Diet Brooke With Lime

IMPORTANT: Broken Arrow

2011-11-15T08:20:00.004-06:00

Dear Loves,

its been almost three years since I started Diet Brooke With Lime...

this blog documents so much.

You guys have been so amazing!

I love my followers and readers and commenters

but I kinda feel like I've outgrown my Diet Brooke With Lime stage.

the last few months i've changed a lot and I've been doing a life sweep of sorts.

Out with the old, in with the new!

But don't worry!

I am not leaving the blogging community!

I love blogging and you guys and I cant imagine a life without my blog honestly.

So I've started a new blog!!

New look, new name, new url

Same girl!

check it out

follow me over there,

I hate to see my blog without your lovely little picture in the follow section on the sidebar!

Broken Arrow will be my full time blog now.

I will no longer be running Diet Brooke With Lime but I will keep it open for nostalgic sake..

my best friend.

2011-10-16T22:10:00.001-05:00

I have the best friend.
In the world.
I pretty much love her more than my life.
I wish she was with me every second of my life.
She just moved back to texas, so I get to see her.
All day. Every day.
I'm pretty stoked about it.
She's the best thing thats ever happened to me.
That's why I married her. Duh (:

The Koshe Project

2011-10-14T09:01:00.000-05:00

Since I've been home The Koshe Project has been on my mind.

I worked with it the most in Ethiopia and to be honest these girls still have my heart.

I knew I was suppose to go back...

So I took a step out in faith.

Within the first week of being home I applied to volunteer for this project, and Wednesday I got a letter saying I am accepted.

Yep, I am going back to Ethiopia for two months!!!

Right now I am putting together funds.

I still need money for a plane ticket.

So if you know anyone who would like to help a struggling girl get to Ethiopia to help people, give them my email!

dietbrookewithlime@hotmail.com

Learn more about each one of the amazing girls in this project here

dreamin of adventurous days....

2011-10-06T03:37:00.003-05:00

So my first week.. well almost two weeks home have been extremely uneventful.

My car is currently getting some work done so I am stuck with these four walls, netflix and my laptop.

Thankfully I have some awesome tunes to keep me groovin, even when I'm bored out of my mind.

These two songs are currently on repeat.

caution, this one may offend a few of you.

p.s.

I am currently on a mission to make everyday an adventure,

even ones stuck at home.

If you have suggestions please leave them :)

Little Letters

2011-10-01T12:20:00.002-05:00

Dear God,

Your rad!

Keep on being you!

Dear Jeep,

Broken? really?

How dare you break my heart like this!?

This whole time I was away, I dreamt of me and you!

All the fun we were going to have!

Just me, you, the open road, and freedom!

We were going to do what we want, when we wanted!

Stay out all night, partying at concerts, harassing old friends.

You've really let me down.

Dear four walls,

You are driving me insane!

this weekend is looking pretty boring and uneventful for me

I hope yours is going better

Letters to myself

2011-09-28T23:00:00.003-05:00

If I could write myself a letter then, this is what I'd say...

Dear Brooke in March,

Next month you're going to be embarking on an adventure.

Right now you think your fat, in six months you'll know what fat really feels like after eating snickers and cheesy bread everyday as your comfort food for six months, so shut up!

Right now you think your pale, when you get home in September, you'll be so pale you're turning pink, so again, shut up!

but I not envious of you for a couple reasons.

You make your choices based on fear, and you're basically afraid of everything.

You've never seen a gypsy village in Romania, tasted the night air of Germany from a beautiful tower where you can see the border of Poland and Czech, or enjoyed an authentic coffee ceremony in Ethiopia.

You've never met the amazing people I've met, been to the places I've been or experienced the crazy things I have.

Don't take anything for granted, trust, and never say no.

This trip really will be what you make it.

You'll meet new best friends and maybe even a cute boy near the end, who knows ;)

Strap yourself in young lady,

your in for the ride of your life.

Love,

Brooke in September

first week in Germany... six months ago.

2011-09-28T22:56:00.004-05:00

got some old film developed today

at the beginning of the journey...

I missed him

2011-09-28T21:03:00.003-05:00

On September 23, after 6 months over seas I arrived home sweet home in the USA.

And who was I the most excited to see?

My little bug, Harley

of course

Brooklyn and Rach take on Scotland

2011-09-28T20:54:00.004-05:00

me and Rachel took our Scotland trip VERY seriously....

Scotland: September 19th-22nd

2011-09-28T20:28:00.012-05:00

My time in Scotland was a little treasure.

A few days filled with fish and chips (my new favorite food in the Universe), old graveyards, amazing castles, and breathtaking scenery.

I also found the cutest little store that sold holga's my first day and Edinburgh, and since the death of my last one I've felt a little lost so I of course bought one!

Enjoy Scotland through my lens....

Oh Dorien,

2011-09-26T01:24:00.014-05:00

Within my last two weeks in Germany I got together with one of my favorite Herrnhut friends, Dorien Scheltens.

Our friendship originally spawned from the fact that she wanted to take my picture so it seemed fitting to have a photoshoot :)

Here is me, through the lens of Dorien...

Since this lady who is amazing with a camera often seems to keep herself out of the spotlight I decided to shine it on her for a quick second...

this is Dorien Scheltens.

She has impeccable style

gives amazing hugs

and makes the best cookies in the World.

She is about to head off to Nepal to work in a cafe down there so send your prayers her way!

You can check out her blog here

See more of my photoshoots by Dorien here, here, here and here

Herrnhut Germany // Graduation

2011-09-26T00:55:00.004-05:00

So after over 20 hours of traveling we arrived back to Germany for the end of our DTS (Discipleship Training School).

We had a week of lectures and debriefs just preparing us for re-entry and going back home.

Then we had our graduation.

The last two weeks in Germany was a very bittersweet time with my new family.

I've lived with, cried with, laughed with, and learned with these people.

We became a unit that I'll never forget.

Now that my DTS is over, looking back at these six months seem like a dream.

I'd like to write something extremely insightful, something embodying how much I've grown and changed during this DTS but words fail me at this moment.

No words can explain what has happened to me...

If you want to know, I guess you'll just have to do one for yourself all I can tell you is it was the

BEST TIME OF MY LIFE!

But also is just the beginning...

something that launched me into this new future I'm embarking on with a right mindset, strong foundation and so much encouragement and support and the realization that with God, i really can change the World

Istanbul a.k.a. my dream home

2011-09-26T00:47:00.006-05:00

On September the 5th me and my team flew back to Germany from Ethiopia.

On our way home we had a nine hour lay over in Turkey so we took a tour of the city!

and.... I fell in love.

I didn't want to go back to the airport, I was in love with Istanbul.

Is a nice Istanbul Summer loft downtown in my future?

I sure hope so!

Ethiopia

2011-09-26T00:23:00.004-05:00

Ethiopia was a hard two months.

We stayed in Addis the entire time.

People see you as the rich white people and that often makes it hard to connect with people or know if they just want something from you...

I've been yelled at, felt up, almost stolen from, followed, been the center of mobs and gathered crowds just by standing on the sidewalk.

We arrived back to Germany the 5th of September (I think) and my first day back was a culture shock.

I was ready to go back.

I thought to myself, after the most rough time of my life, why do I want to go back?

I think I'm still answering that question,

But mostly because I realized when I got back the hardest thing about Ethiopia is going back to my western World and knowing that I have opportunities that these people never have. I have food. I met people that are starving. I have a bed. I've met people who sleep on the street.

It just doesn't set well with me to go back to my old way of living.

Ethiopia gets in your heart and eats away at your old mind set, and the way you used to see the World.

Suddenly the woes an worries of your westerner life doesn't seem so bad.

These people need love, and they need hope.

and I have both.

I have a God who is THE love and who is THE hope.

I HAVE to share him with these people, I have no other option.

Ethiopia: Graveyard

2011-09-26T00:10:00.004-05:00

Isn't she the prettiest?

from looking at her you'd never imagine that she is HIV positive, or that she lives in a graveyard.

Yep, I did say graveyard.

She made herself at home, decorating her small room made of tarp and dirt with flowers, her favorite.

We often visited her. She always offered her bed for us to sit on.

She didn't speak much English but she always tried to communicate and offered us some yummy tea or coffee.

One of the last days we had a translator with us and she told us how they goverment is kicking her family out of the graveyard. They will be living on the streets.

Please keep her in your prayers, as she continues to look for a job and a place to live.

Ethiopia: The Koshe Girls

2011-09-25T23:45:00.004-05:00

Before I left for Ethiopia I posted a video about the Koshe Project here on the blog.

Before going I had a fantasy of how this project swooped in and saved these poor girls but I realized it wasn't like this at all.

These girls were smart capable young women and this project simple gave them the opportunity to save themselves, which they are more than capable of doing.

These girls are more strong then I could ever be and I admire them so much.

Me and another girl from my team were the two that consistently worked with the project while the rest of our team had different ministries and I quickly realized that this wasn't the last time I could see these girls.

I currently am wanting to go back to Ethiopia as soon as I can get the support and its all because of these girls...

These girls taught me that your condition and your past shouldn't effect your future.

These girls went from a garbage dumb, and no hopes and dreams to wanting to be future presidents and wanting to change their World, and I really believe they can do it.

Ethiopia: Kuribel

2011-09-25T22:05:00.005-05:00

a.k.a the boy that changed everything....

This is Kuribel (Pronounced: Crew-bill).

He is 10 years old.

He says he wants to be a pilot when he grows up, "but not for the military, because war is bad".

and he has been living on the streets for a long time.

He had no money, begged for food, lived on the streets and no family to take care of him.

Can you believe that?

a ten year old completely and 100% taking care of himself in one of the most dangerous cities in the World.

this was our journey with Kuribel...

when we first met him it was shortly after we arrived in Addis Ababa. Our leader brought him and one of his friends to our home. She had met him at a church service the night before (I was sick and unable to attend), and they stayed the whole day with us. It was nice. They were the street kids, we were the missionaries. We put on our smiles and gave them food but... our hearts weren't there... We were doing what we were suppose to do. It wasn't until a few days later when everything changed..

Kuribel got his shoes stolen and was walking around barefoot & we gave him shoes, it also rained all night and being aware that they were outside sleeping in the storm it became very aware to all of us we weren't doing enough.

