love love love.

So, I'm not going to start out by defining Valentine's Day or anything. I'm sure we all understand the day and why it is what it is.

However, since Valentine's Day has to do with love, it always makes me reflect on how glad I know how to unconditionally love. That I had overcome various emotional obstacles, forgave, and learned to truly unconditionally love someone. I grew up with a conditional father (who had a very conditional mother) and a grandmother who was very conditional. It wasn't until I was about 15/16 years of age that I had realized I grew up this way. I started to evaluate how I was toward people and realized that how I treated my mother and a couple other people closest was on a conditional level. Through a lot of writing, evaluation, therapy, and reflecting out loud to my mother I was able to overcome this.

So, since today has to do with love, this is how I like to celebrate my Valentine's Day. That I can love unconditional and continually learn how to love other people unconditionally just as I am loved by Him unconditionally.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Jury Duty 2010

Once before I received a summons to jury duty, however I wasn't living in the country at the time. My madre had to call them up, explain I wasn't in the country, and then after she went as far as giving them a photo copy (of a photo copy) of my visa. I received my second summons in the mail in early January and instantly exclaimed, "OH NO!" when I saw that little off white card with the green strip going across.

At first I was so disappointed, but after a few instances that took place at work I thought, "I'd like to get picked for a jury and miss a week of work. Maybe some people will have reality smack them in the face with how good they actually have it!" Yes, there was some bitterness to that, but also truth. Anyways.

After I get off the subway and make my way towards the building I need to report to I'm greeted by this friendly man selling newspapers, "Young lady you are in the right place! I see that look every morning!" I almost bought a newspaper from him just because he was so sweet! (but I couldn't. I've already caved too many times to those Girl Scouts. They have great selling tactics!). I had to make my way through various scanning machines to make sure I was safe to be in the building, talk to a bunch of ladies who wanted me to fill out surveys, and then sat between two ladies who seem bitter about being there.

I was called to participate in a jury. I sat there until I was called to see the judge with the others who were called with me... and LOTS of time passes. I go to lunch (omg, I had an awesome lunch) and came back... sat some more and then was told that the guy who was being charged (?) decided not to go before a jury. I collected my $9, got a tea from Starbucks, and tried to read some magazines. My brain couldn't function after a day of sitting around, some reading, some napping, and a rather large and delicious lunch.

The most important thing I learned today: Jef couldn't believe I got a $9 check for just showing my face... the UK receives NOTHING for jury duty.

40 Days of Water // Follow-up

My dear friend, Lisa-Marie, has opted to commit to a 40 Days of Water challenge too. She lives across the ocean in the beautiful small country of Scotland and will be participating with a more local organization: SCIAF. During these 40 days she has several celebrations that call for drinks... I'm not going to blab her information! READ IT FOR YOURSELF!. (Also, while you're at it, read her interview with David Bazan! It's equally as awesome as Relevent Magazine's interview ).

Right, so not only human's are participating in 40 Days of Water. Anne Jackson's cat is participating too !

Another place I'd like to draw attention to is LIGHT GIVES HEAT . This organisation wants to see Africa rebuilt (read their mission & vision statement) and has a really great store to buy from. I've bought various items from the store and absolutely love them! (In fact, I just bought the rice bag & didn't realise they included a necklace in the pocket until I was on my way to jury duty!).

Again, I ask that any of you who read this pray, ponder, give consideration to this cause!

xx

-b'ahavah

Water, H2O, Agua, d'eau

WATER.

Water is something that we all cannot live without. We regularly flush our toilets, can use all the water we want to wash our clothes, dishes, and other items. We toss water down the drain about using it to prepare food, some people may keep the water running while they wash their face/brush their teeth, and then there are those who love taking long hot showers and feeling of those hot water hitting their skin.

If you have these options I consider you to be privileged.

I've spent time in Mexico where these options are available, but they're conscience of this privelege and refuse to let a drop go to waste. This experience had changed my water using habits drastically.

There are two organizations that I support and love to tell other people about:

charity:water

&

blood:water mission

Last year blood:water mission created a campaign 40 Days of Water (*no ark necessary). For 40 days you drink only water. Any money that you would typically spend on a soda, coffee, or any other drink would be donated to their organization to help bring water to areas of Africa. I committed to this task last year and realized that I really do drink that much water on a daily basis and rarely purchase any other beverage. So, I decided that every time I think about wanting to drink something else or my taste buds would love to taste something else I'd donate the money that that beverage would have cost. Realizing how much water I drink made me reevaluate my usage of water even more.

I'd like to encourage you, whoever you are reading this, that you consider taking 40 days to drink only water and donate your money. I understand that times are tough and what not, but think about it this way: this was money you were intending to spend on other beverages anyways, and maybe had budgeted to spend it, so it won't hurt to donate!

I promise, you'll feel healthier!

One detail I realized I left out: this takes the 17th February to 3rd April (a.k.a. Lent).

I'm praying that you consider, ponder, pray, about taking part in this event!