Not Everyone Likes What You Like

So recently, I have been attempting to learn more and more about photography. 

Today I'm going to talk to you specifically about one thing I discovered.

I worked so hard on specific pictures that I fell in love with.

Those very photos turned out to be the ones that were liked least by the photographed persons.

I, of course, told myself to stop trying to take pictures cause I'm clearly not good.

My friend Joel was there the first time this happened to me.

He explained that this should be expected and is common. 

People look that themselves, not the photo as a whole.

Then I remembered that I did the same thing.

When I got my pictures back from my wedding, I looked at myself.

I didn't care about composition, exposure, clarity, colors, anything really.

I just cared about how I looked. 

Now I look at photos very differently.

I try to keep in mind that "Not everyone likes what I like", 

and that's ok.

Just because someone doesn't like the way their ear looks in one of my pictures 

doesn't mean it isn't a good picture :)

I press on.

Here are some recent just-because-I-was-there shots:

(Believe it or not, there was no posing for any of these shots. 

I was just at the right place at the right time.)

It's not the Way that is Should be

Recently, we made friends with some of the guys who live across the back alley behind us. The main friend we made is named KD. I wanted to hug him as soon as I met him (he looks like he's a really good hugger), but I didn't cause that would have been super weird of me. We let them borrow some tools to install their new system. They worked hard for 3 days and we caught up with him every time we came home. When they were done he looked like a little kid with a new toy. He was super excited to use his new system he and his friends have worked so hard to install. They spent the last day thoroughly cleaning the old van to make it look as perfect as possible. I told him I liked the blue lights he has on the new radio/mini tv he installed and he said he might put some in the back. I told him he had to cause it would look awesome. He doesn't have them yet, but assured me he was going to get them. When Ruben mentioned how hard they have been working on this the past few days KD responded with, "you know, just trying to stay out of trouble." 

If you know where I live, you know that it's not the best neighborhood in Chicago. I was so encouraged to meet this young guy who is breaking the chains. Breaking this cycle of a life that is not productive, but instead very painful and destructive. He is a hard worker and so are his friends. They give me hope. Hope that the next generation of this neighborhood and neighborhoods alike will break the cycle. Will see there is another way. Will stop the violence and increase the peace. I hope that the younger ones will see there is another way. I know that we are living here for a reason. I hope that we can do something to help. I hope that we can be what we need to be here for our neighbors. Likewise, I hope they can be what they need to be for us. We can help each other learn and grow in so many beautiful ways.  We can work together to do something great here. I hope to still be here when (not if) something great happens.

There are too many words to explain how heavy my heart has been for the people in my neighborhood. I want to help. I want to love. I want to serve. I want to provide a way out, but I don't know how, yet. Thankfully, I believe in a God who does.

I really liked this song when I heard it. You may not like it, and that's ok. 

Since it's my blog, I wanted to share it.

Jahaziel - In My Neighbourhood

Everyday another gun gets manufactured 

Another man's blasted

Some blame gangster rappers

I ain't trying to say gangster rap's the problem

But it don't solve them and it keeps on revolving

And nothing won't change lest we change

And if you wanna see change then be changed

And rearrange your thought pattern towards action

Cos if we do nothing then nothing what's gonna happen

As for this thing we call rapping

Time to use in it's true power and give the youth power

Cos death and life is found in the power of the tongue 

and it's not in the barrel of a gun

I'm shocked at how has become

Every coward's got a gun and 

They're letting shots shower in the slum

Young soldier's bling for gun culture

They the one's dying 

Who's flying the guns over? 

It ain't the way that I would wish it, but it's just the way it is…

In My Neighbourhood

It's not the way it should be, but it's just the way they live…

In My Neighbourhood

I'm waving a white flag

Trying to make somebody aware and be like 

'Dag, how did we get here?' 

