Sing Praise to Him

Today is a day of weird emotions, a day where I flash back to the night I witnessed my families house go up in flames. The day we lost all material possessions and remained glued to one another through love and faith. "You don't really know what you have until it's gone" has always rang especially true to me. As many of you know this vacation I had the opportunity to travel to New Orleans in a community that was directly impacted by hurricane Katrina. Never once before the tr ip did I expect to feel a connection- until speaking to two well known musicians of the area and it hit me, they too knew what it felt like to watch all the pictures and memories of a life long placed be washed away. I'm always grateful for what I have, and often I find myself frustrated in a society where people are continuously wanting more and more. To find an entire community that truly understood what it was like to live off of love, faith, & understand such a deep level of thanks wa...

Huge thanks to Project homecoming for allowing us to make their place our temporary home during our stay in New Orleans. It's amazing how anyone could welcome us with open arms. After a 30 hour drive we were surely ready to get out and about and into the city!  The picture below is an area that was "knew" before Hurricane Katrina hit.  Past this scene of destroyed buildings is an area vastly written with new story and homes. Placed on the foundation of what once was a house are levels of blue that represent how high the water levels reaches.  It's hard to imagine people hacking their way out of their own attics in order to breath, fighting for air. Believe it or not this house was in a neighborhood that was newly renovated,  Despite advices over the last ten years, parts of many areas still remain untouched after Katrina.   Below are images from a recent development started to help local wildlife grow. People are still in...

  30 hours on a bus, saying goodbye to the snowy hills of Maine and hello to the warmth of Nola.  Toss/turn, move all around out.  I was antsy to say the least.  If it weren't for dramamine, and my Bethel live playlist I'm not quite sure I would have made it out of that bus in one piece.  I wasn't sure what to expect out of the trip, but I did know I was excited. Excited to get to know everyone I was traveling with as well as meet others.  I'm thankful for blankets and pillows and patience. Oh lord, do I thank you for PATIENCE. 

         There is no doubt about it the Lord has given me a heart for traveling, but most importantly the gift (if I do so say myself) of finding the up most joy in helping other people.  I'm going to let you in on a secret: I HATED high school. Plain out hated it, from the social aspect to homework.  The greatest moments of those four years was that of my out reach experience.  Whether it was in my own community or traveling miles away to Costa Rica I found the more time spent helping the less time I spent over thinking my own life.         Many of my closest friends (esp. those from church) began to reach the "leaving the nest" time.  I was trying to sprint through my senior year as they were moving out of state, some- even out of country.  My heart longed for mission work, but the school system was screaming "COLLEGE."  Every day of school was a constant reminder and evaluation ...

         I am graciously overwhelmed by all of the support I have received concerning the February trip to New Orleans.  At first I was hesitant to sign up because I was unsure if I would be able to fundraise enough in such a short amount of time.  Though I remained hopeful and knew it was possible I was shocked to find that when I came home this weekend in just a few letters from supporting friends and family my trip is already half way paid for!        From Costa Rica to New Orleans, these opportunities would not be possible without the help of all of my friends and family who support me wether it be financially or through prayer and kind words.  The victims of hurricane Katrina are still re-building their lives, though this hurricane swept through in 2005 people all over the world are still coming together in the rebuilding of communities.  Thank you for giving me this opportunity.

          Fear is a funny mystery that reveals itself in ways that may not always seem 'normal'.  While being home I have felt anxious, discontent and annoyed in many ways.  I've spent day after day racking my brain trying to pin point what the heck is going on with me... Maybe I'm having an early life crisis, that happens right? Or maybe I'm not really happy, college isn't for everyone..        As I watch my closest friends I spent my high school years with getting engaged, married some even expecting I can't help but feel that I'm trying to play catch up. I've aways felt frustrated that people try and compare themselves to others, wanting what they have and you lack.  Yet here I was angry that I feel like my life is on some sort of stand still.  Like God has all my friends on an escalator on rabbit speed and mine is broken down- not moving forward, not moving backwards.     I remember thinking here i...

          Many people dislike the hype over new years resolutions often ranting that people should not wait until the last day of the year deciding on how and what to change about their lives.  However, there is something viable and precious about making new goals towards a better year.  How is anyone suppose to grow if they never look back and learn from their present failures and mishaps?         Over the next few days I challenge those to reflect on their year, 2014- the good the bad and the ugly (only if you dare).  John 15:5 states, "I am the vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in me, and I in him, he will bear much fruit: apart from me you can do anythi ng. “   Therefore with God the center and foundation of your resolutions they do have a chance of succeeding. So pray, seek answers and think back on what you have learned. 2015 brings in fresh life- so ponder the past but breath in the new.  I wonder...