El Día de los Niños

Today I had an opportunity to get together with 3 girlfriends from church and 6 children (4 girls and 2 boys). We met a few locations to distribute some donations one of my girlfriends had acquired.

One of the locations was the People's Self-Help Housing Youth Education Enhancement Program (YEEP), http://www.pshhc.org/programs-yeep.html.

People's Self Help-Housing (PSHH), is a non-profit charitable organization in California that relies upon various donations. Their mission statement is: To provide affordable housing and programs leading to self-sufficiency for low income families, seniors, and other special needs groups on California's Central Coast.

The YEEP program offers a year round, daily after school educational program for K-12th grade students. Many of the resident parents within the community we visited today are primarily Spanish speaking with limited English skills. So the staff along with local volunteers come in to work side by side with these children and help them with their various homework assignments.


What we discovered today is that April 30th is El Día de los Niños ~ The Day of the Child. It is a holiday which is widely observed throughout Mexico and Latin America; a day set aside to value and uplift children.

We were already excited to give away the school bags filled with school supplies such as color pens, pencils, pencil sharpeners, and paper. However, after we learned what a special day today was we were amazed with God's perfect timing...we did not know the cultural significance of today, but He did. It was such a blast getting to watch the 6 kids with us distribute the school bags one by one to all the children who came to the Education Center today. There was so much joy and delight!!!

Unfortunately none of the 4 of us brought our cameras today, but I know we all were impacted and have mental digital photos (I found the previously taken picture above on the internet of the actual facility we were at today).

Here is another photo I found...it makes me wonder how many of these children were actually present today? What was so inspiring was their absolute delight ~ it did not matter that it was school supplies, they were gleefully exuding gratitude.

When we were out in the parking lot we were kind of knocking ourselves for not having more planned, but then it hit us ~ that gives us another opportunity to come back again on another day...and maybe next time one of us will remember to bring the camera :).

A.NiesingPhotographer...Check It out!!!

Today I found this great photographer via the internet ~ Andre Niesing

You have to check out his work - he is an incredible storyteller!!!

the website ~ http://www.aniesingphotographer.com/flashv4.html

the blog ~ http://theanblog.blogspot.com/

So am I getting married? Not yet...at least to my knowledge...and it would be quite a surprise since I am not currently seeing anyone.

Have I joined a band? No.

Am I getting some portraits? Well even though I am overdue for some, no.

So why then? I found him on Facebook...of course I joined the Facebook group :).

After viewing his website and blog, I was totally inspired!!! Why? Because I have begun to explore some varied interests when it comes to design. And I totally love the way he captures reality!!! As I was looking at his galleries, my eyes and creativity were fully stimulated...how did he do that???

So now take a moment to check out his website/blog and allow yourself to be inspired at what he has captured through the lens of his Canon EOS Mark II Digital Cameras.

Inspired to what? To enjoy life and live it to the fullest!!! Granted we may not have his camera, but almost everyone these days has some type of digital camera. Regardless, even if you are using a disposable camera or standard camera ~ get out there, enjoy life, and capture a few snapshots of how you chose to live life to the fullest for that particular moment!!!

PS If you happen to need some professional photos...maybe he is your solution...he does travel all over.

Allowing Yourself To Make The Journey

"Courage is not the absence of fear,
but rather the judgment that
something else is more important than fear.
The brave may not live forever,
but the cautious do not live at all.
From now on you'll be traveling the road
between who you think you are and who you can be.
The key is to allow yourself to make the journey."

- from The Princess Diaries

Things Become Scary In The Dark That Shouldn't Be...

Wow...today was definitely one of those WOW days at church. Currently Rob is doing a series on Easter, and this week was on how light shines in the darkness.

There is so much I could say...but time is limited for me now...and yes I can hear a few of those hallelujahs from across the miles :).

My encouragement would be if you have a moment, check it out (well not literally today, it may take a couple of days for it to be put on the website):

http://www.churchforlife.com/page6.php

Look for today's date 04.06.08, and probably the title Easter Sunday - Open hearts Pt 3. It will be well worth the time you invest to listen to it.