Cos by this time next year another young buck 

Loses the chance to breathe fresh air

That's why I make tracks trying to catch your attention

Praying that my raps don't fall on death ears

For sure, the real cure is prevention

And we don't need to see a mother shed tears

How many funerals do we need? 

How many families grieve and crying

Their son was too young to leave them

And some claim it's a catch 22

Either get jacked by a crew or pack a 22

And that's exactly what many do

That's why so many of our youth never see 22

Now what we gonna do about it

As for me I'm a stand up on the roof and shout it 

I'm a tell the truth about it 

It ain't the way that I would wish it, but it's just the way it is…

In My Neighbourhood

It's not the way it should be, but it's just the way they live…

In My Neighbourhood

See the words that I speak are sincere 

It's death that men fear

I know that life I've been there

If it wasn't for the fact God filled me

I'd probably still be

Sticking up shops and robbing jewellery

Licking shots at the judge and jury

'cause they don't understand

Why a brother got a gun in his hand

I'm a young man confined by limited chances

In a system that's run by political gangsters

I see their gangster tactics

They got us paying taxes like it's a protection racquet 

But still, I'm the one who gets labelled as the thug they hate

For distributing them drugs they make

Man, I thought that it was much too late 

I've gone too far

But God's love was just too great

I drew faith from the bible pages

And truth loosed my mind out of iron cages

Listen…

It ain't the way that I would wish it, but it's just the way it is…

In My Neighbourhood

It ain't the way it should be, but it's just the way they live…

In My Neighbourhood

It's time for us to fight back with Peace man

Fight back man, by the Grace

And Let me hear you say

Silence the violence

Increase the peace

Silence the violence

Increase the peace

Silence the violence

Increase the peace

One life, one love

One life, one love

Chandelier

We desperately need a chandelier above our dining table.

One day (maybe when my cousin Pete comes to visit), 

I want to make this:

re-nest.com

It seems pretty simple, and looks awesome.

To see how, visit --> re-nest - DIY Mason Jar Chandelier

I really love all the things you can do with a mason jar.

-->  Here are some more lighting ideas. 

I'm especially fond of the mason jar fixture. I might do that one too.

Hope you are all enjoying one hour less of sleep :)

This week has been pretty bad for me.

I think my body is falling apart.

Luckily, I'm on spring break.

Hopefully next week will be better.

Barb

*Note: This is my longest post to date. 

I would really appreciate if you read the whole thing.

Thanks in advance for your time.

 Here is a song to play while you read.

.........................................................................................................................

As some of you know, I went to Florida this weekend for a wedding.

The wedding was in every way beautiful. Straight out of a magazine.

Seriously. Gorgeous.

Tuesday, March 1st arrived with my time to come back to Chicago.
I woke up expecting a typical last day in Florida.
As the day progressed, I experienced just the opposite.

I will never forget Tuesday, March 1, 2011.

Let me explain:

So I get to the airport at 7pm  thinking I have just enough time to check in and wait a while before my 8:05pm flight. Well, it just so happens that Southwest Airlines decided to make a huge change to their rewards program this same Tuesday. This upgrade caused their online system to crash. They also had what they describe as an unrelated issue with the systems in many big airports, including Fort Lauderdale. Because of all this, they had to do everything manually. The problem to me wasn't this system crash and unbelievable inconvenience. I had a major issue with how people were being treated. It was just not ok.You can read more about it here.

So I finally get my hand written boarding pass and go towards security. I end up standing in the same spot in the security line for about 40 min. During this time they have those passengers with printed boarding passes from home go through. However, those with handwritten passes, like me, had to stay put till they could figure out what to do with us. So from my understanding, they pretty much had no idea who was supposed to be on what flight and where the planes were. The system was completely down. We just stood there. Luckily, I am a social person, otherwise I may have gone mad. So I start talking to all the people around me and come to the conclusion that most of us are supposed to be on the same flight. What I don't understand is why they would allow those with the printed boarding passes through. They ended up boarding flights and having them leave without multiple passengers with hand written passes. They were stuck. Some with no place to go. From what they were saying they were not going to reimburse or provide hotel. It was messed up. Thankfully, they announced that they could go ahead and continue with security. They also let us know that they would be holding the flights to Chicago for us.

