Choose faith, not fear.

As of late, I have becoming more and more convicted about the way our society tells us to celebrate holidays. It kind of hit me really hard this past Easter season, how much we (Americans) have cheapened a holy day as precious to our faith as Easter. The death and RESURRECTION of our Lord and Savior, the One who gave it all so that we can have life everlasting, a life that we do not deserve in the least. This last week I recalled a status update I wrote on facebook at Easter time along the lines of being saddened by the pastels, bunnies, and eggs that have stolen our focus from the celebration of Jesus' sacrifice for US. It's one thing to celebrate spring and the fun colors, it's another to let it completely take our focus off the beauty of the Man with nail scarred hands.

While thinking about how saddened I was at Easter this year, I have also been feeling sad about the celebration of Halloween. For some reason, it has never set well with me to take part in a holiday that was founded on searching out spirits of the dead and chasing away demons. Not only is that something weird and dark to celebrate in general, but especially as a Christian who claims to live in the light of Jesus Christ. I hate that it's called a holiday which = holy day. My best friend, Tara, was raised in a wonderful Christian home, and her parents chose to celebrate All Saints Day (Nov. 1) rather than Halloween. I always found this very interesting, since I was a kid I thought I would like to celebrate this holiday rather than Halloween, with my future family! I have been doing a little bit of research this past week on All Saints Day and the founding of Halloween. All Saints Day was actually founded long before Halloween, and it is to celebrate the lives of saints / martyrs who lived for the Faith.

I have had this topic fresh on my mind for a while now, and yesterday I just so happened to run into Tara's mom, Beth's blog. Very fascinating. She is a FANTASTIC writer. Her latest post is on this very topic and the reasoning behind her choosing to celebrate this holiday with her family rather than Halloween. It is very cool timing, and I think God is really teaching me something big through this. I am going to get back to my research now, and soak in all my thoughts. I have many more to write about, but can't seem to compose them well right now.

Aloha from Kona!

I have been told by some sources that I need to write a new post, so here it goes! Not sure what specifically to write about, so we shall find out soon, I suppose.

I am on day 7 of my lovely Kona trip, only 4 more to go! It has been such an amazing trip to catch up with my incredible friends, take a break from life, and reflect on the goodness of my Father. It's interesting, because it may look like I planned this Hawaii trip for a "vacation" or to get away, but that's really not it at all. I planned this trip primarily to see friends that my heart missed terribly, to catch up with people who have influenced my life in GREAT ways, that just so happen to be separated from me by a big ocean. Being here with them has done so much that phone calls and skype just cannot accomplish. It has been a very low-key trip. Not much - actually, any, site seeing or typical tourist attractions, just hanging out at people's houses, coffee shops, and occasionally the beach. That's the cool part about my living here almost 2 years, that the sites have been seen and it's so much more important to me to catch up on my relationships. I shall post some photos now!










THANK YOU LORD for these amazing friends who have so richly blessed my life. They have all been such vessels of truth and blessing from you, to me. Thank you that I have the opportunity to spend 10 days on a rock in the middle of the Pacific to become refreshed and enjoy the presence of You and my dearly loved friends. You are such an amazing Father, I love you.

Oh baby baby.

Here is Langston giggling at me - adorable!

3 days and counting!

Tisk tisk, what a bad blogger I have been! Not totally sure what I'm going to write about today, but I need to blog. Currently, I am listening to a worship mix on my Itunes, just laid the baby down, sipping on my Almond Joy from Dutch bros. annnnnnd watching "A Baby Story" on TLC. (It's muted so I can hear the music). My amazing best friend, Tara, stopped by a couple of hours ago and brought me coffee and we had a great convo before she had to go to work. Speaking of work, I need a new job. :( After my trip to Hawaii (which I will talk about in a min.) my hours will be cut from 20-25 a week, to like... 8. It's good for the family's financial situation, I'm sure, but I'm a little bummed about it. I absolutely adore my job and it will be hard to find something that compares. But God will provide, I'm sure! It will actually be fun to see where He leads.

So, 3 days. 3 days and I will see my Kona loves in paradise! I am ecstatic! I am pretty stoked to get a sweet tan, swim in the depths on the crystal blue Hawaiian waters, and mostly, to see my incredible friends and 'family' there. Over the last week I have made a bit of a 'schedule' as to who I will get to spend time with each of the days I will be there. I'm looking forward to many coffee / dinner dates, beach trips with friends, possibly a road trip up Mauna Kea? An amazing mountain (volcano) that once you reach the top, you are above the clouds. Makes for an amazing sunset and star gazing experience!! Cannot wait to post some photos! Whatever you do... don't be jealous of me, ok?! ;-)

Welp, I suppose that's about it for now. I could write a bunch about Brian.. but don't know where to start. Things are still awesome and getting better and better everyday. I am just so blown away by the love of Christ right now. I LOVE YOU, LORD!

Happy one month-iversary!

...to me! My darling boyfriend surprised me with these last night! Thanks babe!!

Lemonade!

Just to give ya'll a glance into how incredible sappy Brian and I are together, this has officially became "our song." It's called "Lemonade" by Chris Rice. Just a super cute love song he wrote about his wife, and since Brian and I started dating he listened to this song often, and introduced me to it. Now it's my ringtone for him! :) :)
(Very cheesy video, but I wanted you to hear it and see the lyrics:)



We have been so blessed over this last month! Monday was 4 weeks of dating, Thursday the 17th is an official month! He is such an incredible man of God and boyfriend. I wish I could begin to describe how amazing he is in my blogs, but I really cannot. He has blessed and enriched my life so much in this past month, and I cannot wait to continue to be enriched by him. :) I love to bless him, because I realllllllly like him!

A Morning Girl.

I have decided that I thoroughly enjoy my mornings. When done healthily, that is! Not when I wake up 20 minutes before I have to go to work, and don't get the chance to get ready or breakfasted. But mornings like today make me really happy. I woke up at 4:50, that part wasn't my favorite. But once I got out of bed and moving a bit, I was ready to go! Put on my workout gear, and headed downtown to the Y for my 5:30 body flex class. That is, basically, working every major muscle group, very repeatedly and with lots of weight. Kind of intense. By the time I was done, I did a little extra ab work, some extra stretches for good measure and headed home. I love the quietness of the world in the morning. The sun was rising as I was driving home, the air was crisp and it was so refreshing outside. Currently, I am eating my favorite breakfast, which is oatmeal (old fashion oats), with a spoonful of peanut butter for protein, raisins for natural sweetening and fiber, and honey for its deliciousness. I just love my morning! I have over an hour until I need to leave for work now, which gives me lots of time to shower and get pretty for my day.

Thank you Lord for the glory of mornings! :-) And while I'm at it, thank you, Lord, for Brian!!!