What kind of family do I want to have...?

Well, not right now, and not any time soon, but I would like to get married and have a family one day.

Today, was a very unique day, because I had the opportunity to spend the day with a family, I love and respect. I teach the oldest daughter (15) and know the other 3 from around the studio. I have to say, they are really well behaved and personally motivated, which makes teaching a pleasure.

Anyway, Ill get to the good stuff... so all I can say is that I wanna be like them, so I ask myself, how can I get like them? One way, is to pray. Mrs. Abell would say that the only way she could be where she is, is because of prayer and supplication. do you know what supplication means? I didn't so I looked it up... "ask or beg for something earnestly and humbly."

I just want You Lord,

would You guide me and show me the way?

I JUST WANT YOU LORD,

You're with me and I know You'll stay.

My FIRST LOVE. + plans

I think we're in the place where we both shine. I am free to say I am remembering my FIRST LOVE. I wanna tell you about this person. It's time. I remember when I spoke to him, I would be SOOO flippin nervous that, I would literally CRY. Seriously, I cried because I knew he was so amazing. I would talk to him about some of my friends who were having problems, because I knew he could take care of them. HE was AMAZING! like seriously, there wasn't anyone like him. and I still can't think of a soul that could come close. First Loves are unforgettable.

Dude, today I listened to this sermon about Revelations 2, and Jesus' first letter to the church in the end times. It starts by encouraging the believer that they are doing a great job taking care of business, exposing liars, and exposing people who are drawing people to themselves, rather than Jesus. God basically says "props! but.... " but you have forgotten where you have fallen from... you've forgotten your first love. Now, the goal of this letter was to say to the believer, remember your first love. So, that's what I am doing...

COSTA RICA UPDATE

13 days till Costa Rica, and my friend Charlene is going to come with me for the first 2 weeks, Zoila, Robbie and Dre are probably going to come and visit me in Mid-August. and finally, my friend Brittnee is also going to come in August. I am thrilled! Excited to be falling in love with Jesus more today than yesterday, and excited about the future I am walking towards. All GLORY goes to JESUS. :)

Oh, and I am also pretty stoked that I get to hang out with the Abell's tomorrow! I love the Abell's so much! They are cool because they are healthy eaters, but more important they LOVE Jesus, they have devotions in the mornings, and it's just lovely. I have so much to learn!

FYI:: I just learned something from TV. If you always beating people down and telling them everything that's wrong with them, they probably won't like you very much. one more wrinkle in my brain...

committed strokes now; reaps fruit in the future

If you're human, then you've probably sensed that desire within you to do the right thing... but didn't have the strength to. i named this blog committed strokes after being inspired by painting my nails. yup! paintin ma nails! you have to finish the whole stroke; top to end of nail bottom, for your nails to look good. if you just focus on the top, then they are going to look clumpy and busted. not pretty. then I was thinking about my life, and where i just focused on the top, and didn't see the stroke of my commitment till the end. my help and product probably looked unfinished, half-way and busted.  i don't want my life to look like that to others. obviously, im talking about relationships. there has to be meaning. vitality. trust. honesty. grace.

i desire to be trusted at my word.

I am working at being a reliable person.

I love wise people, I hope to be considered "wise" one day. 

I also love people who "have a good head on their shoulders," i want to be that person.

im working at keeping God in the center of my life. the cheif. cornerstone.

oh, and i am working at creating healthy, open and honest friendships. it's been rewarding.

forgiveness has changed my life, it's unbelievable!

purity is precious, as is patience.

i love where i am right now, because it's where i am suppost to be. i think zoila said the beatles coined that phrase in a song.

singing is cool, and uplifting.

dancing is not that serious, it's just my trade.

my dad loves how i stop to smell the roses.

simple is best.

But I think a song by the fray makes sense, it's called fall away. 

it talks about having to deal with the consequences of a choice, a bad one. hence the pain sung in this pool of regret. sure, it's a little dramatic. its weird where reality stands up, being inspired by paintin ma nails, but hey! somethings got to inspire a person to take committed strokes for the future.

You left something undone, it's now your rerun
It's the one you can't erase
You should have made it right, so you wouldn't have to fight
To put a smile back on your face

You fall away from your past
But it's following you
You fall away

No weapon forged against you will prevail

As I prepare to take this trip I am mulling over a few goals in which I hope to accomplish. 

1. To have quality time with the Lord Almighty, my husband. (yeah, it's weird for me too, but it's becoming my reality)

* Using my teaching skills... (God is full of surprises! and we'll see what happens with that)

2. To learn how to surf (fingers crossed ;)

3. To practice/study Spanish everyday for 52 days. yes. 

These are the three main ones, but tonight I was reading Isaiah 54 and there were many parts that spoke to me. Some parts especially harder, since Zoila just schooled me to not talk to strangers, drink anything from anybody, or get into a car with a "nice" guy while in Costa. 

I was also semi convicted that I will not be a slave while I am there to teaching the classes. I am praying for boldness and honesty with the owner, that if I don't feel like teaching the classes for a week so I can visit dre, robbie and z when they come... that's totally fine! right? yes, Lindsay, it's fine :) Ok, thanks! 

So, I wanted to document this section of scripture.

