Aaaannnd...I'm back.

Another two months have flown by without me blogging, and all I can say is:

I'm busy...so sorry.

After the spider bite debacle, Christmas came...then New Year's...then I was changing jobs...

then my best friend from high school got married...

then I went to Philadelphia for a weekend...

and now.....I'm just working...

Here:

It's pretty amazing.  Though I definitely don't hold any grudges against the first coffeehouse I worked in upon moving to Chattanooga, I'm kind of partial to this new place.  I love my new co-workers, the atmosphere, and the fact that I can listen to whatever music I want while working!  :-)  It's been a good change.

I love my life.  I really just can't say that enough.  The past few weeks have shown me how truly blessed I am.  When the going gets tough, God has placed these amazing people in my life, old and new, to help me get through it.  Stress was my closest companion for a while, but I had people there the whole time telling me it was going to be okay...just a few more days...

Letting other people bear my burdens is not one of my strong suits.  I tend to just carry everything that's weighing on me like a pack mule ascending to Machu Picchu (I want to go there!) in the middle of the winter while fighting a hellacious cold...okay...that's probably an exaggeration, but you get my drift.  

I feel like God has really been showing me lately that it's time to stop.  I need to let other people help me.  I need to learn how to share my burdens because that's what I'm called to do for others.

"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."

Galations 6:2

Things are good now...the stress has passed for the time being, but it will come again, and it's coming for those close to me right now.  Today is Valentine's Day, and in the United States it tends to become all about flowers, candy, and cards...but I distinctly remember celebrating this day four years ago in Costa Rica and absolutely loving it.  They celebrate El Día de Amistad y Amor...the day of friendship and love.  This is what today means to me.  It has nothing to do with romance and everything to do with the fact that I have to best friends and family in the world...I seriously couldn't create a better support system for myself if I tried.  

Thank you to everyone that loves me...I love you all, and I pray that I can show you a smidgen of the love you've shown me.  :-)

Peace and love,

Amelia

P.S.  If you ever have a chance to light Chinese lanterns, do it.  It's magical.  :-)  My new friends John Somerville and Molly Gardner took some awesome pictures of it.

          ©John Somerville

©John Somerville

                    ©Molly Gardner

©Molly Gardner

A bit of traveling.

By plane:

Nashville to Houston to Portland to Houston to New Orleans to Houston to Nashville.

Total:

Sparta to Nashville to Houston to Portland to Zigzag to Portland to Houston to New Orleans to Hammond to Baton Rouge to New Orleans to Houston to Nashville to Sparta to Cookeville.

Whew...I suppose I've done a bit of traveling recently. After a relaxing Christmas, I had a few weeks off before starting my new job, so I decided to visit some family I hadn't seen in a while.

First stop: Oregon

My uncle and aunt have a beautiful cabin up in the mountains close to a little town called Zigzag, and my dad, bro, and I headed up there to enjoy the peaceful serenity of falling snow and bright green trees. We spent some time snowshoeing, hiking, and skiing. I was pleased to discover that I still know how to ski...it had been over 10 years, but it was just like riding a bike, ha ha.

I played at an open mic night and my uncle backed me up on bass guitar. Always fun to play music in a new environment! We also had a chance to visit with my cousin, her husband, and two kids...loved seeing them and meeting Kai and sweet Waverly for the first time. :-)

Second stop: Louisiana

Though over half my family is from Louisiana, I hadn't been there to visit them in over 10 years (sad, I know). I figured it was high time for a visit, so I stopped there for a few days after Oregon!

I had a chance to tour LSU (one of my possible grad school choices) and visit with my family. I loved seeing all of them and meeting my new cousin Blake! Such a happy baby!

More music was played and recorded...I haven't figured out how to put that up, yet, but as soon I do, you'll hear it!

All in all, it was a great trip. It's been a while since I was able to travel, and of course, I remembered how much I loved traveling. Sometimes I don't even want to come home ha ha. There's just something about the thrill of seeing new things and creating new experiences. My spirit tends to become restless when I'm in one place for too long.

New job starts tomorrow...good things are happening. :-)

Peace and love,

Amelia

P.S. Check out a clip of my uncle and I playing "Hot Coffee and Turbulence" at the Skyway Bar and Grill here... http://www.youtube.com/user/amtritico.