madness

I wish that I could show you how crazy my sister and brother-in-law's garage looks right now. She and I just finished getting all of our crap out there for a garage sale tomorrow and Saturday morning, and I'm pretty sure you couldn't fit another darn thing in there. It looks like a freakin Value City or TJ Maxx or Marshalls or something.

She said if anyone drives by thinking "ah, there's not much there..." she'll chase them down. There is bound to be something for everyone in that garage...

and considering it's midnight and i'm tired from an evening of retail arrangements in the garage and a glass of wine and the fact that i'm getting up even EARLIER on a Friday off than I would on a day of work to sell our wares...I should publish this most pointless blog ever and go to bed.

Goodnight.

mecca lecca hi mecca hiny ho

-the other night while watching Ace of Cakes, one of my fave shows, they cast a spell on a cake (joking, of course, they're not satanic, people!) with Pee-Wee Herman's old genie's phrase that you see above. i miss it. i want to start using it more often. along with gangsta words like "shawty" and "boo" and "grill" and whatever else I can come up with. just for fun.

-i am somewhat seriously considering going on the show Don't Forget the Lyrics, as remembering many songs' lyrics is one of my specialties. i've already printed out the application but haven't a clue what i'd do on my video...any ideas of what I should do to show my personality?

-as per my previous statement, i'm also taking willing and knowledgeable volunteers who may be good candidates for my 2 people to have as support in case i do not know a certain lyric or genre. anyone wanna be my "backup singers?" should i win some big money and you actually provide me with lyrical assistance, you will obviously get something out of it.

-continuing on with TV shows, I'm missing last year's cast of SYTYCD (So You Think You Can Dance) like we were BFF. I watched 4 episodes on videotape from last year 2 nights in a row last week just to rekindle our friendship. So far this year I think I'm going to like Dominic & Sabra the best...who do you like?

-If you didn't watch The Next Food Network Star, it's too late. This Sunday they'll reveal who wins, and I strongly hope it's Amy and not Rory. And the drama with JAG was quite interesting and overdramatic, in my opinion. Thoughts, anyone?

-SOAPnet--thank you for playing reruns of The O.C. during the hour of 5-6 p.m. when my evening is most boring.

-Budweiser--thank you for beginning to play the Real Men of Genius commercials once again. I think they are creative genius.

and p.s. I do have a life outside of TV...i think.

the cost of entertainment...

I have a hard time enjoying fireworks, and this just began a few years ago for me. I think they're beautiful, and they're such a uniting way to celebrate our country's independence for the 4th, but something in me has had a hard time fully enjoying their beauty. I grew up in the big metropolis of Streator, IL, and we have always had great fireworks. In fact, just in case you didn't already know, Streator is ranked in the top 5 of the best fireworks displays in the state of Illinois. We're right up there in battle with Peoria, and I believe Chicago may be the only other city that has us all beat. (Though Chicago's fireworks on the 4th @ the Taste were lame...I'm hoping their display on the 3rd was better...otherwise I'd say Streator's got them beat for sure!) We don't have much else to boast about, so our fireworks have become our claim to fame. They really are very good.

Just a few years ago I realized how very expensive fireworks are. I must have read an article in the Streator Times-Press about how much they cost a long time ago when it was around $10,000, and now Streator's display averages around $35,000 in cost. This money is raised by donations, raffles, 50-50 drawings, etc. It's amazing to see a community donate so much money to something like this, and it baffles me.

People are willing to give their money to something that lasts for about 30 minutes and it becomes a city-wide, regionally-acclaimed and highly attended event. Over the past few years I've struggled with wondering why people donate to such a thing and not to something that could actually make a difference in the lives of people. Fireworks are beautiful, but they don't do much other than provide entertainment. I wish our city could forego fireworks for even one year and donate the $35,000 to people who actually need it in countries that may not be so blessed with freedom and independence. Maybe that's just wishful thinking...

