Haiti 2014!

Hello my fellow readers!

  Yes, you read that title correctly! Haiti you ask? Well, I'm going to Haiti, March 1-8.

  For those of you who may not have known me up until recently, I'll share a little background. In 2010 I had the opportunity to go to Haiti after the earthquake hit earlier that year. I went with a group from the church I attend and we partnered with an organization called: Forward Edge.

Upon arrival to Port Au Prince, the devastation was beyond anything even pictures could show... it was a "see it to believe" kind of moment. Surreal... Rubble everywhere, trash and water flooded all the main roads. People living in tent cities and chaos. Our hearts were broken with what we saw.
  Getting to attend a Haitian church service opened my eyes to a kind of faith that I had always dreamed of for myself. These people, who in everyone else's eyes had lost everything, were there to worship the Lord and give Him their time and their best. Despite the obvious, things falling apart around them, they were much richer than I.

   We went to Jacmel, Haiti to help build a school located on a Haitian Church property. We also helped to create a foundation for a house that was going to be built for a family of that church. It would be their first home. We were able to connect with the family we were building for, the pastor of the church and many children!

   In 2012, members of my church again, went to Haiti. This time I stayed and felt God's calling in my life to just study counseling. I was very torn over this because my heart was for Haiti and for missions since a very young age. Despite my sadness of not going, I stayed and obeyed God's direction.
  Little did I know that these few classes were intended to prepare me for January 2013. This is when God opened the door and said "Go!" And so I went to Haiti. This time to Carrefour where our church since 2012 has been invested in Mariani Church. [A little village within Carrefour].

   It was amazing to see how far Haiti had come from the 2010 earthquake. Port au Prince had been cleared up to were the streets weren't completely flooded over with water and waste. There were still people living in tent cities right there in the capital and this will continue to take time. But the progress that had been made, was definitely worth God's praise!

  In Carrefour, we visited Mariani church and we attended their service. It was so packed that the building itself seemed to burst at the seams with people who had come to hear the gospel. We went with the intention of helping to build a school on their property, upon arrival we saw that they had already done so. Not anything fancy but it was put up. This was a definite praise as well! This sort of movement and drive in the Haitian people is what we pray for. Their own church body had been saving money so that they could build it for the children. It's not finished completely and they would like to add more but now the children can have Sunday School.

   We ended up working alongside the Haitians to expand their church. We had to level flooring to put down cement and get cinder blocks to extend the church walls. The goal was that so when people came to church, they wouldn't have to be outside in the heat of the day. That they would be covered. I was surprised by how much those counseling classes helped me. I was able to connect with people better, even through a language barrier. God is so good.

This leads me to why I am writing. I will be leaving for Haiti again, March 1-8 of this year, 2014.
   If you would like to partner with us, Trinity Community Church in our project "Grow Mariani" you can visit http://tcchaiti.com/ and find out all kinds of information. Even a blog with a piece written from a team member who went with us last year.
  We hope to go back to the Mariani Church and see how they are doing as well as helping to continue to build on the church and the school there.
  There is also a town that we walked last year to do street ministry and that was very fruitful. Pray for those who were converted from Voodoo worship and are now serving the Lord. That discipleship would take root. There are lots of different areas that we have an opportunity to serve and we want to follow God's leading.


   Please consider praying for our team. For safety, for opportunities to minister to those that God would place around us. Pray that we would go as "students", that we would be teachable. That the Lord would provide the people He wants to continue the ministry there long after we're gone. That once again, true discipleship would take root! Pray about whether the Lord would like you to give to this project.

   If you're not the praying kind of person but would still like to help, you have an opportunity to give. At the website above, you can donate to the team as a whole or a team member. For a team member, all you need to do is type in my name. Amaris Nazario. Just click the "give" tab and it'll walk you through the steps for an online donation.
  If you would like to send a check instead, make it payable to the church "Trinity Community Church", in the memo you can put "Haiti" if you like. DO NOT put my name on the check otherwise it will not be tax deductible. You can however, write my name on a post-it instead or separate letter to include WITH the check so that they know who's fundraising account to put it towards.

   Thank you for taking the time to go through this rather lengthy letter. I look forward to sharing with you all how this trip of 2014 goes. I expect God will do great things! In the team as a whole and as individuals.

   If you have any questions about the trip, Haiti in general, my experiences while being there and other projects we will be doing or if you would like to give please feel free to contact me by using the "contact me" form here on my blog. I'd love the chance to communicate with you and thank you personally for any donations!

