weeeeeeeee!!

Awww…the joys of praise and worship – Luke Wood just makes it so much easier to get focused on the Lord. A newly found artist gratefully given by my newly found friend – on loan of course. I've been attending a prayer meeting each night this week. Well, except for Wednesday as it is OCBF day. It's been a blessing in teaching me on how to pray. Sounds funny but it's true, I needed help. It's like working out, when you first start it's awkward and you know it's good for you so you go. You run on the treadmill for 10 minutes and you pat yourself on the back for doing something. However, you know you should be increasing in workout quality but you don't really know how to get started correctly. So what do you do? You get a trainer. There is a reason why this group calls themselves "The Prayer House." These people know how to pray. It's been a hectic week and Lord knows I need prayer time. [Not just to pray for myself but intervening for others as well.] I've been running around in circles like a hamster in his wheel going nowhere. Perhaps it's more like a dog chasing his tail. I think I am getting closer, achieving something but in the end – I never quite get it. Literally, I don't ever get "it." I can't seem to get to the point where I can honestly say, "Yep, I'm ready for the litter of kids! Bring 'em in! Hook 'em horns!" Wait a minute, that's not right. He he…I didn't even attend UT. Te hehe. In any case, prayer has helped calm me down and put in perspective the more important things in life. Even though there are mounds of things that I need to do and should do, I can't help but have a cheesy smile plastered on my face right now. Nothing is going according to plan. I haven't checked off that one darn item presently inhabiting my daily planner on the "to do" list. It has resided there for a good two weeks now and yet I have my cheesy grin. It's ridiculously cheesy. Sort of like the ones you have when you are watching a cheesy chic flick or am I the only one with weird face contortions when watching TV? I even had one when I was watching Phelps win his 7th gold medal. Ha haha…sigh. My patriotism goes up a notch or two when the Olympics are on every 4th year. Weird. GOOO USAAAA!!!! Woooooooo….

funny encounters.

Funny Encounter 1:

Soooooooooo, at Staples right now you can get 10 folders for FREE!!!! Being the poor teacher that I am, I ecstatically jumped for joy at the opportunity of getting anything for the kiddos for FREE!!!! Ahem, so this deal has been going on since Tuesday and I have been going every day to get my 10 and pulled in my sister and brother-in-law as reinforcements. You see, since it is FREE you are only allowed to go to the store once per day and allotted 10 per person. So today, after playing soccer with the fellows, I decided to try and recruit them in going with me to get like 100 folders...sadly, they laughed at my ploy and was silent. [I took that as a "No, Vina"] Disappointed at their reluctance to help me, I left anyways to get my measly 10 folders. As I was parking, I noticed a group of youngins sitting on the curb with their skateboards. [Is the light going off?] Sweaty, stinky, and looking a bit nasty I boldly approached the "gang" cheesily requesting that they help a poor teacher by escorting me inside the Staples to grab 10 folders each. After a tiny bit of "groveling" they said "Yeah, sure...why not..." [moping and dragging turtle speed pace] NO MATTER!!! I will be getting 70 folders!!! WAHOOOOOOOO!!! I wanted to thank them by buying them some candy but then that cost $5 and it would have defeated the purpose of getting FREE folders. I loudly thanked them repeatedly instead. Weeeeeee!!! I will be able to supply the kids with an abundance of folders up to my chinny chin chin AND my sister and brother-in-law are feeding in another 20 per day until the sad ending of this FREE-ness comes to an end on Saturday. Sigh....so you see....all things come to those who wait. HAHAHHAHA...no worries if you think I am greedy; that is partially correct HOWEVER I do know the meaning of the word SHARE, and share I shall do.

PS. One of the skater dudes was asking me if I wanted him to just take a box and run out the door. "Uh, no no no NO...please don't as it is really painless, see?! I hand you this and we go stand in line and no one gets hurt." [or jailed - I muttered in my head.] Thankfully they obliged and we all came out as winners! Well, more me than them. Te he...



Funny Encounter 2:
I was standing in line to purchase a cute pair of shoes I found at Marshalls when a young girl [couldn't have been more than 9] emphatically screamed in my direction "JOE!!!!!" Scared out of my wits end I look behind me as I wanted to see "JOE" too! Nobody behind me, odd. I look at little girl. Little girl looks at me. I'm not Joe - I think to myself. Little girl pointing at me. RUDE - I think....and then I look down and start laughing....my shirt has a Jonas brother on it and apparently his name is "JOE." I plum forgot I was wearing the shirt and foolishly said "Aww...yes Joe. He he...he." I got the Camp Rock shirt while I was in Canada under the influence of my 13 year old shopping advisor, Josh. Yes, that in and of itself was a sad, sad day. Where is my willpower? AND how did I let a 13 year old influence my purchase?!?!

Hahahaha...yes, that is my life. Weeeeeeeee!!! What did you do today?

thinking.