Our leaders brought the idea that they can stay with us... and then all of our selfishness was revealed.

Here we were on outreach and as we discussed them living with us all we talked about was how uncomfortable it was for us, not seeing our selfishness

These two boys were living on the streets!!!! and all we could talk about is our own feelings.. and when as a team we realized it we cried in shock at our own actions, and willingly opened our door and our hearts to these boys.

a few days later they left, and stole some money.

We were left confused, shocked and hurt.

While everyone said they were just street boys, and this was typical for them we knew this wasn't true and we missed them. We didn't care about the money we just wanted to see them and make sure they were alright! For the first time in my life, my walls didn't go up when I was hurt. I truly forgave and forgot. I never experienced that kind of love toward someone before and I knew it was from God.

Kuribel ran, but the other old boy, Shimalice we were able to find easily and find out what happened.

A few days before we were talking to a man about getting them into an orphanage but the man wanted to have an interview with them. Our leaders made it clear to the man that they didn't want him to be open about the orphanage in case it didn't work out. Ethiopians often take things as promises and we didn't want them to get disappointed.

During the interview the man talked to the boys in Amharic, to were our leaders did not know what he was saying and he did not translate.

The man told the boy's in Amharic about the orphanage and that in order to get into the orphanage they would find their parents or family in order to okay it with them.

This was a problem.

When I say these boy's come from rough pasts, I am not over exaggerating!

Their families, from the stories we've been told by the boys and people around town, are not people you would want to spend a day with.. or even a minute.

They boy's knew at that moment they had to run, before they were put back in the protection of their families.

So they stole enough money for food and a taxi and ditched.

This made a lot of sense to us.

Shimalice started getting help from a church and our focus immediately switched to finding Kuribel! If only to tell him we weren't mad at him, our team was on a mission... after a few weeks and many prayer meetings about him... We found him, living in the WORST part of Addis.

He had lost so much weight and his entire head was scabbed, for what reason we still aren't sure (the hospital in Addis wasn't very informative) but suddenly the World was okay again. We met with him daily.

We continued to try to get him help.

We were leaving and none of us could think of getting on that plane and leaving him on the streets.

We kept hitting walls.

Every school said the same thing, "but.. he's a street boy."

He wasn't just a street boy.

That is his condition, not who he is.

He is bright boy, who is extremely smooth and smart, who learns English super fast and loves peanut butter, and a boy who we knew God had something for.

Then we found someone who wanted to help! We found a school who would take him.

We went on debrief the last few days in Ethiopia, which was basically like a little vacation and decided to take him with us.

On the last night there our leaders told him that he could go to school, to a boy's academy. One of the best in Ethiopia.

We were all eating as he came up to the table. "what happened Kuribel?" we asked. "what did they say!?" knowing exactly what they had said to him but wanting to hear what he had to say about it.

He stood at the end of the table with all our eyes on him he started to talk as tears fell down his eyes.

"I have the opportunity to go to school" he said.

"I love you guys so much" he continued.

That made everything worth it.

All the long days in Ethiopia, the two months away from my family, the amount of times I was sick because of the food and the conditions. Life was complete, Kuribel was getting what he deserved, the best.

With the extra money our team had left over we were able to pay for one year of school and we know have friends there to look after him.

this is the story about how Kuribel the street boy, became Kuribel the school boy...

but more importantly how Kuribel taught an entire team of adult missionaries what love is.

What its like to give up your comforts, your walls, and to look past hurt and whatever one else says and just love

whoops!

2011-09-25T11:11:00.001-05:00

Dear bloggers,

I genuinely apologize for my long absence.

My life has been full of crazy adventures and exciting people, but its also been filled with crappy internet access, no internet access and computer problems... but... I'M BACK!!!

So the last place I left off on this blog was over two months ago, the day I left for Ethiopia.

I feel bad for not keeping you wonderful people undated but I was in a third World country, where internet access is pretty much non-resistant.

today I will be updating you in bulk of everything up into this point that has been going on through a serious of posts!

excuse me for blowing up your news feed, I'll try not to go too crazy!

Ethiopia was a big part of my these last almost three month absence but instead of giving you a play by play of what happened there, I'd like to talk to you first more about the people I encountered along the way because without these people Ethiopia would have just been a really crappy vacation.

so here we go...

Team Ethiopia is a GO!

2011-07-08T20:20:00.005-05:00

This is my team.

They are all fast asleep.. but in less than an hour we will be climbing into a van on our way to Varnsdorf, Czech Republic. From there we will catch a bus to Prague, then the metro to the airport, where we will fly to Turkey and hang out for a few hours until we take another flight right into Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

and then we will be stuck in Ethiopia for two months together with no way out.

That idea would normal make me cringe..

but with this group of people I cant help but be excited.

people all day keep asking me how I feel and all I could say was "I don't know".

then a few minutes ago one of my roommates from a different school came up to me as I was talking about leaving and said "You're filled up with peace, huh? You have no fear or anxiety, just excitement."

Those words rang so true.

That's exactly how I feel.

I am not nervous or afraid,

just excited and at peace.

I feel sad to be leaving the friends I've made so far but excited about the stories we get to share with each other when we get back.

Cheers to Ethiopia!

Cheers to helping people in need!

Cheers to sharing our Father's love!

and then my life was changed, forever. No big deal

2011-07-07T17:04:00.004-05:00

Lecture phase of DTS (Discipleship Training School) is coming to an end bright and early Saturday morning.

I have been here since early April.

As I watch new DTS's starting and more people come in to start their lecture phase I cant help think, you have NO IDEA what you are getting yourself into.

I have learned that DTS does not stand for Discipleship Training School... at least not to me.

It stands for Die To Self.

Before I came here I was a selfish person. I came here wanting to change the World, but not knowing what it takes.

It takes someone completely unselfish, someone willing to lay down their comfort and sometimes even their own life to make a difference, even if they don't ever get to see the fruit of it.

I could never have done that in March and if you told me that is what I needed to be willing to do to really make a change, I think I would've plugged my ears.

I liked who I was.

The bratty girl I enjoyed being.

The one who didn't see the point in offering a helping hand.

The one that only dreamed of changing the World but was too comfortable to actually do anything about it.

The girl who let fear make her decisions for her.

That is who I WAS!

I wish I could tell you the exact thing that changed me.

The exact word that one of my speakers said or a moment or revelation...

but I cant.

I have become exactly who I wanted to be.

I don't have to fake caring or put on a fake smile.

I am the happiest I've ever been.

Whether I am hanging out in the slums in Romania with the gypsies, or in Germany and walking around this beautiful little town I have been living in since April called Herrnhut.

My life has changed for the better, I have changed for the better.

And all because I was willing to die to my self.

to my own ambitions and say, God this is who I want to be. Change me. i am willing.

and he did.

It was that simple.

Its that INSANE!?

I have wasted so much time knowing who I wanted to be and trying to make myself that person.

Pretend to be happy, pretend to truly care.

and God made me who I wanted to be, and gave the life I used to only dream about.

I would love to share more about that, but I think I will wait until after outreach.

Saturday morning I leave to go to Ethiopia.

I will be living there for two months, putting everything I learned into action.

I could not be more excited for this.

I'm going to Ethiopia!!!

Me, just a poor little girl from Texas, who was struggling with school and how to take care of herself is now living her dream.

Let that forever be my testimony to how good God is.

Landshut

2011-07-07T06:26:00.006-05:00

I know this is a bit late but this past weekend one of my really amazing friends by the name of Polly decided to go home for the weekend.

Polly lives in Landshut, its an eight hour train trip from Herrnhut.

She is a really good German friend I made while living in Herrnhut doing this DTS (Discipleship Training School) and also one of my roommates.

When she asked me if I wanted to go home with her for the weekend I was like "umm... YES!"

It was a last minute decision, which are my favorite kind ;)

I had so much fun over the weekend!

We were mostly at her church and hanging out with her family.

Her family was the sweetest family I had ever seen....

I was so in love with the place and her friends and family I never wanted to leave.

I got to practice my German which was fun and enjoy a nice bicycle ride through the woods and this little village to this river which was one of my highlights.

If I wasn't using my friends camera I would've risked trying to film it while I was riding my bike, but I had strict instruction NOT to brake her camera. Dang.

It was so amazing how she shared all her favorite places with me.

It was a weekend to remember.

The only bad thing about the trip was visiting a Bavarian beer garden and not being able to drink a Bavarian beer!

Oh DTS rules... so silly.

When I told her brother I had never had a Bavarian beer before he exclaimed "that's a sin!". I wish he'd explain that to my leaders...

But in all seriousness I definitely plan to visit after my school so I can visit the castle and also take more pictures!

.. and finally get that Bavarian beer

hehe

that one lady

2011-06-28T11:45:00.001-05:00

My mom is sassy, and I love her.

Jane Austen is always the life of the party

2011-06-26T05:32:00.005-05:00

This lady kept me up all last night.

Me and some of my roommates grabbed our blankets and jammies and huddled in an empty room in the castle around a laptop screen and watched two movies based on her books "Persuasion" and "Pride and Prejudice" and then Becoming Jane to top off the night.

It was quite the night, full of crocheting & knitting, laughing, and lots of tea.

tonight we've decided to do it again,

this time with Sense and Sensibility

currently watching (thanks to my lovely friend Josh):

currently listening to:

seeker lover keeper - rest your head on my shoulder

visa's and crap

2011-06-23T07:53:00.002-05:00

guess who got her first visa in her passport today?

Dear Ethiopia,

are you ready for me?

because my passport is ready for you

What I'm listening to today...

2011-06-22T08:55:00.002-05:00

If you say "stay tuned" one more time....

2011-06-21T10:46:00.005-05:00

the last few days..

well since I blogged last have had some fun points.

allow me to share

I had a fun photo-shoot with my besties bestie friends. It felt so good to take pictures again.
I took a four hour nap in the prayer room
I ate a cricket.. Yes I gave in to pure pressure and after years of vegetarianism I ate a little buggie bug... But I wont lie, it left me feeling so brave... like I could jump off a bridge or something... stay tuned... maybe I will..
someone gave me 200 euro. No idea who its from. Just my name and money inside. I am one step closer to getting the money I need. YAY GOD!

I know their were other highlights but I cant remember them now.

This week has proven so far to be my favorite week of lectures, knowledge wise.

