clear eyes, full heart

i feel like the last two months i've really lived up to my blog title.
well, i guess just the crazy part.
the whole "white woman" thing kinda sticks with you.

anyway,
it's been a crazy two months.
and i'll recap maybe not so quickly.

my sister got married.

it was a crazy weekend full of laughter,

 

special moments,

 and, most importantly, dancing!

at the end of september,
 i moved out of my apartment and home

for the past three and a half years.

it was definitely a bittersweet time.

i'm back living with my parents.

who knew i'd be 28 and living at home.

weird.
{i'd prefer not to have this photo documented}

the giants made it to the world series!

i really love post-season giant's baseball.

i spent a week in socal visiting some dear friends.

after a month and a half of battling,
i finally got my visa!
i think the phrase "best day ever" might actually apply.

i've worked my last day at the VA for a while.

it's been my home away from home for the past four years.

i'm still blown away about how the Lord got me there,

but that's a story for another day.

 the giants are playing in the world series!

did i mention that?

packing.

trying to prioritize your life into two suitcases that 

weigh less than fifty pounds is proving a challenge.

i leave for india in SIX days. 
unreal.
i haven't really had much time to process it all.
in all honesty, some days i feel totally 
unprepared for all that lies ahead.

the tv show friday night lights came up recently,
specifically the famous words of coach taylor:
"clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose."
i know it's completely cheesy
and completely out of context, 
but i think i have a new way of looking at this phrase.

my eyes are clearly fixed on the 

task set before me and on my prize-Christ.

my heart is full with support and affirmation 

from those around me, and full with 

the promises and love of the Lord.

i can't lose. 

romans 8:31, 37-39 says this:

"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?... No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

a bit of a stretch, i know.
but i don't really care.
every girl needs a theme
and this is an obvious contender.
 
i probably won't post again until i'm in india,
and then i'll really live up to that crazy white woman thing.
so we'll see ya then!


cincerely,


cindy

 

dreams really do come true

at high school summer camp as an incoming freshman, 
i made a commitment to serve the Lord in a global context.
 i didn't know how or when, 
but i knew that was my purpose.

and then i ended up at CBU to pursue nursing, 

but i didn't really want to be there.

during second semester, 

God rocked my understanding of the gospel 

and what "missions" was all about. 

not only that, but i went overseas for the first time.

Rwanda 2006

as a newly proclaimed gloabl studies minor, 

i applied to go overseas with my school again the following year. 

a friend asked me where i wanted to serve. 

i said, "any where but india, really." 

if you don't think the Lord has a sense of humor, 

i'm here to prove that He does. 

that summer, i served in india for three weeks. 

God shook me and opened my eyes in a new way. 

i was broken and in love with this people. 

India 2008

 my heart was so drawn to india,

i went back for two months the following summer.

i knew even more deeply that i had to go back.

India 2009

and i now i get to.

the Lord has made it possible for me to serve Him 

amongst a broken and beautiful people of india.

guys, dreams really do come true 

when your dreams are lined up with God's plans.

i am humbled to have this opportunity.

i am overwhelmed looking back and seeing how God works.

i'm even more overwhelmed when i look forward 

and think how He will continue to work. 

details are still being worked out,

like when i'm going

and for how long. 
(so any coworkers reading this, please, 
mums the word for the time being.) 

 but the coming months will be a busy 
season of preparation and decision making.

i appreciate and thank you for your prayers,

especially for wisdom and a smooth transition.

  and don't worry, 
i'll be updating here with more info 
throughout this process.



  cincerely,

*an overwhelmed* 
cindy

 

six months later...

hey there.
it's been awhile.

pretty sure i just needed a break from blogging 
(as unrefined as my blogging may be).
but hopefully i'm back to stay for a while.
a lot has happened since november, so let me get you caught up:


we had a no-present christmas in my family. 
it was so good for all of us.

we did do a white elephant exchange with our extended fam

 













i turned 28 and can't believe it. 
also, my friends spoil me with weekends in wine country.

 














my bff or longer from school came to visit with her sweet fam.

 




















my uncle passed away in january after battling stomach cancer. 
it was a hard time for all of us.

 



















i took a little jaunt down to socal.

 



















became a wound care certified nurse. my geekiness continues to flourish.

 














my sister got engaged! crazy. can't believe we are growing up.

took another quick jaunt, but to yosemite this time.

went to a giants game during the opening series.

went kayaking in monterey

 



















went to morocco and road a camel. i mean, why not?

such a crazy six months! 
i am so grateful for the hard times and the good times;
God is so good through it all.

what will the next six months hold?
no clue.
but this coming season is bringing much change.
sometimes i have serious anxiety about it.
other times, i am giddy about it.
despite my feelings, the Lord is constant.
and i am immensely grateful for that. 
i can't wait to see what the Lord does and how He moves.
His way is perfect, not mine.

southern lovin'

this past week, i spent some time in raleigh, north carolina 
with some pretty awesome people.
we hung out, went to an international fair, 
spent some time at the beach, and pursued fall colors.
i won't bore you with too many words;
i'll let the pictures tell the story...

 my only hint of fall colors in the distance while i sipped chai and spent time with Jesus.

"fake friend" time over some pretty coffee and yummy food.

fun times celebrating culture with these chicks

 first view of the atlantic!

the sky is literally on fire

while the sun is being amazing and doing this,
i turned around and saw this:

 unreal.

later, we all hit the beach for a stroll.

 

i mean, the beach is pretty magical.

chai and chat in person.

so good for my soul.

 

it's  just pretty in the south. 

 fall finally showed its shy self.

 you can say what you want about the SBC,

but their focus on reaching the nations is unparallelled. 
grateful for their influence in my life.

 i got to have one more date with susan, too!

sadly, all good things come to an end
and i was california bound.
but not before one last amazing sunrise in the carolinas.

i am so grateful for this time away!

i was able to reconnect with old friends, make new friends,

and spend some much needed time with Jesus.

well, until next time.

cincerely,

cindy