Vows

"When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it. Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the
temple messenger, “My vow was a mistake.” Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands?" -Ecclesiastes 5:4-6

This is so true and so true with not only God but others. If you aren't going to say what you mean, then just don't say it at all. It's pointless. Because as you go on saying things you don't mean, your words become less and less credible. Words are truly meaningless unless you are able to back them up with action. So before you try to smooth talk someone or commit to something or someone, you better have actions to prove it and fulfill it. God really does bless those who can endure through life. Think about that next time you promise someone something or more importantly promise God something. Because he will never let you down, so why should you let him down if you know you can't do what you say?

Sweden: A Place of Beauty and A Wake-Up Call Into Reality

Sweden was so BEAUTIFUL! It was lovely. They had AMAZING bread and chocolate. America, you fail on bread. :P haha. We spent a lot of our time in Old Town Stockholm where the roads were composed with cobblestone and the buildings were hundreds of years old. All of the shops were small and quaint. They had many cafes. The Swedes also had VERY strong coffee. It was like expresso pretty much. It was normal. American coffee will probably taste like water when I have some again. Haha.

Though the town and country was beautiful there was something very wrong with spirituality and moral basis. There was none...any crime could be excused if the person was drunk. Everyone did want they wanted to and didn't think it was bad as long as they didn't feel guilt. Though there were many lost souls I met some AMAZING Swedish Christians who were strong and stood up for their faith even though they live in the most secular country in the WORLD. They had a fire passion. They asked questions. They were thirsty to know MORE and not just settled for some knowledge. They were kind and friendly and genuine people. I am glad I met them. I loved hearing they had to say about Americans. It was extremely funny sometimes but never offensive. I have to dedicate this blog to them so here's to: Olive, Natalia, My, Arash, Josef, and Erika!!! :D You guys really made the trip worth while. I wouldn't have traded it for anything else or for more time for scenery because I would rather know the hearts of Sweden and not just the land that won't talk back to me or be my friend. So here's to Swedes! May God bless all of you and your country and for all the other lost souls that haven't been reached yet! May God speak through you and win souls for the kingdom through all of you!!!

Love you guys!,
Lydia :)

On the Plane

Finally heading to Sweden!!! I'm so psyched! Our plane was little late leaving but that's okay! I'm gonna miss my puppy, Leah do much. My parents will probably be thrilled that I'm gone, but then again maybe not.

Once we got to the airport, we took a group picture and got all of our information needed. Then we went through check-in and waited about 45 minutes until we boarded the plane. As we bean to take off, I could feel the plane accelerating and feel the excitement rise from within me. There is always the fear that the plane will crash, but I know God is protecting me. As the plane took off its first few feet into the air, everything below me became smaller and smaller. It's as if the world became a dollhouse with miniature moving cars and tiny house where the dolls live and could be played with. I felt as if I could just pick up the objects and do what I pleased with them. The landscape wasn't just a landscape anymore, it was a majestic piece of art crafted by the finest hands. The trees weren't just trees they were lines that defined boundaries and outlined a picture. Rivers created shapes with everything curve. The grass filled in all the empty spaces. The people made everything come to life. I felt like a giant peering into the lives of others. Up above everything was different. Everything was from a different perspective. Nothing was as it was anymore. It wasn't just some geographical place you could find on a map. It was MORE. It is the things we take for granted. Above we can analyze all we have forgotten. The beauty of the world, the life we live, how precious it all is, and how vastly small we are compared to the universe that holds our planet only with gravity, and if we were to move out of outlinemeant we could either freeze, or burn up (depending on if it was towards the sun or away). Being in the sky makes my mind turn with thought I wouldn't have thought below. I like it though. I like how I feel when I am in the air and picturing the wondrous place I live in.

Though I will be landing soon, I will board again to have a direct flight to Sweden! I know my week will e quite interesting. Keep safe everyone and think to yourself how lucky you are to be here

Sweden Mission Trip

I am so excited for Sweden!!! I can't wait! It's gonna be so much fun. :) This is my first mission trip and first time over seas. I have been out of the country but not across the ocean like this or anything. I can't wait to see what God has in store for this trip! I really hope to be able to reach out to lost souls and help people. Only 1% know of Christ. It is a very dark country. On the bright side, I hear it is also a BEAUTIFUL country, and from the pictures I have seen, it is.

