Thinking things

4138 Miles Apart with mornings together

2008-12-30T08:50:00.000-08:00

Laura and Cheryl

So one of my best friends bought me this awesome book for Christmas. It is these two friends who live a little over three thousand miles apart and decide to share their mornings together. So every day they take a picture sometime before noon and share it with each other. They are beautiful. It is like you get a sneak peak into each morning of these two friends.

Anyway, Laura and I have decided to do that as well. So we have a blog especially for it. I started taking pictures right away so I could get in the habit before we officially start, which I believe will be Jan. 1st. The blog is http://www.lauraandcheryl.blogspot.com/

I cannot wait to see the different and unique ways that Laura and I see and go about our mornings and the similar ways that we go about our mornings as well. It is also awesome because Laura has helped me to completely get excited to do photography again and even inspired me to put my pictures up on a website http://www.gloryphotography.org/

Lastly, there is a little something that Laura pointed out to me and I googled it just to see it for myself, but if you want to travel the 4138 miles from Centennial CO to Kailua HI, you drive to Washington state, then you get in a Kayak (which if you know me makes me super happy that they decided that it is best to Kayak) and kayak 2756 miles to Turtle Bay in Oahu. So if you are ever interested, now you know! How I wish I could be good enough and crazy enough to do that. It does however take 15 days and two hours. So just FYI!

Viewing Pleasure

2008-11-18T05:00:00.000-08:00

These eat things! They are awesome!

Here are some pictures I took from the gardens in Singapore!

Numbers and Lists

2008-11-11T23:47:00.000-08:00

My trip by numbers and lists

3-weeks
4-countries
7-cities
6-Serve Asia workers met
12-airplanes
2-of us traveling
1,000+-times I have thought I wished Aaron was here
600+-pictures taken so far
5-stamps on my passport so far

Ways I have traveled

Plane
Boat
Train
Taxi
Tuk Tuk
Sung Tao
Motorbike
The Travellator (see picture below in travelator blog)
Walking

Things I have learned

That financially it is smart for families to send their sons off to be monks: They are fed and educated and they don't need to pay for it
That it makes me sick to my stomach to see young girls sitting outside a hotel waiting to be picked for the night's events
That Karma is so misunderstood: One of our missionaries met a boy with a cleft lip and most people were horrible to this little boy (of about 6) saying that it was Karma because he must have done something bad in a past life. The cruelty he faced was horrible. (Side note now he is a Christian and there was someone who came out and was able to fix it!)
Many people don't understand that our goal in our jobs really is to see people go over short term with a long term impact on their lives...a discipleship process. Many think short-term trips is a glorified vacation.
That motorbikes are as scary as they look when you are in Asia...but G-d is greater than the scary driving
That there are so many simple ways that peoples lives can be changed if there are just more people who are willing to work on the fields if G-d calls them.
That every day two people die in Cambodia because of an undiscovered land mine.
That so many people make offerings to things they don't even know...especially tourists who go to temples.
That I really miss good chips and salsa.
That so many of the long-termers are such amazing and beautiful people and how grateful I am for what they are doing.

Favorite things I have seen:

Children playing and waving
The wonderful colors at the Market
Pictures of people healed from disease, women rescued from prostitution, simple procedures made accessible to those before unable to get them.
The homes of many of the long-termer and their wonderful children
Fruit-it is even refreshing to see when you are in this heat!

Songs that have come into my head:

Wild Horses-Natasha Beddingfield
My Redeemer Lives-Nicole C. Mullins
J. loves the little children
Say-John Mayer
Do you feel the Mountains Tremble

Things you can pr-y for:

That I will be able to embrace this last week and have G-d strenght daily
That I can focus on being here and not going back home (I am missing it dearly)
That I will be able to stomach all the food that I eat
That I won't get more bug bites
That Mandy and I will continue to have a great time together
That the heat won't get to me especially while I wear pants and long sleeves
That we will be safe when traveling
That I will be positive for this last push of the trip
That I can process all I have been through!

Thanks so much for all of you who are reading this and keeping updated on this trip and walking through it with me!

Floating Villages

2008-11-10T20:53:00.000-08:00

As you go down the Mekong River, you see these pockets of villages, mostly Vietnamese trying to get by through fishing and keeping the cost of living low and having their homes floating on the river instead of owning land. As we were speeding by I realized that there are some using the bathroom in the water while others just down a few houses are getting drinking water. There is both spiritual and physical poverty here in abundance. There are some we have on the field wanting to get a book published that will help people to understand some of the basics of keeping well but the goverment doesn't want it published because they fear they will not be given foreign aid as it promotes self-healthcare and not govermental. Now the book will have to be published privately with the funds from the people themselves. May this be a cause that people will come around so that as they feel physically healthy they will become spiritually healthy.

This is a picture of a temple seen from the river and truly shows the contrast of wealth and poverty that is here.

Angkor Wat/Siem Reap

2008-11-10T20:15:00.000-08:00

Temples, land mines, monks, poverty, tourists, suffering, malnutrition, foreign aid, human trafficing, Hollywood adoption, killing fields...All of these words describe Cambodia. So far having been here my mind and my heart are struggling to process all I have seen. I am sure it will take months to understand all I have seen on this trip. So far I have only been to two different countries, but each place I go is different. Chiang Mai compared to Lopburi, Siem Reap compared to Phnom Penh, River villages, prostitution centers...so much for my mind to comprehend. But the greatest thing about it all is that G is really at work. So many different things are being done, and while there is still so much more to be done and so many more workers needed, it is still wonderful to see even the beginnings of what can happen when people invest their lives in living out what G has asked us to.

Below are pictures of Angkor Wat...a temple that has been both used for both Buddists and Hindu wors-p. This is one of the few things that survived the Khmer Rouge devistation. I pr-y for all of the people who wors-p here so blindly and the people who come here who so badly need true healing. So many deal with Post-tramatic Stress after the Khmer Rouge. May they know what can really bring healing!

Lopburi Youth Center

2008-11-06T22:25:00.000-08:00

The student leading the cell group

Off and Pung-the couple running the Youth House

Yesterday was quite an interesting day. I felt awful in the afternoon. It was 36 degrees C which is 97 degrees F. Yes I had to look that up! I was a bit dehydrated and I had an horrible headache. On top of that, it was a day when I was really struggling missing Aaron.

In the morning we had spent about four hours at a pr-yer meeting where we got to hear some amazing things that are happening on the field. It was so neat to hear about how many things are going on just in the central region of Thailand. However, afterwards the elements caught up with me and I had to rest. I just wanted to go home. So we went back to the home we were staying at and I spend the next hour pr-ying and resting. Then that evening, we went to the Lopburi Youth Center.

It was absolutely the exact thing I needed. It was an encouragement to see what is being done there. We got to see some other Serve Asia workers, we got to see a student leading the cell group, and got to meet a very faithful Thai couple that loves on these kids right where they are at. The moment the students walk in the door they know they are cared for. What the perfect thing for me to see that stirred my heart and made me excited. Even if that was the only thing I came on this trip for, it would be good! However, I know that there is more to come. But here are some pictures from last night!

Some of the other students

On a side note, I am doing much better today. I am feeling a bit better and got to talk to both Aaron and my mom on the phone for a very short time. Please keep me in your thoughts. Pr-y that I will be able to get rest and that my body will remain healthy. I have fear that a cold is coming on. Also that I will be able to really enjoy my time. We have a pretty intense schedule in front of us.

Miss you all! Love, Me

Loves the little Children

2008-11-04T16:13:00.000-08:00

One of the hardest things for me so far was seeing all these beautiful children in them temple. However, it was very powerful when a childhood song that I used to know came into my head and reminded me that J. loves the little children...all the children of the world!

CHIANG MAI

Yesterday we went to a temple in Chiang Mai. It was so interesting to watch so many people worship all of these different images that were cracking and fading. How different it would be if they knew that they didn't have to pour oil over a candle or walk around the temple a certain number of times for the Real G. to clear their s-n. It was amazing to see all of the THINGS that needed to be done. How great that we can just ask. That is the amazing difference in a relationship and rituals.

We also went to the night market and on the way home drove a tuk tuk (once again don't know the exact spelling) home. On the way we saw the building where all the prosititues sit outside waiting to be chosen. I wish I could explain to them that they already were chosen and loved in a much more beautiful way.

It has been so beautiful to be out here even though I miss many things...namely my hubby and my friend Sarah who should be having her baby today!!!

All its own

2008-11-03T17:11:00.000-08:00

This picture needed a blog all it's own.

This has been one of my most favorite things so far. You can't see it very well but the blue writing over the moving walk way says "End of Travelator"

YES...in Singapore they call it the travelator. They don't have a cool voice saying "Watch out for the Travelator" or anything like that, but it is still awesome!

So far...

2008-11-03T16:57:00.001-08:00

The First few days: (out of order)

Singapore Airport:
Aaron you would have loved the real gardens

Hong Kong Airport (Naomi this is as much as I got to see but I took this for you!)

When I was flying out here I was thinking about what the smells that I would experiance. However I must say that as I was driving in the taxi I just kept thinking, "This makes me think of Wild Ginger" (A local Thai resturant) which just made me want to eat Panang Curry or Pad Thai. However I had just come off 26 hours of flying and about 12 meals (or so it felt).

It has been very interesting to be traveling so far away from all I know. However, for the last day and a half I have been around a great group of Serve Asia Field side coordinators, mostly Americans and Europeans and Aussi's. Which has maybe been a good transiton for me to slowly get to know Asia. It is also humid like the South so I am able to relate to that as well.

Today however Mandy and I are going to a temple here in Chiang Mai and taking a sungtao (have no idea how to spell that) up there so I am sure I will be having my first real dose of culture today! We are also going to the night market which will be a great place to see the local working class and to get a taste for what life can be like out here.

Tomorrow we will be on a train ride down to Lopburi, Thailand and so therefore I won't be able to write about my experiance for a few days but I promise I will.

Where will I be?

2008-10-06T09:49:00.001-07:00

Indonesia

Singapore

Phenom Penh, Cambodia

Near Siem Reap, Cambodia

Bangkok, Thailand

Chiang Mai, Thailand

The photos are thanks to google Images! I will post my own pictures as soon as I get home!

