a fresh look

With every season comes change and in addition to the many changes I am experiencing in my life at the moment, I decided to try a little something new. In the period of 30 or so minute I went from looking like the first picture to the second...(I know it's not the best picture in the world, but I am enjoying the opportunity to sport a new style. :) Even more interesting, the lady who cut my hair convinced me to have bangs. I suppose there is some sort of merit to trying new things. Go big or go home?? Isn't that how the saying goes?

awakened

This morning I crawled into bed in the hours to catch a cat nap before class. Filing away my creative supplies, I turned out the lights to my imagination and rested my eyes. My heart began to pray for strength and for rest.

Two hours later I awoke sitting up looking out my window. Clutching my alarm in my hands, a smile lit up my face and I glanced at the time. 6:50...6:50...what am I? Why didn't this go off? The Lord had awakened me at just the right time, though neither of the two alarms I had set two hours before decided to assist in the process of morning readiness. The birds were chirping and my heart began to sing. I jumped out of bed and skipped to the shower. What a delightful day it is to be awakened by Him...to be greeted by Yahweh and reminders of his splendor.

the hustle and bustle of spring

Do you ever feel like sitting still - not moving a muscle and hoping somehow enough time will pass that the sun will shine bright and warm - the cold and snow will vanish - and all your papers will mysteriously write themselves??

So are my thoughts this day..although a significant contributor to my desire not to move is my lovely sickness...which in the grand scheme of things is inching its way closer to healthiness on the progress scale. However, today IS day#5 without a voice. Sweet...

reflections on Jamaica

(Here are a few thoughts from my journals about Jamaica...)


“We visited a Rehabilitation center today that housed many people that could not do the one thing we take for granted everyday- walk. I was able to believe the Lord for healing in their lives. One woman I prayed with was stricken with a giant tumor that tripled the size of her neck. Her husband sat faithfully by her side- their love for one another was evident. Despite the frailness of her tiny body, he had eyes for her alone. Placing my hand on her tumor and my other around her tiny hand, I wept before the Lord. I have never seen a tumor before…”



“We also visited the National Children’s Home where we sang and danced with the kids. I saw a mentally handicapped Jamaican girl, who looked very much like any other mentally handicapped person I have met. The sweet, childlike spirit of these people holds a special place in my heart. The kids were wonderful and enjoyed company. We made several videos of them dancing and singing. They seem to enjoy entertaining.
Something that especially touched my heart was when a little girl tugged on my elbow and said, “Miss, sing please! In my ear Miss, sing!” I sang a lullaby to her and seeming pleased she smiled and thanked me. I wish these kids had people to sing them lullabies every night. We are so blessed.”





“We went to Blossom’s Children’s Home and got to hang out with orphans. We sang worship songs to the “school agers”. They were precious. I held a little boy named Daniel and a little girl, whose name I know not. She seemed to enjoy being held. I pray these kids will be given parents to set an example of God lavishing His love on them. Several of the small children accepted Christ into their hearts and I pray they continue to serve the Lord as they grow.



Next I got to spend time with the babies. I decided to pick up a little girl and then took her to eat her lunch. She was precious and very calm being held. She just wrapped her arms around my body and laid against my chest – her head nestled closely to mine. My heart was warmed as I realized how much I long to care for and have babies. Feeding her was a sweet experience. She was quite unemotional at first, just eating and resting her tiny hands on my legs. I decided to play airplane and “Vroom, Vroomed” the food in her mouth. This made her smile.



Leaving her to cry in her crib because we had to go and I was no longer holding her, was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. I laid her in her crib and she cried, but as long as I stroked her tummy or arms, she was okay. When I pulled my hand away she wept. She just wanted someone to hold her, to cradle her, to make her warm – to show her love, and I had to leave! This broke my heart- I have never met nor held an orphan before.



After leaving my little one, we went to the AIDS Hospice. Here I met Chalds James. I have never met anyone with AIDS before and he sang me several hymns of praise. This caused me to weep as well. He shared with me his hunger for the Word of God and his inability to read it. Choking on my tears I asked if I might read him something from the Bible. He agreed and we read 1 Corinthians 13 – the chapter of love. Today God’s love permeated my heart. I was reminded that we MUST bless the Lord at ALL TIMES! For crying out loud, if people with AIDS can bless His name, who am I? Who do I think I am that I can go about my day complaining and only blessing His name when I feel like it? No! All times…God is worthy of such praise and much more! This experience has impacted my heart significantly and I know I will never be the same.”