But this year I got to thinking as we watched the fireworks that a mere $35,000 is nothing in comparison to the money we spend on other forms of entertainment. I can't blame Streator or other cities for spending money on that when millions and billions of dollars go into making movies and TV shows for our entertainment as well. If, instead of giving up fireworks, someone would give up the money it takes to make a big name film or the ridiculous money spent on stupid movies made like Beer Fest or Snakes on a Plane or Knocked Up or any movie Eddie Murphy or the Wayans brothers have ever made trying to dress up like a fat black lady, then maybe...just maybe we could make a dent in the needs of the world.

I just have a dream for America that is different than being known for our freedom and our rights and independence. I wish we would be known for being people of compassion and people that care about the countries of the world that are not like our own. I wish people were more conscious of what they spend their money on. I'm as guilty as the next person, and entertainment is a completely valid thing that God has given us to enjoy. Afterall, He's the one who has given people the ability to create and imagine and provide entertainment.

Now realizing that the costs of fireworks are nothing in comparison to what we spend gobs of money on every single day, I think I'll be able to enjoy them from now on. At least I hope I can, because I think it's alright to be thankful for and celebrate what we have. I just hope we can extend that to the world.

And all of these thoughts sparked just from a few fireworks...
Imagine what a little change could do.

oh blue sky, you got somethin on me...

please know that the title of this blog has absolutely nothing to do with anything else I'll write, except for the fact that it's the first line of "Ancient Voices" by The Gabe Dixon Band, which I love.

I'm thinking about a lot of things lately, and I'd love to expound on them more. For now, these are just fleeting thoughts in no particular order:

-----It's funny how when we're little we just want to be older. And when we're older we just want to be young again. I definitely fear getting old...I hate seeing what it does to people I love. Alzheimer's is hitting our family a little closer to home w/ my grandma, and it's scary how our bodies and minds can do something so strange. It's hard to watch someone suffer through it and not know what's going on.

-----The sunset has this incredible power to mesmerize me every time. And no matter what anyone says, I love the flatlands of Illinois. We have the most beautiful horizons with blue skies, green grass or corn fields, a country barn here and there, all against the backdrop of a beautifully painted sky. I think mountains would just get in the way...I just enjoy seeing for miles and miles...call me crazy.

-----Yesterday at church I was reminded that no matter what we do, we are never beyond God's reach. I know this and have always known this, but I think I am learning to really know it. Does that make sense? There is no depth we can sink to--whether that be in sin, anger, depression, doubt, indifference--that is beyond his reach. He'll stoop as low as it takes to bring us back. That's a loving God.

-----The iPhone...let's talk about this for just a second. I appreciate Apple's brilliance and the fact that this phone has just about every feature one might find need for with the touch of a button. However, I'm saddened daily by our need to hold the world in the palm of our hands. We make everything convenient. We make everything fit into our world and at the touch of a button. It scares me for the future, because a life of convenience means a life without much dependence on anything or anyone else. We're already too independent and reliant on ourselves or technology. Besides that, most people who are going to purchase an iPhone or who have waited in line for one are likely already owners of a mac computer, an iPod, and who knows what other gadgets. I just think it can be bad stewardship... (not in every case...there are legitimage reasons why some have need for these things, don't get me wrong here! and of course i'd love to have an iPhone, but i certainly don't have money for one and it's not a priority on my 'things to spend money on' list)

-----Completely random: Last week when I was running I found myself praying for Whitney Houston. What? I know...random. I had the song "Fine" on my music list and wondered why she had to go and mess herself up with drugs. I feel bad for her b/c she really needs serious help. So I prayed for her. Celebrities need Jesus too. :)

-----I found a sweet red wine that I've really been enjoying the past few nights before bed. I normally only like whites, but I really like this one that I found at Wal-Mart, and it's from a local winery near St. Louis. However, it's making me have some crazy dreams the past few nights...

While all of these things are somewhat fleeting thoughts, they're all ones (except for the last one, really) that I have mentally made note of and want to think/write about more. Someday I will. Just not today.

I Miss Mayberry...

Lately I've been incredibly nostalgic when I take my evening walks or run outside through the streets and sidewalks of Lincoln. Summer nights can put a smile on my face no matter what kind of day I've had. I don't even mind the humidity as long as it's warm at night. Two weeks ago I was in California and I hated that the evenings were chilly. I never thought I'd prefer Illinois over California, but I definitely enjoy our summer nights a little more.

