tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50915490188396977622024-03-19T04:06:50.018-07:00Enabled & Counted FaithfulAan-Sofie Guzikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110207096935516814noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5091549018839697762.post-67373557637028356112011-08-15T13:57:00.001-07:002011-08-15T14:08:07.295-07:00Just SitSo I haven't blogged in two weeks because I have been on the road! I'm writing now from the Missions Conference in Austria and I just thought I'd post quickly before bed! <div>This is my 6th time at this conference in the last 8 years and every time God is just here! I don't realize how much I need this until I'm actually here. Of course I get fed and worship and fellowship at home in Cork, but I'm also working. I'm making sure that the tea and coffee it set out, that the church is clean, that Eoin is ok, that the tithe gets counted and a dozen other things. But here, here I have no responsibility but to be a the feet of Jesus. And it just hit me tonight at the evening session.</div><div>I just felt God just saying, "sit, sit at my feet"; so I sat during worship. Then He said, "no, sit at my feet" and I just knelt on the floor as tears of relief streamed down my cheeks.</div><div>Don't get me wrong, I love what I do and I'm not too busy, but it's just rare to get a chance to truly set aside all cares and duties and just sit.</div><div>So please as you read this this week, just pray for me. Pray that God would speak to me and just take me under His wing.</div><div>There is wifi here so I'll try to post again if I can!</div><div>
<br /></div><div>And thank you to all those who have been praying for my feet! I was really worried for this trip, with lots of walking and traveling but they are doing great! I still have to be careful and not overdo it but I was expecting to be in pain and they are only sore instead of that stabbing pain! Praise God!</div>Aan-Sofie Guzikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110207096935516814noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5091549018839697762.post-47353844966448668122011-08-01T15:23:00.001-07:002011-08-01T15:23:57.350-07:003 Week Tour!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: small; ">Hi Everyone! I'm writing this as I'm packing for my 3 week European trip! I leave tomorrow for Sweden where I will be first in Stockholm for a conference and then go to Gothenburg to visit family. There are two awesome things about this trip, first the Neglia's are coming!, and second my parents will be there! I'm so happy to get to spend some quality time with both!<div>Then from Sweden I will go to Germany, to Siegen to meet up with the group that is driving to Austria for the Calvary Missions Conference! I 'll be in Austria for a week then back to Siegen for 4 days to hang out with friends! Then back to ireland!</div><div>This will be an amazing trip to say the least! I'm so looking forward to it!</div><div><br /></div><div>Some prayer request while I'm traveling!:</div><div>Safety and Sanity!</div><div>Money for extra expenses</div><div>Blesses family and friend time</div><div>and most of all that I would return to Ireland refreshed and blessed by God!</div><div><br /></div><div>Thank you! and I'll be sure to take lots of pictures!<br /></div></span>Aan-Sofie Guzikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110207096935516814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5091549018839697762.post-13086828991197061802011-07-14T02:06:00.000-07:002011-07-14T02:48:05.491-07:00Job? What Job?<div style="text-align: left;">So I mentioned in my "I'm back" post that I had got and job and then subusquiently quit that job. Let me explain,</div><div><br /></div><div>Since I am a EU citizin I can live and work in Europe visa free! What a wonderful blessing and opportunity. Being a "making ends meet" missionary the idead of finding a job had a alsways been on my mind. I would go around and apply every few months. I working in a friends waffle shop for a few months in spring 2010 until they had to close down. The Economy.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Then I'd try and find another job but it was hard as I would be gone for a month in the summer and for a month over Christmas. No one hired me. After I came back from Cali I asked around at a few shops but didn't hand in any CVs (resumes). Then I looked at my responsiblilities for church, the Neglias and counseling; and decided that a job mght not be practical. I prayed and asked God to provide just through support and gave up the job search. This was March.</div><div><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAM38PbyOH2TDOK6zaXtPKiszEQlT2Upa1fNOUCMrRmXsRtwJEZjJq_XYtioJ3xL5thh68norGthYCpT59jWs8p5FO1Q0A3cVhWdpVweyYZNh5y4yG0t_na1DQMuG9YK0khc8ZZpf-xMcd/s320/Clementinas+06.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629135633426002226" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Not two days (!) later did I </div><div>get a call from a friends mother. She was opening a cafe and wanted me to come work. I had actually spoken to her way back in September of 2010 when I was still searching for a job, I told her when you open, I'd love to come work for you. Well I hadn't heard from her so I definitely was not expecting a call 6 months later!</div><div>I felt a bit obligated but also the idea of working in a cafe a few days a week didn't sound too bad!</div><div>So I started in mid March and it was fun at first. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">She had never worked in a cafe before let alone started one so I was hired for my expertise and advice. The place need a lot of work, not major things but just working out a good flow of productivity, honing our menu and recipes, organizing the stock etc. I told myself I couldn't get too involved. I was currently in the 4 bible study, sunday school lesson writing, Eoin tutoring, and various church responsibilities stage of my life and couldn't take on setting up a cafe. But I still cared a lot. Coffee is one of the things I'm passionate about and especially in cafe where customers and money are involved I want to present the best possible product, cleanest environment, and all around good atmosphere.</div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDBeTcl7CR-jkeO8lX9Sf-bvN5Mrqu7h9lEkcR4lYLBe7mIBtsYtWlLkBrw6tht7wK2qz1s3IhLtnVqyylvIgta_DVWKNIFnyvzhoZQZOtenPaN3FNxqh-3FOCYmXufoMFJOjGrLQiXlS6/s320/Clementinas+01.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629141100962832754" /></div><div>So basically I couldn't let things just go. The problem was that all my my suggestions were dismissed or ignored. I could go on and on but it was just very frustrating to be hired to make a difference and then be unable to do so.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>It was getting so stressful that it was affecting my attitude and my body. I started eating a lot of comfort food and was sore and achy. I even twice in the morning would be so stressed out getting ready for work that I actually threw up my breakfast. (those who know me know that I'm not that kind of person, this was serious) My attitude was very bad too. This is when I got in to arguments with my housemates, with whom I had live a year and a half tiff free!</div><div><br /></div><div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4iV0zTgnYGwRbqxQJz4X23t7Ie4TceC7iHr-U4-VKGM4X2Pe3Wo46WAM6oxSFWeHLt6gpAzPqp5hVUaNkGrREGD_c1I7BglExyG4ses-yM6GK-aHE7mPEnevKDaED6OnpsMHNHftAOLB2/s320/Clementinas+10.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629141812995842834" /></div><div>Well lets wrap this up, I talked with the boss lady and was basically attacked for my ideas and grievances. I decided then that I was going to quit. She was going on holiday though for two weeks and would need her employees to work more more shifts, or would have to be closed half the day. My mother often tells me I'm loyal to a fault, so true to nature I told her I would work until she came back. Those two weeks were great! I organized, worked, cleaned without opposition. She came back and I was done and that was that.</div><div><br /></div><div>What made this whole thing just awkward is that she is the mother of a friend and fellow Christian. I hate, even painting a possible negative picture of her because she is a lovely lady, I love chatting with her, she is terribly interesting. But that doesn't not make her a good business woman. And that was the disconnect I had to make in my head. That cafe closed down just a few weeks after I left and she moved to Scotland. </div><div><br /></div><div>A strange experience to be sure. I think I shall not work for friends anymore but shall stick to established places of business.</div><div><br /></div>Aan-Sofie Guzikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110207096935516814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5091549018839697762.post-85171603129072660922011-07-12T14:38:00.000-07:002011-07-12T15:18:10.449-07:00Heal My Heels!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW-NYSvvb-Q4CgK3oy08ELEeCj9ozwp1Q1Hu0TaMiI2OWbiYeTGDRPLnmrdmvl0wOBeKxpxKP2HuYzS07DMnLxUPjAKGRfW8aQsEeVRaObpyo7fuJQaH1Gd3pMChMVLJwDbwDC6zya8bAh/s1600/HPIM2708.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW-NYSvvb-Q4CgK3oy08ELEeCj9ozwp1Q1Hu0TaMiI2OWbiYeTGDRPLnmrdmvl0wOBeKxpxKP2HuYzS07DMnLxUPjAKGRfW8aQsEeVRaObpyo7fuJQaH1Gd3pMChMVLJwDbwDC6zya8bAh/s320/HPIM2708.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628589582522551186" /></a>So in my list of events from the last months I failed to mention excruiating foot pain! How could I forget!?<div><br /></div><div>In May I started noticing my feet were really sore in the morning. Then after walking around town for a day it started to feel like I was walking with a thick nail in each heel. Not so fun. I asked our prayer meeting group to pray for it and the next day the pain wasreduced! By the end of the day it was gone! Praise God! noticeable<div>Two days later the pain returned. I did a little WebMD research and though I have not seen a doctor I am pretty sure I have Plantar Fasciitis. </div><div>Planta- what-now!</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i><br /></i></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i>Plantar fasciitis (say "PLAN-ter fash-ee-EYE-tus") is the most common cause of heel pain. The </i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i><a href="http://www.webmd.com/hw-popup/plantar-fascia" style="text-decoration: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">plantar fascia</span></a> </i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i>is the flat band of tissue (</i></span></span><a href="http://www.webmd.com/hw-popup/ligament" style="text-decoration: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">ligament</span></i></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i>) that connects your heel bone to your toes. It supports the arch of your </i></span></span><a href="http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/picture-of-the-feet" style="text-decoration: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">foot</span></i></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i>. If you strain your plantar fascia, it gets weak, swollen, and irritated (</i></span></span><a href="http://www.webmd.com/hw-popup/inflammation" style="text-decoration: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">inflamed</span></i></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i>). Then your heel or the bottom of your foot hurts when you stand or walk.</i></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i><br /></i></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Delightful! </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">So I sent out a prayer request and started to take care of my feet.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Unfortunately that meant not walking, and i live in a city with no car, I walk everywhere! So I think I sat in my room for about 2 days. My feet felt better but again, after a just 30 min of walking there was the Pain again.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">So I went to the drug store and took a look at shoe inserts. There was one with my name on it! It also had a 30 euro price tag! Well I got them and a foot massager. And tried to get lifts/rides when ever I could.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size:medium;">Thankfully with prayers and good care it's manageable. I also learned that it doesn't last forever. My aunt had it and now she it totally fine. So now my feet are managed by these rules (open to debate by other suggestions but this is what works for me!):</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size:medium;"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqL8nG77rvoe5VNV_y0KBcphZ4NdXT-KP4cgQG6x8s_zRGqhxJiIOmfGA0JH0XZAvoWVRaHIMNrse_VDUqxoxZNVhtpU68-K8ipR8UHlLHrl2dY5unMtD5PBWxN1rRRScFED5XHzzrSlEG/s320/HPIM2711.