“I was blessed tonight by God’s goodness. I was asked to share my testimony and the significance finally sunk in. I never imagined God would afford me the opportunity to share my testimony of God’s restoring work in my life in Jamaica, Florida, the Carolinas, all along the East coast of the USA and Canada. God is so faithful! What the enemy sought to kill and destroy, God has restored, claimed, and used for His glory. I am amazed by the goodness of my Lord!”

As you can gather, this was a deeply moving and stretching time for me. I am still processing and learning about myself and the Lord as I replay the trip in my mind. I was blessed to have this opportunity. :)

Happy Birthday little sister!

Eighteen years ago I was a bouncy 2 1/2 year old excitedly peering over the top of a cart on which the nurses in Germany pushed my new baby sister. She was all mine and boy was I excited!! Over the years we've had many adventures and today marks 18 whole years of Sherri adventures.





HAPPY BIRTHDAY little sister though you're not so little anymore...you still remain a special part of my heart and I joy in our friendship as it grows and changes. I love you! May the Lord love on you this day as you celebrate the One who created you and knit you together, BEAUTIFUL in His image.

a new worship

Since I have recently caught an unhealthy dose of the bethany plague, I lost my voice this weekend. However, I was grateful for the experience to worship with the body of Christ without my voice. Tonight, I realized that all things considered, I was worshipping Christ as a dumb person. When people could not walk, they are considered lame. Likewise when one cannot see, they are blind. When one cannot speak, they are dumb. My heart was overwhelmed with the goodness of Christ tonight and worship became so much more than singing the right words, or mouthing familiar phrases. It was a blessed opportunity to worship the Lord through clapping, smiling, swaying, and dancing. Without my voice, there was no distraction - no searching for harmonies or the right notes. I was simply myself, Christy, weak and dumb, before my Lord. I am unworthy of the love God lavishes on me. Tonight, though I could not speak with grace and good voice, my soul was refreshed.

a glimpse of some beautiful faces in jamaica...more to come.

In Jamaica...

I am currently in Jamaica and the sunshine is calling my name:
For thoughts on our journey please see the link to the left of my page...
TESTIFY - Jamaica Tour or copy and paste this link: http://www.bbctestify.blogspot.com

Blessings!
God is good!

travels take #1

Off to florida I go in the morning...
I have the privilege of representing the college at the ABHE convention in Florida along with 3 other students from Bethany. We will be spending time in Brooksville with about 90 or so retired ministers of the Wesleyan church for the next few days and will get to spend time talking with and praying with them.

The added and obvious bonus to this:
1) Heart talks with wise older Christians
2) Florida sunshine
3) After florida I am on campus for 3 days and leave for Jamaica...who knew?

some interesting looks lately...

Here is a picture of me modeling veils at a local bridal shop - 5 of us from the apartment went wedding dress shopping for 2 of the ladies because they are planning on getting married in the not so distant future. No, I was not daring or desiring enough to try on any dresses, I have no reason to and did not desire to spoil the fun I'll have one day...so I modeled veils with 3 of my roomates. We enjoyed ourselves as you can see.

Below are a few pictures of me during spirit week, the one day I remembered take a picture of my participation. This is from extreme weather day- I decided to represent that time between fall/winter when it is always raining and leaves that have fallen blow everywhere. Though not seen in the photos, I was clad in my yellow rubber boots all day as well - and to make things better we had roughly 30 campus visitors and I went to chapel looking like this. Nice, eh?

Mama will be proud...

Every once in awhile it is nice to rest and relax from studies and oftentimes for me, this means cooking an edible meal that does not look like it came from the cafeteria. Also, I have been experimenting with recipes and learning some of Mom's favorite recipes. A few weeks ago I decided to get creative. For anyone that's ever had Mom's apple pie...it's probably the best. I am not a giant fan of apple pie, however, this is a picture of the 1st apple pie I have ever made on my own - in Canada - at college.

Everyone I shared it with, had an enjoyable time eating. I think I appreciate baking pies...more than eating them. (Yes, it is homemade crust!)

matching friends

So one day we were at church and realized we matched, minus Evan, but Zach and Sarah both wore colors that my Sunday attire brought together. We had a good time observing this.

the splendor of the King

Last evening I was trampsing up the hill to Prez's house for our weekly meeting. I was running a few minutes behind due to a busy day of schedules activities and a late rehersal. I was not worried or irritated in the least, simply at rest and fairly content though I was being soaked by the freezing cold January ice rain. Clad in my sweet yellow rain boots I splished and splashed through puddle galore, clinging to my bible and notepad- hoping they would survive this endeavor.

