vantage points

i recently had the pleasure of having two of my close friends from home visiting new orleans.. i was grateful to have people that reminded me of home with me in a place where i have set up a home...

we strolled around the french quarter..listened to the bluesy music of jon cleary..took in all of the festivities at the st. patty's day parade..soaked up some rays at the beach and of course it wouldn't be a new orleans trip without enjoying the delicious restaurants...

all in all it added up to a wonderful weekend..by taking in all the beauty and sunshine with some fresh eyes my love of the city was recharged..sometimes you just need a different vantage point..

"to love..to be loved..to never forget your own significance....to never get used to the unspeakable violence and vulgar disparity of life around you..to seek joy even in the saddest places...to pursue beauty to its lair..to never simplify what is complicated or complicate what is simple..to respect strength..never power above all...to watch..to try and understand..to never look away..and never..never..to forget" arundhati roy

peace & love

jillian 

time

"your journey has molded you for your greater good..and it was exactly what it needed to be..don't think that you've lost time..it took each and every situation you have encountered to bring you to the now..and the now is right on time" asha tyson

after my birthday has now come and gone i've gotten to pondering about where i was a year ago..as some of you know i had originally applied for a year of service abroad with another organization..after completing countless interviews and essays it was this time last year when i was anxiously waiting..waiting to see where the cards would fall..

obviously i didn't get the response i had been hoping for..even going as far as nearly counting on..i was devasted and at a complete loss with what to do..i had absolutely no plan or direction..in my opinion i had failed miserably..



but i've always thought god does his best work at times like these..when hope seems to have left us...because at church the sunday after my disappointing news i was told about the YAV program..there i found a glimmer of hope..a shed of light..once i got home i dove into research about the program and layed out before me was more than i could have ever asked for..

and that has honestly made all the difference..so there you have it...god really knew what he was doing after all..

peace & love

jillian