2 years ago today

2 years ago  my life took a crazy change. I was reflecting over 2010, and all that had gone on. I had graduated from USC, traveled to Europe and New York, worked enough to support the travel, and was genuinely thankful for this season in life. After years at SC assuming it must be where I'd meet my husband (after all my parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles had all met their spouses there) it was just how it worked right? After 6 months of graduating and realizing that, in-fact, was not the plan for me, I was, dare I say, content with being single. Naturally that's when everything gets mixed up - when we're comfortable. As I got coffee with one of my best friends I quickly ran through the milestones of those last two years and the insanity they have carried.

Dec 2010 -  knew I was supposed to "pray about Jake" - had no clue what that even meant - what do you pray about someone?
January 2011 - knew at some point I was supposed to marry Jake - lots of confirmation - too much to go into here
March 2011 - started dating Jake
July 2011 - got engaged
September 2011 - newlywed housing fell through - planned to live with family until the move to Haiti
October 2011 - got married
November 2011 - went to Haiti to plan upcoming move in January - realize so clearly we were not supposed to be moving there
December 2011 - came home to LA, regrouped, realized we would be living with family for a bit longer than expected
March 2012 - we were both out of work, confused, pieces of depression crept in
April - August 2012 - worked random jobs, still living with family, even more confused about why we were here, trying to trust God
August 2012 - Jake got a job, and the next day I got hired
September 2012 - Started leading a youth group - it was finally making more sense why we were here in la la land
October 2012 - 1 year married!
November 2012 - Jake's employer cut jobs = layoff
December 2012 - went back to Haiti, were actually able to be thankful for God's timing and plans this time and look forward to what the next year will hold

A lot - a lot, A LOT has gone on, at times it's exhausting, and we still wouldn't change it. We knew at the beginning of all of this we weren't signing up for "normal", it was probably one of the biggest things that attracted us to each other ... sometimes I've sat and asked God for just an ounce of normal, and He is more gracious than I deserve to keep giving me what He knows I need over what I "want." Wherever your life is at - more insane, more normal, keep trusting God - He is faithful - and He has great plans.

 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (Romans 5:1-5 ESV)

A word on the "detox bath"

After a few moments on Pinterest I had the brilliant idea to try out the detox bath. I'd heard of this before, I may have even tried it out once. But this time I was following all the directions to a T. Mix Epsom salt, baking soda, and ginger; use the hottest water you can handle; spend at least 20, preferably 40, minutes in the tub.
I put my deep conditioner in my hair, prepared the water, turned on Pandora, and mixed in the "detoxifiers." Set my timer for 33 minutes, didn't think I could handle 40, and calculated that 7 songs should be about how long I'd need (7 songs at approx 5 min each). I'm a goal kinda person so being able to count down would help.

Here's how it went ...
Song 1 done - "ok, this is nice, relaxing, peaceful."

Mid song 2 - "I'm getting bored, how do people enjoy this? What else should I be doing? What do I want for dinner. Wow this is hot. It feels stuffy. Kinda like the sauna. The doctor said a sauna would be good for me."

Song 3 starts - "I'm almost half way done! No ... That can't be right ..."

Song 4 - "I put on Brooke Fraser, why is Greenday playing? Am I suffocating? Am I passing out? How many songs left?"

Mid song 5 - "I can't take it. I'm dying. My heart is beating in my shoulders, how does that even work??"

Song 6 starts - "1 more. I can do it. I can do it. If I just sit up for half the song, I'll be ok. I'll leave my feet in hands in, they release the most toxins, I think I read that somewhere?"

Song 7 starts - "this is it - 4-5 more minutes! I'll just look at the timer to make sure. 8 minutes left?! What?! I'm melting."

Song 8 starts - "ok - you've done this far, you can keep going. Stay submerged. Stay submerged. Toxins leaving. Leaving leaving. And praise the Lord!!!! It's done! My heart is beating in my neck now. That's so weird."

"They said stand up slow. Standing slowly. Starting the cold shower. Heart beating in brain. What the heck? Is this what detoxifying feels like? Why didn't I drink water? I think they said drink lots of water. I knew I forgot something, the water. Ok rinse hair. Rinse body. Nooooppppe don't fall over. Water off. Getting out. Ok. Detoxified? Cleaner? I guess 'cleansed?'"

Morals of the story, when doing a detox bath ...
*Drink water
*Calculate number of songs correctly
*Be prepared to be more ADD than you've ever dreamed possible
*DRINK WATER

I got crafty

As Mr. Fab and I were out shopping for gifts, we found things we liked but needed a finishing touch to the gifts for my mom, his mom, and our sister-in-law. I'd seen so many ideas on Pinterest, and I was determined that I, a wife of 1 year+, an educated woman, could figure out how to BE CRAFTY, it does not come naturally the way the desire to be in control does :/ not my strongest character point at times. Anyways I searched and searched, developed my plan, and headed to Trader Joes. From this, came the most amazing coconut, almond, sugar scrub! My mother-in-law loved it so much she asked for the recipe, so this is for you Moma Fabs ;)

Sugar Scrub Recipe!