He mentioned how there are 400 verses which reference light & darkness. Here is the list of verses he shared with us today:

1. Genesis 1:1-4
2. Job 12:22
3. Psalm 18:28
4. Psalm 19:7-8
5. Psalm 27:1 (NKJV)...{I was not paying attention before this verse to the translation...silly me}
6. Psalm 90:8 (NIV)
7. Psalm 119:105 (NIV)
8. Proverbs 6:23 (NIV)
9. Matthew 6:22-23 (NIV)
10. I John 1:1-5 (NIV)
11. John 3:16-21 (NIV)
12. John 8:12 (NIV)
13. John 12:46 (NIV)
14. II Corninthians 4:4-6 (NIV)
15. I John 1:5-7 (NIV)
16. I John 2:9 (NIV)
17. Colossians 1:12-14 (NIV)
18. Ephesians 5:8 (NIV)

As he was sharing Psalm 27:1, he talked about how he gets "creeped" out at night when he goes to his garage. It does not affect him at all during the day, he doesn't even think about it twice. But for some reason at night he gets "creeped" out just a bit. Then he said something to the effect of things become scary in the dark that shouldn't be scary - it really hit home for me (hence the title).

Well there is much more I would love to add, but can't at this point...and maybe those things were for me???

Friends, Flashbacks, 80's, & Bunco

Over the years I have come to really enjoy Friends. A few years back I would look forward to watching the syndications on KTLA - and then be bummed if it was a "repeat"...ok dumb I know because they were all repeats, hence the term syndication.

Now with technology I can literally hand-pick whatever season and whatever episode(s) I want to watch, whenever I want to...yes over a period of time I have acquired all 10 seasons. The best part is I do not have to worry about commercials...or the dreaded 'to be continued'.

Granted there are some things that happen in Friends that I do not agree with, but what I love about the series is I find myself laughing quite often. Likewise, I find myself grateful for the close circle of friends I have had, have, and will have through all the varied seasons of my own life.

This coming Tuesday a bunch us will be getting together to play Bunco and the theme is 80's. What does that have to do with anything? Well tonight I was watching episode 11 in Season 10, and it had the last occurrence of fat Monica dancing - it totally made me laugh because it was so funny...check it out (my favorite part begins at 3:30 it was the tag for the episode):



I was in high school in the 80's, but never quite dressed the "part"...well obviously to some degree I did, but fashion really was not quite my thing. Anyway what made me laugh even harder tonight was many of the women I will be with on Tuesday night will fashion-wise look just like these women in the clip...it will definitely be a flashback :).

In the midst of laughing and envisioning Tuesday night, I was also a bit inspired. The only real difference between fat Monica and thin Monica was the weight. Ok so that may be another dumb thought, but think about it...Monica chose to live life to the fullest regardless of the size of her waist - she enjoyed life!!! She did not wait until she was thin Monica to begin enjoying life - she lived life to the fullest within the moment. And yes she should not have been drinking because she was underage, but as I mentioned my favorite part begins around the 3:30 mark - where she is simply dancing, finishing her pizza, and enjoying life.

So some of you may be wondering will I dress the "part" Tuesday night...well no; BUT I will however choose to live life to the fullest, laugh - maybe so hard I cry, and enjoy life!!!

Life is too short - so here's to living within the moment and celebrating the gift of today!!!

Does It Have To Be On Purpose?

Earlier this week I had an opportunity to catch up with a good friend. We met for coffee at Starbucks (and no I am not a coffee drinker, but I have found a few good drinks I enjoy so that I can visit with my coffee friends...though it has been a while since I have done that).

I thought you said you met at Starbucks? We did. However, it was a cold spring morning and the blessings of April showers ended up with us heading back out to our cars, driving over to her house, enjoying some yummy pancakes and a warm fire, and well hours of conversation. We both were quite surprised when one of her children arrived home from school and we realized it was now 2:30 pm. The irony was that as we were trying to place the semicolon in our conversation we only made it as far as the kitchen. Then we both agreed to the logic that if we sat in the wood chairs at the table we would not talk much longer because those chairs were not as comfortable as the comfy couches...plus we were further away from the fireplace. Well, about an hour later we finally forced ourselves to pause (if another child did not need to be picked up we probably could have kept talking).

