Getting Pumped!!!

Listening to good/new music will get me pumped for just about for anything. Therefore, I sort of just splurged on iTunes b/c I need to get pumped to pack and clean up.

Here are my latest purchases:
On the Christian front:

NeedtoBreathe: Something Beautiful and Lay'em Down(love this one a lot) These are pre-released singles from their album coming out in Aug.

Waterdeep: Sweet River Roll

Fee: Glory to God Forever

Al Green: People Get Ready

Also, a few randoms off of Phillip Larue's latest album.

On the Secular Front:

Everything off of Still Time's newest album.

You probably could care less, but I like knowing what other people are listening to so I can find new bands I like. You're welcome to share what's on your current playlist.

I have the Best Friends EVER!!!

Greatest Blessing EVER: my friends. I have recently been overwhelmed by your encouragement and love. I'm also one of the lucky ones that actually has friends in my family.

I don't like throwing out the L-Bomb ever, but here goes...I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!! Thanks so much for your support, prayers, and funny stories that keep me going.


I would send everyone a box of chocolates if I could.

Also, my move date has been moved up. I leave in a week. I can't wait.

The Mountains Win Again

I'm moving!!! to the Himalayas!!! I'm not going to lie, I'm a little nervous about the weather. The city is 7,000 ft above sea level. Abby's is super pumped about the cold weather. I have a feeling every time I go out that I'm going to look like Ralphie's little brother in "A Christmas Story." We won't move until the end of August, so we have a little bit longer in this city.

Just in case you were wondering, "The Mountains Win Again," by Blues Traveler is one of my fav. songs and it will be our theme song during the move. Abby doesn't know that yet, but she'll love it.

Money and Church

I could do in any direction w/ that title, but I was just wondering where you learned to manage your money? If you're close to me, you'll know I'm fairly bad w/ my money. My parents never sat me down and explained stock, mutual funds, IRAs etc., but they always drilled "Don't spend what you don't have." I'm fairly thankful for that simple rule. It's good because I don't put things on credit cards and I'm not in debt. My problem is that if I have it I spend it.

You're probably thinking...well do you give? I don't have a problem w/ that either. I hardcore think everything we have is from Him and whatever he asks us to give back we should do diligently. For some it may be 10%; others 10% to your local church 10% to a local non-profit, etc. I know of one man who has consistently reverse tithed. He supports his family off of 10% of his income and gives the rest away. Holy Cow!!! Isn't that awesome? I bet you just said, "well he must have an insanely large income." Nope, he just doesn't live to the standards of this world. He aligns himself with God's standards and its all that has ever mattered. I also hardcore believe God blesses our giving: "Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine." Proverbs 3:9-10. I could go on forever about giving, but I won't for your sake.

However, one area where I extremely fall short is saving. The Bible says, "Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in the summer and gathers its food at harvest." Proverbs 6:6-8 So save in surplus for what you may need later. Also, the Bibe says, "In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has." Proverbs 21:20 Yeap, I pretty much align with the foolish man there.

Anyways, the point of this entire post was to say I think churches should address money issues like crazy. I bet I could give some stats about how everyone is in debt and make a case that way but I'm not. I first learned about effective ways to manage my money form a seminar my church in Charlotte gave. Clearly, I have a lot to learn, but I was very thankful for that opportunity. Now, I think they have a financial advisor on staff to help people get out of debt. Not positive about that one though.

Another point I want to push is: I think we should teach kids money management at a young age. College shouldn't be the first time someone has to manage their own money. If your parents balance your check book while you're in college...get a life!!! That's crazy. I think I just stepped on some of my friends toes. Sorry guys, but that's ridiculous. What if you and your husband/wife have never been taught and have practiced proper money management? It would be a disaster.

I am by no means a master money manager. I'm actually fairly awful at it, but I'm saying there are great resources out there and that churches and parents should teach it. Dave Ramsey is a fairly famous Christian money guru. Click on his name to check out his site. Also, numerous churches have online resources including sermons on money. Well that's about it; I'm still wondering what made me think about this.

