tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24744314626069203272012-02-13T21:22:15.882-05:00Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.comBlogger791100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-18094148864966561442012-02-07T01:17:00.008-05:002012-02-09T13:31:43.612-05:00

Every now and then I have an outwardly insignificant moment that leaves me as awed as Moses must have felt after God parted the Red Sea. Life rushes on but for all practical purposes, it seems as if time stands still. God decides to show His glory in one of His characteristically unusual ways and I know without doubt I'll never be the same. Yes, I may briefly forget to apply what I just saw, but

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-50056791830117438812011-12-06T02:23:00.026-05:002012-02-08T23:06:04.960-05:00

One of my favorite things in the world is a well-worn Bible. I confess, I'm a "writer": my Bibles are filled with notes, circles, arrows, exclamation points, cross references, thoughts, questions, tear stains and more. This may sound strange to you but my old Bibles are almost like dear friends to me. I can pick up the NIV Study Bible that I wore out in college and by merely flipping through it,

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-82760539928977396802011-11-24T14:19:00.005-05:002011-12-13T16:04:07.881-05:00

Smells of turkey, ham, stuffing, pies and other sorts of yummy goodness are wafting in from the other room and the TV is blaring a football game for the men of the family. Friends will be arriving soon to eat and after naps, more football and a dinner of turkey sandwiches, another wave of friends will wander in. Somehow, over the years, a tradition has developed where my house is the place to be

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-18487947159033857072011-11-01T17:01:00.018-04:002012-02-07T11:16:18.498-05:00

I'm quickly learning that one of the hardest parts of my life is stepping into the roles God calls me, embracing every moment and all of the people I encounter, loving them with abandon and then leaving it all when He moves me on. Several years after I wrote that and two weeks after my flight home from Guyana, these sentiments are once again tracing familiar paths across my heart. Whenever I'm

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-12954015331095258222011-10-10T01:23:00.009-04:002011-10-10T18:36:58.946-04:00

Sometimes I enjoy blogging for no other reason than to be able to look back at my "recorded" life and see just how far God has brought me. Over the past few months, God has really been pouring into me, so much so that I could probably blog all day about what He's been teaching me. Even now, my mind is racing in at least 5 different directions I could go with this, and I just may if the pumpkin

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-68667060355764160712011-10-06T22:30:00.003-04:002011-10-07T12:21:45.951-04:00

Logic takes flight and as swiftly as it does, I find myself running to You. Why, when I come face to face with the ugly truth that lies within, do I feel so drawn to gaze into the mirror that shows the painful reality of who I am? I not only gaze at the accurate reflection You paint, but am drawn towards it. Pressing my palms against the glass which displays my own image, I stare intently,

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-10348015785684778162011-09-24T00:47:00.004-04:002011-12-01T12:31:43.395-05:00

At the wonderful, tragic mysterious tree, on the beautiful, scandalous night you and me, were atoned by His blood and forever washed white, on the beautiful, scandalous night.  Robby Seay Band I wish I had written those lyrics. I could have. Last night, I went to one of my favorite places in the world. A place that has been my haven for close to a decade. Sometimes I wonder what changes those

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-73265386266874722212011-08-13T14:35:00.021-04:002011-10-06T22:07:12.154-04:00

"Faith does not operate in the realm of the possible. There is no glory for God in that which is humanly possible. Faith begins where man's power ends." George Müller Printed plainly on a little yellow card, this quote has stared me in the face for the better part of 2 years. It rests wedged in the frame of my mirror where it has been ever since my dad gave it to me after the hardest 3 months of

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-64813547263290638822011-05-22T18:07:00.010-04:002011-10-06T22:07:40.317-04:00

Last night I posted a Facebook status “We got him, Al. It’s been ten long years but we got him.” And I need to clarify. As the rest of the world cheered, I blindly stared at the TV and the panicky feeling of loss I was once too familiar with suddenly came back. Images from that day so long ago flew through my mind, coming to an abrupt halt when I felt a warm splash on my forearm. I stared at the

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-37257585359954374872010-09-27T10:31:00.009-04:002011-10-06T22:08:20.202-04:00

