World Traveler

My brother asked my friend Elisse on her blog www.dailywage.wordpress.com what three countries she would like to add to her impressive list of 19 countries already visited. I haven't been to 19 countries, but I have been to quite a few and do have a list myself. My three top countries I would like to visit are

1. Spain, I think I dream about Spain, and who can resist a bull fighter?

2. Kenya, I would love to visit Africa and Kenya is the country I know most about and have heard most about, I am sure I would enjoy other countries in Africa as well.

3. Egypt, I almost moved to Egypt in college, long story. Anyway it is a dream for me to see the Pyramids and all the amazing artifacts oh and let us not forget the Nile.

And my three favorite countries that I already visited are (not exactly in order of preference)

1. Italy, what a beautiful country. The art in Florence was gorgeous, I loved Venice, very romantic and relaxed, and camping in Pisa was fun.

2. France, not only do I love the people, yes I love them (my family that lives there of course!) but ever since I visited the south of France when I was 9 I have day dreamed about moving there.


3. Germany, I lived there so I have to pick it. But really I loved Germany, it is so beautiful and the people are so great. I had my favorite Thanksgiving in Garmisch. I tookmy ski instructor down (literally, I ran over the poor girl, I have home videos of the exciting moment) and stayed in the most beautiful condo in the mountains. My family and I were very thankful for that vacation. I hope to visit Southern Bavaria soon.

Awakend by Color

I remember when I was young I used to think that I hated black and white movies. I couldn't imagine life without color. Then when I was a teenager I was introduced to Audrey Hepburn (not in real life, just on the screen) and movie watching was never the same. The classic black and white movies leave something to the imagination, not just from the lack of color but by the lack of spelling it all out, especially when it comes to love scenes. But they are so romantic, and riveting. I think they are simpler and remind of us of simpler times as some would say, even if we never lived through "simple times" they let us dream of them. I think I would describe my relationship with God for the last two years like a black and white movie. Simple, not all spelt out for me, and romantic in the fact that I was hopeful for more of him.
I think in the last month I have been seeing in color. Not all the time but I get trailers. Sometimes these scenes are more beautiful than anything I have scene before and at other times they are too vibrant, glaring. They are too truthful and hard to watch. But he is awakening me. Slowly, thank goodness. I am being honest and that is hard, but real and as some may same life giving. It may not be a beautiful life, but a real one, unlike the black and white objects on a screen.
"And I - in righteousness I will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness. " Psalms 17:15

test update

I had the yucka test on Wed. It wasn't so much the test that was horrible, but the aftermath from it. But it only lasted a day. I am now feeling better. One more test to go and then I will have "all the answes" ha! But basically I think I am fine. I have come to the realization that I will most likely always have back problems and when I am sick with something else the back just hurts more. The think I pray for most is grace, and that I can walk through this gracefully. Everyone has challenges in life, a lot of people have physical ones and they still lead amazing lives. I think sometime excepting things and not so much embracing them, but understanding gives us an advantage to walking strong. And that is where I am at this week. Ha!

fruit tart

No I am not calling anyone names, but I made one, make that two fruit tarts this weekend. I wish I would of taken a picture. I will the next time, and I am sure there will be a next time soon. I love cooking, and mostly inventing. I saw Paula Dean make this fruit tart, but hers was full of sugar, so I created my own. I made a nut crust instead of graham crackers and sweetened the cream cheese with splenda and lime juice and zest. I then loaded it with berries. Delicious and beautiful! A great low carb treat, and those who are not low carbing it love it as well. I plan to start adding some recipes on here, hopefully I will add pictures. I will add this recipe soon, the problem is I don't really measure anything. Yeah, I am one of those cooks.

I wish I could cheat on this next test!

I have been feeling as I like to call it "yucka" lately. I had a horrible kidney infection, and in the midst of it some other organs were spasing out as well. So the dr.'s I see decided I should have every test under the sun. Today I had my third and I have two to go. I was really calm about all of test until the nurse today said "Oh this one is a breeze compared to the one you are having next week." Note to all nursing students DO NOT SAY THAT EVER! I should of just let it go, but intstead I said, "oh, what do you mean?""Oh your next one is when they put the electric needles all over you." Fun times. I have actually had that test before, it sucks. I said "oh that test?" So when my dr. called today to tell me I had an adnormal kidney test, I tried to get out of it, explaining, well now we know that I had a bad kidney infection I really don't need that next test right?" Oh no, Dr's love the test. His answer and I kid you not was "I think you should continue all the test so you can have all the answers" All the anwsers huh? I wish he guaranteed that. In other medical news, I had to take my dad to the ER last night because he had surgery the other day and was having some bleeding. So we were sitting in the ER for two hours and after hearing this lady talk about her son to the social worker, my dad turned to me and asked "Are we at General Hospital?" "No Dad I think Jerry Springer" Wow I couldn't make up the stuff they were telling this social worker, and how the social worker could behave in a profesional demeaner beats me. Note to self Never work in the medical field! Because you will have to listen to crazy people and scare the sane ones.

I Love People!

Life has been challenging the last month. I have been feeling lousy physically and it had started to get me down emotionally. I think being stuck in the house was a large part of that. I love people and when I am away from them I get sad. People are great, even people who are difficult are still great. I know that I am saying this because I haven't seen many as of late and I am going through withdraws. But I don't think we give each other enough credit. I mean I have all these people praying for me and loving on me, and that is so nice. I think that maybe God is giving me new eyes. I love that. Some people who used to annoy me to pieces don't as much any more. I just see their hurt and anger or pain. I am not perfect and I still get frustrated and hurt when people are mean to me, the feeling just doesn't last as long. God is good, faithful and good, and he is is molding our hearts everyday, oh yeah that is if we let him. So my challenge to you and myself for this week is to love your neighbor....

Psalm 31:24

Sometimes a simple verse can be so encouraging. At times we all need words to hold onto. These are the words that I am holding close to my heart right now.
Be Strong and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord. Psalm 31:24
I love knowing that the Lord knows it's not easy to wait on him, and he wants to help me in the waiting. He is good, faithful and good.