This is when I met Barb. After showing my ID and what looked like a joke boarding pass, I was instructed to go to the line farthest right. Behind me was a woman who I later found out was named Barb. So, because I'm Evie, I started talking to her. In minutes I was speechless, tearful, and incredibly saddened all at once. Barb started to explain her day to me. Earlier, this very same day, Barb was in Chicago. She was with her mother in the hospital while she was having surgery. Her mother was moved and was now in recovery. The doctor said she was doing very well and should be fine and able to go home the next day. Because Barb has kids and husband at home who needed her and because she knew her mother would be going home the next day, she got on the 12pm flight back to Florida. Moments after landing in Florida, she received multiple messages saying that she needed to get on the first flight back because her mother was about to die.

At this point. I couldn't breath and tried with everything in my to hold back the tears.

This can't be happening. This is not fair. This isn't real. Why???
All of these thoughts ran through my mind as I'm sure they ran through hers.

3 hours ago she is fine and ready to go home.
3 hours later a priest is calling about last rights.

As you can imagine, if today was a bad day for anyone in this airport, it was Barb.

I found myself getting angry and frustrated with passengers who were complaining about getting home 2 hrs late. Passengers complaining about things that were in every way less significant than what Barb was going through at this very moment. I wished so badly that someone somehow would get her to Chicago as soon as possible in some private jet or helicopter. Whatever it would take to get back to that hospital and see her mother.

Because all of these things happened with the system being down, they were doing security very thoroughly. Pat downs that seemed incredibly inappropriate and bag checks that went through every single item in depth. When it was my turn to have my bag checked, they ran the swab through my bag and put it in this machine that checked for any explosives.

You won't believe what happened next.

That's right. Something, somewhere in my bag, made the alarm go off.
So here I am totally clueless as to what is going on, staring at this machine that is blinking "EXPLOSIVES" in red. Because they aren't used to doing things manually, the man checking my bag freaked out. They were all so young. None of them were around when they checked bags like this. No one knew what to do. You would think, it being 2011 and all, that they would have a pretty good plan B if anything like this were to happen. Well they didn't. Luckily, there was a man there whose name I don't remember. Older. He looked through my bag and mentioned that "sometimes the machine does this" then sent me on my way. Well, by this time, I was the last one to board. I get to the gate I was assigned and try to speak to the man to let me on the plane and he is on the phone totally disregarding my existence. Like I said, these employees were rude in every way. Whether they spoke to you or acted like you were a wall, they managed to perfectly define rude. So he finally get's off the phone and asks me "what I want". Well, sir, I want to get on that plane. He looks at my ticket and says my plane isn't leaving yet. I said well, where are all the people who I was supposed to be flying with?

Remember? I met them earlier when we were waiting.
We all confirmed we bought tickets for the same flight.

To add to the complications of the day, I find out that I have been incorrectly placed on another flight. All the people I had seen earlier were boarded on their plane and ready to go home. I turned around and looked at the group waiting in their seats. I knew no one. Usually, I wouldn't mind because I never know anyone I'm flying with, but this was different. I was actually looking forward to flying with all those people I talked to earlier..

Then I saw her.
Barb.

I immediately re-played everything she had told me 15 minutes prior.
I wanted to cry again, but knew I couldn't.
Why would a stranger cry over some person she doesn't even know?

I ask her how she is doing and she updates me on what is going on, repeatedly saying she just wants to be there already. I listen but have no words to give for comfort. My mouth does the same thing it did earlier. It just hangs there. Open and wordless. "It's just not supposed to be like this". I keep hearing those words replay in my head.