A few things from my eye

2008-09-29T13:43:00.000-07:00

Peeping Dogwood

To the bone

Lennon Wall says it all

Unrealistic Reality

Ahhhh!

As the cobblestones soaked up the sound

She walked in Beauty (picture for Laura)

Mighty Oak

2008-09-24T05:48:00.000-07:00

And they will be call a Mighty Oak
Planted by the Lord
To display His splendor.

Isaiah 61:3b

May this be me Lord!

Last Goodbye

2008-06-18T08:26:00.000-07:00

With wisdom in his eyes and love in his heart, he never let you stray to far.
He told you truth and showed you the way, so that you could live for Christ each day.
Now he's gone and his words still ring true, Grandpa if we could only all live like you.
I will miss this man, more than words could describe, but now you sit by Jesus side.
And I know Grandma's there, probably stroking you hair, eager to share all that's there.
I wish we could have celebrated your brithday with you, in 7 days you would have been 92.
But now I am sure as you walked through the pearly gate, God has arranged a "Big Band" to play.
And I am sure everyone was dancing to welcome you in, and in your new body you danced again.
I thought I would see you in a few days, but now I have to wait aways.
Yet when we reunite, it will be such a sight, but now I will live with all my might,to fight the good fight
run the race I'm given
press on towards heaven
JUST LIKE YOU TAUGHT ME TO DO!

I miss you Grandpa. I miss you more than you will know. But I am glad that you are with Christ now, and I am glad you knew we were all on our way to see you. Thanks for being everything that you were and will always be!

Bragging

2008-06-12T08:55:00.000-07:00

I just want to take this momemt and give a shout out for some of my absolutely amazingly talented friends. If only I could do art like all of them. I guess it wouldn't be art, it would be plagerism. HOWEVER, I can at least brag about these people and encourage you to look these people up through the web or visit thier blog and take a look at more of their work. Many of these people sell their work too, so embrace it. Soak it in. Let it bring beauty into your heart and life. And let me brag about my friends.

Naomi: She painted this for church at Christmas. One panel was on one side of the church and one was the other. Then when they came together you could see the word "Joy" in black. She does amazing murals too. I want her to do one in my home, so my home can look like her home.

Laura: I take a great deal of pride in knowing that I got Laura hooked on camera...soon she got her own. Now she takes some amazing pictures, and many better than I ever could. Plus she lives in Hawaii, so she has some great things to photograph!

Nate: Missionary in the Czech Republic/amazing photographer. I admire this man in so many ways. I am so glad to be friends with him. I think that people should buy his photographs to help with his support...but that's just me. The first picture he took in Czech, the second he took in Isreal.

Regan: I have known this beautiful person since middle school. She has ALWAYS been creative and always had an absolutely beautiful spirit, so it makes sense to me that she now captures beauty though a lens as well. She has always seen beauty in everything.

Aubrey: this is a person who I have not met yet, even though I will this summer. However, I ran into her blog through Nate and have been hooked ever since. I think it will be a true gift to meet her and to be able to see this person who inspires me so often.

Alyssa: A sudent, a friend, a humanitarian, an artist. Alyssa is studying in Switzerland. She takes the most beautiful pictures and lets me journey through life with her by looking at her pictures. I love her eye for the amazing things that are in this world.

Becca: I met her in College and she has become a dear friend. This is one of the sweet pictures she took of her girl Acadia. She will take pictures of my children when they are born...or else...!

Thanks for letting me brag.

The Game

2008-05-21T06:49:00.000-07:00

7:05 was the start time. It was a warm May evening as a group of us sat down to watch the Rockies game, some of the kids watching for the first time ever. And while the game was fine, would have been better if the Rockies had won, what I found to be absolutely wonderful was the entertainment from the people around me. What a great group of people to do ANYTHING with.

There was Aaron...my husband who is always fun to me. Unless we are fighting and then I still love him but he isn't as fun. But we weren't fighting and in fact he was just making me super happy that evening by just being very sweet and happy.

There was Ian...an absolutely insane, hysterical scottish co-worker of mine. He lives in England actually, but he is out at our office in Colorado often and when he is in the States it creates a completely different, and good, environment. I love having him around.

They also like to take "cute" pictures together which make me laugh every time I look at them!

Then there was Matt, Rocket, and Roxanne. They belong to Naomi, or Naomi belongs to them or something, but Naomi will be talked about in a different section. Matt is the guy who is quieter, but it just wouldn't be the same without him. Especially when he finds something funny, it makes me want to find the same thing funny. I don't know why, but I just like his laugh. And he, like Aaron is to me, is such a wonderful complement to Naomi that it is always so amazing to see them in settings together.

Rocket and Roxanne, they are so different but they love each other so dang much. And on top of that they have a great amount of energy which is so fun. I know it can drive their mom crazy at bedtime, but I am so glad she has active kids (which I know she is too) as opposed to lazy, boring kids.

Then there was Wil, Neil, and Wannee. Wil is here from Thailand and this will probably be her last Rockies game before she goes back...so she was completely engaged in the game watching. And that was nice because the rest of us could ask her what happened. She was almost like the designated watcher! Then Neil and Wannee, they are just superb. Neil's my boss, I am Wannee's boss, and Wannee's Neil's boss so together we make quite a group. They are always fun to be around, especially when you get to know them. I was really glad they came.

Jadon and Jami got to come with us too. This was their first pro-baseball game EVER. I had to get them to be Rockies fans before they left for Washington. Jadon was pretty tired and said that the guys on the field were too small. HOWEVER, he definately wasn't too tired for a good ol' baseball stadium hotdog or cotton candy. He was quite awake for those moments. And depending on the sugar rush level at the time, he would occasionally, and randomly yell out "Go Rockies, Go Rockies". A side note to this, Jadon also had the best line of the evening. He asked me who the "Grey guys were" and I said "Those are the Minnesota Twins" and he said "Why" and I said "because they are from Minnesota" and he said, "Oh so their french?!!" Apparently he knows stuff about our country that none of us do. Minnesota has been claimed by France. I was cracking up.

And Jamison, she was just a bouncy happy little 3 year old. I can't tell you how many people said, "She is so adorable", which of course I then acted like she was mine and said, "Thank you so much". Thanks for letting me steal her for those moments Jada! She stayed awake the whole game (probably due to the Cotton Candy...which was our evil plan) and was dancing and clapping the whole time.

And last but not least, there was Naomi and I. Two peas in a pod who love each other very much. I love doing things with this girl and while sometimes I am crazy busy, she is patient with me. She makes me laugh. I think that cheering with her at a Rockies game is just wonderful. This girl adds so much spice everywhere she goes it is just contagious, at least for me. I am always inspired, even to be a better cheerer at a Rockies game. And I have to sneak this in there too...she is a superb mom and wife and I love the moments when she doesn't know I am watching (kind of like a creepy stalker but not really) and I am haning out with her and the family and kind of sit in the background and watch them all interact. Those moments are precious to me. SO along with all of that good stuff about Naomi, the most important event of the whole Rockies game was that Naomi and I got our FIRST picture together. Up until this point we had not had one single photo to prove that we are friends, but now it is official and I have proof so she can't disown my friendship without me at least having some good evidence in court. (And I hope she knows I am writing this blog for her!)

Family

2008-04-29T13:37:00.000-07:00

The four J's...

I love this family so dearly. I was transfering my pictures from one computer to another and looked over all these pictures of this family. And I cannot help but just stand completely amazed at how God brought them into my life. We always laugh now because at first I didn't even want to meet them, then I ended up babysitting for them, then I ended up living with them, then we ended up becoming truly family. I was their when their daughter was born, I was there when their son took their first steps, I was there when all the family was over, I was there for moments of laughter, I was there for moments of sorrow and they were there for my stress of my masters, they were there when I got my first gift from this guy named Aaron, they were there to answer the door when this guy named Aaron took me out on my first date, they were there when I married this man Aaron, they where there for moments of laughter, they were there for moments of sorrow, and now we are all family. We all know each other so well. We know the good, the bad, and the ugly, and everything in between. I am so glad to have them in my life and I am so glad that God allowed me to grow so close to them.

These kids are right now the only niece and nephew that I have. To them we are Auntie Cheryl and Uncle Aaron (which used to be Ernie when the kids were learning to talk...both of them said it too). I have so many amazing memories with these two. Jadon is my tough guy with a very kind and compassionate spirit. Jamison is my princess with a strong will but tender heart. I remember when Jadon meet Jamison for the first time, he looked at her and instantly gave her a kiss. From before she was even born Jadon knew he had to protect her, and protect her he did. If anyone said "my Jami" he would look at you and give you the most serious look and in the lowest firmest tone a young boy can have he would say "NO, my jamison". And that is how it is with them. They love each other and protect each other...since day one!

My husbands world

2008-03-31T13:44:00.001-07:00

If there was one thing I could give to my husband, it would be a life full of moments like these!

Tom (sitting in the chair) has cut Aaron's hair since he was little. All the boys got their hair cut for Aaron's and my wedding...they thought Tom needed a little trim to.

Cabo San Lucas paradise/Honeymoon. Nothing has ever topped this week.

Just us, being us! No more, no less.

Jadon and Jami Swanson can make Aaron light up in a way no one else can. He loves these kiddos and they love their Uncle Aaron!

And this...this is Aaron's heaven.

I love you Aaron and I pray that your life will have many more memories such as these! With all my love!

A weekend in COLORado!

2008-03-25T15:11:00.000-07:00

I LOVE COLOR. And I love Colorado. AND I love the fact that Colorado has the word Color in it. I really believe I was meant to live here. Truly! And if I was ever unsure about that fact, then all I would have to do is take a look at my weekend and it would remind me why I am here! Here are some highlights and colors of my amazing weekend!
SATURDAY: we bought our Kayak!
Kayak: Color-Red, Yellow, Orange.
Life vest: Color: Light Purple (with butterflies on the back)

SUNDAY: we spent the day with the Swansons, the Classens, The Becktels, and Allison and her mom. We also spent it with Jelly Bellys!!!
Jamison: Color: pink spring flowers and tons of laughter and hugs

Jadon: Color: Light blue and lots of silly faces

Jelly Bellys: Color: any you can imagine. Truly this is how color should taste too!