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628592236291219426" /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; line-height: 16px; ">No flat shoes, at least a one inch heel to take the pressure off my heel</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; line-height: 16px; ">No going barefoot, not even at home if I can help it</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size:medium;">Minimize walking, not more than 30 min at a time</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size:medium;">Massage feet every night</span></span></div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj80RCiz1H9DxhgAEHCLXOQAFsfIq5WrLSsW7XqblvF4HT324UgsSVcKrI13HLISp6hLdXC6lw5gVcpMBrdVcvF2wT6ym0NA5BYLUk32ieHuin7tMOcPCCbX9jREjObSxQB3zz3qtwKKb9H/s320/HPIM2702.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628589566971883058" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px; font-family:georgia;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px; font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px; font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px; font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px; font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px; font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px; font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px; font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px; font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px; font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px; font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px; font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px; font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px; font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; line-height: 16px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; line-height: 16px; ">Soak feet a few nights a week</span></div><div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Xu2rBi5kG8naXcXKvGE9tITbNn9RleFuIphG4DK5ZxkLVdJ3wgvqYnyVQVzmgvbFsBpX0_joxMj2lhFtf3Cb-J7yHI7WsykLZ63C6LBvtDMBRQEOe7g1FI59oL6AEptqygnlkVDi2fP4/s320/HPIM2698.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628589551251865522" /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; line-height: 16px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; line-height: 16px; ">Take ibuprofen daily</span></div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjgr3b4VPZy4US-PN4rohsRHOxTNfw-cC6vebWkCRZFhHEkr0-smeR9r26GoKqD2IoTNeBqRMYeexgFYF-6sDRVVorq2S75Gsn7IuIXMfHjNpvHWKf2h98sFP1rUFl-OPFv0YvINKjRCuc/s320/HPIM2700.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628589555909871394" /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; line-height: 16px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; line-height: 16px; ">And Prayer!</span></div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK_gasAId0_921AJv2zMrfck_mFAkt5m1F4-J9e1ZM8J0fII27FI15-x6ydh9b2JqGpTqDCqmcYGaK_4R4NnDrnrG9Hu73vQMq6aP73PjpdqqLDakUWiBx_iG6YmAmCU-f7UF5E7yximNh/s320/HPIM2707.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628590391893703282" /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px; font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px; font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px; font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px; font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px; font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px; font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 16px; font-family:georgia;">So that is what I'm dealing with now! I'd greatly appreciate your prayers! Those two shoes pictured above are the only shoes I can really wear. And the tan ones gave me blisters on my toes (that is why my feet look so gross, sorry!) </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">I know it sounds silly but a girl can't wear one pair of shoes with every outfit! And the heels are wearing down cause I wear them every day! So pray for heeling (!) and pray I can find suitable shoes. </span></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span></span></div></div>Aan-Sofie Guzikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110207096935516814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5091549018839697762.post-31240513224936987472011-07-08T00:01:00.001-07:002011-07-08T00:17:56.482-07:00Back at Last!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYXKF9jn5V5itVUNEc3Yvjwstbt076UL3smhjo4hZtY6LYOuvuv45cwOsCH35mfS99lbO7M2wW9h0ePcWfvlUjPA3tj1iCXXM-gsLIjbCPKvSVMOur9keSgtEQWRPcnhanM67y6CHYi3bR/s1600/Photo+on+2011-05-14+at+10.16+%25233.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYXKF9jn5V5itVUNEc3Yvjwstbt076UL3smhjo4hZtY6LYOuvuv45cwOsCH35mfS99lbO7M2wW9h0ePcWfvlUjPA3tj1iCXXM-gsLIjbCPKvSVMOur9keSgtEQWRPcnhanM67y6CHYi3bR/s320/Photo+on+2011-05-14+at+10.16+%25233.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626873384610761890" /></a>I'm back! Forgive me readers! I can truly say that March, April, May and June have been the busiest months I've ever had in Ireland. To be completely honest there we some weeks I didn't know how I was going to do it all. I would even go days with out wearing any earrings! And for those that know me, that is a big deal! But now in July I can relax a bit more, catch up on some things and try and enjoy the Irish summer (which is 50/50 split between rain and sunshine)!<div><br /></div><div>So I know I left this blog without finishing retelling my california adventures, but I'm going to skip a head to the now. I may cheat and do some post-dated entires just to finish my story! But to catch you all up here is a breakdown of my last 4 months!</div><div><ul><li>Getting a job at a cafe</li><li>My dad coming to visit</li><li>Counseling a women in church</li><li>Teaching a single women's bible study</li><li>Easter!</li><li>An Irish Wedding!</li><li>Rachel and Eoin go to California for 3 weeks</li><li>Quitting my job at the cafe</li><li>Redecorating my living room</li><li>Throwing Rachel a western birthday party</li><li>Tiffs with roommates</li><li>New Sunday School curriculum</li><li>Throwing a friends a going away party</li><li>New washer and stove</li><li>Bathing in the Irish sea!</li><li>Going to Berlin for 4 days</li><li>Eoin writing his first letters!</li><li>And finally blogging again!</li></ul><div>Whew! See, I have been busy! And all this with my usual bookkeeping, cleaning, sunday school, supply shopping, babysitting, sleeping, eating and living!</div></div><div><br /></div><div>So thank you for being gracious. I've to hop in the shower now cause I'm going to work with Eoin in a bit! See you soon!</div>Aan-Sofie Guzikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110207096935516814noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5091549018839697762.post-5982542034086191392011-03-20T18:31:00.001-07:002011-03-20T18:34:25.689-07:00Getting things done<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">How did you not manage to blog at all last week?!? </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">How you ask? Well let's take a break from our California trip and get a news flash update!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: small; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Things have been quite busy! First up, I have a part time job! Oh the irony! Back in November, a mother of a friend of mine was in the process of opening up a cafe. She was planning to open in December and wanted me to work part time. As I was eager for a job then I agreed but said I would be gone for a month over the holidays. When I came back and was still thinking of working, she hadn't opened yet! She kept getting delays of every kind so I just gave up on it. Which suited my fine since I was becoming so busy. I decided to shelf the job search and just focus on ministry. God had blessed me with some individual supporters on my trip to California and I would be okay for money. Then I got the call, the cafe was opening. What timing! I tired to think of a way out but I had promised, she truly needed me, and I honestly missed making cappuccinos. So I started last week! It is a lot of fun but I am busier than ever now. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">To top it off I also got sick last week (and still am at the moment). What started as the stomach flu has progressed into a good ol' fashioned cold. I really don't like being sick! It's hasn't been fun since I was a kid and being sick actually got you out of responsibilities and you had someone to wait on you hand and foot. Needless to say I miss my mom!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">And thirdly my dad comes this Wednesday! I am so excited to spend time with him and show him the country, city, and people that I love so dearly. We re going to do a trip driving around the Ring of Kerry. A scenic trip around one of the western peninsulas. It should be amazing! </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">And there is a lot going on in the church too! We hare having a Seder on Wednesday night. It's a little early I know, but we are going through Deuteronomy and it fits in with the text this week so we're doing it now! We also have a men's breakfast, women's tea party and 3 day seminar in the next week. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So please pray for me! There is a lot to do, little time to do it, lots of distractions (good and bad) so please pray that I get everything done! It's my desire to spend and be spend for the Lord but I like to live to see 25! That's a little over dramatic but I'm sick so I'm a little whiny these days.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">That is what's going on! I hope you are having a good, less busy week!</span></span></div></span></div>Aan-Sofie Guzikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110207096935516814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5091549018839697762.post-79157366733004299612011-03-09T07:23:00.000-08:002011-03-09T07:47:07.915-08:00California # 4 - Missions ConferenceSo once again I'm afraid I have no pictures! I really should have thought this out, the whole Photo Reflection thing. But in any case let's get on with my trip to California before anymore time goes by!<div><br /></div><div>After the Missions day at Santa Barbara, I headed south to Murrieta California for the Calvary Chapel Missions Conference. This year I particularly looking forward to it as I would be attending it as a full guest and not just for a day as in past years. Plus my dear friend Annie Johnson was coming down from Minnesota to the conference!</div><div><br /></div><div>Now Annie and I met in Germany, oh so many years ago. I can't remember exactly when but it must have been in 2005-06 because I wasn't living in Siegen anymore. Right away, we knew (I did at least) that we were kindred spirits but we never seemed to have enough time to become great friends. With scattered and quick opportunities throughout the years we have become great friends. We would find ourselves in a same place for a day or two and make a point to hang out. She is wonderful! So I was really glad to get to spend a whole week with her at the conference.</div><div><br /></div><div>The conference runs from Monday to Thursday with loads of speakers and workshops. It was such a blessed time. Not only to hear great teaching, but to see people who I hadn't seen in years! I kept bumping into people! The most amazing was problem my roommate from my time in Mallorca Spain, who now lives in Arizona, but came to the conference! Or wait, a girl from my first semester in Germany who now lives in Texas was there! Crazy!</div><div>Each day was filled with amazing meals, meeting new people, seeing old friends, making new connections, inspiring and enlightening messages, amazing weather, and the presence of God. </div><div><br /></div><div>One things sticks out the most to me that is from one meal, either a breakfast or a lunch, Annie and I sat at a table with 6 girls all under 11. I have a real heart for kids growing up in ministry as I was a pastor's kid from the womb! I asked them what they liked about being a missionary kid and this is what they said:</div><div>Katie (10) - Helping people</div><div>Trinity (8) - Helping poor kids</div><div>Rachel (7) - She likes Sunday School and Church time</div><div>Lindsey (11) - Building houses for poor people</div><div>Savannah (10) - Helping others and telling people about the Gospel</div><div><br /></div><div>I about cried! It was so encouraging to see these young girls loving the fact that they get to share in the work of God where their parents serve. </div><div><br /></div><div>Another missionary daughter, shared with me her song journal where she wrote a chorus for a Psalm. She hadn't shown it to anyone yet! It was the sweetest song I have ever heard! Her heart of praise to God at 10 years old!</div><div><br /></div><div>The whole week was like this, just wonderful stories and testimonies.</div><div>I must confess I did skip a few sessions to relax or nap! But it's supposed to be a relaxing time!</div><div><br /></div><div>Then I dropped Annie off to catch a train in Oceanside and drove further south to San Diego to meet up with my dear friend. But that will wait for next time and I promise I have pictures of that!</div>Aan-Sofie Guzikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110207096935516814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5091549018839697762.post-30020829861101885122011-02-25T07:50:00.000-08:002011-02-25T09:02:47.140-08:00Reflections of Cali # 3 Video Link EditionSo where were we....