Traveling with a carry on

"The day will come when you will travel with more than just a carry on"

I had a conversation today with one of my best friends in the states that told me the above quote. She is an incredible girl who is a third year med student who is married with a mortgage. Her husband has a great job and they are happily married. She has everything that every parent wants for their 26 year old child. But, she expressed something to me that made me think about life a little differently. She said, "I am utterly confused as to what to do with my life." After reading this and thinking about it a bit, I realized that it doesn't matter what I'm doing with my life right now, whether I 'have it all together' or if I'm living in a foreign country living on basically nothing. As a twenty-something, I have something in common with all other twenty-somethings out there. None of us are sure what we want to do with our lives and even if we look like we have it figured out, most of the time, we don't. The solution to the problem you may ask. I have come to this conclusion, live life day to day. Enjoy the blessings that are provided for you and don't take them for granted. Smile at strangers, you might just make their day. Hug a friend. Feel the pain that others are experiencing so they don't have to go through it by themselves. Drink really good coffee. Stay up late and get up early. Sit on your roof (or on your porch if you live in the states.) Drink good wine. Find something in each day that makes it different than any other day. Tell those around you what they mean to you. Love well. Sing to random songs that are being played in random places (especially songs from the 80's). Look for the purpose in all designs. Talk to an artist, they see the world differently. Live transparently. Live in community. Learn a new word everyday (in your own language and a different one). Enrich the lives of the children around you, they are our future. Extend grace, exercise faith. Bask in the sun. Read. Communicate with your eyes. Exercise. Create a routine and break it daily. Allow those around you to see glimpses of heaven in the way you live your life.

The list goes on and I would love to hear what you do each day to appreciate it and live it to it's fullest!

In other news, my friend Danielle (who I am replacing in Middle school math and Bible) is due any day now. The doctor thinks that it can be any day now. Luckily, we were able to take a few pictures of the 'baby bump' last weekend. I had a really great time taking her picture and I have included a few of my favorites!

Until then, keep living the life and look for your purpose today!

Viva la Vida!

Liz



Playlist:
New Slang by The Shins
Always On My Mind by Michael Buble
Rehab by Rhianna
Shine a Light by Wolf Parade
Complacent by So Long Goodbyes
Marvelous Light by Charlie Hall
Turn, Turn, Turn by The Byrds
Just Like a Star by Corinne Baily Rae
Our Last Summer by Colin Firth

Spring has sprung!

The mood in Xela has been quite festive lately! With spring break (for the states) coming and going this last week, we had many family and friends join the mix of our every day lives. I had a great time getting to know my roommates parents and a few friends that came down to visit other teachers! Hearing them talk about their spring breaks makes me even more anxious for our break that will be April 4-12. I am heading to Caye Caulker, Belize with 7 of my friends. It's guaranteed to be a good time! I am planning on spending a lot of time on the beach, scuba diving, and just relaxing with a good book and a cold drink!

Next week we are heading back to Pana but this time we are taking all the middle schoolers and high schoolers for Spiritual Emphasis retreat. I didn't go last year due to the fact that I was teaching 4 yr. olds. I am excited to spend some time with the kids outside the classroom and get to know them on a more personal/spiritual level. And to be going back to Pana, how wonderful!

In other 'happenings', let's see...my time continues to fly by and I am happier than I have been in a long time. Don't get me wrong, I haven't been unhappy in the past, I just haven't been content in where I have been. I have always wanted to be somewhere else with other people doing something different. I had a realization right before I came back down here in early Feb. that I only have one chance to live each day and if I don't appreciate each day, than I lose that day and I lose the chance to make the most out of each day. With this outlook, Guatemala has been wonderful. And I believe that is an understatement. I am considering coming back down here next year (something I find myself laughing at when I say it out loud) but with the experience I can gain from being here and the pace of life that I love, I can't find a reason not to come back. If you have any that you would like to share, please let me know!

With that, I will include a few pictures from the last month or so.

