www.myspace.com/liquidlifeline

Hey guys....I know that some people keep up with me on here, which is crazy because I haven't written in so long, but I will continue to write here periodically, but I will be more current on my myspace....so you can also get there by going to

www.myspace.com/liquidlifeline

Getting older....

I spent my birthday indoor paintballing and grilling out with friends!!!

A Picture of Me

I just found out my friend Tran is painting a picture of me, I was so honored!

Back from Africa!

So much to say, so sure that I could not covey all that happened over the trip! It was so amazing. I am putting pictures from the dancing with the tribal women, as that was my favorite. I also want to put the picture of the girl with her drums...she is playing on an empty water jug...now, because of the drought, I found this to be so compelling that such a beautiful sound could come from such a suffering. these villages emaciated by lack of water, yet such a beautiful sound came from their hearts. They sang loud and strong, they sang of the disease that has taken their parents from them. The pain is devastating, the loss great, and the sounds deep, their hearts strong as they take their hardship and from it produce beauty in a song. I was dumbstruck, convicted, and then simply smiled as I was reminded that our God is one of restoration, that even through such pain: a heartbreak, a famine, a disease stricken country, a massacre of parents - somewhere in the depths of these pains, there is beauty founded in those who survive. I don't know how it happens, but I witnessed the silencing awe of determination, of survival.

More, so much more to tell: stories of building fences with branches and twine, digging with sticks in the ground to erect homes, singing and dancing, sleeping in mosquito nets, peeing in squatty potties in outhouse at 2am, aiding the sick, loving the orphans, safaris in Nairobi, cameling crossings in the wild, henna tattooing my nails and arms, and the list could go on!

Memories of a beautiful Africa!

nairobi..asante sana

Jambo!! we have found our first internet cafe and I am not sure that we have much time....so I will try to just hit the highlights! I don't know how I can but I will try - so we have spent the week bringing food to orphanages in tribes and villages that are in the depths of the African desert!!! (that sounds dramatic but I really think it is true!) it has been so amazing! I mean we have danced the tribal dance with the native women, they have let us wear their beads, and taught us dances! we built a house, planted trees and conserved water....we have bathed in buckets, we hung out with the Rhendilli tribe and many more I can't spell! So I could go on and on, I mean there is such an incredible drought and a famine - so our biggest objective has been delivering food until the rain comes (April!!!)

There you go...i will post more insightful, and meaningful posts soon! We are on our way to see a giraffe and elephant safari! Oh yeah, we got stopped by a camel crossing in the desert...way cool!

okay, going find a yellow elephant....we fly out late tonight for home!! oh and we toured London too!

miss you all! Qwherri!

i am safe...in Kenya

more details later...I love this place

Where have I been?

I have been looking for myself for a couple of weeks now....

Life has been so busy, so crazy. I am actually writing this while talking with 6 other people, so I won't be as whitty as normal - I do need to give a shout out to my roommate Toni, it's her birthday, Happy Birthday Toni! So, I started work at Starbucks, and love it! I am traveling like a maniac for the next two and half months....I am seeing clients in the clinic at school, and Autumn is moving here to Orlando this Friday!!! So between three jobs, classes, clinic, and church I have had to make specific time with friends - SO this weekend I was like I need to go camping...and so we did, after work we drove out late to Wekiva Springs and camped out - sitting around a fire with stoogies and fun beverages we talked for hours! The night was eventful, as the bears were active, but alas no, we didn't see one, it started pouring at 3:22AM and we had to run out and cover our tent...early morning we awoke and made our way soaked to the house and cooked breakfast, it was a glorious weekend!

I leave for Africa next week and I can't believe it!!!!

Where the HECK have I been?

Just a quick update, I know I have neglected those I love so far away....okay LIFE: well that is what I am thinking alot about lately living life, what is life, how fully alive am I, what do I dream about, am I pursuing it?? Wheeww...exhausting, in the meantime: I am have started a new job at Starbucks so I am a fellow barista! and I am officially in the clinic and seeing clients during the evenings, going to school a few days a week, eating sushi alot more than normal, teaching spin at La Fitness and YMCA, and getting ready to leave for AFRICA in the next two weeks!!! A little overwhelmed somedays, making it to the beach whenever I can for some sanity, and going camping if I can stay awake long enough to set up a tent!!

Will write more later, but that is my update as of now!

Update....Counting down the days!

