almost ready.

mostly packed and ready to go. I just need one more thing from you.

a couple weeks ago I mentioned I had some chest congestion and it is mostly gone but I'm still fighting it a little bit. and in a week I'll be in Romania and I need to be healthy healthy! so I would just like some prayer. that's it. I'm hoping that getting out of this humidity for a bit will help clear it all up and I'll continue drinking herbal tea and taking vitamins and eating healthy things.

hope you're having a great week and thank you for the prayer!

see you later, New Orleans.

ali.

reading and encouragement for your day.

hey all.

I found this article a couple days ago and thought I would  share it with you. it is so timely and gives more insight into what is happening in Romania and why this is the second time I will be going there.

also thought I'd share today's Joyce Meyer devotional..

God Causes Things to Happen at the Right Time

Are you waiting for the desires of your heart to begin to manifest? Are you praying for bondages to fall off of you so you can see your dreams come to pass? Are you waiting and praying for the salvation of friends and family? Are you trusting God for prosperity, favor, promotion, honor, and all the blessings found in His Word?

Are you tired of waiting for harvest time in your life? Are you frustrated, crying out, "When, God, when?" Then you need to understand that God's timing is often a mystery. He doesn't do things on our timetable. Yet His Word promises that He will not be late, not one single day.

God causes things to happen at exactly the right time! Your job is not to figure out when, but to make up your mind that you won't give up until you cross the finish line and are living in the radical outrageous blessings of God! The more you trust Jesus, and keep your eyes focused on Him, the more life you'll have. Trusting God brings life. Believing brings rest. So stop trying to figure everything out, and let God be God.

read: Habakkuk 2:3.
listen: Holy Spirit | Bryan & Katie Torwalt. (this has been on repeat for me for a while. really loving it.)

whatever is chasing you - no matter what it looks like - it's grace. -Ann Voskamp.

ali.

treat yourself well.

alright, I'm going to try to get on here as much as I can before the big trip. try, I said. no promises.

but this coming Friday, Chad and I head to Michigan via air for the week [yay!]. I'm doing hair for a much anticipated wedding on Saturday and then we'll get to spend lots of time with our wonderful families which is wayy long overdue. hopefully I still have my formal styling skills.. (; it's been a while. THEN on August 30th, I head to Romania! I can't even believe it is almost here already.

for now, I just wanted to share my most recent kitchen favorites. maybe this is old news for you guys, but anyone else just learning of all the the benefits of turmeric? my goodness it is so good for so many things. and I don't feel like it has a strong flavor so I can sneak it in lots of different dinners. (: I'll let you do your own research but next on my list is this recipe [the top ten reasons to incorporate it into your diet are listed there also]. at least have to try it. with almond milk of course. which is my other new favorite..

I recently decided to cut most dairy [not all, because really, I like the occasional ice cream just too much] out of my diet for a few health issues. nothing to be concerned about really, it just happened by process of elimination. so almond milk has been a great replacement. I really didn't use milk a ton, but it is in a lot more than I realize. and I found a dark chocolate almond milk at the store one day.. too yummy. yeesh.

[remember to]

one more thing. I know this post is all over the place, sorry.

as I prepare for our trip to Michigan and Romania, I just wanted to hear what your favorite packing tips and tricks are. I know so many of you are creative and organized, so lend me your favorites in that big empty comment box down there! [side note: you don't have to have a blog to comment. so I want to hear from lots of you!]

hope you all had a great weekend. and hopefully you got to do lots of this..

ali.

an overdue update.

it is days like today that I am grateful for not having a job, anywhere to go or anything to do in the evening. a good case of, I don't know what, I guess chest congestion has taken over and just running to Walmart today kicked my butt. I don't think I have ever said that word on here.. (:

anyway, writing to you from an extended stay hotel in Shreveport, Louisiana. Chad has been working on a show here for the last three and a half weeks so I have driven back and forth a few times because four weeks away is too many weeks away.

I thought I would just share some photos of what this last month has held for us.

at the end of July, one of our beautiful cousins got married and I had the honor of making the hair pieces for her and her bridal party. lots of fun. we weren't able to be in Michigan for the wedding, so I was grateful to be involved in a little from way down here.

I also helped put together an Olympic themed party for our church on the night of the opening ceremonies. the goal was to collect non-perishable food items and donate them to a local food bank. all together the church collected over 1,100 items for a food bank that desperately needed them. it was fun to be a part of.

after that, I have mostly been in Shreveport. there's not much here so I have nothing exciting to report really. I am just glad to be able to see Chad when he gets out of work and occasionally go out to eat with him here.

in less than a month I will be heading to Romania! I can't believe how fast this trip is coming all of the sudden. excited though. God has provided funding so generously, as He always does, and basically all I have to do now is get packed. which is a large task on its own..

{we have a watermelon, y'all!!}