MONDAY: This was my birthday and I woke up to a garden and breakfast made by Allison.
Garden: Color: anything bright and fun
Seed Packets: Color: White and tan with pictures of flowers on them
Garden tools: Color: silver and tan
Fake Grass: Color: green

Edible arrangement: Color: Red, Yellow, Orange, Green, Purple (bowl) and Chocolate (it's a color and a piece of heaven!)

Balloons: Color: All the colors of a rainbow (Aaron told them he didn't care what they looked like, there just had to be LOTS of colors...that's how I know he loves me)

Birthday party dinner: Colors: The personalities added so many colors, but my favorite color was watching my mom laugh which would be a bright golden!

The Grand Canyon only few see!

2008-03-24T09:41:00.000-07:00

(you can see all the pools here that you can jump from...but I didn't take this one)

Mile one, switchbacks. Going down the canyon wall is not as hard a going up, but it can still be grueling in the desert heat. Mile two through eight, the dried river bed. Walking through here is normally very relaxing and enjoyable. You don't have much incline or decline, but once again, you have to bewere of the heat. And at the end of mile eight, you begin to hear what sounds like a rushing water. But can it be? In the middle of the Grand Canyon desert heat? As you approach the Havasu Pai village you begin to realize, that yes, you are hearing water and in fact, it is more beautiful than you imagined. Mile nine and ten, from the village onward. As you walk away from the village, you begin to hear the water louder and louder. You pass a fairly hidden waterfall called Navajo falls. You can only see about 10% of it, which doesn't do it any justice, but even at 10% it still takes your breath away. Then you walk some more and as you cross a bridge and turn a corner all of the sudden on the right side of you is one of the most breath taking things you have ever seen. Havasu falls. You have to stop just to soak in the beauty and suddenly ever second of walking and desert heat becomes worth it. Once you get your breath back, you continue to walk down to the campsite, only about a 1/4 mile further. You get things set up and contemplate, do I go back to Havasu falls right now or continue to explore. So you explore and as you walk you start to hear the sound of another grand waterfall. This time it is Mooney falls which you see from the top. You can hike down through caves and steep ladders. However, you notice that there is a rope swing going from one pool into the other, so you decide to wait until you can go play the next day. As you sit at your camp your mind rushes about all the possibilites of the next day. You can go to Navajo falls and jump around, you can swim behind Havasu falls, you can climb down to Mooney falls and swing on the rope swing, you can swim up the river and climb up the pools to Havasu or swim back down them to your camp sight jumping from pool to pool! THIS IS MY GRAND CANYON! This is how I know it and how I love it. And few will get here, but it is extremely worth it.

This is the Indian village that you walk through.

Havasu Falls (This was thanks to google, most of my pictures aren't on this computer!) This is the most popular of the three.

Navajo falls (thanks to google again!) This is the widest of the three.

Mooney falls

This is Allison Edwards at the bottom of Mooney falls. This is by far the tallest of the three.

PS...Naomi have I convinced you to go yet?

Random ramble

2008-03-19T07:53:00.000-07:00

There have been so many things on my mind lately that I can hardly wade through it all. Therefore, I am going to create a list of random things that are in my jam-pack mind to hopefully lodge the unimportant stuff loose and be able to tackle what I need to. And beyond that, lists are just fun. And you want to know why they are fun? Because you can put a number in front of almost anything and all the sudden it becomes important. For example my good friend Naomi wrote a list of things she loves about her husband and in it was...
17. His shirts are soft.

Now normally that wouldn't be a really important thing but because the list had a title of "100 things I love about Matt" and number 17. was infront of the statment, it made it important.

Anyway, here is my VERY RANDOM list of
"Things swirling through my head"

1. I hope that I get a really cool tree for my birthday...yes I want a tree for my brithday!
2. Who will take my receptionist position so that I will be able to start working in my new role as the Serve Asia Facilitator?
3. I am excited to see where in the world this new job will take me.
4. What are some wicked fun things that we can do with our church that will help church not look so boring?
5. Why is it so hard for people to love one another?
6. I am very excited to go to Czech!!!
7. Who will be in my Czech class this year?
8. I want to plant tons and tons of flowers.
9. I am also excited to get fresh veggies this year from our garden.
10. I feel like so many people in our church need to know that they are loved and appreciated, how can this happen?
11. I want to see my friend Laura so badly! I would give almost anything to be walking on the beach while we both had our cameras in hand taking pictures of the tide or whatever else is interesting at the moment.
12. I hope that Aaron can really get refreshed soon!
13. I want a day where I can wear flipflops, a ribbon in my hair, have my sunroof open and drive up to the mountains and kayak while listening to some music that I can blast and sing along to...and possibly annoy Aaron with.
14. My coffee is cold.
15. I am really really really excited about my new job!

And there are many more, but I think that will sufice for now.

Asia's splendor

2008-02-28T08:48:00.000-08:00

I remember, as a first grader, my best friend at school was Thai, her name was Oeay (nickname) or Warunya was her real name. I remember being at her house all the time eating noodles and rice and playing by the wonderful reminders that they had up of their Thai home. I remember eating at a Thai resturant her cousin's parents owned (previously it was called Wild Orchid...now known as Wild Ginger). I remember being facinated by her culture, even at a young age.

As I grew up I gained a love for the American attempt as Asian food. Many of my friends and I would make going out for Chinese a wonderful treat on new years eve, or any other important event, like needing to discuss a boy problem, or having a sleep over. It was a source of comfort to me.

Then again, as I began to register for my wedding, Aaron and I decided that we wanted to have an "Asian" theme in our house as much as possible. We wanted some of the simplicity that it brings. We almost got a table that was low to the floor so that we could sit on pillows and eat (but we didn't think it would be condusive to having many people over).

And now I find myself thinking about Asia. Thinking about how through my life, there have been little things that have connected me with the culture and made me extremely curious about it. I find myself thinking of the beauty, the uniqueness, the sweet faces that I have seen. And so the other day I looked up pictures of many different countries in Asia. And more and more I am just in awe of each culture and each type of beauty that there are in so many different places in the world. I have seen many different parts of Europe. I have been to almost all 50 states in America. And now I find myself pondering about all the different Asian cultures. Like Europe or the states, I know that each one has it's own beauty and own splendor. So here are some pictures I found that just facinate me and give me a little bit of wanderlust!

Thank you google images for increasing my desire to travel all over the world!

How I would love to stand next to these deep strong roots!

I have seen cathedrals and castles in Europe...now it would be wonderful to see temples and palaces in Asia.

I remember even in Czech seeing prayer flags. What an interesting and intriguing thing.

Can I just tell you how many movies I have seen filmed in Japan that just make me want to hop on a plane instantly?!! This is why Aaron and I want a Japanese garden.

WOW. Need I say more?

I wouldn't mind being here right now!

THE VISION

2008-02-25T06:29:00.000-08:00

I love to paint. I am not the best at it, but I enjoy it. It is freedom to me because I process things in such a visual way. When I paint, I can get my ideas out. I can free them from the jail of my mind and let them fly on the wings of canvas and paint brushes. Once they are out of my mind they can run free and be what they are without the bounds of my rational trying to fit them neatly into place. Once they are out and on a page or a canvas, I cannot turn them into anything other than what they are. I cannot reason them away or make them more subtle or even make them more wild and fun. That is what painting is for me. It is reality unbound...and even more than that it is usually God's reality unbound, because it is almost always things that he shows me or tells me that I feel I must write out or paint. In the picture above are two paintings, the one on the left I painted after I felt like God was showing me a picture of what surrender and submission look like in my life. The one on the right was a picture of a vision that a very amazing woman, Joyce, had for me a few weeks ago when we were discussing my Spiritual gifts and my passions.

Here is the reality of the painting on the Right. I have been taking a sabatical from Youth Ministry. I have been doing it now for 8 years straight and along with that I married an amazing man who happens to be a youth pastor. I was a Junior High Director for three of those eight years, and Intern for a year and a half, and a volunteer for the rest. On top of that, I also spend two and a half years studying Youth and Family ministries for two and a half years while I was the Director. I have done a great deal with the youth and I adore the youth. But I felt strongly that I was needing to take a break. The Senior girls that I have been working very closely with will leave the youth group this year, and I felt that I needed to evaluate where God wanted me next.

That is where the Sabatical came in. And I just so happened to take it during a course our church was doing on finding your Spiritual Gifts, Your personal ministry style, and your passions. I have done many things like this before, and in fact taken this course before, but this time I was in a bit of a different place. I figured out my Gifts, which were no surprise to me. They are 1. Creative Communication, 2. Shepherding, 3. Mercy, 4. Encouragement, and 5. Words of Wisdom. The problem came when I was trying to define my passions. That also happened to be the day that I sat next to Joyce and ended up getting this beautiful picture from her that I truly believe that God was giving her for me. She explained it like this...

I see you walking through this field, and it is a shepherds field, except it is in beautiful, bright colors. It is pink and orange and blue and just bright bright colors. And you are walking through the field with the wind in your hair and you are free. And as you are walking you sprinkle some encouragement here and some wisdom there and some mercy over there and as you do this, these flowers grow. And they are not just all daisies. Their are all these different colored flowers and different types of flowers and whatever you pour into grows and blooms. And you are not growing like vegetables, you are growing these strong tall flowers that bloom as you pour into them. And you pour and pour and then you move on to the next thing and pour into those seeds and they bloom too.

When I was able to capture this and paint it, there was a freedom. Truly there was an unbelievable since of freedom when Joyce gave me the vision, but beyond that, once I was able to paint it and capture it for what it was, I felt this freedom and this truth of where God wanted me to walk, and how he wanted me to live.

I still don't know what my next step is. I have been really praying through my Sabatical, and I have many different options, all of them seem amazing. But I trust that God will show me and I will continue to walk in the field that he has given me and pour and pour and pour and through me God will make some amazing things bloom!

My life savers

2008-02-21T08:48:00.001-08:00

I believe that so many people go through life without ever really truly opening up to people and letting themselves be vulnerable. I on the other hand, almost have the opposite problem where I usually throw my heart out there even in situations it is not safe to do so. And in recent years I have learn the health of boundaries and vulnerablity and try really hard to maintain an appropraite balance.I remember my amazing councelor, Chris, pointed out to me that even Jesus did this with his friends and people he interacted with. What a refreshing thing for me to realize. Jesus had what Chris labeled a "Circle of influence". If you look at the example of Christ's life, he had God in the center. Then John was the next circle out. Then Peter and James. Following them were the 12 disciples. Then the women and the 70 other disciples. Next came the crowds of people that he interacted with. And last were the Pharasees. Chris pointed out that Jesus apprpriately interacted with all of these groups of people, but he also had strong boundaries with them as well, being the least vulnearable with the Pharasees and the most vulnerable with John.

