Useful/useless stuff

Heeeey.
I have 2 days left this year and I am in a rambly, "feeling like a total weirdo" mood.
So here's a completely unrelated blog, to avoid talking about out-of-season things.

Here are the things I wish I had taken with me to Brazil:

-- a real phone charger
-- SPOTIFY.... It may be worth paying for... sigh
-- my moomoo... or comfy jammies
-- a dress... like any dress
-- my e-reader
-- extra contacts, just in case
-- my little tiny mp3 player/radio clip thing to take with when running
-- anti-itch cream/spray/ANYTHING...
(((sidenote: I am getting eaten alive. These mosquitoes like repellent. And my blood.)))


Here are the things I haven't really used in Brazil:
-- jeans.... wore them like ONCE
-- socks....
-- tennis shoes (I wear my vibrams to run!)
-- high heels... wore twice
-- hair straightener/dryer...


Here are the things I appreciate the most in Brazil:
-- my Bible. my underlined, beat-up Bible. 
-- MY SANDALS (ahhhhh!!! comfy, match everything I do)
-- camera... and its spare battery!
-- my phone, used as a camera and video.
-- my plastic bag of toiletries. Yes, one big ziploc. SO ghetto, yet SO awesome.
-- t-shirts and shorts
-- having a real towel... I think I'm gonna opt with real towel on the WR
-- the diva cup. girls...seriously.... seriously get one!
-- bug spray, although it's not doing too much good
-- this laptop and its many cords and chargers
-- a great pair of headphones!


Aside from the obvious, amazing time with my family, and the gorgeous, "am I dreaming this up?" scenery, I do miss Texas. I miss order. I miss having control. But this is great surrendering. I get online once a day now, and not for long. On the race, I don't think I'll get that luxury. Today, I experienced one of the scariest car rides ever. We were going up a freaking MOUNTAIN with a stick-shift, low-riding Ford. There were rocks, giant mud puddles, and the steepest hills. It sounded like the bottom of the car was going to burst open when we hit rocks. I prayed SO hard for Jesus to lift the car, and keep it safe. I literally had my hands on both the driver seat and the passenger seat, head bowed, eyes-closed praying. My grandma was freaked out too. Good news: we survived haha car is okay. Thank You, faithful God! I'll post the pics soon, but right now I need to rest.

Love yall :)

My take on Ruth

I thought being called “sister” and “friend” was bad!

Imagine being a single or widowed (or divorced in my case) and having your contender call you “my daughter.”

Oh no you didn’t!

I gotta say, there’s something fishy about how it all went down. You see for yourself, so here's my take:

Naomi had a husband, two sons, and two daughters-in-law (Ruth and Orpah). All the men died. She was left with Ruth and Orpah, and Orpah went back to her land. And then there were two: Naomi and Ruth. Naomi tried to tell Ruth to go back to her land, but Ruth refused and said some strong words along the lines of "I will die where you die, and may the Lord deal with me severely if anything but death separates you and me." (and my editor's brain thought "it's 'you and I,' Ruth!")
So to Bethlehem they went, and it was harvest-time.

Upon arrival, Naomi tried unsuccessfully to change her name to "Mara" which means bitter. Everybody still called her Naomi.

Ruth started going to Boaz’s fields and gathering whatever the harvesters left behind. The Boaz arrived and said “hey you can hang out with my servant girls… I told all the men they couldn’t rape you… if you get thirsty, you can get a drink from the water jars, over there.” Ruth bowed down, all grateful, and asked him why he was being so nice. He said he heard that she was taking care of her mother-in-law, and said all kinds of nice blessings over her and invited her to have dinner with the harvesters. Then he told the harvesters to leave some stalks behind so she gets more food. She wound up with 22 liters of barley, and managed to carry it home to Naomi. How did she carry this home? Beast mode!

Then Naomi said “Oh yeah, I know Boaz, we’re kinda related!”

Now the story gets a little PG13. Naomi told Ruth to bring sexy back, get all hotsy, and go to the barley threshing floor, where Boaz was gonna be. She was wearing her finest clothes, and she put on all her sexy Victoria’s Secret lotions. I was smiling, picturing Ruth in total prom garb. I bet her sleeves were real big.

I like your sleeves...

So she made her way to this grainy place, watched as he ate, knocked back a few, and went to sleep. Then she uncovered his feet? (not sure what this signifies… will google it later… it’s probably dirty… nevermind, I don’t wanna know!) Then Ruth laid down by his feet.