Thank you!

Nail Care Review of 2013! Part Two!

Hey Ladies!

  Sorry it's been so long between posts but here it is. Part Two of my nail care review and we'll start with:

Cuticle Care

Believe it or not, unhealthy cuticles can also be a recipe for weak nails and breakage. I have found it is harder to retain moisture for your cuticles during the winter months because it's so dry out.

Now, I picked up this bottle of "Cuticle Away" at local CVS/Pharmacy. I can't remember how much it cost but I bought it around the summer of last year and I still have a lot left in it. I seriously think it's a good investment. I haven't been able to find it anywhere else at the moment. If you find it elsewhere, please let me know in the comments below!

The orange wood stick pictured above I got in a package from Sally's Beauty Supply. They are lasting me quite a long while.

With this liquid/gel, you want to put it on your cuticle and let it sit for maybe about 2 minutes [to soften them] before going in with your orange wood stick and cleaning them up. Wash your hands afterwards and then you can start painting!

Now, I've been wanting to try out Essie's Apricot Cuticle Oil and I finally caved in and bought some. Oh my word! I absolutely love that stuff! Leaves your fingers feeling smooth and healthy and by golly does it smell delicious!

I also picked up a bottle of Essie's "Millionails" Treatment. Love it! They are pictured here below.

These are definitely my newest favorites! 

• Top Coats

  Right now I'm really liking these two pictured below. One is by Sally Hansen called "Diamond Strength No Chip Nail Color" and the other is by Revlon. "Extra Life No Chip Top Coat". Both work real well.

 The point of the top coat is to help your manicure to last longer. I usually put a top coat on maybe every 2-3 days depending if and when I remember. This again, will just improve the life of your manicure.

 

• Hand Lotion

  This is definitely one key that will enhance the look of your manicure plus a great way to put your best hand[s] forward when meeting and greeting people. In the winter, it is best to go with a crème based lotion. It's thicker, it'll last longer and retain moisture in your skin a whole lot better than a regular hand lotion.

  I am currently using a body crème that I bought from Bath and Body Works. Sorry that I don't have a photo of that. Realized I forgot to take one as I'm writing here. But I'll insert a web link here that will show you what I'm talking about.

  That is the name of the crème I am currently using and I love it.

 

  Well, I hope that this was helpful. Let me know what some of your favorite products are. I'd love to hear about them.

 

  Have a great weekend!

 

 

Nail Care Review of 2013! Part One!

Hello my readers!

  Happy New Year! I hope that you all had a wonderful holiday season.

  So, this entry is going to be quite different from what I typically post. Yes, you read the title correctly, this post is going to be my review of a few products I've been testing out last year and thought that I would go ahead and share them with you ladies! [Sorry guys, I'll try to have something more general up soon.]

  It's winter time and it can be hard to keep up a decent manicure. For those of you who may be struggling with this, maybe some of what I'm going to share here will help you. Before I get into it however; I want to put it out there that I'm not a professional nail tech and I do not claim to be. This is all information that I've either researched myself or tested on my own. These are just a few things that have worked for me and I thought, why not share! So here we go.

Home

Once long ago, it seemed things were so simple and light. With time however, things have happened and just as a tree is laden with snow, I am weighed down by all that the world has tried to offer. Like a cold winter and a heavy heart, my soul is longing for the season to change.

How I desire to have your Son shine down on me and melt all my troubles away. To hear the sounds of life come with the spring and feel the warmth of summer.

I am trying to hold on to Your promises that things will not be like this forever but it is difficult when I am just moving from one uncertain direction to another. The path keeps winding and I don't remember which way I've gone as the snow continues to fall and covers my tracks. The bitter winds of the world blow stronger and I can feel my body starting to become numb. Lord, I need You to help me feel sensitivity to Your Word and Work. Don't allow for this season to consume who I am.

As I continue to walk, I see in the distance a bit of light. Hope. That there You will stand at the door of the most beautiful home I will have ever laid eyes on. You will say to me, "Come, stay with me. I have prepared a place for you." There You will take my coat and every other burden I have carried with me for so long and put it away never to be put on again. A seat by the fireplace of Your heart and a blanket wrapped around me. There Your wings will cover and protect me. A hot cup placed in my hands of Your Word, to drink in and feel its soothing truth make its way down into my very soul! What comfort and peace!

