Dry Skin, Dry Life

I love the winter! I love snow and icicles and the pretty bare trees. The only thing I hate is that in the winter I get really dry skin. I mean REALLY dry skin! I have tried lotions and moisturizers and all sorts of different concoctions that claim they work but leave my hands cracked and dry by the end of the day. I thought I would just have to live with my hurting hands until I finally found something that worked! It is unusual, I must admit, and a little out of the ordinary. It is this special balm that is used on dairy cows during harsh winters! I use it daily, and it leaves my hands feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the day.

There is also a special treatment for our spiritual life to keep it from becoming cracked and dry. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 gives us the recipe: “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” These are instructions for a healthy Christian life that is ready to grab life by the horns! It is a little unusual (always being joyful?!) and a little out of the ordinary (praying nonstop!?) but it comes recommended with guaranteed results! Apply once in the morning, repeat as needed, and best of all it works all year round!

-Kailey (Alissa's sister!)
Cross Posted at StandYM Blog, check it out here 

New York New York

Well HOWDY!

New York City was such a delightful time and I enjoyed every second that I got to spend with Kailey! We did some random things, but we accomplished our life goal of seeing Balto face to face. We just sat in awe for minutes, remembering his true heroism and how we always wanted to be sick kids in Nome so that Balto could bring us medicine.

We also bartered in China town, wandered through Korea town, went to a coooooool Art Shop called Lees Art Shop, Times Square of course, and hung out around the NYSUM building in Queens. Hooray.

In China town Kailey and I saw a bag that we both really liked, in diffeent colors of course. So we searched and searched, most were charging $35 for it. I think its still expensive, so I told this chinese lady

Me "I saw it over there for $25!" 

Her: "Ya because its cheap crap"

Me: "But I like cheap crap!"

Her: "Ok, $30, just for you."

Me: "Nope, $25."

Her: (in the most dramatic possible way) "Oh My Goddddd!"

And I walked away. hahaha.

On my trip back, I took a bus from NYC to Boston, arriving in Boston around 2am. My goal was to hang out in the train station until my train came that morning for Providence. WELLLLLLL. Let me tell you. I got there and the train station was closed. This was in the Copley/Back Bay area of Boston, and there was NOTHING openned at all. No Starbucks, no 7/11, no little shops, no 24 hour mall. GRR. So I hung out in a park with some hobos. All night. I saw one of the urinated behind a brick wall. That was a delight. There was also a hobo fight. And then a mobile food pantry came by for a quick second and gave them soup or something. I think thats what they were fighting about. Dear Lord. I feel bad for hobos but it makes me wonder even more how they aren't inspired to do something with their lives. I mean its freezing at night sleeping on the ground, its dirty, there is no where to shower, no legit food, nothing to drink, other hobos want to fight you. How can someone be satisfied with that? I dont get it. I just know that I will never be a hobo. I couldnt handle it for those 4.5 hours. Intense.

So I made it home.

Good times for all=)

Going to New York City

Hey y'all!

I leave in less than 12 hours to go to New York City to visit with Kailey while she is at NYSUM!  I ended up finding out that another friend, Casey, will be in NYC at the same time with her family, so I will be hanging out with her Sunday night, then staying with my friend Gabby in her room at FIT overnight, and then hanging out with Kailey all day Monday.

Hooray!
I will be back in Providence sometime Tuesday morning.
Hopefully!
Later!

Things You Can be Praying About

1. My sister Kailey is on her way, as I type, to the New York School of Urban Ministry in Brooklyn Ny. She is there to learn the ins and outs of urban street ministry, and how to evangelize and serve the city. I am excited for her and proud of her. She will definitely excel there and I hope God uses this 6 week period to grow her faith and help her to expand her horizons. Pray that she is safe, grows closer to God, and learns to love people in a great new way.