For the first time in a long time, I've found myself running from God. I'm not talking just a little jog around the block. This time it was more like a full-fledged sprint in the opposite direction, chalking the last few months up as yet another "Jonah" moment to add to my list. Most of the previous struggles on my too-long "list" ripped through my life during my early twenties....the years

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-68340804826250545932010-03-20T18:09:00.007-04:002011-10-06T22:08:49.452-04:00

1. I've never had a speeding ticket ...or any kind of ticket for that matter. 2. I once scored for the opposite team in a basketball game. To my credit, I was twelve years old and it was right after halftime...BUT I still came in as high scorer with a whole 13 points! Yea baby. 3. Yellow roses, playing in the rain, mud fights and the beach never fail to put a smile on my face. 4. I am a creep

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-15490312325895402042010-03-19T00:32:00.005-04:002011-10-06T22:09:39.281-04:00

Ever since I was a little girl, I've had an obsession (admittedly, at times, an unhealthy obsession) with annihilating fear. There was no feeling I hated more than heart-racing, out-of-control panic and I did everything in my power to quell it. Maybe this stemmed from growing up as the only girl, where any break in my visible “armor” was, to me, an unacceptable weakness. I never allowed myself to

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-23998780060145747832010-01-03T10:05:00.007-05:002011-10-06T22:10:41.724-04:00

As I sit here on this cold Florida morning drinking rich Costa Rican coffee, I find my mind wearing a path back to this day last year: January 3, 2009. There is nothing monumental about the day itself but as so often happens when you take a chance to glance backwards, pivotal moments stand out in sharp contrast to their surroundings. This marks a year to the day that I headed to Costa Rica for

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-29840550122638551422009-11-28T23:07:00.016-05:002011-10-06T22:11:31.633-04:00

Last night, I had some friends over and as everyone gathered in and around the kitchen, the conversation shifted towards scary movies. As I rolled cookie dough and listened with amusement, my brother and friends compared films that they found frightening. I couldn't really participate in the debate because there simply isn't much that scares me. My brain is just too logical...especially when it

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-29154631303659588192009-11-03T01:27:00.005-05:002009-11-03T01:43:13.482-05:00

I love to write and often my ideas come at the most inopportune times...such as while I'm at work. Seeing as I used to spend 40+ hours behind a desk, my mind was constantly living vicariously through my thoughts. Years ago, I came up with a remedy for this. I set up a Yahoo! email account that I alone knew the address to. If I happened to be sitting behind my computer at work and had an idea or

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-66734417229598719612009-10-13T14:39:00.009-04:002011-10-06T22:12:08.381-04:00

You know you're from the South when, after Jesus, the first thing you can't live without is good ol' southern sweet tea. Somehow there's something so soothing about an ice cold glass of tea (with just a hint of sugar) on a hot fall day. Maybe it's the memories that encourage the attachment; rarely does a kid grow up anywhere in the lower US without haven't been raised on this concoction! And so

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-61206422822807580822009-10-07T11:16:00.003-04:002009-10-07T11:34:39.991-04:00

is that people always think you're crazy. Always. I wish I didn't worry about what people think, but sometimes I do. And that, is my problem. So many times the Lord has asked me to trust Him for something that completely goes against logic. Actually every time the Lord has asked me to trust Him for something, it's been completely absurd. And yet, He's never once failed me! So why is it still so

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-65917054300087975982009-10-06T23:55:00.002-04:002009-10-06T23:56:43.646-04:00

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-64951105162662873502009-09-27T20:17:00.019-04:002011-10-06T22:12:48.336-04:00

In May, I began "planning" a spontaneous dream vacation to Australia...Travelzoo offered a deal that I just couldn't resist and it only took about 3 seconds for me to decide I couldn't pass it up: $480 roundtrip from LA to Sydney is virtually unheard of! Now four months later, I'm sitting on the floor at LAX after spending a week and a half in what is my now-favorite big city. Imagine NYC...but a

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-33095549149387266062009-09-11T10:51:00.018-04:002011-10-06T22:13:14.185-04:00

I got ready for work this morning thinking that today would be a good day. It's been so long since I've cried about 9/11 and although I think about Al often and probably always will, the memories that were once so tender, always coming hand in hand with painful tears, have loosened their death grip. Over the years, the raw recollection of that day has slowly emerged into something new...much like

