25 More Things

So, a while back on Facebook I posted "25 Things" random things about myself. Since then, in my absence of Facebook (I've abstained from it for Lent--which is really good for your free time. You should try it sometime.), I've kept thinking about more random things about my life. Thus, I will share a few more things:

I cannot do a cartwheel.

I hate watching myself in videos.

I hate hearing my own recorded voice.

I love colored shorts with picture icons on them.

I say I'm "musically challenged," but that doesn't mean that I don't like music! I'll listen to just about anything.

I don't get brain freezes.

I prefer a chocolate flavor over a fruit flavor any day.

My favorite flower is a pink stargazer lily. They remind me of when I was a flower girl my aunt's wedding.

I love watching other people dance.

I sleep with a pillow on my stomach.

I'm not one of those girls who has every detail of their wedding planned out. It hardly crosses my mind. When the time comes, I'll plan. For now, I'm letting God handle the plan.

I love plaid.

I’m intensely bothered by the sound of crying/whining children.

I think cadvers are really interesting. I can't wait to take gross anatomy in grad school.

I have two birthmarks: a small pink circle over my belly button and a red line along the side of my left foot.

I very much dislike casually being called “honey,” “sweetie,” “baby,” “sweetheart,” or anything of the like.

I love coffee table books.

Easter is my favorite holiday, not for pastels and bunnies, but for the celebration that my Savior has risen and that I worship a living God.

I love Carolina. GO HEELS!

Young Life is a huge part of my life. I wouldn't trade 10-15 extra hours of free time I would have each week if I wasn't a leader. I've been immensely blessed by my team, my fellow leaders, the community that supports me, my spiritual growth, and the relationships I've built with the beautiful, wonderful girls at Conley.

If you give me a jar of Nutella, it will disappear within a few days.

I have always found pathology extremely interesting. It's probably why I love House so much.

My favorite number in Spanish is 14 (catorce...what a beautiful word!).

I really like lighthouses...Cape Hatteras, especially.

I don't really like jeans. I prefer skirts, dresses, or shorts.

I originally said I didn't like olives. I tried them again recently and discovered they’re not that bad.

I love spicy food, but I can't tolerate much of it.

I took two years of figure skating in middle school. I quit figure skating for two years of art classes. I quit art classes for two years of track. I guess you could say I was "well-rounded."

I like cats much more than I like dogs.



The end.

Time for a Break

Spring break was such a restful time for me this year. I usually end up going home to Raleigh to work or travel to Jersey to see family instead of wasting way all my hard-earned money on some exotic trip (which would be incredible if funds allowed).

I was anticipating some fun adventure to arise during my week home but it ended up being plain and simple: work, friends, and family. But I think that’s exactly what I needed. I didn’t work too much, I got to sleep-in almost everyday, spent a ton of time with my Raleigh crew that I hardly see enough of, and shared precious time with my family. I never really get “homesick,” (after all Raleigh is only 1.5 hrs away from Greenville) but being home really made me appreciate and miss the wonderful community I have in Raleigh, which is equally, if not better, than the one I have at ECU.

Let me tell you, it’s been rough getting back into the swing of things this week. I have a huge midterm in Cell Phys Thursday that I’m not nearly prepared for. I definitely took the “break” part of spring break, so coming back to studying, early mornings, and Young Life club being thrown in my face the second I got back has taken a bit of time to get re-adjusted to. I’m ready for summer already, but I know I have my time to put in before I get there. Onto the second half of the semester we go! Oh boy.

Beautiful Stars

Anyone who knows me well knows of my fascination of stars, or really just the sky in general. I could star gaze for hours on end. Some of the most peaceful, enchanting moments of my life have been spent with my head tilted towards black sky filled with white sparkles. It’s mesmerizing and so beyond my mind to think of all the wonder that space holds. I absolutely love it!

Maybe this will reveal my inner “nerd,” but I’ll admit that I frequently check NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day: http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html.

For whatever reason, I feel compelled to share a few photos. Enjoy. :)

Mauna Kea Milky Way

The Eagle Nebula

Orion's Belt

The Great Carina Nebula

4th Picture

"Find the 4th picture in your 4th album and post it along with a short blurb about the picture. Then tag two people ."