Thank you for all of your encouragement and prayers. They are appreciated more than you will ever know.

Viva La Vida,

Liz

Randi and I in Pana after diving.
Lorrie and I at our St. Patty's day party.
The other Liz and I laughing at something...who really knows!
Enjoying our celebration of St. Patty's (Lorrie, Liz, Ryan)
McNabb and I
Classic squish face picture. This is just one of the many that have become
a tradition wherever we are (Tank, me, McNabb)

Playlist:
You Belong to Me by ________(given to me on a mix by S. Shenold)
Mr. Midnight by Garth Brooks
Like a Friend by Pulp
Land Locked Blues by Bright Eyes
Love In this Club by Usher
My Front Porch Looking In by Lonestar
Wedding Dress by Derek Webb
Calafornia by Joni Mitchell
Head Over Feel by Alanis Morissette
Constantly by Cross Canadian Ragweed
Buffaloe Soldier by Bob Marley
Cheeseburger in Paradise by Jimmy Buffett
Revelation by Among the Ashes

News from Xela

As of tomorrow, I will have been here for four weeks. Time is flying. But in a really good way. I have had a wonderful time thus far and I feel like I have been here for months. The way that I was able to pick up my friendships with my peers and my relationships with those at the school. It has been such a blessing. I have traveled every weekend since I've been here (staff retreat to Irtra, Costa Rica, and Pana this last weekend) but I will be home this weekend. I am looking forward to sleeping a bit as I have gotten sick this week. I blame it on snotty-nosed-Sara in Pre-K (I subbed for them all week last week), but I am in the process of kicking the nastiness. I will put a few pictures up later this week from Pana as well as a few stories! We went to dive in Lago De Atitlan and, of course, like any good dive trip, I have wonderfuly, entertaining stories...those will come later!

I know this post is very scattered and random but my head is a bit foggy due to the amount of pressure that is behind my eyes right now...please forgive me!

Be looking for a more detailed update later this week or weekend!

Viva la Vida!

Liz

Playlist:
I forgot my headphones...next time!

Pura Vida, Costa Rica!

Well, I returned from Costa Rica this weekend and I had a wonderful time! I don't think I will ever be able to put into words all the things that I did (or actually, didn't do...I don't know what I did with my time!) I was able to finish my Open Water SCUBA certification. I am now certified for life! A few of my highlights include:

• Being able to fly to Quepos for $44 and getting settled by noon on Wednesday!
  
• European man at the pool in speedo...every hostel needs one!
• My fellow hostel mates dodging falling citrus fruit, I think they were limes...it was entertaining.
• Watching two guys in the pool playing a game that looked like throw-the-coconut-as-close-to-the-other-person-without-hitting-them-but-splashing them.
• Seeing a shark, octopus, and eels while I was diving.
• Having some really sweet time with The Lord.
  
• The dinners I had in Guatemala City with other travelers that were passing through. Everyone is so interesting.
• My 6am bus from Quepos to San Jose driving RIGHT by the airport, thus, I didn't have to catch a $20 taxi from the terminal to the airport! It's the little things that in life that make me so very happy!
• Eating what I wanted, when I wanted, for how long I wanted.
• Two INCREDIBLE sunsets viewed from Barba Roja (red beard) and El Avion
• El Avion-this incredible place that is made out of an old airplane. I will try to remember to include a picture later.
• Speaking Spanish.
• And many, many other things that only I can recall in my mind. There are no words to describe some of these moments!

Viva La Vida!

Liz

Playlist: (a special one I made for the Costa Rica trip...not random this time!)
Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone) by Chris Tomlin
Rock & Roll by Eric Huchinson
Gray or Blue by JayMay
Annie's Lover by Taj Mahal
I'd Lie by Taylor Swift
Leave the Pieces by The Wreckers
Such Great Heights by Postal Service
Take Another Piece of My Heart by Janis Joplin
American Boy by Estelle
A Long Way to Get by Bob Scheinder
Time To Pretend by MGMT