Parched and I like Coke

As summer is approaching people are preparing for lake getaways, sun-tanning siestas, and zoo safaris while also buying sunscreen, stocking up on freeze pops (orange is my favorite), and lots of COLD drinking water. Water is the essential element for regulating body temperature, transporting nutrients, digestion, carrying waste products out of the body, and even moving oxygen and carbon dioxide round the body. Water is a big deal. The recommended amount of water a day is 8 glasses, however; some professionals recommend more.

Ok, Ok so water is essential. Well, what if a person were to say let’s substitute Coke for Water? I feel like this would be a valid exchange considering coke is much tastier and who can’t resist the vibrant red Coca Cola slogan? After some GOOGLE research I found that if a person were to drink one can of coke a day they would be consuming 32 lbs. of sugar per year. Oofta, my teeth say, “NO Gracias" but my tongue says ", yummmmmy."

Simple. Drink water. Sadly, this is not that simple. People enjoy a nice coke or insert your favorite sugar drink here ________. It’s enjoyable, however; in excess is harmful.

I believe there are seasons in everyone’s life where they are parched and would like a big glass of water, but for some reason they cannot quench their thirst. People continue to drink “coke” or whatever additive to pollute the clearness of water. We pollute it with hate, malice, rage, jealousy, gossiping, and sexual indecency. We pollute it with pride, laziness, war against our neighbors, wrong motives, or maybe even bitterness towards God. We are thirsty. Jesus says, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’

Living water. Doesn’t living water sound lovely? In an age where money, power, independence, and status mean so much, God wants us to remember that we need Him. We really do. I believe He meets us exactly where we are at in life. He meets us. He gives us water. He gives us the recommended 8 glasses of EVIAN water.

I am thirsty.

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Thoughts on freedom from a South Dakotan

As I was walking down the desolate, star lit street with Jono, my Costa Rican boyfriend :), I was reminded of the great freedom that I have in the U.S. How many places in the world are people able to walk in the middle of the street without worrying about their safety, their possessions, their loved one? I was on this night, and have been for most my 24 years of life. Some places freedom is as normal as sweet tea in the south on a hot day, but for others it's as rare as a Costa Rican moving to South Dakota.

I sometimes am saddened by the great differences between the freedoms I had growing up, riding my pink bicycle freely in the street with an orange freeze pop, compared to a child fighting to survive in a Chinese orphanage due to "overpopulation" of females in China. How vast a difference these two word pictures are.

I believe with great freedom comes greater responsibility to act more just, speak more for the orphan, and show amor (love) to the foreigner. As we celebrated today the freedom of the US and it's veterans, let us not forget that we each have a role in making this world more free.

Celebrate, embrace, and act on freedom, but please don't forget the gift of freedom. Please don't forget America.

CC-Columbus

Vagabond, yes this would be the best word to describe the past 6 years of my life, however; I'm going to start from June of 2010. COLORADO is the setting in which my story begins. This is where I spent a couple days with one of my best friends and we prepared, celebrated, and conquered the wedding of Miss or now Mrs. Holli Boonstra. SUCCESS! :) This trip was my last rendevious until a flight out to COSTA RICA where I spent the summer/rainy season months of June, July, August, and September and by rainy season, I seriously mean it rained. Out of the 90+ days residing in the green country, it didn't rain 2 of those days. Maybe I'm exagerating slightly, but the point is I didn't get a tan. :)

Now fast forward 7 months, (now I really shouldn't fast forward these months because they have been full of Joys, Sorrows, Growing Pains (meaning my mind is telling me to settle down and find security, but my heart seems to like the vagabond lifestyle), and trying to figure out what I want to do with my life, the purpose?)) Sorry for the extra paranthatise, but this tends to happen when I write and 100 ideas start catapulting my mind.

Now this brings me to the third C. I don't know if you got that. COLORADO, COSTA RICA, and dudaddada COLUMBUS. Yes, I am moving to COLUMBUS, Ohio in less then a month. The vagabond lifestyle continues, but with purpose. I forgot to mention that I've been dating a COSTA RICAN named CALVO, Ok, enough with the Cs. Actually Calvo is his last name and Jono is his name (J-long O- N- long O), not Jon. This Costa Rican has waited patiently as I've processed, fought, and meditated on reasons why NOT to move to COLUMBUS. However, I'm moving. I'm doing it. Thank you Mr. Calvo for your patience.

Tentative Move date: May 12th