All that to say, that I am so thankful for the women who I have close in my circle that I can be vulnerable with and that I can trust. These women are truly live savers for me and I am so grateful for them.

JAMI: I have known this girl since I was in diapers. She has been with me through thick and thin. And while we may not always have a lot of time to connect, we are always there for each other. We have gone from playing together in each other's back yards, to standing with each other in weddings, and now she has her own child that one day will play with mine and the cycle will continue! I love this girl and she will always and forever be the friend I have known the longest because one day we will be 90 years old and remembering when we were 5...or not remembering because we lost our memory, and it will be awesome! I love her. By the way, this is a picture of her being sneaky after her and Paul agreed to be our "get away car" at our wedding so no one would to anything to my car. And what does it look like she is doing? Yep, she got my car.

Allison: Al and I have lived together in college and she currently lives with Aaron and I in my house. She will eternally be my "roommate" even when she doesn't live with me. We have had our ups and downs but no matter what we have stuck it out and just grow stronger. She is like family, she sees me at my best and at my worst. She has taken care of me when I had a broken ankle and has let Aaron and I take care of her when she has needed some cheering up. Also, she is ALWAYS a person I know will be praying for me and it is the most reassuring thing ever!

My mom: This woman is amazing. I can't say more than that. She has been my sounding board, my outlet, my comfort, my friend, my mom, my councelor, my cheerleader, my nurse, and so much more. I am so grateful for her. And while we sometimes drive each other nuts (and others who are around) because we are so stubborn, I would do anything for her and she knows that.

Naomi: What a breath of fresh air. Naomi walked in to my life at the absolute perfect time. Truly there was something very divine in us meeting. She brings out the artist in me in a way that is so freeing! We can talk about everything and I know that she sees me for who I am. She is my MTV-watching, scrabble-playing, blog-reading, BFF and I am so glad that she is in my life.

Laura Lily: This was another divine meeting. Long story short, I had to rearrange my college orientation because of medical reasons and ended up going to the last one of the summer. I didn't know anyone and felt super awkward there. However, at this lame dance that was put on I met this awesome girl Laura who ended up being one of my absolute best friends and truly a soul mate if you will. This girl has spoken truth into my life unlike any other, she has helped me to laugh so hard, she has been a great companion on roadtrips, she is the best co-dancer in a car that I know. She helped me to love coffee and "The hampster dance" song. Also, we have our special tradition of painting our toenails whenever we need to laugh, cry, or anything in between.

Beth: I have known Bethy since the second grade. We went to the same elementry school, middle school, and college. She was my roommate for a year and a half during which we had some wicked dance parties and have lots of memories of talking to each other on our bunk beds. I have seen her say goodbye to her dad and hello to her new son. I listened to her talk in middle school about this boy name "Chad" who is now her husband. We have only got in one fight that I can remember during which I called her an earing and she called me a bracelet...which at the time was the meanest we could be to each other. Later we apologized and moved on.

Becca: Becca and I met when we were both working with students up in Greeley and ended up leading "Platoon 4:20" for quite a few years. Her husband was my boss at one point, and they both were life savers for me in college. Becca and I were always late to meet each other, so we would plan things 15 min. early so we would both be there on time. We both love art and good coffee and things that are genuine. Becca and I have a hard time connecting but we leave each other fun messages and know that no matter what, we are still always there for one another.

Jada: This is my older sister. I lived with her and her family for two years, during which I became family. I am "Auntie Cheryl" to her children, I saw her daughter Jamison when she was only a couple min. old. I know both her and Jon's families and I know many of their friends. They were the ones who answered the door on my first date with my now husband and they were both in my wedding. I tell her that I know her better than she knows herself...and I am too stubborn to believe differently!

Project 2-Kerith, Amanda, Arie, Alyssa, and I

2008-02-09T07:21:00.000-08:00

Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
For Seminary I did a project based on this verse and photography. I had students take pictures and I take pictures of things that we thought portrayed this verse. We tried so show pictures of things that were lovely, noble, right, etc. I framed them and put them around the underground. Then the next Sunday I had created a powerpoint out of the pictures as well, and had small waterfalls running in the background, had fresh smelling candles lit, corners of the room divided up with water that had lemon and lime in it, grapes at the little tables, and refreshing music playing. After the powerpoint I asked students to go sit and reflect on this verse and some how creatively express it themselves. I had some students write a poem. Some students wrote lists of things that they could think of that were in these categories and things that they think about that are the antithisis of this verse. Some students colored or drew out what they thought of this verse. It was such a fun project. Here are some of the ones I took, and I will put up the ones some of the students took later (they aren't on this computer I am working on).

True

Nobel

Right

Pure

Lovely

Admirable

Project 1-Amanda

2008-02-09T07:01:00.000-08:00

So I love to let other people use my camera. To me my camera is probably the way I feel most connected with God. Therefore, I love to let others use it hopeing that it will somehow do something similar for the other users as well. I know that this may be silly, but if I experiance God in some great way, then I want to be able to share that with others. Sometimes I will take my students out and go shoot, other times I will let them do it on their own so that I don't influence what they see and what they take pictures of.

My camera was a gift to me from my husband for our wedding, so I feel that the best thing to do is to share it as well. Granted, I am rather attached to my camera and if anything happened I would be tremendously sad, but I really feel that if God has blessed me with different material things in life, I must share them and somehow let them be a ministry, otherwise I am holding on to them too tightly. That is my own personal conviction, I don't go around judging others, I just know for me that I have a tendency to love the material. So, instead, I know I must share the material!

And the truth is, out of the sharing of my material possessions have come some AMAZING pictures! So here are pictures from one of the first projects that I did with a student. And I must say, Bravo Amanda Gossack, Bravo!

Garden Party...

2008-02-08T09:18:00.000-08:00

So on my bucket list I put some of the things that I really want to be able to do before I die. One of them has been on my mind a great deal lately. A garden party. I want to throw a lovely Itallian Evening garden party. I looked on line to see if I could find pictures of the type of garden party that I wanted, and I did so to no avail. HOWEVER, I still found some cool pictures. Here they are.

This one would be fun, but I want mine in the evening.

This picture had to be thrown in there because it is a garden party in the Czech Republic and I think that is just awesome! Seriously, I love this country more and more every day.

This is the picture that is closest to what I want, but I don't want the tent and I don't want it that big. But I love the lighting.

And this is where I think I have gotten my romantic idea from. I adore Jack Vettriano's art. To me it is so interesting. And while I don't want my garden party to be formal, I love the idea of the lights.

So here is what I think I want at my garden party:

-Candles at the tables
-White lights strung around garden
-A full herb garden to pick stuff from
-Shoes optional
-Soft Itallian music
-Good wine
-Fun table cloths
-Good Itallian food
-Lavender Lemonade (or something as refreshing)
-Lots of laughter
-Warm summer evening!

We will see if it happens!

Going Home!

2008-01-31T14:53:00.000-08:00

Some of the Czech I know:
Pivo, Vino, Zmrzlina, Caj,
Ahoj, Diky, Cau, Prosim
Modra, Zitra, Cervena, Bila
Pupek, Ojo, Prst, krk
Medved, Zaba, Ryba, Had

English Translation:
beer, wine, ice cream, tea
Hello, thanks, bye, please
blue, yellow, red, white
belly button, eye, finger, neck
bear, frog, fish, snake

What does this mean? It means that I am going to be able to use these words again in 6 months. After much prayer and much dialogue with both my boss and my husband, the decision was made that I would be going back to my second home. I get to go back to fruit dumplings, the Czech language, the Lipus family, and the so many students that I adore.

Each year I go over and each year I feel like God uses me in different ways. Some years I feel like I have connected with the whole camp, some years it has been my room, some years it has been just my class, and other years it is just a few very specific students. But every year God uses me and every year I fall more and more in love with the Czech people. I can't even imagine what I will be doing this year and how camp will be, but there is something absolutely amazing about getting to go over again. I didn't think it would happen, but it did.

Here are the things I am excited for this next trip...if it can happen:
1. To see Adela, Georgey, Cilco, and Pavla
2. To see Jumper and Osvald
3. To see my class from last year and to see Ondra and how he has grown
4. To spend follow-up with the Lipus family
5. To meet my new class
6. To bond with my new teaching partner
7. To support the Czech team
8. To walk through this trip with Brandi
9. To have dinner with Ivo
10. To see Aaron really lead this team in a strong way
11. To hang with Nate
12. To watch God move again
13. To engage with the students
14. To see Richard
15. To see how things are different this year
16. The many other things that I can't even write

This is my mom and Adela last year

This was in a rose garden Richard took Aaron, my Mom, Sarah, and I too.

This was at a Train Station in Ostrava

This was during an Ice Breaker Game

This is Ester Lipusova and I

This is part of a broken cobblestone walkway in Prague

This is my favorite statue in Prague, it depicts what Communism does to a person, as you can see, the person starts to fade away into nothing at the top. Such a powerful piece.

Winter Beauty

2008-01-28T08:48:00.000-08:00

There is something amazing about being in the Colorado mountains on a winter day, especially on days when the sun is out and the snow is glistening. It almost seems enchanting to be in the Rockies on days like that. Saturday was one of those days. The sun made it warm enough that I could walk around even without having to wear my full winter gear (hat, gloves, etc.) and instead I just feel free to walk around let my hair down and soak in the sunshine and the sparkles in the snow. And to be quite honest, I wasn't walking around as much as skating around. Below is a picture of the pond we were skating on.

What made Saturday even better was that in Keystone there were some ice sculptures and in Breckenridge there was a snow sculpture competition. So on top of just an absolutely breath taking day with God's awesome creation, I was able to see the artwork of some of the most incredible "winter artists" I have ever seen. Teams come from around the world to carve these sculptures. There were teams from China, New York, Canada, Lithuania, Minnesota, Colorado, Germany, France, and many more. And the amazing thing about these people is that they work so hard for days to get these snow sculptures carved fully knowing that they will be fully melted in a few weeks. I just find that incredibly fascinating. There is something that I find so admirable about people carving these sculptures for the pure fun and beauty that comes out of it, only for it to go away shortly. I must say, I would have a very hard time putting all that work into something only for it to be evaporated. But these teams do that, and thank goodness I got to enjoy the benefit of it.

