Why Not

It's hard to believe that in just over a week I'll be in a village in El Salvador digging holes in the hot sun and attempting broken Spanish.

It's a far cry from my current 10+ hour work days and frigid Iowa weather. 

I was thinking today about the stark contrast of how I live to how the people of Anemona live. Disclaimer: This is of course complete speculation as I've not been there yet but I've seen enough pictures/videos to make a pretty good assumption. 

I was thinking about how my days are currently full of meetings and coffees and ringing phones and emails and spreadsheets in a climate-controlled building. I was thinking about how my days are seemingly laced with technology and convenience- from the moment I wake up to an Iphone alarm, my treadmill run, a quick stop off at the coffee shop for a latte, short commute to work, white-collar job and home to relax in a fully furnished carpeted apartment. 

What is the daily life of an El Salvadorian like? 

I'm guessing there aren't cellphone selfies in the gym followed up by hot showers and green smoothies. I doubt there are conference calls and take-out and Netflix. Do they even have gyms and hot showers? Power to run a blender? They are lucky to avoid conference calls really. But all jokes aside, when I think about the details I realize just how different life is for them. So different I'm having a hard time wrapping  my head around it. 

I'll admit it.

I'm a little nervous about this trip. 

In a really embarrassing way. Like I-can't-believe-I'm-going-to-share-this-on-the-internet-kind-of-way. 

I don't think I have been aware of how convenient my life actually is until I started thinking about the details of this trip.

Here are all the embarrassing 1st world problems I've thought of in just the last 24 hours:

- How close is the coffee shop?

- Will I have time to take a run through the city? Is it even safe to do that? 

- Will I get cell phone service anywhere? Should I even take a cell phone?

- What if I have to use the bathroom and there isn't a 'decent' one?

- What if someone is speaking to me in Spanish and I have no clue what they are saying? Do I just smile and nod? What if it is important?

- What if I drink the water and get really sick?

- What if I get homesick?

You know what else I've thought of though?

- What if I speak Spanish just fine and the people speak a little English too so its not bad?

- What if I spend all day in the village playing with kids and singing songs and digging ponds and filling my head with memories?

- What if I meet amazing people that become like family to me?

- What if the food is amazing? (I'm totally counting on this one you guys...I've heard stories! HA)

- What if I miss home but then realize that this is a once in a lifetime experience so a week away isn't so hard? 

- What if this experience so ding-dang amazing that I look back on it and say 'That was the trip that changed my life'?

I decided today that I'm just gonna stop worrying about all the negative, stupid, cushy, 1st-worldy things that are getting in my head and trying to tell me this could be terrible. I'm going to quit listening to all the silly 'what ifs' getting in my head about stuff that doesn't even matter.

I'm trading in the 'What if' for the 'Why Not.' 

I'm going to show up in El Salvador with my nervous broken Spanish and my old running shoes and my pale midwestern skin and not be nervous about all the things I don't know and instead be excited about all the things I get to learn and all the people I get to meet. 

I'm going to trade in my Instagram for a notebook and a pencil and I'm going to write my thoughts and experiences with lots imagery and description because I don't want to forget a single second.

I'm going to leave my preconceived notions on US soil.

I'm going to land in San Salvador ready for an adventure.  

I'm nervous. And excited. And nervous. And EXCITED. 

I can't wait to see how God works in the life of the people of El Salvador. 

I've heard stories of hot, sweaty church services filled with badly tuned guitars, loud singing and lots of dancing and I can't wait to be there in that stuffy building with those people praising the one thing we have in common.

You guys!

This is where life happens. In the 'Why nots.'

It's going to be epic. I just know it.

If you are so inclined, I'd love for you to pray for me and the team from The Gateway Church as we travel next weekend to El Salvador to support the people of Anemona through Enlace . Please pray for safe travels and health of our team (physically and mentally!). 

Pray that we are a guiding light to the people of El Salvador and that we bring just as much joy and peace and Good News to them that they bring to us.

Dear family and friends- THANK YOU for your encouragement and support ever since this was an idea in my head when I did the MochaClub purpose project. Your monetary donations were MUCH appreciated and seemingly God-breathed. But mostly, your kind words and heartfelt prayers have meant so much. I can't wait to share this experience with you. 

xo-

N 

Ten for Tuesday

1. I didn't do a Sunday Seven this week because I was at the tax office all weekend. But you know that means? Tax season is officially OVER. And I can go back to being #1joblady.

2. I still can't believe what happened yesterday at the Boston Marathon. It's heart-breaking and terrifying and  just plain evil. Pray for the victims, their families, the medical personnel, the investigation and most of all- for humanity. We are a people that seriously need saving.

3. I made Nicbars. My version of a Larabar. You're welcome.

4. It's looked like this for days around here.

Where the heck is spring?? It's cold, windy and yucky. 

At least the green popping up gives us hope it will eventually warm up!

4. I tried this as a warm-up before my Spartacus workout yesterday:

Um yeah.

 I only did half and I thought I was going to puke. HA. 

