get to know... alicia

Alicia is one of the most genuine people I know, and I love her immensely. She has a purity and a commitment to God that is intimidating. She is silly, convicted, talented, honest, and giggly. Alicia is probably the most faithful person I know. When she does something, she puts her whole heart in it, and sticks with it. Her walk with the Lord is evident of this. She is very giving of herself, and her time, with a servant hood attitude that is very rare.Alicia teaches me to cherish the people around me, live a life worthy of the love I have been given, continue on the straight & narrow, and that laughing uncontrollably a few times a day is a healthy thing. Alicia has incredible artistic talent, a passion and love for children, and a heart that is in Panimaquin, Guatemala. She is one of the most beautiful people I've ever met, because her beauty truly shines from the inside, where she has cultivated a place of intimacy with Christ, knowing herself and keeping that pure. She laughs at all my jokes, and even believes the crazy stuff I say. I don't know what I'd do without her, and I am so grateful for the friendship we are forming day by day.

[this is part of the "get to know..." series, which you can read about here.]

artsy saturdays

I can't draw. I'm not exaggerating, either. I have no artistic talent in that way at all. I've always stuck to my writing and called it a day. I took painting in high school and loved it, but have never gotten the hang of it outside of such a structured environment. I can do photography just fine, but putting anything to paper is a struggle for me, especially when I am feeling particularly lazy, like today.

However, my friend Alicia thought differently, and I'm glad she did! She came over with her "Mary Poppin's bag" of art supplies, which we laid out on my floor and proceeded to tear into. I wasn't feeling it at first, but I got into it after a while! (Alicia's a natural artist. You should see her go.)

This is me decoupaging for my first time. Alicia had to explain it all to me, and I loved the pretty paper, I just wanted to take it all for myself, not rip it to pieces! Despite my initial lack of color coordination (seen here), it turned out well, I think.

My lovely lovely friend Alicia :)

I didn't get a picture of Alicia's stuff, but my final products are as follows [I am not a big artist, as aforementioned. However, I figured out I can draw an okay bird and therefore plan on doing a series of them.]

My first bird turned out pretty pot-bellied, but I went back and fixed it, haha. It says "Don't forget in the dark what you learned in the light." [Thanks, Bill!]

There will eventually be many more. We have an art show coming up! [more on that later]

the past few days

Let me catch you up :)

Lisa and I went to the beach on Tuesday. We usually go on Tuesdays, because it's my favorite day of the week. I don't work, or go to school. I can just do whatever I want, which usually involves volunteering, going to the beach, and then going out to eat with the girls from the house. Tuesdays are the best days. Carpe Tuesday!

That night; Lisa, Katie and I went to Hamburger Mary's, a hamburger joint in downtown Ybor. We've been there once before, and it was so fabulous. We did "Maryoke" and sang "Bootylicious" by Destiny's Child. It was so wonderful, we tried to repeat the experience. Sadly, we were met by a less spectacular waiter and meal. Next Tuesday we're trying somewhere new. Nonetheless, I got my picture taken with the infamous Mary.

On Wednesday, we harvested this one strawberry from our backyard garden! Apparently we've had one before, but this was the first one I witnessed. It was so awesome to just pluck it off the plant in all its red glory. We all planned on splitting it, but it's one little strawberry so it just ended up in a bowl of grapes in the fridge. I just went in there a few minutes ago and ate it :D Deeeelicious!

Yesterday, I was super super sick. I stayed in bed most of the day, and blew my nose a lot. It was pretty awful, and I'm still feeling blech today. I haven't been to work all week! Since I was pretty much immobilized, I spent most of my day cleaning and reading. Particularly, I spent a wonderful hour out back in the hammock with God. I just laid in silence, breathed, and let the breeze blow over me. It was absolutely wonderful (as was my 99 cent nail polish from Urban Outfitters, the only thing I could afford, haha!)

On Thursdays, we usually go and pick up Panera. Since we're a nonprofit organization, they donate whatever's leftover on Thursday nights to us. We then hand out the bread to people in our community, and use a lot of the pastries for our Sunday night Bible study/discussion. I've never been able to go because I usually work 10 hours on Thursdays. Yesterday, though, Alicia and I went to pick it up! Beforehand, we stopped in Bealls Outlet and tried on these wonderful hats (notice my "I'm so sick and feel horrible" face). It was so much fun! I wish I could go every week.

Today, Alicia and I went around town to deliver the bread! We filled up her trunk and traversed around. It is so awesome to do the deliveries. We get to talk with people, hang out, and bless them with delicious foods! We still have a lot left, so I imagine our bread deliveries will extend into tomorrow.

Tonight, since I'm not working like I usually am, I'll be able to attend the Friday night dinners we usually have over here. I am super excited!

It is a beautiful life. May you enjoy every moment!

sarah∞mae