Live your love.

I recently read this book. It's a very touching story.. and actually true. It's about a wealthy art dealer who befriended a homeless man with the encouragement of his wife. Both the art dealer and the homeless man wrote the book together... and I tell you.. It's amazing to read both parts, but the art dealer was seriously transformed and changed through this friendship. It has caused me to sit back and evaluate some of the friendships in my own life. I have been changed by many of them, but I am also eager to start new relationships with people very different than me. There is still so much in our lives to learn. We are ever changing, growing, evolving people. One thing that stuck out to me in the most in this story is that Ron (the wealthy art dealer) at one point of their friendship realized and said that he was ashamed that he ever thought of himself as better than Denver (the homeless man). I think we can so easily get in this mind set when doing service of thinking we ...

My glass seems to be half full lately. I would say I'm a pretty optimistic person in general, but I think the nice weather lately gives me an extra burst of JOY! I'm really thankful for the people in my life. I'm eager to see where life takes me, but I'm enjoying living in the NOW. Thanks to you for being in my life and for loving me well. Amen.

Today was probably one of the first Easter Sundays that I didn't step into a "church building." However, today was one of the most memorable Easter celebrations that I have ever had. A group of people gathered together at our pastor's house today with the focus of really REJOICING in the resurrection. What a joyous day in which I can reflect on how my life is transformed because Jesus died on the cross for me. The importance of this day was to celebrate with the people I have been living life with. I am transformed because of what Jesus did and who Jesus is! I need Easter to be a daily thing. I need reminders of why I choose to serve and to live life in this way. I need people to live life with and challenge me. I need people to ask me hard questions and to ask hard questions to. I need to live in His kingdom daily. Let's participate in it together, shall we? N.T. Wright, from Surprised by Hope : Insofar as the [resurrection] is interpr...

So I am starting to feel like this is official! I have made my travel arrangements to go to Uganda for 5 weeks this summer to volunteer as an Occupational Therapist for Spring of Hope Ministries. Words cannot express the excitement and nervousness I am feeling. I will fly out of Chicago on June 8th and return to Chicago on July 15th. So much to think about and prepare.... It's going to be good stuff though :0.

Yesterday I got to hang out with some college friends in the mountains. There was good snow, good company, fun skiing, great food, and awesome conversations. It's interesting how you never really finish getting to know someone. Humans are such fluid beings, ever changing, growing, learning... Even if you spend everyday with someone, there still seems to be new things to learn about them. That makes life so interesting. It also encourages me never become complacent with my conversations with others.. especially people I've known for years. So continue to dig deeper and ask those hard questions.. you'll be surprised what you hear.