We are discussing Justice and Worldviews.

what we believe, & why we believe.

My kinda subjects.

also me and my friends here are making a list of things we are going to do before we leave DTS.

I guess this is what becomes of boredom...

Stay tuned folks, my life is starting to get a bit more interesting...

my life is out of control, and so is my acne

2011-06-18T03:09:00.007-05:00

I hope you all have a happy weekend!

The secondary school that lives on our floor is going away for the weekend and the rest of the girls from our room and most from our school are going shopping in Dresden for the day.

Me and my two best friends Ali and Rachel decided to stay here,

with a few other people.

Its nice to have the castle to ourselves!

We are planning some nice "laying in bed doing nothing" time, followed by some "laying by the pool" time, with a big helping of an adventurous night.

photographer: Dorien Scheltens

We are the wild youth of a flawed generation

2011-06-17T08:01:00.005-05:00

Photographer: the always amazing Dorien Scheltens

Model: Dominic Klassen

look him up, he's gonna be a star one day

funny faces, and far away places

2011-06-16T11:03:00.006-05:00

Yesterday I did another photo shoot with Dorien Scheltens and a new friend named Dominic who is leaving next Sunday to pursue his modeling career.

Dorien took a lot of pictures that I'll post later...

but this is by far my favorite...

hahaha

also I had someone mention that my paypal button isn't working.

If you would like to donate money and its not working for you just email me at dietbrookewithlime@hotmail.com and I will give you my bank account info.

Missions in Ethiopia

2011-06-15T07:42:00.005-05:00

Dear everyone.

I cant believe in a little less than a month I will be leaving for Ethiopia.

I'm so excited!

We filed for our visa this week!

I found out our trip will be 1750 Euro, which is closer to 2,500 something in USD.

As a photography student it stinks that my camera died, the camera I need is pretty expensive and I don't even have my outreach money yet.

I also have to get a few shots and a new hiking backpack, but my outreach fee's come before all this.

Looking at the 1,750 price tag on my outreach along with the fact I HAVE to get shots, life at times look very discouraging.

Sometimes I don't know why I am here.

I am the type of person that you get the money THEN you go do God's will,

but I'm learning if you will just follow God, in his timing everything will follow.

He continues to amaze me with the way he has provided for the people around me.

Whether they come back to the castle with an envelope on their bed full of money, or the money is just magically in their bank account, less than an hour before they HAVE to turn it in.

God continues to provide for other people and I know he wants to do the same for me.

In less than four weeks I am suppose to be hopping on a plane and jetting off the Ethiopia...

and I have no IDEA how I am going to get the money.

and at times I want to give up and just pack up and go home.

that would be better than having to ask people for their money...

but then I watch this video...

this video is one of the projects we are going to be working with while in Ethiopia.

these girls smiles make me want to strive even harder to meet them.

Meet their families, help their siblings and friends...

if you'd like to help me get to Ethiopia you can donate here,

also if you'd like to mail me something, anything! a letter! or whatever my address is:

Brooke Akins

JMEM/DTS

Untere dorfstr. 56

02747

Germany

its always a good day when I get mail!

but I wouldn't recommend you mail anything after next week because sometimes it takes awhile for the mail to get here and I wouldn't want it to get here after I leave.

thank you guys for your help.

even if you cant donate, prayers HELP, encouraging words HELP, love HELPS!

with love,

Brooke

BIG OUTREACH

2011-06-10T00:58:00.006-05:00

two weeks ago we were given our choices for big outreach.

I had the option of Tunisia, Serbia/Albania, or Ethiopia.

I really wanted to go to India but that wasn't an option.

We had one day to think about it and write down where we wanted to go and over the last two weeks the leaders have been praying about it and keeping our choice in their mind but also putting us where they feel led to put us, they have the final choice.

two days ago we were told the teams... and I got my first choice...

ETHIOPIA

I also get to go with my best friends here.

In one month I will be leaving to live in Ethiopia for two months....

Do you want to know how excited I am?

uhh.. yeah.

{all images found on weheartit}

Mini Outreach: Thursday & Friday

2011-06-10T00:54:00.001-05:00

(me knitting by Rebecca Lozano)

Thursday we went to a cancer hospital and just offered people prayer. it was really amazing. It was great to see the peoples faces change. When we walked in it just felt so depressing and when we left everyone seemed so hopeful, which is what was most important to me, to bring hope and happiness, even in the worst situations.

Friday morning we packed up the van and started the drive back. We had a few fun stops on the way, like to take group pictures.

and to drink extremely unsafe mud puddles in this giant crater looking thing we found.

and to eat at TGIF in a mall in Budapest Hungary.

When I got back to the castle I stunk, I had wore the same clothes a couple times before and I couldn't remember the last time I brushed my hair but I felt so... refreshed. I'm very much looking forward to the big outreach.

Mini Outreach: Wednesday

2011-06-09T15:21:00.003-05:00

Wednesday we went to this other gypsy village. We sang songs and played games with the kids. This little cutie was stuck to my hip the entire time. Then it started storming so one of the gypsy families invited us into their home and 30 minutes later when we came out the kids were still there. They waited in the rain for us, I never felt more famous in my life, or more mad at parents haha.

Mini Outreach: Tuesday

2011-06-09T14:37:00.004-05:00

Tuesday I went to a tuberculosis hospital were I went into the children's wing and played with them. Not all the children had TB. The hospitals are so corrupt that sometimes the doctors even tell the parents that the child has TB so they can keep them there and get their money. There were these adorable little girls there with their cute little brother, they didn't have TB. We played with them a lot. the girls had shaved heads because when they got to the hospital their lice was so bad. It took one of the girls almost an hour to warm up to us and start playing with us instead of laying in the fetal position in her bed facing the wall. These kids were brought to the hospital by their mother because they were extremely malnourished. The doctor nursed them back to health and the mother never came back to get them. They are probably going to be sent to an orphanage. If they would've fit in my pockets, I would've taken them home with me. They were the cutest kids and so amazing.

We also got kicked out. haha

its okay though, we didn't do anything wrong there was just this crazy lady & the hospital wasn't mad at us.

Its a great story to tell my future kids though, & I think it was funny to tell people I got kicked out of a hospital

pictures by the insanely talented Rebecca Lozano who I feel blessed to be around

Mini Outreach: Sunday and Monday

2011-06-09T04:22:00.009-05:00

I've been back from my mini outreach (a.k.a Romania) for a few days now so I thought it was about time to tell you about my Romanian adventures!!! So I've been so lazy with my blog lately. Remember when I used to blog like twice a day? ahhh.. the days! anyways! Two Sunday's ago we set off. My group left bright and early at around 4am. it was a twenty hour drive to our hostel and when we got there we were exhausted!

The next day we got up and went to the YWAM base there that we were hooking up with and working with that week so they could fill us in on the things we could do that week. We found out that that day we were going to be going to this Gypsy village called "Cold Valley". The people living there are in extreme poverty and are also outcasts to society because they are gypsies. We played with the children and sang songs with them. as much as I want to say I touched their lives... they touched mine.. These little kids who have never seen me before would come running up to me and grab my hand and jumping on me just wanting love, and giving love. it was heart breaking to see their older sisters and mothers and know that 50% of them were prostitutes and to know that these cute innocent little girls are growing up in their footsteps. I just wanted to save them. It was amazing to be working with the YWAM base in Targu Mures because they really have a heart for this place and want to open up a building in cold valley for school and also a place for them to get medical care. When we first walked into the village these kids started coming up around us and grabbing our hands and hugging on us. It was amazing...

pictures by my lovely friend Rebecca Lozano, except for the first one which was taken by the also lovely Kaci Gadberry

Mini Outreach

2011-05-28T16:41:00.005-05:00

Aww.... Herrnhut! I've been living here for six weeks! Can you believe it? I cant! Isn't Herrnhut such a cute town!? Europe is so beautiful... at times sketchy but always entertaining! Its so fun how even walking to the grocery store can become an adventure. Like today me and Rachel decided to take a new way home and ended up lost in the woods and found this little hiding place deep in the woods that was... really creepy but extremely awesome at the same time. It was like a petrified forest... This is completely off the subject of why I wrote this blog.. I get distracted so easily.. ANYWAYS! Tomorrow I leave for my mini outreach! I am going to..... (drum roll please) ROMANIA! I'm very excited! My group definitely is the best group of people to spend a week with, I would say. we have Josh, the comedian. Becca, the photographer/ artist who collects dead things and is one of the most awesome/interesting people you will ever meet. Julian, the World travel from New Zealand. Simon, the Arnold Schwarzenegger impersonator. Lydia, the gorgeous German headbanger. Mich, the fact finder.. and the one who loves to prove anything you say wrong. & then we have our leaders Kaci & Caleb or are awesome and laid back. Talk about an awesome outreach :)

We are going to be working in children hospitals and with sick and poor children.

I'm so excited!

But I wish time wasn't flying by so fast!

I want to live in your lens

2011-05-22T12:50:00.016-05:00

Like I said, I did a fun photoshoot yesterday with the lovely Dorien Scheltens.

I wish I could take pictures like she does....

"can I take your picture?"

2011-05-22T03:50:00.011-05:00

I love living in this community of Herrnhut, Germany.

Most of the staff here are extremely artistic and sometimes you may have a girl walk up to you that you've never met before and ask you if she can take your picture.. which is what happened to me on Friday.

I ended up getting to do a fun photoshoot yesterday with the super talent Dorien Scheltens.

She is from Holland and is just fun to talk to and super fun to take pictures with.

I'll post more pictures from it soon but for now I have to rush and get ready.

One of my new friends from New Zealand who is also a student here at YWAM is having her birthday party!!!

and I can never turn down cake and food that's NOT from the castles kitchen

nothing like me when I'm sick to kill the mood

2011-05-15T03:07:00.006-05:00

This morning I woke up sick.

Like earth shattering, sore throat, entire body aching sick.

I thought, hmmm... perfect opportunity to lay in bed, be lazy and blog...

but then I realized a few things.

Brooke's Sick Characteristics:

- More impatient than usual. And not just a little cranky stomping when someone is taking a little longer than I would like

I mean, crying because my internet is being slow, instead of just getting up and going to the other room where I have perfect connection.

- I am more cranky in the morning. I don't care if I've already been up for 30 minutes... your voice is loud and annoying and other people are sleeping so I have no problem telling you to shut up.

