Jet lagged and then some...

Phew! I assumed that when I got back from Moldova I would get directly on this blog and write for days. Well that didn't happen. First I slept for days, then I ate for days (Thanksgiving) and now I am taking a break from all this Christmas shopping and partying to finally share about the magnificent trip I had.

Below is the amazing group of people that I went with:

We had such an amazing time, and I am pretty sure the people of Moldova touched our lives more than they will ever know! After we met and hung out with our translators, we went into town and bought some food bags to bring to the people in the neighborhood. We made such personal connections with these people, it was hard to leave.

When we weren't hanging in the neighborhood we got to run around and play with the kiddos in a few different orphanages. These kids absolutely changed my life! Some of them are old enough to remember being dropped off by their parents, you could see the pain in their eyes. The younger ones, however, didn't have a care in the world, this was the only life they knew and they loved it. If I had thought for one second that customs would have let me through with hundreds kids I would have taken them all with me!

So many of the experiences I had affected my life. While it was great to go home, I couldn't help but think about all things that still needed to be done in Moldova. I am hoping to go back again June, if finances will allow it.

After I got home I was ready to dive into the next adventure, and without hesitation I was given the opportunity to chaperone the highschoolers going to Brazil! After praying about it, I quickly accepted! God seems to be opening so many doors for me right now, and I don't want to miss one second!

We will be going to Brazil in April. As of now we are still raising the funds to go. I am going with an organization called Never Alone http://www.neveralone.org/ . This organization not only reaches out to other countries but also contributes to the families in need right here in Cherokee county! If you are in the area and are looking for a place to serve, you should check them out!

If any of you are interested in donating towards the Brazil trip, you can send your donations to:
                          Never Alone
                          Missionary: Lori Beck
                          PO Box 1904
                          Woodstock GA 30188

I hope each and everyone of you is having a wonderful Christmas season!

Baggage Claim

I am used to packing for road trips. Knowing that if I forget something last minute I can just throw it in the car. But it takes a special talent to pack for a flight. I have one suitcase, one carry on and a back pack I need to fill. I am not much for over packing but this time I feel the need to prepare for anything.

I was told to pack most of my necessities in my carry on in case they lose my luggage. Seriously? I tend to not pack much more than my necessities so what the heck am I supposed to put in my luggage? I feel like anything I put in there I need to say a proper good bye to. Which then brings me to the horrible process of which clothes are my favorites? You see my dilemma.

The next step now involves me looking up everything that is not allowed on the flight. This has been an interesting discovery. I already knew that anything more than 3 oz. was not allowed which still is baffling. Explosive liquid is explosive liquid and it doesn't make me feel better if its only 3 oz. I then look up if batteries are allowed on board and find out that they are. Really. Really? I can't bring face wash but I can bring batteries filled with acid? That sounds normal. This then brought me to imagine how I could fight off a terrorist by throwing batteries at him and I felt better about bringing them in my carry on... just in case.

If anyone else has trouble packing for their flights... please share. I would love to know that I am not the only one thrown off by all of these rules.

Good news is, I leave in 4 days!!! It is unbelievable how fast this trip is approaching. I continue to pray for the hearts of those in Moldova and that they will be open to an indescribable kind of love!

I want to give you a few details about what we are going to be doing there. We will be delivering food bags to families who need them to help get through the brutal winter they are facing. We will also be spending the days building this two story tailor shop for the girls that will be transitioning out of human trafficking. They will be able to learn a trade and make a living working there. I am perhaps the most excited about visiting the orphanages and getting to love on these little ones. We are coming armed with candy, face paint, balloon animals, and games! I can't wait to spend time with these children and pray over them!

What's funny is, as soon as I start thinking about all of those priceless moments we will have. I stop caring about my luggage and what I should and shouldn't bring.

Keep praying for us as we continue to prepare to leave. I will be keeping a journal while I am there so if I am unable to post at that time I will be able to come home and update you all!

Keep Calm & Carry On

I saw a picture with those words on it, and fell in love. That has been the theme of the week for me. I even saw it on a few other items at a Home Goods store. (which by the way is one of my new favorite stores!!!) I decided to look it up and see what it meant. It turns out that it was a poster produced by the British Government in 1939 during WWII in hopes of raising morale in case of invasion. Well I fully intend on buying that painting and hanging it proudly on my wall. Who doesn't need that reminder from day to day?

As you all know I have been patiently waiting for this investment to come through. And until it does, I am desperately trying to find a job, and/or a distraction. One of the main reasons I made this investment was to fund a mission trip to Moldova. The plane ticket alone was a crazy price and I knew I could never afford it. Even though the investment hasn't come through yet God provided other funds and made this trip possible!!

So.... on November 5th I will be leaving for the country of Moldova (Eatern Europe, above Turkey) and will have the pleasure of loving on these adorble children in the orphanages all over the country! I am so blessed to be able to go on this trip and I just found out one of my closest friends is coming as well! God is so amazing!!

In preperation for the trip I did a three day fast. No food. (being that I am hypoglycemic, I had to drink V8 and Gatorade to maintain stability) This brought so much clarity and shed light onto God's will for this trip. What I wasn't expecting was for it to totally rock my world and change my relationship with food. I have decided to go back to using the WW point system and start making healthier choices with my meals. Mix that in with a slightly more active lifestyle, and I do believe I have the recipe for weight loss!

This is such an exciting time. It seems like God is opening doors all over the place! The only door I can't seem to find is one that leads to a job. But since I am leaving in two weeks for Moldova, it doesn't seem like such a smart time to try and find one. In the meantime I will stick to babysitting, and dealing blackjack to make ends meet.

So much to do before my trip and so little time to do it in. I must ask for all of your prayers while I prepare to leave. I have been dealing with a lot of spiritual warfare and satan has been attacking my friendships, my mental health and my overall attitude. I want to be in the right state of mind when I enter this country. I want God's love pouring out of me!! I can't be His hands and feet if I am in turmoil. Please lift me up in your prayers.

In all this, I will Keep Calm and Carry On!!! But only because my God is in control!!!!!!!

God's Blessings can come from Iraq too...

Investments. Something I know little or nothing about. But when I found out about an investment that would not only bless me, but the entire Christian community (not to mention help my church start their building project again) I said SIGN ME UP!


Now that we are in the final days of this investment, my days have been filled with online shopping (Urban Outfitter and Anthropologie) car shopping, and countless visits to the condo I hope to purchase. Its all very exciting, but I hope that in the midst of all this consumer madness, I stop to remember who blessed me with this investment in the first place. Its so easy to go about our days and forget God is the one opening doors, protecting us from outside attacks, and going behind us to clean up the messes we make each day! Of course I plan on tithing, and giving to a few organizations that I support. But is that enough?


As of today I have $20 in my bank account, I have no jobs lined up until October, and this investment could come through any day now! And believe me when it does I will find the closest rooftop climb aboard and shout praises to God for this blessing. I want to make sure that NO ONE but Him receives the glory for this perfectly timed blessing!


I know that money does not buy you happiness by any means... but I can't help but think that this is just one step closer to having everything I dreamed about. I will soon be able to afford the healthier food I need to get back in shape, and no longer will my auto payment to the gym overdraft my account!!!


This was a very random intro to a very random blog. Join me as I embark on this adventure, through investments, weight loss, and spiritual growth!


God Bless!!