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-37348991463657976672009-08-23T09:33:00.008-04:002009-08-26T23:40:12.855-04:00

I should be at church right now, my first Sunday back in the US. But I just couldn't bring myself to go even though I can't wait to see my church family and all who have been praying so hard for me. I know that must sound so weird, but I'm just not ready. I'm not sure if it's because then it will be "final"...once I step back into life as usual, I'm accepting that my brief period in CR is at an

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-47923203095142779812009-08-22T12:54:00.003-04:002009-08-22T13:07:12.838-04:00

And can finally get back into the swing of blogging...after my first week or so in Costa Rica, it became extremely difficult for me to log into Blogger. I tried many times but after waiting 45 minutes or so with each attempt, I finally gave up. So I'm sorry for anyone who was counting on my blogs to keep up to date! I wish I could have written...not having my usual "outlet" was killer. But, as

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-31433640073264761032009-06-07T00:30:00.003-04:002009-06-07T00:43:53.268-04:00

Today was a really hard day. On the other hand, so was yesterday. It could be because I'm going on a few hours of sleep since Wednesday...half of which were in a parked car and the other half of which were spent freezing in a hammock. I'm such a perfectionist and want to do my best at everything...especially if it reflects my work ethic. Yet I'm quickly learning that some things are just out of

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-63580694768070469642009-06-05T10:36:00.004-04:002011-10-06T22:14:15.377-04:00

Before you think we're having too much fun, let me tell you what the past day was like. We left the beach to get back to the house early afternoon so we could fit in some work....only to find that our host family was gone. Long story short, we waited outside of the house for about 4 hours. Needless to say we didn't get any work done but we did fit in a hike to the river and played around for a

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-52140923122193450562009-06-04T01:32:00.006-04:002011-10-06T22:14:37.031-04:00

It's been a little while since I've posted, but since my last blog, I've relocated to Costa Rica....it's hard to believe I've almost been here a week and a half. It's been a blast and has been filled to the brim with new experiences. I'll try to recap but I'll probably leave out a ton since we've already done and seen so much it's unbelievable. I've used more Spanish than I ever have in my life

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-44872505868668445812009-05-20T12:03:00.003-04:002011-10-06T22:15:07.743-04:00

Here is a copy of the letter I sent out to all of my friends and family before leaving for CR...enjoy! Dear Friends and Family: In less than a week I will be closing the door on one segment of my life and opening the door to another. It’s hard for me to believe that it’s finally time to pack away my business clothes and heels in favor of shorts, tank tops and flip flops and I have to admit I

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-77843733733459644212009-05-18T23:27:00.010-04:002011-10-06T22:15:40.915-04:00

This time next week I will be frantically packing my bags and going over last minute checklists in my head. During the months of waiting for this moment, my departure date felt so far away but now that it's dangerously close to being categorized as "hindsight", I can hardly believe it's really here. Well, it may be a little harder to believe if I didn't have piles and piles of summer clothes,

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-84549718097675683452009-05-15T15:02:00.003-04:002009-05-15T15:25:49.308-04:00

I'm about to cheat. I didn't write this, but I wish I had. My previous boss's wife posted this article and she didn't write it either (and happens to be a famous author!) so I feel justified. The article kind of goes with my last post regarding conflicting personalities...obviously some aspects are meant for humor and aren't entirely accurate to my life (like the fact that I don't have trouble

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-64397121486820494222009-05-10T00:21:00.020-04:002011-10-06T22:16:03.850-04:00

Sometimes I think of blogging as being told that you're standing on the unfortunate side of a two-way mirror, not knowing who, if anyone, is on the other side of the glass. Rigidity quickly grows old but still you find yourself wondering how much you can relax. Are there mere observers who may look down cold noses, casting disapproving glances through the glass in your direction, or are there

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-56364591552687931562009-05-08T16:01:00.008-04:002011-10-06T22:16:22.526-04:00

I could probably begin (and end) this blog with: "God is flat-out cool" and it would totally suffice. He is way too good to me and sometimes I wonder why. I mean, I know why...because He loves me wildly...but, why? Why me? I know who I really am. It never fails to make me stop and think. Which always turns into praise. I can hardly keep up with Him at times and it makes for an exciting life!