I love summertime in general, but the evenings make me happiest and most nostalgic. While I was running the other night, I was disappointed in how many empty front porches there were. Living in an apartment, I miss having a front porch or a back patio or a yard to sit on. I can't comprehend why so many people buy furniture for their porches or patios and never actually use it. This is my plea: if you have furniture outside, please use it. Or I will come sit on your porch for you...

While I was walking, my mind kept running through all the things I miss about being a kid on a summer night. I ran past a baseball field and suddenly missed the sounds of the ballparks in Streator on a summer night. From our house you could hear the fans at Southside (where the boys baseball fields were) and at Bodznick Field (where the girls played softball). You could see the lights in the distance and hear dozens of parents yelling for their kids. I miss walking down there to watch friends or boys I had a crush on play. I miss going to Owens' field or Kimes School to watch my dad play in the city or church softball league. One of his favorite things to do was play and coach softball, and I loved going to games. If nothing else, it was always good for a Sno-Cone, a Jolly Rancher stick (particularly Peach or Fire flavored...), some Laffy Taffy w/ sugar crystals on it, or some Fun Dip.

I miss playing outside with the neighbor kids as long as we possibly could until our moms would call us in for dinnertime. We'd rush back out after dinner and play long and hard. On a few occasions, we'd set up our tent outside (which was the furthest it ever went camping) and sleep in the backyard hoping the earwigs (the bugs w/ pinchers on the front) wouldn't actually crawl in our ears.

I miss running around and catching lightning bugs in glass jars and trying to keep them alive. In my more aggressive times, I miss smashing them on the sidewalk just to see the yellow glow for a few lingering seconds. I even miss searching for nightcrawlers in the ground after a good summer rain so we'd have worms for the next fishing day at Lazy Acres or Sandy Ford.

I miss lighting sparklers on the 4th of July and running around writing my name in the air with the little fire-y stick. I miss watching the fireworks in the back of my dad's truck sitting on a cooler or laying on a blanket. I miss bonfires with our old neighbors when mom and dad would let me stay out with all of the cool adults.

I miss all these things about being a kid, but I'm glad to have such great memories. I keep telling myself that now is the time to start making more. Instead of just reminiscing, I want to keep creating them.

observations in transit

-Today as I was running in Lincoln I passed a house that used to be all white siding. Someone apparently got in the mood for red, white, and blue, because they painted every other row of siding red and a large blue square in the upper left corner of the house. Someone really loves flags...

-While driving to Anderson, IN last night to visit our CIY team girls at conference, I noticed a large billboard for Hemorrhoid Pain. I suppose that's a pretty good advertisement idea since you're communicating with people who are sitting while driving and just might be in some pain...

-I've begun to wonder if there will be eternal construction on I-74 near Danville, IL...I think there has been for as long as I can remember.

-It's not only in Lincoln that people don't know how to drive. I'm learning that this is a worldwide phenomenon.

California...knows how to party...

...in the citaaaay of L.A....we keep it rockin'.... now shake, shake it baby...shake shake it mama, shake shake it baby, shake it cali...

It's funny that as I typed that I didn't realize until just now as I sang it in my head that "Shake it" was in those lyrics and that's the theme of this NACCAP conference we're at. It's "Shake It Up" so every time someone says it, I just do a little booty shake.

So anyway, Lindsey, Davis, and I are at Biola University right now in La Mirada, CA for the NACCAP (National Association for Christian College Admissions Personnel) Conference. It started last night and we were exhausted b/c according to CA time, we were up at 2:30 a.m. yesterday morning to catch our flight.

Interestingly enough, I think IL is warmer in the mornings and evenings than it is here. It's really chilly with the wind here, but it's really hot in the sunshine in the afternoon. We have built-in beach time tomorrow with the conference, so we're looking fwd to that for sure! Wednesday is the end of the conference and we're staying an extra day and a half to chill and enjoy the SoCal sunshine and hopefully hang out w/ our old buddy Lindsay Heston who is acting out here in Hollywood. (I just linked her name w/ imdb.com because she has a page on there...watch out for this girl, she's coming out!)