<div>Oh yeah Christmas!</div><div><br /></div><div>So after Christmas I was just visiting friends, going to the prayer meeting in Santa Maria, I went to midweek study in Thousand Oaks; did some shopping and eating frozen yogurt. I was also preparing for Calvary Chapel Santa Barbara's mission Sunday on the 2nd. </div><div>But first New Years!</div><div>Unlike most people I know, I actually really like New Year's. I find it very anthropologicly (word?) interesting. Here is mankind, who has created a system of tracking time and when the allotted "year" is over mankind celebrates the passing of time and the future all at once. But I have yet to have an amazing New Years. :(</div><div>One year I did go to San Francisco, but I had to work the next day which meant I had to get up at 6 am to drive back down to Santa Barbara. Bleh! Then my first New Years in Ireland was fun, but I was with a bunch of people who aren't really so excited about "New Years" so it was more of a holiday party. Fun but not what I was hoping for.</div><div>So this time I decided to make New Year's great! Anyone who has known me from my early adult years know I love 80s music. I just can't get enough! ;-)</div><div>So there is a place in Hollywood that always has a big 80s New Year's bash. This was what I wanted. I convinced my good friend Bri to join me, even though she said she is not so much into dancing. This just shows you what a great friend she is! SO Bri was on board! Then my brother Nathan lives in LA! A place to say! No one wants to drive 2 hours back to Santa Barbara after dancing all night! Plus how fun to celebrate New Year's with my bro!</div><div><br /></div><div>So Bri and I drove to LA, to Nathan's house. Then spent a good 2 hours getting all done up with Nathan's girlfriend Cera. I am such a girl because I love the "getting ready" part of an evening our. We teased our hair, adorned loads of jewelry and tried on many variations on the same outfit! Nathan was a dear and went and got pizza for us!</div><div>We took to metro to Hollywood Blvd and made it to the club with 5 minutes to spare for the discount early door fee. And then we danced the night away! It was so much fun! We cheered the count down, danced some more and then took the metro home! A good night! A great New Years!</div><div><br /></div><div>Bri had to work in Santa Maria in the evening so we left LA at about 11. I went home and took a nap! Then went straight to work on my presentation for Mission's Sunday.</div><div><br /></div><div>I was given the great opportunity to get up before the church and share about what I'm doing in Ireland. Santa Barbara, supports so many great missionaries and many were there so I knew it was a big deal that I got the slot. Unashamedly I know the pendulum swung my way because of my father but as a missionary, any opportunity to get your face out there is appreciated. My dad told me in the days leading up to it, "Aan-Sofie it's got to be good."</div><div>"I know dad, I'm working on it."</div><div>"No, it's REALLY important that you do really well on Sunday."</div><div>"Oh... okay...."</div><div>Not that I was going to do a lazy job but I sudden'y realized the gravity of the situation. David Guzik had given a speaking slot to his daughter. If I bombed, it would reflect poorly not only on myself but on my father's judgement and decisions. So I went over and over my text. Saturday afternoon I did a dry run in front of my parents. They said it was great. My dad gave me the nod of approval and I continued to work on my videos and table decorations. </div><div><br /></div><div>Sunday came, I wore my new dress, curl my hair and read furiously over my notes. I was so anxious as I walked up the steps to the podium. I had decided to have a slideshow of Eoin and me playing while I spoke. Partly to just show people what I do, but also so that they would look at the video and not me! It worked! I was nervous but as I spoke I was more confident. When you are sharing something that you are so passionate and invested in, it is easy to speak. So I was done, my dad gave me a hug and I walked back down, took my seat and breathed!</div><div>I had to do it once more for the second service but I was much more confident then.</div><div><br /></div><div>In between services and after the last one I manned my table in the lobby. I had "lucky" Irish pennies to give out, prayer cards and smiles! I got to speak to many people who had special needs kids or work with them and they were touched by what I do. Since many americans have Irish roots I met several who were glad to hear what God is doing in Ireland. </div><div>All around I'd have to say the day was amazing! God blessed me so much, my hard work paid off, and the church was encouraged to hear my story!</div><div><br /></div><div>You can see my presentation at the link below. It's the whole service. First another missionary speaks, then my dad, then me about 33 minutes in:</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; "><a href="http://www.calvarychapelsb.com/videos.php?q=view&id=733" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 51); ">http://www.calvarychapelsb.<wbr>com/videos.php?q=view&id=733</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Next up Missions Conference! (but that's for the next post!)</div>Aan-Sofie Guzikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110207096935516814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5091549018839697762.post-57981766599516069332011-02-14T02:30:00.000-08:002011-02-14T03:03:09.707-08:00Photo Reflections of Cali #2 (minus the photos)So I don't have any pictures of Christmas since my mom took them all! I wasn't able to get them off her camera because she lost it at Magic Mountain (they found it and sent it to us praise God!) so for a week when I could have downloaded the pics the camera was mia.<div><br /></div><div>But... Christmas! It was a 3 days event! Our family traditionally does everything on Christmas Eve but Calvary Santa Barbara was putting on a huge production, actually 2! A christmas play and then my dad did a message. Plus it was at a real theater downtown! So Christmas Eve my family, myself and Nathan's girlfriend Cera opened presents, had an early dinner, then got ready for the event. We had to get a bit dressed up so Cera and I spent some fun girl time in the bathroom curling our hair and putting on makeup. Then when we got to the theater we were shown our seats and we were sitting in those raised box alcove seats! I've never sat in the box before! I felt like character in a Austen novel, although usually the rich characters were not the nicest so never mind. The play was amazing and dad's message was great. But as there were two performances my brother, Cera and I hoped in the car and went home to have some dessert. Then Cera had to go to her mom's house and Jonathan and I watched tv. Mom and dad came home, then Nathan and we probable ate some more then we went to bed. </div><div><br /></div><div>Christmas day just so happens to be Nathan's birthday! Another tradition in our family is breakfast in bed on your birthday. Since the emptying of the Guzik nest there hasn't been a birthday breakfast in bed in I don't know how many years. So it was really special to be able to all be together for this. What you do is walking into the birthday-ee's room carrying a tray of their requested breakfast foods and everyone sings "Happy Birthday". Then you watch them eat, take pictures of their "just woken up" sate and hand them gifts in between bits of lucky charms and french toast. It is loads of fun! Then we kinda just chilled the rest of the day. Nathan went to spend some of the day with Cera's family. </div><div><br /></div><div>In the evening Jonathan and I went to our uncle's house in Ventura where the Guzik clan was gathering for the sake of the cousins to see each other. Hannah now lives in Oregon, Sam in Washington, Josiah goes to school in San Diego, I'm in Ireland, Nathan in L.A., Jonathan had been in Germany, Melissa, Mark live in Carlsbad. So needless to ay we don't get together very often. My Aunt Carrie made food, we ate said food. Then we played games and watched old movies of us as kids! Oh, I forgot to mention, Nathan joined us! So were were all together!</div><div><br /></div><div>Almost done! This was a three day event remember!</div><div><br /></div><div>The day after Christmas there was church in the morning. That was fun because I ran into so many people that I remembered from my time in SB! We went home and then had a traditional Swedish Christmas Smorgasbord! Pickled herring, hard boiled eggs, crisp bread, meatballs, potatoes, pickles, smoked cheese. Amazing! We opened a few more gifts, ate more sweet things and then Nathan had to go home. </div><div><br /></div><div>the best thing of all was being with my family. Merry Christmas!</div>Aan-Sofie Guzikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110207096935516814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5091549018839697762.post-76626493615389086322011-02-11T12:44:00.001-08:002011-02-11T13:00:25.007-08:00Photo Reflection of Cali #1<div><br /></div><div>I have to admit two of the things I was most looking forward to on my great big trip to California the past Christmas were 1. The Beach and 2. Driving.</div><div><br /></div><div>True there is coast and beaches in Ireland but they are not the same. It is almost never hot or even sunny. You would never dream of getting in the water. When I lived in California I would make it to the beach a couple times a month. Even it just to sit and watch the waves. Being near the ocean make me feel closer to God somehow and being in California, especially Santa Barbara is just glorious.</div><div><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ3C6MQVmSACLv4E38sASuYLXQT53g4gopeeh98Mjd1k_dgilQzg6TtAtJbt6ByeJyDhyphenhyphenyJO4gMR5kVBjSnI8VbudFbwygAzJmiNCK90Fxyw5dSeacPnUNdZdRXzkJfEkMcYq6_vsLC-93/s320/CA+Trip+04.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572536347890912482" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.8333px; "></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.8333px; ">So nice! And this was December!</span></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZgbVzqOPBXsRYpVfYfx2ovWrpd376ETC-wXIL_QEsIG5DpSQFDMGiO4vYib9tbsK9bGdCQAB6VK4euErwbshTYh8Mpf7dXcNWU8q0UxhU_mtUGz_LyxG9s80N0-P4mXrajTFoJ1CoWoS6/s320/CA+Trip+06.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572536350045613554" />Then there is DRVING! I actually don't drive in Ireland at all. Once I moved someone car back and forth while they were on vacation but that is it. I can drive, I can even drive manual cars so that's not the issue. But I'm actually terrified to drive in a right-side driver car. The pedals are the same but the shifting feels totally weird. I know all it would take is practice but since I can't afford to have a car here anyway, why bother! So I was very happy to come to California and drive! And not just get from A to B but to drive the short stretch between Ventura and Santa Barbara. I think it is the prettiest drive ever. I'm sure there are ones more lovely but not to me!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYPcU9kUI0pCjGKg6JT8gr4cZPQ59VmV9WHXf6v8a_2v7HU48tU1izdYuyEVeZ-sT2vY0jD-eaSJxlKBGAaG1KtaSE0hVuF3tqBQ28ckRmk_6tD8Lrs3jH4ZQvmjdNIcnPRYyNRwDi_VzJ/s1600/CA+Trip+13.JPG"></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYPcU9kUI0pCjGKg6JT8gr4cZPQ59VmV9WHXf6v8a_2v7HU48tU1izdYuyEVeZ-sT2vY0jD-eaSJxlKBGAaG1KtaSE0hVuF3tqBQ28ckRmk_6tD8Lrs3jH4ZQvmjdNIcnPRYyNRwDi_VzJ/s1600/CA+Trip+13.JPG"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYPcU9kUI0pCjGKg6JT8gr4cZPQ59VmV9WHXf6v8a_2v7HU48tU1izdYuyEVeZ-sT2vY0jD-eaSJxlKBGAaG1KtaSE0hVuF3tqBQ28ckRmk_6tD8Lrs3jH4ZQvmjdNIcnPRYyNRwDi_VzJ/s320/CA+Trip+13.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572536358349039874" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.8333px; ">This is the view while you drive! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.8333px; ">Combine it with some great music and nothing makes me more content!</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnrLKRQRcQ6Gz_EO7FVT_Q9qpPkgOCfIREhtTapC2ozX3XuofstGn2mdpBwk3n7hDTVzxit8EgPS9tNtA7WlbOZZthpluQ8VJMthS2ZtTSHLrPiya768xOTmvquXWHQwfiU0UiTaFk8g5c/s1600/CA+Trip+10.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnrLKRQRcQ6Gz_EO7FVT_Q9qpPkgOCfIREhtTapC2ozX3XuofstGn2mdpBwk3n7hDTVzxit8EgPS9tNtA7WlbOZZthpluQ8VJMthS2ZtTSHLrPiya768xOTmvquXWHQwfiU0UiTaFk8g5c/s320/CA+Trip+10.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572536353969597698" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.8333px; ">Oh yeah! I'm driving!</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp9by_QZdsKhWbhZvwVZV5MJhVs40ExotGJxhVzas2P_PVafJwrQfx3ttaE6tv62P0ePg4vNnb1lwm9pwzwlZltm7bAy6hHdhU7QQhMHZPzTW0hIpAwRPLoWenntwj2R_mt5BdcKuz9Nt0/s1600/CA+Trip+08.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp9by_QZdsKhWbhZvwVZV5MJhVs40ExotGJxhVzas2P_PVafJwrQfx3ttaE6tv62P0ePg4vNnb1lwm9pwzwlZltm7bAy6hHdhU7QQhMHZPzTW0hIpAwRPLoWenntwj2R_mt5BdcKuz9Nt0/s320/CA+Trip+08.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572536352351854594" /></a>So this is post one of my trip! I finally got my pictures sorted and I can't wait to start reminiscing!