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-11438615715214300822009-05-02T19:28:00.011-04:002009-06-04T01:31:56.257-04:00

I should be working. I have a million things to do paired with just as many thoughts flying through my head. I just discovered that dry-erase markers write on mirrors (how much easier would my life have been if I had thought of that sooner?!) and my mirror now serves as a handy continuation of my to-do list. I get ready in the mornings with "edit Heather's engagement photos!!!" scrawled across my

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-89780578877731882802009-04-29T20:38:00.008-04:002009-04-30T12:24:52.390-04:00

My baby brother turned 24 today and it served to remind me how "old" I am. If that's not enough of a reminder, my interns call me "Ms. Rodriguez" and ever so politely send me late night texts reminding me to put on my wrinkle cream. Obviously they are joking as am I. I know I'm not old, but it's still a little crazy to think that if Donovan is 24, that means I'm almost 29. Eek! Where have the

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-51085463078626229822009-04-28T11:52:00.002-04:002009-04-28T12:03:29.467-04:00

Tonight I am going to a Fish Farming trainined session. Odd? Maybe. But I'm really looking forward to it. I love fish. I love being outdoors. I love making people's lives better. Why not combine all of it? Part of our vision for the land in Costa Rica is to one day have a boy's home on the property. Another part of the vision is to develop a fish farm to support the project...you may wonder what

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-47763907510953892452009-04-26T19:17:00.017-04:002009-04-29T10:28:10.632-04:00

Sometimes I wonder if I blog too much...and then I think for a few more seconds and realize I don't care. Writing makes me happy. As do cherry limeades from Sonic and the playful, memory laden music of old-fashioned ice cream trucks. In the time it took me to write that last sentence, the pastel-colored truck served it's customers and went on it's way, it's music meandering slowly down the block.

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-90436505654040123782009-04-23T16:38:00.020-04:002009-04-25T09:17:16.873-04:00

Beyonce. Beyonce.Really?For most of my life I've had random strangers comparing me with pretty much any and every dark-haired actress possessing a slight semblance of a tan...Jessica Alba, the girl from Mission Impossible 2, Angelina, Vanessa Hudgens ...and, today: Beyonce.It never fails to make me laugh.Right after MI:2 came out, I had gone to the mall to shop which was somewhat of a luxury

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-10649545006566625492009-04-20T00:00:00.001-04:002009-04-20T00:02:24.411-04:00

I almost forgot to mention this, but I have a HUGE praise. Last week I paid off one big credit card....one more to go! And this one shouldn't take me too long at all. 

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-55620005642230217522009-04-18T23:55:00.010-04:002009-04-23T17:09:52.954-04:00

I found myself laughing tonight as a friend told me that I was following the way of Paulina. We were sitting at an outdoor wedding of 2 good friends of mine...who both belonged to the "group" I had spent all of my time with when I first moved back to Florida. We had so many good times: road trips, concerts, soccer games, jet skis, and even seeing one of our own come to know the Lord...so many

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-84099257946819000992009-04-14T01:10:00.007-04:002009-04-23T17:11:35.986-04:00

I suppose I write more for myself than for anyone else that happens to come across my page. For some reason, I just feel better if I write down my thoughts. Anyhow, it's about 1:15am and I have to work tomorrow. And yet I still want to blog.... I just finished making a quilt. My first quilt. On Saturday, I spent the day shooting and exploring all the camping equipment at Bill Jacksons and came

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-90630933017326704582009-04-10T23:08:00.003-04:002009-04-10T23:48:20.338-04:00

I just got home from my first Good Friday service and dinner on the beach with good friends afterwards. I've never had the opportunity to go to a Good Friday service and was a bit hesitant to go after a long, lazy day, but am so incredibly glad that I did. It sounds strange to say that it was a celebration of the crucifixion, but to remember the precious sacrifice on the day that it's recognized

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-44379114550382757212009-04-05T18:20:00.007-04:002009-04-22T10:02:02.034-04:00

I was at a GTD picnic/meeting this afternoon and was coasting along on a great mood. It's a gorgeous Florida day and I was outside in the sun...my favorite place to be. Great friends surrounded me...this is the good life.After a lunch full of laughter, we began our meeting. We discussed different aspects of the ministry and what God was doing. We talked about our plan for the coming months and

