I always thought that by age 30, I would basically have my life figured out: I would have a career, have a family, have a house. Last week I turned 29, and I'm suddenly not as sure about this 30-theory. Will I really have things 'figured out' in less than 12 months? Magic 8 Ball says: "Outlook not so good."
Career: I love my job! But is it a career? I'm not completely certain. But I do love what I do: I love the people I work with, the people I work for, and the people I serve. I love the flexibility and the non-monotonous job-description. I love that what I do matters. I love that someday, a kid may grow into a teen who makes the right choice because of a conversation I have had with her. I love that someday, the generation of youth whom I serve may have a positive influence on this world and the generation behind them because of something I have taught them. So, is this a career? The degrees listed on my diplomas may not necessarily be required for this job, but they certainly have helped me along the way. If I consider the synonyms for career -- vocation, calling, work, lifework, livelihood -- then I could confidently say that, yes, perhaps this is a career after all.
Career: Check.
Family: What is a family? Is it a husband, 2.5 kids, and a dog? Well I have a husband....and a cat! I'm a few years out on the kids though...and a dog. Although, half the battle has been won just by finding my Mr. Right. The rest will come in due time.
Family: No check.
House: I have a roof over my head and heat in the winter, but that's not quite what I envisioned for my 'home.' I have one over-sized bedroom with a small walk-in closet. I have a kitchen with no counter space nor cupboards. I have a coat closet that serves as my pantry and chairs that serve as a coat-rack. I have dreams for a house someday, as soon as we can pay off my school loans...at least I have a career!
House: No check.
One-out-of-three. Not great. Luckily, the year ahead is a leap year so I have an extra day before the big 3-0 when I have to have my life figured out. Or I could always become one of those women who turn 29 year after year, in which case I've got the rest of my time of earth to figure things out...I like that idea! ;)
September 15, 2011
June 1, 2011
I Dare You...
So many people wonder why. Why would I spend my "vacation" serving others. Why would I not go to the beach or some other tourist-trap location?
I dare people to try it. Once. And then try to NOT do it again. I dare you. To me, it can't be done.
Once you spend time immersing yourself in another culture, spend time working side-by-side with the poor, spend time falling in love with the people and the traditions of a foreign land, spend time learning about the injustices in other parts of the world, once you have done these things, you will know why.
You will know why I choose to spend my vacations in this manner, why I choose to seek out opportunities to travel to countries where I have never been to truly get to know the pulse of that country--not as a tourist, but as a servant. You will know why this is an addicting habit--why I live from trip to trip.
Try it. Once. I dare you.
I dare people to try it. Once. And then try to NOT do it again. I dare you. To me, it can't be done.
Once you spend time immersing yourself in another culture, spend time working side-by-side with the poor, spend time falling in love with the people and the traditions of a foreign land, spend time learning about the injustices in other parts of the world, once you have done these things, you will know why.
You will know why I choose to spend my vacations in this manner, why I choose to seek out opportunities to travel to countries where I have never been to truly get to know the pulse of that country--not as a tourist, but as a servant. You will know why this is an addicting habit--why I live from trip to trip.
Try it. Once. I dare you.
January 23, 2011
GV Trip: By the Numbers
03/19/2011-03/27/2011
22 Team Members:
14 Women
8 Men
17 USA
2 Canada
2 Argentina
1 Mexico
12 First-timers
10 Experienced GVers
$7,000US Cost to build 1 home in El Salvador
132 Number of homes being built in the Brisas del Jiboa Community
5-6 Number of active construction sites at any one time
$21,000US Amount of project-funding we have been challenged to raise
55 Days From Now...
22 Team Members:
14 Women
8 Men
17 USA
2 Canada
2 Argentina
1 Mexico
12 First-timers
10 Experienced GVers
$7,000US Cost to build 1 home in El Salvador
132 Number of homes being built in the Brisas del Jiboa Community
5-6 Number of active construction sites at any one time
$21,000US Amount of project-funding we have been challenged to raise
55 Days From Now...
January 18, 2011
How you ever gonna know?
How do you know that you've become who you're supposed to be? How do you know if you're living the life you're supposed to live?
These are questions I have been battling for awhile now. For most of my life I felt some sort of inner-drive or inner-call. I didn't always know exactly where I was going or what I was doing, but I always felt led, always felt I was doing what I was supposed to do. I was never afraid to stand up for what I believed in, to speak out against social norms, and to truly live the life I felt I was called to live.
Several years and two college degrees later, I'm no longer as sure that I'm doing what I'm supposed to do. I still stand up for what I believe in, even when that means going against the grain. In the simplest of forms, I value the same things now that I always have: God, family, and friends, although how I value these things has changed over the years.
