Pray for Daisy

There are 3 daisies in my room.

They are the first thing I see when I wake up every morning, as a constant reminder to be praying for Daisy Love. I posted a blog about her before (you can read it here). She battled with cancer for about 8 months, and was declared in remission. The Merrick family celebrated by heading to Hawaii for a month but came home to devastating news. Daisy's cancer is back.

It is a Wilms tumor, with a 30-50% cure rate. But as Britt said in church, Praise God that He is not limited to statistics. Pray for this sweet little girl. Pray for this family. Pray for a miracle.

Pray for Daisy.

Struck Down But Not Destroyed from Reality on Vimeo.

"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down but not destroyed." -2 Cor 4:8-9

Big God

"We can learn from both the faith and the testing of Abraham that God will sometimes test us in regard to what we value highly to make sure that we value Him most...

Whatever God gave me to do, I tried to be faithful doing it. And as I did, I not only discovered God's plan, but I also discovered that God's plan is better. We discover God's plan--and realize that it's better--when we choose to live it. Be faithful in the little things that God calls you to do. You'll find that he who is faithful with little will be entrusted with more."

Dear Jesus, make me faithful.

Weekend Adventure

Seattle is quickly becoming one of my favorite cities...okay, let's be honest: it has been ever since I first visited almost 3 years ago. Every time I go, I come back even more in love and more excited to move up there. Only two more months! This weekend adventure was full of so many fun things.

I landed on Friday and was shocked walking out of the airport, realizing that it was 92 degrees. My jeans and (fake) leather jacket were not appropriate. Katie Hill picked me up, took me back to the Conkling house where I’ll live for the next two years. I can’t wait! It’s absolutely beautiful and I just feel so, so blessed to be able to live there. Then we went to a Mariners vs. Yankees game at Safeco field! On the way home, we had to stop at Kerry Park so I could see the Space Needle :)

Saturday, we got up early and went garage saling! I was hoping to find a desk, bed, and bedside table for my new room up there but failed in all three categories that morning. Then I got to meet up with Hilary Green and Melissa Daly, two very dear friends who went to South Africa with me and live in Bellevue (right next to Seattle). We got lunch and frozen yogurt in Bellevue—it was still 90 degrees out—and then went to this urban, indie market type thing. I obviously can’t remember what it was actually called but it had so many unique purses, jewelry, clothes…everything! It was so fun. Then we went to the Seafood Fest in Ballard, and then headed back to my house for dinner with Katie! Unfortunately, all my pictures got deleted from that day but this one was saved!

Sunday began with church at Mars Hill and then we journeyed over to the Fremont Market. It’s so much fun! Katie and I ended up finding all sorts of little cute things to take home :) We headed to The Tea Cup (which provided me with my first Rooibos tea in America that actually tasted like South African Roobios!) and took it to Magnolia Park, where we just laid in the sunshine and read. Because it was 7/11, we went and got free slushies, and then visited the Troll which was actually kinda creepy. Haha. From there, we went to Gas Works…it was BEAUTIFUL. It was sunny and clear, with tons of boats on the water and kites in the sky. I loved it.

The highlight of the day was going to multiple different Goodwill’s and finding stuff for my room! I got a chair and bedside table for $16 and THEN! We went to the Goodwill Outlet where I found a desk for $1.99. I’m totally serious. So we took it back, sanded it down and painted it! I love it and still can’t believe how cheap it was!

Monday was filled with adventures and good times. Katie and I went to Piroshky’s Russian bakery right across from Pikes, and it did not let us down. I can’t wait to go back! We walked through Pikes a bit and then headed to the Columbia Tower for a 73^rd floor view of Seattle. We got lunch in Fremont and then went to the Theo Chocolate Factory and got a tour! We ate SO MUCH chocolate. It was great :) That night, we went to Molly Moon’s ice cream and I loved it! I can see why people rave about it.

My trip was wonderful. It’s only flaw was that it went by too quickly. But I had so much fun! It was especially fun getting to set up my room; it made the whole thing feel more permanent. Can’t wait for the day that it actually is! :)

Hello, Seattle

Tomorrow's the day! I get to go to Seattle! WOOO!

I'm so excited. I realized today that this is my first time leaving Ventura since I've been home from South Africa. Well, to leave for more than a few hours. The longest I've been out of the 805 since May 6th is maybe seven hours. And I don't mean to sound spoiled (although I am incredibly blessed to travel as much as I have), but I'm getting a bit restless here. Or perhaps bored is a better word? I don't know. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love Ventura. I hope to live here someday. But right now...I just feel ready for a break.


It's been a weird two months of summer. I still feel out of place. I still feel rather purposeless. But Jesus is so good in providing the means for me to go on this trip. He knew that I would reach this point, and just need to get away for a few days. To allow for my heart to be refreshed. I am so excited.

On the agenda so far: A Mariners vs. Yankees game Friday night, spending all day Saturday with Hilary & Melissa (two girls who went to South Africa with me), all of us having dinner in my new house Saturday night :), church Sunday, and a birthday surprise courtesy of Katie Hill on Monday. Plus, the weather in Seattle is supposed to be in the 80s and 90s all weekend long. I guess that's why people put up with the rain and clouds all year long... :)

Needless to say, I cannot wait. Seattle, here I come!

4th of July, Seattle, & Moses Mabhida

Life has been pretty good lately. Although I have no clue what's going on with this weather (it's freezing, overcast, and RAINING here!)...perhaps God is just preparing me for Seattle :) Haha. But I've had a fun week.

I am still babysitting, which is always entertaining, to say the least. This week, Chloe pulled out her duck costume and put Kian's pajama's on his head, making him a bunny. And I had a blanket over my head being a ghost, and we all just chased each other around the house.

Some of my friends from England, Lydia and Dave, came out to visit and I got to celebrate the 4th of July with them! I took them to Reality in the morning, then we went to the downtown festival and they loved that Americans even dress up their dogs for the holiday :) Then they came to Ventura College and we watched the fireworks. It was so fun to have them come, and see them after a year.

Today, I get to see Lauren for the first time in a month! :) I'm so excited. She's just wonderful. And I'm taking her to Corrales to introduce her to their amazing food, so hopefully it makes a good first impression.

And then on Friday, I leave for Seattle!!!! No, not to move up there... I wish :) Just for a weekend visit, but I absolutely cannot wait. Especially because the high for Friday is 89 degrees. I just love that city. I've only spent 2 weeks of my life there, but I honestly feel like I miss it. Which is so weird but, needless to say, I feel pretty confident that transferring was the right choice.

And to top it all off, I'm currently watching the semi finals of the World Cup and, for the first time, am watching a game played at the Moses Mabhida stadium in Durban which is where I got to go watch a game when I was out there. It's so fun to see it on TV. Oh, and don't worry...a fan just ran onto the field. Hahaha. Man, I miss that place.