Every day for Him

Last Thursday night my best friend Pam was involved in a horrible car crash. Fortunately, she sustained only minor cuts and bruises. The severity of the situation made me stop and contemplate how we often live our lives.

We are all guilty of taking each day for granted when in actuality, every day is a gift from God. We save our fancy dishes and outfits for "special occasions" and keep telling ourselves that we will go there, call him/her, visit it one day. Well, my friends, today is the day. Tell your loved ones that you love them. Pop the question. Take that special trip you have always wanted to take. We only have a limited number of days on this earth, so make today the best day yet.

I continue to praise God for saving Pam, and I plan to live each and every day to the fullest until God calls me home.

"He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support. He brought me into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me." (Psalm 18:16-19)

Uthando Africa

As many of you know, I am involved with an organization in Cape Town, South Africa called Metro Kids Africa (http://www.metrokidsafrica.org/). Partnering with local church communities, MKA desires to see children grow up to reach their full potential and become assets to their families, their community and their country. I sponsor a child through their Pen Pal program and had the privilege of meeting her in June when I lead a globalX (http://www.goglobalx.org/) mission trip to Cape Town.

I am partnering with a group of people who went on a globalX trip to Cape Town in November 2008 to put on a benefit concert called Uthando Africa for MKA this Thursday, July 30th at Andrews Upstairs in Atlanta. Eddie Kirkland (http://www.eddiekirklandmusic.com/) will be playing, and all proceeds will go directly to MKA. Even if you don't live in the Atlanta area, I highly encourage you to make a donation to Uthando Africa. Having witnessed the horrific conditions the children in townships have to live in, I can assure you that they desperately need your help. For more information on Uthando Africa or to make a donation, please go to http://www.metrokids09.com/. All donations are tax- deductible. If you live in the Atlanta area, I hope to see you on Thursday.

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,

for the rights of all who are destitute.

Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy."

(Proverbs 31:8-9)

Baggu...it's for you!

For those of you who have read my blog before, you know that I LOVE Baggu reusable bags. They are durable, environmentally friendly, and oh so chic! And now the smart folks at Baggu have created patterned bags. How fun is that? Pictured above are a few of my favorites.

Go to http://baggubag.com/ to order some today.

Be cool...Baggu :)

Home is Where the Heart is

"Home is where the heart is" is an expression that warms our hearts. It fills us with fond memories of Christmas mornings, family dinners, and game nights. As many of you know, I recently bought and moved into a new condo in Atlanta. While I am thrilled to be here and feel extremely blessed to own my first home, my happiness does not lie in where I live. Being a Christian means that one day I will reside in my permanent home with my Lord and Savior. For now, I am excited to live in this lovely condo with an amazing view. But, I look forward to living forever with my King at our home where my heart will be for eternity.

"Jesus replied, 'If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him." (John 14:23)

Tuesday pick-me-up

These photos are just for fun and will hopefully brighten your day.

I hope you enjoy seeing the amazing variety God has created for us in nature.

"God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good." (Genesis 1:25)

Another one bites the dust

I think the travel bug bit me at a very young age. Being that my mother worked for Delta for 30 years, I took my first plane ride as an infant and have been hooked ever since. I have been to more cities, states, and countries at a young age than most adults. Needless to say, this wanderlust has seeped into my pores and refuses to go away. Movies, TV shows, books, and newspapers all conjure up images in my head of my next great adventure. I constantly find myself looking up fares on Delta.com just for fun. When I am lucky enough to go on a trip, I am already planning the next one on the trip home. The travel bug has indeed taken over me.

I would like to think that all of my travels have taught me something...mainly that we are all different, yet we are all the same. We all want to love and be loved. We want to be happy and surround ourselves with loved ones. But, the beauty of travel is that you get to see how other people live their daily lives. You get to see what type of food they eat, the places they go to each day, and how their culture has shaped their lives. If you are really lucky, you might even get to walk a mile in their shoes.

I will never forget the first time I was in the Southern Hemisphere and looked up at the night sky. I was amazed at the constellations I was seeing for the first time. I marveled at the majesty of God's kingdom, and how He made it so spectacular for us to enjoy.

Unfortunately, I am not currently in the position to do much traveling, but I continue to go on countless trips in my head and in my dreams. I soar through the jungles of Costa Rica and hike the mountains of the Pacific Northwest. I sail through the waters of the Santorini islands and view a herd of elephants grazing in the plains of Africa. The 30 states and 12 foreign countries I have visited pale in comparison to the enormity of the world I have yet to see.

"I am not the same having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world."

(Mary Anne Radmacher)

Make it a great day

"Make it a great day!"

This was my tweet from this morning. A friend of mine re-tweeted it, and it inspired me to share this with you. YOU have the power to make today a great day. I know that you can't always control your life, and that quite often we end up in situations we don't want to be in. But, we can choose how we feel. A very wise friend of mine likes to remind me that despite the circumstances of our life, God is still God. He is still in control, and my faith should not falter just because I don't like what has happened to me. My personal happiness does not lie in what God does in my life, but who He is.

Therefore, I encourage you to take charge of your own life. You are the CEO of the journey of your lifetime. Choose to make today and every day a great day.