So that's about all I've got...other than the fact that we may go say hey to Paris in jail...

Fathers be good to your daughters...daughters will love like you do.

So awhile back I had a message from Gregory E. Lang about his upcoming book about fathers and daughters. He's collecting stories from both fathers and daughters about their relationships, and so I sent him a small story about my dad and me. I won't share the entire thing here (as it's 3 pages long...I suppose it's not such a "small" story after all, but I'm long-winded and have plenty of memories to share about my dad!), but if you'd like to see the small part of it that Gregory Lang shared on his blog you can click here. He shares a daily diary from each story he receives. Some of what I wrote may or may not appear in his book when it comes out this fall. Either way, I'm glad to have great memories to share of my dad!

I hope with Father's Day coming up that everyone is able to show appreciation for their dads. I know that parenting is tough...not because I am a parent myself (somedays I wonder if I ever will be one...), but because I know how much of a bratty child I was! So many people have different relationships with their dads...some are close with their dads, some dads are never around, some parents are divorced, some dads are abusive, some dads are super-dads, some dads push their children too much, and so on... No matter what kind of dad you have, I hope there is pride and love and honor in your relationship.

For some who have a broken relationship with a father, it's encouraging to know a God who presents Himself in scripture as a Father. It's such great imagery for how He rears us as His children. He loves us but He has to punish us for that reason. He may be disappointed in us at times, but He won't disown us. He gives and takes away as necessary and knows what's best for us. He pushes us to do things like learn how to ride a bike without training wheels...knowing that we might fall off, but we will learn with His guiding hand. He teaches us and shows us different things about the world and life when He knows we're ready to hear it. Dads fix our cars when they're broken, and God fixes our hearts when they're broken.

There are countless parallels between earthly fathers and our Father in heaven. It might sound cliche, and it might not seem relative to those who hardly know their earthly fathers or who have one that may be an alcoholic or abusive or absent, but that's why I love the Father. He'll never fail. He'll never hurt us. He'll never leave. I'm thankful to have had two amazing Fathers.

things & stuff

So I have a new nephew!!! Evan Richard Kreitzer was born on Tuesday morning, and I'm proud to have the cutest niece and nephew ever! You can see a few more pictures on my sister's blog, but here are a few others:

Isn't he such a doll? My sister told David the other day in the hospital, "We make cute kids." I agree. You should tell her good job... ;)

I was looking at my fridge last night @ little Cameron David Raymer's birth announcement (which has been up for awhile now...), and I started thinking about how weird we are in American culture. (stick with me for a second...) I think it's funny that we always ask the length and weight of babies when they're born. Of course when they come out we're wondering how huge they are or how tiny they are, but it's just a funny thing that we always ask. (By the way, Evan was 7 lbs., 10 oz. and 21 inches long.) I'm wondering if we should start asking each other our height and weight on birthdays? I don't think that would go over very well...

In other news... the best show EVER started last night: So You Think You Can Dance. I am already amazed and inspired. I wish I was still a good dancer. I was never that good, but I could dance. I just need an outlet for it these days...

And another exciting piece of information is this: John Mayer's playing FOR FREE @ the Taste of Chicago this summer on the 4th of July. I'm so there. For once I shall have an exciting 4th of July! woo-hoo!

And on that note, I'm going home because our office is empty and it's Friday of a 3-day weekend.

Heider wedding...

This weekend was the long-awaited Heider wedding. My best friend from high school, Kristy Kerestes, married her high school sweetheart Craig Heider. They've been dating for 10 years now, so this marriage has been a long time coming! It was a gorgeous day for a wedding, and Kristy was a beautiful bride! I must say...the bridal party was pretty good looking too, if I can say so myself... =) It was somewhat like a high school class reunion, which can be both good and bad, but it was fun!