Here are some of the awesome sculptures...

This was a sculptures of all of these people holding up a bowl of what looked like marbles. This one was probably my favorite. I don't know why, maybe it is because it seems to me such a picture of what community is. I loved it.

This one I just loved because this is my favorite flower.

When I saw this one I couldn't help but be a little sad because I know that Aaron's grandma would have been crazy over this one. So I took this close up in honor of her. Plus, the eyes, whiskers, and id tag were all made from ice so it made it even more beautiful.

This was the winning sculpture from China. I thought that the stuff behind the horse rider was like coral, so I was greatly confused. But Aaron told me that they were prolific G.... (some type of tree that starts with a G, and I can't remember the word). So that makes more sense to me.

This one was my brother's favorite. I liked it too, but not as much as the first one with all the people. It actually reminds me of my Kisi stone from Kenya. Very beautiful. It was titled Cold Hands, Warm Heart.

If anyone knows me at all, they know why I liked this one. AHHHH hockey, what a great thing!

This one was super cute! I really enjoyed just gazing at this one, dreaming of the future! :-)

Now these weren't from the Breckenridge snow sculpture contest, but I still like them. And in fact, this was TOTALLY different because this was an ICE sculpture in Keystone. See the difference?

Some Cheryl Thoughts...

2008-01-18T10:11:00.000-08:00

I love artists, from carpenters, to writers, to photographers, to painters, to musicians. I LOVE ARTISTS. I am intrigued by them and captured by their work. Each person's creation shows me a glimpse of the person who created it. For example, I have numerous friends who are photographers, and if I were to give each one the same camera and put them in the same spot and told them they could only take ten pictures, each one of them would have different film. Each shot would be different because each eye looking through the lens is different. The photos created would represent each person who took them. The same is true with any other type of artistic expression. My husband's paintings have a style unique to him and even if he was painting the exact same scene as my friend Jami or my friend Naomi, the pictures would look different. That is why I love artists; their creation reveals a piece of them.

God does this with all he creates as well. God reveals part of who he is through each thing he creates. All of His work has His fingerprints on it. From the stars, to the animals, to the planets, to the flowers, to every single person. Absolutely everything made reveals its creator. Our art reveals who we are, from a photograph to wood work, to paintings, and we reveal who God is, from our personality, to our creativity, to our dreams.

We need to grasp the truth that we are part of the creation and we mimic God when we create. There are two key things that I think are a part of this truth. First, we are a part of the Artist's masterpiece, of God's creation. We need to take care of the masterpiece because every part of it points to the artist. We need to take care of this world and what is in it. When we disrespect the creation, we are ultimately disrespecting the creator. When we tear apart one another or when we contaminate this world, it is like we are taking a black sharpie to a Van Gogh or a Vettriano (one of my favorite artists) and drawing all over it ruining the creation of the creator. We need to take care of this world and the people in it because by doing so we are taking care of what God has made.

The second part is that we need to embrace artists and creators and learn from what they show us about creating. I think of all of the things that God shows us through artist; he shows us beauty, he shows us care, he shows us love, he shows us freedom. What a beautiful way to see God and see who he is. When I look at a painting or a photograph or a carving from an artist, I can't help but think about God as the Creator. I can't help but think about how God has allowed different people to see him in different ways, express him in different ways, and how much we can learn from each others differences. Each artist expresses him or herself and in turn expresses who God is in and through them.

Hope you enjoyed seeing some of my photographs and the way my eye sees things!

73 things in the bucket

2008-01-15T08:29:00.000-08:00

As I sipped my steaming coffee with peppermint creamer out of my very rugged mug, I was reading on www.usatoday.com about "The Bucket List". This article was inspired by the upcoming movie which is called exactly that, "The Bucket List" which stars Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. Now I am hopefully not going to be kicking the bucket any time soon, but I figure that if I make a bucket list while I am still young, I will be able to achieve more that is on the list than if I wait until I am older.

***On a side note, it is really funny that this movie is coming out because about a three years ago my Dad and I went out to lunch and one of the items he brought up in conversation was what is in his will and had this folder of stuff I would need if anything were to happen to him. In the folder were things like where he hoped to be buried and things of that sort. He then asked me what he should put on the front of the folder so I would know what it was. I jokingly said, "label it, 'Kick The Bucket Folder'", and he did. So in honor of my father, I hope to take him to the movie so we can get a good laugh out of it! He is so silly!
Anyway, back to the task at hand, here I sit, still sipping on my coffee, and pondering my life and the things I want to achieve, so here is the list in no particular order.

CHERYL'S BUCKET FULL OF LIFE:
1. To get a degree in photography
2. To sew my own skirt (like a hippie one with super cool patches and colors)
3. To sew a quilt with Kristy Pals (my God-mother)
4. To draw and sketch more...which hopefully will include going to Dr. Sketchy's with Naomi
5. To meditate more
6. To go on a road trip with no particular destination and be able to stop and pull over any time I want to enjoy things or take a picture
7. To go to Santorini Greece
8. To have a beautiful garden party on a summer evening with good friends
9. To send more cards to friends for random reasons
10. To learn how to can from Leanne Gossack...Mmmm Jelly!
11. To make homemade cinnamon rolls from my grandmother's recipie
12. To write a book...even if it is only for myself to read
13. To read many of the Jane Austin classics
14. To write a children's book and have any of my very artistic friends illustrate it
15. To go to New Zealand and backpack
16. To do a missions trip at least once every three years
17. To learn another language, hopefully Czech
18. To get out of debt and be able to randomly surprise people with gifts such as landscaping their yards
19. To exercise at least 3 times a week unless I am on vacation
20. To hike more 14ners
21. To go back to Vermont in the fall and spend more time there
22. To get a kayak
23. To take my mom on a "girls trip"
24. To ride my bike more
25. To visit Alyssa in Switzerland
26. To be present at Amanda's wedding
27. To keep in touch with so many of my students
28. To have a child, either through birth or adoption
29. To visit Laura again
30. To spend a week with just my cousin Debbie and do "girl things"
31. To go to Norway
32. To paint something I am really proud of
33. To go backpacking with my husband and any future children
34. To frame some of my photos and display them
35. To take a day once every 6 months to just go take pictures
36. To take Aaron to Key West and Kayak with him there
37. To make a book of my photos for Brad Widstrom
38. To help Aaron get through his 2nd Masters and his PhD.
39. To get henna done on my hands and/or back
40. To write my dad a letter letting him know how much I love him
41. To be in Jake's wedding
42. To get a massage once every other year
43. To go fishing with my Dad every few years in Minnesota
44. To learn some graphic design stuff
45. To volunteer for the museum
46. To be an active volunteer at a local school
47. To go deep sea fishing
48. To go on an Alaskan cruise
49. To go back to Cabo for a second honeymoon
50. To yell and cheer really loud at my child's sporting events (if they choose to play sports)
51. To get DU Hockey season tickets
52. To stay in close contact with Sarah and Kerry
53. To build a deck with my husband, father-in-law, and brother-in-laws
54. To teach my students how to see God through art
55. To visit Laguna Beach
56. To study a random culture and read as many books as I can about them
57. To get a library card and use it
58. To get Aaron his CJ-7 to work on and re-vamp
59. To stay in touch with the my Christensen side of the family and write to them more.
60. To write Dave and tell him how great of a brother he is
61. To put an extension on my home
62. To beat the NES game Yo-Noid
63. To help my dad get to Europe and see the WWII battlefields
64. To take pictures of a friends/students wedding
65. To go to Czech for vacation with my family
66. To give my children God-parents
67. To wear funky clothes/accessories at least once every other week
68. To continue to mentor girls
69. To do more charity walks (MS walk, Breast Cancer walk, ect.)
70. To be more of an encourager to JV missionaries
71. To take Aaron to Hawaii
72. To have a 50th Anniversary bash (I am talking something GRAND)
73. To say on my death bed, "I have lived a life well done"

(Thanks clip art for the bucket photos!)

Home, art, and other good things

2008-01-14T08:52:00.000-08:00

As I looked around my house last night, I thought about what are some of the things that I absolutely love around my house. What THINGS make me smile, make me happy, make my soul want to do a sweet tap dance jig. I am an extremely sentimental person and so you will see that most of my favorite things also tie into my favorite memories. There are two things that I didn't take pictures of, but one of them is the huge family Bible that my grandpa gave me when I graduated from College and one is the 60th wedding anniversary book that we made from Grandpa and Grandma, which Grandpa gave me when I got married. Those are the absolute most special, but there are others too, so here they are.

1. In my wedding, one of the most special moments was when Aaron and I washed each other's feet. Aaron's dad made us this pitcher by hand using 18 century tools. We bought the bowl. But the pitcher was one of the most meaningful things that we have ever had given to us. The flowers that are inside are from two different missions trips to Europe. The Calla Lily's are from Vienna (we did a camp for missionary kids) and the tulips are from Prague (we do English camps out there every year). The calla lilys we got when we were engaged (and we also had real calla Lily's in our wedding) and the tulips we got when we were married.

2. My type writer, this was given to me by my former student and current friend, Alyssa. I love type writers. I love the way they sound, I love the feel of pushing down the keys, I love the ding when you get to the end of the line. I LOVE them. So, for a complete surprise, Alyssa bought me a type writer that she found. It is one of my most favorite things in the world. I love this. All I need now is an ink ribbon.

3. My new clock. I just got this on Saturday. I have had my eye on this clock for at least two, maybe even three years. This artist is so creative and colorful and FUN! So, as we were up in Frisco for a getaway anniversary weekend, Aaron surprised me and got it for me! He actually told me before we went up that he was going to get it for me, but it was still a surprise! AND, I was so happy because they had the one I wanted there!

4. This was Aaron's anniversary gift. Once again I have been looking at this up in Frisco for years. This to me is so symbolic and SO Aaron. He loves to rock climb and I just see that this piece shows community and dependence. I know that I am putting way more meaning in it than there was ever intended to be, but the moment I saw this sculpture, I hoped I would be able to get it someday!