- more of a picky eater. I only want the foods I cant have such as chocolate and all the other sweets you shouldn't eat while being ill and I refuse to eat any peasant food such as BREAD or anything else you try to give me. I don't mind making ugly faces, and I don't care if I cant take those pain pills on an empty stomach. I want what I want.

so maybe I should just go back to sleep and rid the World of my sicky self until I am feeling better

conversation clips from inside the castle #1

2011-05-09T14:45:00.003-05:00

Sorry I've been so busy lately!!!

I will be updating a lot more soon

tonight inside the castle we are having a friendly conversation about farting...

Anna (with her cute New Zealand accent):

My family has a genetic farting problem! my grandma has lost all muscle control in her buttocks. she is physically unable to clench!! & me in my youth still has some power in that area but my power is slowly diminishing!

wishing money grew on trees.

2011-05-09T07:16:00.002-05:00

Who wants to give me money?

hahaha

Times are gettin hard, I must say.

- I need a new camera (yeah, mine stopped working... while I'm living in Europe.. & about to go to a third World country in two months... Awesome huh?)

- I need 150 euro for my mini outreach at the end of this month

- & lastly I need a little more than 2,000 American dollars for my main outreach in July.

I'm freakin out.

Remember that one day it snowed?

2011-05-05T11:41:00.003-05:00

I woke up to snow the other day... Oh yes. I did. I think its so funny cause they say how bi-polar Texas weather is but I'm pretty sure like a week or so ago it was so hot I had to go put on shorts and sandals & then snow!? How crazy!? But it was fun to have snow ball fights :)

Prague - Czech Republic

2011-05-03T08:16:00.009-05:00

Saturday some of my roommates & me got up bright and early!
There was about ten of us that decided to go to Prague.
Two of them had their cars here at the base so they drove us into Czech & parked their cars at a grocery store where we got some currency & then we walked to the bus station.
The bus ride was two hours long then we got to the bus station, we got subway tickets & took it to the middle of nowhere till we realized that where we were originally is where our hostel was!
We finally got to our hostel & were pretty surprised with how nice it was!
As far as hostels go, we were impressed.
We dropped our backpacks off & decided to start exploring!
My camera stopped working & I had a little mini breakdown but luckily not a lot of tears were involved.
We got to the downtown & decided to split into groups because we just had too many people.
Me & my friends Anna & Ali decided to be in our own group & we took off walking.
We got ice cream & went to H&M (I died a little).
It took us a very long time to figure everything out because our plan was to find the big bridge we were suppose to meet our roommates at then sightsee around there seeing how most of all the things to see were centered around there anyways but the problem was we had no idea where we were going & all the people that we asked told us to go in the opposite direction (I kid you not, maybe it was backwards day. I‘d like to think that instead of they were just meanies)
We were walking through the streets of Prague when we stopped to take a picture of this really cool building & this group of Italian boy tourists, couldn’t be much older than ourselves very smoothly stepped in front of the camera & posed for our picture before we even noticed they were there.
We all laughed & said hello & they told us they were from Italy & asked us where we were from. We then exchanged names & they went around telling us there names & shaking our hands when this one boy took my hand & instead of shaking it decided to kiss it. We all laughed & his friends made fun of him. I guess I can cross “getting my hand kissed by an Italian boy” off my bucket list.. Not that it was on my bucket list but it should be. We told them it was nice to meet them then continued on our way.
When we finally made it to the bridge we were exhausted & our feet hurt so we decided to find someplace to sit, which ended up being McDonald. Yes, I know so European of us :P
I love Mcdonalds (Yeah, I cant believe I said that either) in Europe because they have so many options for vegetarians. I had cheese sticks & potato wedges & they were amazing, after this we talked & rested we started walking again in & out of shops. We were standing on the street looking in the stores when some middle aged man walked up & grabbed Ali’s butt! She waited till he was further away to tell us & maybe that was a good thing because we were instantly in murder mode. We didn’t care if he didn’t speak English we were going to hunt him down, cuss him out & then kick him in the balls.
Unfortunately we didn’t get to which totally ruined my plans because I didn’t feel my Prague trip would be completely without beating someone up.
I bought this really cool mug that I loved & then we somehow wondered back to the bridge. We were standing there looking at the water & all the people on the bridge selling stuff & all the tourists taking pictures. I was feeling a bit sad. The only thing I really wanted to see was the John Lennon wall & we hadn’t found it & the map we had didn’t have it on it. Anna looked at me & I think she could tell I was a little sad. She said “you really wanted to see that wall huh?” I shook my head yes & then suddenly I heard what sounded like angels.
Someone speaking… English! Could it be!? I walked up to them & said, you speak English right!?
They said yes & I quickly asked them if the knew where the John Lennon wall was.
The were happy to show me their map with the John Lennon wall on it & we realized it was right under the bridge almost!
We started walking! There I was walking along, minding my own business when I heard something else… Something that didn’t sound like angels.. Something that sounded like trouble.. Italians!! But new ones!!! A new group of Italian boys that were also our age were suddenly following me screaming things like "I love you!" "I will never hurt you!" "You so beautiful!" "Marry me molto bella please!!!"
I kid you not, I had a few marriage proposals.
I actually started running a little at one point & they were right there & Anna & Ali were laughing at me saying how I seem to attract the Italians. Still they followed us but then.. Something magical happened. I stood there in front of the John Lennon wall. We made it! We took some pictures & the Italian boys caught up to us. It seemed that there was this one boy who was more in love with me than the rest & he asked to take a picture with me. I decided to because I thought it would get him to leave me alone & honestly, I don’t know how to say no to people anyways.

After this the other girls decided they were terribly exhausted & hungry so we found a Mexican restaurant on some back street.. It really didn’t have much Mexican food which kind of confused me, (& yes I ate again haha) but the bathrooms were free which in Prague is a major score! After this we wondered back to the bridge where we met up with our friends & they were hungry so we wondered to a Chinese buffet with them & another friend from DTS, Jullian that came separately & met up with her friends from Brazil that we had never met before but were super nice. After lunch we lugged ourselves back to the hostel & got ready for the night on the town.

After primping we hoped on the subway off to meet our friend Jullian downtown. When we got there it was raining but after a little thinking we decided…

lets go anyways!
We walked through the rain to Karlovy Lazne,

the biggest music club in Prague!
When we got there though a lot of our group decided they didn’t want to go.. So we decided to split up.
Big mistake!
We went in, danced in the laser lights, danced with Jullians gorgeous Brazilian friends who are really good dancers, ran into my Italian stalker who apparently told all his friends that weren’t there about me because they kept saying “this is the girl!? Oh my gosh! This is the girl!”.
But something wasn’t quite right.
We didn’t feel right about splitting up.
We are in DTS to build relationships. We felt like we chose the club over our friends, & let them walk home in the rain. We decided it wasn’t right so we left Jullian & her Brazilian boys & decided to go back to the hostel & catch up with them & tell them we were sorry…
That would’ve been such a good plan.
If we weren’t SO exhausted!
We ended up getting off at the right stop.. But us in our tired minds thought it wasn’t the right stop, so we got back on the subway & went to God only knows where. Eventually we got on the right subway.. After getting on one with puke & on one with a few guys from Boston who were telling disgusting & degrading females.. Then tried to hit on us.. Then we almost got in a fight with him because we were being sassy & he was a douche bag.

When I tried to sleep that night I couldn’t
My legs kept cramping up, I had been non stop standing/ walking since we had gotten there.
By the time we woke up we were ready to go home.. Well, our home. The castle.
We caught the earliest bus we could home & we slept for ages.
& that was my trip to Prague

heavy

2011-04-28T12:56:00.002-05:00

This week has been crazy.

The second week of school.

We've been drudging up a lot of emotional issues.

Things we haven't forgiven others for.

Things in our past.

Needless to say I'm emotionally exhausted.

I need a hug.

but on the bright side I love spring

I walk to the borders on my own, to fall in the water just like a stone

2011-04-27T08:48:00.002-05:00

when it is gloomy I dream of sun

2011-04-25T06:59:00.003-05:00

this picture is from a few days ago when it was sunny & warm.

Today it is not sunny & warm.. it is gloomy & cold.

Lecture today was intense & for some reason my spirits feel gloomy today as well.

I need a hug, some uplifting words & some hot cocoa

Easter Brunch

2011-04-25T02:27:00.004-05:00

Yesterday afternoon, after a well deserved nap we had an Easter Dinner/ brunch thing.

About six of my roommates cooked & put together this fantasic mexican feast!

It was awesome cause I definitely missed my mexican food!

We had it in the courtyard of Jesus House, a local church & also where a lot of YWAM staff live.

It was a lovely picnic outside, & an amazing way to spend Easter.

Just fellowshipping with new found friends, & laughing & smiling & sharing stories of back home.

Making flower headbands & talking about how much we love it here, where we've been & where we want to go on outreach.

After eating & all pitching in to help clean up, we walked across the street to the ice cream stand & all got some desert.

it was a beautiful day.

Then, because of the beautiful day, we decided to have a photoshoot outside....

I'll show you those pictures after lectures though, gotta run!

I'm late

My New Home/ Update

2011-04-24T05:17:00.003-05:00

(my new home. I totally took this from someone elses flickr though because I'm too lazy to go take my own)

Internet, Oh internet, how I love thee!

Been at the "base" a.k.a. my new home a.k.a. The water castle in Herrnhut Germany A.K.A. my school

for seven & a half days!

WOOT WOOT!

I love it here.

I love how all our lectures have translators & so you are really listening to

a lesson in German & in English

I love the castle!

Its beautiful, amazing, awesome, the coolest building EVER!

Seriously, does your home have its own recording studio, instruments you can play

all the time, its own dark room to develop film, an awesome old attic

a boutique where you can give away stuff you don't want anymore & you can also get stuff FOR FREE!!!!

A community of staff! Cleaners, workers, teachers, music players, dancers, preachers, EVERYTHING!

That are all just family & all friends & treat you no different than they treat each other?

Does it have a camp fire & a cute little town you can walk to to do all your shopping

or its own cafe?

I didn't think so.

I love my new home.

I've been working on my German.

I've been trying to learn three words a day!

Hopefully when I get really good I'll be able to translate my posts in both languages every

once in awhile.

That'd be cool.

