A little diddy.

So today just for kicks, I decided to write a little post about some of my favorite things while I take up some time at work.

First of all being music. Yes,I am a music junky and I am always willing to seek out something new a different and even join a few bandwagons of certain bands.

1) The Civil Wars: can I just say that I totes thought they were married and they would have fooled me if I had never read their bio. Their song "Poison & Wine" is a perfect example. Folk music with a bit of soul, and might recognize this beauty from a season 6 episode of Grey's Anatomy. Check out the Civil Wars at: http://www.myspace.com/thecivilwars (yeah did you know that myspace still exists?)

2) what might be a new leading folk/indie band sparking the scene is Mumford and Sons. These four West londoners are making a mark in music. Their latest album "Sigh No More" Literally got me through hours of studying for finals. Me and Mumford would sit at Cafe Brazil....0r Ihop(but only cause I was alone and had no gas) for usually 4 plus hours. Needless to say their melodies helped me learn

every muscle in the human and cat.

http://www.mumfordandsons.com/

Now on to something a little more exciting:

In order to keep up with my life and keep my new years resolution I have decided that it is important to keep my life nice and orderly. And with that I have been searching for new finds for my desk... and i might of gotten a little side tracked. Anthropologie is the store that I wish that I could afford all that they have and although a cookie jar is $70 I would so splurge just to have it! Here is a list of trendy findings that I hope will one day be able to own and have in my home.

1)

i Love candles!

2) This wall paper is amazing! and I would love to have one

wall with just wall paper on it.

3)Last but certainly not least: I have this vast urge to just pick up and get on a plane and just go to another country and serve... but alas I don't have the money and I still have school left to finish. A year and a half of my undergrad and then a year of nursing school. I am seriously excited about the possibilities that I have in working in missions. One of those options that I'm really starting to consider is Mercy Ships, its almost like another version of Doctors without boarders but on ships. The goal of Doctors without boarders is to provide health care without discrimination of race, age, religion, but your not allowed to talk about your religious preferences. But with Mercy Ships you are. So needless to say you are able to share the good-news with so many! And you get to live on a ship where they give health care and perform needed medical operations. So I'm building up options for life and it is getting me excited!

http://www.mercyships.org/pages/about-us

but for all you travel journaling Anthro offers a book to take down all of your travel memories.

Well as I say farewell I leave you with a song From

Hillsong United: You Hold Me Now

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzatshDdhhg

My life in the round desk

So as I have been sitting here since 7:45 in the round desk at work i feel like that I have accomplished quite a few very necessary things. One stalking the necessary blogs and reading their new Christmas posts, fulfilled my work duties(which is super important, especially when at work.), and set my new years resolution. Yes, I am one of those who sets new years resolutions and may or may not be one of those who actually fulfills them.... So here is a sneak peek at what my goals are for 2011.
1) My spending habits: need to change those spending habits
2) My alone time with God needs to be more consistent, must be a priority
>this includes becoming more involved with The Village church that I have been attending for around the last month
3) Need to make time for myself and and read a few non school books
> this includes evaluating my commitments
4) Exercise at least 4 times a week
5) Have a positive outlook, even on the things that are not very enjoyable
6) Actually go my counseling assignments
> side note: yes, I go to counseling and I'm not insane but I was going to become insane if I didn't get things in my life straightened out.
7) Majorly limit my facebook time
8) talk with family more often
9) Carry my Bible and Journal with me at all times
> used to do this more often and really was a blessing
10) Call the best friends from home more often
11) must have a clean room before I go to bed
12) memorize scripture
13) watch the words that come out of my mouth... my good friend Holle showed me Jame 3 last night and felt totally convicted!
14) and the most important is to leave these and all the worries that I face at God's feet and just be at peace in knowing that He is going to take care of everything.

So now it is on to actually living this out and I am excited to see what happens!

Post Script:
My little inspiration for the day:
1) please check out Promise Tangeman's blog she is a funky graphic designer who is super trendy and I'm litterally obsessed with her hair!
2) All the beautiful things - Eels
3) check out the Millie Holloman
photography blog: this picture is from
a husband and wife couple who are amazing and this instantly became my new desktop background at work!

Live and Love,
Amanda

life as we know it.

