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.

Cafe Update

My Gingerbread Chocolate Latte is almost empty.  Even with my growing before-I-fly-home-for-Christmas-to-do-list, I find myself at the local cafe we don't have internet at the apartment yet giving a little update on my little home on the web.

It's been almost three months since I packed my car to the brim and headed east.  The quiet trust and confidence that God is leading has sustained my heart. 

I have to admit, it still feels like a dream.  This beautiful country is so very different than my Nebraska.  The people, the talk, my job, the bills, my friends... it's all new, exciting and overwhelming.

I love creating, sewing, altering, fitting... everything that comes with the theater costume world.  Yes, I am a seamstress and every morning I take my seat at my sewing station.

Sight and Sound is my new workplace.  Pinch me, is this really my life?

There has been challenges around every corner, and joy around every bend.  And believe me when I tell you, PA is full of curvy roads. :)

It's my intent to record what I learn and what I love about my new life... but we'll see if all my thoughts actually make it here. keep your fingers crossed

But until that happens... have a very Merry Christmas!

xoxo

Sight and Sound
#livingmyadventure

Living My Adventure

I take a deep breath before I start typing.  Big news.  Crazy news.  Life-changing news.

For twenty-three years I called Omaha my home, Nebraska my state.  My schedule was unpredictable, but local.  Travels took me all around the US, but I always booked my flight from Omaha Eppley Airfield.  It was all I ever knew.

My fingers click on my familiar MacBook, but now in an unfamiliar room.  Not Omaha, not Nebraksa.

Strasburg, PA.

I moved, far away.

17 hours away from family.  1155 miles from the big house I still call home.

This life I call my own... it's a big adventure.  And I'm living it.  Every single day.

Follow my new life on Instagram.  I promise my Instaluv is more frequent then this little place.
#livingmyadventure

#luvher

We laughed, blew bubbles and enjoyed being together.