As I was packing for this trip this week, I was so anxious I was going to forget something. I am done packing and taking my sister to the airport where she will depart to see family in California (it's our spring break). After that I'm going to my hotel, so I can't really go back to the house to get something if I forgot it. I guess I'll have to find out if I forgot anything important when I actually get to Sweden.

Well guys, pray for me and this trip and my sister! Have a wonderful spring break!!! :)

Casablanca

I absolutely love old movies! On my cable channels, TMC is always there. Some of my favorites that are funny are the Yum Yum Tree with Jack Lennon, Some Like It Hot and Some Like it Cold with Marylin Monroe and Jack Lennon, and Susan Slept Here with Debbie Reynolds. The murder mysteries and suspense movies are always best when done my Alfred Hitchcock. He has strange, yet compelling movies that will never bore you. One of the movies that are my favorite my him is Psycho. Oh my goodness, that is a thriller for sure!!! Well, you might be wondering why I am talking about old movies, but no need to wonder, I will tell you! Today was the 70th anniversary of Casablanca, and they were having a one time showing in the theaters. I went to see the movie this evening with my mother, Kimberly, and Connie (a family friend, a little older than my mom). It was wonderful, and so cool to see an old movie on the big, theater screens! I only watched bits and pieces before, but I finally got to see the whole thing tonight. I didn't regret going one bit! I had a blast, and can't wait to see another old movie in the theaters again! :) TMC forever!

March 16th, 2012 Grandma Louise

Although I have had this account for awhile, I have never really attempted a blog as I should have. I think it would be cool to have a blog that people read and can be inspired by or learn something do, or just be flat out entertained if bored. A few years ago, today, my grandmother passed away from pancreatic cancer. It was a very hard year for me. I believe I was in 6th grade maybe? As she began to get progressively sicker, my mother, sister, and I moved into her house for a couple of weeks until she would meet her fate. We soon realized she needed much more help and had hospice come be with her most of the days and gone in the evenings. You could see all the pain in her eyes. She was a strong woman but even the strongest must let others help them be strong sometimes. That is what my mother did. She was there to support my grandma and care for her every need. Towns even helped her to get up and walk. She was coming to the final chapter in this life, and it broke all our hearts. Day after day, we had to watch a beloved grandmother and mother of 6 die a little more each day. It was the night before her death, and I was invited to a lock-in. I terribly wished to go, but I was so scared my grandma would leave me while I was away. I was finally encouraged to go, so I went. After a couple hours of being there, my dad came to pick me up. He told me they said that she didn't have much time left. As I went through the front doors, I walked into her room. By then she was in a coma, so I just had to sit there and talk and pray she heard my words. As I wept by her bedside, I told her how much I loved her, and how sorry I was for anything I ever did to hurt her. I stayed with her for a few moments then some of my other family members came in. We all began to sing Jesus Loves Me. It became quite ironic later on because as my mom's grandmother was dying of pancreatic cancer, they sang that exact song to her the night before she died, and too add on, she was almost only two years older than my Grandma when she died. I finished saying my goodbyes and went back to the lock-in. It was around 5:00 in the morning or so and time to leave. I came back to grandma's house where we were still staying and my mother told me to go straight to bed because I was so exhausted. At around 6:30 A.M., my mom came upstairs and told me calmly that grandma went to see Jesus this morning. I didn't cry or even have any emotional. I believe it was my lack of sleep and shock of the moment. I went downstairs only to see the body that had held my grandma but that now it was just a aged carcass of where memories were left behind, but even so, all the grandchildren, including myself, laid in the bed beside her crying. My sister took it hardest for she was closest and wouldnt leave the bed until we made her. That morning was a morning of sadness and pain. Everything was numb. The weather seemed to have feelings that day for it was a cool, quiet morning with an orange-pink sunrise that slowly flowed across the sky even though it has been years, the memory of such a God-fearing beautiful woman, is still held dear to our hearts. That is why we remember this day, and honor it by eating at her favorite restaurant (Olive Garden), wearing her favorite colors, ordering what she would've like, and just taking time to remember how much she meant to all of us. I love you, Grandma! I can't wait to see you again someday! <3