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-86006487840210247932009-04-01T11:05:00.005-04:002009-04-01T12:26:33.074-04:00

Slumdog Millionaire came out on DVD yesterday....and I could hardly wait for the work day to end so that I could go get it. I'm trying to save money and pay off debt, but I just couldn't help it. I'm in love. With culture. Any culture. And I can't explain it. Blame it on my gypsy heart. Or on my love for adventure...or, possibly, God. I just can't get enough. When I'm in another country, flavors

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-18598248704847974422009-03-19T14:46:00.009-04:002009-03-19T16:24:32.960-04:00

On my way to work this morning, I was flipping through radio stations and landed on Darryl Worley's song "Have You Forgotten" (a country song about 9/11). Mentions of September 11th rarely catch me off guard as they did in the past, but for some reason, this morning the familiar song once again brought tears to my eyes.God is sovreign and as I grow older, I see that more and more. It's no longer

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-61771102516691615762009-03-16T09:54:00.012-04:002009-03-16T14:40:07.567-04:00

Alex, my translator and friend from Costa Rica, has been here for the past week and a half and hanging out with the CR group has been a welcome break from my now-typical, crazy routine. We had dinner at Frenchy's on Clearwater beach, saw Guys and Dolls which Keith was in, had a late night breakfast at Village Inn (college flashbacks!), 2 birthday parties, dinner on top of the pier overlooking

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-47338140625399057582009-03-06T14:09:00.001-05:002009-04-22T10:09:36.956-04:00

All week long, I've been talking to my friend Andrea about Hawaii...the places to see, things to do, and where to eat (Kua Aina, Leonard's Bakery for hot malasadas and Matsumoto's "Shave" Ice are all musts!)...and as I write this today, she is on her way to paradise.I began reminiscing about my own adventures in Hawaii and suddenly realized that exactly a year ago today, I was floating in the

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-37599208654660476752009-03-03T11:06:00.023-05:002009-03-03T16:43:04.821-05:00

This weekend, I attempted to make my own Gallo Pinto. Though it isn't exactly exquisite cuisine, if you've ever had it, you probably understand the intense emotional attachment that often develops toward it (and if you haven't had it, you may think that the term "emotional attachment" is a rather strong statement....try it.) Many times since coming back home, I've felt something akin to a need

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-20031541296936850262009-02-26T14:55:00.001-05:002009-03-02T15:22:39.247-05:00

Once again I find myself sitting in front of my computer, listening to the hum of the Munce Group office. Keyboards clicking, phones ringing, familiar voices discussing contracts and printers periodically revving up to do what they do best...print. Everything and everyone has a job to accomplish. Including me.Yet I find myself struggling to focus. So much is going on in that beautiful world

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-19209311164858726072009-02-23T14:53:00.001-05:002009-03-02T16:07:54.178-05:00

Ironically, I wrote yesterday about listening to God's voice amidst the daily chaos. I find it funny how He always seems to prepare my heart for situations that are coming my way...long before they hit. In this case, it wasn't "long"...just a matter of hours. I returned from Costa Rica after a week of seriously seeking the Lord in prayer. I found I wasn't as busy as I had planned...but knew there

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-3455430981151682362009-02-22T14:50:00.000-05:002009-03-02T14:52:55.862-05:00

So I made it home last night after a LONG day of traveling. Yesterday morning, I caught the bus to San Jose at 5:00am...which was an adventure in itself! Knowing absolutely no Spanish but having been coached by Doug, I could proudly say "I need to go the airport" and "I have one bag under the bus"...I was really praying I wouldn't have to say "I missed my stop!" because I would have had no clue

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-22076347429860104082009-02-18T14:46:00.001-05:002009-03-02T14:49:38.892-05:00

Life in other countries is so wonderfully different than living the American dream. The unpredictability is invigorating....what gets you heart beating faster first thing in the morning than opening a container only to have a tarantula the size of your hand drop on the floor next to your feet?Grasshoppers landing on your head, roaches the size of your fist...things that would cause panic attacks

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-20338511107146629682009-02-16T14:45:00.000-05:002009-03-02T14:46:50.328-05:00