An announcer comes on (the rude one I tried to talk to from before) and lets us know that because of weather, they are going to have to delay the flight even more. Barb, having been there just that morning, assures us that this information is totally incorrect because this afternoon when she left "it was a beautiful day". Sure enough about 10 minutes later, that same rude man gets on the speaker and announces that it was actually because everything is so backed up in Chicago and then let us know that the delay was extended to 40 min.

Really? Weather? Is that the best you could do to try and cover up the fact that you guys are still at fault?

Barb's face said it all. I felt like I was feeling everything she was thinking.
No one said anything.

I went to call Ruben to let him know what was going on, when suddenly the rude guy gets back on and tells us that we can actually start boarding now. I hung up immediately and got in line to board the plane.

Being one of the last of only 30 people to board this flight, I was able to see everyone as I headed to my usual seat in the back of the plane. I saw Barb in a row alone and decided to continue to the back, thinking that she would probably want be alone. I asked her how she was doing and she said she would be ok, and that she was going to try to fall asleep. I smiled, said ok,  and went to a seat 3 rows from the back.

On my way to my seat I saw another woman who had heard Barb's story had made her way to the back as well. I told her how I was feeling and she agreed that she could not believe it. She said that she told Barb she would be praying for her. I was pleased to hear that I wasn't alone and found comfort in the now 2 people of this 30 praying for our new friend Barb.

As soon as I sat down, I decided I had to sleep the whole flight. For some reason Barb's story wouldn't stop running through my head. The plane took off and I switched between all three seats in my row to try to find a comfortable place to fall asleep. It was useless. I moved around as if ants were all over me. I could not sit still for a second. My mind was racing. I told myself to just try and read, but couldn't do that either. Then, I made a plan. I decided I had to talk to Barb.

Seeing as how I am literally 3 rows away from the bathroom in the back of the plane, it would have definitely been weird for me to walk all the way in front of the plane to use the restroom. Regardless, as soon as the seatbelt sign went off, I waited for someone to go to the bathroom behind me and I got up and went forward. I used the restroom in the front of the plane and then headed back to the aisle being careful to look to my left because I remembered that's where she would be.

I spotted her. She has obviously been crying. My heart broke.

I asked her how she was holding up.
I then immediately felt stupid and thought to myself "How do you think she's holding up, Evie? Her mom is dying.."

She held up her little cup of wine, smiled, and said she was going to be ok.
I asked her if I could sit with her.
She agreed, but you could tell she was apprehensive.
I am, of course, a complete stranger..

I sat down, and before we knew it, 3 hrs later, they were announcing that we are beginning to descend into Chicago. In this 3 hours I heard the in's and out's of Barb's past 2 years. I think she noticed at some points that I was trying desperately to pretend I wasn't so incredibly affected by her story.

This can't be happening. This is not fair. This isn't real. Why???
These thoughts ran through my head all over again, but this time it meant more.

I was attached. I am attached.
I am hurt and hurting for her and all that her family has gone through in these past 2 years.

I told her I was and will be praying for her multiple times throughout our conversation.
I ended our time together asking if I could hug her. She said yes.
I squeezed that woman with all I had. I didn't want to let go.
I wanted to tell her that everything was going to be ok, 
but she and I both knew I couldn't.
She thanked me for keeping her mind off of things and smiled.
She has a really sweet, genuine smile that reminds me so much of my mom's.

I went back to my seat before they turned the seatbelt sign back on and prayed and cried and prayed harder. When we finally landed I looked for her, but she was no where to be found. I worried and then told myself to stop it. I went to baggage claim and secretly looked in every direction for her, but still nothing. Then, out of nowhere, she walked towards me. She was waiting for her bags too. We talked a little and then the woman in the back of the plane found her way to us too. Barb said nothing of her mother and both of us were to scared to ask. The last thing we knew is that they were trying to stabilize her before doing an emergency surgery to try and save her.

We got our bags all one right after the other, and then walked out together to wait for our rides. We talked about the weather, where we live, and how far the drives will be. Nothing too serious. Everything in me wanted to ask if she had heard anything, but I knew it would hurt too bad.