One of the topics which came up during our marathon visit was whether or not it was ok to do something if there was no purpose involved? Both of us share a commonality of being serious at times, I struggle with it far deeper than she does - all too often I wear my "oh so too serious" expression of thought. And since our conversation, I have pondered that a bit...Ms. Oh So Too Serious is not quite done pondering that question.

Although this particular blog may seem random and purposeless, part of the reason it is even being created is so there is a sequential blog to yesterday's post. I had several plans, purposes, and points I had intended to make today - none really were accomplished...BUT that is ok.

Want to talk about irony? I created this blog I believe on February 26, 2008, and the first post was on April 3, 2008...that still baffles me a bit.

Blogging - interesting concept...I am exploring, BUT I am still not so sure what I think about this process. However, as I am learning with several things in life - what exactly do I have to lose?

As far as design and layout...Ms. Oh So Too Serious is not quite pleased at all with what currently lies on the screen. It is definitely better than nothing, but so not the final selection bringing me contentment...makes me wonder when I will get around to doing something about that???

Well that is probably enough nonsense rambling for now...those of you who know me know I could go on much longer...much, much longer...but for now I choose to stop and that is ok because it doesn't have to be on purpose does it?

Does that make any sense...it does not even quite make sense to me...but that's the point right?

Gradually Becoming

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

II Corinthians 3:18 (NKJV)

Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of His face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like Him.

II Corinthians 3:18 (Message)

Something had happened within the Corinthian church where credentials were being called into question. Additionally it appears as though there was more weight and attention upon the letter of the law than the letter of the Spirit. From this vantage point Paul begins or continues to describe the glory of the new covenant. He emphasizes God's glory and how the Israelites could not directly look at Moses following his time with God when God gave the ten commandments. Then he compares or expounds God's present glory within our lives under the new covenant. Transformation or Transfiguration is occurring within our lives - to what? Gradually we are continually becoming more and more like Him as He continues to enter our lives...the Spirit continues to delve deeper within us as we allow and invite Him to do so.

Moses originally needed a veil because of the intensity of God's glory - it enabled him to interact with the people. However, did he really need a veil? And if he genuinely needed it - what was it that caused him to continue wearing it after the glory began to fade? Why exactly did the glory begin to fade? Although the point is not being "proud" or "arrogant" that you have spent so much time in the presence of God that you "glow" - the question which comes to my mind is am I "glowing" and if not...why? My mind thinks of Hebrews - I think - where we are able to boldly come before the throne because Jesus split the veil of separation. We do not function under the same "restrictions" the Israelites of old did - so then why is my face not "glowing" with the reflection of God's majesty? And then the encouragement from another perspective...gradually becoming! -Ing - the state of continuing process. Somedays are better than others. Salvation - it is secure. Sanctification - it is ongoing. As I continue to invite and allow God to continue entering my life this process of transformation/transfiguration continues step by step resulting in me becoming, gradually becoming, more and more like Him.

Ok so here I sit with You - club in hand...ready to "beat myself into submission." So why then is it if You do not desire to "beat" me, that I do it to myself? Why is it that You desire to lavishly embrace me with Your grace, and on some level I perceive that; yet, rather than choosing to receive and surrender to Your grace I feel as though I need to use the club to "beat" myself into Your image? That's exactly what You are requesting of me isn't it? NO! So why if I have this intensity within me to be transformed into Your image that I still stubbornly am vainlessly attempting to make You fit into my box and do things my way? In light of everything especially now in the midst of all that is current have I still not learned "the lesson." Perhaps those self-inflicted "beatings" have done some damage to my ability to comprehend???!!!??? So here we sit together ready to enter into a brand new day. Thank You that my grip is loosening more and more upon that club I have held so tightly through the years. Thank You that this does not all have to happen overnight, and reminding me that it is a process - a continuing process that requires time. Thank You for the hope and the promise that step by step as I continue to walk hand-in-hand with You that my life will continue gradually becoming brighter and brighter and more beautiful as You continue to enter my life and I continue to become like You. Today may I shine with the brightness of Your face and bring You glory.