Its sucks because it seems like the students that I'd get along with the most only

speak German! So that is definitely inspiring me to learn as well.

I got my cleaning duty Monday. I got to pick it.

I have to sweep the entire stairs & shoe room (yes.. we have a room just for our shoes. We are not allowed to wear them upstairs. Crazy rule but it works)

The weather is perfect right now. A little chilly the later it gets but today its probably in the 70's

Everything is so green.

Everything is amazing here I truly love it.

One of the staff members name is Julie & she told me where to get some yarn so I got plenty of that, I'm going to play around with some new patterns & see what happens.

Maybe some new stuff in the shop!

Also I will be raising the shipping price because I now would be shipping it from German BUT! I also will be lowering the price cause I feel bad! haha!

The only thing I don't like here is occasionally the food kinda... sucks! haha

but what can ya do!?

I'm craving some burger king though! They have these spicy cheese sticks here! They are also way cheaper than McDonalds here, I kid you not!

Everyone is so awesome here.

Everyone wants to help, everyone wants to be your friend.

I have certainly never experienced anything like it, I love it.

Well today is Easter, & we are about to have a Easter Feast so I'm going to go get ready for that!!!

I love you guys, ya'll are awesome

*hugs*

questions!

2011-04-24T05:07:00.004-05:00

Brooke! I'm new to your blog! Why are you in Germany!?

I just moved here! I came to Germany about two weeks ago tomorrow & last Saturday I arrived at school. I am doing a DTS (discipleship training school) with YWAM (Youth With A Mission). I'm living here for a few months & then I'll be doing an outreach for a few months.

How long will you be away from the states?

6 months... maybe longer ;) Who know's, I may just move haha.

Brooke! You've been at school for a whole week!!! Why haven't you at least shown us where you are living???

That's going to be in the next post ;) but I will say, its in Herrnhut Germany & its a little place called The Water Castle.

if any of you have any more questions just let me know!

Write them in a comment below or email me.

I love questions & I love my followers to be able to know me.

Easter

2011-04-24T00:02:00.002-05:00

Were you up all night because there literally were these noise makers that sounded like bombs going off every 20 minutes since midnight?

(Yes, I seriously thought they were bombs... & I seriously thought I was going to die. But the sad part is I was too tired to get out of bed to even phone my mother to tell her I love her before I went)

Did you get up at 5am?

Did you walk into town & watch the sunrise?

Did you see an awesome Easter parade through the streets of Germany?

Well I sure did!

Now... after eating some yummy Nutella bits with my roommates,

I'm going back to bed until easter dinner is ready he he he.

Happy Easter everyone.

Remember what today's all about

Grocery Shopping & British Day

2011-04-23T08:46:00.003-05:00

what a relaxing day.

My first day off since getting to school a week ago..

well thats not completely true but it is the first day off since school started & it was amazing.

Most of our roommates put on pretty dresses & made plans for today but as soon as I got up this morning I made the proclamation that I was staying in my sweats all day!

& I didn't break that promise.

Although I wanted to stay in front of them computer all day, & for the most part did talking to my good looking man piece, against my will I still had an fun & slightly eventful day!!

I was in desperate need to go grocery shopping but due to the fact the only way to get there is a twenty minute walk, & up a hill called "slow death", that would've totally ruined my lazy theme I had going.

But my friend Lydia (from Germany) said she was taking her CAR into town to the grocery store & her & Masha (from the states) were going to get groceries for tomorrows Easter Feast!

A chance to go in a CAR!?!? You never realize how much of a luxury that is until you cant & you have to walk everywhere.

Anyways it ended up being a fun trip with Lydia, Masha, Rach, & Louise (from London).

We learned it was British day, & talked in British accents. I think Louise thought we were making fun of her, but it was a lot of fun.

We then help picked out all the things we need to make the school Easter Dinner tomorrow & then took it all over to "Jesus House" where we are having the dinner, & then treated ourselves to ice cream.

Lydia also backed into an EXTREMELY expensive sports car on the way home... the owner was sitting on the street watching her...

they told her it was fine & let us go.

Talk about awesome huh!?

The best part of the day was definitely when Louise say "darnit I forgot my bottles" & I honestly thought she said she forgot her buttholes.... I was so confused...

Oh what a day, what a day!

Now I hear its bean burrito's for dinner so I'm going to grab one!
a post is coming telling you how my first week went soon!!!

looking toward the future

2011-04-22T12:53:00.002-05:00

So I'm thinking about having a giveaway.

Who would be down?

I don't completely know what will be in it yet but I think it'd be fun :)

p.s.

I'm settling into life here in Herrnhut!

A update post will be coming soon

Dear Future Husband,

2011-04-21T15:36:00.003-05:00

I want to marry my best friend.
I want to take pictures together & of each other, & you to not get annoyed by this.
I want to hug & kiss & to love.
I want to look at each other & know exactly what each other are thinking.
I want to love God together.
I want to travel together.
I want to help people together.
I want to have dance parties in our living room, just us.
I want to make yummy meals together.
I want to dress up for you & take you out when you are feeling down.
I want to come home to daisy's... my favorite.
I want you, all of you, & I will always give you all of me.

Day Four

2011-04-15T19:34:00.004-05:00

Day Four:

today started as a beautiful day.

as you will see in the pictures below we went to see this awesome statue on the top of this mountain!

but while we were taking these lovely photo's & exploring the beauty of Germany, someone was breaking into Mich's car & stealing Rach's purse.

Luckily her passport was still at Mich's house & her phone & camera was with her but 400 dollars, her i.d. & debit card are gone.

BOO!
Whoever took it, I hope you pee blood.

We went to the police station & filed a report. The police were nice, even though the didn't speak English.

after that excitement we went to Michel's (Mich) church were they had a little going away party for him.

One of the guys told Rachel about her purse "shit happens" & the pastors son stood on top of the church & flipped his friends off.

Needless to say I laughed a lot tonight & it made up for the meanie.

I wish I knew German because most of the people tonight didn't speak very good English or were too embarrassed to try.

But it was still fun & we all did our best to communicate with each other.

OKAY!

Now you are caught up with what I've been doing!

Tomorrow we leave for DTS!

Its a six hour drive to Herrnhut but it should make for a fun roadtrip!

I CANT WAIT!

No offense to the people I've met so far but I'm very excited to be back with people who know English as there first language.

Day Three

2011-04-15T19:04:00.003-05:00

DAY THREE:

Me & Rachel requested day three was a lazy day!

Our feet hurt from walking everywhere.

We stayed in bed all day, pretty much!

I stayed in my pajama's even though Rachel got dressed.

At the last moment one of Mich's friends invited us to a small church meeting/ worship thing.

Rachel wasn't feeling well so me & Mich went.

It was so funny.

Pretty much everyone that could even speak a little English tried to use it out on me.

Being translated for is super embarrassing when you are the only one that doesn't understand.

When they realize that you literally do not understand a word they are saying, even though you are sitting right there, they have a little fun with you.

People in Germany are super nice, I cant wait to come back to the church when I speak more German.

Day two in Germany

2011-04-15T18:34:00.003-05:00

I promise that these long annoying post about every detail of my day will stop soon! My family hasn’t been able to talk to me for the last few days so I am using my blog as a way for them to play catch up with pictures & stuff.
DAY TWO:

We had the BEST breakfast, bread with butter, & a boiled egg! (that was decorated for easter)

We walked to the market & let me tell you!
It hard to find purified, uncarbonated water here!
Everyone drinks carbonated water & its gross!
Then we got his parents bikes & road to this place that used to be a castle & got turned into a restaurant/ hotel!
We explored, it was beautiful.

Then we met up with Michel’s friend Miriam. Who, I had never met but Rachel had. She was an Au pair in New York for a year & a half so she knew English pretty well.
We had a sushi night at her freakin CUTE apartment!
She decided to show us around Minden the town she lived in before dinner.
It was so gorgeous!
I was in love! Like I pretty much am with every bit of Germany.
We went inside a insanely awesome catholic church & saw the cutest nuns!
We also had ice cream & I had cinnamon ice & I’m telling you… I refuse to come back to the states until coldstone & Ben & Jerry’s sells it!
Not even kidding, it is my favorite ice cream ever.

After that we made homemade sushi.. Even though I’m not a sushi fan I tried it.
I ended up making Mich get me cheese sticks from McDonalds on the way home though hehe!
I really wish I like sushi, I do!
That was it for day two

first post in Germany!

2011-04-15T05:22:00.006-05:00

I know you guys are like..

Where did you go!!! Well Monday I hoped on a jet plane & took off to Germany.

I'll tell ya about my first day.

It wasn't as hard leaving my mother as I though it would be...

Maybe because I had been stressed that whole day, running around trying to get a phone that will work overseas at the last minute & having to get the last shot (four or five in all) before I left.

The plane meant freedom...

it meant a start to my new beginning.

Not that I didn't almost tear up.

But I held it back & tried to focus on what laid ahead of me & less on the wonderful mother & puppy I was leaving behind.

After making it through customs

we got on the plane fairly quickly.

There was a guy that sit next to Rachel who called her "little mama"

I thought she was surely going to die right there.

But.. on a ten hour flight you get to know a person.

His name is Carlos, he is 23 & we taught him to play skip bo.

He likes jack & coke (he order five of them while on the plane).

Him and Rachel also stayed up most of the night talking about Godly things as well.

He seemed super openminded about it, which I love.

I was fast asleep though most of the ride though.

On that flight I ate lasagna!

It was the only thing they had without meat.

My mother is probably falling off her chair, but it really wasn't that bad. (I normally refuse to eat it)

We had our first lay over in LONDON!

OH HOW I WISH WE HAD MORE TIME THERE!!!!

Flying in I saw all the beautiful things.. if only I could've had a little bit more time!

We had enough time to eat though!

Which was lucky for us because airplane breakfast sucked!

I had a "vegetarian breakfast" from this airport restaurant promising "authentic english food"

I had red beans, hashbrowns, eggs, mushrooms & vegetarian sausage.

The sausage was nasty, but I expected so, I don't really like most vegetarian meats.

Everything else was so yummy though! & their eggs aren't as dry as ours are in the states they tasted SO MUCH BETTER!

I completely felt like I was in a movie.

Everyone had english accents & it was purely the most amazing thing I had ever heard in my life, I could've stayed there forever!

