Inspirational

I have a friend who I would use one word for: Inspirational.

And I get to see her this weekend. She lives far away, so this is a special treat that is my birthday gift to me!

I cannot even put into words what she is doing in Nicaragua, so I won't really try so much. I will just post a few sentences and link to her amazing adventures in saving the world...well, at least doing what she can in her corner of it.

She is involved in a sustainable development that employs and trains local community members in techniques for sustainable building that has completely transformed the community. Check it out HERE.

She regularly works with a school for special needs children. Check it out HERE.

She regularly helps her friends who have started an organization that runs a transition house for teenage orphans. Check it out HERE.

She is on the board of the volunteer firefighter program. Check it out HERE.

Too much to take in? Just one more, I promise. She is running the music festival this upcoming Monday, which is going to also benefit the community by hopefully generating the funds to create a self-sustainable micro-lending program for locals to start small businesses.

Wow. That is all I have. Well, all I have for now. I get to go work, then pack to get ready. As with any good music festival, I need to prepare some costumes!

Go Figure

Marriage is so completely baffling to me.

One day, we absolutely cannot stand to be in the same house. Granted, my house is small. But not sure that is the problem. I mean, I'm sure we'd have those moments even if we bought a larger home. The 'if only we had...' syndrome I'm sure could be another post in itself, so I'll save that one.

But then the next day (or shortly after), I am absolutely smitten with my husband. Loving him to death, he can do no wrong, can't wait to be home from work to see him, that sort of thing.

And sometimes, you find that spot in between that is just best described as comfortable. I think we have jumped from those three options quite a bit in this first year actually. It's definitely not easy, but I think it is worth it.

And today we have been married for exactly 10 months. Almost a year. Sounds short, and feels...well...feels long in some ways and like it flew by in others.

And speaking of flying...wish he wasn't flying to another state right now with weather delays & being far, far, away from here...here's to many more months and years and decades of 'us'.

Most Inspirational

I’d say that it changed my life, but I haven’t done anything yet to back up that fact. So it will have to suffice to say that it has changed my perspective on life.

http://www.threecupsoftea.com/Intro.php

You should definitely read it yourself because any commentary I write will not do it justice. It will give you a new perspective on education, gender roles, poverty, conflict, and war.

Whoa, that just made it sound depressing. It's not.

Let me rephrase. It will give you hope in humanity. It makes peace seem like a reality instead of an ideal. It is only depressing that governments around the world don't seem to embrace this concept as effectively as individuals like the author. Maybe it helps that I heard him speak the other evening, but I still think the book will speak for itself.

So, please. Go read. If not for you, for the children around the world that don’t have the opportunity to even learn to.

Someday can be right now

Right now, I'm thankful for:

• Free flights
• Great friends to share things with
• The heart of June, a very special lady
• Summer weather
• The ability to dream
• Friday is one day closer than yesterday
• Grace

Right now, I'm praying for:

• Safe travels
• Financing for our mission trip
• OK, financing in general
• The sun to peak out today
• My hubby to find his wallet
• To see the big picture
• An attitude of thankfulness, joy, and peace

What about you?