for brothers and sisters... with love!

       I've seen this video because of my sister, Mary. It reminds me of how us, the sisters, would gather in the bedroom and sing and have a good time. It brings up tons of memories, and because these days I missed my sisters and brother so much, I thought I'd post this.
      This is for all those good old times together!!!

Five Year Diary...

      As I promised, I want to talk a little bit about a very dear memory from my childhood. About one of those moments that mark you, mark your life and sometimes even change it. If not instantly, but on a long shot, for sure there is a difference.
     As a kid, and then, teenager, I used to live in my own world, didn't really open to talk with somebody. Instead, I loved putting my thoughts on a sheet of paper. Usually, I would hide the paper or throw it to garbage so nobody could read it. I don't know why I was like that. Around age 13, I started to dream about a diary. I knew I would not be able to keep one ( per definition, you have to write daily in a diary, which was impossible for me) - still, I wished for a cute one to scribble my feelings on it. Everyday while coming from school, I'd get into the store next to our apartment building and look at the (not so) cute diaries on their display. Still, I didn't have the money, and I didn't want to ask my mom. One day, I came home late from school, tired and already ready to go to bed, but my sister was full of excitement!!! We just got our Christmas presents! Yes, it was 2 weeks after Christmas. No, we didn't care about that. Growing up in a family with 8 kids, that was a certainty we wouldn't get any gifts for Christmas, just the love of our family and the hope and happiness of Jesus' birth. In our bedroom, on the floor were 3 shoe boxes with Samaritan's Purse label on them. I just grabbed one and ripped it open. I still have the picture in my head.
     There was a pair of socks; but not any pair... they were Adidas! Lots of candies, a set of Crayola colored wax pencils, a toothbrush, a toothpaste and... on the bottom of the box, under a cute pink box filled with sparkly lip balms, there was a little cute gray Five Year Diary. A DIARY!!!! Just for me!!! And it looked tons times better than all I have dreamt of a diary would look like! Well, nothing in that box made me happier. I was overwhelmed with joy. I cried that night before falling asleep. I had that diary under my pillow for a long time. And the pink box was a favorite. I used it as a purse, once.
     Needless to say, I still have them both (I just took a picture of them), and every time I see them, I remember God listens your heart. He knows your needs. I waited at least half of year till I got my own diary. It was worth it! So, whatever your need is, just go to your Father and He will take care of it. You might get impatient, but remember His timing is perfect, His work is perfect, and His love for you is never-ending.

Note: If you ever have the opportunity to make a shoe box for a kid or teenager, don't hesitate in doing so! Last year, I filled one with goodies for a 13 year old girl. I packed it with tears in my eyes remembering how I felt when I received my box. You can change a life with just a shoe box. This week is National Collection Week at Operation Christmas Child. Find a location near you and drop a box of happiness, hope and faith for a kid in need.

and we have a winneeerr!!!!

I am very happy to announce the winner of my little giveaway. Nicole from Craft my soul is the happy one who will get the cute cards.
More details and a story later today after work (or I'll be late for work!).

Once again, than you tons for entering the giveaway, it was really fun (at least for me) and I hope I'll have more giveaways soon. You guys just made my week!

A giveaway to be thankful for!!! :)

      Hey guys, I am so thrilled to be able to announce you I finally am hosting my FIRST giveaway!!! I'm so nervous and excited about it!!!

      With Thanksgiving right around the corner, and you're thinking how to share your thankfulness with people around you. Do you want to give your dear ones a special card showing them you're thankful for their presence in your life? Or just want to remind a friend something to be thankful for? How about to make it in a unique way that defines you? This year, there is one more reason to be thankful for. Enter my first giveaway and you can win a set of 6 Thanksgiving themed cards, with matching envelope. Leave a comment below sharing 3 reasons why you are thankful for this year. Please hurry if you want a chance to win, the giveaway ends on Sunday, 11/13/11 at 9:40 am EST. The winner will be announced on Monday, 11/14/11. Please leave your e-mail address in your comment so I can reach you faster. :) 

     Have fun and enjoy!!! 

the reason why I like cold weather

...the place where I took a nap last night before going to bed…best feeling in a while.

a stop in our journey

a stop in our journey, a photo by v.sch23 on Flickr.

good morning, sun!

The best view I get to see everyday on my way to work…

Limitless???...

   It's that time when you actually knew all those things all your life but you didn't really know them. And than, there's a moment and it hits you. It hits you hard.

   How many times did you pray "God, help me push my limits.". In this way, you ask God to do amazing things with yourself. For others, and for you. To help you improve your relationship with your family. Have more patience. Risk more. Think more. Learn more. Do something that frightens you. Courage is not the lack of fear. Courage is the overcome of the fear. To be afraid and still do it. You're going to laugh at this, but I'm terrified of making phone calls at my new job. What if I don't understand at all what the other person is talking about? I used to write tons of e-mails and wait half a day for an answer I could've got in 10 seconds. Until couple of weeks ago I started to overcome my groundless fear and start making phone calls. That's magic: people are actually so friendly and ready to help you any time with any problem. What a shock, right?! (not really... sometimes, even I laugh at myself!!.. that's helpless)

{photo via}

    The idea of push your limits is very common among athletes in particular, but yesterday while trying to run more than I usually do, I realized how important is to know how to push your limits. 

    Firstly, stay focused. Never forget your goal. Repeat it frequently to yourself, write it down on a piece of paper and hang it on fridge or make a background picture with it and set it as a wallpaper on your computer. 

   Secondly, Do not lose your faith, either. You can do it! Not because you have an expensive equipment to help with your projects (that could be helpful, but not enough). You can do it because you can do everything through Christ who strengthens you.

  And last, but not least, stay steadfast. Make small steady steps. It won't be easy, and sometimes people around you will discourage you, but never forget your goal. And never forget you didn't grow up in 10 hours or 10 days. It took years and years until you finally were a grown up. The same with pushing your limits. Sometimes, it just takes a while. You just continue reaching for new limits. Because, in the end, if we never push our limits, we'll never know where our limit is!