Our flight attendant even said "cheers" & "cheerio"... I thought I was going to die of pure joy.

The flight from London to Hamburg Germany was only an hour & a half..

Getting out of the airport was frustrating because

1. they were rude & acted like they weren't going to let us in.

2. We had WAY too much luggage & the luggage carrier only took euro... W didn't have any... Thank Goodness for the German police who gave us a few euro for USD.

Hamburg was beautiful!!!!

I'm still in aww of its amazingness.

All the buildings looked like castles & looked hundreds of years old (they mostly were).

We went to this HUGE outdoors store too get backpacks, sleeping bags, ect for our missions stuff & it was... awesome.

The were so into everything!

Like they made us "try out" our sleeping bags to make sure they were okay.

They also had a room to "tryout" the jackets they had. It was a freezer room.

It was 5 below 0 in there & it was amazing! haha

I also descovered stand up on a moving subway is one of my favorite things to do.

It was my first time riding a subway & we took it all over Hamburger.

After starbucks we were off to Mich's (our German friend who we are staying with until DTS starts & also going with) house.

Once we got to his house we had absolutely no problem falling asleep.

& thats how our first day in Germany went :)

R

{starbucks in Hamburg}

Chellce's Senior Pictures

2011-04-11T03:22:00.005-05:00

I got nominated to take my best friends senior pictures today because

1. I had the more "professional" camera.

2. We were trying to come up with every excuse we could to hang out every last second we had until I leave.

I've been sitting here for the last six hours editing pictures but really.. I haven't even made a dent in the 581 pictures we took but I put up a few & I mean a VERY few of the pictures we took.

I wish I could sit here all night & continue editing but my mother is waking up in an hour & when she wakes up & realizes I haven't finished packing yet... I may get a spanking like I'm three.

(yes, I am eighteen. But I think she forgets this sometimes)

If you want to see them, you can here.

I'm not at all a photographer & don't have a desire to be one but I did have a pretty fun time being a pretend photographer for the day

Dear father,

2011-04-11T02:34:00.005-05:00

I never met you.

Not that I care.

I've heard the stories about you,

how my mother loved you & never knew you had someone else.

How despite the fact you told her you wanted to her to have an abortion, when she told you she wasn't going to you actually wanted her to name me Cristina/ Christopher after you (your name being Christopher), even though you had no intention on sticking around.

I've had my mother tell me all my life "He was a nice guy. He was just young & scared".

I love her for that, she doesn't want me to hate you.

She doesn't want me to live with the burden of having hatred in my heart for the man that help make me.

& I don't.

I feel sorry for you.

Your daughter is smart, because her mother raised her that way.

Your daughter is beautiful, because she looks just like her mother.

Your daughter wants to give up her life to help people in need, because her mother taught her to always give, even when you have nothing.

Your daughter surrounds herself with awesome people, because her mother taught her what a real friend is.

Your daughter is independent, because her mother taught her how to be & encouraged her to be her own person.

Your daughter is amazing, because she takes after her mother.

& you don't even know.

It sucks to be you.

You weren't even needed, I turned out better than I would've if you were around I think.

So thanks for being an a-hole.

I like who I am, & if you were around, I would've been someone else.

I'm the lucky one, your the one that got the short end of the stick.

You never got to meet me.

leaving...

2011-04-11T00:39:00.002-05:00

Its officially Monday!

I'm leaving for Germany this afternoon...

I don't exactly know how to explain how I'm feeling in words..

But these gif's do a pretty good job of showing how I feel.

if anyone knows what this emotion is called, feel free to tell me

A Day of Senior Pictures

2011-04-10T19:37:00.002-05:00

today I took my friend Chellce's senior pictures.

I had two instax mini pictures left so I decided to use them.

I show the rest of the shoot when I'm done editing.

P.S.

I'm leaving tomorrow!!!

Jeep Girl's

2011-04-09T15:19:00.004-05:00

Today I went to visit one of my best friends Chellce

We took pictures of ourselves with our jeeps.

We both got matching jeeps when we were 16 (not planned).

Its extremely funny & cool to us because we have this thing were we always match on accident.

Its a problem really... an awesome problem!

Then I got hit by a bus...

2011-04-09T00:17:00.004-05:00

Tonight it hit me.
That I'm really leaving.
For the first time instead of talking about how "exciting" me leaving was I really got to thinking about how sad its going to be too.
& I cried, I wont lie..

Here are the things that I will miss

1. Not having my mom there to go crawl in bed with when I'm having guy problems.. or I'm just on my period & in an emotional mood.

2. Having my puppy there to cuddle with. He always takes my troubles away with one head tilt. He knows when I'm sad & when I'm mad & knows how to comfort me.

3. Dr. Pepper. I've given up the addiction... but not even having the option to go buy one even when I'm having a really bad day?? Harsh....

4. My friends. I know I've been so busy lately & I've been horrible at keeping in touch. But I have met some of the COOLEST people growing up. Its so sad leaving them behind. We are all growing up, doing our own thing. Its sad.

5.I'm going to miss one of my best friends, Chellce's, graduation.
A day I once planned on wearing a "I HEART CHELLCE" shirt & bring a megaphone to, I will now be halfway across the World. Sad day.

6. Netflix

Now that reality has set in I think I better hit the hay so I can spend as much time tomorrow hanging out with people since its the last time I will get to see most of them.

I can promise you, tears will be shed.

Goodnight lovely followers.

Kiss the ones you love.

You never know when their destiny will call them/you somewhere else.

I'm at church! EFF YOU!

2011-04-08T14:44:00.005-05:00

This is hands down the best preaching I've ever heard.

Never have I understood a sermon more

its so easy for me to say "eff you" when I get mad at someone.

Maybe I should turn that eff you into I forgive you.

Beach Day

2011-04-08T12:49:00.003-05:00

yesterday I kidnapped my best friend Rachel when she got off work for a fun date in Galveston.

here are the highlights:

Eating at The Spot!

One of my favorite restaurants ever! Best fries ever! Amazing veggie burgers too, but I decided to go with the fried pickles since I've been craving fried pickles for a few months now.

seriously if you are ever in Galveston, I highly recommend this restaurant. amazing food, super cool building. one of my favs.

+ Spinning in circles on the beach, flapping our arms like birds & having the lifeguard think we were drunk.

+ Laughing till we cried sitting on the beach, talking about old memories.

+ Playing soccer on the beach until our feet were blood red from kicking so hard.

+ almost hitting a couple that was making out with our soccer ball.. Did I mention the girl had her shirt off..? & no bathing suit. She was laying on her stomach most of the time we were there while her boyfriend rubbed her back & got a little too touchy feely.. This isn't the Jersey Shore! Get a room!

+ Getting Ben & Jerry's.

+ The facebook status war we had when we got to her house.

Just trust me, always sign out of your facebook.

Low-lights:

+ Using an entire tank of gas in one day. Seriously, gas is expensive these days.

thats about it because yesterday was amazing

Pictures:

i'm diggin my beard in this one

What a day, What a day

2011-04-06T23:40:00.003-05:00

A few things happened today.

1. My shop now has a little button on No Model Lady that the lovely Michele made all by herself & surprised me with. She is truly the sweetest.

2. I was feature on Kenzie Faith's blog in the blog love feature. She also said that I was one of the first blogs she followed when she started her blog, which came as a complete shock to me. She is one of my favorite bloggers & I was super flattered.

3. I got my package from forever21 in! I got a new sweater & skirt for the mission & a new jacket since Germany is suppose to be cold.. boo!

But whatever, at least I have a super hot new jacket!

4. It finally sunk in that in five days I will be off to live in Germany...

& when it did sink in, this is what I looked like....

If you are new here,

WELCOME!

take off your shoes & stay awhile.

I love new friends.

Drop a comment.

Click the follow button, or follow me with blog lovin

I'd love to check your blog out too :)

busy bee

2011-04-05T21:33:00.004-05:00

The last two days I've been at work.

I cant believe I'm leaving in less than a week!

this is what my schedule is looking like for the rest of the week.

Wednesday: Work

Thursday: attempt to make it to the beach before I leave
Friday: Go see Chellce & the show at her high school
Saturday: Mine & Rachel's going away party
Sunday: Church
Monday: Leaving

& somewhere in there I'm suppose to do last minute shopping, actually see my mother, hang out with two people, wash my clothes & pack, & get two more shots...

Bring it on.

silly faces & far away places, while I'm just on the road

2011-04-04T08:28:00.001-05:00

some film from last week:

Happy Birthday to You!

2011-04-02T11:43:00.004-05:00

today my blog is two years old.

To think this blog has documented two years of my life is crazy.

I know it sounds dumb & over dramatic but this blog has been here when I didn't have anyone to talk to.

The blogging community showed me that not only are there other people like me, that are obsessed with crafts, fashion, pretty pictures, & writing down their thoughts.. in this community its actually pretty cool to walk out of your house dressed like you are going to Sunday morning service, or to take millions of pictures every where you go.

I feel like I've been inspired to be myself because of the blogging community.

To go out on a limb & start a shop!

Or to experiment with photography.

So cheers to many more years to come!

Happy Birthday Diet Brooke With Lime

p.s.

wish Diet Brooke With Lime a happy birthday by liking my little bloggy blog on facebook ;)

Lets drive them crazy

2011-04-01T15:49:00.003-05:00

I saw this list over at C'est La Vie & was laughing out loud!

I plan on doing some of these things on this beautiful April Fools day, while the day is still young!

1. If you have a glass eye, tap on it occasionally with your pen while talking to others.

2. In the memo field of all your checks, write "for sexual favors."

3. Specify that your drive-through order is "TO-GO."

4. Insist on keeping your car windshield wipers running in all weather conditions "to keep them tuned up."

5. Practice making fax and modem noises.

6. Finish all your sentences with the words "in accordance with prophesy."

7. Signal that a conversation is over by clamping your hands over your ears and grimacing

8. Holler random numbers while someone is counting.

9. Adjust the tint on your TV so that all the people are green, and insist to others that you "like it that way."

10. Staple pages in the middle of the page.

11. Publicly investigate just how slowly you can make a croaking noise.

12. Honk and wave to strangers.

13. Decline to be seated at a restaurant, and simply eat their complimentary mints at the cash register.

14. Repeat the following conversation a dozen times.
"DO YOU HEAR THAT?"
"What?"
"Never mind, it's gone now."

15. Try playing the William Tell Overture by tapping on the bottom of your chin. When nearly done, announce "No, wait, I messed it up," and repeat.

