walking down the streets or in a grocery store and they are holding hands. 

Something about that old, committed love just tickles me pink. Puhahahaha... =D 

I enjoy this sight because I imagine that the couple has gone through the thick and thin together, and yet they are still going strong with each other by their sides. I guess the holding hands to me not only shows a sign of affection, but also a sign that they are still holding on TOGETHER. 

Eheheheee...but anyhow, the reason why I am blogging about this is because yesterday I had a couple come in that was in their 70's. First I saw the husband, because he loves going first and then the wife. They were so upbeat, talkative, and open about sharing stories of their lives with me.

The man was still a fighter who loved to golf...ahaha and he said he loved it when he went on the course with his older buddy and played against younger boys and showed them the skills that they have learned over the years by beating them. Ahahaha he threw out scores like 6-0, 6-1...ahahahhaa and even though I had no clue what those numbers meant...I knew it meant he was playing well, so I just nodded. Ahahahahaaa.

But then I saw the wife and she was lovely. She told me about her life and how they have been married for 52 years. Crazy!?!?!! They travel a lot still and they are very active and healthy.

So, at the end of the appointment, I took her out to meet her husband and he was no longer in the waiting room. 

We waited a couple of minutes and as soon as he came in, they started flirting/joking together. 

She said, "I thought you left me here at the dental office and I was going to have to find another way home." 

He said, "No no, hunnie, I was right next door, trying to find some shoes for you." As he said this, he winked at me because I was watching the both of them.

She replied, "Sure you were sweetie, right next door at Toys R Us =)."

Aahahhahahaa cus you see we have Toys R Us right next door to us and they have been coming to the dental office for so long that they both knew that.

Ehehehee...get it?!!? So anyhow, it was soo cute to not just see a couple holding hands as the strolled down the street, but to actually meet one that is still together after many many years, who are healthy and still able to "flirt" with one another.

Awwwww, doesn't it just tickle you pink!! =D

Ahahahahaa...okay time to go and start my day with various ERRANDS (diana=) to run...ehehehe... 

Toodles!! 

Random days...

Hello Hello!! =D

Ahahahaahhaaa...I have been trying to blog about death since the beginning of last week because I have randomly been running across random articles and hearing about people around me becoming ill with a certain condition and it has caused me to reflect upon my senior year at the U of M when my mom became ill and how there is just so much uncertainty in life.

BUT...when I reread what I wrote... death is just such a weighty topic that when I blogged about it, I felt as if my whole insides were exposed...puahahahahaaa!! =D

So maybe next time when it's late at night and I don't mind being so vulnerable! =D

So, yes unlike my past blogs, I don't have anything particularly remarkable to say or blog about...ahahahahaa. ;). But, I haven't blogged is so long that I wanted to update, so~o lets see Ill just blog randomly about what has happened to me in the past two weeks.

1. I had my car towed for the first time in my life.

2. I was super duper uber tired two weeks ago from just trying to adjust to the working adult life and taking part in ministry (this will be an on going process because I heard it takes about one year).

3. I watched the black night and it is so~o good. Not only is Christian Bale a hottie (only in the movie), but the whole movie was action packed and the plots were very well thought out. Muahahaa...Keith Ledger played such a great role as joker. Ahh it's really sad that he passed away so young =(.

4. I am now a true Texan because my license plates and title are now registered in Texas.

5. I saw my mom and bro last week because they came to visit my aunt in Texas, and my imo's home is about four hours away from Austin.

6. I swam in a pool that is filled with salt water instead of chlorinated water because supposedly it is better for your skin, so that's what my aunt has in her back yard.

7. I have been packing here and there because the ladies are moving in with PB, Susan, and Isaiah for 14 days. Our current lease is ending and our new one doesn't begin until the 14th of August, so we are being taken in by our loving Pastor's family...ahahaa.

8. I killed a HUGE cockroach that was on our wall the other night and it was freaking sick.

9. We had had 2 more outreaches on the past 2 Saturday's where we went rock climbing for the first one and then canoeing for the second.

10. Our church ministry is beginning to pick up, so I am experiencing (not yet to the full impact) of the stretching, breaking, and selfless, but joyful ways in which I am going to grow this coming year.

Ahh okay time to get ready for bed...Im tired...mer! =D....

Also, the HMCC of Austin is currently taking part in our own 40 days of fasting and prayer to prepare for this upcoming year. If you could cover us in prayer that would be absolutely amazing. And also, the bros of our church are still looking for jobs =D. Ben, Matt, and Toufue. 

Thanks Guys! Until next time!