I cannot quite recall what my thoughts were the moment I began speaking with the Lord but all of a sudden the entire sky lit up with a brilliant overwhelming tear color. At first I wondered what had happened, but my spirit lept with glee and I began to giggle. "Again, oh please again" I squealed with delight - and surely enough another brilliant thunderous bolt illuminated the sky. "Wow Lord! This is SO sweet" I exclaimed (out loud- and yes I was talking to myself but that made little difference-I was completely captivated.)

Finally as I neared the top of Prez's hill, nearly at his housea final burst came forth, a brilliant aqua color. I was so blessed and thankful. I love how the Lord uses His creation to capture our attention sometimes. We get so caught up dodging the puddles of life and keeping our faces down to avoid the rain, we miss the splendor that may be found right before us.

the joy of good thinking

A few wonderful quotes & thoughts I've come across in the last week that have allowed both my mind and heart to think and pursue the Lord with great joy and dependency:

1. "If God asks you to cut down a forest, your first responsibility is to sharpen your ax." -Prez

2. "I say to myself, 'The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.' The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord." -Lamentations 3:24-26 NIV

3. "To be silent with another person is a deep expression of trust and confidence and it is only when we are uncomfortable that we feel compelled to talk. To be silent with another person is truly to be with that other person." - John Main

4. "Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. 4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give your your heart's desires. 5 Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you. 6 He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun. 7 Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act." -Psalm 37:3-7

'Ramos' family cousins - Christmas 2007

Sherri, Shelly, Christy, Becca, Chris, Gracie, Jessica, Manny, Josh, Kathi, Kyrstin

results from my MRI

We got the "unofficial" reading of my MRI results - it was negative. This is a good thing because it means I do not have cancer or need surgery or anything extreme like that. While it does not explain the pain and offers no avenue for a suggested recovery - I will simply continue trusting God will continue to make we well and heal whatever this silliness is growing in my ankle.

thoughts on getting an MRI

I had my MRI on Thursday (for those who are wondering, I've had a lot of pain in my ankle for the last month, and a growth of sorts on the side of my right ankle - it's soft and tissuey, yet restricts my range of motion) and I'm pretty sure the experience lacked any traceable element of fun.

I enjoyed a sense of peace and time to chat with the Lord about things to come in the new year and whatnot. I'm quite excited to see what God had instore in all aspects of my life. This was the only good part.

However, like I mentioned in the first sentence, not only was this experience lacking fun, but it was quite unpleasant as well. The man doing the MRI had little personality, and seemed like he was rushed (or was it just slow?? -- I waited in the waiting room with NO other living being for close to 45 minutes and read magazines.) Once I got into the actual MRI place, there was a giant tube looking thing. He stuck some yellow dot to my ankle and then locked my foot into some gaget that was supposed to help them take pictures inside the MRI. I didn't realize an MRI took pictures, so that was fairly interesting.

As soon as I laid my head down, he pushed me in the tube and told me, "Okay I'm going to take some pictures...hopefully that will work...but if not, and the doctor may have me inject some dye in your arm."

So imagine me, laying on some strange table, halfway in a giant tube with my foot strapped down in some big magnetic contraption, looking up at some man who has just suggested shoving a needle in my arm and injecting dye. I was not okay with this idea. Three thoughts when he said this:
1) Who is this "doctor"??
2) Why would he want to inject dye in a place very far away from my ankle- in my arm?
3) Is this really necessary?

To make things even better --- my foot went numb after the first 5-10 minutes of laying in the tube and every few minutes the numbness would travel a little further up my leg until most of the right side of my body was tingly and/or numb. Yeeh...what an 'amazing' experience. It was extremely uncomfortable.

Let's just say when I finally got out of the tube thing 40-50 minutes later, I was quite cranky and it made me mad that I was cranky. I hate being cranky. I also hate when my legs go numb. There was a bit of humor tied to this, I was so anxious to get out of the tube/table thing that I hit my foot a few times, jumped off and speed-walked into the changing room. Then I grabbed my sneakers and it hit me, my whole right leg was giving way, tingly and all...oh fun...wouldn't it have been lovely to jump off the table and fall because my leg was all the way asleep??? I am quite surprised that I even made it to the changing room without realizing my leg was asleep - I suppose it's a good example of *mind over matter*. I was cranky and didn't want to take it out on the poor MRI guy with no personality, so I hurriedly fled the scene - and overcame the physical restraint of a sleeping leg. (Thankfully, they never injected me with dye).

Christmas Eve "dress up" fun

After returning home from an evening of fun with our family, my sisters and I decided to gather every gown, shoe, hat, and accessory we could find to play a little dress up. Our main goal was to "look like a princess with a hint of humor and fun" - here are the results of our Christmas Eve creativity and fun. Who knows, maybe I'll sport the blonde wig in the New Year...probably not, but perhaps.