16. Ask people what gender they are.

17. While making presentations, occasionally bob your head like a parakeet.

18. Sit in your front yard pointing a hair dryer at passing cars to see if they slow down. (going to do this now!!! hahahaha)

19. Sing along at the opera.

20. Go to a poetry recital and ask why each poem doesn't rhyme

eww.. nasty!

2011-04-01T11:00:00.003-05:00

as I've mention before, I am a nanny. I have been for quite some time now. It was my first & only job. This little boy is Malachi. He is the second child I've been a nanny for & at times, the most challenging. He certainly is hilarious though as he tries to learn words. Today as I was changing his diaper he looked at me & in his broken, newly learned English said "Eww! Nasty". I couldn't had said it better myself... Next week will be my last week of work! I will miss him... but not his stinky diapers... or the way he slaps me in the head with his arm when I try to take a nap with him.

out for blood

2011-03-31T21:28:00.001-05:00

Yesterday I got two shots, & some blood drawn

it sucked

two more shots to go & I'll be ready to leave the country!

Doctor, Doctor, Give me the news

2011-03-30T09:32:00.003-05:00

{via}

In two hours I shall walk down a awkwardly lit hallway,

be asked obnoxious questions from an obnoxiously happy nurse

then have a doctor in a big white coat come in & ask me all the same questions

then take some big needles & stick the heck out of me

I always laugh about how over dramatic people are about going to the doctor.

"Its not that bad" I always say.

As a girl who has had her blood drawn plenty of times I like to laugh at people who cry about getting shots & act as if its the end of the World

but today,

I just really don't feel like being used as a pin cushion thank you.

6 Confessions

2011-03-29T01:34:00.003-05:00

{via}

1. I'd prefer to watch cartoons over mostly anything else. Scooby Doo, Veggietales, Sesame Street are the best. I also kinda get a kick out of educational toddler shows that play in the early morning, like Word World & Dinosaur Train... as you can see I've been a nanny for too long.

2. I drink at least 240 bottles of water a month.

3. I'm always craving real, homemade, Mexican food. always.

4. When I was a child, my mother used to hang all my old balloons from birthdays & ect on my wall after they deflated. She says its because when they starting losing air I would get really sad & even cry on occasion & constantly refilling them with air could get expensive so she just tacked them to my wall & it seemed to make me happy.

5. I set a picture of Amanda Adam's abs as my phone background when I need inspiration to workout & eat right. Whenever I think about getting that ice cream I just look at my phone & the "no thank you" comes easier.

6. I cannot drink room temperature water without spilling it all over myself. I don't know why, its uncontrollable really.

what are your six confessions?

I believe this truth

2011-03-29T01:22:00.002-05:00

via

nanny diaries

2011-03-25T12:20:00.002-05:00

Revisiting some old Holga photos on my flickr today.

This is the first roll I got out of my holga (& last.. r.i.p.) & I really love these.

I miss being this boy's nanny & seeing him everyday even more!

But the good thing about being a nanny is you become apart of the family, & I still get to drive over & have dinner with them as much as I want & he has his mommy home full time with him now so its a win win situation.

four things

2011-03-24T03:37:00.005-05:00

+ This is the way my face has looked a lot lately, & I like it.

+ I bought a super cute bikini! It ended up being pretty expensive & I cant believe I spent that much money on something I wont be able to wear after the 11th of April for 6 months but oh well, it will make me happy until I leave!

+ If I don't have real Mexican food soon I'm going to die. I'm seriously on my death bed here!

+ My week has been very uneventful so far. Besides working 9 hour days, sleeping and talking to boyfriend I haven't done much of anything.

okay, its 4am & since I cant go back to sleep I'm going to go curl up in bed, watch the old movie channel until I have to get up & get ready for work at 5:30am

Have a beautiful day.

You deserve it

silly boy

2011-03-22T09:04:00.005-05:00

I think boyfriend should go to "making silly faces in pictures anonymous"

they have it for drugs & alcohol, I personally feel that this is just as serious of a problem.

This picture was waiting for me in my inbox this morning.

It made me start my day with a smile & a little giggle :)

He's cute.

to see more silly faces by Bryce go here

DTS Pro's & Con's

2011-03-21T15:06:00.002-05:00

{via}

pro's:

+ It is going to make the time fly till I get to see boyfriend again (I get home at the end of September & he gets leave in October {its been over a year since I've seen him. Oh military life})
+ Umm.. its an opportunity of a life times! Who doesn't want to take on the World!?
+ I know I am going to have fun.
+ I get to make tons of cool friends
+ I get to see the World
+ I get to have an adventure
+ I get to do all these things with my best friend Rachel
+ I'm going to learn how to be an adult & fend & take care of myself
+ I get to do all the things I've always wanted to
+ The most important thing; I get to help people who cant help themselves. I get to share Jesus with people of different cultures.

Cons:

+ I'm going to miss my mommy! (first time away from home)
+ I'm going to miss my puppy!!!! so so so so much!
+ I have to postpone college for 6 months
+ I'm not going to get to move into my apartment yet
+ In fact, I'm not going to get to do anything decorating or decor wise... for six months... I wont have my own room. Do you know how horrible that is!? I rearrange my furniture every other month! I neeeddd my decor space. I must have it... I have to have it...
+ What I'm doing probably isn't the safest thing... but I'm not really scared.

Okay.. I know I shouldn't be doing a pro's & con's on this awesome opportunity & my con's list looks pretty weak compared to my pro's list but that's a good thing.

I needed to see it all written down.

Now I'm excited...

but I still am going to miss my mommy & puppy...

20 days till take off

Rodeo

2011-03-20T09:05:00.003-05:00

In all honesty, I'm not a huge fan of living in Texas.

BUT! although I hate being from Texas, the Houston rodeo makes me proud to live here & is my favorite thing about this place.

P.S. like my henna? Its a piece sign with wings. I'm trying out different places for when I finally get the guts to go get a permanent tattoo.

I relapsed

2011-03-18T11:46:00.005-05:00

{via}

My addiction started when I was a few months old.

I had flem in my throat that was making it unable for me to breath.

My mother took me to the doctor & he said that some type of coke or carbonated drink would break it up.

Since my mother was extremely against coke, she decided to give me her favorite, Dr. Pepper.

I didn't snort it, or shoot it up, but I did prefer it with ice, & fountain, not canned.

It was a beautiful romance, but as I aged I noticed a little pooch at the bottom of my belly.

I've seen other people cut soft drinks out of their diet & it helped them get rid of theirs so I decided to do the same.

I went through with drawls.

It was terrible, I'd get headaches & craved it so badly.

I sucked it up.

As I started to get more into health & learning about my body & things that are good for it & bad for it I learned a lot about what a little glass of that stuff does to you & how terrible for you it really is!

I vowed to never pick up a glass again, & haven't missed it.

I've had people buy me one & have to push it aside or pretend to drink it.

I've had to straight up say 'no'.

I've had all my friends order them & I've said "just water thanks".

But today, the very woman that started the addiction in the first place put a glass in my hand.

"You don't have to drink it" she said. "I just ordered it & don't want it"

I brought it inside the house & stared at it for awhile & then I took a sip...

within minutes it was completely gone.

I feel terrible, my high didn't last that long, & now my stomach feels like its going to explode.

Just say no kids, just say no.

Panty Dancin'

2011-03-18T10:44:00.003-05:00

Don't act like you don't do it.
When you are getting ready, waking up, going to bed, getting out of the shower, or whatever your preference.
Turning on some tunes, forgetting your pants & using your brush as your microphone.
You wiggle your butt, you do the robot, you do dance moves you would NEVER do in public.
It seems completely ridiculous & if you ever found out there was a hidden camera in your room you'd be modified but for some reason it always leaves a smile on your face.
& if you don't dance around your room in your underwear.. you should.
Its been proven to cure fever, depression, & just a rotten day.
& no, I haven't read that in some medical book.
I know from personal experience.

This is my panty dancing playlist:

Dear Rodeo,

2011-03-17T23:28:00.003-05:00

{picture from last years rodeo}

tomorrow I'm coming for you & I'm going to eat every unhealthy, disgusting thing you have in stock.

I've been dreaming about it all week

YES!

2011-03-16T23:17:00.000-05:00

{via}

DTS Acceptance

2011-03-16T21:13:00.004-05:00

{via}
This was me this morning when I read my acceptance letter for DTS
But, I thought this girl looked a lot cuter than I did this morning with no make up on, a pillow imprint on my face & one side of my head in the pony tail I had put it in before I went to bed & the other side down.
Now its just time to raise a 2,000 dollars... in less than 4 weeks...
Easy... right?
*sigh*

Thankful Tuesday's

2011-03-15T12:42:00.004-05:00

The things I am thankful for today:

1. Texas Weather
I know! I know! This is the number uno thing I complain about in all of the World! But this week has been nice. It was a nice and hot day when I was feeling Summery, a rainy day yesterday when I just wanted to stay in bed & pig out & watch chick flicks, & today a nice cool, breezy day that is soothing my soul.

2. A Twisted Fairytale
Today I decided to catch up on some of my favorite blogs. Meg is such a talented writer & her blog is amazing, I could sit & read it all day! I started going further back in her archives reading her wonderful posts & honestly, I felt like the biggest bi-polar freak! Within twenty minutes I had laughed so hard I almost fell off my bed, been so mad at her step mom I was ready to fly to Utah & kick her step mother in the knee & I had cried so uncontrollably about the way she talks so beautifully about her mother that has past, that my mother thought I was having a melt down of some sorts.

3. The Romantics Soundtrack

I'm not quite sure how I feel about the movie but the soundtrack changed my life. Unfortunately I couldn't find all the songs on the Internet or itunes but here are a few.

I'm "in a relationship"

2011-03-15T10:48:00.006-05:00

Bryce, Oh Bryce.

(unfortunately he isn't pron to taking "serious" pictures but personally I think his charming good looks shine through his silly faces, plus before this moment I never noticed how perfect his teeth really are... Scary)

Not that any of you guys are particularly interested in my love life, but I plan to tell you the following story anyways, because as Bryce says "I blog my whole life", so bear with me.