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Aan-Sofie Guzikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110207096935516814noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5091549018839697762.post-90006787804502704602011-02-03T16:50:00.000-08:002011-02-03T16:59:33.886-08:00Jet Laggin' with a CapeSo I'm still fighting the Jet Lag monster. It is nearly 1am and I'm not tired. I could start on a number of projects but I don't want to stay up to 4 am! So I thought I'd shoot out a quick post since I am on a roll for updating my blog!<div><br /></div><div>Though I did a lot of shopping in California when I got back in Cork I still had the shopping bug. Ladies you know what I mean! A few days ago i trotted down to Penny's. Penny's is the best store ever for a missionary. It's a store filled with cheap clothes and accessories that you can also find great treasures in. I found a cape.</div><div><br /></div><div>Not a super hero, bright red one. But a jersey, navy blue hooded one. And I have to saw it is my favorite new item of clothing! It is the comfy-est coat! Plus it has the added whimsy of being a cape! I think it may just help be get though the rest of the winter!</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, don't want to go on and on about a cape cause that would be just too silly. I just am so excited to have a fun cosy new warming device that is cute to boot!</div><div>Hopefully I'll have some pictures of it soon!</div>Aan-Sofie Guzikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110207096935516814noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5091549018839697762.post-69301978376798017692011-01-31T15:58:00.000-08:002011-01-31T16:06:46.542-08:00Hello!Greetings to all of you who may be checking my blog for the first time! I hope there are a lot over you since I just got back from a trip to California where I handed out over 200 prayer cards with this web address on it!<div><br /></div><div>I am back in Cork, Ireland and I must admit I am still adjusting. Don't get me wrong I love being here but it is so cold! I mean cold! And I'm told it had actually warmed up the last few days! And then there is the time difference... 8 hours ahead of California time! My second night I didn't fall asleep until 6am! That would be 10pm CA time. I'm getting better but jet lag is not fun. Usually I'm able to will myself into submission to the time reality I am physically in but not this time! </div><div><br /></div><div>I have many things to do:</div><div>Update email contacts</div><div>Missions Newsletter Update</div><div>Sort through photos</div><div>Meet with Pastor Mike</div><div>Call my parents</div><div>Go grocery shopping</div><div><br /></div><div>I plan to get all this an more done this week! So to all you newbies, expect an email from me in the next week! And some more posts as I sort through the photos and events of my 5 week trip!</div><div>Thanks for reading!</div>Aan-Sofie Guzikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110207096935516814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5091549018839697762.post-80259253830514138072011-01-25T03:52:00.000-08:002011-01-25T03:53:01.785-08:00Time well spent!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: small; ">Well after 5 weeks in California I'm heading back to Ireland! All in all it has been a really good trip. Holidays with my family, missions conference, visiting friends, family and churches. All good stuff! But I am eager to get back to my life and work in Cork. So please pray that I make all my connections including my train from Dublin to Cork. And pray that I'm able to transition easily back into the time zone, the weather and work mode!<div>Thank you all for your faithful prayers!</div></span>Aan-Sofie Guzikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110207096935516814noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5091549018839697762.post-17909239431620655392011-01-17T18:06:00.000-08:002011-01-18T10:03:01.200-08:00Junk, Jury Duty and ExplorationsSo last week on Wednesday my father took me to their storage unit in Goleta. Among the mattresses and lawnmowers were the boxes I had packed up over 7 years ago when we were leaving for Germany. With the trepidation I prepared myself to see what my 16 year old self thought was important enough to save. Oh boy!<div>TO any of you 20 year olds, remember when in jr. high/high school it was cool to be way into children's toys? Yeah well I had a whole box of blue's clues, sesame street and disney stuff. oh my! </div><div>Then we come to the evidence of my hoarding: a box of saved gift bags. A WHOLE BOX! Not just gift back but store bags that I thought were cool. *shakes head*</div><div>Other than those chilling finds, the rest was a delightful walk down memory lane as I sifted though school projects, VHS tapes, childhood mementos and lots of books.</div><div><br /></div><div>The following day, Thursday, I had Jury Duty. It was too late to try and get out of it. So I went! I had to go to Ventura since that is where I'm registered. My dad told me to bring plenty of reading materials. But when I got there they had free WiFi! So I sat for a couple hours. We could go outside so I sat in the sun and read. They would call us all in at times and read off names for Jury Selection. Around 10:30 my name was called! I went to the second floor and sat in the court room. They explained the basic details of the case (Criminal court: sexual battery and petty theft) and told us we would be interview by the judge, prosecutor and the defender. I must say as interesting as the whole process is there is nothing more mind numbing then Jury Selection. One by one, the 50 were going through this long process of elimination until it was 4:45pm. The judge announced that we would recess until the next day. I had to come back even though I might not be selected! </div><div>They opened the next morning by filling in the empty seat they ended yesterday with. When a jury was excused they select a random name to fill it. At 9:15am my named was called to fill that seat. After being interviewed by all three people, I stayed in my seat. I was to serve on the jury!</div><div>The trial started after the final jury selections were made and around 3:30 were went into deliberation. I learned many thing that day including that "sexual battery" is any touching of an intimate area with sexual intent. I really think they should change the name cause it was really hard to overcome the battery word when we were dealing with someone who had groped not beat someone. Of the whole process the deliberation was my favorite. 12 strangers discussing and deliberating the charges and the law! I wont go into the whole process, not because off court order but I just don't want to type that much! But I will say that I was a very vocal prat of the process. Eventually we found the guy guilty of sexual battery and not guilty of petty theft. </div><div><br /></div><div>Then on Saturday my mom and I spent a day exploring Santa Barbara1 We sent to Monetcito, the Mesa, a bit of State Street. We ate lunch on the Mesa. Tri-tip blue cheese sandwiches! Yum! Bought some raspberries and ate them at the beach! Fun!</div><div><br /></div><div>All in all a very exciting week!</div>Aan-Sofie Guzikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110207096935516814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5091549018839697762.post-25873450443327203992011-01-11T12:33:00.000-08:002011-01-11T13:15:42.664-08:00What a Week!Whew! I have had quite a week! Amazing but tiring! Thus today I slept till I woke!<div>Monday (3rd) my parents and I left for the Calvary Chapel Missions Conference in Murrieta. All I can say about it is totally blessed! I went for the whole conference experience, not just a day or two as in previous years. I stayed in the dorms, ate the meals, went in the hot springs! And though it all my dear friend Annie was with me! Annie and I met in Germany but I was visiting my family and she was working at the Bible College. We both new we'd be best friends if we could just be in the same city for any length of time! So we are kindred spirits from afar! Anytime we are together though it so blessed and we can just talk about anything.</div><div>So back to the conference, the speakers were amazing! The line up was a good mix of bible text teaching and ministry sharing. I got to see so many people! Some that I haven't seen in 5 years! And I made new friends! It is just blessed to hear and see what God is doing in so many lives. </div><div>The conference ended Thursday afternoon and I drove straight to Sand Diego to visit another dear friend, Robin and her husband Ryan. I only had a day and a half to be there it was so good to see another friends. This is part of getting older I guess, you have friends in random places and you visit when you can hoping to never fully lose touch. </div><div>So Robin and I went to Coronado, ate amazing pizza and had delicious frozen yogurt! Then it was back on the road early Saturday morning to meet my parents in Simi Valley to condense to 1 car and head to ... get ready for it ... Magic Mountain! We spent the day riding the most insane roller coasters! A ... MA ... ZING! Then off to Olive Garden for Dinner and Best Western for bed then Denny's for breakfast. bEst family weekend ever! Sunday we went to Reality LA for church then off to one of the biggest Thrift Stores I have ever seen. Then home! Where Annie was come for frozen yogurt, bed and a ride to the airport in the morning.</div><div>After taking Annie to the airport I popped down to New Port to visit another friend Dannah, then straight up to Santa Maria for a prayer meeting.</div><div>The End! Whew!</div>Aan-Sofie Guzikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110207096935516814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5091549018839697762.post-73202861945286344952011-01-06T21:25:00.000-08:002011-01-06T21:34:21.916-08:00California #1So this a welcome to those of you have have picked up my prayer card. Welcome! I have had this blog since being in Ireland but am sorry to say was not so great at up dates.<div>It's the typical self conscience blogger deal; "No one wants to hear about how I went to the grocery store." "Who reads this thing anyway" "No one cares". </div><div>But since being in California I have realized how loved and prayed for I am! You do care! So my New Year's resolution is to blog more. (I did make this last year, but lets be honest most resolutions take a few years to stick! ;)</div><div>So thank you to all of you who have been praying for me and who intent to pray for me in the future! I can truly attest to the blessings of God in my life over the last year and I know it is largely due to those who have been faithfully praying for me (shout out to Calvary Chapel Santa Maria Monday night missions prayer group!)</div><div>Right now I am siting in my dear friends house in San Diego after the Calvary Chapel Missions Conference in Murrieta. I will visit a bit then head back to Santa Barbara. I am really tired but it the good kind of tired. The tired that comes from talking to amazing people all week. Meeting new friend and re-connecting with old ones. So I'm going to keep this one short but expect more to come!</div>Aan-Sofie Guzikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110207096935516814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5091549018839697762.post-12490721373207635842010-11-12T15:46:00.000-08:002010-11-12T16:36:04.130-08:00ImpactsIt's been ages and I can't even begin to explain or apologize. I just got lazy and busy at the same time.<div><br /></div><div>But a good friend here in Cork told me something the other day and I just was so blessed by it I thought, "I must blog about this!"</div><div><br /></div><div>I have been in Cork Ireland for a year now and I absolutely love it! I work closely with the pastor's family and behind the scenes at the church. God has shown me just how blessed I am to be serving in a place where I have awesome fellowship and my gifts are being used. There are still many things that challenge me though. I am a missionary but I must admit I am not gifted in evangelism. It can be quite intimidating. The church here does a outreach twice a month and at first it was very hard for me feel any sort of confidence in sharing my faith.</div><div><br /></div><div>What we do is stand in front of the post office on Friday nights and hand out free tea and coffee to people heading out to pubs. I could probably do a whole post on these experiences alone (which I should!) I often end up being a bit of novelty as I have such a funny accent being from America and all. Then they'll find out I'm from California and that is when the teenage girls shriek! </div><div><br /></div><div>My friend Eimear, at church, told me that her cousin was over at her house and was telling her about how she got a free cup of tea from these Christians outside the post office. "And there was this really nice girl. She was so sweet." That girl was me! Eimear's cousin didn't remember "the American" or "the holy roller" but "the really nice Christian girl". She hadn't ever really encountered Christians in that kind of way. She hadn't seen that we are normal and nice!