I now value God for my relationship with Him, for His companionship, for His mercy and grace, for His unending love, and for His Son, my Savior, who somehow managed to live a perfect life in this sin-filled world of judgment and hate.
I then valued God for His presence in my life and for giving me a religion on which to base my values.
I now value my family for friendship and love, for a husband who was not even a thought back then, for parents who have truly become friends, for a brother who has grown into a great American hero, and for a sister-in-law I never knew if I would meet.
I then valued family for unconditional love and acceptance and for providing support and guidance throughout my life.
I now value friends for their strength when I am weak, for knowing the song to my soul, for advice, for comfort, and for laughter.
I then valued friends for their fun and the memories we made.
And, although I have these same values as so many years ago, I somehow have misplaced my internal-compass. I no longer feel like I know where I'm going. I feel like I'm at a crossroad, and yet each direction leads to further crossroads, like no path is certain. I stand here, hoping that internal-compass will flick back on and lead me down the path where I belong. I pray that God leads me where I am supposed to go and blesses me as I grow into the person who I am supposed to be. Until the day comes that I once again feel complete calmness in my soul about the direction I'm going, I will pray in wonder over every decision I make.
Below are lyrics to a Garth Brooks song that always pull at my heart every time I hear them. It speaks to the spiritual, Truth-seeking side of me, in addition to the soul-searching side of me.
How you ever gonna know
by Garth Brooks:
You know failure isn't failure
If a lesson from it's learned
I guess love would not be love
Without a risk of being burned
Anything in life worth havin'
Lord, it has its sacrifice
But the gift that you're receiving
Is worth more than a price
Listen not to the critics
Who put their own dreams on the shelf
If you want to get the truth to admit it
You gotta find out for yourself
How you ever gonna know
What it's like to be there
How you ever gonna know
If you're the best
How you ever gonna know
What you believe in
If you don't put it to the test
How you ever gonna know
What livin' means
How you ever gonna know
If you never chase the dreams
How you ever gonna know
Your potential
How you ever gonna know victory
How you ever gonna know
What it's like when dreams become reality
How you ever gonna know
What it's like to dance
How you ever gonna know
If you never take a chance
These are questions I have been battling for awhile now. For most of my life I felt some sort of inner-drive or inner-call. I didn't always know exactly where I was going or what I was doing, but I always felt led, always felt I was doing what I was supposed to do. I was never afraid to stand up for what I believed in, to speak out against social norms, and to truly live the life I felt I was called to live.
Several years and two college degrees later, I'm no longer as sure that I'm doing what I'm supposed to do. I still stand up for what I believe in, even when that means going against the grain. In the simplest of forms, I value the same things now that I always have: God, family, and friends, although how I value these things has changed over the years.
I now value God for my relationship with Him, for His companionship, for His mercy and grace, for His unending love, and for His Son, my Savior, who somehow managed to live a perfect life in this sin-filled world of judgment and hate.
I then valued God for His presence in my life and for giving me a religion on which to base my values.
I now value my family for friendship and love, for a husband who was not even a thought back then, for parents who have truly become friends, for a brother who has grown into a great American hero, and for a sister-in-law I never knew if I would meet.
I then valued family for unconditional love and acceptance and for providing support and guidance throughout my life.
I now value friends for their strength when I am weak, for knowing the song to my soul, for advice, for comfort, and for laughter.
I then valued friends for their fun and the memories we made.
And, although I have these same values as so many years ago, I somehow have misplaced my internal-compass. I no longer feel like I know where I'm going. I feel like I'm at a crossroad, and yet each direction leads to further crossroads, like no path is certain. I stand here, hoping that internal-compass will flick back on and lead me down the path where I belong. I pray that God leads me where I am supposed to go and blesses me as I grow into the person who I am supposed to be. Until the day comes that I once again feel complete calmness in my soul about the direction I'm going, I will pray in wonder over every decision I make.
Below are lyrics to a Garth Brooks song that always pull at my heart every time I hear them. It speaks to the spiritual, Truth-seeking side of me, in addition to the soul-searching side of me.
How you ever gonna know
by Garth Brooks:
You know failure isn't failure
If a lesson from it's learned
I guess love would not be love
Without a risk of being burned
Anything in life worth havin'
Lord, it has its sacrifice
But the gift that you're receiving
Is worth more than a price
Listen not to the critics
Who put their own dreams on the shelf
If you want to get the truth to admit it
You gotta find out for yourself
How you ever gonna know
What it's like to be there
How you ever gonna know
If you're the best
How you ever gonna know
What you believe in
If you don't put it to the test
How you ever gonna know
What livin' means
How you ever gonna know
If you never chase the dreams
How you ever gonna know
Your potential
How you ever gonna know victory
How you ever gonna know
What it's like when dreams become reality
How you ever gonna know
What it's like to dance
How you ever gonna know
If you never take a chance
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