he’s. my. Dad.

Today’s my dad’s birthday. Once again, I spend January 17th reevaluating my life, as I always do…

23 years ago today, my last name finally became legit and I had two parents for the first time in my short little care-free life.

It was also dad’s birthday

I don’t remember that day, but in the past few years I haven’t been able to forget it.

I miss my dad… He lives in Texas. He taught me so many things, and I totally look up to him. We don’t get along some of the time, but that’s because I’m human, proud, and bull-headed (and is that all the same thing?).

But today I’m happy remembering him, unlike last year when I cried all day long and spent 22 of the 24 hours sitting with myself, angry for what I had done and the words that had been said. (I was remembering that when heather and I went to bible study last night at the same house it was at 1/17/11 and I was an emotional wreck.)

I’m happy because of all the time I have had with him. I’m happy because I saw him in Florida and also in Texas 3 or 4 times last year, including Christmas. I’m happy because he’ll always be my dad, and the man I respect most in life. I’m hoping I can find a guy that kinda sorta almost measures up to him. Because I want to find a guy to raise my kids, almost exactly (;) ) the way I was raised. (And I have to throw in that I’m so happy he taught me to love fishing… something I haven’t done since I moved here. DANG i wanna go fishing so badly.)

Happy birthday, Dad. May your day be filled with Joy because in Christ alone, we live.

Hope to see you soon!

your Janey.

:)))))

:)))))

Oh my gosh what a gorgeous day it is!!! i love how God washed the world and painted the awesome multi-colored clouds above the mountains. So beautiful.

So excited about today anyways. I think I’d be this happy if it were pouring down Gatorade.

I have come to the conclusion that I actually feel less tired when I’ve not slept haha. Sigh. Oh well.

Have a great day everyone!! (remember Haiti. I cannot believe its been TWO YEARS since the earthquake)

eLiiii

Caught up in the wonder…

…And I can feel Your presence here with me,
Suddenly I’m lost within Your beauty.
Caught up in the wonder of Your touch
Here in this moment
I surrender to
Your love.
#mercy me

As I continue along in 2012, it’s getting harder to keep my biggest new year’s resolution of staying away from the drama. But I’m still able to distance myself from it, but sometimes I feel alone in this world. Tonight as I sat charting at work, I put in both headphones and blocked out the rest of the crew here and this song came on.

I need to go running up in the mountains today when I wake up so that I can clear my head and thoughts and be caught up in the wonder of His touch. I feel caught up in the chaos of this man-centered world these days and it helps so much to be on top of it!!

I pray that it’ll be beautiful weather today when I wake up. As of right now it’s supposed to be pouring down rain, but warm. In that case I’ll find my old running shoes and some comfy pants that won’t fall off when their wet. Haha.

Please pray for me, these days, as I have some decisions to make and need guidance to make some decisions in a manner worthy of Christ.

It makes me happy to be this happy. There’s only one way I can be so carefree and joyful this year and that is that I know Jesus is in control of my life. YaY!!

eliiii

my chance for a new beginning.

Today I’m gonna try a little harder
Gonna make every minute last longer
Gonna learn to forgive and forget
‘Cause we don’t have long, gonna make the most of it

Today I’m gonna love my enemies
Reach out to somebody who needs me
Make a change, make the world a better place
‘Cause tomorrow could be one day too late

(Tick tock hear my life pass by
I can’t erase and I can’t rewind
Of all the things I regret the most I do…
Wish I’d spent more time with you

Here’s my chance for a new beginning
I saved the best for a better ending
And in the end I’ll make it up to you, you’ll see
You’ll get the very best of me

Your time is running out
You’re never gonna get it back
Make the most of every moment
Stop saving the best for last)
#2012

books…2012… perspective… focus… GOD… man… joys… laughs…new friends… fellowship…

I finally opened my crate of books to put onto my bookshelves today at my new place and after they almost were all on the shelves i suddenly got the impression i needed to scoot back and look at the whole picture.

I saw my life flash before my eyes in a sense. not my whole life. but my life right now. today. my perspective… my focus (or lack thereof)… what gives me joy, what makes me laugh… i saw my new friends and i saw my new “friends”… and i saw the fellowship- the one i had and the fellowship i haven’t had…

I noticed that this bookshelf is a description of me. but it’s not very accurate any more. ..

The first shelf on the bottom is all text books. Pharmacology, encyclopedias, a BUNCH of different psychology books… Español… all that good stuff. This shelf was my life a few years ago! haha all i did was school!!

The next shelf is more spanish books and then all my books from John Piper, Elisabeth Elliot, CS Lewis… etc. Basically, it’s stuff about what my life used to be focused on: God, going back to the Dominican, and other missionaries… Jungle Pilot is there, Kisses for Katie (my new book from my sister about the girl who moved to Uganda ahhhh SO GOOD), Jim Elliot’s journals, Daws, Do Hard Things, my English/Spanish bibles.. This shelf is the shelf in my life that I miss.

The top shelf is similar to the middle one… More Elisabeth Elliot books, and then a bunch of biographies. (And of course, my Encyclopedia of Immaturity).

Then the very top of the bookshelf contains just a few items. My lamp, a candle, my journal, and my Bible. I put these here to see them better and to be able to focus on them faster and more regularly. To me, the candle is saying, let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. My bible speaks that Your word is truth (everyone is looking for truth, especially me at this point in my life). And the lamp is to see by, of course, but it also has a verse: Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my eyes. I’m trying to write in my journal more these days as well: to record the things i’ve learned and saw as well as the things i do not wish to forget.

And to think, all this from a simple bookshelf.

I pray that in 2012, God will give me eyes to see the little things all around me, as well as stepping back and looking at the bigger picture.

~eli

Bye 2011; hello 2012!!

The last year seemed like it was hard and I got very discouraged but I am grateful for God’s forgiveness and my true friends that have been there for me. I welcome 2012 with great anticipation!!

The new year was started right anyways!! I am glad Taylor and i got to shout it in with some amazing fireworks best new york memory yet.

Eli

Are you depressed…

I am Peter…

“I am Peter. I mess up. I make mistakes. I am far from perfect, and God will use me. God will establish great things through me.
You are Peter. God already knows that you will make a mess, but His plan for you is great. Go. Feed His sheep.” Katie Davis (my current hero… And therefore obsession)

Elizabeth

Oh dear! Time to update

Well, it has been too long my dear blog…
I apologize.

As I type, i’m on my iPhone laying on the floor in my brothers room in Texas. I’ve finally finished my Christmas shopping and still am happy about the looks of my bank account. Working 13 days in a row almost killed me physically, but financially it is oh so unstressful!

Brittany and I were able to come to Texas for Christmas and I’m so glad we could come.

I’m also glad isaacs finally out of school!!

It’s been great to relax and be with the fam…
Beat dad at sudoku, eat moms food, argue with em, smile with gramps…

Life is Good.

Mele kalikimaka!

Liza

Sisters

I am thankful for my “friend” heather. I say “friend” because she’s more like my sister.

I love my “real” sister, Emma. And I say “real” because we were both adopted. Hehe. Can’t wait to spend Christmas with her.

Random thoughts. I’ve been told I need to express my affection more often lol.