</div><div>I wish I had had a chance to talk more with her. But even when I don't have a opportunity to share the gospel with someone it is very important to me to be as friendly and nice as possible. To give people a positive "christian experience".</div><div><br /></div><div>Then Eimear told me about another girl in my favorite shop Lush that she has bumped into several times in town. I go to Lush every week! Even when I don't buy anything, I just hang out with the workers and smell lotions! Eimear said "you must know my friend Aan-Sofie?!" Lush girl says "Oh she's really religious right. She's a Christian I think." Now, I rarely talk about my faith there, and I have never talked to this girl in particular. But she knew!</div><div><br /></div><div>After being here a year these are the things that are really encouraging. That I am, even in little ways impacting the city. True, dozens aren't converting. But people in the community know what I stand for, why I'm here and can see that not all Christians are attempting to burn the Koran.</div><div><br /></div><div>Even a small impact is an impact!</div>Aan-Sofie Guzikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110207096935516814noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5091549018839697762.post-42547679961688803922010-04-25T14:32:00.000-07:002010-04-27T16:43:12.458-07:00Dear Ol' Dad<img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRicgFawntu0k4p56HpLaD1RqzaIdISDxHHuxhFTb_iUZoXGawupHZWLhgdZT7W_Bm0X6MClCik4z9n_coYW8ljfDeT6znHYQXV0Y8oW5dh2UhyphenhyphenWkYc5AItylp1L19mc9wh86WOD9lJ3NP/s320/DSC00357.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464191823447937874" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">My Dad has his own blog, which you can read at http://davidguzik.wordpress.com. He updates more than I do, but I had mine first, so there!</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">In his blog he has been introducing the internet to his three children, myself included. I have to say there are few things better in your young adult life than the praise of your parents. I'm sure they have a great sense of pride and accomplishment being the teachers, care givers, counselors, disciplinarians, and benefactors of our lives. But as the child, you feel that in their praise you have returned good on their investment. I hate to make this sound so business like, but it's true! When I read what my Dad wrote about me, I had an overwhelming sense of "I'm so happy I have become even one measure worthy of the the love and time he put into my life."</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">This is so true in our relationship with God as well. There is no way we can ever say we gave God a good return on His investment in us. But when He does lift us up and tell us how proud of us He is, it is an amazing feeling. That our lives at this point have become a giant "Thank You" to our Heavenly Father. I definitely feel that way with my earthly father and heavenly Father. Anything amazing in my character and life is a direct result of the time and love they put into my growth.<br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So this is me blogging about my dad!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">David Guzik</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I love my dad. He is the best man I know. Even without being my father, I think he is one of the greatest men on this earth. I've just got to know him better being his daughter! I hardly know where to being in describing David Guzik. I suppose a good place to start is when I was a child. My father gave lots of hugs. I only realize now in my adulthood how precious and important a father love can be for a girl. I was truly blessed with a father who not only loved me but showed it. One of his games was the Teddy Bear Game. Dad would be home, maybe after work or on the weekend and would be napping on the couch. One of us kids would walk past him and he would grab us and cuddle us, all the time pretending that he was still asleep and we were his teddy bear. We would of course, protest and try to "wake" him up and say "I'm not your teddy bear!". He would only hold us tighter! Eventually we would break free, laugh and run away. And I'm sure it may have seemed at the time that it wasn't our favorite; but when I look back at my childhood, that is one of my favorite memories. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Zo4QrpowMb6ROPL6lfYt7l_YdXeZ70IyV5LgCw8JrnZ74wJHOGbd363OqxAtNC2kvhjT5soeZEoExGh6lLYZ011oBe7EMaKSrL2jaxouTg9NKB1vMoz_Qrc8sEbIEtVb5o2mEKa0QnMH/s1600/dad+b-day+breakfast.jpg"></a><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Zo4QrpowMb6ROPL6lfYt7l_YdXeZ70IyV5LgCw8JrnZ74wJHOGbd363OqxAtNC2kvhjT5soeZEoExGh6lLYZ011oBe7EMaKSrL2jaxouTg9NKB1vMoz_Qrc8sEbIEtVb5o2mEKa0QnMH/s1600/dad+b-day+breakfast.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 234px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Zo4QrpowMb6ROPL6lfYt7l_YdXeZ70IyV5LgCw8JrnZ74wJHOGbd363OqxAtNC2kvhjT5soeZEoExGh6lLYZ011oBe7EMaKSrL2jaxouTg9NKB1vMoz_Qrc8sEbIEtVb5o2mEKa0QnMH/s320/dad+b-day+breakfast.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464192311633886114" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Breakfast in Bed! A Guzik birthday tradition! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Who doesn't love getting woken up by people singing and shoving food into your face!</span></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">In ministry there are alway people to visit, to counsel, projects to work on and have meetings for, missions trips, conferences and if you teach, studying can take up a lot of time. Your time gets eaten up very quickly. I knew my father's work was very important and I understood why. But I am so thankful for the times when he was able to bring work home. Many times he would be studying on the dining room table while we kids ran back and forth. I'm sure it couldn't have been easy to concentrate but I am so glad he made the effort. I remember distinctly on day, in between running from the kitchen to the front yard, pause and seeing my dad sit and study. I didn't need him at the moment, and probably wouldn't the whole afternoon, but he was there if I wanted him. He wasn't at the church office or visiting someone. He was there for us in the house if we needed him. Or if we wanted to show him what we found in the hills behind the house, or the book I just finished reading, or the joke Nathan just said.</span></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">He was present. He made time. He valued family. And I may not have fully appreciated then but I certainly do now.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUfleONM1mWT598aAsEgO3ATei_KQ_UuAUAlUABe31TXMepclQgPmBjl9RWumvmDZ2Su8NUPRG2U7jCI3dfpQbdnL7IBRJ7PNBOuUQ_NQULG-XS_b-jEDTNsAl3W1xo27UQ9IUYmxFCdvp/s1600/Roma+Pauls+Prison+05.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUfleONM1mWT598aAsEgO3ATei_KQ_UuAUAlUABe31TXMepclQgPmBjl9RWumvmDZ2Su8NUPRG2U7jCI3dfpQbdnL7IBRJ7PNBOuUQ_NQULG-XS_b-jEDTNsAl3W1xo27UQ9IUYmxFCdvp/s320/Roma+Pauls+Prison+05.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464192301209493778" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In Paul's Prision in Rome! Look at the suffering on that face!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We'll keeping going or this post is going to be way too long! (Not that I could ever say enough about my dad!) In those wonderful teenage years I definitely gave my parents a run for their money. In all my troubles I knew that my dad loved me. He had spent my childhood establishing my respect and love for him, that when he need to discipline me I knew where it was coming from. He raised us to know right and wrong, to know what the consequences of wrong choices and following through in the discipline for those choices. True there were times when I was defiant; but I was allowed to express myself and I knew the repercussions of my words. My dad is fair. This, I know, was invaluable in his job at the Bible College.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi42rpzXbMUfJsy1X5qAiG1Zvb-YCFRGDnppz-AF1HMI8iB9aRriUBx_XlJndMWyyATEtoozGRzNm58lHvMCPgLY5B96lz7D9dWri62EhLH2qDFsdcb-ysR7xYK79Ye6_dpaoTxUiNPq7fy/s1600/As+and+David+05.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi42rpzXbMUfJsy1X5qAiG1Zvb-YCFRGDnppz-AF1HMI8iB9aRriUBx_XlJndMWyyATEtoozGRzNm58lHvMCPgLY5B96lz7D9dWri62EhLH2qDFsdcb-ysR7xYK79Ye6_dpaoTxUiNPq7fy/s320/As+and+David+05.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464191811666437042" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">My Daddy and Me!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">My Dad is also fun! He is actually a huge goof! His cool and collected persona from the pulpit doesn't do justice to the nerdy man in him! Growing up one of his favorite jokes would go as follows:</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Dad - "Guess what?"</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Me - "What?"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Dad - "THAT'S WHAT!"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Me - *rolls eyes*</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Dad - "Ha ha ha! Got you!" *little dance*</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Me - *walking away* ;-)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I mean really! Come on! But that is the goofy sort of guy he is. He likes to watch TV with us kids, make jokes, does funny white guy dances, and grins like a little 5 year old. We all love to laugh! And getting my dad to really chuckle is great fun! He loves great movies and music. He is responsible for my musical foundation in such greats as Bruce Springsteen, U2, Talking Heads, R.E.M., Bob Dylan, The Clash and Tom Petty. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">My favorite times with my dad are now in the car. We listen to our favorite music, I show him what is new on the indie scene and we play both our 25 most played songs. We'll talk about anything from theology to history to politics to life. And sometimes we don't talk at all, just sitting in each others silence. I think that is when I feel the most safe and secure. Riding in the the car with my dad. I know my worth, I am respected, I am protected and I am loved.</span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEHfYETl_MT0vutn9vvT71ToRPkUe00IpHDS9xOExxT4DWN7z5r34lumOSK5sPuQgt4LmJ49jeSIoI1KA-Hj6TIeHnbg0Fv_SbsuNOQfxFbLOdawCsl8XrKCjH6EaHRcS3Ksqui96uBVGN/s1600/Guz+Family+029.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span></span></div></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIMLD1xxgW4s-mNEY8a2ryGV7dU6CeGsL10n2V8sRKyk1Jlqhu40W0E55fT22OyCKft8mH_v1f0cPVnmD1ml2Yv3rPK67m06KSIUhk7INMYK6m_WqAGBjpAPFk1Vx_3dUkc_H30rWlo_NN/s1600/a021.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIMLD1xxgW4s-mNEY8a2ryGV7dU6CeGsL10n2V8sRKyk1Jlqhu40W0E55fT22OyCKft8mH_v1f0cPVnmD1ml2Yv3rPK67m06KSIUhk7INMYK6m_WqAGBjpAPFk1Vx_3dUkc_H30rWlo_NN/s320/a021.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464191799423940386" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Dad in Holland in the early 80s. I love this picture! It just oozes cool!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">He is also an excellent baker, can fix cars, is a published author, computer whiz, ran the LA marathon, and is a tireless worker for the Kingdom of God.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So that is my dad! I could go on and on because I love my dad so much! I get to know other women my age and learn that my father was truly one of a kind and good man. I hope I can continue to make him proud!</span></div></div></div></div>Aan-Sofie Guzikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110207096935516814noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5091549018839697762.post-7379745740729005102010-04-20T13:03:00.000-07:002010-04-20T13:33:22.933-07:00BFF<img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeBk0LU-zJcJQ-hf30vSnIAuO88fA4IRTCoawKYHoIhLwwc4ssLc7Z79vqIBaktCP9-mdhyitoPpqDhf2jZEMSqh5mTndmHUxcWIQIrWibf7r-TGEcsIkJBO7Z8OBydWNWOGygtPr83TpX/s320/Photo+on+2010-04-13+at+17.02+%233.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462319847087721458" /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">As I am typing this I have just put Eoin to bed (for the third time!). He has got to be the cutes little boy I know! Eoin is the son of Mike and Rachel Neglia and he was just diagnosed autistic this past summer. If you know anything about Autism you know that there are very many types and was it manifests in every child affected. Its very rare to find two kids exactly alike. There are generally though which give us insight into helping them navigate this world in their own way. Eoin is what you might call a high functioning autistic child. And there are many things I praise God for in him. I know that they are huge blessing to Mike and Rachel as well. I just wanted list the many things that we all love about Eoin.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2wkgoBZGPV-uLJnZU7iPeY-CKyUjl-tG7TYM-SjFL08oXNFwpcqbmdcNktFwJk1SFTu-0zvKoWBj73n4DgdsZXb6YJQ-N6Ip9luHRi6LfRSPz-pIDNR_p7EIhLyz6E5uPZPmd_kLlMnzW/s320/Photo+on+2010-04-13+at+17.00+%235.