Boaz woke up in the middle of the night, because something startled him. I think either a) Ruth was snoring or b) Ruth threw something to make a huge noise. I would have thrown a chicken or something.

I noticed that it didn’t say he had to wake her up. He just woke up and found a woman lying at his feet. Like heeeey.

This is a recipe for disaster!

 I know it would not have gone well had Boaz not been calling her “my daughter” and been a strong man of God.

Ruth must have looked so good that she looked NOTHING like her usual self. Dang girl.

 “WHO ARE YOU???” – Boaz

What was she supposed to say? “oh hey there, I just happen to look super fancy tonight, to come here to this threshing floor of barley. Oh and I smell awesome! And here you are, all sleepy and tipsy, and I’m laying at your feet. What are the odds!”

But instead, Ruth (so smooth) said “I’m Ruth. I just so happen to be totally available and you can marry me.” Very subtle. Way to go, Ruth.

Then he calls her “my daughter” AGAIN and says “I noticed you’re not a man-chaser or a gold-digging hoochie mama. I’m gonna tell all the guys you’re super classy. Hang out here for a while, and I know a guy who is next in line to marry you. If he doesn’t put a ring on it, then I’ll put a ring on it. And here’s some barley!”

That is so weird. I’m laughing at her “walk of shame” back home, holding a ton of barley.

Naomi must have been pacing all night, in walks disheveled, slept-on-the-floor-in-my-prom-dress Ruth. Naomi’s all “sooooooo???” and she’s like “well here’s some barley, ma, and um” *wipes her runny mascara* “he’s gonna talk to another guy first, and if that guy doesn’t want me, then I’ll be Mrs. Boaz.”

Comforting.

On to Chapter 4, (oh and thanks, Bible, for total spoiler title of Chapter 4 “Boaz Marries Ruth”. I mean, I already knew the ending, but what if I didn’t?!) I thought Boaz was being sneaky talking about the land first, then bringing up the widow later. But the kinsman was like “Sure I’ll take the land!” and Boaz said “Oh yeah, btw you get a lady with it!” and kinsman goes “Oh a lady? Heck no, deal is off!”

That’s definitely not how I thought the exchange was gonna go. Makes ya wonder somethin’ somethin’. Not gonna say it… okay, I’ll say it: maybe he wasn’t into ladies? Or he was super greedy. Maybe he just never saw Ruth in her prom dress.

Then Boaz and the possibly gay, greedy kinsman exchanged sandals, as it was customary to do when transferring property and such. (Why don’t we do that anymore? That’s a nifty tradition.) I wonder if it’s just one sandal? And they go mix-matched? It’s in the singular, so I’m envisioning a one-sandal swap here. Anyway, then Boaz declared “I’m buying that land! Ruth, Mahlon’s widow, is totes my wife now, ya heard?!” And the elders go “We are witnesses!  Hope y’all make a whole bunch of babies, like 12 of them, like Leah and Rachel!”

Then Boaz and Ruth got married, and had a baby named Obed, and Naomi helped to raise him. And they all said 1 Ruth > 7 sons. Ruth rocks!

Here’s what I gleaned from the book of Ruth

(hahahahaha get it? Gleaned? Ohhhhhh my gosh. Hahahaha)

She was a humble, devoted woman. She loved Naomi and did not abandon her, so she was loyal to her family. She was brave, and probably a powerlifter. She worked hard. She provided for Naomi. She knew how to go from glean to glam, from harvest to hottie, from barley-threshing to breath-taking!  She was obedient to Naomi, even when the instructions were a bit racy. She had to be patient, to deal with Boaz calling her “my daughter” and not snapped and been like “look here, you need to knock that off.” She was confident. She was faithful.

Ruth is a great example to me and my heart right now. I feel like I’m going to the harvest right now, about to launch into this mission trip. 

I know God will bring me my Boaz. How do I know? He gave one of my dearest friends a word that He would. : ] and in that same word, He told me to read Ruth and find my Naomi. He told me to rest. 

I’m working on in, Daddy. Thank You for that word.

Retreat

I think of Spartans when I see the word retreat. 




But the retreat I'm doing is not the cowardice definition.

I have approximately 90 minutes to eat, shower, and pack a small bag for 5 days for a mini family retreat (wow we never take those, so this is really just a treat haha). We are going to some ridiculously beautiful places for a New Year's vacation.

Iguaba

Buzios

Cabo Frio

I'll be back in 2012

I'm not sure if I'll have a chance to upload any blogs during this retreat, or be on my computer much, but you better believe these wheels will keep on turnin'. Either way, there will be much more coming soon.

