key to happiness

I have discovered that element in life which brings me happiness, and that element is exercise--preferably in the form of dance. (Note: this is different from joy. Joy I find only in the Lord and in all those gifts that come from Him.)

Last night in my room--really late--I was bored, so I put on some music, a full skirt, a sassy headscarf, and danced. I didn't dance like no one was watching--even though no one was--but I danced as if I had an appreciative, energetic audience or as if I was at a Mediterranean party in full swing, complete with spontaneous dancing. (What's a party without spontaneous dancing after all?) Call me a complete goofball, but I think I want to crash a Mediterranean party like that.

Partway through the dancing, I changed into my pjs and changed the music. It went from gypsy/Mediterranean to girl power rock. I temporarily wore my hooker boots--knee high black platform boots that lace up the front. After all, what's girl power rock without hooker boots? :) Have to admit, probably a good thing no one was actually watching me dance around in a tank top and short shorts with boots! (Would've scarred them for life...)

Eventually I went to bed, still kinda giddy, and then woke up today still in a giddy mood--even before coffee!--and kinda flirty. Probably a good thing there aren't available guys around. I could get myself in trouble with this mood!


This next bit has nothing to do with dancing or happiness, although it was still cool. I randomly googled an mk friend of mine last night, and stumbled on a podcast of him preaching a sermon. He's several years older than me--and more of an acquaintance rather than a friend--and he's already graduated from college--ORU--credentialed, and a missionary in Burundi. His parents--who I know better--were my guardians while I attended RVA in Kenya. Anyhow, it was really funny hearing how much he sounds like his dad.

It was really exciting to hear him preach because he's very much like me--missionary kid from Africa, grown up in a different culture, speaks multiple languages, loves missions. I've always promised myself, however, that I don't want to go where my parents have gone. I love Africa, but I don't see myself returning to there.

Ironically, yesterday I was in my ARD's office, glancing through a book of portraits from National Geographic, and it put me in a conundrum. These pictures came from all over the world--Paraguay, Afghanistan, Mauritania, India, France, USA, Australia--and every picture made me want to go to those places to see those people.

God, how am I ever to know where You want me when I want to go everywhere?! No specific place, no specific action pulls at my heart any stronger than the others. I know when the time is right, You'll point me in the right direction, but it can be so hard to wait patiently when I want to know now.