When I get bored I pull out the swords (Sai)

ILLEGAL!

Okay so my blog title is a little exaggerated! Today was a pretty fun day.
Tonight a few of us from the english service band from church played worship for the "Renacer Conference" Renacer is a ministry that reaches out to the community and helps people with addictions and other things. After that we ate at Dennys and had a fun time of sharing jokes (lame jokes)-

What's black and white and black and white and black and white? A penguin rolling down a hill. haha

Whats black and white and laughs? The penguin that pushed the other penguin down the hill. haha

A neutron walks into the bar and asks how much is a drink.... The bar tender said.. for you.. no charge! haha

 -and some weird game on Alex's phone. After that we went to Tropical Park and it was so awesome being there at night, I felt like I was in a jungle released in the wild running like maniacs and going up the hill and running down the hill when we got caught! We all carpooled and so the whole time we were worried they were going to lock us in, or arrest us, or some crazy thing like that! but nothing really happened, after ten minutes or so a security came and told us we had to leave. All in all it was such a great night of worship, eating, and hanging out!

Picture Perfect

Hey ladies and gents.. Its been a while. I came across this picture and decided I needed to blog. When I took a look at this I was just reminded of the pressures society puts on women to look a certain way. We are persuaded by our culture to believe that this is what beauty looks like. In Gods word in Psalms 139 He says that He made us that He knows us.
For you ^(P)formed my inward parts;
    you ^(Q)knitted me together in my mother's womb.
¹⁴ I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.^[a]
(R)Wonderful are your works;
    my soul knows it very well.
Men probably feel the same way with thinking they have to have the ripped abs, and act a certain way. No one is really exempt from an "ideal" beauty or handsomeness. Although it is good to be healthy, this shouldn't take a priority in our lives or make us feel like we are worth any less or any more. The important thing to know is that you are beautiful as you are... and as cliche as that sounds it is true. What we should work at is our inner beauty and focussing on how God views us.

When you first saw this picture what did you think?

ok you gotta do this!

Weekend in Cuba

Melody's Surgery

Everything went well for Melody's scoliosis surgery praise God!  It was also my aunts birthday so we cut her a nice cake <3

Learn FRENCH and ITALIAN with me!

The SYSTEM

Though it is okay for classes like math and english to be part of our curriculum,

we are teaching the new generation that life is all about work, and counting cash. I believe through my experience that when I am taking a class just to learn and not to feel pressured by tests, I do much better because I study for the art of the subject at hand. 

Many countries are so knowledgable on many subjects like art, literature, sculptures, paintings, music, etc like the Europeans. Americans seem to be falling behind. I strongly believe our government to be choosing wrong methods for education. Maybe our government is not to blame entirely for they too were probably raised to finish a race and not for the love of the subject. But I definitely think that they are to blame for running like horses with a noseband and not making a change. And not only is our government to blame but we are to blame ourselves for not speaking up. 

Life is but a momentary lapse and it should be about enjoying the little things as well. There is a balance to life and I strongly believe education should be both core subjects and arts. Perhaps, schools should implement education outside of the 4 walls of a classroom. For example, a science or biology class should be able to step outside and enjoy creation as they explain it, there should be visits to museums etc. I as a student would rather learn something for the beauty of it instead of just simply learning it to pass tests like the SATs or FCAT or a simple college test and then discarding the information from my brain the next day.

Demureness!

Questions I acquired from http://www.girltalkhome.com/blog/category/modesty/

-What do our clothes say about our heart?

-In choosing what clothes to wear, whose attention do I desire and whose approval do I crave? Am I seeking to please God or impress others?

-Is what I wear consistent with biblical values of modesty, self-control and respectable apparel, or does my dress reveal an inordinate identification and fascination with sinful cultural values?

Proverbs 31:30

Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

1 Peter 3:3-4

Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.

2 Corinthians 4:16 

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.

Psalm 139:14 

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well

READY, SET,GO!!!! Wait no.. STOP!?

I feel like time passes and we don't have a set notion of where we are at times. We forget what day it is, what year it is, what time it is, and we basically live like ants doing are daily routines and getting no where very quickly. It seems to me as if I were stuck in a time warp of races to meaningless finish lines! When we're in school, well we study our brains out in order to pass a test and then the next day we forget 85% of the things learned. When we're working hard for something all we think about is that something and how in the world we will accomplish it and by no means am i discrediting that working hard and setting goals for yourself is a bad idea. But usually by the end of every single thing I'm always left wanting more. 

