The real deal.

The first time my feet hit foreign soil (I can hardly count Canada) was in 2003.... we flew through the night, I was groggy and tired. It felt surreal, the humidity, the big flowers, the colorful houses, spanish everywhere, brick and stucco, taxis and food stands...
Welcome to Cancun, Mexico. The city that stole my heart for the latin culture forever.
I don't exactly know what it was that got me, perhaps the connection with a new and different place, perhaps the warm generosity of the people...but whatever the case, I am glad I got to experience the "real" Cancun. And now...three times over.
The Tacos are the best...you've got to try Tacos al Pastor...dripping with fresh pineapple, topped with cilantro and onions. Oh yum. It was Cancun that introduced me to my ridiculous love of Mexican food. These people can COOK!
They also know how to have a good time. The first trip down there Melissa, myself and a couple of the other girls slept on an upstairs deck and every night we fell asleep to the rhythm of some sort of fiesta. I was going to tell you a story about a baby shower but then I remembered that took place in Mexico City so I will have to save it for another time.
The parks are full of families, skate parks full of kids, the churches are vibrant, and Mercado 28...well, why don't you ask my pal Andy about that place? I think he spent more time there than anywhere else.
One extremely rainy afternoon we got ushered out of a theatre because the ceiling was falling in. (we got our money back) Another time I went to church in that same theatre. (I think it was the same one anyway).
There is nothing better than having the locals show you the ropes, point out the best places to get the best treats, show you how to not get ripped off while bargaining, and experiencing a few taxi rides- I recommend brushing up on your spanish, I love talking to the taxi drivers..they are a captive audience to chat with about Jesus..
The American zone? Well, the beaches down there are pretty beautiful, but I highly recommend that you get out and experience the true city.
That my friends is...this weeks challenge # 31: A city I am thankful to have visited.

Mentors...among those you know and those you don't, who speaks into your life?

Ronda Hilman

Elisabeth Elliot

Donna MacGowan

Joy Dawson

Four Women who have had a profound influence on my life. Elisabeth and Joy will never know their impact this side of heaven, probably. Ronda and Donna, I hope you do, both of you have been extra moms in my life as I have navigated the dicy waters of my teen life and into adult years. Thank you for speaking words of correction, asking hard questions, believing in me, praying, cheering me on and becoming my friends. 

Elisabeth Elliot wrote books that have built into me core values of endurance, commitment, kindness, faith and trust. Joy Dawson has written and spoken life giving words that have pointed me to a deeper place with my Lord Jesus. Her depth of passion for intercession and Fear of the Lord has set foundations in place in my life. 

I'm so thankful for each of them and their impact on my life.

Happy Easter. 

Silver becoming Gold.

"Make new friends, but keep the old. 

One is Silver and the other Gold."

Just a little truth from a childhood song. 

The longer I live the more I have recognized this truth. There are friends who have stood the test of time. We have weathered storms together, cried, laughed, prayed and seen many seasons. 

And then there are friends who have recently come into my life or I into theirs and we are in the process of building-memories and futures. It's what friendships are made of really. The days gone by and the dreams to come. 

Last night I was on Facetime with my friend Mary. And we were talking about how thankful we were for our friendship. She and I became friends after being on staff for several years together in YWAM. We were thrown together in the process of prepping for the Denver Circuit Riders School. She the registrar for the base and I the administrator for the school. Our desks were across the hall from one another so we would call each other on the phone and wave through this window as we chatted about whatever student was applying or housing questions or anything that came up. We decided we should just hang out some evening and get to know each other. We had an enjoyable pizza dinner and then continued to wave at each other through the window. We had decided that the next time Circuit Riders came around we would like to actually do the school and not just make it happen.  

One year later we were laying in a bunk bed in California laughing because it had become a reality and we were in the LA School of the Circuit Rider. Our friendship got a lot deeper that summer as I battled through some hard circumstances and chose to be vulnerable with her and risk. I'm so thankful that I did. It's really what builds lasting friendships. 

We went camping with our friend Jacob, ministered on the streets together, laughed and cried and prayed for what was to come. Mary left Denver that following Spring and went to Northern Cali. I stayed on to lead the Around the World DTS. Through that year we began a tradition that still continues of praying for one another every monday. Thanks Mary for being my friend :). 

Want to join the Gratitude Challenge? Jump right into Week 29 with Carrie (the goldest of gold friends) and me. 

It has been one of those weeks where blogging just didn't happen.
I don't even remember what was going on last Thursday. I guess I was trying to get packed and such so Alli and I could go see our long time friends up in E-burg. We had a fantastic little road trip, pondered life and spent time catching up. There are some people in our lives that we don't see for ages and then we get together and it is like no time has passed. I appreciate those people.
In the midst of the weekend we lost my best friend's dad. We knew he was sick and that his body was giving out on him. It was hard to see him so sick. In honor of him I am pondering last weeks topic of "my past" and thinking of so many fond memories spent at Rick's house.
I spent at least some of almost every other weekend over at his house during my teen years. If it was Brooke's weekend to be there, I generally was too. Sometimes we would just be on his computer as soon as he got off- getting on the good ol' ALC chat room or MSN chat. Other times we were ordering pizza, hanging out in the living room playing charades, dancing in the kitchen, watching Top Gun (I still don't know what was so cool about that movie????...besides the sound track????), and loads of other teen moments.
One New Year's Brooke and I got back in the early hours of the morning and I parked my car in it's usual spot- backwards wheel to the curb on the wrong side of the street- just like I always did. After a late sleep I headed out to my car to discover, on my windshield, a parking ticket. Cop getting his quota in. Rick was so ticked he took the ticket and I am pretty sure called and complained about it- I guess my car looked like a drunk person came down the hill and parked, according to the cop. Well, sir, actually I always park there. sorry my back tire was a bit crooked. Rick wouldn't let me pay the fine, he said 'you always do that this is the dumbest ticket ever'. That's just the kind of extra dad he was in my life. :).
When I moved to Denver I didn't see him much because Brooke didn't live there any more when I came home. I just sent him my Christmas cards and newsletters. When I moved home it was fun to spend time with him again because we would hang out at Brooke and Jason's some sunday afternoons. After he was diagnosed I would stop by the house here and there just to hang out. One of my favorite times was dropping off pasties and Jackson was there building a plane. We chatted a bit and prayed and I think it was in that moment I realized how he had impacted my life.
Thanks Rick for being a great dad to my best friend and letting me be part of the family.