Isaiah 54 

Spread Out! Think Big!

   ^{1 -6} "Sing, barren woman, who has never had a baby.  That's me! I'm singing... :)
   Fill the air with song, you who've never experienced childbirth! You're ending up with far more children 
   than all those childbearing women." God says so! (dude, really? That's sick, i always wanted babies) "Clear lots of ground for your tents! 
   Make your tents large. Spread out! Think big! Use plenty of rope, 
   drive the tent pegs deep. You're going to need lots of elbow room 
   for your growing family. You're going to take over whole nations;  ummm, now that's going too far! :) just playing
   you're going to resettle abandoned cities. Don't be afraid—you're not going to be embarrassed. 
   Don't hold back—you're not going to come up short. You'll forget all about the humiliations of your youth, Thank u
   and the indignities of being a widow will fade from memory. For your Maker is your bridegroom, this means more than you know.
   his name, God-of-the-Angel-Armies! My husbands probably better than yours! IJS  Your Redeemer is The Holy of Israel, 

   known as God of the whole earth. You were like an abandoned wife, devastated with grief, 
   and God welcomed you back, Like a woman married young 
   and then left," says your God.  yes, abandoned, devastated, but welcomed back to a life better than I imagined!

   ^{7 -8}Your Redeemer God says:

   "I left you, but only for a moment. 
   Now, with enormous compassion, I'm bringing you back. In an outburst of anger I turned my back on you— 
   but only for a moment. It's with lasting love 
   that I'm tenderly caring for you. Thanks, because I needed it after all that!

   ^{9 -10}"This exile is just like the days of Noah for me: 
   I promised then that the waters of Noah 
   would never again flood the earth. I'm promising now no more anger, 
   no more dressing you down. For even if the mountains walk away 
   and the hills fall to pieces, My love won't walk away from you, :( thats beautiful! I knew someone felt that way about me
   my covenant commitment of peace won't fall apart." 
   The God who has compassion on you says so.

   ^{11 -17}"Afflicted city, storm-battered, unpitied: 
   I'm about to rebuild you with stones of turquoise, Lay your foundations with sapphires, 
   construct your towers with rubies, Your gates with jewels, 
   and all your walls with precious stones. All your children will have God for their teacher— 
   what a mentor for your children! (They're gonna be smart as... hallelujah!) You'll be built solid, grounded in righteousness, sweet!

   far from any trouble—nothing to fear! nothing to fear.
   far from terror—it won't even come close! not even close! If anyone attacks you, 
   don't for a moment suppose that I sent them, And if any should attack, 
   nothing will come of it. I create the blacksmith 
   who fires up his forge 
   and makes a weapon designed to kill. I also create the destroyer— 
   but no weapon that can hurt you has ever been forged. Any accuser who takes you to court 
   will be dismissed as a liar. This is what God's servants can expect. 
   I'll see to it that everything works out for the best."  how amazing is this God?
         God's Decree. 

The black bolded statements are just my 2 cents, and responses to God's word. I am awed by God and His compassion towards me, and his tenderness to take care of me. I feel as though I don't deserve it, but on the other hand, if I believe God is a loving Father, why would he "give me a snake when I ask for a piece of bread?" 

So yeah, I just want to closely document my thoughts and heart during this time. It might become vulnerable, so skim if you will, I'll try to highlight the activities in the beginning, and the thoughts, reactions and juicy Lindsay thoughts towards the end. haha. Goodnight. in 3 minutes, I'll be leaving in 16 days. 

Welcome, punks! :)

Dude,

I am so excited! You know how life can be super challenging, to the point where you give up trying, and you just let go and see what happens? Yeah, I'm there... free falling right now... and... it's ... AMAZING! 

I forget that God has everything under control. 

God.

has.

EVERYTHING!...

under.

control.

I love being clueless in the hands of a loving God. It's not a scapegoat to not try at life, it's just a reminder that the workd doesnt revolve around me, and whether I like it or not, there will be times that will be challenging, hard, brutal and dispairing... but there will also be times of fruit, growth, enjoying, and free falling....

Anyways, I am starting this blog basically for my dad and zoila, because they will probably be worried sick while I am away. This is for their peace of mind. And also for anyone else who wants to see what I am up too. 

Basically,

God has totally blessed me with an opportunity to go to Costa Rica. But it's sooo much more than that!

I will be going to a small town called Playas Negras (Black Beaches, because of the volcanic action in the area) for 52 friggin days! Starting July 12-Sept. 2. This is exciting because I have been longing to refine my spanish speaking skills... that's not all though, their are so many unexpected perks!  I can surf everyday! Playas negras is like the surf city! It's famous for perfect waves all year long... there was even a movie filmed there. That's one thing. But the biggest and best thing is this... the place I will be staying, has a yoga studio, and the owner is allowing me to teach some ballet classes to off-set my lodging expenses! Isn't that so cool? God really opened this door for me, because how could I get set up in such a perfect situation? 

So yeah! That's why I am here. Follow me. Talk with me. Answer my questions! You're coming with me to Costa Rica! Let the games begin!

Sincerely your friend, sister, daughter, niece, love, bff

Lindsay 

www.casapapayayoga.com