Insouciant Moments

My life is far from insouciant.....but amid all the craziness I am learning to find those moments, the ones to hang onto and allow myself to get lost in.....

October has pretty much flown by!  Speaking of flying......I am headed to Haiti on Friday!!!!!! Yah, words cannot even begin to express how excited I am!!  Everyday this week is crazy busy for me trying to get things done before I leave, working, etc.  Last night for supper I made my residents a Haitian meal!!:)  It was fun!  I made rice, beef, potato/beet/carrot salad, coleslaw, and fried plantains. Then for snack I made Haitian coconut cookies.....oh my...they were amazing! I always loved when Mona would make them!!:)  I kinda hope she makes them sometime when I am down there!

Other than Haiti....I don't feel like I have done anything super exciting or crazy....wait.....I did go skydiving a few weeks ago.  Not that that is exciting at all.....pretty dull.   Haha...jk....it was EPIC!  I would totally go again in a heartbeat! I would highly recommend it!  The view is absolutely incredible!!!

Here is a poem that was read during a talk recently.  I really liked it and feel like I can really relate to it.  Not only that, but a good reminder that whenever I start to think that what God wants me to do is crazy, or that we could take a better route.....that I just need to shut up and pedal!

A Tandem Ride With God 

I used to think of God as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong, so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die. He was out there, sort of like a president. I recognized His picture when I saw it, but I didn't really know Him.

But later on, when I met Jesus, it seemed as though life was rather like a bike, but it was a tandem bike, and I noticed that Jesus was in the back helping me pedal. I didn't know just when it was He suggested we change, but life has not been the same since I took the back-seat to Jesus, my Lord. He makes life exciting. When I had control, I thought I knew the way. It was rather boring, but predictable. It was the shortest distance between two points. 

But when He took the lead, He knew delightful long cuts, up mountains, and through rocky places and at break-through speeds; it was all I could do to hang on! Even though it often looked like madness, He said, "Pedal!" I was worried and anxious and asked, "Where are you taking me?" He laughed and didn't answer and I started to learn to trust. I forgot my boring life and entered into adventure. And when I'd say, "I'm scared", He'd lean back and touch my hand. 

He took me to people with gifts that I needed, gifts of healing, acceptance and joy. They gave me their gifts to take on my journey, our journey, my Lord's and mine. And we were off again. He said, "Give the gifts away; they're extra baggage, too much weight." So I did, to the people we met, and I found in giving I received, and still our burden was light. 

I did not trust Him, at first, in control of my life. I thought He'd wreck it, but He knows bike secrets, knows how to make it bend to take sharp corners, jump to clear high rocks, fly to shorten scary passages. And I am learning to shut up and pedal in the strangest places, and I'm beginning to enjoy the view and the cool breeze on my face with my delightful constant companion, Jesus. 

And when I'm sure I just can't do any more, He just smiles and says... "Pedal." 

(Author unknown)

I am doing a Bible study with several other houseparent ladies on the book One Thousand Gifts.  Some of you may have heard about it or read it.  But it talks a lot about giving thanks for all things and that everything is a gift from God.  So I started a gratitude journal, where I write down gifts/things I am thankful for.  Also, I started taking more pictures of some of those things.  So in case your wondering why I post certain pictures....or even took a picture of something....most likely it probably relates to that.  Well and the fact that I am just weird at times....but that's information you don't need to be reaffirmed on....so just go with the first reason.  :)

God's beauty!!

Sparklers that someone left in a drawer in my apartment......so I had a little fun one night:)

God's vibrant promise stretched across the sky

Lunar Eclipse.......yes, I actually got up at 6AM to see this!

Not a very good pic....but the moon had an incredible ring around it one night....not sure what causes it....but it was pretty awesome!!!

A Deeds of Kindness group from Gateway school made this for the Assistants!:)

An amazing date....at a really cool "hole-in-the-wall" place:)

So I found this Haitian cookbook at the Fort Wayne Library.....so what am I gonna do??

Obviously check it out and use it!:)  I made a Haitian meal for my residents yesterday and had them put together some care packages for me to take down.  Some foods were liked more than others, but everyone was a great sport and tried some of everything!

Diri & Bef

Potato, beet, carrot salad

Coleslaw

Fried Plaintains

Haitian coconut cookies!!!!!!!  I was stoked that I found this recipe!!!!

 Another awesome date!!!:)  We tried out Trionfale on Dupont.  (She might not be too happy about me posting this pic....but since she wouldn't smile for a normal picture......I guess she knows what happens now....:P)

My Carmel Macchiato :) It was delightful!!