You may have heard his name mentions here before (in fact if you read those posts from bottom to top you can kind of see our rise & decline of a relationship). As you can see I met him on vacation on the Summer of my 16th year. I was visiting my best friend who was raised there & recently moved back. That month I was there was a world wind of events but I left that Summer not being sure of many things but one thing I knew for sure, I had left my heart in Utah, with Bryce. He was a soldier, about to leave for basic training, in his last few months of freedom. I was a teenage girl from Texas, without a job & no concrete plans for the future except to live life to the fullest & I was completely cynical about love (at this point in my life I thought love was nothing more than general attraction, that you had completely control of who you "loved" & for how long, & I was convinced that it was not heart stopping, there was no such thing has "fireworks" & "sparks" & marriage was equivalent to prison). Then, we met & he fell for me for some crazy reason I'll probably never understand & despite the fact that I was trying to keep my mind on the logically "No Brooke, you live in Texas, he is leaving, this will never work" I fell for him too. By the end of the Summer we were making crazy promises like "We are going to be together forever" & "The next few months will fly bye till my basic graduation then we will see each other again" & we were making plans for the future.
Unfortunately, a funny thing happens when you start becoming adults. You get selfish. You get mean. You start thinking a bit TOO logically. Add in a mix of missing the person you love so terribly you cant see straight & the frustration of the time you are suppose to see each other keep getting pushed further into the future & you have an emotional disaster on your hands, about ready to break. Maybe it was logical for us to break up like we did, & try to move on, find new people who we got to see more, or maybe people we cared for less so we wouldn't miss them so much when we weren't with them. But unfortunately, I couldn't do either. Not a day has passed since the day we met that I haven't thought about him & wished he was still mine.
Its been over a year of a back & forth games like "I love you, but I don't want to hurt you again", & "lets be friends" then quickly realizing we cant stay JUST friends, & trying to live without one another & then realizing that was close to impossible.
Yesterday we would've been together a year & six months.
But it was even better.. it was the day we got back together.

We've grown up, we've changed, & we've become 'somewhat' of adults right before each others very eyes.. but I'm glad one thing hasn't changed thus far.

More about Bryce: he is stationed in Korea, he has too many tattoos (just kidding! hehe but I do like to pick on him about this subject), he plays me songs on the guitar, he likes cars that go too fast & enjoys Scooby Doo, which honestly, if he didn't it would've been a deal breaker & is dreaming of one day becoming a cop, he is one of the most driven people I've ever met & the biggest hippie I've ever seen wearing a military uniform, & he has the absolute coolest mom.

So 'boyfriend' is finally boyfriend once again & all is right with the World & I can openly gab about how much it sucks when missing someone becomes a stable feeling in a relationship & I can confess to the World how much I really think about this boy without anyone passing judgement. :)

go shopping!

2011-03-12T01:45:00.002-06:00

Mini Cowl & Headband duo for sell in the shop

remember all the money I'm receiving from the shop right now is going toward helping me get to go to missions training in Germany & then to an outreach of my choice (Ethiopia, India or Czech), so if you want something please don't hesitate!

Also if you'd just like to make a donation to help support me you can contact me at

dietbrookewithlime@hotmail.com

I'd love to hear from you

Beautiful to Behold

2011-03-12T01:12:00.002-06:00

New headband in the shop

Lovely Vessles

2011-03-11T20:32:00.002-06:00

Come by & visit my SHOP!!!!

There will be tons of more products up soon!
Headbands, hats & some other goodies ;)
right now bear with me though,
I've been working crazy hours & haven't gotten around to taking new pictures of them yet

Today I feel inspired by...

2011-03-11T09:21:00.006-06:00

{all images found via weheartit}

PLEASE READ

2011-03-06T11:22:00.007-06:00

So there once was this girl, named Brooke (Yes I am talking about myself in the third person, just wait).
She had always felt an intense call on her life for God's work AND to help other people but she never knew what she was suppose to do, until one Summer her youth group were suppose to go on a missions trip to Mexico. And no, not Cancun & no, we were going to be sitting on the beach, sipping Margarita's. We went to some of the most poverty stricken small villages where the people lived on the bare ground with nothing keeping them from the temperatures reaching over the 100's but a thin tarp. Their water was undrinkable, they had one community bathroom for a whole town. Our hotel probably looked like a palace to most of these people, although there were holes in the walls, the sheets didn't match & the mattress was so hard I was pretty positive it was just a large board. I've never sweat so much in my life while I was there building & painting churches, I've never looked so terrible seeing

I had to get up at 4:30am & had no time to do my hair or make up (which I would've sweat off anyways), I had a terrible sunburn from the scorching heat, & unfortunately air conditioning was a luxury there BUT! I've never had so much fun in my life. I've never felt so at peace with myself & it was the first time I ever honestly thought to myself "this is what I'm suppose to be doing. This is what I was born to do.". Many of us felt that way & have been trying to plan a new trip back there. Many of us have even been studying Spanish so we will be able to talk fluently. But unfortunately those plans fell through time & time again between, us having jobs, school, lack of funds, & the drug cartel hitting all of the towns & villages we went to last time making it VERY unsafe to travel there right now. Dreaming of being a missionary is what I seem to always be doing these days. But I wont lie I feel stuck in a rut these days,

between being a full time nanny, trying to find a second job, trying to figure out where I'm going to move now that I'm eighteen & ready to venture out on my own, & where I'm suppose to go from here. Being eighteen & struck with the realization that I have no idea what to do from here & have no more time to think about it, its time to make decisions, is a numbing and scary feeling...

That is, until last night...

Last night I got a text from my best friend Rachel who is also called to the missions telling me about this awesome program called DTS. Once you get accepted to this program you fly to Germany & you live & train at this place for three months, after those three months under prayerful consideration you then decide where you'd like to missionary at for the next three months, out of their 300 locations or 'bases' as
they like to call them, located all over the World. You live in a house with other missionaries & you all work together toward one common goal, telling people about God, & helping people. When Rachel told me that she was thinking about going with our good friend Mich (who lives in Germany and is like a brother to us) I must admit, I did feel a bit jealous of the adventures she was going to be having. I've often thought about joining the peace corp. & even the military. I've always wanted to travel & to help people in need. Then all of the sudden she asked, "Do you want to go?". & all I could think was "more than anything in the World.".

After talking to my mother about this & pacing for hours last night around my living room I feel like this is exactly what I need to do & where I need to go. I trust this program & I trust that this is exactly when I need to do this & is exactly what I want to do.

The only problem? I have to have to close to three thousand dollars by mid- next month. That will include my plane ticket to Germany & my food & ect. for the first three months. And as a girl who only has two hundred dollars in her bank account, this is where I need help. I don't expect any of you to start busting out your check books & giving me hundreds of dollars but if you can even give a little, every little bit helps. & if you know someone who'd like to help sponsor me or even donate a little, please pass this information on.

ALSO, I will opening up a online shop within the next week to sell my headbands & that money will also go to helping pay for this trip so if you'd like to help that way, I'll have my shop information up here soon.

You guys are amazing & I love you all my readers! Even if you cant donate I appreciate you reading this.

I hope soon I will be blogging from Germany & India or who knows where else!

things that make me happy on a Friday

2011-03-04T15:40:00.005-06:00

+ Staying in bed all day with my munchkin

+ Reruns of Laverne & Shirley

+ Being finished with my Polaroid heart

+ Reading an intense book

+ Dropping off letters and boxes of headbands to the post office

What's on your phone?

2011-03-04T15:09:00.003-06:00

1. My Town (Houston) 2. Me on the beach from my November adventure. 3. On my 18th birthday at 12am I went to the gas station and got cigarettes (I don't smoke), & a lottery ticket (i don't gamble), just to buy them, but I didn't even get carded. So upsetting. 4. Me & Harley napping.
I was going to put up more pictures from my phone but realize pretty much all of them are of this little bug above. And I realized I'm probably the only person that wouldn't get bored of looking through pages of pictures of my little Harley, so I decided to spare you guys. hehe.

Promises

2011-03-02T00:01:00.003-06:00

{via}

Dear Future Husband,
Here are a few things I can promise you

- I promise you I will joke about how much of a catch I am & how lucky you are to have me, but deep down inside I will be wondering why the heck you picked me!

- I can promise I will complain when you leave the toilet seat up, I have a phobia of touching the toilet seat & putting it back down involves touching.

- I can promise I will always be on your side

- I promise to never let OUR room get as messy as mine is right now.

- I promise to make you pasta & spaghetti even though I hate it.

- I promise to be mad at you if you don't kiss me goodnight

- I promise to never give you a reason not to trust me

- I promise to always be excited when you get home, even if we are in an argument

- I promise to convince you to take out the trash & occasionally put the dishes in the dishwasher

- I promise I'll be over dramatic sometimes, especially when its that time of the month. Feel free to turn your head from me & laugh really hard when I start crying over something dumb like my finger nail polish not being the right color when I painted it on as I thought it was going to be when I bought it, but when I'm on that kind of emotional rollercoaster, you may even want to leave the room to chuckle at my over dramaticness, to save yourself from an even more stupid & emotional fueled rant

- I Promise my job of your best friend will always come first, even before my job as your wife.

"Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother." - Oprah Winfrey

2011-02-27T21:54:00.003-06:00

Today I brought my mother roses,
just because.
It surprised her & made her smile & that alone made my day

Party Hardy

2011-02-27T21:24:00.004-06:00

My be-lated birthday party was filled with bonfires, laughs, jokes, lap dances (haha my friends are hilarious.. and scary), HUGE burritos, the two cutest babies kissing (I wish I would've gotten a picture!), sweet toasts, crazy dancing in the middle of the street, & late night roadtrip to take a friend home accompanied by Jack in the Box.
It was one of my favorite birthday parties I've ever had for sure

Well how was I to know that what we carved in stone would be so temporary

2011-02-27T21:01:00.003-06:00

Had a fun weekend with Rachel.

We had my be-lated birthday party but my camera died so besides my instax mini pictures these were the only ones I got.

It was a beautiful sunset.

Birthday Weekend in Instax Mini's

2011-02-20T20:49:00.003-06:00

Rachel's Style

2011-02-20T19:56:00.004-06:00

This is one of my best friends, Rachel.
She has one of the craziest/ cool styles I've ever seen.