A letter

     “And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them” -Mark 10:16

          It’s not often that we go on mission’s trips to expect to be changed, we go on these trips to help those in need, to do God’s work and to show love to those who may have never felt love before. I planned on sweating, blistering, and digging most of; if not all of the ten days I spent in Oaxaca, Mexico. God had much more planned for me in those ten days though. I for the first time, saw God, felt God, and heard God everyday.

          I heard the stories of the children who were abused, neglected and abandoned sing the praises of God and thank him for what he has given them. I heard the testimonies of eight men in prison, who asked for our forgiveness, and who found God during what could be the worst time of their lives. I felt pure love from the children who don’t have mothers, and who just wanted to be held. I saw God in their eyes, heard his word from their mouths, and felt Gods love with every embrace. I ask that you continue to pray for those in Oaxaca.

If you are interested in hearing my story, what I have experienced and what I have learned, join me on Sunday February, 21^st from 12-1:30.

May the grace of God be with you everyday.

Love,

Sara Elin Avadarian

An ode to my Vilhelmsro peps!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwsV2f1ZggM

The Bucket list

So this is actually kinda silly, but I promised someone 

that this would go up in my blog... 

It's called, The Bucket List.

These are a few things that I may have done in my lifetime,

those that I have, get an X.
 
(X) Gone on a blind date
( X) Skipped school
( X) Watched someone die
(  ) Been to Canada
( )  Been to Florida
( )  Been to Hawaii
( X) Been on a plane
(X ) Been lost
(  ) Gone to Washington, DC
( x) Swam in the ocean
( X) Cried yourself to sleep
(  ) Played cops and robbers, swing and statue,TV 

freeze tag,butts-up, or kick ball in the middle of your street. 

( X) Learned another langauage 

(X ) Recently colored with crayons
( X) Sang Karaoke

( X) Paid for a meal with coins only.
( X ) Been to the St. Louis Arch
( X ) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't -  

( X ) Made prank phone calls
( X ) Been down Bourbon Street in New Orleans
( X ) Laughed until some kind of beverage came 

out of your nose 

( X) Been truly in love  

( X ) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
( x ) Danced in the rain
( X ) Written a letter to Santa Claus
 (  ) Been kissed under the mistletoe
(X  ) Watched the sunrise with someone
( X ) Blown bubbles
( X ) Gone ice-skating
( X ) Been skinny dipping outdoors
( X ) Gone to the movies
(   ) Been deep sea fishing
(   ) Driven across the United States 

(X ) Traveled alone 

(   ) Been in a hot air balloon
( X ) Been sky diving
(   ) Gone snowmobiling
( X ) Lived in more than one country
( x ) Laid outside at night and admired the stars
while listening to the crickets 

( x ) Seen a falling star and made a wish
(   ) Enjoyed the beauty of Ole Faithful Geyser
(   ) Seen the Statue of Liberty
(   ) Gone to the top of Seattle Space Needle
( X ) Been on a cruise
( X ) Traveled by train
( X ) Traveled by motorcycle
( X ) Been horseback riding
( X ) Ridden on a San Francisco Trolley
( X ) Been to Disneyland (Disneyworld) 

( X) Been Skiing or Snowboarding  

( X ) Truly believe in the power of prayer!
(   ) Been to the top of an active volcano and seen hot lava
(  ) Been in a rain forest
( X ) Seen whales OR Dolphins in the ocean
(   ) Been to Niagara Falls
(   ) Ridden on an elephant
(   ) Swam with dolphins
 
 A little more personal... 

Do you have a nickname? Karl

Mother's name? Sherrie
Favorite drink? Chocolate Milk
Body Piercings?   Ears
How much do you love your job? Enough

Birthplace?  Chicago, Il. 

Favorite vacation spot? England

Do you want any kids? Yes, maybe 3  

Ever been to Africa?  Not yet
Ever eaten just cookies for dinner?  Yup
Ever been on TV?  Yeah.. I am kinda cool 
Ever steal any traffic signs? no
Ever been in a car accident?  no
Drive a 2-door or 4-door vehicle? none
Can you drive a standard shift car? Maybe... sorta 
Favorite pie? Cheese cake.. I think that counts. 

Favorite number? 10 though it's not lucky :(

Favorite Movie? Wow... I hate this question, I don't know. 
Favorite holiday? Christmas 

If you could live anywhere, where would it be? Sweden. 

Favorite food?   Pizza
Favorite day of the week? Saturday  
Favorite brand of body soap? Dove
Favorite toothpaste?  Crest plus whitening gel
Favorite smell? rain, fresh cut grass, baked cookies,the ocean

How do you relax? watch a girlie movie and eat cookie dough. 
How do you see yourself in 10 years? In a good, 

happy place,God willing.  

Resolution

So around this time of the year people are either keeping their resolutions, "A new year, A new Me!" while others are thinking... "How can I tweak my resolution?" of course there are those who say.. "Resolution... did I make one?"

Well my resolution is one I intend on following through with. I made this resolution after much thought, and not on January 1st, I made it right before the New Year.

Let me break it down a little first before I jump in and spill. So I am that person who you call, and if I don't pick up I will call you back promptly. I am the one who knows a lot of random information. So when you need something I can get it, and I am really good at problem solving. I help my friends with what ever they need, and don't expect much in return. I am there always, even if it's for a cup of coffee or to celebrate something. The people who are in my life I value greatly, and love them all.

The things I expect in return from my friends are what I think as basic things, friendship, trust and love. Having said that, I get hurt, a lot. I get stood up, I don't get called back, when I need someone often they are to busy, and I have been lied to by the people I love.

Now.. This is where my resolution comes in. I have forgiven many of them several times, maybe more times then some would say is deserved even. I am still that friend who is there and I usually don't complain. But now.. I am stopping it. I only want people in my life that I can trust, that I can call and they will answer, and people who don't stand me up!

I know this sounds harsh, but I have been thinking about why this happens, and the only thing I can think of is that they were not real friends to begin with so why be friends now?

Forgivness

Forgiveness is much harder then just staying mad. Many know this already, it’s not a new concept, and most will agree. As a Christian I have struggled with forgiveness. Forgiving those who don't ask for it, forgiving those who sometimes I don't think deserve it. God teaches us to forgive, and turn the other cheek.


Sometimes in my case anyway, forgiveness comes even when it's not asked for. I know that it’s, not holding onto that grudge or about moving on to better things. It's about loving the person even when they do things that are wrong, or when they do or say something I do not agree with.

The thing is, I am not always ready to forgive, I don't always want to. I want that person to know they have hurt me, before I can forgive them, not to just forgive and them not know they did anything wrong. I want them to say they are sorry, not because it would help me forgive them so that we can move past it, but because they are truly sorry for what they have done. That means sometimes showing me that they can change their ways not just saying it.

Of course, I have forgiven many of them and we have moved on. But I can't seem to forget any of it. I am still apprehensive, and scared about getting hurt again. I don't want to get to close. I don't want to reveal much of myself.

I pray that God will help me with this.