Daily Reminder

24th Birthday - in Nepal!

My team + 2.  They loved on me and made my birthday so special!

Surprises, encouragements, gifts, pool party, lots of hugs, enthusiastic singing... I am so grateful to each of them!

Nepal does have some special birthday traditions that I gladly incorporated into my day.

On Monday, my birthday, we began a week long kids educational camp at a partnering school.  Bringing candy to all the students is a local tradition - and the kids were happy someone informed me ahead of time of this special sweet treat.

After school we headed to a very American looking pool at a hotel.  A double chocolate cake awaited me, with my picture on the front; candles blazing.  They strapped a birthday hat on my head and sang yet again.

Nepali tradition #2: feed all your friends cake.  Didn't think I would every feed people cake before my wedding reception... but it happened on my birthday.  And I was nice, for the most part.

Pizza, french fries and cake were enjoyed all around.  The evening commenced with games, encouragement and laughter.

I was a little sad my birthday was going to be overseas away from all my family and friends - birthdays are seriously my favorite time of year - but my new team stepped up and what a wonderful birthday to remember forever!

Of course I miss my family and friends... but you all crowded my phone/Facebook with loving notes.  Thank you.

I love you all!

Love is Not Quickly Forgotten

He was smiling knowingly when he asked the fateful question...

"Do you remember me?"

My brain went into to hyperdrive as I tried to trace his face.  My photographic memory was definitely out of film; I couldn't think of where in the world I would have seen this guy, let alone remember his name.  I was visiting Nebraska and was attending an extended family birthday party, and I knew this wasn't a relative.  At a loss for words, I had to say something...

"I'm so sorry, have I met you recently?

"No it's been a long time.  You were seven years old."

I breathed a sigh of relief.  There was no way anyone expected me to remember someone I must have met somewhere close to seventeen years ago. 

I smiled and asked him name - Mark.  Still not ringing bells, but then he went on to explain.

"A long time ago your uncle had a family reunion at his house and I dropped by to see what the party was all about.  You were walking with your uncle and came upon me in the driveway.  You extended your hand and revealed a simple crocheted bracelet and simply stated 'here, this is for you.'

He lifted up his arm right there and pulled back his sleeve.  There on his wrist was a pale, sea green, crocheted bracelet.  My mouth dropped open.

"Are you kidding me?" It was all I could think to say.

His answer was simple.  

"This is the same bracelet, I still have it.  In fact, I was having a bad day when you gave me this little bracelet; it completely cheered me up and the impact has stayed with me for years."

What are the odds?

My aunt had mentioned that I was in town from PA and would be at the birthday party, so he pulled a 17-year-old chain-crocheted bracelet from his dresser and put it on to tell the story. I was seven years old, and had just learned to chain yarn in hopes of being able to crochet cool things one day.  It wasn't expensive, time-consuming or all that beautiful, but it had touched a human heart.

I was so blessed as he told this short story, but I was mostly struck by this simple fact:

Never, ever underestimate the impact of a simple act of love.

New Show

The big unveiling has happened and now the general public is full aware that Sight and Sounds 2016 production is: SAMSON!

And just because I'm thrilled and excited, here's the trailer.

Last Saturday night the incredible cast ran the last Moses show.  Once the guests cleared the stage... work began.  A couple ladies and I from the costume shop joined the deck crew for Strike Night.

It was a hard hat work zone and full of action and excitement - and an evening of firsts.

First time wearing a hard hat.  First time carrying tons of lighting equipment off stage, operating a gigantic lift, pushing sets around... etc.

And now it's back to the costume shop.  Samson costumes are in the works, but Joseph costumes have to be fit first. 

Happy Day.

A bit of my city living

I thought I appreciated things and that I was aware of the little things in life.

Until now.

Life in Pennsylvania.  Life in the city.  It has revealed a couple things I never realized were so wonderful.

Things like - a driveway.

Don't take it for granted, that long/short slim stretch of cement/gravel/dirt/anything right outside your house that is always open and ready.  It's convinience offers a quick dash to the house in case of rain or freezing cold, the opportunity to wash your car, clean out your car... and last but not least, a short trek with an armload of groceries.

