Walking to anywhere

Today I decided to go against my sometimes flow and take a nice long walk - with no end destination in mind, just needed to get out and walk. Does walking help me think, sometimes.

As I was walking I felt my legs under me in a way that brought back a true feeling of possible exhaustion that I missed. I was noticing things all around me when all the sudden, as in Colorado, It started to rain. Now since I was just at the start of my walk and feeling sort of low, I had to resist all sorts of feelings telling me to turn back, yet I kept going, one step in front of the other. As I walked it rained on me, sometimes large drops and sometimes many small drops, sort of refreshing really so I endured.

As I was walking I found myself thinking about who I am in Christ and all the promises in scripture that are there for us in times like this. So I was thinking of these things and turned a corner in the road. I looked up and there before me as if the painter was using the brightest watercolors imagineable I saw a beautiful and very distinct rainbow. This caused me to smile and even chuckle out loud. I hear you GOD, yes I am thinking on your promises, knowing that you never leave me, you love me, and so many more... Would have caused me to cry but the rain had that part covered.

I continued to think on things that are noble, true, praiseworthy, and filled with TRUST and guess what? I looked up again to stare at that amazing and very distinct rainbow and was almost shocked, but really should not have been, because there was another larger, brighter rainbow towering over the one I had seen at first and together it was amazing. People were coming out of store fronts, pointing it out to others and yet there was the very real distraction of many cars driving right by.

I don't want to be a person that forgets to sit in awe and wonder over rainbows, and things that God has created. I earnestly want to be that person that would stop what I was doing to ponder the greatness of the creator, in every color, distinct pattern and amazing view that HE gives to me.

Do you stop to stare or do you just drive by?

Some of my favorite lemur pictures

Madagascar, the world's fourth largest island, is located in the Indian Ocean 250 miles off the southeastern coast of Africa. At 226,658 square miles in size, Madagascar and the tiny Comoro Islands to its north provide the world's only present-day native habitat to lemurs.

It's suggested that lemurs made their way to Madagascar from the larger African continent millions of years ago and have since adapted and evolved into the diverse number of species we see today.

The climate of Madagascar is tropical, with a rainy season lasting from December until April and a dry season from May to November. The island's terrain is extremely diverse, ranging from coastal beaches and lagoons to mountains, rivers, grasslands, and desert. Many of Madagascar's plant and animal species are found nowhere else in the world; the island's biology is even more diverse than its geography.

In the past much of the island was covered by forest, but the majority of it — up to 80% — has been destroyed, largely for economic reasons such as logging and crop cultivation. The Malagasy people often carve out a subsistence living on a per capita income equal to US$200 per year, so on an individual level getting by often seems more important than preserving the environment.

On separate occasions I have been able to go to VAKONA - a lodge near the Andasibe rainforest about 3 to 4 hours to the East, outside of the Capital city, Antananarivo.

Within walking distance there is a lemur reserve amongst a secondary forrest on a series of little islands you can get to by canoe with a guide. This reserve area and employees care for abused or neglected lemurs of all variety.

Here are a few that I have been able to interact with directly. What an incredible time, having them crawl on me, hold onto my hair, beg for bananas and jump from person to person...

Once in a lifetime!

VAKONA FOREST LODGE

Situated in an eucalyptus plantation, 7kms away from the Périnet National Park entrance, Vakona Forest Lodge is considered one of the most comfortable hotels in this area.

The individual bungalows are thoughtfully scattered throughout the grounds, and boast generous space, with a good bathroom, electric heaters, mini bar and safe.

Various activities are on offer for guests including horse riding, squash, mountain biking and the use of the hotels' swimming pool.

Vakona Forest Lodge is also highly complimented for the very good cuisine that it serves up in its restaurant. A mixture of cuisines are on offer and can be enjoyed in comfort by the restaurants' huge fireplace.

The lodge is the perfect base to explore the nearby Andasibe/Perinet National Park. Accompanied by personal drivers and a local guide, guests can explore this famous reserve on foot, during the night or day, and at thier own pace.

Perinet National Park is renowned for its variety of diurnal and nocturnal species, and is probably best known for the Indri Indri lemur – the largest member of the lemur family.

Vakona Forest Lodge is situated 140km from the capital, 1km from Andasibe and 6km from the main road of the island, which makes it easily accessible by 4x4 or bush taxi.

