Out of Comfort Zone

Now Playing: Como Yo by Juan Luis Guerra

A month ago, I booked a flight that was out of my comfort zone. This was my place of doubt, booking a trip for myself. It just felt like I was wasting money selfishly. Looking back, it was one of those whimsical moments that I am grateful for. The process after booking my flight went something like this:

1. Worry
2. Guilt
3. Anxious
4. Relief
5. Present
6. Thankful
7. Grateful

God brought forth some miracles in that journey because I learned the hard way of the things I did not plan ahead and of the things I could not have even predicted. One of those being my passport conundrum. Learn from me and reapply for your passport at least 6 months before expiration!

All in all, it reminded me of a sister's quote from a talked I listened to:

"If God wants something to happen, He will make it happen and if God does not want it, than neither shall I!"

Sheepishly, my conviction was not fully present during trials, but it made sense later. God permitted me the ability to have a mom and daughter trip. I don't know the next time I'll have the opportunity to do this, but I am grateful it occurred. The depart hurt so much, because it brought forth the importance my mom's physical presence to me. Perhaps that is a lesson the pandemic brought me, and that is the reminder that I can't predict the future and to take shot on the right opportunities, the ones dearest to my heart. Not to take them for granted.

What about you? What are you capable of changing?

 sincerely,

Ahhh-me

17 years later

 Now Playing: Stronger by Sam Feldt & Kesha

In memory of 2004: my first time seeing the brood X cicadas in the suburbs of DC. While I did not get to see this specific brood in 2021, I am glad that my local cicadas sing loud enough for me to acknowledge their momentary presence. 

Lately, I've been trying to relearn French. It fascinates me that the world can be so much more connected than before. Ambroise and Mathieu (from France), have been helping me practice my French through audio and text messages. I am learning what the world is like on their side of the world, as I share what it is like here. Tres magnifique. Nous sommes freres et soeurs en Christ.

Ciao,

Ahhh-me 

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Now Playing: How Deep is Your Love by The Bee Gees 

"For true hearts there is no separating ocean; or, rather, God is their ocean, in Whom they meet and are united; they love, and lose themselves in Him and in each other."

— St. Théodore Guérin

Breakfast Rolls

Now Playing: Vamo' a la calle - Carlos Baute

Experimenting in the kitchen leaves me wanting to create simple creations. Introducing... the breakfast roll!

• Rice paper
• Lettuce
• Scrambled eggs
• Red pepper
• Avocado
• Green onion
• Cooked sausage
• Homemade coleslaw

Personally, I did not think it required a sauce because the tartness and punch from the coleslaw blended well with the creaminess of the avocado and punch from green onions.

I kept trying to find a way to end this post with something profound, something to tie back to God, something more than just food. As I sought for the "perfect" connection, I realize how unauthentic it felt to seek for something that was originally not there. Perhaps the reason there has not been a connection to God is because I had spent a lot of my time looking at a screen rather than looking up. ha. silly me. 

Seek Him first,

Ahhh -me

IDK you yet

 Now Playing: Belovedness by Sarah Kroger

Do you ever do the the thing where you reframe a scenario to try to see things from a point of view that could be more impacting? I tend to do this for when I think of how my decisions would impact my children. Currently they live in a different nation... the imagination, but someday (God willing), they will be here. In the same realm, I realized that I do the same for my niece and nephew. I yearn to give them hope through my personal testimony. 

In a recent conversation with a friend, while talking about finances, I had asked how they got financial advice. They were pretty adamant of trusting the words of those they perceived to have their lives matching the given advice. It makes sense, right? While I think it is a bit challenging to fact check financial stability of others, I do believe that we can be very attentive to the lives that surround us for the better or worse. 

What I yearn to give the little ones: I yearn that they never question their worth, and if they ever do, that they remember their belovedness. I yearn that they never feel alone or unwanted. I yearn that they be equipped to beat the darkness of evil. I yearn that they love all they can and know the reason for doing so. I yearn that they gain the wisdom to see beyond the worldly distractions and keep their eyes on the prize. I yearn for them to know their cross in detail, and yet not despair but follow Jesus. I yearn for them to have their hearts be open to God, for with that, all graces can bestow on them. Faith, hope, and love. 

yours truly,

Ahhh-me

I can only imagine the magnitude of yearnings a mother has for their children. If this lens gives us so much tenderness to love on the little ones, I think it can help us extrapolate the yearn to love others better. That is, unless we have forgotten that we have all been children at some point.

Blue Dabadeee dabadaaa

Now Playing: Little Flower by Danielle Rose

"How can there be too many children? That is like saying there are too many flowers."

-St. Mother Teresa

Today's blog covers Raynaud's phenomenon. I have found that a generic internet search was not really useful in practical info. Perhaps this helps someone else. Here is what I have learned:

• Finger gloves are not helpful. 
• Mittens work sometimes
• Warm mugs work better
• Body heat works best (i.e. sitting on top of hands)
• Attacks are not always related to outdoor weather
• It occurs in the summer
• It occurs indoors 
• The speed at which circulation is lost varies
• Rapid speeds tend occur while switching environments
• i.e going from the house to the car
• First warnings before an attack can be very cold hands
• Not all attacks have warnings
• Toes take longer than fingers to reestablish circulation
• Running helps get circulation, but 
• Takes ~20 minutes for the hands 
• Takes at~30 minutes for the toes
• The longer it remains white
• the stiffer fingers/toe become
• the more painful it gets
• Best advice: see a doctor 

Disclaimer: these are personal experiences with the disease. Seek professional attention. These are just my two cents :)

Happy Easter!

Amy