12 in 12

I honestly have such a hard time believing we are coming up on 2012! Where has
time gone?! I remember getting ready to graduate almost 4 years ago and thinking
that by this time I would coming up on graduating from college! Wow! My life has
taken a crazy turn far from any of those kinds of plans! I am so thankful to God
for it!

Coming up on this year I have been feeling impressed to make 2012
a year of accomplishments. I'm not talking huge, gigantic, life-changing
accomplishments. But simple, doable, just avoided accomplishments.The
reason I'm only sticking with 12 is because I'm an "inch by inch life's a cinch"
type person. I don't want to get to this point next year and wish that I hadn't
made such big plans. I want it to be a goal I can reach...will reach.

My hope is that this will be a kind of accountability. I plan to post here on my
progress so be sure to follow along as I inch by inch through 2012 planning to
enjoy it to the fullest!

So here's my 12 in 12!

#1 - Renewed time with God - Firmly establish a renewed way to spend
time with my Father. Not only that but a firm time. That includes getting up at
the same time to partake of His Word no matter what.

#2 - healthy vs. hype - Research the foods that are really healthy vs. what is just
hype. In hopes of establishing a better diet all around but potentially erasing
some of the digestion issues I've been having. Finding out what works for me and
not being persuaded by others and professionals that something else is better.
Finding the right make up to fit together a consumption that sticks!

#3 - preparing for future titles - Be intentional about praying for
and preparing to be a mrs. Do not read: "is in a relationship." But I am
confident that God is still shaping me to be a mrs. and my job is prepare for
that. I need to be in constant prayer for him and our life together!

#4 - Walking for the better - This includes two different things.
First, walking/jogging CONSISTENTLY throughout the week to improve over all
health and utilize the time to pray for my neighbors and friends. Second, to
take part in walks for causes throughout the year. Walk for life, Cancer
research walks, etc. Also some fun ones. I have already planned to participate
in the local Turkey Trot thanksgiving day with my Aunt and potentially my
sister!

#5 - oK - Plan and begin training to participate in a 5, 8, or 10K at least one time in 2013. Eventually working my way up to being able to do various other K's through the year. But like I said...inch by inch!

#6 - accountABILITY - Consistently meeting with a few girls as a disciple of Christ making disciples of Christ. Already enlisted 3 girls and plan to start the study before Christmas! God is good!

#7 - Habla better - Continue to work on improving my Spanish. The. End.

#8 - Crafty plans - pick and execute at least 5 projects from Pinerest that benefit me.

#9 - Good Gifts - Work on being intentional in my gift giving. Planning things out, making as
much as I can (this may include learning to sew...), and making it as personal as I can. Also loading up on my gift basket for those unavoidable surprise needed gifts...**side note** Black Friday is the PERFECT day to do this! Just loaded up on some games and DVD's for $3-4 each! Great gifts! Great price!

#10 - horizontal thinking - Be very intentional about the relationships around me. Parents, sisters, Bros-in-law, nephews, friends, cousins, people I work for, people in my past, people in my present, my pharmacist, check out lady, waiter. To erase "awkward" moments and be Christ to
those around me. Unhindered.

#11 - packing it in - Plan out beginning in January items to pick up throughout the year so that when the OCC deadline comes in November I will be ready with not 1 but 6 boxes to send! One for each age category and gender!

#12 - organi...where did I put that? - Find ways to better organize my calendar, budget, room, craft supplies, life!

with a joyful heart

Today I am thankful for this group of people! All 10 of them. I am so thankful that I am the 11th. I know that God knew what I needed when He made me and gave me them!

I love our growing supply of brothers.

I love the addition of nephews.

I love my parents multi-decade marriage.

I love my oldest sister and her husband's relationship grow and the examples they are to me, my sisters, and my nephews.

I love my next oldest sister's beginning relationship with her soon hubby to be and how they have sought to glorify the Father in everything they do.

I love my little sister's zest and excitement for life.

I love my littlest sister's innocence and joy in the little things that reminds all of us "big" kids that she's still little.

What can I say?! I have a lot to be thankful for!

esteem enhancer and maturity meter

It happened just like the movies, just like she always thought it would, but not like she wanted it to.

He walked her to her car. Opened the doors. Took the bags from her arm and placed them in the back seat. His slight touch wasn't in the least bit offensive or invasive. He was gentle, making small comments about the weather and the evening.

Small talk followed them all the way until she was seated in the driver's seat, car on, and soft music playing, and he was leaning against the outside of her door talking through the open window.

Without much hesitation or strain the words came from his mouth confident and sure he already knew her answer.

Those six little words. Every girl at some point wants to hear a variation of them in her lifetime. They are esteem enhancers. He found her desirable enough to ask to be seen alone with her in public. That he wants to be labeled "together." That she is worth the time of a relationship.

The look of confusion crossed her face. The only time she'd ever been faced with an answer she was about to give was with guys that had little respect for her or her family or convictions. Then the answer was simple, blatant, and obvious.

A wave of thoughts crashed over her thinking. Thought after thought tumbled in her mind like seashells under a currant. But, unlike the ocean the turmoil ceased and the answer wasn't as cloudy as she thought.

This is where those six esteem enhancer words became a maturity meter. The attention was wonderful. The thought of being sought after was flattering. The idea of being in a "relationship" was exciting. But they were not what she wanted.

She wanted something forever. Not a couple dates, facebook status changer, free time filler, half a year fun time.

She wanted to be lead spiritually, emotionally from now until death did them part.