Over the years I have come to appreciate God's creativity in creatures.

While I was living in Madagascar I caught many moments like this in my memory.

This is my favorite picture of them all.

Discovering all the details that GOD put into one of his creatures, makes being one of those that HE loves all the more amazing.

This dragonfly is delicate, colorful, very energetic... The incredible beauty caught here leaves me speechless. What thoughts do you have surrounding this picture?

Lalaina (La-line-a)

May I introduce you to Lalaina? He is a 5 yr old boy that lives in Madagascar. Pictured on the right of this first picture with one of his cousins at a recent birthday party for his sister.

His parents, Dinah and Frank are like a Sister and Brother to me. We have spent many hours together as a family over my time in Madagascar.

As I have lived amongst them I have realized some very hard truths. One being that just affording food, three meals a day, is a luxury for not only them but many living there.

Dinah works at a Christian school as a teacher of the 1st grade, doing her best in teaching yet makes roughly about $150 dollars a month to support her immediate family and also still contributes to help with the other siblings that don't have jobs yet.

The amazing thing right now is that Dinah has a great opportunity to take her son, Lalaina to school with her so that he can get a great education, the only thing in her way is that they can't afford the discounted rate they need to pay

for this education. Do you know what it costs?

$50 a month will pay his daily bus fair to and from school, stationary needs, special learning outings and lunches. As a parents, Dinah and Frank want the best for her son and bringing Lalaina with Dinah to school she can better follow his study program and help where necessary. This is a huge blessing that they really hope they can consider.

As parents they had to stop working on their crude brick home, earlier this year so that they could provide for their daily needs, and have run out of money. They are focusing only on making enough money to feed their family right now.

It crushes me to not be able to help more often when they need it. Being that Madagascar is still in political turmoil and things there on the island are not settled, making income is quite difficult.

If you would be interested in helping Lalaina in receiving a better education then please contact me and we will do our best to make sure that he starts in August with the other children.

Judgement of others

God's amazing Grace, we sing about it and we read about it but how hard is it to live amongst it?

Have you heard the saying "don't judge a book by its cover?"

Well, it is sad to report but even in Christian circles it is something that happens every day.

Are you someone that judges others or are you someone who lives in a balance of grace, mercy, forgiveness and judgement as GOD allows?

I chose to walk with GOD and live by "those who are without sin, may they cast the first stones."

Where will you live?

SURGERY

Well, the surgery came and went without a hitch. I was staying with great friends here in the Littleton area, just blessed beyond measure at how they cared so graciously for me during recovery.

There was a list of medications that I needed to take daily and a little something for the pain. After about 2 days I was up and doing things for myself. So that was a great relief - now if I could just get back onto a normal sleeping pattern with the rest of the world.

The pain meds that I was given caused a small issue but nothing that a bottle of liquid E-X lax should have been able to help with. After 4 days my body was back to working normally and I was on the mend.

Thanks to all of you that prayed for me and walked through this journey with me. I am very blessed to have such a great amount of people around me that really care for me.

Upcoming surgery

I found out this week that I am in need of another sinus surgery. In one year, overseas, I had 9 ear infections and two of them were double ear infections, which were in-fact, very painful.

Over the last few weeks I have been in to see an Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT) Specialist to see what could be causing this. At the end of last year, almost the last day, I had a CT scan of my sinus' and that revealed what could be the issue.

Today the ENT went over the results with me, looks like I had a fractured nose as a child, which has put a bone fragment in the way of my sinus passage, along with a dieviated septum these two issues seem to be causing drainage issues that linger over my ear canal, causing these painful and repeated infections.

Good to know the details, now what do we do?

Results: I am going in for surgery early on Wednesday, February 2nd to see what can be done to try to clear this issue. Looking forward to resolve...

Driving through the snow

Here in Colorado I have been learning to drive through the snow. I wonder how this can teach me anything some of you might say ~ yet I choose to look at life with the lenses of "everything has a lesson somewhere!"

While driving here in the ice and snow I have learned quite a bit about road appropriate manners and more on defensive driving.

Anticipating others and the moves that they may make is "defensive Driving" - this can come at quite a wake up call and expense.

Having the right equipment, right tires, chains for your tires - ice scraper for the windshield so that you can see - all of this makes for the right tools and is very important.