Thanks for song picks, it is cool to get to hear some good stuff I haven't heard before. I am looking for stuff that I can use in my aerobics classes too so if you find any fun songs feel free. So okay, I have just finished 9 grad hours in a matter of 3 weeks, I feel like I am going to fall over! But alas, done! and so I am trying to get all my stress out before class starts tomorrow. So I went to the beach and actually got a sunburn and then went to watch a movie with my roommate. So, as life is getting stressful remember to have fun, treat yourself good!

Okay, that was just a little update as I don't want to be all deep all the time! Counting down the days to:

Autumn's Arrival to Orlando - Feb. 17 o 18th?
Africa Orphanage trip - March 9th
Baja Mexico for Laurie's Wedding - April 29th
Grand Canyon Women's Wilderness LT - July 9th

I am SSSSSOOOOOO excited about life lately! Dream big!

Music...

What would you recommend...what are the songs that you LOVE right now or think I have to listen to! Give me your favorite songs.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUTUMN

When your best friend is overseas and it is her birthday nothing seems to satisfy....so please know I love you and I hope you have a wonderful bday...and I didn't mail your present until yesterday...sorry!

I love you!

If I don't, the rocks are gonna cry out!

So, me, yes, I should be studying Hebrew, which is what I have been doing for roughly 7-10 hours a day.....and though I should be studying more... I am updating my blog. You know that verse that says if you don't praise God, the rocks with cry out and praise Him. (and I am in seminary! what kind of translation is that!)

So....follow me, I take a break and meet a classmate for lunch, on my way out I get a phone call from a guy saying he found an envelope with checks made out to me in the parking lot and he wanted to return them....praise God! so I meet him at a gas station and we exchange "the goods" and the he says, by the way, I wanted to give you some money too for that trip! I am like what the heck, this guy doesn't even know me...but he writes out a check, tells me to be safe and he is on his way!

I walk back to my car. stunned. and I can feel God look down at me, just shaking His head, because once again He has blown me away.


Back to Hebrew....

Aren't we a cute family?...Kinsey's wedding!

Dancin'....I love to live!

Okay, it started with getting up to teach a 5:30am spin class at the YMCA....on my way home, it is still dark and I find myself longing for time with the Lord. As I head back to Barb and Anne's I crawl under there Christmas tree (yes, it is still up!) with my Bible and journal and I pray the dawn won't break, nor the silence be disrupted...the time feels so precious. He is there with me, instantly He calls me intimately, me, Israel, He asks to trust Him. I feel like God has called me to a life that He leads, yet I have definitely struggled, wrestled with Him to control it myself, it just feels safer. It's not safer...no, it is actually overwhelming. So again, He asks would you let Me lead? and again I relinquish and say but....will you be faithful, can you prove yourself to me?

and He does. today, I found out my trip to Africa is completely covered, I am going to Africa to touch little orphans and my heart quickens at the thought, the thought of my dreams coming true in front of my eyes. And when I got the call, I began to weep and He whispered...thank you for letting me, this is just the beginning, don't compare, don't control, I will blow you away with what I have in store for you.

so.....there is much fear in letting go, but now the cost is too high to not relinquish, I am more intrigued in what He has in the future for me than what I could ever dream up.

FLORIDA...is it a relapse?

Florida. Home. Hmmmm.......I come home and submerge myself with people: April, The Standingers, Beth, and Toni...I wake up early the next morning ready for school, or looking forward to school so that I don't have to feel what I am feeling maybe because I don't know what I am feeling. So now I am a week into school, I actually see my first client today. It has been a good week, a long week. I have seen God show up alot....I have received support for my first deadline for the Africa trip (which is totally God). Getting back into the swing of things always takes time....and in the midst of that I see God asking me to give up more control to Him. Do I trust Him with everything, with trusting Him where He has put me, with the future, with my calling, with all the things I thought I knew in the past but now am not sure of. I am asking God to help me to be content with all of it, all I don't know and don't see.

I fear my struggle with God sounds boxed.

My friend Tim has this on his online journal and I like it, so......

Current music: Breathe (2am) Anna Nalick
Current mood: growing, unclear of the future, still peaceful

A New Year

Just a quick update, I spent my Christmas in Louisiana and Texas - it was incredible! I have only been home for less than 24 hours and smiled a hundred times telling the stories of being home! I love my family, my friends, and Louisiana and Texas are home to me in many ways! Anyway, after delayed planes, New Orleans holidays, turkish delight with family, poker with friends, fun times with highschool friends, going on dates, new memories with college friends, New Year's parties, and the wedding of my dear precious cousin Kinsey..I returned to Orlando and I'm sitting in a classroom smiling, thinking of the richness of my life! Thank you for being in my life!

Happy New Years!