I'm sitting on the bed in my room in Costa Rica and through the open window, I can see Volcano Miravalle peaking over the orange trees. I've been here since Friday and it's seemed like much longer...I'll admit today was a little rough as the building teams are busy planning but I have nothing to do. I'm not used to NOT being busy...I walked through the fields for awhile and found a rock in the

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-30723086031085111822009-01-16T14:44:00.000-05:002009-03-02T14:45:19.826-05:00

Things have been crazy the past few weeks since returning from Costa Rica. My head is still spinning from all of things God showed me. I keep planning to sit down and process my thoughts in my usual way...a blog or letter to update everyone, but haven't had time yet. Maybe I'll finally be able to quiet my mind on my flight back down to CR next week as I will be flying alone. I have a lot to do in

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-28382207353286620322009-01-02T23:42:00.001-05:002009-03-02T14:44:11.420-05:00

I should be packing but instead I'm updating this site. Tomorrow I leave for Costa Rica...and it's about time seeing as I will be living there and have never stepped foot in the country! And I can't think of a better way to start 2009....a year I hope to be full of adventure. As I look back on 2008, I'm satisfied. I marked it as my year of being proactive with my "bucket list"' and I feel I

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-72651352710568085202008-09-11T11:48:00.022-04:002010-04-01T23:51:48.714-04:00

It's hard for me to believe it has already been 7 years since I lost a good friend and I find myself wondering if a year will ever pass where I won't feel the need to write something. An underlying dread haunts me the weeks before the 11th while the day after is filled with a bittersweet mix of relief that it's over for yet another year and the hard memories of what the 12th held for me.As I

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-43975363076090476652008-08-01T19:10:00.033-04:002010-04-01T23:56:38.573-04:00

So I'm an Apple girl. I love my Ipod and I LOVE my laptop. ("Love" in a very loose sense of the word!) But I do design work...so what else would you really expect? I'm sure you've heard the saying that once you make the switch from PC to Mac you will never go back. Of course, I tend to think this is more of a "fact" than a belief, but that's just my opinion.And if you are a Mac user, you know

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-10155744206418851352008-03-25T15:44:00.038-04:002008-06-23T11:15:29.153-04:00

During a recent lunch with friends, my brother shared his philosophy on healthy eating: don't be satisfied with eating those things that aren't bad for you....go a step further and only eat foods that will actually do something good for your body. In thinking about what good advice that is, I realized how the concept can be stretched to include so many areas of life. One of which covers friends..

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-14691340721912224592008-03-24T12:15:00.012-04:002008-06-04T10:21:38.460-04:00

Our very questioning of the dilemma of bad things happening to good people implies our subconscious belief that bad things should only happen to bad people. But what constitutes one as a bad person? Or as a good person? From our earliest years we are taught the fundamentals of life through a system of rewards. If you eat your dinner, you can have dessert. If you study, you get good grades. But if

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-58445582365716419222008-02-15T11:31:00.010-05:002008-06-03T19:00:58.177-04:00

One of the most exciting prayers you can pray is simply, "Lord, use me." Often, it's also one of the scariest prayers because God promises to give us anything we ask of Him if we ask according to His will.The "problem" that I've found is that God's will and the way He so often chooses to use me coincides with an inner, private list of fears that I've accumulated throughout the years. Absolute

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-19932630170579824992008-02-08T09:39:00.002-05:002008-06-03T19:01:21.655-04:00

A while ago, I started documenting my journey in learning how to trust. I only made it through Part 2 of what I had planned to be a 4 part "series" before life got busy. I neglected to finish writing the story which was already complete in my mind: the third blog was going to be about waiting and the fourth about God knowing and bringing to pass the desires of our hearts. Many times I've planned

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-65309025714683866022008-01-17T12:05:00.000-05:002008-01-17T12:20:49.365-05:00

In our girl's Bible study we are discussing a book which talks about contentment. As I read the first chapter to prepare for last night, I was hit by this simple but life changing "recipe" that an older woman named Miss Ella had shared when asked how she had learned to be content while living a very trying life as a missionary in Africa. This is what she said:Never allow yourself to complain

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-13846572201488378062008-01-15T11:56:00.000-05:002008-01-16T12:16:38.095-05:00

