Had to take a picture of the food. :) 

Posing with the ring bearer...this kid knew how to dance!...wish I had some video footage. :) 

Winding down the evening with my friend Antonio. 

If I could make a living out of loving you

I'd be a millionaire in a week or two

I'd be doin' what I love

And lovin' what I do

If I could make a livin' out of lovin' you.

~Clay Walker~

I love having this time with friends. My heart is being recharged every day. I posted the lyrics to this song because that is exactly how I feel. If I could just travel and visit with the people I love, I would be the happiest girl in the world.

I have also made some new friends within the past couple of weeks. They have taught me how to speak and to sing in spanish. They have opened my eyes to a culture I have never known. And most of all, they have shown me an example of true friends and brothers. There is a loyalty and sincerity in their hearts that I do not always see around me. There is a freedom in them to love each other openly. I was blessed to spend a weekend with them. Their example has taught me more about unconditional love and acceptance and has challenged me to love my friends better.

Oh, and I got to dance last night! The people at this wedding knew how to celebrate. We were still going at 12:30am..apparently in Mexico they will celebrate until noon the next day after a wedding.

I will post more in depth later on...for now, I am headed to see my grandparents in the southern tier of NY.

Beth and I at Java's. It was so good to see her! I know we'd have so much fun if we lived closer.  

Can't decide which one I like better....thought you'd like both, Beth. :) 

It is always good to come home to this friend. Wes and I at Java's while we hung out with Beth and Timmy. 

So, Wen and I are sitting at Cibon, the cafe in the background here, and all of a sudden this guy walks up to our table with a picture of our kindergarten class from 1984. Anyone who reads my blog will guess who it is... Anyways, this is his front porch..pretty convenient for a random encounter on Park Ave. After our dinner I decided I needed a picture of this guy I had not seen since the primary school years...apparently we were in the same classes through third grade. Amazing how small and random this world can be. Good to see you again Mateo. :) 

The girls and I together again. We met up on Park Ave. and had an evening of dinner, ice cream, and walking. So much fun. :) 

Welcome to NY.

I keep telling my friends that I feel like I'm coming home. It always feels that way.

Home has changed and so have I. I like it that way. But as I sit here at Panera, I hear the same voice inflections, see the stereotypical families and business dressed men and women, reflect upon the fact that I still, for the most part, know my way around this city. I love this place. It is where I come from. I am truly interested in what is happening and feel as if I understand how things work. My heart goes out to the people here, friend and stranger. I wonder if I'll ever come back. I hear it calling my name sometimes. Or is it the memories of this place? I don't know...it's Tuesday afternoon, and I have way too many people to get in touch with to contemplate these things.

All this to say, I am glad to be here. :)

Just when I gave up on finding a welcome to NY sign..there it was...this is my passing glance. 

First stop on the east coast...Greenville, SC. We have been helping Melissa and Surge move into their new apartment. Surge's friends are from Mexico City so I am learning a lot of new words! More to post later... 

Day 8 - Jacksonville, FL

So far, I have had two interviews, have found 2 walmarts, the closest mall, and Micheal's craft store, have visited the beach twice, have had quality time with the fam, have made way more wedding favors than I can count (not for me folks, not for me), have made a couple of new acquaintances, have attended a church with some people my age, and as of tomorrow will have acquired a brand new license and registration. Things are moving along.

On some days I am totally overwhelmed. On most days and I am content to settle in and explore this new place. I am still glad to be here.

To all of you NYers I will be there in less than a week!! Can't wait to see you and hug you and hear about your lives.

Mom and I were walking along the beach and picking up shells yesterday, when all of a sudden a pigeon crash landed into her. How many birds have you seen run into your mother? The whole scene was a bit comical. As we crowded around the poor bird, it would not move, except for flapping its wings only once. We couldn't tell what was wrong, or if the poor thing would recover. I was afraid it would drown seeing that the tide was coming in at that point. Mom suggested that we move it. "Move it? Is it okay to touch a pigeon?!," surprised that mom would let me touch a possibly disease ridden bird. My compassion got the best of me. I put my hands around the bird's wings and began to carry it to a grassy area away from the open sand. The bird only struggled a little. I think it realized that I was there to help. :) When all was said and done, being the concerned, bird loving, beach tourist that I am, I walked up to the tanned and very nice looking lifeguard and explained the whole situation. He said he would call someone (but I had my doubts about that). We walked away, not knowing if the bird would survive. As I worried about it all the way back down the beach, mom reminded me that God remembers even the sparrows that fall out of the sky. That helped a little.

My first new friend in Florida...who consequently comes from NY also. Small world. :) 

Florida is even better than I imagined.

I am glad to be home. Although, it is odd to sit and think that I will not return to Tulsa. All I know now is the name of three roads, that Panera is the closest wireless internet service, that there is a very refreshing pool in my neighborhood community, and that aside from my family I have one new friend two hours away.

It helps to have a friend here with me at the first. I feel like I have a comrade in the exploratory phase of this new place. Missy traveled with me to my first interview which went very well. The school sits next to the Kennedy Space Center. I may end up working there, but am pretty sure that I will try to get in closer to Jacksonville. Everyone I talk to tells me that I will have no problem finding a job. I just keep praying that I will step into the right job and be where I am supposed to be.