Mix: 3 cups organic sugar, 1 1/2 cups organic coconut oil, and 1/2 tsp 100% almond extract
Store in an airtight container, and enjoy baby soft skin

I took the craftiness to a new level by making my own Modge Podge to attach the initial logo for each family member. It was so easy.

Easiest Modge Podge Recipe!
Mix equal parts: white vinegar, water, flour, and sugar

I know ... I'm even amazed

Merry Christmas!

Merry Merry Christmas! 

This adorable video is too cute to not share. Have an amazing day with family and friends! baci baci

Wrap wrap wrapping

I LOVE Christmas time. There is no one more amazing at wrapping than my mama and she's passed pieces of her package perfectionism on to me. Jake laughs at me so much because of how OCD I can be about it, but who doesn't love a good looking gift?
This year I ditched the red and green and stuck to gold, red, and this amazing black and white snowflake paper I found. And I was inspired by the stencils at the craft store. I'm kinda loving how it turned out!
Merry Christmas all!! Soak up every second with friends and family as you celebrate why we have this amazing holiday :) baci baci

So Blessed!

I am the "luckiest" girl in the world to be surrounded by the people I am surrounded by. More likeminded, passionate, incredible friends than I could have ever asked for. Today was a particularly great day as I got to catch up with one of the greatest givers ever. This girl truly does constantly pour herself out for others. Our coffee catch ups are always inspiring and encouraging! Thank you so much Devon for be a blessing, sharing your talents, and serving so many so freely. From designing for small non-profits to billboards in Times Square - she's still one of the most humble generous people I know. See some of her work here

An Hour at the Park

Well, this is what my amazing husband can do with an hour in our favorite local park. He's such a stud of a photographer that he can even take his own pictures. They're a little late this year with the trip to Haiti, but here are some of my favorite shots from our Christmas card photo shoot. baci baci

 

 

 

 

 

Photo Drop: Haiti

My Sassy Girl

Jake & Nugget

 



Look at those eyes!

Oh GuyMarcus <3

My Favorite Dave

Feeding Program Friend

My Girls

Our Only Photo Together

 

Our Team

Another trip to Haiti ... Another lesson to learn

Each trip here seems to bring a new lesson to be learned. In March of 2009 it was learning so much about who God is; in May of 2009 it was learning to serve where there was a need rather than where I had planned; in March of 2011 it was trust; in November of 2011 it was obedience; and this trip has taught me what living missionally really means.
Last November when we knew God was telling us not to move to Haiti it took everything within me (and great leadership from my husband) to adjust all of my plans and desires to live in Haiti. It was where I wanted to be, it is still where we both feel more comfortable, but it is not where we are supposed to be. And when we knew we weren't supposed to live here, we knew that we were supposed to have the same "missional" mentality in LA that we had here. And even though I knew that a year ago, I spend a good part of that year ignoring, being upset, and basically throwing a temper tantrum. I wanted my way and that was that. But through that year I have learned the beauty of obedience, and I am now being able to fully learn what it looks like to live missionally in the lovely city of Los Angeles. In Haiti there are starving children (and adults) everywhere, buildings that need to be worked on, constant chaos, staff who need encouragement from all of the endless needs; and here it seems so easy to see where to serve. But the glaring lesson of this trip for me, is that we have all of those same needs in the states. We have children and adults alike starving for hope, we have foundations that need to be re-built, chaos of a different sort, and people exhausted and in desperate need of encouragement. Why do I find it so much "easier" to serve here?  I'm sure it has to do with the fact that the needs are so much more in your face here - literally. You can't walk around without seeing the need. But as American's we have "matured," as many would see it, to a point of hiding our needs so well. We are so set on appearing as if there are no issues, we rob ourselves from the aid we are aching for.
I have since my first trip, and continue to believe, that the people here, in all of their abject poverty, are truly the richer people. In their "lack" they gain so much. I'm just thankful for the privilege to come here and be taught so much from these beautiful people!

Back in Haiti

This last year has been a whirlwind. Switching jobs countless times, changing plans even more, learning lots, praying more, loving, hurting, and by the grace of God, growing. I think both Jake and I would say that despite difficulty, we wouldn't change it for anything. But now we are back in Haiti and so thankful to spend these 10 days here.
So, last time we were here, we were planning our big move here. Until it became so clear that it was not where we were supposed to be. So back to LA we went. I was angry, Jake was positive as always. He finds so much peace in just being where he knows we're supposed to be. We spent 6 months in and out of countless jobs, living with family, and finally in the last 6 months, it has finally become clear why we are supposed to be in LA, and I can honestly say I'm thankful to be there. At times it is hard, but life is hard, and the only genuine peace you can have anywhere is knowing it's where God wants you to be.
Our time here is such a gift, spending time with our Haiti family, and leading an amazing team from Reality LA has been so sweet.
You can read daily updates from our team about what we've been up to here.