What's up!

Just a quick "hello" and update to this ole blog of mine.  The west- side romance is continuing in Arizona, and I've been working out in the sun the last couple weeks as a "temp landscaper" through a temp agency.  Despite lots of inquires, interviews, and promises that I'd be called, no one called and the temp agency did provide me with work.  Thankful but it feels uncertain.  I think of the song lyrics, "Just for my sake, teach me to take, one day at a time..."

I'm working at a high flue tin resort/spa that has hosted the likes of Usher (who is rumored to be incredibly "spiritual" and "grounded"), Oprah, Ellen, Real Housewives etc.,  I think it's caused my buddy (landscapers have a work buddy there) and I to reflect on our status in life.  I've had many jobs in which I am the "help", but I truly feel like the help there.  Maybe it's because there's such a large difference in economics? I suspect it's easy to look at the lives I observe as having an easy life in their yoga pants and toned bodies walking from yoga to massage and back to the pool, but who knows really what they are going through? All of this makes me think about how none of this really matters because a person is still a person, and we need kindness and compassion.  I confess I think of their time at this expensive spa and find it rather boring.  How hard is it to find beautiful places to hike and be? How hard is it to run your own bath water and relax?  It's more enjoyable to cook for yourself and others, breathing in all the aromas and anticipation! I'm thankful for my life.  In fact, it makes me chuckle to walk into their bodymindfulness (a.k.a. gym) and see people cycling.  BORING! But now I'm sounding very judgmental... to each their own! Amen!

Other things I've been doing:
Watching the wonderful Netflix sitcom called The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt! I love it.  Rarely am I sold on a show, but I find this show so endearing and funny.  The theme song is also stuck in my head!
Reading and studying up for a class I'm taking at church called The Shelter of God's Promises.  The study (a 10 week study) starts tomorrow.  I'm excited and looking forward to meeting some like minded ladies. 
Enjoying my air conditioning!
Planning new things I want to cook and bake including blueberry muffins, chocolate pie, tuna egg sandwiches. 
:)
Sharing the excitement of two special friends buying a HOME of their own for the first time this coming month in Maine and Washington.  (and sweet places to visit...)
Sitting in my tub and soaking tired muscles.
Remembering Holy Week and Christians around the world, our hope in Him, and the many promises we have because of Him. 

Blessings!

Being in the middle of a job hunt can be a little stressful, but I am overflowing with gratitude tonight knowing that something is bound to unfold and God is taking care of me.  This weekend I had a nice diversion from the full time job of finding a full time job, so I'd like to recap some moments of tasting the sweetness of this life.

Blessings of this weekend:
1.  Hiking Romero Pools in the Catalina Mt.'s with Libby; conversation, beauty, reading about big horn sheep, enjoying a Diet Coke afterwards, thrift store shopping, Trader Joe's.
2.  Wading in the cool water barefoot, shady, sitting on rocks and feeling the sand beneath my toes.
3.  Shopping at Food City for the first time! Hello, Mexican culture! I loved it! Three avocados for a dollar.  Can I stop eating chips and guacamole?!!!!
4.  Listening to an 80 year old teacher at church Sunday morning.  Her energy, spirit, and vitality give testimony to the true power of God.  Amazing and inspiring!
5.  Baking homemade chocolate chip cookies and giving them away.  Oh, the smells, the creating, the sampling, and then the giving... I love it!

He Cares!

Just as the Lord opened the skies for my friends and I at the Grand Canyon, He showed me again today that He cares about the little things we ache and long to experience.  We are not alone! A few weeks ago, after a trip literally across the country and a five hour car ride to the Grand Canyon, we knew majesty and splendor were before us, but all we could see was whiteness.  My friend's eyes got watery with disappointment as this has been one of the top longings on her bucket list.  A woman of faith, she began to pray and sing that the heavens would open, and I (less quick thinking) joined her.  We laid our longing out before the Lord, and I thought of Kathy Bracy who always liked to remind our Wednesday night fellowship group that the Lord cares about our hearts.  Katie, a friend from that fellowship group, helped me remember all that precious wisdom Kathy shared with us each week at her home.  Knowing that the Lord cares, we felt the freedom to trust Him with out heart! He opened the skies...

                                                                              Before:

 

 

 

After:

 

 

 

I thought it was a nice picture of how we feel about heaven.  We KNOW it's going to be amazing, but our eyes are a little clouded right now by this temporary stop.  One day the clouds will be lifted and we will be there, and we will see!

 

Today I had another reminder of God's great care for us as individuals.  The past two days here in Tucson have been incredibly windy.  As some of you know, my mode of transportation is either bicycle or bus.  I prefer my bicycle for the freedom it allows me if it's not too hot or cold.  This morning I left early, excited to finally be able to visit a church due to a free Sunday work schedule at last, but the wind was not helping me one bit.  I was fighting the wind with each pedal, and I felt like crying.  I wanted to get to church and at the pace and effort I was going, it would take longer than what I hoped.  So I said, "I want to give up."  I was truly discouraged, but I have also been so hungry for fellowship, worship, the family of God.  A few pedals later I said, "I don't want to quit, Help me get there Lord".  Just a little while after praying, the city bus stopped and I was able to put my bike in the rack and catch a quick ride and make it to church on time! I am truly so grateful for this! After church, the wind was with me and my heart was filled with "10,000 reasons" to sing and worship.  I feel there were a lot of small things that people may not understand - the heavy wind, Tucson's erratic Sunday bus schedule, and my deep longing to be there, but He understands and cares... Thank You, God.  Thank You for caring about our individuals dreams, hopes, longings, needs, and hearts.  I love You!

 

Sabino Canyon Hike

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10 and 10

I have been completely out of it the last four days.  My friends left last week and almost as soon as they left, I got sick with the flu.  I always try to medicate myself immediately in hopes that I will get over it as soon as possible.  I took lots of alka seltzer and advil which made me feel slow, loopy, and foggy in the brain.  It is Sunday morning and as much as I want to bike to church, my body doesn't feel quite there yet in strength or stamina, so I thought it would be fun to play a game.  If you could meet and talk to anyone in the world, who would you want to meet, past or present? Living or dead? I haven't given it that much thought, so I'm confident I will want to change some of my answers but here are the ones who come to mind for me. 

Women:
1.  Dolly Parton
2.  Hoda Kotb
3.  Maya Angelou
4.  Priscilla Shirer
5.  Grace Waters (great grandma)
6.  Julia Child
7.  Amy Carmichael
8.  Taylor Swift
9.  Georgia O'Keefe
10. Gloria Gaither

Men:
1.  Oswald Chambers
2.  Billy Graham
3.  Johnny Cash
4.  President Obama
5.  John Waters (great grandfather)
6.  Dietrich Bonhoeffer
7.  Pope Francis
8.  Vince Gill
9.  Abraham Lincoln
10. Theodore Roosevelt

3 Recommendations

1.  I highly recommend trying a Greek Lemon Chicken Soup.  I'm currently down with the flu, and it's such a great soup for a sick and run down body, but I think it would be good on any other day as well.  I love using lemons in my cooking.

2.  Unconditional.  A truly great, inspiring moving, based on a true story, right out of Nashville, TN.  It's five stars on Netflix- and I would have to agree.  It's one of the best movies I've seen recently. 

3.  Pictures.  Taking the time to print and receive them.  Seeing them reminds you of friends and will bring you happiness throughout the day.  Snapfish is cheap. 

No deep thoughts- I'm sick and run down, but I hope to write with a little more substance in time.  Happy March to everyone!