Anyways, tonight we will be going Salsa dancing...or to the lessons anyways, she wants to surprise her fiance, who is apparently very good, for the wedding. I'm kind of excited, but wonder, what does one wear to this type of event?

I see His hand in all of this and I look forward to the days to come. I feel more awake and more hopeful in this place. I wonder if it was just the geographical shift or if there was something else that changed just by my making a decision to step out. I feel God drawing me. I just hope that I listen more and assume less. Nevertheless, God is good and faithful. I wonder if I will ever completely understand.

Tourist picture. :) This place has been on my computer as wallpaper for a few months, when I saw it we just had to stop. We were just about the only ones awake at this time of day and took full advantage of the moment. 

One day, I hope to play inside these doors. 

Playing a song in Nashville, my very first appearance...June 12 @ 5:30am...outside of Ryman auditorium. 

Contemplating and dreaming. 

This is my friend Missy who is traveling across the country with me this summer. It was she who convinced me that we MUST stop in Nashville and take a picture in order to keep the vision moving forward. :) She is a faithful friend. 

Playing with my camera again. I like the way it turned out. 

Twenty six hours after leaving, we arrived in Jax (aka..Jacksonville, FL). Lots of rain on the way here...have I ever mentioned how much I hate driving in the rain at night? Missy did a good job of getting us through.

We stopped in Nashville at 5:30 am and took pictures in front of the Ryman Auditorium. I will be posting the pics as soon as I figure out my parents computer and have more time.

Florida is picturesque from what I have seen so far...lots of green trees and lots of water. My backyard alone is full of turtles, geckos, ducks, frogs (including tree frogs), and who knows what else?

It's good to be here. I'll post more later...for now, I'm off to bed to get some sleep before my first interview tomorrow.

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Ugh..I should have packed the kitchen stuff when mom and dad were here. I have acquired quite a collection of dishes and appliances. Almost done packing at 2:41am. I will be waking up in about four hours to start again, go to breakfast, get last minute walmart items, pack up my car, take a picture of my oru bench.

I won't be posting for a couple of days. Prayers and phone calls are appreciated while I am on the road. Missy will be with me...we're excited about our last road trip together...she is getting married this summer.

To those of you in NY....I will see you soon (2 weeks!). Please plan accordingly. :) Pip, too bad we haven't synchronized our watches.

Goodbye, Tulsa.

Picture of the evening.

I'm coming back to the heart of worship...and it's all about you Jesus.

One of the most important things to me in life is to let people know that they are loved and accepted. I cringe at the sound and sight of someone who believes that they are not worth being loved. I want to run to them right away and tell them the truth about who they are. And although this is one of my strengths, I have recently found that it is also one of my downfalls.

What gives me the right to reject who someone is or how they live? Because if I reject them then how will they ever come to know God? How will I ever be the light that Christ has called me to be? That is the process that goes through my head every time I want to say, "no". Who knew that the desire to make the people that you love happy, could turn into hurt and regression and dishonesty.

Ughh...I have been looking at the patterns in my relationships, and I see that I have not spoken clearly about what I have felt is right or true in my own heart. Instead of trusting God's truth, I have found ways to change the subject. Instead of trusting God's promise to work all things together for good, I have taken action when actions were not needed. Instead of trusting God to speak for Himself, I have spoken when I should have been silent. Instead of trusting Him to order my steps and the steps of those around me, I have held on when I should have let go. Instead of trusting , I have spoken and related and loved on my own terms, and I have held too tightly to the role of savior.

Pleasing people will never lead them to God. I am learning this. Truly loving someone is being able to tell them "no" even when it is highly uncomfortable and you want with all of your heart to say "yes". I saw that this week and I saw people walk away. And it hurt. But I know, all of this will turn out for my good and ultimately it will turn out for their good too.

Tonight, I am glad and it would be a long story to truly explain why. I will say this though, that I have found strength that I once did not think I had. It is strength that came through seeing my own weaknesses. It is strength that I prayed for at the moments when I felt like I was going to give in. Change is coming to my heart...I am so thankful.

A Summer Evening in Tulsa


The great thing about Tulsa is that there are parks that continue for miles along each side of the Arkansas river. My good friend Paul and I began our evening adventure along this spot.

This is a view of the City of Faith...part of the Oral Roberts University campus. It used to be a hospital...now it contains many businesses as well as a cancer treatment center. Fun Fact: the heighth of each of these buildings equals the exact same measurements as the heighth, width, and length of Noah's ark. This is only one example of ORU's unique architecture.  

This is the dam along the Arkansas River....I just learned it's name only a few days ago...and I have lived next to it for how long? :)  

Fountains. 

Paul and I were watching the water pretty closely...there were huge fish caught in the waterfall. Too bad they wouldn't jump up for the camera shot. 

I think this picture of swirling water speaks for itself. 

I don't know how old this bridge is....up above it is actually where train tracks used to be. Anyways, I enjoyed the built-in bench and had to stop for a picture.