5. The ice climber, this was the first thing I ever bought from The Columbine Art gallery up in Frisco. This was a gift I gave to Aaron that was a real sacrifice to buy because I got it while I was in Seminary, but it was so worth it. I love this little guy, and I know how amazing of an experience it was for Aaron to go ice climbing, so I was glad to get this for him.

2 years down, 73 to go...

2008-01-07T08:14:00.000-08:00

Two years ago today...Aaron and I were having breakfast at Ihop and acting extremely giddy as we were about to get married in 10 hours. Yes, the morning of our wedding we went out together and ate at none other than...Ihop. And let me just tell you that it was so perfect. While both Aaron and I can enjoy the finer things in life, me more than Aaron, we are both pretty down to earth people...and considering the fact that the way he proposed was waking me up from a nap while I was laying on his parents couch, Ihop seems to fit. Truly, my wedding day was the most relaxing, fun, and perfect day of my life. And yes, there were things that went wrong at our wedding like the fact that my flowers all froze and my brother-in-law almost passed out, but at the end of the day I was still married to my absolute best friend. And, I have to say, that one of the best things of that day was that at the end of the day, we went to our hotel, and Aaron had packed the game battleship, which was the first game we ever played together, and so our wedding night, in our really nice hotel room, we did none other than played battleship...but he won...which wasn't very good considering it was our wedding night, because I am very competitive. HOWEVER, it was still the best way to end the night. I know that I kind of sound white trash starting out the morning with Ihop and ending by playing a board game, but that really defines Aaron's and my relatoinship. I LOVE IT!

So, considering that today is our anniversary, I want to share some of my favorite moments with Aaron...

This is one of my favorite pictures of Aaron and I. He was letting me take pictures so that I could get some ideas of good places to shoot.

This was Aaron and my brother after our Engagement party in Colorado.

This was on our wedding day...SUCH A FUN PARTY!

This was Aaron in Cabo. Seriously this was the best trip of my life. I loved being there with him and with the fresh made nachos and the hammocks and the currios. Great trip!

This was when Aaron and I were in Vienna walking around before we helped lead the GEM-K conference (Greater European Missions Kids)

This was Aaron reading to Jadon, who is our adopted nephew. I love wathing them play together.

started off as girls, ended up as women

2008-01-07T07:14:00.000-08:00

As I sit here and think about some of the students who have come and gone through the youth ministry while I have been a leader, I just stand amazed at the ways that God has developed these girls and grown them into amazing women who are unique and beautiful and magnificent. I have loved every student in all of the 8 years that I have been doing youth ministry. However, I have mentored a few specifically, and have had the opportunity to watch their lives grow and the dreams develop, and I am so excited to see what else comes.

ALYSSA: The first time I met Alyssa she was in 8th grade, now she is a sophmore in college.

Things I love about her: She is one of the most creative and artistic people I know, she has huge, beautiful dreams, she is willing to let God open the doors that she should walk through, she loves adventure, she sees the world in one of the most fun, unconventional ways and I love when she captures it on film because then I get to sample just a bit of it, she has this beauty about her, especially when she smiles, that just makes me think of God and how magnificent he is.

Some of my favorite memories: When she was a freshman in high school and I asked her what she would like to study and she looked at me and said "I want to know what God's will is for my life" and I almost fell over in shock because she was only 14, having her stand with me in my wedding, sitting at Margies when she came back from school and just listening to her and looking at pictures, sitting down with her after each missions trip and listening to the stories, stealing her away from school and going up to Estes Park, watching how the door opened for her to go to school out of the country instead of where we all thought she would go in Oregon, talking with her about things like lightning and doors!

AMANDA: I meet her when she was in 8th grade, now she is a senior in high school.

Things I love about her: I love how she genuinely cares about her friends and trys to speak truth in their lives even when she knows she will get a negative response, how she is stubborn, her confidence, how she stays committed to things and finishes them out well, how she is so willing to grow, her heart for ministry, how she can make me laugh harder than almost anyone.

Some of my favorite memories: Being on the airplane with her on our way to Czech in 06...SO FUNNY!, being in the Frankfort Airport with her last year when she lost her passport and had to get the mug shot for her temp, moving the bed from my mom's to my house and having her tell her mom she got mugged, sitting at Panera, going to the Yellow House Starbucks during Junior High retreat, all of the looks that we give each other that say "HELP ME!", how she packs her clothes in a TUB, reading books to her and the other girls at retreat, going up to the cabin with Her, her mom, and Al and just talking, talking about Amanda-trees at cold stone, watching her transform from my junior high student to being like my little sister.

KAITI: We first met when she was in Junior High, really started to get to know each other when she was a junior in high school, now she is a Senior.

Things I love about her: I love how she embraces freedom, her writing, how her mind is always thinking about things, how she stands up for people, how she can be really quite or really crazy, how she is artistic even with her hair, how she can make friends, her emotions, how she won't give up her dream even when others seem to oppose it sometimes, how honest she is about her faith, how she makes you want to change things for the better.

Some of my favorite memories: When she first came to my house for a Bible study and how open she was with me about where she was at, teaching with her in Czech, going to get flowers and journals for each other, talking with her in the doorway at retreat, talking about writing with her, all or our little talks usually in my kitchen or in the entry way of my house after everyone has left, watching her motivate so many other students, sitting together watching Ondra accept Christ.

KERITH: I have known Kerith since she was a very little girl, like an infant, started really working with her when she was in 8th grade, and now she is a senior in high school.

Things I love about her: I love how original she is, she enjoys having fun, her and her brother are so funny together, how honest she can be with me at times, how she loves music, how involved she is with school, that she is a goofy girl that makes me laugh, that she has a really tender heart, how she struggles to make her faith her own, how she hates seeing her friends make stupid choices, how she loves hanging out with her little sister, her leadership.

Some of my favorite memories: Watching her play with the geese while I took Amanda and Tanner's pictures, sitting with her at Ketring Park eating McDonalds with her when she "hated me" (but she really didn't hate me), going to Czech with her and taking that goofy picture with her and Amanda in the airport (which I still have in my study), watching her when she was in 8th grade wear the craziest clothes ever, sitting with Amanda and Kristina at her homecoming game and cheering for her, praying for her last year at her house when she was sick, going to her 16th birthday party and watching home videos, having her and Amanda call me at like 2 in the morning and going over and talking with them.

Creation: THE MESSY ROOM

2008-01-04T10:13:00.000-08:00

If God allows me to have children, there are some very specific things that I want to teach them: such as...

1. That God loves them dearly
2. That creation should be taken care of since it reveals who God is
3. That they should follow their dreams no matter what that looks like and how crazy it may seem to others
4. That it is so much fun to play outside
5. That learning can be so amazingly fun

And there are so many more things that I want them to know. But one of the top things that I want my children to understand is how amazing it is to create and be creative. From things like tying a fishing fly to taking a photograph to coloring a page to singing a random made-up song, it is such an awesome thing to be creative and to create.

Aaron and I both have a great passion for this. And we both create in different ways. For example: Aaron loves to paint pictures, to tie flies, to sew, to build things...and all of his things he does with great detail and precision. I on the other hand love to paint, scrapbook, take pictures, create the right lighting for different rooms, and write, all of which I do usually pretty abstractly.

But both of us LOVE to create and be creative. For this reason alone we have what we call the MESSY ROOM down in our basement. In it we have a multicolored rug, painted cabnets, a painted desk, and a painted dresser, we have a wall that you can write on with chalk, we have an art easel, pens, paper, multiple colors of glue, markers, and so much more. One wall currently is just green, but I would love to have sombody paint a mural on it of the Garden of Eden (talk about ultimate creation). The pictures here are of the room and they are dated. Things have changed, the room is incomplete, (and it is messy...which is great) but I hope that truly the room will never be finished. I want it to always change, grow, hold different types of creation and beauty. I HOPE and PRAY that my children will be able to embrace their imagination and create. In fact, I would love to see everyone embrace their creative side. What a beautiful thing it would be to see students, children, adults, anyone who wants to come and use our messy room and CREATE!

My Personality DNA

2008-01-03T07:24:00.000-08:00

I found this cool website called "personal DNA" and it is pretty fun to take and see what comes out of it. It is something like a DISC test where you find out more and more about yourself. It could be a great tool to use for a staff or even for a family. Here is what it said about me...

Benevolent Creator

What does any of this mean? Well let me break it down just a bit. (By Colors Left to Right)

Red: Very High Confidence
Light Purple: Very High Extroversion
Yellow: Very High Femininity
Sea Green: Very High Openness
Black: Slightly High Attention to Style
Royal Blue: Slightly High Trust
Lime Green: Very Aesthetic
Light Blue: Slightly High Spontaneity
Brown: Imaginative
Dark Purple: Slightly Low Authoritarianism
Dark Pink: Slightly High Empathy
Green: Average Agency
Dark Blue: Low Masculinity

So, if you are ever wondering who I am...here you have me in a box full of color. And while I would rather it be swirls or something more beautiful and less constrained then a box, It is still colorful and that makes it okay with me!

Years go by...

2008-01-02T09:55:00.000-08:00

I feel a bit cliche right now as I am thinking about the beginning of a new year and what that means. I feel unoriginal. HOWEVER, that is what is on my mind so take it or leave it...here are my thoughts.

25 years and 283 days ago-I was born

18 years and 195 days ago-I accepted Christ into my heart

14 years and 212 days ago- I was baptised

11 years and 323 days ago- My parents got divorced

8 years and 25 days ago- I started working with the junior high youth group at my church and have worked with students ever since

7 years and 212 days ago-My grandmother, Claretta Christensen, passed away after 60 1/2 years of marriage to my grandfather, 4 children, 14 grandchildren (not including in-laws), and 6 great grandchildren...now there are even more

6 years and 193 days ago-I took my first trip to the Czech Republic

5 years and 15 days ago- I graduated from the University of Northern Colorado and got to sit next to one of my absolute best friends and played tick tack toe as some boring guys spoke about who knows what

1 year and 360 days ago- I got married to the most amazing man I have ever known

1 year and 132 days ago- I graduated from Denver Seminary with my Masters Degree

1 day ago-I spent the day with my mom and my husband playing games, eating crab legs and artichokes, and celebrating that there is another year to look forward too!

And looking forward...

In 5 months- my Senior High seniors will be graduating and I will have to say goodbye to three of the most amazing girls I have ever worked with. There is only one other that compares and she is in school out of the country. I will miss these ladies.