Tomorrow morning I have my first eye doctor appointment in 22 years. I'm not sure if I even need to go, but my brother has worked for an optometrist for the past year and has finally managed to convince me to come in. What scares me is that by this time tomorrow, I could have results that (with the risk of sounding overly dramatic) could change the rest of my life. Doctor's appointments,

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-65157368919577512122008-01-04T12:48:00.000-05:002008-01-04T16:29:44.311-05:00

A little less than a week ago, I sat at my brother's apartment in New Jersey by myself. Everyone else was across the river in NYC but I was sick. My friends were enjoying my favorite city less than 45 minutes away, yet I was stuck. With nothing but time on my hands, I did some thinking. I thought about life and God. I thought about dreams and goals. And I realized I was frustrated. And maybe a

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-80214191246594459382007-11-08T16:05:00.000-05:002008-01-04T15:58:54.514-05:00

Growing up as a PK (aka. pastor's kid), there were certain lessons that I heard over and over. Growing up with a rather large stubborn streak, there were certain lessons that I LEARNED over and over. I may have lacked rebelious tendencies, but I made up for it with my obstinance. Even as a little girl, I always had to do everything by and for myself. And it didn't matter one bit if I knew a

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-54324793800841098462007-11-02T14:33:00.001-04:002008-09-11T15:36:43.793-04:00

During lunch, I finished reading a book by Mark Batterson. I'm a little quirky in that I typically won't read Christian authors if I haven't heard anything about them or know what their views are. But several months ago, a friend had written a blog and used a quote that I found interesting. Being a quote person, I asked where he came across it and then forgot all about it. Last week I finally

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-25581360218682436092007-10-30T00:43:00.001-04:002008-03-25T10:19:15.310-04:00

Opting out of an offer to watch The Bachelor with friends, I stayed home for the first night in a LONG time. I settled in to creatively critique a friend's writing as well as do some reading and writing of my own. I had started Part 2 of my blog series this afternoon and briefly contemplated finishing that, but after emailing my friend, I noticed it was already almost 11. I decided to do

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-44898797016738101482007-10-24T16:10:00.001-04:002008-09-11T15:37:13.993-04:00

When I was a little girl, I used to play a game with God and it all started with my first lessons about prayer. My parents taught me to talk to God each night before I went to bed and some of my earliest memories are of rehearsing a fool-proof little request that I came up with all on my own. Every night I religiously prayed for the safety of my parents, for my little brothers and of course, for

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-55235703597170418832007-10-04T12:14:00.001-04:002008-09-11T15:37:44.979-04:00

What exactly is "it"? Would you be speaking of my eardrums? Because, if so, you most definitely succeeded. Oh wait, am I thinking out loud again?I always listen to my IPOD at work because when I first started here, my boss told me that I quickly needed to get used to working with music. Strange? Yes, but how right she was. Things get so crazy, we all have to just turn on the music and tune out

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-75560491228895366652007-10-01T23:45:00.001-04:002008-09-11T15:39:19.169-04:00

An early morning text from my brother informed me that a friend of ours from high school had been killed in a car accident on his way to work. It's strange how a short, unexpected message can contain such sad news. Though I haven't seen him in years, instantly my mind was filled with memories and in each one, he was very much alive. Just as I had last seen him. It's hard to wrap your mind around

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-51513441092404146112007-09-12T23:24:00.001-04:002008-09-11T15:40:10.679-04:00

Why is it that human hearts are capable of so much pain? Most of us have experienced that seemingly hopeless feeling of a broken heart resulting from romantic love and, ultimately, loss of that love. As we grow, we quickly realize that the more we care, the more we stand to lose. Ironically, the root of every deep pain we've ever experienced is the one thing we're all searching for. Love. Just as

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-15254134050975492852007-09-06T22:26:00.002-04:002008-09-11T14:44:57.896-04:00

For the past 6 years, I've dreaded the first couple of weeks in September and wonder if that will ever change. It's strange how someone you know only briefly can impact your life forever. Sometimes I wear a silver band on my wrist that simply says his name. Al Marchand. The next line says United Airlines #175 Crew.I worked as a hostess and waitress at a quaint little restaurant in college. The

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-42650083124510644112007-09-05T11:16:00.001-04:002008-09-11T15:40:28.889-04:00

