Happy Turkey Day Eve!

I grew up watching this show...and at 23 years old, I still lurve them.

Thank you, Mama & Papa Lima, for raising me to love others. Both of you always had room for people at our table.

"La Camisa Negra"

This Saturday I'm spending the whole day at the library, cranking out the final touches on the thesis proposal.

Currently listening to some classic Juanes to get my creative Latina juices flowing...

If you see me shimmy and booty shake, the same way over and over again...now you know why.

Here are some other thesis posts you may have missed:

"Say Hey (I Love you)"

Remembering Casa Chirilagua

"Bloodbuzz", "Pam" and "Winter"

"Icing on the Cake"

Remembering Casa Chirilagua

A couple of weeks ago, during homecoming weekend, I was blessed to meet with a Taylor alumni, Dawnielle. It was one of the best conversations of my life. It was what I needed to remind me why I’m at Taylor and why I’m writing my thesis. Dawnielle is one of the founding members of Case Chirilagua, which is a non-profit and Christian outreach that builds relationships with families in a Latino neighborhood in Virgina.

Here is some more information:

Who are they?

“Casa Chirilagua is a group of people who are 'learning together to love their neighbors as themselves' located in a Latino neighborhood in Alexandria, VA. We are a Christian faith-based not-for-profit outreach that seeks to develop relationships with families to see the Chirilagua neighborhood transformed by Christ.

We seek to see God’s Kingdom established in the Chirilagua community.

We are called to:

1) invest in long-term relationships

2) holistic ministry

3) local, community-based ministry

4) mentor neighborhood

5) affirm the vital role of the local church

6) develop church partnerships that unite the body of Christ in common outreach efforts" (Information taken from Casa Chirilagua website. For more information about the 6 key points, click here)

So what does “Chirilagua” mean?
"Chirilagua is a neighborhood in Alexandria, VA also known as Arlandria. However, if you talk to any of the mostly latino inhabitants, they proudly refer to their barrio as Chirilagua. When the Salvadoran civil war broke out in 1980, many had no choice but to leave their country and seek a new life. Many of those who came from Chirilagua, El Salvador settled in the Arlandria neighborhood of Alexandria, bringing a piece of their country with them and giving their new home a familiar name, 'Chirilagua'.” (Information take from the Casa Chirilagua website)

What is their story?
"Through divine providence, God arranged the circumstances for the lives of Emily, Julia, and Dawnielle to intersect through a conference and book talk near the end of 2006. They were drawn to one another through similar experiences in Latin America and a shared love for the Spanish language. They connected with people, books, magazines, websites, and other communities that helped to more clearly define the vision that God had begun to work in each of their hearts. There was a lot of uncertainty in the process and emotions ranged from excitement to fear. They grappled with moving, job changes, financial situations, approval of family and friends, etc., but they continued to meet regularly with like-minded people and filled their time with prayer, reflection, questioning, and talking with others who were further along the journey.

After eight months of meeting together, in July of 2007, the three young ladies took the plunge and moved into an apartment complex in the heart of Chirilagua, a latino immigrant community in Alexandria, VA. They were affirmed that God was working in the midst of their move, even down to the specific apartment strategically located in the center of activity and next to neighbors who would play a key role in their integration into the neighborhood community life. God’s sovereignty in that process, his leading and guidance each step of the way affirmed that they were exactly where they were supposed to be.

What started as 3 people moving into a neighborhood looking for ways to be the hands and feet of Christ on a daily basis, has now developed into an intentional community of 10 adults and 2 children, who choose to live in Chirilagua and engage the greater community through friendships, walks, meals, celebrations and life events.

Out of the growth of that intentional community and in response to identified needs in the neighborhood, Casa Chirilagua has developed into a not-for-profit ministry that reaches out to the community through Kids Club (an after school program), Mujeres de Virtud (a women’s ministry), and Chirilagua Connections (an access point to connect resources with needs).” (Story taken from Casa Chirilagua website)

To hear more of their stories, click here.