Taking your time and not trying to get somewhere in a hurry is critical as just a tad bit more speed could catapult you into a spin across traffic lanes or into a ditch.

Ultimately so much of this learning to drive in the snow has become a bit for me of learning how to communicate with people. Both of these require taking in your surroundings and making adjustments. Sometimes I am better at this than other times and much of the time I find that I just need to call out to GOD for direction, wisdom and HIS fantastic insight.

Making Vanilla

One of the things that I brought back with me was vanilla beans from Madagascar and showing people how to use the beans has been a pure delight!

I have made all sorts of treats with this vanilla and have really enjoyed sharing the stories and care for the beans with people that have also enjoyed the process...

One family has made fresh ice cream with the beans two times and are looking at making it a third time in the coming days... The first time we scrapped out the actual Vanilla from the inside of the juicy bean and the second time they just used the extract that we made... BOTH

times it was an ice cream victory!

Happy New 2011

I hope that you had a great New Year celebration where ever you found yourself celebrating, I sure did!

I found myself here in Littleton, CO - staying inside where I could stay warm and out of the stress of sliding on icy roads late at night in unfamiliar territories without a cell phone. I did however spend lots of time reflecting on the journey so far, where GOD is leading and the next steps ahead. I watched videos of language teachers, friends in Madagascar and family here in the states... I even watched videos of me with my dogs and found myself missing them so much, catching myself laughing out loud at the funny things that I was doing with my dogs.

On New Years Eve - around 4 in the afternoon, I did drive very carefully down to the local store to get a few things just incase it snowed for a couple of days and I would not be able to get out. The normal stuff at Safeway like, milk, bread, butter, soup, tortalini, chips, salsa and some triscuts!

Who says if you are going to be alone for New Years that it has to be without some of the pleasures of AMERICAN foods?

Funny thing is that the cars here tell you the temp outside, not to sure that I wanted to know exactly what it was - even if it was off a little this

is still colder than I am used to in Madagascar and colder than I grew up with in California. Buuuurrrrrr

I took a walk out in the snow about 3 in the afternoon today and just about froze even though the sun was out... here are some of the pictures so that you can enjoy the journey with me...

I keep hearing GOD telling me that HE is going to show me great and indescribable things, HE is leading me on this journey of healing, sharing HIS wisdom with me and allowing this time of separation for me from Madagascar so that I can see exactly what HE wants me to do there... Right now it looks like helping to start businesses and spending time with Malagasy children in many areas, GOD keeps opening doors... I am praying for GOD to reveal how these areas will use me for the giftings and talents that HE has already given to me in order to proceed.

My heart aches to be back in Madagascar but I don't want to go back before God's timing would allow, I desire to walk with HIM, growing and learning in HIM, through HIM and with HIM... I know that you can't see His shadow there with me on this walk, but I KNOW HE is there walking along side of me, counseling me and allowing me HIS wisdom.

Do you know that GOD is walking with you? Do you hear HIS voice? Do you even take the time to listen? I am trying, what about you?

C T scan

Most people might not know that over the course of my 14 months in Madagascar I had 9 ear infections and twice those infections were double ear infections.

Since I have been here in the states I have been going to a series of Dr. Appointments to check things out and make sure my body is in great working order.

Today I had a C T scan on my sinus section and there is a possibility of me having surgery to correct something, depending on what the Doctor sees this time around.

Please be praying through this process with me. The tests are evasive, time consuming and yet trying to get to the bottom of things is well worth the time.

Packing things up

Since I have been here in Colorado for over 6 weeks now there have been packages arriving for me right and left and a few items I have been able to purchase on my own that will help life in Madagascar to be warmer and without parasites in my water, not to mention some other things for other people that I love there.

So, I spent about 3 hours packaging up things to send to Madagascar, weighing boxes, un-packaging things and then doing it all over again... While I was in CA I did the same thing

and since this has become a ministry I have been

praying the entire time I have been packing things up, what a great time this has been for me.

I am praying that when the items arrive in Madagascar conversations of GOD will come up, people will continue to be curious about HIS love, care and guidance in life and helping others... Lets keep the "Main thing the main thing" for now and remember that each time a package gets to Madagascar it is an opportunity to share Christ with the postal workers. A group of three postal workers there in Madagascar have just started asking me questions about the GOD that I serve. I am looking forward to sharing more and more with them once I arrive back in the country.