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462319840817727570" /></div><div><ul><li><i>He loves to cuddle!</i> - many autistic children dislike very much to be touched, Eoin craves it!</li><li><i>He loves story time</i> - I have babysitted many children in my life and no one has ever loves reading or being read to like Eoin! You could read him 20 books and he'd still ask for more!</li><li><i>He has a very active imagination</i> - This is truly a blessing, many autistic children have a hard time with imaginary play but Eoin will make up stories, songs, names, games, participate in play acting! This will help him greatly as he makes friends as he will be able to play!</li><li><i>He is honest</i> - It could be just his age or the need for reality but I can't say that <i>I</i> have ever caught him in a lie. If you ask him "Did you break the toy?" He'll say yes! Wether he is remorseful or not is another story but knowing you can ask an get an answer is awesome!</li><li><i>He loves to eat</i> - This is actually a blessing and a curse as he will eat and eat till he gets sick but many kids his age, autistic or not, have made major food preference decisions which are often void of anything good. Eoin doesn't like vegetables so much, but loves fruit. I knew a kid who for years eat mostly candy, pasta with ketchup and chicken nuggets. Eoin is a great eater!</li><li><i>He loves me!</i> - One of my main prayers in coming to Ireland was that Eoin would be comfortable with me. That he would trust me and be ok with me. God has answered that prayer ten times over! He like me a lot! He loves to play and cuddle with me and tells me my teeth are beautiful! I can put him to be with out him freaking out and can spend the day watching him without a meltdown (him or me!). I know this is a blessing to Mike and Rachel (they said so in their last newsletter!) but it is a blessing to me as well for it is an answered prayer. And who doesn't love the affection of a child!</li></ul></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltvMLji86v18ShBytke67xuZzKVh7p4_QqTGgvo0thbLidJYI9ienNv7gavE1MCMvr8WzLi8isPd2p0EWNTCaRleZcmdwcS5Zlcpk7P1LHjd8TQ2wDCLIkVBLSWROnsYMGe4TvJvUbjP7/s320/Photo+on+2010-04-13+at+17.02.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462319848766051954" /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So those are just a few of the amazing things about Eoin. As he grows, I know God will us him for His kingdom. I can't wait to see it happen!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Aan-Sofie Guzikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110207096935516814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5091549018839697762.post-44524671877852840202010-04-18T13:52:00.000-07:002010-04-18T14:10:08.996-07:00Gomer and Me<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter', serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; ">Last Friday I taught at our Women's Bible Study. We are going through the women of the Bible. I taught on Gomer the wife of the prophet Hosea. I was very excite because god has used her story to speak to me so deeply I just have to share it! so here are my notes, which I followed pretty closely!</span></div><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Hosea is probably my favorite if not my most favorite book of the Bible. The themes of ensnaring sin, loving redemption and complete salvation touch my heart every time. God has used it in many important times in my life. I seem to gravitate toward it every year around this time. Coming out from the dark winter, seeking renewal in my life. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 17.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Read Hosea 1:1-11</span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 17px; "><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">The main players in this book are God, Hosea and Israel. In the beginning though there is another character, Gomer. She is only mentioned in the first three chapters then nothing for the rest of the Bible! But this woman, despite her past and her future was a great tool of God, showing for the rest of eternity how great His love is.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 17px; "><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">First things first, Gomer was a prostitute. I’m sure we all know what this is but to simply describe it, she gave the use of her body sexually for material gain. Her name is given in verse 3 as Gomer the daughter of Diblaim. For the longest time I wondered, “How could this women be the daughter of someone who would allow her to be a prostitute? Where is her father?”. Diblaim actually means cakes, two cakes, fig or grape cakes; depending on which source you look at. It’s like saying Gomer, daughter of tasty sweetness. Rabbis believe this to reference her profession as a prostitute. In the light of the Baal references throughout the book she may have even been a temple prostitute.</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 17px; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">So we have a woman, with no family to speak of, constantly seeking happiness and finding the easiest way to get what she wants is to give up her heart and her body. To make compromises of her soul.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 17px; "><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">But then something changes in her life. She gets married! God asks His prophet Hoses to marry a “wife of whoredom” and he choses Gomer. I don’t want to overlook the great task God gave Hosea. Before God told him to write anything down, he had to go against family and cultural opinions and marry a whore, a woman known for her sexual immorality. As a servant of God he may have been praying for a sweet and humble virgin bride. But God need Hosea to marry Gomer to show His love. This was a great trial for Hosea to be sure, as he is to be our Christ figure, he had to lay down his life and pride for Gomer.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 17px; "><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Gomer gets married and has a son with Hosea. Then, if you watch the language of the text, she has 2 more children but Hosea may or may not the father. Her next 2 children are named No Mercy and Not My People. It seems she continued to have sex with other men despite being married. If Hosea had suspected something with the second child there was definitely no question with the third. Who is this woman that she would do this to her loving, godly husband? To him who took her away from an empty and dangerous life into freedom and safety with him.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 17.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This poor, lost and confused woman is representing so much more than her own struggle in her heart and mind. She is Israel. She is a lost soul. And she is me. And she is the Church. And she may even be you.</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 17px; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Read 2:1-13</span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 17px; "><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Every time I read that I am struck by my own sin. By my own heart’s inconsistency. By my willfulness to run away from my God and not toward Him.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 17.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">In my life, being a pastor’s daughter and growing up in the church, I know what is right. I know how I should act and I know that God loves me. I want to make Him happy. But I know that it doesn’t come naturally to me, I knew this even as a child. My heart is desperately wicked. I desperately want to do bad things. I essentially say in my heart “I will go after my lovers, who gave me my bread and my water, ...” I go after the things that I think will make me happy, or make me cool, or satisfy me.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 17.0px"><span style="text-decoration: underline ; letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Read 2:14-23</span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 17px; "><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">This may be my favorite passage of scripture. We will get more into it later! The language used here is so sweet and so reassuring. 13 times the Lord says “I will”. And every “I will” is followed by an action that will benefit the ones He speaks of. He is at this time referring to Israel, but think of what Hosea must have thought after going though all the marriage and baby drama with his wife. Hearing that God will restore Israel to Him, despite mistakes made in the past, despite the fact that Israel doesn't deserve it. In 2 Corinthians 6:17-19 Paul tell us “ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away, behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; ..... not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation” God wants to lavish gifts and blessing on us. He give us His Son. He entrusts us with His words. All this to filthy sinners. But He claims us as His own. He will restore us. He wills it, so it will happen. This encourages Hosea in the next task God gives him.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 17px; "><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Read 3:1-5</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 17.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Even though her name is not given in this passage, we know it must be Gomer otherwise it would not fit into the context of the message. God will not restore Israel and then the next time they stray, give up and pick someone else! That is not the character of God.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 17.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Did you see that Hosea had to go get her? She had left him completely. She w</span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">as not home taking care of the kids, she was not even with another lover in the house. She was a prostitute again. She had gone right back to her old life. Hosea had pay for her. She belonged to someone else, a guard or a pimp and Hosea had to pay them to be able to get her home. But she did go back with him. It says in the last verse “and they shall come in fear to the Lord and to His goodness in the later days”. She was probably fearful of what Hosea might do </span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">to her, being no stranger to violence, but instead of hostility she came home into goodness and restoration.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 17.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">So that is the story of Gomer! A woman whose life raged back and forth between to opposing sides. A woman in love with the world yet romanced by godliness. I found three main truths that God used Gomer as a tool to show Israel and to show us today. </span></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 17px; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">The first is that Gomer shows us that God accepts, uses, and rescues us despite our past, present or future. As it says in 1:2, Gomer is a whore. She debases herself for material or emotional gain. That was her past. But God still sought her out, chose her for rescuing. Though we may not walk the streets as a prostitute ourselves, we make compromising choices in our lives and in our hearts. </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">Whatever choices or acts you may have done does not disqualify you from God’s grace and mercy. If anything it make you more eligible! In Isaiah 54: 4 God reassures “Fear not, for you will not be ashamed; be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced; for you will forget the shame of your youth...” Big or small disappointments in our lives are not a hinderance to God. They are only a hinderance to you if you let them be so. Gomer went back to her old way of life and thinking because she could not accept the love that Hosea (Jesus) had to offer. I’ll be the first to say there are places in my heart that I will not let God plant new life in. And I know that it is holding me back from truly experiencing the redeeming love of Christ. I am working on it, day by day. Bu</span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">t if I cling too tightly to it, those things will soon be all that I am holding on to and not my Jesus.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 17px; "><br /><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">The second thing Gomer shows us is the way that God demonstrates His love. In chapter 2 after the accusations in verses 1-5, God says “Therefore I will hedge up her way with thorns, and I will build a wall against her, so that she cannot find her paths. She shall pursue her lovers, but not overtake them, and she shall seek them but not find them.” </span></p><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZnhyxvE0POXac_CdP0eZvN93u7YhiHPfB1Q4Xt-_pZiFCYSvJkOlhYk71uYRJk5JPOXknbaM9ozoi2w4Vfx-Ne0dxYJSjotdzRYE38RqGiRJrHe9_78A7WaWXlx_jpK1IZcXeiHa_ioGq/s320/Hedged+2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461586485322167442" /><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">As God is our father and protector He knows that we will run, so He makes sure we cannot run to our destruction. He hedged her paths. In a sense He caged her in, but it is not a hedge or wall of imprisonment but a hedge of protection. In Job 1:10 Satan bemoans that he cannot get to Job because God has “put a hedge around him and his household...”