If I didn't have a sense of purpose in my life, I would waste my life away as a beach bum. I've always had this insane attraction to the ocean, the sun, boats, laughter, tanned bodies and yes, even the smell of suntan lotion and coconuts. I honestly wonder if life can get much better than that. When I was little, I always daydreamed about getting stranded on an island by myself and having to live

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-71468697078293870242007-08-29T12:37:00.002-04:002008-09-11T15:40:48.209-04:00

On the way back from Tampa with 3 of my male friends last night, one of the guys mentioned my eyelashes and how, from sitting on one side of me at dinner all night, he couldn't help by notice how "nice and long" they were. Apparently he had seen something on TV about eyelash extensions or something and had eyelashes on his mind.The other two guys looked thoroughly confused and said that neither

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-33557045502090714302007-08-18T19:35:00.001-04:002008-09-11T15:41:09.448-04:00

"When we are passionate about God, we can trust our passions." This is such a simple statement, yet so often I think the concept is misunderstood. So many people (myself included) have been afraid to act because, if you've been raised in church, you've heard the teachings about God's perfect will. Since this mysterious ideal seems to elude so many of us, we sit and do nothing, hoping to one day

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-47049365206103028212007-08-13T09:32:00.001-04:002008-09-11T15:41:27.233-04:00

A friend of mine recently lent me Soul Cravings by Erwin McManus. After hearing a pastor speak on the status of God's promises in your life, we got into a interesting discussion in which he brought up several points that McManus made in the book. It figures that besides being an excellent book, Soul Cravings was exactly on target with every sermon, thought, and verse that has begun to stick out

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-73361930556155151382007-08-12T23:45:00.001-04:002008-09-11T15:42:11.275-04:00

Whenever Augustana's "Boston" is the most played song on my IPOD, I know I need a vacation. Usually I get tired of songs rather quickly but I've also never heard a song that fits me as well as that song does. On random occasions I've even found myself wondering what it would be like to be with someone who knows me so well....and then have to remind myself that the guy singing the song REALLY

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-2646110048118497462007-08-03T11:17:00.001-04:002008-09-11T15:42:27.353-04:00

On the spur of the moment(as I tend to do quite often), I bought a ticket for Atlantic City. I was sitting at my desk working last week, the offer popped up and I bought it. For no reason. I've never been there, don't know anyone there and although my brother lives close enough where he might be able to meet up with me, I just thought it would be fun to get away. Besides, who can resist a $22

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-44908935448981018442007-07-25T10:38:00.002-04:002008-09-11T15:42:51.068-04:00

I just looked at the clock to check the time and it was 10:18. Which isn't really that strange in and of itself. What is strange is that last night I rode home from Tampa with friends and as we pulled into the parking lot, I glanced at the clock as I got out of the car and it was...you got it. 10:18.I don't know if this happens to anyone else, but this has happened to me for years (at least since

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-83718567103492536382007-07-23T09:05:00.001-04:002008-09-11T15:43:08.972-04:00

Last night I went swing dancing for the first time; besides the fact that the straps on my dress had some issues staying where they belonged, I had a blast! It was somewhat evident that I'm not exactly full of grace on my feet, but thankfully my dancing partners were very understanding and made it fun...even when I didn't take their lead and kept smacking into them as they were spinning me!

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-50380270147542372022007-07-20T16:41:00.002-04:002008-09-11T15:44:51.486-04:00

Too early this morning, I found myself sleepily discussing life in general with a friend at a local coffee shop. As we sat talking, she brought up how men "need" to be needed. And I don't think anyone can deny that. Seeing that I grew up with boys, I seem to think I understand men pretty well. BUT...as I drove to work, I found my mind veering off the path of that simple statement. As is usual

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2474431462606920327.post-10059295158286242622007-07-10T14:34:00.002-04:002008-09-11T15:45:13.863-04:00

In so many ways, my recent trip to Indonesia showed me that just as God can create something out of nothing, He can take our frail attempts at serving Him and somehow use them for His glory. We look at the $2600 it cost to go on a trip like this and think that because of our "sacrifice", God has us waiting backstage for our debut in a series of miracles He is waiting to unveil. Then we return (or

Erikahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07718400309770877453noreply@blogger.com0