I saw Ruben pulling up and told them he was here. I hugged both of them goodbye. Not any of those sissy hugs either. I gave them real, I love you kinda hugs. They reciprocated. Then I told them how it's not every day you hug the people you just flew with. We laughed, and I left.

I broke down as soon as I got in the car. Let's just say Ruben was a little confused.

Why is this woman affecting me so much?
Why is her story imprinted in my brain?
Why do I feel so connected to her?

I still don't know the answers to these questions.
I still have no idea if her mom made it.
I never will.

The only thing I know is her name.

Her story really touched me.
I wanted to share it with you all so that I could ask you to do something with me.

Pray.

I feel like I know so much and yet so little.
What I do know is what I shared in this post.
Her name is Barb. Her mother's name is Philis.

I ask that you join with me in prayer for Philis, Barb, and their family.

Thanks for your time, and thanks in advance for your prayer.

Break

For the first time since moving to our new place,
we finally had a break.
Thanks to Thanksgiving, we had the opportunity to get away from chaos and relax in North Carolina with family.

Life has been going non-stop.

I felt like the little social life I had developed in Chicago was no more. I had no time for anything/anyone except school related assignments.
I really thought I was hitting the point where I was going to have to start from scratch.
Luckily, there are some really amazing people in Chicago and Florida who love the heck out of me and I am so unbelievably grateful for them.

I am so thankful for new friends.
I am thankful for those friends who encouraged me when I was at my lowest points.
I am thankful for my ridiculously amazing family.
I am thankful for my super awesome husband.
I am thankful for the ability to create.
______________________________________________
Because of all the hectic things going on, we haven't gotten a chance to focus on decor for our place.

I've been eyeing a bunch of things from CB2 that are definitely way too expensive.

I've had my eye on this sweet abacus that I think would go well with our living room.

Only problem is that I would want 2 and that's just not going to happen.

cb2.com

cb2.com

cb2.com

____________________________________________
I had ideas of one day maybe making one, but with the way life was going, there was just no time for crafts.

Well, I was talking to my cousin Pete about it, and he said "why don't you make one?"

I was like, "yea, why don't I make one?"

This is the perfect time. We are in the mountains, relaxing.

What better time to do arts and crafts then while in the mountains?

It just so happens that a Michaels just opened down in Boone.

So, we picked up some supplies and decided to start the abacus making project.

I took some photos along the way.
Hope you enjoy:

I bought some wooden beads so I could
choose the colors we would paint them.

I chose blue, green, gold, and brown paint
to match our living room.

Ruben , Pete, and I each painted a
different color.

I bought these 24 inch sticks and cut them in half.
Then, we drilled holes every 2 inches so they would fit
the smaller wooden rods we bought.
The smaller wooden rods were 36 inches and I cut three 12 inch rods from each one.
The holes on the side also give a nice texture on the side of the abucus.

This glue takes FOREVER to dry.

We put the beads on the rods and then squeezed
 them into the pre-drilled holes.
(Note: One of the green lines has 9 and one has 11-
we didn't realize until after the project was complete
- it's ok though, it was just a practice run)
Then we tied the wood pieces together so the glue would dry properly.

The final product!
Our hand-made mini abucus!

This was a super fun and fairly simple project.
It is fun to play with too. I plan on making two larger ones for the wall above our sofa when there is time.
This one will probably be on our coffee table for people to play with when they are over. :)

Thanks to Pete, Ruben, and my mom for help with the project!

Hope you all have a great week!
Driving back to Chicago tomorrow.
Wish us luck!

Positive Happenings

Due to that fact that school has taken over my life, 

I haven't been able to find time for blogging. 

It's the middle of the semester. 

That means papers, exams, and stress levels that are just not healthy. 

I have cried more these past two weeks than I have in a while. 

I have contemplated dropping out of grad school daily. 

Multiple times a day.

I have taken exams that I have studied for so long and 

still managed to not do well. 