Thanks Julie! It's a goal now to get through this entire thing with no breaks. 

5. Today I had the opportunity to hear the CEO of my company speak to over 2000 of our team members here in Des Moines. It was really cool. Reminds me how lucky I am to work for an ethically sound and caring company. Also, he's from the Twin Cities. Midwest represent!

6. Once, with my friend Jane, I had this cheese called Fromager D'Affnois (super frenchy sounding). 

Anyway, it's a creamy delicious white cheese that has the consistency of butter and I was super stoked to find it at my favorite local grocery store. 

Which means for breakfast on Sunday I made this:

Pretty much the best sandwich ever. 

7. I am finding that I have more free time on my hands now that I'm not doing social media for the next couple weeks. Which means I am 30 pages away from finishing War & Peace. Believe it. I read almost 500 pages this weekend.

8. We are doing a series on marriage, sex and singleness at church right  now. It's super fascinating and timely for me. Tomorrow, T and I start premarital counseling. I'm so thankful for our small group and the open and honest discussions we can have. It really is a blessing. 

9.  In 3 short weeks I'll be running the Flying Pig Half Marathon in Cincinnati with my friend Kim. I'm so excited! I definitely need to start researching the best local coffee and eats in town. :)

10. Coming up with 10 things is harder than I thought. So I'll leave you with this quote from our small group study guide:

“When I have learnt to love God better than my earthly dearest, I shall love my earthly 

dearest better than I do now.” - CS Lewis

Happy Tuesday. 

Sunday Seven 9/30/12

SUNDAY 7

Hey there friends.
How has your week been?
It is full-on fall here in Iowa.
And...I. Love. It.
Cool mornings. Crunchy leaves. Dirty Chais & Mexican Hot Chocolate for everyone.

Last week I forgot to do a Sunday Seven.
Which is weird because I really thought I did...and was convinced for about 10 minutes that blogger deleted my post.
Then I started this Sunday and got bogged down this week with stuff and am just now finishing it.
I seriously have issues.

Anyhoo...this is what has been going the past couple of weeks:

1 Road Trip

 Last Monday (well 2 weeks ago), I spent the day in Iowa City with my dear friend Jane.

 It was an awesome day. I drove to IA City in the AM and we had lunch at this farm to table place called Her Soup Kitchen.

I had the portabella sandwich and the carrot-ginger soup- check out the cream design!

 

Then we hit up a bunch of little shops and thrift/vintage stores before spending the afternoon chatting at Jane's favorite coffee shop.

I had a DELICIOUS pour over and macadamia nut cookie while we chatted and caught up on life.

Then we walked to grab dinner with her boyfriend at the local pub (I can't remember the name!) The food was great, baked brie app and some spicy cilantro olive pizza.

 

I found this hot pink waterproof trench from the 60's for $20!

And I LOVE this hand painted throw pillow. Pink guns on one side and artsy purple design on the other.

Perfect with my gray couch!

Both the jacket and the pillow came from White Rabbit in Iowa City, check out their Etsy shop here.

 

 It was an amazing day- I love spending time catching up with Jane. We always can just pick up wherever we left off. It's awesome.

 

2 Concerts

We also saw Mute Math in concert on Tuesday at Woolys. They were AWESOME.

Maybe one of my favorite shows ever.

The same night, we left one show and went to another.... Silversun Pickups at Hoyt Sherman.

They were also very good...but a little different to come from such a high energy concert to something in a venue that is much more structured and relaxed.

All in all, a great night! (ignore my really wide eyes in this pic...it was dark so I had to use flash and apparently I surprised myself.)

3 Homemade Dinners

Something about cooler weather and the approaching short days and long nights makes me want to cook.

I've been baking and cooking up a storm. Some of my fall favorites this year:

 

Moroccan Stuffed Acorn Squash

 

I served mine up with some Kale and red onion I sauteed in coconut oil. It was very fall and very yummy for not a lot of calories!

 

Roasted Red Pepper Spaghetti

 

At the suggestion of Dirt Farmer Larry, I roasted several peppers from his farm.

I then chopped them in the ninja and cooked on the stove with some chopped tomatoes and garlic.

I served it over wheat linguine with a side of garlic bread. Simple, fresh, cheap and tasty!

 

 

Cuban Black Bean & Cheddar Goat Cheese quesadillas

I'll be honest, this was a random meal...and pretty much all commercial bought items- but it was simple and turned out great for entertaining.

Cuban black beans, corn tortillas and cheddar goat cheese from Trader Joe's. Threw on some chili powder, cumin and Garlic Garlic from tastefully simple. Baked at 350 till cheese was melty. Sliced into wedges for finger food.

 

4 Steps to Pumpkin Oatmeal

I borrowed  this recipe from Naptime Diaries. She posted a pic on instagram with a recipe that looked so delicious so I gave it a go:







Who doesn't love pumpkin everything in the fall?

Step 1: Measure your ingredients and dump into a saucepan.

Step 2: Cook until desired consistency and temperature. (I simmered for 15 minutes or so- liquids absorbed and oats cooked.)