...yeah I know perhaps I shouldn't be thinking but in any case, I have an inkling of what I will be doing 5 years from now!! Have you ever had that asked to you repeatedly? Well, if you have had any type of interview - that there my friend is one THE most dreaded questions to be asked - I hate that question. I never knew what I will be doing in the next hour let alone the next 5 years!! They ask me like I have a 5 year plan set in stone and thoroughly worked out like an algebra problem. Puh-lease. It was always difficult for me to obtain a job, perhaps my answer of "Huh...still working for you? He he [smile]" to the question could've been my "reject this loser" stamp. To further secure my reject pile they ask me, "So, tell me a little bit about yourself." Answer: Silence because what I know I am about to say is about exciting as a goldfish living in a bowl. "Well, I graduated from college in my hometown with the two degrees that I have no interest in, living with my sister and her husband, no prospects of marriage anytime soon [I heard this rings stability in obtaining a job], stumbled upon your company through monster.com and thought I give you a try. I've never moved farther than 30 miles of where I was born and still have nightmares from watching Freddy Kreuger movies." Yeah I would reject myself too. HA! HA! BUT now....now is different - I know what I should be doing and I have a somewhat phenomenal outlook in what could be my future. Thanks be to the Lord! I always had a heart to go out and elsewhere and I think it's time I start doing something about it. Missions is what I love to do on any occasion I am able to and I think it is fitting that I should start seeing what I need to do to become a missionary. When? Where? How long? Who knows but I'm pretty excited about it. I'm thinking if this is in the Lord's will then by God He will show me the way!!

back from burlington, canada

Days are going fast and it's bittersweet.

I'm back in Hamilton from Burlington. Never in my life have I watched so much Disney TV. I'm Hannah Montana-d out. I am officially caught up on the ins and outs of what's cool and "hip" from the perspective of a 5 year old, 9 year old [but about to be 10], and a 13 year old. My goodness...

but the point of no return in regards to how old I really am had to have hit on July 9th when the 9 year old's father dropped her, the 13 year old, and myself at the mall. Oh the horrid memories of junior high came a rolling in torpedo speed. The car he drove us in came to a screeching halt in the front of the mall and the youngins came out squealing with pure excitement at the thought of being able to go to the local mall unsupervised [well there was me of course] on a weekday. People were a staring [some cute ones at that] and I couldn't help but laugh at the moment. I went into hysterical laughter when "dad" said...."Ok, here you are girls!!! Be careful and have fun. Call me when you need me to pick you up." To which I couldn't help but say, "Thaaaaaanks DAD!" and slam the door. The girls looked at me and asked me what was so funny....."You wouldn't understand my young lads. You wouldn't understand."

There willl be many things I will miss from Canada but I am anxious for my return this Sunday. I miss my family, friends, my church, and soccer. See you soon guys. See you soon!

Canadian Friends

First day of VBS survival recap. Compass Point Bible Church 8:30-12 [22 kids: yelling, defiant, and moody until I brought out the magical gummy bears then all fell in line...yep that's what I am talking about!!!] then goes the Hispanic version from 1-3 [ 12 kids: screaming, yelling, disobedient, stubborn, language deficit until I brought out the magical gummy bears then all but one fell into line - hey! you can't win them all.]...afterwards? A desperately needed afternoon nap with my buddy Victoria. Once we woke up we decided to take a leisurely walk around her neighborhood and ended up at the mall where I splurged and bought her a little something for her great assistance in showing me around town. What a great friend I have found in a 9 year old. Yep, a nine year old [but soon to be 10 in 16 more days - as she repeatedly told me like I forgot or something]....hahha.a.....so sad. Not to worry my other Canadian best friend breaks the double digit numbers as she is presently 13!!! heheheh...aye aye aye....

a few memories

Below are just some of the experiences I was able to capture on camera.


Tim Horton's: our equivalent Starbuck's


Me picking strawberries!! yay.


Youth prayer night

Hamilton, Canada.

In Canada, complications or resistances from me would be non-existence being it a non-third world country. HA! Needless to say, after the FIRST day here - I was ready to pack up and say, "I'm sorry, I just can't be here right now!" I mean....it was pretty bad to where I was contacting people from home asking them for massive prayer to keep me here. The Lord answered [thankfully] and finally opened my eyes to things that I take for granted. Things that I shouldn't REALLY be complaining about. Basically, He was like: "Vina, suck it up and do the work that I need you to do and not what you thought you would do." So....I quit my whining and finally realized...eh he....it's not all that bad. Today was a full preparation work day and I finally called it quits on the account of remaining sane and hunger pangs. When I was picked up by the pastor, he opened with:

Pastor Sergio: "So I need to ask you for a faaaaaavor."
[Ugh....what NOW?!?!? seriously? - in brain]
Me: "Yes?!"
Pastor Sergio: "So, this is the only time we are able to do this."
[Yiiiikes]
Pastor continues: "I need you to pick strawberries."
[Eh?!]
Pastor: "There is a field where we can pick strawberries...and I need you to help me pick them."
Me: "SURE!!!"
[Whoooooo, fun fun fun.....]

I immediately thought of my sister as she wanted to pick bluberries before I left but schedules and sinus attacks would not allow for us to actually go. So we went and it was FANTABULOUS. I am thankful to the Lord for just allowing me to experience it. I was like a FARMER y'all....a FARMER!!!...bending over and pickin' berries. Yee-haw! The Lord is good when you trust in Him. Funny thing is....He will not show you the greatness until you act on the unseen first. It's like someone telling you to walk through the tunnel, at the end of the tunnel there will be a door. You won't know that unless you walk throught the darkness of the tunnel and trusting what has been told of you. Trust comes before seeing otherwise it wouldn't be called faith, eh?!

Berries to you and hope to update more soon!

SPECIAL THANK YOUS TO: My sister, Eva, and Wendell for words of encouragement and prayer....and to the YOUTH group here for a powerful prayer meeting as well and words of inspiration and courage. Be strong in faith and hope. It's a new day!