I have wanted to smash my computer through

a window after it did not cooperate with me. 

Instead of dedicating this post to all things negative, I decided to talk about the positive things that took place these past couple weeks. 

During this time of non-stop anxiety, I have experienced some positive happenings:

1. I found the most perfect hand lotion for me.

2. I made cheesecake again, and this time it turned out 

     better than perfect. 

3. Relationships I have made at school have been 

     strengthened. 

4. I have experienced genuine love, concern, and care 

     from friends and family. 

5. I discovered that bacon should be part of every breakfast 

     (minus the overwhelming, lingering smell).

6. I finally have a dresser.

7. I got a brand new coffee press.

8. I met our new neighbors who are totally God- sent. 

I wanted to take pictures of all of these things and post them.

Unfortunately, my camera battery is dead and I have no idea where the charger is. 

I decided to find photos online of as many of the things I wrote as possible and post those :)

I hope you enjoy some of the things that brought a smile to my face during some of the hardest times.

I'll admit, it doesn't take much to make me happy. 

On the other hand, the same is true for making me sad. 

Ok, here they are. 

Some positive things from this week:

Aveeno Intensive Hand Cream
AKA BEST LOTION EVER.

 no- bake cheesecake - skinnytaste.com 

turkey bacon - Aldi

Malm dresser - Ikea

Awesome Bodum set - Coffee press and travel press (Costco)
Ruben surprised me with it after ours broke :)

No Heat

The time has come here in Chicago for the weather to change from pleasant to COLD.
This is my first time going through this transition of seasons.
I, of course, was comforted by the invention of a heater.

Well, last night, the heater started making some weird noises.
Then, without anyone telling it to, it just turned off.
That's right. It's 40 degrees outside, and our heater doesn't work.

Having lived in Florida, where people turn on their heaters when it hits 60 degrees, I naturally started freaking out.

How could this happen? How could the heat break now? For us?
Don't worry. We didn't freeze. Ruben temporarily fixed it.
We do have to replace some stuff , but we'll be ok.

This morning I started to think about those people who don't have heat.
Those people who don't even have homes.
I sat here complaining about freezing in my home with blankets and clothes while there are people in the world  with neither blankets, clothes, nor home.

I wonder if it's ok to be so comfortable.
I feel like it's so unfair.
I'm not sure I have a conclusion to all my thoughts,
but I am sure that these thoughts make me feel incredibly sad.

I can't wait until the day when things are as they should be.
When loving your neighbor is more than something kids learn in Sunday School and grow up to never practice in their daily lives. When all people feel safe, secure, and warm. When sickness and death are no more.

I anxiously wait for Jesus to come back so things can be right and just.

Until then, I'll do my best to love and serve like He did last time he was here.

I encourage you to help someone feel warm today.
Temperature wise, or emotionally.
Either will make someone's day.
If you do, please share how you did. I would love to hear it :)

Great

Today was great.

It was a great day in every way.

It was one of those days where every thing goes right for no reason.

It was a day where you can't help but be thankful for every single little thing.

It was a day you wish to have the same type of every day for the rest of your life.

It was a day full of productivity, incredible amounts of love and serving.

I really believe that it is days like these that we will experience in Heaven.

Since today was so great, I decided to bake a cake.

Here it is:

Funfetti is pretty much my most favorite box cake, ever.

Hope you have a fantastic evening!

Mine will consist of putting together a presentation for class on Monday.

Please try to contain your jealousy.

How to

I have to admit, often when I research things online, I resort to asking Google how to do whatever it is that my mind wanders to that day.

Ironically, upon moving here, I never took the time to ask Google how to adjust to life in a big city. Instead, I named my blog that and hoped that I could explain how I did it.

While I have gotten unbelievably comfortable and familiar with this big city of Chicago, I couldn't help but ask Google what it thought I should have done in my journey of adjusting.

So, like any normal person, I asked.

