Compassion

Meet Anita. She's 6 years old and lives in India. She's the girl I just decided to sponsor through Compassion International. I've known about Compassion for a long time and thought that they are such a worthy cause, but have never made the sacrifice of a few of meals out a month to actually sponsor a child. The people who write two of the blogs that I read (Angie & Melissa) are currently in India on a Compassion bloggers trip. I've been reading their stories every day and am floored by the immense amount of need. Then, my friend Emily posted about the little girl that she decided to sponsor, and I could no longer supress the pull on my heart for these children. I may never go to India. I may never get to meet these children, but God has called us to care for the poor.

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. … Defend the rights of the poor and needy." — Proverbs 31:8-9

I've also been thinking a lot about what this looks like in my every day life. I want to do something to make a difference for the poor and needy here in Dallas as well. I feel the Lord calling me to step out of my comfort zone and get involved in the lives of the people in the community that God has placed me in right now. I've found a couple of organizations that I'd be interested in getting involved with, but I'd be curious to know if anyone knows of something they are really passionate about.

Soundtrack of my life

So, lately I seem to have the same songs that keep popping up on my iPod or in my head. Listening to the iPod on shuffle makes for some fun songs that I wouldn't normally listen to become ones that I want to listen to over and over again. Some songs I just can't seem to get enough of because of the lyrics, other just because they are catchy. But here are some of the random songs that are playing on repeat in my life right now:

1. Hymn - Brooke Fraser
2. Equally Skilled – Jon Foreman
3. We Could Run Away – Needtobreathe
4. You’re Beautiful – Phil Wickham
5. Hazy – Rosi Golan
6. Gravity – Sara Bareilles
7. Love Story – Taylor Swift
8. Waste Another Day – Brooke Fraser
9. Somewhere North – Caedmon’s Call
10. It’s Only Life – Kate Voegele
11. Collide – Addison Road
12. Loving You, Loving Me – Dave Barnes
13. None but Jesus – Hillsong United
14. Your Love is Strong – Jon Foreman

It's soooo big...

This post could also be titled Holy Cow, It's Crazy Huge, or just plain Oh My Gosh! These are all the things I kept saying while Julia and I walked around the Grand Canyon on Saturday. I knew it would be huge. I knew I couldn't really comprehend the size, but i just just had no idea how overwhelmingly huge it is!

I spent the weekend with Julia, and my birthday present from her was to visit the Grand Canyon. She knows it's been on my list of things to do for a long time! There are really no words to describe it and pictures don't do it justice, but here are some anyway! We also took the scenic route back to Phoenix through Sedona, and it was just beautiful! I loved the red rocks! The rest of the weekend we spent just hanging out. Dinner and a movie on Friday and church and laying by the pool on Sunday. It was a great weekend and fun to get to hang out with Jules for the first time in such a long time!

Hymn

I have always loved hymns. I grew up singing them in church. They seem so holy and reverent and above everything else I tend to love the words. There is no exception for the song named “Hymn” on Brooke Fraser’s Albertine album. I can’t get enough of the words. If you know me very well, you know that music just has a way of getting under my skin, but when there are words this powerful, I get swept away. I think I’ve listened to the song at least ten times today. The words – especially the last verse speak so much of what I long for my desire to be and leave me realizing where I’m missing the mark. I long for my only ambition, goal and vision to be to dwell in Christ. But I’m so off base. I find my heart chasing after things that aren’t Christ. I find my heart dwelling in some of those places. I’ve been singing this one and asking God to make the words true of my life – whatever the cost.

If to distant lands I scatter
If I sail to farthest seas
Would you find and firm and gather
'til I only dwell in Thee?

If I flee from greenest pastures
Would you leave to look for me?
Forfeit glory to come after
'Til I only dwell in Thee

If my heart has one ambition
If my soul one goal to seek
This my solitary vision
'til I only dwell in Thee
That I only dwell in Thee
'Til I only dwell in Thee

Memory Lane

My sweet friend Sarah did a little trip down memory lane for my birthday yesterday. It was so fun to look at some severly dated pictures of us and relive a little bit of college through her blog. Here's a little preview of what you'll see if you click on the link. A picture of us from the first week we met. Gotta love it!