She wanted her next "relationship" to be her last. She had no intention of throwing her heart at anyone to have anything done to it and returned at some point tattered and scarred.

She never once thought that would be his intentions but the maturity meter in those words made her search for the details she was looking for and she didn't find them. Where she might have at one point jumped on the opportunity her desires to be the Father's desires won out in the end. She knew that He was preparing the best for her and patience is key.

You see my friends, her heart is whole and untouched. The only people who have access are her father and her Father. That's it. It will only be released to one other man in her lifetime. That's it. One day her father will hand it over with her Father's leading. Until that day comes it is to be left untouched, protected, whole, and pure.

She didn't leave that night regretting her decision. She left knowing confidently that he wasn't the one her heart would belong to. She was sure and peaceful about it.

In the end those six words served both purposes. They did enhance her esteem. They also tested her maturity. She is still anticipating what future her Father is preparing her for and for her. Right now, I'm pretty sure she is happily enjoying Him.

That my friends is a wonderful start to a happily forever after.

Dirty Do's

It's been a tad on the heavy side around here lately! Sorry!

So, to break the cycle of tough to digest posts I have decided to give some insight into a little something I have grown to master based on various trips I've taken.

This may be irrelevant to some but for me I find it important and I wanted to post about it! Note: If you are one to NEED to wash your hair every day, would never find themselves in foreign country where baths are not readily available, or find the need to have freshly dried, curled, and styled hair than you should not read further. However, my heart is for ministry and sometimes that ministry takes me away from cleanliness.

So, something to cover...dirty...dirty hair that is!

On both my trips to Peru baths have not been something...eh, let's just say readily available. My first trip we spent 4 days in the mountains with showers that had just had the water connected.

No hot water...

none!

Let me remind you that we were there in the DEAD of winter so the idea of washing anything in that water at any point was out of the question...let alone in the middle of the coldest time of year!

So you wash your hair before you go up and that's it for days...let's just say maybe close to a week...no comments. =)

So, with that being said, I have learned a few tricks. I DO NOT keep a habit of dirty hair and don't have to practice this other than being away. BUT, I figured it could be a help to someone who might need it. One day I plan to go back to Peru or another country that would require some creativity on my part. So, let's begin!

**Disclaimer - my hair is long...wavy...and tends to get flat and greasy quick. These tricks and products work on my hair. Sorry if it doesn't qualify for you!**

Let's get started with products first! This is some of my favorite stuff! It will give you a fresher feel and look in seconds! The trick is getting it even or you have some hair that's big on one side and flat and greasy on the other side!

I like to bend over so all my hair is hanging down. I grab various sections all over my head to distribute it as close to my scalp as possible!

The bottle says to brush out after spraying but I have found that my hair goes back close to it's greasy mess if I do! I tend to leave it and style it from there!



Have your hair completely brushed before applying the spray. It will be helpful in the long run but initially it helps to distribute the spray evenly.

The second product is a volumizing shampoo. These tend to strip a lot of the grease so as to give you volume. A lot...probably most tell you that it adds volume with out drying it out but it still does it some extent. This kind of shampoo is helpful so as to keep hair clean (looking) longer! Go for the cheaper version so as to not do a good job not drying out! haha!

Now let's move onto the day by day. I have never worked with a time period longer than a week so bare with me. I am pretty sure...no I am confident that if my time with out washing my hair touched 7 days I would find myself freezing through it. But the time that I am in the mountains on these trips is limited so I don't mind making it work until I can get to a shower.

Day 1 - I wash my hair with the shampoo of choice but as I mentioned I find that volumizing kind helps. I try to let my hair dry with little to no touching it all. The more you mess with it the faster it's going to go to the greasy side. I keep it wrapped in a towel for the majority of the process. This is a TERRIBLE picture but work with me. I washed my hair the morning of this picture and left it down or just a little pinned back. That way I didn't mess with it too much but it wasn't held close to my head to get dirty fast.

Day 2 - I pin the top part back...If I have bangs** or not. That way it keeps it off my head and gives it the illusion of a style. Then I braid the bottom or pull it into a low bun. Whatever you do keep it on the softer side. The tighter you do it to begin with the more hastle it will be in the next day or two.

This is pinned back in a 1/2 up. Later that day I twisted it into a loose bun at base of my neck. Loose and simple but keeping it clean.

Day 3 & 4 - I don't know about you but at this point my hair is gone. The first 2 days it looks somewhat decent and I'm able to make it work. By day 3 my favorite waterless shampoo is broken out and used...and a lot of it!

For these 2 pictures the process was about the same. I flipped my head over and brushed the mess out of it. I separate pieces of hair and spray the waterless shampoo. I try not to get close to the scalp but you want it decently covered. Separate and spray the hair from back to front and left to right.

For the picture on the left I pulled it into a messy bun on the top of my head and for the picture of the left I braided it in two braids.

Day 5 - This has typically been my final day of dirtiness. This has been the day that we are headed down the mountain back to Lima. That day is long and tiring but we all know that on the other end of it is shower and clean clothes...and shoes!

For this picture I twisted the 2 sections back to a bun in the back of my head. I didn't spray the spray this day because it is easier to twist and pin dirty hair than it is to do dry clean hair!

By the time we get through with the showers that night I'm pretty sure that poor block needs to restock the water supply. From there on out it's a clean and fixed.

I have learned ways to make it work for my hair. I'm working on a few clean hair tutorials but as for now we'll stick with the dirt of the matter! =)

I would love to hear from some of you about your mission trip experiences!

Thanks!