Here are some pictures!

me & Kristy @ the rehearsal dinnerthe bridesmaids @ the rehearsal dinner

me & my pretty momma @ the church

our pretty flowersKristy & Craig in front of the Hummer Limo we anxiously awaited...Kristy & Craig's reflection I caught in the limo...so cool!The girls...The boys...haven't changed since high school!The party in the limo...once again, these guys haven't changed...the cute bride & groom...while the ringbearer Trevor witnesses a lot more than he should have seen!Kristy & her adorable cake!!!The girls...we were having some fun!Kristy & Craig...the cute couple!

Reality TV time...

Mmmk...I have to write about reality TV just for this one moment.

Let's chat, just for a sec...mmk?

#1: The Bachelor. I confess. I am emotionally attached to the idea of Andy & Tessa. Bevin is completely annoying, and I can't even figure out why. Also, she never thinks twice about anything but says exactly what she knows Andy wants to hear. Folks, this is a problem with the beginning stages of relationships (and I know this as a SINGLE person...), and it has got to stop. Tessa, on the other hand, has been playing it wisely by not putting herself out there completely emotionally. If it makes ME smile watching the two of them together, and I don't even know them personally, it just has to be her. If he chooses Bevin over her in the end, I nominate him for the award of "Hottest but Dumbest Man Alive." On a different note, I'm completely jealous of their amazing dates. I'd certainly love to go on an all day date in Hawaii...but for now, I'd be fine w/ just any kind of date...this warm weather's making me want some summer love!

#2: American Idol: It really doesn't matter right now who wins. They're all going to have record deals, and I'll want all of their albums. Though Melinda went home tonight (and it probably should have been Blake...), she'll have a million labels calling her as soon as her contract is up for the Idol tour. If Blake makes an album with the funky style of Maroon 5, I'm so in. I love his style and can't wait to see something of his own. Jordin is just amazing. That girl can saaang. Sidenote: Adam Levine is hott. But his vocals didn't sound all that great live.

#3: Tori & Dean: Inn Love: My sister and I might be the only ones who have watched and loved this show. I've gained a completely new respect for Tori Spelling since the days of Donna Martin. Shocker of the century: she's a real person! As are all celebrities, but she is really funny and doesn't hide anything like most celebrities do! Her husband Dean McDermott has such a great personality and is just as funny as she is. I'm anxious to see how their B&B is going and how the new baby Liam is getting along next fall when Season 2 returns.

#4: So You Think You Can Dance; It's coming, people...the return of the best show ever! I cannot wait until it starts! All I have to say is that Dan Karaty better still be choreographing and judging! And Mary Murphy better settle herself down for this season.

#5: National Bingo Night: Are game shows considered reality TV? I think so. I'm not gonna lie...I think I'm turning into a senile old woman who sits at home on Friday nights and does puzzles while drinking a glass of wine and watching Bingo on TV. You can bet I'll be watching and printing out my Bingo cards to play along with this one. Not so much to win, but because the host is Ed Sanders--my favorite carpenter ever from Extreme Makeover: Home Edition! He is adorable. That's all I need to convince me to play Bingo on a friday night.

this is kinda cool...

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good things

I almost posted a list of things that drive me insane lately (i.e. the trains that so loudly blow their whistles constantly by my apartment or the idiot drivers in this town...), but I thought I should focus on the things that are good instead.


Here are some random things that make me happy these days:
*warm weather and sunshine

*the smell of outside in the mornings and evenings

*the smell of freshly cut grass

*the refund check for $51 I got in the mail yesterday from the $1000 I paid the dentist for my crowns...

*all my favorite shows on TV: The Bachelor, Tori & Dean: Inn Love, The Office, Grey's Anatomy...

*hearing a great song on the radio like "More than a Feeling" by Boston and blaring it with the windows down

*the fact that my baby nephew Evan is about to arrive any day now!!!

*fun memories that pop into my head out of nowhere and remind me of my dad

*looking fwd to seeing good friends like heidi and amanda this weekend at graduation! (not their graduations, but their younger sisters...which makes me feel so old!!!)

because it just needs to be said...

I realize compared to my last post, this one is completely pointless and meaningless. But I just need to vent.