Moist...ewww!

I HATE the word moist. Even typing it kind of makes me cringe. I recently happened up this blog post where someone else agrees! I realize that I am not the only one, but it's just kind of nice to see it in print! It is generally an avoidable word...until you start trying to describe really good cake or cupcakes, then there's just not much else that will work - sadly!

When my small group girls were in seventh grade, someone decided to tell them about my hatred for this word. I have yet to hear the end of it. They find ways to squeeze it in to normal conversation just to get under my skin. It is loads of fun (said with great saracasm). I’m not sure how, but I figure someday I’ll pay Spencer back for opening his big mouth.

Saturday night my hatred of the word grew just a little more. I’ve mentioned my friend Sarah and her sweet little girl Harper on here before. Both of them made the trek down to Dallas from Wylie for my birthday dinner on Saturday night. I’m not sure what the exact circumstances leading up this comment were, but Sarah proceeds to say, “I heard someone say that motherhood is a very moist experience, and it’s true.” GROSS! I will now never have children. Maybe that’s a little dramatic, but it did prove true throughout the evening between the slobber, the diapers, and the cup of water Harper spilled all down Sarah’s jeans. Ahhh motherhood.

If anyone has a good suggestion for a synonym please let me know!

Happy Tax Day

April 15th...a day that is generally dreaded among my kind (the accountants). And even though my dread has lessened since leaving the crazy world of public accounting, there's still a sigh of relief when it comes and goes. We mailed of all of our 4/15 returns yesterday...hooray!

Now on to the funny. My friend Erin posted this website on her blog today, and I found it too funny not to copy! I mean, who knew people made e-cards for April 15th?! I realize most of you won't find these funny, but for the few who will, here are a couple of examples from the website. If you find any humor in them, you should go to the website and look at all of them! Some are slightly offensive, but most are just plain humorous.

Happy Tax Day!

A few things

A few of the random things going on in my life or floating through my head right now:

• I had a great weekend with my family. I enjoyed their company, celebrated birthdays, and took some time to remember the sacrifice my savior made for me.
• With the exception of my plane ride home last night, I have been listening to my iPod exclusively on shuffle. I love the crazy mix of music you get that way. It was perfect on the way to work this morning…from a little Brooke Frasier to Matt Wertz…just what I needed to get my morning started.
• Next weekend I’ll be with this girl. I haven’t seen Julia since she left for Arizona last summer, and that just makes me a little sad. I believe we are planning to see the Grand Canyon. I’ve never been there. I’ve been trying for years to get there. And now it shall happen.
• I think my OCD/anal/beaver/just plain freak of nature habits are getting worse. If you know me well, you know this is scary. I didn’t know they could get worse. Maybe I should be medicated?
• In June I’m going to be visiting this girl. Erin just moved to DC back in February, and I miss her. I’m excited to see her new home, and do some exploring in the city!
• I am currently addicted to Kings…a new TV show on NBC. It is based loosely on the story of King David from the Bible. I love it, but would not suggest watching it, because it is probably going to be cancelled. Sad! Why do they cancel the good shows? Why do people tell me to watch shows that are just going to disappear on me a few short weeks later?
• My friends Laura and Shawn leave for Brazil in a few weeks. It’s weird to not be going, but I am super excited for their trip. I might bribe them to put me in their suitcase!
• I’m going to Cabo in October with my sister. She won a free week in a suite at the Hilton. I had enough miles to fly for free. I love free vacation!
• Can you tell I’m making up for my lack of travel in 2008? Because I went to Brazil right after I started my job, I was in negative vacation for the majority of the year.
• And last, but not least, I had my six week check up for my surgery today, and I am officially cleared. I believe I will start running tomorrow. Or not.