I just think we should stop and acknowledge the little things in life. The sun rising every single morning, how the sky is painted during our busy days. I feel as if I'm getting lost in translation, lost in the busyness of my days. I know I repeat myself a lot but when you stop and ponder, the only race and goal worth living for daily and the one goal that will never leave us empty and dry is living for Christ. Like a milk carton we all have our expiration date in this world. When we get down to the nit and gritty nothing will give us more satisfaction and fill the void in our hearts like Christ does. My pastor always gives the illustration of a doughnut. 

A doughnut has a very distinct characteristic from most foods in that it has a hole in the middle. If you will, we are just like the doughnut created with an empty void or hole that only Christ can fill.

I would really hope that you guys would sit back and "relax" like my friend says all the time. Opportunities and moments are passing us by, lets enjoy the time we have in this world by living for His glory and doing things to advance His kingdom! Let us not waste our lives immersed in the desires and pleasures of our flesh that leave us wanting more and suck us in like a vortex that ends with a hard slam against the pit floor. Lets live a life that leads others to Him.  

Random Finds!

BUMPER CARS

So have you ever put some thought into bumper cars? I think bumper cars are a fun way society uses to prepares us for real accidents. Today I was on my way to school, and as I was sitting in my car waiting for a red light I see a car pulling away from a gas station trying to get behind me. As a nice driver, I try and pull closer to the car in front of me so that the other car can completely get in the line. Well, the light turns green and cars are not moving.. except for the car behind me which decides to hit full gas power and ram into me. So as the older woman hit me I tried my best in breaking so I wouldn't hit the other car to bad. Any who, I get off my car and my first thoughts were crap Im going to be late for my first day of class. My second thought was, man I have to be kind to this lady and hope that the guy in front of me is not a jerk. As I got off my car I checked to see if all the cars were fine and thank God that they were, we were all able to go on our merry ways. So yeah I definitely think bumper cars were used to prepare us for these moments.


ps. Can any one care to explain how this happens?

Letter from my 22 year old self to my 16 year old self

Hey Hey Hey...

HAPPY 16th Birthday!!!
Im going to start out this letter on a happy note. You were finally allowed to get highlights!! And not only that, but you've dyed your hair like a gazillion times!! Although our dad was pretty right in telling us not to dye it. Any who, I just wanted to tell you that life is not going to go as you planned it.. Your not going to be this big shot Doctor who has life all figured out. I know you wont listen to me but if you would, you really would have saved us a lot of money and time in college. Id actually rather us do it all over again, because I know that if God wouldn't have taken us through it, then we wouldn't have learned. Yup i know we are hard headed. He will teach you, mold you, and break you and rid you of most of our pride. I know it sounds bad but its actually pretty awesome knowing that He cares for us.

Your most likely going to be a nurse or something in that field, but it wont really matter to you anymore because by now you would have realized that your life is not about a "career" its about showing Christ and living for His glory. Please remember to speak to as many people of Christ in your high school! Dont be ashamed of His gospel! God allowed you to be class president for all four years to be able to minister. Some people will actually remember you for showing Christ.

Oh, Guess what?!?!?!? Your going to learn how to play the guitar and God is actually going to use you in another church called Coral Park in many ministries to glorify His name.. Cool right?!?!?!? Also, appreciate your parents and your grandparents just your whole family everyday as you watch them grow older.

Well I also just wanted to let you in on a little secret that will help you a lot. Stop worrying about life, worrying and thinking and planning isnt going to get you any where.. Literally!!! Because He has big plans for you and He will carry them out! And I guess this part of the letter goes for my 22 year old self as well. Just enjoy life and take things as they come because your God is in control and He will lead the way, open and close doors! Just continue to learn from His word, trust in Him with all your heart and love on people! He will take care of the rest and He will continue molding you into the godly woman He so desires you to be!

I love you!!!

ps. buy a stock in apple, a share in Benihana and in Starbucks!!

 Proof you dyed your hair (And this will be your cute little cousin)