Haiti Bound!!

The time has finally come! Tomorrow morning I will be on a plane, heading to West Palm Beach, Florida before hoping a plane to Pignon, Haiti. I am thoroughly excited for the opportunity that lies ahead of me and the rest of my mission group.

Around Christmas time, my grandpa came to me with the idea to serve in Haiti with a group from his church. It didn't take long for me to realize how great of an opportunity this is, so I latched on to the idea with little hesitation. Our group is in charge of constructing desks for one of the local schools. Along with this, we hope to reach out to the people, learning about their culture and lifestyle. Honestly, I'm not sure what to expect, but I am going into this opportunity with an open mind and open heart. I am ready to learn and love freely. 

People have asked me if I am nervous or apprehensive about the trip, and I really am not.  I know I am in the hands of good people. I know that my heart is in the right place. I am nothing but excited for this adventure. Now, hopefully I can sleep tonight! 

Programming note: I will be unable to blog while I'm gone (relax, don't cry). I will have access to a computer, but this will be rather limited. I will miss my blogging buddies. I cannot wait to share this experience when I'm back! Take care!

She Runs

I saw this commercial yesterday, and I really like it. I just wanted to share it, but check back later because I have more to share today!

T-t-t-uesday :-)

The Universal Language

As you all know, I am going to be leaving for Haiti in a few days. During one of our meetings, they gave us a some different words in phrases common in Haiti. Obviously, I'm not very at all familiar with Haitian Creole, so I plan on just smiling a lot. Isn't a huge grin part of the universal language? 

What better way to kick off a motivating Monday that with a few thoughts on smiling.... Enjoy! :-)

Bahaha!

Marilyn knows best.

...because there always is a reason.

:-)

Hope everyone's day is going wonderful!

The Missing Passport

It has been a busy day for this banana and her family. I planned to come home yesterday to spend some time with my family before my trip to Haiti (my flight is Wednesday morning). Today started off pretty normal. I was feeling great after a batch of applesauce pancakes and a refreshing run outside. Hard to believe the beautiful weather in February!

I was sorting through a few papers when my mom asked if I had my passport. We soon realized that there was a misunderstanding, and my passport was no where to be found. After freaking out a little, yelling, and a few tears, my parents and I started to rummage through papers, searching anywhere and everywhere we could think of. The next step was to drive back to my house to dig through my bedroom. I won't take you through each antagonizing moment, but we didn't find it.

The ride back to my parents' house was pretty quiet. We were clearly nervous and unsure of what to do next. Mom and I talked about how this was a lesson that we would soon learn from. We were learning patience and responsibility. After arriving home, we continued to look in all the same places yet again. You could cut the tension with a knife. Finally, I decided to lay down and pray.

I talked to God. I realized that I had lost sight of why I was called to Haiti. I knew that God has placed me on this path to be a light to those I meet. I will be able to spend time with my Grandpa as we embrace the adventures of another culture. Losing my passport was a way to humble myself. After a few more tears and prayers, I realized I needed to go outside and get some fresh air. I walked to my car, thinking I would search under the seats, knowing my dad had already. I sorted through my CDs, and there it was... my passport.

I ran inside my house, shaking and crying. My mom was there to greet me with a huge hug. God had answered my prayers, and we all learned along the way. Never in my life have I been so touched by a "God thing." I am incredibly blessed, excited, and anxious for my adventure. God truly has a plan for me. What an awesome gift I have to look forward to.

Call Me Creepy

The other day I was at work, sitting by the bar, listening to the conversation of two men. Before you go jumping to conclusions, they were at least ten bar stools apart from each other, and clearly they had never met previously; therefore, I wasn't being too creepy. Plus, they were talking about golf courses in Iowa, so it wasn't like the conversation was private.

I found myself listening, nodding my head, and making eye contact with them as they spoke. Now you can call me creepy. Once I realized what I was doing, I started to act busy by "cleaning" various items behind the bar. I really wanted to contribute to the conversation, but I'm pretty sure they would not have appreciated my input on the 2005 9-hole course of the year that I am familiar with.

Then just yesterday, I was substitute teaching and a student was pulled out in the hall by the principal to be scolded for one reason or another. The class was small, and one of other students stood up to listen in on what was going on, so she stuck her ear out the door. The worst part is, I kind of wanted to know. I guess that just means I'm human, right?

Why are we so interested in the conversations we are not a part of? We strive on the drama of others, hoping that it is "worse" than ours, right? It's not like I sit right next to someone who is whispering about the latest gossip, but if people are talking loud enough, they have to kind of expect it.

People really don't realize how loud they talk. I was with a few girlfriends the other night. We were gossiping and "catching up" on who knows what. I know that we were speaking loud enough for those around us to listen in, but I suppose that is the risk we take.

When I got the idea to write this blog, I didn't realize it would come across so kooky. Sorry, but I guess you can just call me creepy. Enjoy your Saturday..... And stay out of trouble ;-)

Why We Love Adele

Unless you have been living under a rock for the past few months, y’all should know that Adele is the British singing sensation that has taken America, no wait, the world, by storm. And in case you need a few reasons to love her, here they are:

Her confidence. People have made comments about her weight. She has responded by saying, "I've never wanted to look like models on the covers of magazines. I represent the majority of women, and I'm very proud of that." She is upfront and honest about who she is and what she stands for.

Her dirty mouth. Adele likes to swear, and she’s not afraid to show it. Of course, I love this. After undergoing throat surgery, she was ordered not to talk. She was unable to sing and speak, but she was most upset about not being able to swear. Man, I love her.

Her make-up. I love her smoky eyes. I have tried time and time again to achieve this look, but it always seems to end up looking the same. Ugh, Adele, I need some lessons.

Her words. Adele openly sings about losing the love of her life. Many people are able relate to the lyrics of her songs. Her willingness to share her feelings is admirable.

Her voice. Oh wow. If you need any reason at all to love her, just enjoy her performance at this year’s Grammy Awards. Love. Love. Love.

TGIF!!! 

Giggle Pants

How annoying is the person that calls you out for having a bad day? "Someone's wearing her crabby pants." In your mind, you want to strangle that person, but outside, you fake a smile. What if we got rid of our crabby pants for a while? What if we decided to slip on a pair of giggle pants instead?

Lately, I have found myself participating in some serious belly laughs. I've laughed until I cried, and it feels great! Laughter is more than just a good feeling. There are many health benefits that come along with finding humor in life. I read an article from Mayo Clinic. Knock yourselves out:

1. Stress reliever. It's not hard to believe that laughter can decrease your levels of stress. It cleans out and refreshes from the inside, out. It fires up your body and cools down the stress levels.

2. Soothes tension. Your muscles begin to relax as your start to giggle. It's like a free massage :-)

3. Stimulates organs. Laughter helps you breathe, increasing the flow of oxygen. It also enhances the performance of other organs, such as the lungs and heart.

4. Improves overall immune system and relieves pain. Laughing helps produce nature painkillers.

5. Increased personal satisfaction. Connecting to people can be much easier when laughing is present. It is also easier to deal with difficult situations with a sense of humor.

How about that? We all learned something new today. So, go ahead. Get your giggle on!