Well thanks.

Dear Anonymous Blogger who left me the best compliment today,

Whoever you are just wanted to say thank-you!--your compliment and thoughts about my blog are GREATly appreciated. I was just thinking today--I wonder if I should even be blogging. Your comment made me want to keep going. I appreciate you stopping in, reading, saying hello, and leaving some encouraging words. I hope to hear from you again--and that you have the most amazing day.

Thanks for making my day!

Kindest,

Elliot

Life is a great big canvas you should throw all the paint on it you can.

-Danny Kay

Today looks like a sort-of gloomy day. I am determined to have nothing less then a splendid, joy filled day.

This is cool!

What a fun way to reuse a milk carton and make some fun paper for V-day cards!

The tree outside my window is a big pine tree--when I look out side I can see it dance. The branches sway this way and that--twisting and turning with every breath of wind. The sky is a hazy blue and I can almost just feel the cold swirling around just beyond the windowpane.

I aspire I could be like that great tree outside my window--just simply a tree--dancing to whatever breath of fresh air blows my way--lending shade on a hot day and shelter on a cold night.

I am wrapped up in my bed, snuggled in a fluffy down comforter. I am too hot. I don't have my contacts on--so things are a little blurry. But I can still see all the stuff I have cluttering up my room. I can still see the piles of books I bought but have not taken the time to read, the closet of clothes I left for six months and never missed--but still have.

I have everything I could ever hope for--and still seem to acquire more. and more. and more. When I was in Bangladesh I had only the things that would fit in one suitcase--and as I remember--that was plenty.

Its cold here in Walla Walla--but I am too hot. I have too many blankets, and the heat is working too well in my house. I was actually thinking last night--it is too hot in here! I can't even sleep" Then I read things like this:

Beverly Waid

Beverly Waid It is soooo cold in Bangladesh!!! We are putting layers of clothes on our chidlren!! They look fat!!! children and older people are dying because of the cold. I pray this does not last so long!!! We have our little heaters for the children and we use them for class time, too! Maybe it helps a little bit! Please pray this cold will go very soon.....it's the humidity that makes it soooo cold!!!

This forces me to remember how lucky I am. To remember how lucky I am to have layers to fight the cold. How lucky I am that my children in Bangladesh have warm sweaters.

But I also remember what so many others in Bangladesh do not have. I remember seeing 100's of people lined up for miles outside BanglaHope--just to get a blanket. They would quickly wrap their frail bodies in these thin blankets. It was so cold--I'm ashamed to say I had three of these blankets on my bed. The thought still hurts. I remember seeing that bitter cold they felt. The cold that their paper thin skin could just not keep out.

I wake up this morning and see the stuff I have--the warmth I took for granted. The clutter of things I do not use. It makes that familiar feeling of guilt, disgust, and shame slam into my heart. I have felt this feeling so often, in bangladesh, back home--I have SO much--

Walla Walla University Week of Worship is this week. I have been challenged to fast for 40 days. I have prayed and thought--thought and prayed and I have decided to go on a no more stuff for me fast. This means no more buying extra things for me--clothes, knickknacks, art stuff, make-up, jewelry, whatever else I don't need. No more buying into stress, worry, anger, dislike. Just simply being me. Being just me. No more filling my life with things I don't need--but instead hopefully learning to be happy with what I have, who God has made me, and open to what he wants me to become.

I also hope to de-clutter. I have this picture in my mind of outfitting a someone who actually needs--with the best I have. Letting her pick her favorite thing from my closet--and then saying have it--not looking at prices--not just giving things I don't like--but giving someone what they love. This might be a lofty thought--It might be hard to do when I see my favorite dress being picked--but then I think--my mom has always said the best gift you can give is one that you would want to keep for yourself.

I want to learn more about being less.

The Sartorialist

I miss my Girlies...Where have you guys been all week?

I hope to see so much more of you this next week. I love you so much.

xoxo

I want more.

I want more Jesus.

I want the lump in your throat, butterflies, breath deeper, uninhibited joy that only my God can give.

My cup is full--but not hot.

My cup is intact but seems to have hairline fractures--I cant really see them but I know they are there. I don't know why--maybe just due to age--or shoddy car.

My cup is "you could drink out of it clean"--but could use a good scrubbin' with some suds of contentment and direction.

My cup is wanting to be part of a glorious tea-party--to be sat down with and cradled in loving, all creating hands. To be filled over and over again with the perfect brew--around a table of laughter, joy and unconditional love.

Just like at every tea party it take time--but I am ready for the clock to start turning and excited to bask in the hands of the tea master.

mmm mmm good!

I am currently planning a trip back to Bangladesh for this coming September. I am about to burst. I am oh so so excited. I cannot wait to hug the little beauties, soak up their smiles and dance the days away with my Bengali family.

My grammie is coming with me. awwww I just cannot wait to throw on my celor kamis, jump in the back of that old banged up pick-up truck and bounce the 8 hours down the dirt road back to bliss!

September you cannot come fast enough!

But today i will force myself to enjoy the little things in life and savor all that I am blessed with here--for I am abundently blessed.

Stan Walker - Choose you (lyrics)

Love this.

Wishing you all a lovely New Year. Here is something I received in a forward from my Dadeo--Something to ponder: Something To Think About Imagine that you had won the following prize in a contest:Each morning your bank would deposit $86,400.00 in your private account for your use. However, this prize has rules, just as any game has certain rules. The first set of rules would be: Everything that you didn't spend during each day would be taken away from you. You may not simply transfer money into some other account. You may only spend it. Each morning upon awakening, the bank opens your account with another $86,400.00 for that day. The second set of rules:The bank can end the game without warning; at any time it can say, It's over, the game is over ! It can close the account and you will not receive a new one. What would you personally do? You would buy anything and everything you wanted right? Not only for yourself, but for all people you love, right? Even for people you don't know, because you couldn't possibly spend it all on yourself, right? You would try to spend every cent, and use it all, right? ACTUALLY This GAME is REALITY! Each of us is in possession of such a magical bank. We just can't seem to see it. The MAGICAL BANK is TIME! Each morning we awaken to receive 86,400 seconds as a gift of life, and when we go to sleep at night, any remaining time is NOT credited to us. What we haven't lived up that day is forever lost.Yesterday is forever gone. Each morning the account is refilled, but the bank can dissolve your account at any time...WITHOUT WARNING. SO, what will YOU do with your 86,400 seconds? Those seconds are worth so much more than the same amount in dollars.Think about that, and always think of this: Enjoy every second of your life, because time races by so much quicker than you think. So take care of yourself, beHappy, LoveDeeply and enjoy life! Here's wishing y'all a wonderfully beautiful day. Start spending.. .