and that's a wrap!

well folks, 2012 is about to be over.
when i was a kid, adults would tell me time would go by even faster when i grew up.
that's one of the truest statements i've ever heard.

this year has been a good one.
let's review, shall we?

i turned 26, celebrating the last year of my mid-twenties.

i also participated in intensive training weekend at my alma mater, 

watching four hundred staff and students eager to serve the Lord.

i watched hope church spread it's wings

as we sent teams to south sudan

and partnered with hurting people there 

as well as in its neighboring country of sudan,

proclaiming Christ all the way.

i loved getting be a part, however small, of God's work in a post-sandy new jersey, 

and spending some precious time with my friend who returned from 

the field after two years in southeast asia. 

i was able to watch four of my dear sisters get married,

went to a few concerts,

and watched and listened to a bunch of giants games.

oh, did i mention that the giants won the world series?

cause they did.

went to tahoe with my sisters and discovered snowshoeing is one of my favorite things.

went to hawaii with my fam,

hiking in yosemite for the first time i can remember,

and hung out in sunny san diego.

said goodbye to my beloved grandmother 

as she went to be with the Lord

and said goodbye to our sweet puppy.

all dogs go to heaven, right?

baked and tried some new recipes,

read a lot of good books,

listened to some fantastic sermons,

and read some soul piercing and spirit quenching scripture. 

and those are just the highlights!

2012 will definitely go in the books as a fantastic year.

as for 2013,

what will it hold?

i have no clue!

but i know that i'm not making any resolutions, per say.

i simply strive towards what i always want:

to love Jesus more and to know Him more,

all the while serving and loving people.

of course i pray that this year would be the year i get to go overseas,

or that i would actually run that half marathon, 

or have some miraculous attitude transformation 

to be a hard core health nut.

but instead of setting my standards on things,

and things often too lofty,

i will set my gaze on Christ,

trusting in His perfect timing and all-sufficient grace,
praying i would fight through laziness and self-absorption.

^"Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

ephesians 3:12-14

cincerely,

cindy

10 on 10 on 11

happy last 10 on 10 of 2012!
work computers made it a bit difficult for me to publish this post on time.
oh well, here we go!

i worked last night and my night was pretty busy;

this was as low key as my night got.

hey charting.

 the only way i could stay awake while catching up on my charting.
over and over and over and over.

 left work late for me, so i took time to take in the view.

the leaves are almost off the trees.

i needed a minute to stomp around in them.

10am and i'm still awake.

at least i've got me a resto.

i woke a bit early to get my workout on.
word to the wise:
don't work out when dehydrated.
bad things happen.

christmas time on grand.
in all honesty, i just love the lights.
they is so purty.

 my sister's bbq chicken pizza.
are you drooling?
you should be.

 found this card in the mail on my way to work.
this girl is so dear to my heart and it was so great to see a snippit of her time in africa.
doesn't she look like she's in her element?
grateful for this like-minded, kindred spirit!

floated for the first four hours of work,

but got to join some of my faves at midnight!

yay!

from midnight to midnight,

happy last tenth of 2012!
linked up! 

cincerely,

cindy

Jersey Recap

well, i'm back from the east coast.
i'm not sure i have words to describe all that happened.
but what i can tell you is that there is all kinds of hurt going on.
people are emotionally and physically exhausted.
spiritually, people are seeking and open to 
having conversations about Jesus.

we worked with samaritian's purse while we were there.
we cleaned yards, cleared out houses, and tore out sheet rock and flooring.
houses were destroyed and lives were changed forever.

side note: if you haven't heard of this organization, then i highly recommend checking them out. they may be my favorite organization out there right now. 

so many thanks for those of you who were praying for us.
thank you for praying for the people we'd encounter.
i ask that you continue to pray for those that we met and that are continuing to attempt to put their lives "back together."
please pray specifically for gene, jim, chris, cal, sylvan, joy, and ellen.
all have heard the gospel.
pray that the God who gives and takes away would reveal Himself and that their hearts would be inclined towards Him.

here's a glimpse of what went down:

 

i love that last photo.

truly what it's all about.

being with people in their darkest times,

caring for physical and spiritual needs.

so privileged to be a part of God's work in Jersey!

cincerely,

cindy

PinterTest Kitchen: December 2012

the last two months, i've shared a recipe having to do with pumpkin.
the holidays are in full swing
and so i still get to blog about pumpkin.
truly, my favorite ingredient.

this month, pumpkin chocolate chip cookies.
i added them to pinterest just so i could 
share all its glory with the world.
i've been making these cookies for the past two years 
and they never do me wrong.
trust me, you need them.

the cookie dough is just as delicious as the finished product.
i don't add the powdered sugar 
cause i don't want to ruin a good thing.
i've used semi-sweet and milk chocolate chips before. 
if someone uses dark chocolate chips. please report back!

just enjoy with a nice, cool glass of fat free organic milk from TJ's.
you won't regret your decision.
not for one minute.


linked up w/jess here:

cincerely, 

cindy