Step 3: Add your delicious toppings (For me- that was a drizzle of honey, butterscotch peanut butter (1/2 tbsp) and a pinch of chia seeds) and watch it cool in the fall morning light.

Step 4: Eat it. :)

 

5 Outfits

I've been trying to mix it up with my existing wardrobe and not buy too many new items this fall. I've also been trying to document my stylings with pictures so I have inspiration when I'm feeling bored and too lazy to figure out an outfit:

 

“Boyfriend”

BR button up, Target crewneck sweater, Target skinny jeans and Charlotte Russe flats

 

 

“Workster”

Target cords, Screen printed tee, Gap sweater, Market scarf, Target flats

 

“Rockster”

Same Target cords, Target tank, Gap cardigan, black flats



 

“Montana Biz Liz”

 

BR pencil skirt, Short sleeve button up, Target v neck sweater, Gap yellow skinny belt, Target boots

 

**I have never been to Montana. But I have a friend, Liz,  who lives there and I like to think that it's chilly and fallish there often in the mountains and that to look the mountainy/business part this is what she would wear.**

 “City Noir”
Gap leggings, J Crew shirt dress, BR sweater vest, Born boots

 

I'm enjoying mixing and matching the clothes that I've gotten at sales over the seasons and wasn't sure what to do with. Sometimes summer pieces can still work for fall and I'm loving pairing neutrals with the bright colors in vogue this season.

 

6 Sweets

What can I say? I have a sugar problem

 



Green Mint Latte from Mars Cafe

Snickerdoodle ice cream sandwich from Thelma's Treats

Vegan Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls from Eat Live Run

Butterscotch Peanut Butter Dough Balls from Mama Pea

White Chocolate Pudding cookie from my co-worker. Who doesn't love cookies with pudding in the mix and sprinkles?

Bowl of Orangeleaf yogurt: red velvet, coffee, vanilla, topped with cookie dough, strawberries and graham cracker dust.

 

 

7 Events

I have had the opportunity to be involved or invited to some pretty amazing events these past couple of weeks:

Our work area put on a United Way fundraiser called 'Caffeine for a Cause.' We were a simulated coffee shop complete with made-to-order lattes, hot coffees and a variety of baked goods. I pushed a cart around in the afternoon to sell treats...I may have found my calling. We raised almost $500 in one day!

A gal from my church helped bring this amazing documentary to the local college campus. Nefarious: Merchant of Souls is a documentary about human trafficking, specifically female sex trafficking across the globe. This movie changed my life.

 

 

My church, The Gateway Church, moved locations to our new Sunday spot in Central Campus downtown. We have a LOT of space and we are building some great relationships with our downtown neighbors. I feel so blessed to be part of such an amazing, hope-giving community.

Speaking of Central Campus, our church also had the opportunity to plan and produce an event for the Gateway Middle School located inside the campus. It was my first oversight of an event and it was pretty successful! The parents and kids had an amazing time and we all felt so grateful to share with in the fun.

 

I ran the Capital Striders Capital Pursuit race two weeks ago this Sunday.

I had signed up (or so I thought) months ago.

I walk to the start and my name is not on the list to get a packet.

So, with 20 minutes to race time, I return home (just a few blocks away) to get a credit card. When I return, the race volunteers inform me that it's cash only. At this point, I'm borderline about to cry. Race starts in less than 10 minutes- I have no packet and no cash. So...I ran anyway. Yep- I'm a bandit. I didn't get a medal and I didn't have any free food at the end so it was basically a normal run for me that I just happen to run with friends. It wasn't chip timed and only the first 850 entrants got a shirt so I didn't feel so bad for just tagging along. I was pretty pleased with my time too.  T took the Instagram picture of me speed walking back to the start to buy a packet...only to discover I had no cash.

Still a pretty cool picture though. :)

Just this last Sunday, I went with my mom, sister and niece on the Sherman Hill Tour of Homes.
Sherman Hill is this amazing neighborhood just east of downtown that I hope to live in someday! We got to see some amazing places.

This light fixture was so cool. From one of my favorite houses on the tour- a little bungalow renovated with green and reclaimed materials. ALSO- completely decorated by a man...and it was awesome. I was impressed actually.
The picture on the right is artwork by my friend Anna Frederick. It was in this guys house and I recognized her handwriting. :)

 There was also a church being renovated and it had so much intricate stained glass. An iPhone picture doesn't do it justice.










I took the most pictures in one of the last houses on the tour. This woman had so much stuff. It was a little cluttered for my tastes but much of it really beautiful. I especially loved the tin ceiling in the kitchen and fireplace built into the side wall!

 

Of course my little Lucy was there to tag along and just look cute. :)

I tried to capture the capital from down this street but it's barely recognizable in this picture. It was a fantastic view though!

 

And last, but certainly not least, I'll be going here in about a week and a half.

More to come on that.

 

 

 

So there you go. My life in the past 2 weeks. In a not-so-tiny-nutshell.

What have you been up to friends??