There are some songs that I just cannot stand right now, and I wish I could send a memo to all radio stations to either limit or cancel their play of such ridiculousness. If I had to make a top 10 list of worst songs on the radio right now, this would be it:

#10: This is Why I'm Hot, by Mims. My brother-in-law likes to think this is his theme song, and it's pretty funny to hear him sing it. I like the chorus, but it gets slightly too repetitive and I get bored about 30 seconds into the song.

#9: How to Save a Life, by The Fray. OK, I like the Fray. But not when we hear the same song over and over again. This one was good like a year ago when the CD came out, thanks.

#8: She's Like the Wind, by Lumidee. Who the freak is Lumidee? And though Patrick Swayze attempted to pull this one off for Dirty Dancing and it somehow worked for the movie, let's just leave this song alone from now on.

#7: Irreplaceable, by Beyonce. If you've read my blog before, you probably already know I'm not a fan of Beyonce. I just can't take anymore...but somehow, I like her song with Shakira...

#6: anything Nickelback. They all sound the same. Enough said.

#5: Don't Matter, by Akon. I cannot handle the part that goes "cause we gon' fight, oh yes we gon' fight, believe we gon' fight..." Way too nasally for his own good. I feel like I'm in munchkin land when I hear that part.

#4: Break It Off, by Rihanna and Sean Paul. What does it mean to be somebody's "shorty" anyway? I mean, I guess whenever I like some guy I could just sing to him "wanna know boy...if i can be your sho'tay..." hm...

#3: Over It, by Katharine McPhee. I heard this song for the first time and sorta liked it. Then about 30 seconds in it sounded like every other song that Hilary Duff, Kelly Clarkson, and all the other pop girls have had. I'm sooo over that.

#2: Lips of an Angel, by Hinder. In fact, ANYTHING by Hinder. I still can't believe some country artist stooped so low as to cover this song. Unbelievable. I feel like I'm being yelled at whenever I hear his voice.

#1: Glamorous, by Fergie. OK, Fergie. We get it...you know how to spell. You don't need to turn every song into a spelling bee. This song makes me cringe.

That's all for the sarcasm today, folks. I just had to get it off my chest.

'Till next time...

Around the World...Romania, Pt. 3

I'm back again...with more pictures and plenty of thoughts from my trip to Romania. Since I've been back it's been a whirlwind of events and being sick (I'm better now...had a not-so-fun bacterial infection of some sort) and finally trying to unpack my suitcases still after being back for 3 weeks. Today has been refreshing as it was the Christian Women's Conference at LCC (a.k.a. Ladies' Day or "Skip Day" to students...), and we had some great speakers. The day has had a somewhat cheesy reputation in the past, but it really is beginning to change. I listened to 2 of the speakers this morning (Priscilla Shirer and Lisa Harper) and they were both completely solid, not-fluffy, deep Biblical communicators. I was coming to Bloomington already this evening, so I was able to bring Lisa Harper and her assistant to the airport here. Just our conversation in the car was refreshing to me, and it was fun to talk to her! I think it was God-ordained that I brought her instead of one of the other speakers.


Anyway, we came earlier than planned, so I'm enjoying a little time in Panera to catch up, email, do some work, write, and now share some more of Romania with those of you who care enough to look!

In the car on the way here, Lisa was talking to me about some of my passions. There's no doubt that I'm passionate about music, but I can't get away from the fact that I have a strong passion for missions. Now, I know pretty darn well that I'm not cut out for being a full-time missionary on the field. I'm not trying to limit God at all, but I just don't think He's created me to do that. I think He's specifically given me the compassion to conribute, but my gifts and strengths work better to strengthen and support those who actually are in the field. I just hope someday I'll be making enough money to actually contribute...but then we can all keep waiting until we make "enough" and it will never be enough.

Missions is one of those things, though, which makes people reluctant to give money to. When you look at all of the TV commercials and so many organizations like Compassion and World Vision and Gospel for Asia and all of the places you can support, it's hard to know where your money's going to. I can speak for the latter 3 with the knowledge that they are truly giving their money to the little faces you see on the packets at concerts and other events. Their directors aren't living in mansions and driving Ferrari's on your dime. I'm thankful for that. I hope and pray that all of them are.