Okay so I havent posted on her in 7 months and I have no followers....or comments.... but I just really wanted to update for the fun of it. Its 1:30 in the am and I should be working on chem homework but the coffee I just had sparked my ADD. So here is life. I am an utter wreck in trying to decide where I am in the whole grand scheme of things. Honestly I would really like to get on a plane and just go to another country or to fast forward to camp reunion.... and then to May for camp to start. Although school sucks and I want to get out, I feel like I am really learning that God will totally show you that he has you in a certain place for a purpose. And no matter how empty you feel, cause I have been feeling like the driest vessel there is lost in the Sahara dessert, the Lord will fill you and use you.
Post Script on this subject: I have been reading the gospels and comparing and contrasting the life of John the Baptist in them and it is fascinating me! He was truly a servant, and really told the people how he felt about the way they lived.
Also I am happy to let you know that my intellectualness has made a turn for the better. I am now listening to national public radio (which ask Holle I hated.) And I am reading magazines by my own will that do not have Milley Cyrus on the cover or Ke$ha's new hit on the front cover. Its pure medicine and new exploratory surgeries for me.

In case your bored and would like something to do check out:
1) Flourence and the Machine (Listening to their pandora now!)
2)http://mrmrsglobetrot.blogspot.com/ I love this couple! They were married in September or October and are taking the next 6 months to travel around the world. I am truly jealous of all that they are getting to experience.
3)http://www.brandonkidd.net/blog/ For your photo blog needs check out brandon kidd. He is amazing and I get sooooo excited when he has a new post up because his photography is genius!


Love you all and hope you have a great week. Turkey day is just around the corner!

Amanda
Matthew 16:24-28

2 days!

God is so good! I have been worried about missing school next week.... I have to get two papers done by the time I leave, and I have just been really worried about coming back and catching up. Well a lady from the office next to mine came in and asked if I had left and I explained that I am leaving on Saturday and a little bit of worry about missing school. What she said to me really just made sense and gave hope. She said "in the grand scheme of things what does it really matter?" Seriously she was dead on. What really matter is following the great commission. Serving and making disciples in His name!

peace.

I think that it is awesome how sometimes the Lord begins to prepare your heart for things ahead. Today has been one of those days that He just continues to bring my peace. In 3 Days I will be leaving for Peru and I am totally stoked! God has just blessed me abundantly and taught me so much. Probably one of the biggest things that I have learned is financial peace and just total trust that God will provide. A couple days ago I kept waking up totally uneasy and worried about the money aspect and seriously I have never felt so attacked by Satan before. Literally I was in tears one afternoon because of this weight that was on my shoulders. I just started praying.... there was nothing else I could do and just his peace began to wash over me.

1 Timothy 6:8-11

⁸But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. ⁹But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation,into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.¹¹But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.

He was continually feeding me these lies that I can't make it and that was so not true. The Lord is amazing. I just don't even know how to describe how He is showing me that He is bigger than any fear or doubt that I have.

post script: thank you to those who have blessed me beyond reason. You know who you are and you have impacted my life so much! I miss you sisters in Christ and look forward to the day that we are reunited! SLEEP OVER!!!! hahaha

The countdown begins... 17 days!

So I am officially half way there! I have half of my funds raised!!!! This is really exciting but I am just being faithful that He will provide the rest. God has taught me so much through preparing for this trip and I'm seeing him in ways that I have never seen Him before!!!!

The theme for the trip is IMPACT! I think this is a great because of the issues that Tarma faces. They are heavily influenced by the media and there is a large teen pregnancy rate. They are very focused on traditions within in the Catholic faith.

I am so excited to start working with kids again! It is something that since leaving camp I have really missed!

Prayer Requests:

1. School....its kicking my butt! I am taking off a week of school to go to Tarma and so I have to get most of that done before I leave including 3 papers.... and a mid term!Yay!!!! So definitely for that!

2. Again Health, my stomach has been acting super weird. My mom is convinced that it is nerves about going on the trip and honestly, I hope thats all it is!

3.Finances.... He will provide! I am sure of it but Satan tries to attack us so often!

Thank you for your prayers and support and I look forward to telling you news from and when I return from Peru!!!!!!

Philippians 2:1-4: “1If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

Today, Yes Today!!!!

So last night I decided to come home for so time to just rest and be with my family and I got a huge blessing of a $300 check from someone very special and close to my heart for Peru!!! He is so faithful and I love seeing how much God just keeps blessing my life! I am so blessed by everyone in my life and so grateful!

I think that the last month has really shown my how to depend on God. I think that sometimes I doubt His provisions and think that it is my hands...... but its really in His!

"You will be safe in His arms

'Cause the hands that hold the world are holding your heart
This is the promise He made
He will be with You always
When everything is falling apart
You will be safe in His arms"

- Phil Wickham