. This is the hedge of the Lord! Not a cage with bars that tease you with views of the outside. But a plant that provides shade, air, beauty and protection. God may hedge your paths, but it is because He loves you and not because He is trying spoil your fun. Also in verse 2:10 God speaks of “uncovering her lewdness”. This is exposing her shame. For us it may be public “in the sight of her lovers” or private in our own hearts but never the less, when we are in sin we must </span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">be faced with our sin. However, He assured her that “no one shall rescue her out of my hand”. We may be shamed but God is with us, we may hate ourselves but God is with us, others may despise us but God is with us. We are never out of His hand. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 17.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">And lastly Gomer shows us God’s ultimate plan of restoration. Let’s look back to chapter 2: </span><span style="font: 10.0px 'American Typewriter'; letter-spacing: 0.0px"><b>14</b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">"Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her. </span><span style="font: 10.0px 'American Typewriter'; letter-spacing: 0.0px"><b>15</b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">And there I will give her her vineyards and make the Valley of Achor (Trouble) a door of hope. And there she shall answer (sing) as in the days of her youth, as at the time when she came out of the land of Egypt. </span><span style="font: 10.0px 'American Typewriter'; letter-spacing: 0.0px"><b>16</b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">"And in that day, declares the LORD, you will call me 'My Husband,' and no longer will you call me 'My Baal.' </span><span style="font: 10.0px 'American Typewriter'; letter-spacing: 0.0px"><b>17</b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">For I will remove the names of the Baals from her mouth, and they shall be remembered by name no more. </span><span style="font: 10.0px 'American Typewriter'; letter-spacing: 0.0px"><b>19</b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. </span><span style="font: 10.0px 'American Typewriter'; letter-spacing: 0.0px"><b>20</b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the LORD. </span><span style="font: 10.0px 'American Typewriter'; letter-spacing: 0.0px"><b>23</b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">and I will sow her for myself in the land. </span></p><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT4HvueI_0fHh27e-eXJlozk4v9-TEI2lZvg-Juro5Q3AC4FSc6_YgjT3PrkYjmoMkP6Xi6LgNQcYEvAXgdPmMfLwu7dYYhXYT6wh7E-S2LJwYaw8L7S4NtOMnOaCYswRICz2GVn2ZrO8Y/s320/Sown.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461586281684574642" /><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">And I will have mercy on No Mercy, and I will say to Not My People, 'You are my people'; and he shall say, 'You are my God.'"</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 17.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">After hedging her paths and removing all the filth from her life does God leave her destitute? No! He gives her vineyards and a new home with hope and love. And God doesn’t just drop us down in this new life. It says He allures us. He speaks tenderly to us, appealing to our hearts. I imagine Gomer was so surprised at the grace and mercy of Hosea. He didn’t drag her back to his house but he drew her back with love. And the joy she will experience will be so great, it will be as though she is a young girl, pure and free. Do you remember how you felt when you first came to Christ? When you first saw how much He loves you? That is what you will feel again and again as you draw closer to Him. You can have that joy again! Your sins will be removed from His mind, from your memories. Only you can drag them up again.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 17.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'American Typewriter'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> But rejoice! For He has removed them! And Jesus, your savior will bind Himself to you. He makes promises to you of righteousness, steadfast love, mercy, faithfulness, and an opportunity to know God. As Gomer was redeemed my her savior Hosea who was just a man, we are redeemed by our Savior Christ Jesus, who can make these promises and keep them, for He is God.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px 'American Typewriter'; min-height: 17.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal 'American Typewriter'; "><i>So that is it! I hope it blessed you as much as it did me! I hope to be able to teach a lot more in the future. I feel very out of practice!</i></p>Aan-Sofie Guzikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110207096935516814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5091549018839697762.post-74404107883168842272010-04-15T14:14:00.000-07:002010-04-15T14:50:52.039-07:00Painting<div style="text-align: left;">So I have never been terribly artistic. My skills of perspective haven't improved much since my 8th grade art class. But two years ago many of my friends in Santa Barbara painted and I want to give it a go. Art teacher's criticism be forgotten!I must say I was surprised with myself. Not that I am good in anyway. I wouldn't even call myself and artist, but there is something sublime in working with paints and creating a picture. I often put in some music and see what happens. Then I didn't do much for a year or so. </div><div style="text-align: left;">A week ago I went to the local art store (vibes & scribes I love you!) and spent 14 euros on some supplies. I went with a new friend that God has put in my life as a great encouragement to me. I felt so overwhelmed! When God plants you in a place, you somehow think that you will start growing right away. "I'm planted right? Okay, let's start growing!" (not that my time has been miserable or stagnate so far!) </div><div style="text-align: left;">Now along with the new season, I feel filled with more life and more coming from my heart.</div><div>I have decorated my room, my mom come to visited, Eoin is more in love with me than ever, I have new friends and now I am doing something creative! Life is good! God is good!</div><div>So without further adieu here is what I have painted so far! They are small, cause I didn't want to commit to any canvases being so unsure of what I could do so I got a little canvas pad.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYa6sTRmIxq72c5ZgogoQhcMBnipM0B61Kjbe3JseGvhwCsxypoJUq2BbMr_X92NoRBUkuHiFN1-dZllD67XUJqaX2IebQVQlDcV-qwFbGluIULDL0DiyaDp_xnp_rsevZBLQ2Tt7uvD9j/s320/Disjointed+Angel.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460479941574658082" /><div style="text-align: center;">The first one I did. I was really just testing out the brushes, but I thought I'd be hip and clever and name it <i>Disjointed Angel.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSvLE751PYZDBU8207U_qRVG6xUcaCC60nG74n-aeyCfV60nlKzGL-2f7sBjelaqVoI7Rcq2fx0YKiPmOP_trWb9gIHYG41wCLr6-QW22zEgGjg4oqnTlob4VWDxRV2HMTa9dL56nCj5bD/s320/Fall+Flowers.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460479958386486962" /><i><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><i>Fall Flowers</i> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; ">Inspiration taken form a brooch my Mormor gave me.</span></div></i><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHQFjIwidMWChQU1ghSIog4jSka6viaXF7_5E2v2E9vLJF7AOOu0RzeJxIJRUCTzyPB__k9eUl4xRo_uGzh3Y3SliKiwx3hSzhrrOs82cyzsuYcSeorxh9HVj4hiqVgrBGoNlzD0gkU0di/s320/Anchored+Deep.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460481457132686946" /><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Anchored Deep</i> </div><div style="text-align: center;">I painted this for my new friend Coleen. I love the Scott Cunningham song of the same name</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqe0dOmbyX3mKycZGtALXeHL_8t26K5SDG3GXQb8cOVVwCoPFT6IAEb9DPhNhWzSaU5UpDzymjqXdQSBVQXEIspMrhnelNfAO438Ppi_z3oZ9k0t-1dGgnb7WS79QA5L3WSf40zJ8yR9tf/s320/Hedged+2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460479964256654914" /><i><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><i>Hedged</i> </span></div></i></div><div style="text-align: center;">I am teaching the Women's study this Friday (tomorrow!) on Gomer, the prostitute wife of the prophet Hosea. I got so inspired by the love God showed her, Israel and us today that I decide to paint it! Taken from Hosea 2:6 "Therefore I will hedge up her way... so that se cannot find her lovers...." I attempted perspective with the hedge and kinda failed, oh well!</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4vzwNcdjo_TTtyAz7mLIjjaVvqcn5TWi7ZUWta5_sUGCSaUdGWfV2iVVV5n4EEaAaxLj-ix7ice4bE2xTSSqnongjYVVKNYcKUBNcCcQ3aq5rkfM1S5KuOilur97E5iAZXOlawmpvFffW/s320/Sown.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460479977280694258" /><div style="text-align: center;"></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Sown</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">Also from my Hosea line of paintings ;)</div><div style="text-align: center;">This comes from verse 2:23 when God has brought Gomer/Israel/the sinner to restoration and places her where He wants her to grow. in all my travels and moves, this verse has brought much comfort to me knowing that where ever I am physically I am planting by God. Not for friends, family, work or even myself, but for Him. </div><div style="text-align: center;">(and my first ever attempt at painting a hand!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Aan-Sofie Guzikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110207096935516814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5091549018839697762.post-74176079637800158152010-04-02T04:10:00.000-07:002010-04-02T05:14:58.979-07:00What 80s Music Taught Me<img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 282px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPNv8hFPRJk5wJA5cmx-0GjQEExcr3gR3Q1gZvc6ja4VypYNUJstoV7-Bwn5F_jfBm2gfOnGKBWidrnjai58EyphX25Xl95RslukoFjuaDhuOvXwVVCku0zYiHiuyIsLyNrcMqzMXONP0/s320/The+Bangles.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455505314405142242" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Bangles! Who wouldn't want to hang out with them!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div>Depending on when you met me you may or may not know of my obsession with 80s music. I <i>used</i> to wear it on my sleeve. And my legs, and my feet and my ears and especially in my hair! I dressed 80s as much as my confidence would allow. Now I don't dress like that so much. But if an 80s themed costume party suddenly broke out, let's just say I'd be well prepared and Wang Chunging in 5 min! (plus and extra 5 to tease out my hair!)</div><div><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4btAjMQ_QQQOCEvuOzO-w1YPCdaoHQ3P8gefrznR5F4UWv41uMJQiN-elZRsJhrXAgFRfyzXYe3BhFyj_bcI7VDfUnFKbS9wfjoQflDah_Tt4RzahhQ0sbmScQdKokbkkusP3JBVhn3kX/s320/Europe+album.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455505297898961426" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">That guy right in the center, yeah, that was my hair!</span></div><div><br /></div><div>Though I don't look the part anymore I do still listen to the music that started it all. I can't remember exactly why I got so into 80s. I think discovering John Hughes in High School played a bit part. (If you haven't seen Ferris Beuller's, Breakfast Club or Pretty in Pink shame on you!) But being the typical teen not wanting to conform to <i>anything</i>, I realized that many of the decades were over saturated in followers; the swing kids, the 50s, and the hippies. So I claimed what I did not see anyone else doing. Now in my older and wiser years I realize that I am not purely defined by how I dress or what I like and I am free to appreciate what I truly find my self drawn to. (Freedom!)</div><div><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 319px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjS1wdOY7_F69WEs1RjmeeN8AaAbCsGWEkGNYKkO5g8rlR_nCYewf-827oW_8uPuZzlWyeS1ciwJjTIsE5UHMVlPqdV7xJBMVooKGoLvCurnTLsqtkgBBlDvkR1OnXh4kw2dg1SV1RUSwq/s320/men+at+work.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455505302568484562" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Read what you like! And dress and listen and do! Forget the status quo!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 233px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPyQa27NpkvN8tZXlOCMA8S99MzbD4dQa-drgBdY_ihgqZIeJefQiqNcxKzdAxVUA0fGqmfZppqPOwpz3kNr4B3A5esg9TMa45MN84hyphenhyphenhSdc3FdZ-Vk8_3AyCHhTumEAIIrU2Zt6-VUw5/s320/the_cure.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455505514020752370" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And the Cure! How can one band make some of the happiest and loved filled songs and some of the most depressing and introspective! And look like that!