Here's what I got:

That's my big city ^ :)

How to Adjust to Life in a Big City
By kellyzilar, eHow Member

Adjust to Life in a Big City
User-Submitted Article
Did you just move to a big city from a small town?

Confused on how to adjust? Not sure where to start?
Keep reading and find out!

Difficulty: Moderate
Instructions

Things You'll Need:
Map of the city
Book of things to do
Walking Shoes
Camera
A positive attitude and a big smile!

1. When moving from a small town to a big city, it can be a bit of a shock. You may not be used to the amount of people, the diversity of a big city, the smells, the crime, or the melting pot. All of which makes it a great place to live. So go get a map and a book of things to do in your new city.
2. Start out small. Visit the spot that the city is known for. Take picutres. It will make you look for things that you normally wouldn't. Smile at people and don't let your self be intimidated.
3. After you have explored some, look in your local paper for events that you would like to attend. Book signings, yoga, salsa lessons. Things that will force you to get out and meet people. The more people you interact with, the more you will get in tune with the city. Every person that you meet will show/tell you something new to check out. Follow through on this. Don't be afraid to be forward and explore!
4. My #1 piece of advice is to open yourself up to things that you wouldn't normally do. Be creative in what you do. It will not only teach you things about yourself, but will let you fall in love with your first big city!

Read more: How to Adjust to Life in a Big City | eHow.com

Well friends, I don't think I could have given much better advice than eHow Member, kellyzilar.

Tomorrow Ruben and I are attending an annual benefit dinner for Breakthrough Urban Ministries. I am considering volunteering for this organization. Check it out here.

Heart Guard

Proverbs 4:23(NLT)

Guard your heart above all else,
for it determines the course of your life.

How does one live out this passage?

Are you supposed to just stop caring about things/people you have cared so much about before?

Are you supposed to just ignore the things you shouldn't let in your heart?

Are you supposed to end friendships that you have had for years?

If so, how could you do that without it affecting your heart?

How would one practically guard their heart?

I am really struggling with trying to understand this lately.

I feel as if I am constantly getting hurt,
and it is by the same people every time.

How does one know who will be a true friend and who won't?

And is it ok to be such good friends with someone for just a season of your life?

Is that what is supposed to happen?

Once you move to a new place, are you supposed to make all new friends?

I thought it was possible to have life-long friends.

I guess few are life-long and most are seasonal..

::sigh::

Selfless

I love my friends.

My Florida friends have been staying over for the past few nights.

I love it. I missed them so much.

They have been going to work with Ruben and helping out with the construction.

As I have been observing them each day, I noticed something very special.

Every morning after breakfast, without any hesitation, Nicky announces that it is time to go to ignite to start working. The boys then get ready and head out.

Every morning after breakfast, I am in awe.
I am so proud to call them my friends.
To be honest, I consider them to be more family than friends.

Nonetheless, I have been thinking about these moments incessantly.

I then think about the idea of missions trips.
I think about missions in general.
What is a missions trip?

I always understood a missionary to be someone who goes to and becomes part of a new community. Someone who goes to help. Not because they have to, but because they want to.

They want to serve. They want to help. They want to love.

From what I have been seeing these past few days, I would have to say that these boys have done just that. They came here to Chicago for a vacation.

Are they lounging around at the beach?
No.
Are they going to amusement parks?
No.
Are they avoiding any and every type of work?
Quite the opposite.

They wake up every morning with the intention of going to work, and this is no office job friends.

This is manual labor.
Painting, cleaning, putting wires through things while hanging on extremely high ladders. These past few days have been no walk in the park. Yet, every morning, you are guaranteed to hear these boys want nothing more in the next hours of their lives than to go to ignite to help.

This makes me so happy. I smile every time.

Seeing people choosing to serve others rather than serving themselves is a beautiful thing.

To see selflessness played out right before my eyes is a gift and inspiration.

I love people.
I love love.
I love serving.
I love watching people love others through serving.