I figured it's only fair to go over my New Year's resolutions from my veeeery first blog entry here, almost a year ago, "2011... This better be good" haha

1. 1. Serve others through cooking, especially my church family. More than likely requiring my mastery of OAMC and acquiring a stand-alone freezer.I had originally joined the Mercy Team at my old church, and I was actually a Mercy Team Captain, organizing meal provision for families in my church who had births, surgeries, or deaths in the family. Then I felt God's direction to switch churches (um best thing I ever did all year I think, no offense TBC, but The Vista was exactly what my heart needed).  Never  got the freezer, because I ended up selling all my stuff! Good call, right?
2. 
   
3. 2. To save money and go visit my family in Brazil!!! How I miss them!! QUE SAUDADE!!
   Here I am, in Brazil! That worked out well :)
   
   
   
4. 3. To put in some major running mileage on my Vibram Bikilas this year. Like 500+ miles for this year at least. Knees don't fail me now!!Not sure on my exact mileage because I stopped keeping track about halfway through the year, but as of June I was a little ahead of my goal, nearing 300 miles. I ran 2 marathons this year, and one half-marathon :) And I got 2nd place at a 10k in March, which was SO neat and unexpected. I had never gotten a medal (after track and crosscountry in high school) for any of my running events, other than a completion medal. And that day was awesome because I got to share love and encourage a volunteer lady that was getting treated like crap by the other runners. I wrote about it here. Oh and I had NO knee problems in 2011, thank You Lord!
   
   
   
5. 4. To continue reading the Bible daily, humbly striving for growth and listening for His guidance.
   I did this :) I read daily. I really did this. And I can't be happier :) I've read most of the Bible this year. Some OT books I kindly skipped over, or skimmed, but I'm gonna tackle them in 2012. I'm currently reading a chapter of Job a day, til launch, and I am reading Ruth, because my heart needs it.
6. 
   
7. 
   
8. 5. To KISS DATING GOODBYE and trust in God's timing.
   Oops. I had one boyfriend.  Didn't workout for a variety of reasons. So I kind of messed up #5, eh? I'll do better in 2012.
   
   
   
9. 6. To not procrastinate my Christmas preparations like I did in 2010!!!! 
10.  I spent my Christmas in Brazil, so I didn't do my annual "fudgeathon" like the usual. Sorry kids! No fudge or divinity, or the crazy awesome baked goodies this year. I didn't really send out cards either. Family took precedence this year, and the people nearest and dearest to me know that they are nearest and dearest ALL YEAR and don't need a reassuring tin can to come in the mail, right? Thank you guys. I love yall.
    
11. 
    
12. 7. To get my smile straightened out with invisalign!
13.  I did this!!!!! WOOHOO!!! Straight teeth. It hurt, in more ways than one. It was an insecurity I'd had for oh my whole life, and my family never could afford it. Big change. I don't regret it. I hate to say it was worth it, because it was expensive. Would I do it again? Ahhh no. I wouldn't. But now that it's done, I appreciate it... a lot.
    
    
14. 8. To write encouraging notes and cards throughout the year. As it turns out, most people have this in common with me: we love encouraging hand-written notes and cards "just because"!!!
15.  I did this :) I mailed out some, and really poured out encouragement via cards. Another thing I do for people now, because I know what it feels like, is comment. I leave comments. I don't just read their blogs anymore. I'm subscribed to my team, and a few extra, and every single time they write, you can bet you'll see a little comment from me at the bottom, no matter how simple. It's a simple way of showing love and support. It's the least I can do, and I know it means a whole lot. I care.
    
    
16. 9. To not be a stumbling block to anyone. 
17.  Ding ding ding. I think I did this well. I dodged a lot of bullets this year.  I praise God for the awareness He's given me, and all the times He's broken my pride. 
    
    
18. 10. To look for ways to help others and use my time to serve Jesus. Yes, to go out of my way when an opportunity arises. 
19. I think this one is a winner. I am leaving everything I know. I'm doing on a mission trip of a lifetime for 11 months, to 11 countries. You could say this is going "out of my way" :) Thank You Lord for providing a beautiful #10 for me.

 Okay kids, that's all I got. That should hold you over for a few days, eh? :)
 
I wish you JOY in 2012. Unwavering, unconditional, down-in-your-soul JOY. Because joy is deeply-rooted in Christ, and happiness is a conditional blessing.

HAVE A JOYOUS NEW YEAR :)