I Get it

What have I learned during my 6 months in Bolivia?  I have learned what it means to surrender.  I finally get it.

I am putting my hands up and bowing my head down.  God created me, he knows me better than I could ever know or understand myself.  God knows how to use me, where to use me, and when to use me.  I'm done trying to figure it all out.  I am giving up my hopes, my dreams, my future plans, who I am, who I want to be, and who I think I should be.  It means I trust God with open doors, closed doors, one foot in front of the other.  It means not worrying about present circumstances but believing that God is who he says he is.  That's my King  - I wonder do you know him?  - Lockridge

Proverbs 4:25
Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you:
Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm.
Do not swerve to the right or left; keep your foot from evil.

This season in life is full of thanksgiving.  That thanksgiving overflows into this strong Jesus Freak like desire to love.  Right before my trip to Bolivia a new song started playing on the radio called The Proof of your Love.   I am here to love God and love others more than myself.  I get it.  One step at a time and daily surrender - here we goes....

Proof of your Love - For King and County

Life is full of light and shadow 
O the joy and O the sorrow
When shadow falls on us, we will not fear, we will remember -David Crowder Band


You are the light of the world - like a city on a hilltop that can not be hidden. - Matthew 5:14

Songs to get stuck in your head

Here are two songs I can't get out of my head. 

The first time I heard them - I didn't really like them, and thought they were super cheesy - but something happened where I'd be sitting in my room or out with people and the lyrics would just begin to repeat in my head.  This annoying disturbance caused me to pause, you tube search them, and listen to them a few times.  I like these songs now.  Hope it happens to you too! :)

 YOU"RE BUEATIFUL - Phil Wickam

 LIBERTY shane and shane

and the SAME song...with Phil Wickam, the dude who sang the other song above (for you over achievers who like to spend time, just like me, on you tube.)

And..finally..as I am about to sleep - this song rings true HERE - Kari Jobe

SLEEP WELL WORLD
Alison

This past weekend my friend picked me up to visit Holland, Michigan, this is on the way, passing Chicago

There was a storm on the way, and snow made it hard to see.  HENCE, my friend drove cautiously so that even trucks were passing us! (yes, mom..HENCE.  Bad grammar, I know)

This is passing my old school today..saying goodbye to Michigan.

Fill that Trash Can

I've got a trash can sitting in the middle of my room and I told my mom do not let it move.

One of the shocks of coming home has been the sheer amount of things I own -- many of these things I haven't given thought to in years.  So I have this trash can sitting here because whenever I want to procrastinate (which is often) I throw a bunch of stuff from one section of the room onto the floor and begin to pick through it.  Keep?  Toss? Donate?  Often times I come across "Junk", if you will, that my mind likes to play games with.  It goes a little something like this:

hmmm...Toss.  JUNK.  welllllllllllll wait...keep?....man, I like this...maybe I'll use it in the future...I think because I've seen it now I will definitely use this...

And than the conscious kicks in:

Alison have you used this within the last year?  Aw man, no.  Toss.  Quick, get it out of my sight.

I've gone through the clothes closet twice since I've been home and probably still have at least three more times of weeding to go.  I've finally been able to say goodbye to holey middle school and high school t-shirts.

I like to jokingly tell my mom that I might be moving to another country soon so I have to get rid of a lot - so that is why I have that trash can sitting there - in the middle of the room - to remind me that I"m still not finished with this process.  I"m starting out this year CLEAN - inside and out.  Well, as clean as I can be.

Today I've been listening to Get it Right - by Brendan James - and in my ample free time, hope to learn this on piano.  It's good pump up music to move forward with plans and applications for the next six months of my life.  HOWEVER - If I don't live that long - there is good news!  I have signed up for life insurance.  That means that I am worth a whole lot more and my funeral is going to be awesome!  Apparently the "death-defying" trips I have taken were taken a little too seriously, that and my handsome cousin Caleb Muir has joined the business of life insurance and he's a good salesman.

I feel like I should end this entry.  To recap - put a trash can in the middle of your room and start the new year off right.  If you want a nice funeral, life insurance helps.  ;)
Alison Garza

Trailblazer

As I finish graduate school applications I've been trying to figure out who I really am - I figure that is important to know while writing out your future goals.  Two days ago I asked my mom the following -

Me:  "Mom, am I a leader or a follower?"
Mom:  "Hm, How about trailblazer?"
Me:  "What does that mean?"
Mom:  "It means you are neither a leader or a follower, you do your own thing and no one follows."

I don't know whether to take that as an insult or compliment - but every day you learn something new.  Yesterday mom and I worked out for two hours straight, she complained the rest of the day about how much time we wasted.  She also has been complaining about losing weight...that's a new one.  Apparently it is uncool to lose weight before a scheduled weigh in (this Wednesday) so all these work outs we have been doing are really in vain.  ;)

Yesterday I finally began to process my time in Bolivia with a friend so expect an update on that soon.  Things are slowly beginning to pick up and it is a good thing because I was starting to devise some crazy "trailblazer" ideas in my head - I'll save those for later.

Peace friends,

Alison Garza
Be Healed - Paper route

Franz and I the day I left.  I cried saying goodbye to these kids - never thought that would happen. 

Please pray for these kids and especially marcelino (top left, red shirt) who is in the hospital tonight after bleeding profusely today.

Last time swimming with the kids, cold water but totally worth it

2013 LET'S GO!

Before leaving Cochabamba, I began to read a book called Re-Entry by Peter Jordan.  The book is written for missionaries returning to life in the States after short term or long term service.  Peter talked about the importance of closure - understanding that your time there is over and not spending all of your time and energy reminiscing and missing everything and everyone.  Basically - live in the present.

working out with mom

I've been living in the present for the past two weeks.  However, my present life is pretty mundane.  The highlight of my day is when my mom gets home from work and we workout.  The highlight of my week is church.  I sleep a lot and go to the kitchen at least ten times a day.  I have no job and my friends all live far away - or work.  Sounds like depression?  It's not.  I'll think of a word and get back to you.

With that being said, I seriously considered retiring in the blog world.  With nothing interesting to write about who would really want to read about it?

Well we will find out.  So today begins my first blog entry for 2013.  This is what I know about the future year:  Nothing.  2013 is a clean slate and a new year full of growth and adventures.  I have a feeling that God isn't done working in me yet, he never fails to surprise me.

So...lets do this.  Lets keep moving forward - step by step.

Alison Garza

New Years with Lisie - London fireworks - crazy
Here is the link to watch them - fireworks

culture shock:  Thai buffet