I'm digressing somewhat from what I wanted to share, but my point is this: the faces on those cards are real people. The money we have truly makes a HUGE difference in the lives of other people. I hate myself for spending $76 on a purse that isn't worth it knowing that I could have just fed a family for a month. I'm left, frustrated with myself, knowing I could have made a difference. Instead, I just have a different purse. This is sad.

These words about poverty and change don't carry much power or influence, though, until you see the need firsthand. While we were in Romania, we had the privilege of visiting a poor Romanian village. We delivered bags of necessary food and drink items to about 12 families that lived in huts made of blue tarp, random scraps of wood, cardboard, rugs, blankets, and anything else they can find. It was the closest I had ever come to true poverty, and it was unbelievable. These people live off of whatever they can scrounge up, and I can't help but wonder if their lives will ever be any different. Society gives them no value as human beings, so their chances of ever having a job are highly unlikely. They can only rely on the waste of other people and the compassion that the Church will hopefully have there in Romania.

Being there and able to see these homes, the people's faces, their few belongings, their pride in what they have, their need for what they don't...it is something that changes you. It's still changing me. I'm not fully there yet. But there's something about seeing the inside of a 10' x 10' house for a family with 5 kids, smelling the burning of a fire on which their little food is cooked, seeing & smelling human feces on the ground because there is nowhere else to go...these things cannot go untold. These people have stories that need to be shared, and that's the reason I write. Their lives have worth. That's the reason I have pictures to show you about this. It felt awkward taking pictures of their lives, because I didn't want them to feel like a spectacle. However, this is the only way I can bring a picture of their reality to yours and mine. Here's a bit of life that we can barely comprehend. Let it sink in a bit...

(above) We got to go in this house...
(below) This is the family who lives here...


(above) They brushed these things out of the way to "clean up" for us as we were able to enter their home.

(below) This was the inside of their tiny home, complete with rugs hanging on walls, one giant bed that this family of 5-6 all sleeps on, random articles of clothing piled up, and a radio playing with some music.

(above) A husband and wife proudly posed in front of their home for us.
(below) One of the little boys immediately started eating some cookies from a bag of Joe's (or similar Romanian wafer cookies) that we took them.

The picture above is one of my favorites and sums up what I felt inside of the tiny hut home we saw for about 3 minutes. This was the sheet hanging in their window in place of a curtain. I noticed the sun shining through the colorful fabric and couldn't help but think about the rays of hope that I so often miss. I hope the people living here can see the sunshine in the midst of their world that seems dark and empty. Their physical needs are great, and I'm sure their emotional needs are even greater. I pray that the light of truth is shed on their lives as their lives shine light into my own. It makes me praise God for His colors of creativity...

Around the World, Pt. 2

There is still so much to process as I look through my pictures from Romania. It's hard to describe the country or just the city of Oradea. The entire time we were there, I couldn't wrap my mind around a way to describe what it looked like, felt like, smelled like, tasted like...

...the only word I can come up with is this: unfinished. That's how it looks. Some things look Westernized, and others look completely undone. Some houses are big, beautiful, bright-colored homes with a gated driveway, and others might live a mile down the road in a hut made of tarp and random scraps of wood. Brand new things are being built while older buildings are in shambles. Either way--new or old--things just look like a work in progress, incomplete, unfinished.

While the looks of Romania seem unfinished, that was the feeling there in the hearts of the people. I don't think that's a bad place to be. In fact, I wish we allowed ourselves to be a little less finished and complete in our state both spiritually and economically as a nation. My instincts were to look down in pity at them as we often do other countries, because we think they have less than we have. While it may be true in the sense of belongings, I think we're missing a lot of the pieces that they seem to have in place. When we left, my joy was greater than I had experienced in a long time, and I know that's a piece that I found in Romania. I think there are many more left to find.

I'm still processing so much from this trip, but here are more pictures to enjoy and allow you to process some of the beauty of the city of Oradea and its people. I plan on posting more soon! Trust me, there are plenty...and these are only some of my favorites!