But on the flip side of things, City Parking (i.e. street parking)  has improved my paralell parking skills by the upwards of 100%.  Not to mention my left arm gets daily workouts as I finagle an armload of groceries/random junk, all the while my right hand has become very deft at reaching for the keys and unlocking doors in a rather short amount of time.  And while the wind howls its chilly breeze I may or may not consider myself a hero as I square my shoulders and walk a block and a half to my car in the rain/cold/snow.

And shall we mention laundry appliances?

What happens when you live your whole life with a washing machine and dryer in your basement, a literal 30 sec walk away?  You get spoiled, that's what.  And let's not even mention a sister who will do wash, dry, fold and put away your laundry on occasion.

BUT, on the flip side.  A laundromat can be very relaxing as you're forced to sit and wait for an hour as your clothes flip and spin through the clear doors.  It causes you to think twice before you throw your favorite sweater in the laundry basket, because of course you wait until the basket is overflowing and you can get your money worth out of the big industrial size machines.

So go wash your favorite sweater in a load by itself, just because you can.  Actually don't.  Because that would be wasteful.  And when you finally have to pay things like water heating bills, you start to notice things like that, too.

I think I was spoiled my whole life long.  Just tell that to thirteen-year-old me.  Ha.

Just the beginning...

"It is a safe thing to trust Him to fulfills the desires which He creates." - Amy Carmichael 

 Waiting for a basketball game sitting on bleachers, my eyes wandered up to a hanging banner.  A forlorn picture of a little girl stared at me and the banner's message declared a quote I will never forget.

"No Girl Should Be For Sale."

Several months passed before I finally looked up Tiny Hands International to learn just what they were all about.  It only took a few minutes before I clicked the "volunteer" button.

A small dream was born inside my heart.

I wanted to travel to Kathmandu, Nepal.  I wanted to work with the current missionaries to see what overseas work was really like, to be imerssed in a foreign culture and dish out hugs like they were going out of style; to live the love of Jesus in practical ways.

Tiny Hands works in a variety of ways with poverty, street children and human trafficking.  The latter kept coming back over and over again.  I began to research.

My small dream grew.

I learned about a six week missions trip - entitled Tiny Hands VisionTeam - where members of the team jump into Nepali culture head first, work with the ministires of Tiny Hands, spend time with partnering organizations and are immersed in the culture and happenings of Kathmandu.

Could my ever-growing dream become reality?

I prayed, consulted and finally began the application process. After several months {including a lost application, Skype interviews and a move across the country} I received an email of congratulations!  I had been chosen, along with eight other girls, to be a member of the 2015 VisionTeam.

My dream morphs into reality.

In an effort to share this exciting, daunting and God-given opportunity with you, I've started a blog specifically for my Nepal trip.  Before, during and after, I'll be posting regular updates.  I would love to have you join me over HERE. Or

If you're inclined to social media, please feel free to "like" and "follow" my new Facebook Page.

This current blog will still be updated with random posts of my life - just as it is now.  So if you want info, pictures and prayer requests in regards to my summer trip, please click the link on the side bar.

Have a lovely Saturday!

A Lack of Posting

I blame my dreadful lack of posting on the fact we don't have internet at my apartment currently. {hoping that changes next week!}

As usual, I have lots of pictures and ideas to share.  Maybe one day I'll be a consistant blogger.  But not yet.

Recently I was thinking about my blog.  It's a small space on a big-wide-web.  Random and infrequent posts... I go to thinking why I really blogged.  And I realized that even if no one ever read my blog, I would keep it going.

I love to write and express ideas.  I love to document happenings in my life.  I journal like a crazy girl, but this place is different.  So if you want to stick around, please do, but if you peace out, it doesn't bother me. :)

And the DIY begins!

I've always admired those people who could turn a item of junk into an piece of beauty.  It seemed fun, but daunting and difficult.  Moving away from home, with just my car for packing space, eliminated all furniture from my life.  With prices on the rise I wasn't left with many options.  Spend some good money on furniture... or try my hand and the whole DIY thing.

My new friend and I stopped by the bargain bin Goodwill and scored big on a dresser and desk.  (Desk will be featured in a post of its own)

I spammed up my good friend over at DIY In Real Life for instructions and advice and bought this beauty for a total of $6.97.

Before

I had to invest in a paint brush and sandpaper, and the paint, and primer.  But thankfully there is plenty left for numorous other projects I've got cooking in the back of my mind.

Found the dresser handles for $1.28/each. 

With a little bit of work... here we are! 

If I can do it... you can too!

Now I can go unpack my suitcase.