Things unexpected

A friend of mine wrote a blog entitled Unexpected Things and it really got me thinking. She talked about all of the things that have happened over the past year that were unexpected. That along with some conservations I've had lately have made me think about how God has been working in my life over that past few years... So here is a list of unexpected things that have happened in my life over the past few years...

The first thing that comes to mind (and is the major thing that has me where I am at today) is me leaving staff with Campus Crusade for Christ. While I do love this ministry I know that leaving staff was one of the best decisions of my life. Through a lot of wise council I realized that there is a much bigger arena of people that my life can influence than those people on a college campus. The first of many unexpected things. With that decision came the unexpected decision to go back to school. And with that decision came the decision to move to Texas. SO many unexpected things in such a short amount of time. Again I think the combination of these decisions have been VERY significant in my life!

The next unexpected thing was my stay in the hospital a little over a year ago. That really was a crazy time in my life! I had an allergic reaction to a antibiotic and my kidneys shut down. I spent 5 days in the hospital with a tube down my throat not knowing what the next day would look like. Luckily there was a specialist there who knew what was going on and we were able to catch it before it caused permanent damage to my kidneys.

Another unexpected thing that happened was that I truly love school this time around! I love learning more about how to help people and how to be the best social worker I can be. Although not exactly a big thing in my life it was unexpected!

I had the chance to go to Thailand twice this year! Thailand has become a land that I love! I feel in love with the people who will always be a part of my heart. I had so many amazing experiences in this land of smiles! I can not begin to explain how amazing these trips were. I learned so much during my time there. Since being back I have seen what the Lord was teaching me while over there. It's amazing how the Lord can use such hard times to teach one so much.

I am working at a State Senator's office. I never ever would have thought that would be something I would want to do! But here I am a month into my internship and loving it. I know that this is not what I want to do but it has been a good experience and I think will help me be a better professional in the end.

So those are some of the unexpected things that have happened over the past yearish! It is amazing to see how all these little unexpected things work together to bring me to the place that I am at. I feel as though I am at a spot in my life where I am truly happy. Yes I'm excited about more unexpected things to happen (read.. I meet someone I want to spend my life with) but I am so excited about where the Lord has me at right now! I'm learning what it looks like to love well and walk in the reality of unexpected things!

Omnivore meme

This Omnivore 100 meme from Omnivore Herbivore Carnivore, in turn via Andrew at Very Good Taste.How It All Works:

1) Copy the list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3) Cross out (or italicize) any items that you would never consider eating

The 100
1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart (and got very sick afterwards in Brasil!)
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes (Some of my favorite!)
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans (I mean I live in Texas!)
25. Brawn or head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float (I introduced this to the Thai's this summer!)
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
37. Clotted Cream Tea
38. Vodka Jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects (They were covered in Chocolate)
43. Phaal
44. Goat's milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth $120 or more
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear (It's sad I haven't had this since it is the Texas state fruit!)
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald's Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian (I DO NOT recommend this... unless of course you like the way bug spray tastes!)66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain (Yum, Yum, Yum!)
70. Chitterlings or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost or brunost
75. Roadkill
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang Souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom Yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. 3 Michelin Star Tasting Menu
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake
How many have you eaten?!?!

I thought I would add a few of my other random eats on here also
1. Gelatinous pig's blood
2. Fish Brains
3. Thai ice cream sandwich (Sweet rice & ice cream on a dinner roll)
4. Tom Kong Hur Pa (aka Fish head soup!)

September...

So I seriously keep thinking to myself that I need to blog and update this thing and I suppose today is the day! It's only been almost a month, it looks as though this will be a monthly update...

Well my trip to Minnesota for Labor day was amazing. I was able to spend some time with my best friend Emily which was so good! At one point someone asked us how we knew each other and we were able to share that fun story. See Emily and I have been friends since Kindergarten! We were friends all throughout elementary school. In 5th grade I think I spent more time at her lake house than I did at my own house. At the end of that year some things happened in my life that moved me to Florida. During my 10 years in Florida Emily and I kept in touch by means of written letters and random phone calls (this was pre e-mail and free cell phone long distance!). During that time I went up to Minnesota a few times and Em came to Florida a few times. Then when I transferred to Minnesota State University I moved in with her. Since then her family has become my family and I am truly grateful for each one of them! Over the past 17 years since I first moved to Florida Emily and I have gone through a lot! It has been amazing to see how God continues to use us in each others lives. I feel as though I am closer to her now than I have ever been! So all that said it was SO good to go and spend some time with her and her husband! Some of the highlights from the weekend were the State Fair, the Perry wedding and Julie's Baby shower!

Since being back I have really jumped into the new school year full force! I'm in my 3rd week of my internship which I am enjoying. I have been assigned a few cases and have attended a couple of meetings with coalitions in Tarrant County. One of my job responsibilities is to meet with directors of non-profits here in Tarrant County. It has been very interesting to hear about all the different organizations that are here. The office is also giving me lots of opportunities. Next week they are paying for me to go to a eating disorder symposium and will pay my way if there are other things I want to go to in the future. Also I get the opportunity to go to a benefit dinner next week. I have really been enjoying it!

Other than that not to much is new. I've become that girl who goes to bed early to get up early! I have been working out each morning before class which has been so good! I usually get up at 4:30 and read/journal for an hourish and then go to school where I run (yes I've been running also...who am I?!?!) to the gym where I work out for about an hour and half then run back to school and clean up and go to class at 8. Even though I am getting up so early working out has given me so much more energy! (And I usually get a Diet Coke from Sonic before I go to the office). So anyhow that is my life right now. I will try to update more often so that these are not so long! And it won't be a monthly update...