Come Fly With Me

I really need to fly away...just for awhile

On Towards Africa

Burkina Faso is a landlocked country in West Africa. It holds the unfortunate title as the third poorest country in the world. I find this completely amazing considering all of the desitute places on this planet, but here is where my parents have been called time and time again. I have not had the privilege of visiting yet, but I know my time will come.

This week my parents left to lead a team along with a few doctors to do a medical outreach in the capitol of Ougadougou and some surrounding villages. They will try to provide some very basic medical care in hopes of making some inroads for a trip in the future that will be on a larger scale. To look at the needs of countries like this is overwhelming. Attempts to bring some sort of aid and hope almost seem like trying to drain the ocean with a bucket. In spite of the circumstances we the body of Christ are called to this, to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, reach out to the hurting both spiritually and physically. I have a bad habit of getting caught up in myself and my needs, but to know Christ is to live a life opposite to human nature. It is to be selfless to give even when we feel spent. Today I must repent once again for my self absorption and short sightedness. It may be a small bucket, but it is my bucket and I am willing to be used to do my part here until one day I can reach across that ocean.

Nothing New

Solomon states in Ecclesiastes
That which has been is that which will be, And that which has been done is that which will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun.

Everywhere you look, everywhere you go people are always looking for the newest sound, the latest trend, or change they can believe in. I read countless blogs and realize similar threads of life that weave through my writings as well as others. We all crave the chance to put our spin on the world as we see it. It may be helpful to ponder this statement. There is really nothing new, if it is said now it was said then. Nations will rise and nations will fall just like the tides of the ocean. Unknown people will rise and achieve great feats and great people will fall and become unknown.

It is with this I realize my writings are not here to create something new or break out with the latest and greatest ideas. It is all simple really, there is only one constant that can turn the mundane into something fresh with purpose. In the mean time as I keep my eye on the prize, to author and finisher of my faith, I'd like to share the journey with you dear reader. All these things that make us different lead us to the point that we are all in the end very much the same.

Jillian,you're killing me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My birthday has come and gone. Another year, another day that I have been blessed to walk this earth.
This years present to myself is 6 pounds of weight loss. It may not sound like much, but after 14 days of sweat and tears coupled with everyday trials and tribulations I have managed to bring the number on the scale down. Now that is progress! I have to say I love Jillian...she has motivated me in no way anyone could. She doesn't pretend it's easy or even fun at times, but she pushes you to reach heights you never thought you could. I started a three level system. Just the first level made me feel like I would die, but slowly I got more adept and it wasn't too painful. I finally summoned the courage to hit level two Friday. Whoa did it kick my butt. I thought the throbbing muscle pains from the early workouts were gone, but no such luck. I have felt muscles I didn't even know I had. What makes me even happier than the weight loss is the strength I feel. Instead of losing the weight in muscle mass and fat through some unhealthy fad diet, I can feel my body adapting and growing stronger. It is amazing how changing one facet of your life can spill into every other corner. I feel more confident because I know just because things are uncomfortable doesn't mean I give up, it means I press in harder and push through.
Hmmmm I think there could be a spiritual lesson in there somewhere. God is even trying to talk to me in my workouts. Anyway I just wanted to share my progress and excitement. I don't like to talk too much about it because there are always ups and downs. Never the less I just want to provide some encouragement to anyone out there who finds themselves falling in and out of dieting, exercise, etc. There is hope just keep pressing on!

Drowning

At work the new year brings with it the challenge of tying up all of the loose ends from the old year. Yesterday I started the feat of moving the contents of my filing cabinets into boxes for storage. I was so proud of myself. I had almost completed the project and ran short just a few boxes. No big deal, I could get those in by tomorrow.

Surprise! My boss walked in with a mile high stack of not just last years invoices, but some 2007 paper work that someone forgot to pass along to me. Nice, now I get to spend the whole day tomorrow locked away in the hot file room going through boxes and catching up. I think I may just build a fort with my boxes and hide out the rest of the day.

Friends

Good friends are hard to come by these days. Chris and I have often pondered the passing of people in and out of our lives. Sometimes it can be quite lonely. So few people have truly understood us, our lives, and our call. I feel sometimes we must take the less beaten path. It is hard and difficult. Connection and understanding is something everyone longs for, but sometimes we must be satisfied to just be.

Birthdays All Around

Today kicks off a month of birthdays. Four people in my immediete family have birthdays this month including me. Melody gets us started today. She is turning eighteen. Happy brithday Melody welcome to adulthood! Where did the time go? It's really strange to think that it has been seven years since I turned eighteen. My birthday comes next and then my mom's is two days later. My dad rounds it out with a birthday falling near the end of the month. We will have our fair share of cake and happy birthday tunage to carry us till July when my brother's birthday falls.

I've always found it a bit rough having a birthday that falls in January. I know all you Christmas babies are shaking your heads right now. I don't know what it's like to receive birthday presents wrapped in Santa Clause wrapping paper, but at least your birthdays fall when everyone is in a cheery,holiday mood. I get the beginning of the year when everyone is hitting reality with a resounding thud. Credit card bills start showing up from those holiday purchases, and most people are gloomy because now that Christmas is over they long for warm summer days. I don't necessarily mind that my family and I share such close birthdays, but it can be a bit hard on the pocketbook with so many dinners and presents. You want everyone's day to be extra special, but at the same time you have to be realistic. It must be tough being a septuplet.

Here's to a month full of birthdays. With our combined ages we could probably really light a cake on fire!!! Happy birthday family, sharing a January birthday is not always easy, but I love you just the same.