That moment, is what I am living for. In that moment, is where I will wait for you. For that moment, is what I will continue to strive towards knowing that You are forever faithful and have loved me since the beginning. That I am not alone. You will come for me and take me home.
© Amaris I. 12/27/2013




"I Hate Christmas Parties" So "Merry Christmas, Here's to many more."

"I look under the tree, but there's nothing to see. 'Cause it's a broken heart that you're giving me. I can't figure you out, is this what Christmas is all about, 'cause it's a broken heart that you're giving me."

"I don't want to talk, I'm sick of all this talking. A broken heart wrapped up in a box, there's teardrops in my stocking."

"I hate Christmas parties, you offer me some punch but I just shrug. I hate Christmas parties, you and the cookie tray both hear me say Bah Humbug."

  Do you feel like that this year?

  Christmas should be a time of celebration and for most people it's about spending time with those they love most.
  However; what about for those that Christmas is a tough Holiday Season and it's just something to "get through" instead of taking in every moment.
  We all come from different walks of life. Maybe you don't have family to celebrate with this year, maybe you've lost a loved one due to their passing. Maybe you've had a bad break-up or a divorce. Maybe you're a single person feeling a bit more lonely during the holiday season. Maybe you do have family around but no one ever really communicates or shows any interest in coming together.

  If you are feeling melancholy this Christmas season I just want to say that it's okay to feel that way. Don't feel that just because everyone else is or seems to be more in the "Christmas spirit" than you are, that you're some terrible person for feeling otherwise. Maybe you are more of a Grinch this time around, it's nothing to feel bad about.
  Things in life happen and sometimes the events that take place change the way we respond. I for one am all about decorating as much as possible with as many lights as possible. Baking and getting caught up in the festivities. I love Christmas! It's my favorite Holiday! This year though, it seems I am not ready for it. It has come so quickly and I feel I wasn't prepared. I'm having to deal with the fact that I didn't plan well and my decor isn't at all up to par with my expectations of "how it should be."
  I feel a bit sad this year for reasons I'm not entirely sure of at the moment... It has been one of those years that instead of listening to joyful happy and merry music, it's been more dull and melancholy and guess what? It doesn't matter. I enjoy it and it's actually soothing for me. I've been listening to songs that minister to my spirit of where I am right now, not where I want to be. I think it's important to be validated in the moment sometimes, so that you can move beyond it.
  Despite everything that I think hasn't fit the bill or didn't meet my expectations. My hopes, dreams and desires that are not even close to being completed. My heart, having been broken on different occasions from different things, I realize that through it all God has been with me and that's enough!

I made it through the year and I did not even collapse 
Gotta say, "Thank God, for that" 
I'm torn between what keeps me whole and what tears me in half 
I'll fall apart or stay intact 

With tired eyes I stumble back to bed 
I need to realize my sorry life's not hanging by a thread 
At least not yet 

It always hurt to be all by myself this time of year 
A cold and lonely Christmas eve 
And living out my days alone 
Well that had been my deepest fear 
But you promised you won't leave 

I look towards the east and see a star 
Jesus Christ, it's blessed my life to know just who you are 
You are my hope 

So, "Merry Christmas, Here's to many more." -Relient K

Ayi yai yai...

Hello Everyone,

  If I seem scatter-brained during this post, it's because I am. I have another post saved as a draft for the moment but I felt compelled to write this out instead. I think I just have so much on my mind to write about at the same time that it makes it hard to sit and concentrate on just one piece at a time. Ha.

  My last post was "quick" as the title said but probably not really an "update". I won't go into details, nothing bad has happened so don't worry, but my lack of writing up here for you all is because I've been busy and was in a season of transitions. Probably still am but I've been trying to just give it all over to God. He has been faithful to direct my steps. [If you'd like to read my post on "Seasons" Click Here]

Quick Update!

  Good Cold and Crisp Morning to you all!

  To my faithful few followers! I'd like to do a quick shout-out and say thank you! There is much to share and I hope to get it all up soon! I hope that you are all well.
  I know it's been a long while since I've posted and I apologize! I'm happy to say though, that I'm finally back and look forward to keeping you updated. Some of you may have noticed the new layout and name. Yes, I've gone through a re-vamping stage. Time to shake things up a little bit. I was getting a little tired of the old look.

  To all of you new people out there, hello and welcome! I hope that you'll enjoy what you read and see here. This just happens to be a short quick post because I haven't been consistent as of late, so this isn't usually the norm, ha.

  Happy Friday everyone and I'll be sure to get more material out soon! Thanks again to those of you that have stuck around this long! You're awesome!