In 8 months- one of my best guy friends will be getting married to the girl who is absolutely perfect for him

In 1 year and 4 months- I will have been at my current job for a full two years and will get three weeks of vacation...YIPPIEE

In 2 years- Aaron and I will hopefully be starting a family and have probably a very insane, but wonderful childIn 3 years and 7 months-we will have every last penny of every last loan paid off!!! Financial Freedom will be so great...maybe we could even be thinking about going to Czech for a few years at that point!

In 8 years and 5 days- Aaron and I will have been married for 10 years.

and the days and years roll by each holding beautiful and wonderful things and scary and hard things, and each second of all of it, God knows what he is doing. So beautiful!

Czech and it's beauty part 2...in pictures

2007-12-18T08:34:00.001-08:00

Well, I am still trying to figure out if God is calling me back to Czech again this summer. I am not sure if it is even an option with my work, but it is something that is so dear to me. The thought of not being able to see students like Pavla, Adela, Ondra, Jana, Hani, and so many of the others just makes my heart break. In fact, it makes me think of a song I used to sing..."where or where has my little dog gone, oh where oh where can he be?"...Okay so it doesn't really make me think of that song, but that song DID randomly pop into my head, and I do feel like I have lost something, so I wanted to share it with everyone! BUT, maybe it makes me think of something more like the game "Duck, Duck, Goose" and I am wondering if I am going to be the goose that gets to go and "run around" or the duck that sits and watches everyone else go. ANYWAY...while I am still thinking and praying about this trip, I thought I could share some of my most favorite pictures that I took of Czech with you all.

Czech and all it's beauty...

2007-12-17T14:33:00.000-08:00

As I sit here in Colorado, thinking about the fact that Aaron has handed out Czech trip application, and having heard just recently from so many of my friends in Czech, it makes me think about how much I love that country, the people, the scenery, and the way God is moving over there. Everything in my body wants to go back so badly. If I could live half of my life there and half of my life here, I would do so. And in fact, I feel like I already do that in a way. My home and my heart are split between the two countries, the families I have here and the families I have in Czech are both so dear to me. In fact, when I got married, I was so nervous to have Aaron meet my friends in Czech because they mean so much to me. It felt like I was introducing him to my parents or something. And they all loved him and he loved them!!!

But as I sit here thinking and praying about if God is wanting me to go back again this next summer, I want to reflect on some of my most favorite times in Prague and in Czech.

My Top List: (in no specific order...they are all top)

1. Returning my second year and feeling like I was "back home"

2. Staying with the Lipus family and eating European cheese and drinking Czech beer

3. Hearing Jumper tell me "The cool thing about you is that I can tell you are not here just to do a 'mission trip thing' and check it off some list. You actually love the people and care about it here and that's awesome"

4. The moment when the Czechs stopped calling me Seleny Americanka (Crazy Amercian Girl) and started

calling me Seleny Ceska (Crazy Czech girl)

5. Sitting in the pub with Cilco and Georgey

6. Talking with Osvald about Heaven

7. Singing with Adela and having her in my english class

8. Hiking and talking with Radek and Boris

9. Going to a Czech hockey game with Cilco

10. Watching Ondra accept Christ

11. Seeing Daniel accept Christ and then watching him lead the next year

12. Introduing Aaron to everyone, specifically Jumper and Osvald

13. Staying in Cesky Tesin with Jumper and his family

14. Going to a concert put on my Jumper and then catching a train with Lukas, Darius, and Petr at about 2 in the morning

15. Going to a cajovna

16. Sitting on the trains watching people or going past sunflower fields

17. Having Cilco request "It's a Beautiful Day" by U2 for me on the radio and all the sudden hearing the announcer say "Americanka Cheryl" over the radio and then having the song played!

18. Listening to Dave or Nate or any of the other missionaries talk about what God is doing.

19. Eating Hot Raspberries with Lenka

20. Spending New Years Eve in Brno...CRAZY

21. Having discussions with my class from 2006 where I was also able to have Georgey as my translator.

22. Getting coffee with Monica

23. Hot Chocolate in Malenovice
24. The blueberry fight I had with Jumper, Lucka, and Tomas

25. THE FOOD

26. Watching the American students grow

27. Going on the morning walks with Cindy

28. Talking with Pavla in the pub

29. Coming back again and again and again.
30. The friendships that have turned into family

Osvald, me, and Jumper after I introduced them to Aaron and we got to sit in a pub for a while and just chill.

My Class from 2006 (Georgey and I are in front)

At the top of Serak after the hike we do with the students!

Daniel back at camp as a leader!!!

Snow Days

2007-12-11T11:16:00.000-08:00

There is nothing like waking up in the morning and seeing that the ground is covered in fresh, beautiful, powery snow. It is such a soft and gentle reminder to slow down, remember that each day is new, and that each moment we can make a fresh start, fresh tracks in life.

And I don't feel like there is anything right now that I want to cover up or need a fresh start with in the sense of something bad needs to be redeemed specifically, but even the idea that every day I get the choice to love Aaron more, to have more of a servant heart at work, to take a new picture that was never taken before...it is like a blank canvas waiting to be painted. Oh the idea of it is wonderful.

I remember as a kid when it would snow my brother and I took simple spray bottles and filled them up with colored water. We had bottles for red, yellow, and blue, and then sometimes we would get creative and make colors like teal, violet, or amber. We would take all these bottles, turn the spray setting to spout instead of spray and we would decorate the snow. While all the other yards were perfectly white, we would take our spray bottles and make our yard...well stand out to say the least. And the beautiful thing about it was that it would either melt or it would be covered by fresh snow every time. We were able to create master piece after master piece. Each one new and unique. Every time it snowed we had a fresh start, a blank canvas. And while sometimes our art was a little less desirable, sometimes it was absolutely beautiful.

At least for me, I believe that snow is meant to remind me to live completely each day, and let go each night. As it even says in Scripture...

Matthew 6
33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

May every day be a "snow day" where we embrace the kingdom and not worry about what will happen tomorrow until tomorrow becomes a new snow day.

Erasers: I WANT ONE

2007-11-30T11:01:00.000-08:00

I love, and have loved for a long time, a good solid eraser. Seriously, what awful thing it is to be writing with a pencil, then you mess up, you turn the pencil around, and the eraser is hard and crusty, or even worse, it is flesh with the metal part and scrapes if you use it. AWFUL I tell you. I like erasers, I like to be able to just go over the things that I don't want and get rid of them. Any mistake, and thought, any reality...POOF....gone! What a great feeling that is. If only that could happen in real life when I make a mistake. Let's just erase that and pretend it didn't happen. However, God didn't make us with erasers attached, sadly. But what I find interesting is that HE is our eraser. It is through Christ that we can have our mistakes and screw-ups erased. What a beautiful thing. And he never wears down, you never need to get a new one.

And truly, to run with the analogy, if we let him be the one to write our story, we don't even need erasers. How crazy is it that Jesus is our eraser, our lead, our writing utensil, and yet, the only reason that there is an eraser attached is so that he can take away the mistakes when we try to write out how we want things to be. He takes away our mistakes when we try to mess up his story.

Now as a writer, I can't imagine how I would feel if I was trying to write this amazing story and someone kept coming in and trying to take control and change it. I can see my eraser wearing out very quickly, much like my patience and grace. But God lovingly erases and waits for us to ask him to be our author again. Man, what a hard thing to comprehend.

But thank you God for ERASERS!!!

MISSIONARIES and MISSIONS

2007-11-29T08:11:00.000-08:00

Things I have learned from missionaries and missions organizations:

1. The amount of courage and trust it takes to leave everything behind is absolutely a beautiful and amazing thing. If only I can let go of the possessions, that aren't even mine to begin with, in the same way that missionaries do I think I would worry a lot less and be more focused on what God is asking me to do.

2. It is a great thing to be able to minister with your husband. I have thought about this a little bit now, and truly, what a blessing it would be to be able to be my husbands side kick (like Batman and Robin...only maybe Robin would be changed to a female...so like Cyclopes and Jean Grey) and to also get paid for being his side kick so I didn't feel like I had to make the choice sometimes between working to pay the bills and working in the same ministry field as my husband. And I would have to say this is especially true for Aaron and I where we have the same passions and same education...what a blessing it would be to work in the same field and both get paid so that our bills were covered!

3. Missionaries sometimes are really brave to eat some of the stuff that they do!

4. I love the world perspective that many of the missionaries I know have. There is just something great about seeing how God is moving in other parts of the world. Even if I am not passionate personally about going to a certain place, it is still amazing to see how God uses people and works.

5. What a great thing many missions organization do when they focus on actually doing "Missionary Care". I wonder why so many churches haven't followed in the footsteps of some of these missions organizations and really set up a team to do Pastoral Care. Speaking as someone who was a Junior High Director for 3 years and then as someone whose husband is now a youth pastor, I think Pastoral Care is a great need.

6. Follow-up is something that is so needed for so many different areas in life, not just after a mission experiance but after so many life experiances. What a great thing it is that Missions organization understand the importance of follow up and process time. Why can't we put more of an importance on process time for all big events in our lives? I think that would be such a helpful thing. Maybe not always practical, but definately helpful.

7. I envy the travelling that many missionaries get to do! I love to TRAVEL!

8. If you are a missionary, you pretty much HAVE to have a passion for what you do. When you are being supported, away from your family, living in a foreign environment, not getting the praise (because you are giving it all to God), there can only be a few things that keep you in your job...Passion, Calling, and a Love for the Lord. Yet, when you live your life based off those things, focused on those things, and because of those things, there is this fulfillment that is undescribeable. What a beautiful thing it would be if everyone was living for a Passion, a Call, and a Love for who God is and what he is doing.

9. Many missionaries, especially younger ones, are REALLY great photographers.

10. The passion for people and for Christ in the lives of many of the missionaries I know is one of the most beautiful and amazing things. I think that almost every missionary could have a very interesting book written about them to tell their story. Talk about having a real adventure.

Here are some of the missionaries that I love and admire (which if any one is looking for some where to spend their money or time, I am sure they would love your support and prayers!)