To learn more about their specific outreaches, click here.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Drinking coffee and talking about the Latino culture with Dawnielle encouraged and motivated me in so many ways. As I work on my thesis tonight, I will be remembering Dawnielle and her stories.

“Si se puede!” was one of the last things she said to me.

"Say Hey (I Love You)"

Readers/friends/future friends,

I'm currently in the thesis-proposal-must-get-'er-done-to-by-next-week mode. Therefore, my blog posts will be a little scarce.

But not to leave yall hanging, I will be posting songs that either motivate me to do thesis writing/work or that just have been stuck in my head all day.

Enjoy.

I lurve this music video because it's a fresh reminder to take time to celebrate life...even with a thesis deadline.

"Seems like everywhere I go
...the more I see, the less I know" = Lima's current motto.

Doesn't this video want to make you shimmy and shake your booty?

Make the Business Look Casual

Thank you, KT’s mom, for coming this weekend to hang out with The Single Ladies. We love having you around. You always make sure we have a “real” dinner. The extra bonus is that you have so much wisdom and motherly love for all of us.

Thank you, Fred, for having a birthday last week. I got to enjoy the presence of your Madre, but I also had the opportunity to stuff my face out with cake. I also took advantage of the holiday and filled your birthday card with pun jokes. That was my favorite part.

Thank you, Zumba, for being an overly cheesy way for me to get my groove on. When people ask, I like to explain you as “over exaggerated Latin dance moves”.

Thank you, Mama Lima, for calling me to make sure that I’m alive. Your love and persistence on my well-being reminds me that there’s a bigger world out there other than grad school.

Thank you, reading list, for your patience. Eventually I will get to cross some things off on you, but bear with me for I am writing a thesis. It’s totally understandable that you are feeling a bit jealous and neglected. I would feel the same if someone chooses to spend time with thesis books over me.

Thank you, chilly weather, for hanging out with us last week. You gave me a chance to complain about the cold and ponder how I ever grew up in New England.

Thank you, future job, for hanging in there. Eventually I will find you and it….Will. Be. awesome.

Thank you, BFF, for your honesty. Without it, I would still be rattling off my mouth and we both know we need to spare the world from that.

Thank you, R, for the late chilly nights talking about the Beauty of Life and its Creator. I’m currently wearing the gray scarf my mom knitted for me and sipping my hot apple cider.

Thank you, leg warmers, for coming back from the 80’s. You make the business look casual. People are secretly jealous of me.

Thank you, Taylor, for providing such a great education. At the current moment, you are overtaking my life, but 8 months from now I will be shimmying and shaking my booty to the thankful beats in my heart.

Thank you, left over Halloween candy, for being everywhere. My cavities are thanking you and the extra two inches on my hips are calling you “Daddy”.

Thank you, Eternal Father, for creating me in your image. Even though I experience an identity crisis every day, I know that my identity lies in you…which is humbling.

Learn: Communication

What am I learning today?

Communication is a great thing. It provides a way for us to engage with one another in deep and beautiful matters. It builds relationships and opens doors for new opportunities. Therefore, it is necessary for all humanity, and if you can’t communicate, you are robbed of something that is part of your identity.

Bad communication is destructive. When communication is not used correctly, people get hurt or all hell breaks loose. It could be that a person didn’t feel loved, that bill didn’t get paid, a joke was actually hurtful or you missed that meeting. In other words, bad communication is not fun.

That is why we must be careful of the way we communicate things. We must always evaluate the intention behind what we are communicating. Is it for our sake or the sake of others? Are we communicating this certain knowledge because we are called to do so or are we doing it just for our own entertainment?

Communication between relationships with those we love is crucial. It can make them or break them.

Are you communicating in a make it or break it manner?

That’s what I’m learning today.

"Bloodbuzz", "Pam" and "Winter"

Lima, how the heck do you keep sane your thesis process?

One word: Music.

Currently on my thesis "Chill-mode" playlist:



and...



and, of course...



Stayed tuned for my thesis "Party-Mode" playlist.



HAPPY SATURDAY!