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Rabbit trails, aside I love 80s music. When you step back from the big hair, confusing clothing choices and technicolor make up there is something of quality there. Maybe not of the most refined and perfected but that is my point. They tried things. The use of electronics, like the holy Casio, was being push to the technological limits of the day. Hair and fashion was at the same time antiquated and futuristic. Lines and geometric shapes were everywhere. Seemingly pushing the limits of art and fashion. A lot of it is cheesy, a lot of it is painfully repetive. You can see how after 10+ years of it Grunge whould make it's way on to the scene. Nothing should last forever.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 255px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGAgKBN7TWDorYXguBcno1wCkYcjzZkW-pqYbkhcRdzbpFcxy9lBBmFyoj1ywmaqEMitzvlizKEyUtXaCmX7mJkPjFnLs2F-HNV4ek-svK-h_jeVOMNcL8JJK9iCGKrH2Kvez8tj5mwv-S/s320/1464038287_l.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455505291873802994" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Duran Duran! Awesome for a time but you can't be Hungry Like the Wolf forever!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>I am alway surprised when someone says they don't like 80s music. I don't think they have really listened to it. Michael Jackason and Madonna aside, there is much to be enjoyed. A few from the vault: Soft Cell, Camouflage, Huey Lewis, Kim Wilde, Loverboy, Nik Kershaw, The Power Station, Spandau Ballet, and Ultravox!, to name a few. They have one or two big hits that you would most likely hear on 80s night in you local club. But their sound and lyrics are grabbing. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 289px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUpxdBwz5FE2zy7IsLKOOr5MJQTF3JBVpGxQpCWBZZkVhrOCwOEeFlYeW3Rimmkax9hsYXBBFcbgEJq9eKtDhozOkLSMFLfb7AzDJ3HsJ_xYBkVbELQIV04lkMlRBtVAhfi1V65W89lcf7/s320/soft_cell.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455505307595346194" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Soft Cell. One of the weirdest yet good looking guys ever!</span></div><div><br /></div><div>Now what did this all teach me?, as my title prompted. When I look back at myself at that time when I was obsessed with 80s music it is like nature making a change. I was busting out of a cocoon. I was not painfully shy but shy all the same. I was so worried about how I looked to people but desired to be unique. Not wanting to stand out in a crowd or be the first one to sing along but dying to inside! The unabashed ridiculousness of the music I loved helped me embrace the goof inside myself! I could be that outgoing person so long as I had my music. Now I have weaned myself off my little crutch and can still be a silly and fun. The spirit of no shame in their music and looks taught me to be myself! Even if that self is a little ridiculous! I now reign it in to make myself presentable to society. And I have other likes and obsessions now that play in to what I wear and listen to. But if you really want to see the 80s freak in me, just play Love is a Battlefield or the Safety Dance.</div><div><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 232px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwtUrp4KQj0OaoU01EgWGL3w3hSTcJluMlYO-I_ZygXCQMGYw3QBnRYJBIUIbEF3vCvoA33_w0e8ffZxLaW6gJxVUQ5_BuXu3Qs5DJukAY-niBhVwQ2URahzar2-Np4ORyTpvG0nsQ9p5w/s320/TransX.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455505510513286498" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Also! In the 80s it seemed like it didn't matter how you looked! They "ugliest" people made some of my favorite music! How different to today when people run to plastic surgery to try and obtain perfection, rather than practicing their art!</span></div>Aan-Sofie Guzikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110207096935516814noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5091549018839697762.post-13014972041377036692010-04-01T17:28:00.000-07:002010-04-01T17:53:53.962-07:00All right already!<div style="text-align: center;">Racked with guilt, I now am back to blogging. The longer I wait the harder it is to bring myself to up date. And there is actually things going on in my life! I don't have the energy right now (as it is 1:30 am) to do a retroactive let-me-cover-everything-I've-done-the-last-few-months post so will start with one that is short but with pictures!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Since I have no home to call my own, I take what I can get. And I have got a room. </div><div style="text-align: center;">A very nice room with lots of space and a great big bed and lots of wall space. What I did not have until recently was the money or tools to spend on fixing it up. But I was blessed with a bit of extra money this month of March; which went to paying bills without stress (always a treat!), blessing a friend with a day of fun, and getting things for my room!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWp23EXxEzTCaXNYk5Db82H7yXxGb-0WO30B_vk0ONtjaMzUEcX4auwNt5Agb4yU08v0FLE2stDUhcak6g75SgU2yin1_s9y-n52C77OT2eUlI-E8k-O7_QNeKwXM1w4E6LIwb24spj6uq/s320/Room+Update+01.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455332212751487010" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I got a new bedspread, duvet and pillows!</div><div style="text-align: center;"> I had been borrowing a set from someone in the church but now I have my own! I just got white because I am still searching for something pretty that will go with my "Kiss" painting.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjhh_wXg1XbReJDiFIz35wcnhnT_Y9Khrz8GTsygY9Kl3oWyMrQL0HHuZzGvy_i_Rn8Sfa8eIvuVsIAH80e9jsEY2tjfBrnc0f_w77FTT1q3fSfc1ny17RmvaPfpiFCpvnAoBmx6lF47GZ/s320/Room+Update+02.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455332219923638066" /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Pretty much the same as when I moved in but a few new bibs and bobs on the windowsill and I hung one of my paintings above the window!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD5Dxv33uAnxzVAWQbScidXxMVbY1ahtty4ANdGJlOnPI2DxtZDnJzWB3g3TwdtnIBBnINqA5dKZn89VQbOdnZRqTFo-buUPK4hyphenhyphenbH3Q1jpWtrx5O_SY26tgbqqfRZbWtyG7Qb5R-3tKl6/s320/Room+Update+04.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455333532828513314" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Some new hooks to hang important things on! Like purses and my house robe! The hook the robe is on is a lovely iron heart with and edelweiss flower a friend got in Switzerland! So cute!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFLD1zYWTFp4gcHrOQUBwsqwvuPYS0gdOZn3rfIYeO95k4fQmABFcxEivSJzWF3iF0AuZDdE0D9ih8BPnyIkOTsxx5DaW-YVqduHethiUevdhLkwaCll_hhzKK7NP7azX7qaK9kRHkObcw/s320/Room+Update+06.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455333925458506530" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I collet postcards, photos and pictures that inspire or awe me! I decided to hang them up on my main wall! The room definitely feels more "done" now.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7zw7XA5TofRXocYLWkQXYhINHKqsXLEI00PyP82hhDKXXasGvpiScJv6uYxF0zhkMLxTzVfGjOZZTbkq7cff5NdCXSiYN_HARc0SVqeY4_tgNJno7jnllxFjlbupofXoeNmy4O1o37C-B/s320/Room+Update+05.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455334058663792754" /><br />And lastly, my corner! A shoe rack and cork board with jewelry! (an idea I stole from my housemate!) Plus some amazing stencil art my bother Nathan did!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So that is it! I felt quite pleased and accomplished after I did all this. I still have more I want to so we will see how it goes. I realized I need a good creative outlet. I had my jewelry making and had started painting in the States but didn't bring any of my tools with me. I think I shall go to the art store and get some paper and acrylics. That would do my spirit good!</div><br /></div>Aan-Sofie Guzikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110207096935516814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5091549018839697762.post-80158099117275042052010-02-19T02:45:00.000-08:002010-02-19T03:04:04.039-08:00The Clearing Skiesok, I haven't posting in a while and I bookmarked this on my top sites and it mocks me every time I glance at it. Maybe I'll post something so the ghost of bloggers past leaves me alone.<div><br /></div><div>The winter is finally subsiding! There have been numerous days with sunshine and blue skies! So many that I've lost count in fact!</div><div><br /></div><div>To recap:</div><div>Christmas and New years great fun but I missed my family. I plan to spend the next holidays with them not matter where they or I are! Since this a college town and a lot those in our church are students, many when home for the holidays, so for a month between Dec and Jan it was kinda lonely. But then everyone came back and I left! I went to Germany to visit my folks for two weeks! It was amazing! There was lots of snow, good food, helping at the college, making cappuccinos and watching Jonathan be awesome at basketball. </div><div>Then back in Cork! To be honest I've been a little down since I came back. It was so refreshing to be with family and friends who have known me for a long time, then to come back and get back into building relationships mode was tough. I know God is with me and He is my friend. Its a struggle to let Him be so close when you want something else. But I'm coming out of it (I think the sunshine helps!) and in fact I am going to have dinner with three girls tonight!</div><div><br /></div><div>Right now though I am going to be baking banana bread! It's like therapy! Plus it's kinda a creative outlet. Something I need right now! If you can believe it all my jewelry making equipment has been misplaced! We're not even positive what continent it is on! And I don't have the money to go buy replacements or any other are supplies right now. So baking will have to suffice! At least other people can really enjoy it afterwards!</div>Aan-Sofie Guzikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110207096935516814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5091549018839697762.post-14047371365827693292009-12-16T17:11:00.000-08:002009-12-16T17:19:19.930-08:00My Room<div style="text-align: center;">This is my room in Ireland! I have been blessed to live in a great house and have a spacious room at an affordable price! Here are the pictures! I plan to to some decorating but that is an expense that is way down on my list of need!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgprs5E-JsItUWmsd5S2Ja94y3aFCahRWpbDK51gre6yS-OnBZYRLvPtTsxqBKkjtyCwSTjbxjUzEbkx7-y0ktOrjQLejEQ1F5gTMw1ee-ldoLBcL1ymPQiPUhFV4m7g27rb-mIrWjNOlB6/s1600-h/Room+Nov+6.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgprs5E-JsItUWmsd5S2Ja94y3aFCahRWpbDK51gre6yS-OnBZYRLvPtTsxqBKkjtyCwSTjbxjUzEbkx7-y0ktOrjQLejEQ1F5gTMw1ee-ldoLBcL1ymPQiPUhFV4m7g27rb-mIrWjNOlB6/s320/Room+Nov+6.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416007145016371426" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">My closet and chair. And of course the holy flag of Sweden. ;)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipKIjwi_IufYwT1VgyMzWP-Q2QWNVORn2DUCq0kUGKjPyS34ENMgnxkU11YKN0HtS8oUaxuQre4-1USqEFtSrHMKL7D2Q3PVNCDR07W_zBLmhR9AmgfRlwxxjxep0AYvozSVBKmmzh6PMH/s1600-h/Room+Nov+4.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipKIjwi_IufYwT1VgyMzWP-Q2QWNVORn2DUCq0kUGKjPyS34ENMgnxkU11YKN0HtS8oUaxuQre4-1USqEFtSrHMKL7D2Q3PVNCDR07W_zBLmhR9AmgfRlwxxjxep0AYvozSVBKmmzh6PMH/s320/Room+Nov+4.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416007138782965986" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The view from my window! Not amazing but it gets good light in the morning!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRObqxmvdkkRY9i9xasrTL7XBl9m5w1-cwib9iFqPi2bY6YsQt-LP9cURrxcA3HCHWlg-uIQL4GE0D5VdgKR7nbvQVaKkLW30mL2WM3w7Snqlx3ohdpyhnz77oS9ytcT6fjp3AzCAhOdw/s1600-h/Room+Nov+3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRObqxmvdkkRY9i9xasrTL7XBl9m5w1-cwib9iFqPi2bY6YsQt-LP9cURrxcA3HCHWlg-uIQL4GE0D5VdgKR7nbvQVaKkLW30mL2WM3w7Snqlx3ohdpyhnz77oS9ytcT6fjp3AzCAhOdw/s320/Room+Nov+3.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416007135652106514" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">My dresser and bed! Luckily the room came furnished!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb3A8wiweVygskk1Ivy8kcUvRWY3MeWKc-JYaKZcMvFtV6ANFBIZ1cg_gLvNatF7JFDnn1T4BIQWIanTNvX01620KS3xvQ9ymeyJPHjYTufjwTeGBlK_38U4bXkmLOpx7d7_x4UXSKOffR/s1600-h/Room+Nov+1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb3A8wiweVygskk1Ivy8kcUvRWY3MeWKc-JYaKZcMvFtV6ANFBIZ1cg_gLvNatF7JFDnn1T4BIQWIanTNvX01620KS3xvQ9ymeyJPHjYTufjwTeGBlK_38U4bXkmLOpx7d7_x4UXSKOffR/s320/Room+Nov+1.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416007125931718226" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">My nice big bed with my Gustav Klimt curtain. He is one of my favorite artists!</div></div>Aan-Sofie Guzikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14110207096935516814noreply@blogger.com1