Content

It is amazing how quickly one can become caught up in the antics and pullings of consumerism. 

Ok, ok. *How quickly I become caught up in the antics and pullings of consumerism. 

"If I just had...." You can fill in the blank. 

I have never had a lot of money, but working as a nurse for a few years certainly gave me a taste of what it would be like living a carefree and American dream life. 

Work, work, (be miserable for a few days) then play, play, travel, travel. 

I didn't want to get sucked into that lifestyle, and there were conscious decisions that I made when I got my first "real" job. Even still, it is easy to fall into a lifestyle of discontentment. 

Here in Ireland, my sheets do not match my pillow. If in my apartment in FL this were the case, I would have gone to Target to buy a cute new set. It sounds really silly, but it is an example of how trained my brain is to think that I have to have things. Things. That's all this stuff is. Jesus is offering more. Be content with what you have, because you have Me, and that's all we really need. 

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for He said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you". 

Hebrews 13:5

Promise

(I really like the view from my front door... and I forgive all the cars and trucks that make our road a busy one)

The rainbow began as a promise, and the rainbow keeps on living because God's promises never end. 

I see lots of rainbows here... I think I said that a few weeks ago, but it's so true! Sometimes, rainbows point my mind back to Noah's days and the very first rainbow. This week, I thought of one of my current favourite promises.

The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? 

The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? 

Psalm 27:1. 

I have no reason to fear because my life is in the Creator's hands. He who puts a bow in the sky as a promise is faithful and can be my light and salvation. 

Experiments

Angela asked me at lunch... "Where do you come up with ALL of these ideas?! I feel that you make something new every day!" (Not completely true, but that's ok). The reason may be that she is from Germany and I am am from America. We eat different foods. Now that we are both in Ireland, our diets have varied slightly from our home countries. At supper, I was asked, "I sure do hope you wrote down how you made this!" And whenever I post pictures of food on Instagram, someone usually asks for a recipe. Most of the recipes don't really meet the qualifications to go onto our Fisher Family Recipes blog. Easy solution? An Emily's Experiments blog.

Nothin' fancy at all. Just notes from my test kitchen.

www.emilystestkitchen.blogspot.com

For My Sisters

I'm not gonna lie, sometimes I really miss my family. 

That being said, being away from home sometimes has it's perks. 

For example: If I were living at home right now, I probably wouldn't have as many magnificent email exchanges with my siblings and parents about life, love, what's going on life. 

And the packages, oh the packages from home! 

My younger sisters are enthusiasts (at life in general) at letters, emails, and packages. 

They make my day. 

Yesterday I got the long awaited package that had tape! I love tape so much. 

Thank you sisters. You are all the best.

Learning

My friend Heather gives me different topics to write about while I'm here in Ireland. I struggle with keeping up with a journal, but I do enjoy writing. By principle, I think that writing is wonderful, especially when abroad. 

One of last month's topics was to write about what I have learned about myself since being here. That has probably been one of the hardest topics thus far, and not because I couldn't think of anything to write. It was hard because I didn't like what I wrote down. 99% of the things that I learned about myself were not so flattering, nothing to be proud of. 

And that's the whole point. Pride kills. It is easier to grow than to get rid of. 

I'm a nurse? big deal. 

I came across the world to do good for other people? So did my co-workers. Big deal. 

I've never left the church? I need Jesus just as much as you, maybe even more. 

I won't give you the nitty gritty. Let's just say that what they say about working overseas is true. Faults are amplified and annoyances are compounded. 

While looking at my list- my goal is to turn them around. Every strength has a shadow, and every weakness is made perfect in Christ's strength. I'm so glad that my God is restorative, that He loves making people into something beautiful, and that He is full of grace. 

This introspective lesson has been good for me. Friends sometimes ask the hardest questions. Thank you, Heather. I think I'm ready for my next topic now. :)