DESERT SONG ( HILLSONG)

"...Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving..."

Psalm 95:2

Today, I am thankful for...

1. An Abba who loves me unconditionally, tenderly, deeply...

2. Daddy, Mama, Jordan (and Kristian too)

3. My other "siblings"-Minnie Mouse, Sprite, Mike, and Charlie

4. Having a comfy bed to nap in for four hours

5. The sunshine that tans this pasty skin

6. Hearing the crickets outside

7. The beautiful gift of music: jazz, classic rock, classical, pop, r&b, techno (okay...maybe not)

8. The ability to laugh at anything and everything

9. The friends who love me for my best and worst: Spencer, Rachel, Tori, Matt, Cristen, Shannon (love you all)

10. Having sight--to read, to watch sunsets, to see fireflies dance, to watch Moulin Rouge with Mama

11.  Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Ringo Star, and George Harris

12. McDonald's sweet tea

13. Hot shower

14. A new day to live, love, laugh, and inspire 

15. A job with amazing bosses, precious co-workers, and O.P.I nail polish

16. ....having a great support system as I'm preparing to go to Ukraine.

*Thank you immediate family, extended family, close friends, classmates, acquaintances, co-workers, Facebook creepers, and blog followers for being wicked sweet cheerleaders!

Four weeks from today, I will be living in Ukraine.

Crazy.

Today--my heart breaks.

*Ukraine has over 100,000 orphans.

*Only 10% of these are orphaned due to death of a parent; the rest are social orphans – due to alcoholism, abandonment, or imprisonment of parents. 

*Many social orphans have experienced abuse and violence from parents who were drug addicts or alcoholics. 

*Orphans typically grow up in large state-run homes, which may house over 200 children. 

*Children usually graduate from these institutions between 15 and 16 years old and are turned out, unprepared for life outside the home.

*Many girls will end up in prostitution. Those who run prostitution rings target orphaned girls, who are especially vulnerable due to their lack of options and lack of people who care what happens to them. Though promised good jobs, they end up on the streets and brothels of cities across Europe.

 *Most of the boys will commit crimes once leaving the orphanage. Many of these will die young of violence or end up in prison. Most inmates contract TB in prison.

--Matthew 19:14--

But Jesus said, "Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.”

(NLT)

Yes. The packing process has started and it is glorious...let me tell you. On the left you will see my very cute passport cover. Listen-a girl has to travel in style. On the right, you will see one of the 4 (or maybe 6) suitcases that will be coming with me. I love my zebra suitcase! It has been everywhere with me. Please take note of the Slumdog Millionaire, I "Heart" NYC coffee mug, and everything in between. Yes--"Oh the Place You'll Go!" was the very first item in my pack-pack (backpack). It has been the inspiration to this journey. Too legit.

I need some relief during all this insanity--therefore, I watch GloZell. Yes, Glozell. She reminds all of us that we need to laugh a little bit everyday. Please enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ecfhEBIKWw

Adventure--(noun):an exciting or very unusual experience

"The world is full of people who will go their whole lives and not actually live one day. She not intend on being one of them."

   The next few weeks will be spent packing, packing, packing, filling out a Ukrainian visa, watching my mother cry, packing, and spending time with my closest friends. Sure, it's a really sad experience...but oh so exciting. 

  A couple of friends and I decided to make a list of "50 Thing To Do Before We're 25." Yes. This is what our life consists of. Doing the same thing everyday isn't my style. It's time for adventure and to L-I-V-E.

The list includes:

Go horseback riding in Kentucky, get a tattoo together, skydiving, bungee jumping, learn a foreign language, mission trip together, ride a taxi together in New York City, go tent camping, fishing, balloon painting, go play paintball, roll a complete strangers house, give $20 to a complete stranger, milk a cow, tip a cow, buy Ores and go door to door selling them, go to a nudist beach...with clothes on, speed dating, make a quilt, go ride 4-wheelers, go play golf, go to Ben and Jerry's and make own ice cream flavor, plan a Halloween party, walk an invisible dog, start a musical in the grocery store...

--more to come!