Josiah Venture Missionaries:

Daniel Johnson: We grew up together. He is a few years younger than me, just got married, and is going to be going back to Czech with his wife Kim in a few months. He runs the Youth Ministry at a Church in Orlava, Czech Republic. This guy has an amazing heart to see the church youth ministry grow. He also loves basketball, has two crazy younger brothers, and has some pretty funny stories if you ever get to sit down and talk with him. Ask him specifically what he means when he says he has a "sweater on his teeth".

Nate Hughes: This guy is a RIOT! Nate currently does a whole bunch of stuff, some of which includes training teams from the States that are in Czech to run English Camps. Then him along with two others on his team travel from camp to camp to camp to camp to camp...(Seriously it is insane how much he has to bump around during the summer). Nate has a freedom in Christ that I hope continues to ALWAYS be contagious. He appreciates art and creativity and good things in life!

THE PATTY'S: This is a family that has one amazing stroy. Dave grew up in what is also my home church. Dave was obedient and God grew an amazing ministry through him...which is now what is called Josiah Venture. Dave and Connie have moved their family and embraced the Czech culture with arms wide open. I actually knowabout them more because Dave's sister and parents go to our church and I mentor his niece, but I also enjoy being able to chat with him quickly whenever they are in Colorado or when I am in Czech.

There are many, many more like Matt and Hailey Kingsley who work for Greater European Mission, Josh and Jen Hamilton who work for IDRAHAJE, Weston and Heather Tripp who work for Campus Crusade, The Guidarians who work in Papua New Guinea and the many who work for OMF International. The list could go on and on and on. But what a great example and blessing these people are.

Ahhhh

2007-11-28T10:08:00.001-08:00

Ahhhh moments:

1. waking up to a fresh snow
2. Drinking a good, hot cup of coffee or Chai
3. Staying up late talking with friends
4. Watching Aaron talk with guys like Nate about comic books and stuff I can't hold a conversation with him about!
5. Stepping off the plane in Prague
6. Listening to Norah Jones while driving in the mountains
7. Eating at great mom and pop resturants like Jans in Buena Vista
8. Being behind the lens of a camera
9. Sitting at a pub with Georgey, Cilco, and Aaron
10. Laying on my white couch while it is raining and the french doors are open
11. Painting in my messy room
12. Writing ANYTHING
13. watching a student "get it"
14. Putting on warm socks on a cold winter day
15. Laying in the Hammock on a cool summer evening
16. Gardening with my husband
17. Picking grapes off our grape vine and eating them
18. Playing old school NES and eating corn dogs
19. Going on a long walk around the neighborhood
20. Giving gifts to people who I know will enjoy them
21. Investing in lives of leadership and letting them know how grateful I am for them
22. Watching Jadon and Jami play
23. Eating Swedish Meatballs and opening Christmas presents
24. Laying in bed and talking with my husband about his day
25. Reading something in the Bible and having it hit me in a whole new way

AHHH Pictures

In the Czech Republic under that Charles Bridge

In South Carolina's hills while it was drizzling

In North Carolina after a major rain storm

In Budapest on a Dinner/Boat Cruise

In the Czech Republic on a hike with Valdek, Kuba, and Marta

In Hawaii watcing the sunset and looking for the "green flash"

(Which we say, but it isn't really a flash)

Thanks to Laura for these two pictures!!! Man what I would give to live in Hawaii during moments like these. I am jealous of her!

A Sunset Laura saw on Thanksgiving

The same day!

Perspective

2007-11-15T14:59:00.000-08:00

Perspective.

Main Entry: 2perspective
Function: noun
Etymology:
Middle French, probably modification of Old Italian prospettiva, from prospetto view, prospect, from Latin prospectus — more at prospect
Date:
1563
1 a: the technique or process of representing on a plane or curved surface the spatial relation of objects as they might appear to the eye; specifically : representation in a drawing or painting of parallel lines as converging in order to give the illusion of depth and distance b: a picture in perspective

2 a: the interrelation in which a subject or its parts are mentally viewed ; also : point of view b: the capacity to view things in their true relations or relative importance

3 a: a visible scene; especially : one giving a distinctive impression of distance : vista b: a mental view or prospect

4: the appearance to the eye of objects in respect to their relative distance and positions
— per·spec·tiv·al \pər-ˈspek-ti-vəl, ˌpər-(ˌ)spek-ˈtī-vəl\ adjective

What is perspective? What does it mean to view things in their true relations or relative importance? I want my perspective to be something so much greater than it is. Today, my perspective looked like this:

When really my perspective needs to be this:

Why do we so often forget what we need to focus on? Today I was talking with one of my mentors and kept chatting in circles about how much I am struggling and how hard life is and how I need a better perspective, more discernment, more friends...blah blah blah. But then as I thought about our time together, I realized, that really I need to change my focus. I want a better perspective , but I still want it to be focused on me. I need to view things in their true relations and really gain a better, more clear understanding of who I am and who God is. All I have seen is the rain, the struggles, the trials when really I need to see the sun rays, the mercy, the grace. Who am I to ask for so many gifts and for all the answers? Who am I to expect things from God and have the opinion that he owes me because I have been obedient? Romans 6:13 says "Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness." Is not life enough reason for me to obey? Is not his sacrifice reason enough for me to be greatful? Woe to me. Woe to me. I am a greedy, selfish child who throws a tantrum at the outcome that is not my own instead of accepting where God has me and asking him to give me his strength and do his will whatever that may be. May I have a perspective like Paul. May I understand the gift that I have been given and stand firm that it is enough for me!

Anticipation

2007-10-23T07:36:00.000-07:00

Have you ever felt like you knew you were supposed to be doing something great with your life, but you didn't know when the greatness was going to come upon you? Oh the dreams I have. Oh these fantastic, facinating dreams that I have to do so many awesome things. As I laid in bed last night I was thinking about all of the things that I want to do, want to pursue, want to study, or just want to have as a dream job. Here is my list...

1. Work for a travel magazine and explore the world
2. Go back to school for photography
3. Go back to school for graphic design
4. Write a book
5. Work with the really affluent students and help them understand God's real love for them
6. Live in Czech for a few years
7. Be a mom
8. Learn to sail and take a trip up one of the American coasts
9. Go on a cruise to Alaska

So then the questions I pose...does greatness come upon us? Do we have to live for greatness? Do the dreams we want just come true or do we have to chase them? And I guess the real one I think very often is, will I recognize it when I am living in it?

I think so many times that I am focused on so many other things that I am unable to see what amazing things I have right in front of me and the greatness that God has given me in my life. Granted, right now my job is marginal, and sometimes rather boring. And if I focus on that I am unable to see that when I am not at work I am able to write, to paint, to work with students, to teach students, to do photography, and I may even be able to dabble in some graphic design and photography classes. And my work will also help Aaron and I to buy a Kayak at some point and also will allow us to get rid of debt in case we do want to go to Czech for a little while. So the question is, IS THIS THE GREATNESS I YEARN? And I just can't see it because my perspective is on the wrong thing? I work for an organization that works with countries in East Asia, my husband works for a church that goes to Czech and Ethiopia and the Ukraine. All of which I would be able to travel and not just be at some snooty resort, but I can actually work with people and love on people, which is really what it is about.

And while I would love a job that was maybe a bit different, this one is allowing me the energy to do so many extra things. And it would be nice to have it part time, but once again I am able to get money to do the things I love. It is interesting to me to think about all of these things that I desire to do, and when I get the right perspective, I think I am living in the dreams, living in the greatness, and I just don't allow myself to see it or embrace it. It's a pitty and a shame when I forget how to see the world and see my life because it makes all the difference in living out an ordinary life and a great life!

Here are some GREAT LIFE MOMENTS...

This is a picture of some surf boards in Hawaii

These are some students in the Czech Republic at an English camp in 2006

This is a photograph I was able to take when I was in North Carolina. It makes me think of childhood!

This is my husband and I being the toughest snowshoers anyone has ever seen!

2007-09-21T10:27:00.000-07:00

As I walked around the mountains streets with some of my dearest friends, we talked about community, about what it would look like to live with other believers in one place and live life together. THIS...this is what I think it would look like. Or what God would want it to look like. A little bit messy, beautiful, unique, distinct, together, GLORIOUS! I have been thinking about what community really truly means. I don't think it means being in a bible study, I don't think it means having coffee, I don't think it means asking how one another is doing. I think that all of those things are a part, but I think it truly means living life with one another.

How many people TRULY live life together? How many people open themselves up and really let others in day to day life? Honestly I have had a few tastes of what community is...what this picture represents. And let me tell you it is a beautiful thing. Just like this building in Vienna that I saw, I believe that people would flock to real community. If there was pure, true community I would even think that you wouldn't even have to advertise for it like people do for these tourist attractions because it would be so important that words about it would be buzzing around. Love, fellowship, true living and giving and being.

For a church to have community I see people watching TV together, cooking together, doing a race for the cure together, engaging in life. I see bible studies, accountability, spiritual discipleship being a part of community only if life is involved in it. To just study because it is what is supposed to be done is to community what paying bills is to a marriage. They are important things, but only under the idea of loving others, caring about others, and LIVING with others.

What does it look like for the church to have community? Without programs or activities or any agenda, I would say it looks like this building. To me, this embodies community.

Surrender

2007-08-21T15:00:00.000-07:00

What does it mean to surrender? What does it mean to truly take up your cross? What does that look like? How can I truly follow what Christ has asked me to do? So many books, so many commentaries, so many opinions. But the small voice I hear in my head tells me that I am not to do anything except to really listen every day. Surrendering one day may look completely different another. I may have to surrender one thing one day and the next day it is fine. I guess that is the funny thing with surrendering and taking up your cross. It deals with the heart which changes. What really does this look like? Arms spread wide. Unable to move without the Father willing it first. Truly what it means to surrender is something do different that I think we can even begin to understand. Maybe we are not fully meant to understand it. Surrendering to Christ cannot be put in a box. And the truth is, if Christ were to say, "Cheryl, this is what it looks like to surrender to me" I would probably do that one thing and nothing else. But it isn't just one thing. It is a lifestyle. And that means that I am to live like this picture. To live with my arms open wide under the protection of the Father and listen intently.

Surrender, sometimes it means swallowing my pride. Sometimes it means going to the mountains and taking pictures even when someone is demanding my time. Sometimes surrender looks like painting a picture instead of napping, and sometimes it looks like napping instead of doing. It takes many different forms, but I guess it is always in-line with the Cross.