Here are some pictures of the boxes I packed and some that I received while I was there over last year. I am so very grateful for each and every item that was sent. Thank you to all who took the time and paid the money to send such incredibly thoughtful gifts.

The words "thank YOU" just don't express my heart... but will have to do!

Merry Christmas 2010

This year at Christmas I find myself somewhere that I was not expecting, and really not very excited about, yet as Christmas approaches, this year more than ever I am reminded of the simplicity of the birth of Jesus.

The reason that we all celebrate Jesus being born has to be more than getting a tree and decorating it with shiny objects. It has to be more than the foods, the parties, stockings filled with candy and gifts or the family time.

I am reminded that this is a journey that we celebrate as much as we celebrate the birth of Jesus, we celebrate the journey of Mary and Joseph, the journey of the wise men and really our own passage of time.

This year are you closer to following the North star to the birth so that you can give your very best present to Jesus... What do I have that Jesus wants? I am sure that it is all of me and as hard as that is to give up, I do it willingly because I love him and excited that HE arrived on earth for that short time.

My prayer this Christmas is that WE don't get caught up in how many presents we get, or give but what do we have to give Jesus. What do you have that is of great worth to you and those around you, something that GOD gave you that exceeds you... Then give it to HIM, don't hoard it for yourself - share it... Is it a talent, is it a worldly posession, could it be making time to care for someone, or just being available to walk alongside of someone that is hurting?

I am giving Jesus my attention, my listening ear, my heart and my will.. Praying that HE can use all of me to bless himself and further HIS kingdom.

Blake and Brodi

Blake and Brodi and I found ourselves taking a walk before going to Grandpa's house to celebrate Christmas... What a great time.

Enjoy these special pictures!

Date with Sam and Blake

I was blessed with the opportunity to take a niece and nephew out for special time.

Years ago I started something special where I have intentional one on one time with my precious nieces and nephews.

Knowing that this time in CA was limited I took the two older ones with me to a local bowling alley. This was some special Anutie time and I really enjoyed it.

My Mom had saved up coupons from her bowling league, and all we had to pay for was the adult shoes ($3), thanks to the generosity of the employee at the alley I used to bowl at myself. I am so thankful that we could take that time with each other to make a memory.

Sammy and Blake were very competitive, yet they did not ever really concentrate on getting the ball down the alley, and they had assistance from the bumpers that would automatically go up each time one of their names came up on the bowling roster. I even let them bowl for me with a guaranteed gutter ball each time because I did not have bumpers that would go up.

I guess they just wanted to know what the final score was and who was in first place.

What a great time with those precious ones

Family Christmas (party #1)

My Dad is one of 7 children and comes from a very large family that seems to have new members and visitors at every event, this year was like all others yet for me it was a special blessing to be here with them and not all the way across the globe and in Madagascar.





Spending time with extended family was a very unexpected blessing on this trip back to CA...

I tried to get shots with

people yet sit and take it all in so that next year I will have all these people and memories fresh in my mind.

From the prayer time for the food and for the season, to the quick and sometimes very deep conversations with family.

I found myself asking about college life, boyfriends, living situations, and all the others changes in life that come in a large family.

My time with them was way to short but a blessing just the same. I had incredible conversations with so many of them. I asked forgiveness to one Aunt because I said things on skype with her that did not come out in the best way. That was important for me to do since I could hug her and see her face to face. A few cousins had very direct and meaningful conversations with me and I with them. This day and the conversations, hugs and pictures touched my heart as only my family could.

My Brother, his wife and three children were not able to attend because a few of them had caught colds and did not want to share with the rest of the families. Later we found out it was a good decision because Brad, my brother actually had the start of Pneumonia.

I did get some sweet time with my Grandma who will be turning 94 this coming April and is a very special person in my life. She has experienced so much in life and she loves all of us, her, children their children and then the children's children...

My cousin Danny let me know how much he loved me by getting face to face and telling me he cares for me no matter what I have or had gone through.

His daughter Maddison borrowed my camera and took some of the pictures posted here - she might be a photographer some time in the future.

My nephew Blake loves to hug on me and I love to be hugged. He might not love having pictures but I do and he is a great sport. Thanks Blake.

I must say that being with the children is my favorite part of the holidays, really the best part of any family gathering is hugging on the children, asking them about themselves and hearing what they love to talk about.