2. Russia. As of right now, missionaries with religious visas are only allowed in Russia for a 3 month period before having to leave. They are allowed to come back into the country again, but only after 91 days of being out. So, its difficult on missionaries, because the most expensive thing about serving in Russia is the ticket to and fro. Its also hard to get consistency if you can only be in the country for 3 months at a time. Pray that the Russian government will change their policies and be more welcome to the gospel and humanitarian practices. Thank God for the people that are faithful and persevering. (To go on a Virtual Russian Prayer Walk Click Here)

3. Russian City of Bor. This is the city of Bor, just across the Volga River from Nizhniy Novgorod. Bor has 50,000 people and no evangelical church. There are plans to build a bridge across the Volga to connect the 2 cities and Bor will become a “suburb” of Nizhniy Novgorod. Pray that God will raise up church planters to plant churches in this city. (info from UBA Houston)

4. Johnson and Wales Christian Student Fellowship. We specifically need prayer that we are able to reach out to new students in Providence and show them the love of Christ in a way that connects them and unifies them. We want to build strong relationships between students and grow up a community of believers that has a passion for God and others. This is extremely important in the beginning of the year, as we want to get people plugged in right away, showing them that there are alternatives to the party scene so rampant on campus. Pray for all campus outreach groups across the world in fact.

5. Pray for me. (if you dont mind) I am trying to search out God's plan for me regarding missions. I feel strongly compelled to go, and I just need to trust in God and his timing, that he has it all under control. I am in the process of learning Russian, with the intent to go back there for a long term assignment. But pray for open doors for me, for wisdom, consistency, and for strength in my walk with Christ.


That is all for now. If anyone has anything else to add, FEEL FREE. We can never pray enough. I would love to know what I can pray for you about.

Kailey, You mean this picture?

this was when bryan and kailey were trekking across the tundra in search of a new home for themselves. it was a hard time really.

Im at work and I cant stop laughing out loud. Like ridiculously loud.

Early Morning Interests by Kailey

So there is this awesome thing called Improv Everywhere and they do hilarious things in large cities all over and they are amazing. This is my favorite one: http://improveverywhere.com/2008/03/09/food-court-musical/ haha watch them all. good stuff.

UPDATE: Here is the most awkward video... Human Slinky it's so freaking weird

Smart Shopper Tips

Hey people, it's Kailey!

So Family Dollar is the most amazing place ever! The people are nice, and the ulcer I got while working at Tops is gone! And the customers are friendlier and generally more pleasant, and I love when the little kids are there and say 'hi...hi...hi...hi...hi', hehe, so cute!

But there are those few people...

So here are some smart-shopper tips for those of you who don't enjoy being cussed out by employees behind your back:

1. If you plan on paying with a debit card, and you don't know your PIN, don't wait until all of your items have been rung up and there is now a line behind you to call someone to look for that piece of paper that's in the right hand drawer of your desk that has all that other writing on it...or maybe it's in that folder under the table...

2. The cashier does NOT know every specific item that is in the store. Try asking for more general things, like 'curtains' instead of 'Those purple drapes with the lace that go like this and the ties that are bows...do you know which ones I mean?', Also, we might have them in the back room, but I don't have time to stop everything and dig through 100 boxes to find them. Come back in a few days.

3. If you decide you don't want an item after picking it up, and you don't remember where it came from, do not hide it on some random shelves behind the Cheez-Its. Give it to the cashier, it will be super duper appreciated as opposed to finding it at the end of the day. K thanks.

4. If you walk into the store and someone says, 'just so you know we close in five minutes' you should just leave. Don't wander around the store browsing at all the things you might want, because you should leave when that five minutes are up because we close. and we don't want to be cashing your $200 worth of stuff ten minutes after we close. That happened to me today, and It was annoying.

5. If you try and return clothing items that we haven't sold for 5 years...we won't take it. Don't be a greedy fool. Also, if we do still carry it, but you have been obviously wearing it for the last 5 years, and you claim that all the wear happened when you but it through the washing machine and you 'lost' your receipt, you lie, and we won't take it. Don't be a stupid greedy fool.

I'm excited for us

Well, Alissa is off to Greece and I suppose someone has to keep this show on the road. That someone is me. (Kailey)

I do not have much to say. My computer probably has a virus and there is no task bar or start menu so I can't minimize anything or get any files or use the handy calculator. It's not that bad because I don't use it often except for internet usage.
what am I talking about? idk.

I love my mom. Shout out to all the moms out there! Go mother

ok that's enough! leave some comments