Have a great day!!!

Random Pics

Our city is building a metro system than eventually will run throughout the city and will reach the airport. Parts of it are already running and it's really nice. Last week part of a newly constructed area fell. It's the second time since I've been here that part of a newly constructed area has collapsed. So there's the pic. Also, look at that blue sky. We don't always have color in the sky.


Here's a picture of a little cucumber seller. He was set up on the side of the street. If flies weren't on them and I had salt and pepper I would have eaten one. I just took his picture. He thought I was crazy, b/c I told him I loved cucumbers in Hindi and that's about all I could say to him.

School Time!!!

School has started back over here which means the streets are covered with children in the afternoons. I love it because if I'm out in the market, they'll try to talk to me. Usually they just smile and after they pass me they say, "Hello, how are you?" I think it's the first thing they learn in English. Of course, I turn around and respond, then they run off laughing. I like the little game. Today we were out in a new section of town and took some cute pictures of school kids. Enjoy:

Those aren't kids in a cage,

They're in a school bus

Here's a loading zone:

School kids here are my heroes. Many of them leave for school by 6:30am and don't return home until after 6pm. Also, most schools don't have A/C. I cannot imagine trying to pay attention while trying not to pass out from a heat stroke.

Anyways, I hope things are going well for you. I heard it's heating up back home too. Drinks lots of water!!! Peace

Life Verses

Many people have life verses. I remember hearing people say they "claimed" this or that verse and it always threw me off. I never knew what they were talking about. I thought, the Bible is for everyone, you can't claim scripture just for you. Let's keep in mind, I was probably 16ish. I still don't like using the "claimed" terminology, but now I'm starting to understand it.

It's usually a verse or two that really speaks to you. It can be a verse that challenges, motivates, or guides you. I've known parents that mediate on/claim specific scripture for each of their children, families that abide to life verses, etc. Single women for example, may cling to "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4 Likewise, single men hold fast to: "It is not good for man to be alone." Gen. 2:18. Both of those are sort of jokes.

This is sort of on my mind because someone recently asked me what my life verse was and I didn't know how to respond. After prob 30 sec. of thinking, I came up w/ Psalm 46:10: "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

The more I think about it, I think I have two life verses. The first being: "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8

And because I have a tendency to make rash decisions and confuse love with works, the Lord has given me my second life verse: "BE STILL, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10

Saying all of that, Parents can I bring him home??? He's three-ish(they don't know his exact age) and he needs a family...

Here is another picture of him. He watched all the kids ride on Wynn's shoulders and got so excited when it was his turn.

So, I know I'm being unrealistic. I cannot adopt him...yet, but I can pray for him and other few thousands of orphans in South Asia.

I'm so immature...

Because this cracks me up....

The bad thing is that the man was completely bald. It must stink to have a year long sweater on your arms, but no toboggan. I hope no one is thinking...my husband is the same way. Yikes! I think this is my third post that includes a picture of hairy men, hence the immaturity.

Here's a picture of trip #3 to the Taj. By the end of my term, I'm fairly sure I'll be a certified tour guide. I'm not sure how well you can see it, but I think this little kids barber missed a spot. I'm not sure if its a religious thing or not, but I've seen a good many children and men w/ their hair like this:

Adventures in T'Land

I Bungee Jumped!!!

Just kidding...but I did go Hamster Balling aka Zorbing!!! That's a picture of a random guy we met at the place. Sky diving is next on my list.

Here are our zorbing pics: (I'm in the white shirt)

At the end of the hill, we landed in a pond.

The hardest/funniest part was getting out of the water and then the ball. We had to unhook ourselves and literally climb like hamsters to get out. The tricky part was that the inside of the ball was wet, so we were slipping and falling all over each other. Some of the people in our group fell out through the hole into the water. My partner and I didn't have to, but we wore ourselves out trying to make it to shore.
Once we made it to shore, getting out took more effort than it took to get in.As usual, I do everything with grace. I finally got out with my hair still looking beautiful so that's all that mattered. That's a joke!

I'll update w/ some more pics later.