Quinny tagged me and I need a break from studying for my Biomechanics test tomorrow, so here:

I was hoping for a more exciting picture, but this was the chosen one. Although the more I thought about it, this photo represents many significant memories of mine. This is me, Janie, and Kate. Kate and I were day camp counselors together at New Life Camp the summer of 2006. Janie was one of the hilarious girls in our huddle. I looked back to my Xanga to recall anything that happened that week. This is what I found:

i love working at day camp i love puppets trying to throw large dolls into basketball hoops i love crazy campers that say funny things and can't walk in straight lines i love having to take a camper to the infirmary every hour because they keep getting hurt i love swimming away from boys, fishing poles made out of sticks that don't catch fish, and paddle boats at swim time i love the fun, silly games we play during rec that make me feel like a kid again i love rock-paper-scissors, duck duck goose, four corners, and story time i love how the kids get excited over the smallest things, hearing their loud squeals and bubbly laughter, and seeing huge smiles plastered on their cute little faces i love watching God at work through everything we do at camp :) i could go on, but i'll just say there's lots of things i love about day camp. it's been a good week.

A huge smile crept onto my face after reading that. It brought back many memories from my years at New Life Camp. New Life Camp has been such a blessing in my life--all the way back to my own first year at day camp in '97, rededicating my life to the Lord at a campfire when I was 13, having a blast at teen week, being a CIT for four years, and visiting campfires each summer and being encouraged by the testimonies of childlike faith.

At Providence this morning, there was a celebration for missions. The man who represented missionaries from the US and carried the American flag was Mr. Bob, the camp director of New Life Camp, with his wife, Mrs. Debbie, following. It brought me much joy to see their smiling faces, remembering those weeks during my summers that have shaped my faith to this day. I greatly admire these people for their passion and dedication to the calling of Christians to "step out" in faith that the world may know Christ. It's neat to think that many of the things I learned at NLC have helped me to be the Young Life leader I am today. What nice memories to reflect on.

Time to get back to studying.

I tag Rachel and Lacey.

Something of a Reflection

2008 was a sweet year:

New Years in Times Square.
Collide ski trip. Turning 20.
Young Life girls beach retreat.
Baird’s lakehouse throwdown.
Jersey.
Work week at Windy Gap.
Summer camp at SharpTop Cove.
Camping at Falls Lake.
Road trip to Charlotte and Carowinds.
Fall camp at Rockbridge.
The State Fair. ECU football games.
Christmas at home with family.
New Year’s with friends.

So many fun experiences have passed. Now we start the year 2009. Who knows what it will hold?! It’s exciting to start fresh once again. The way time flies and the all things that have happened in my life still blows my mind, but I really couldn’t ask for a better season of my life.

It was wonderful to be home for break. Besides working at Starbucks, I had a lot of time to relax and rest, which is exactly what I needed after a long, hard, and busy semester. My grandma came to live with us for a few months after freezing at my uncle’s house in Chicago for the previous month. It’s been a huge blessing to have her around. I’ve gotten the chance to sit down and talk her for hours on end. I have no right to complain after learning about the things her eyes have seen and the experiences she’s endured. No doubt, she’s a tough, strong, passionate woman of the Lord and such an incredible encouragement to my faith and my heart.

It’s funny to look back at my simple year in comparison to the full, extravagant life she’s led. Her eyes have seen so many hardships with being caught as a teen in the middle of Red Revolution, her father having been taken away and having to flee from the communists, and starting up her life again in London as a nurse, falling in love, and raising a family in the prosperous land of America. Sounds like such a great adventure! I wonder what kind of adventure I will share when I come to the end of my time...

Speaking of adventures, I just got back from an incredible trip to Colorado to ski at Winter Park, which quite honestly could end up being the highlight of my year. I’m still amazed at being surrounding by the breathtakingly beautiful snow-capped Rocky Mountains. Colorado continues to be one of my favorite places I have ventured yet. I can't wait to go back! If anything to remind me of how little I am and how great God is, it’s the gorgeous mountains of Colorado.

As this new year begins I’m trying to let go of my planning mentality where I continually map out where my life will lead. Those of you who know me have seen my schedule lists! I have no idea what is in store for my life! I didn’t make any resolutions this year partially because I didn’t make time to but also because I want to learn to let God lead my life where he may will it instead of trying to make-up some lame plan on my own.

Believe it or not, I just read the verse on my cup of tea and look what it says:

“You will show me the path of life;
In your presence is fullness of JOY…”
~Psalm 16:11

Could that be more perfect? :)

Happy 2009, dear friends.

Thankful

I have so much to be thankful for this year. Every year I realize more and more how incredibly blessed I am. I really can’t even put it into words.

This year, Thanksgiving plans came with a solemn surprise. My grandpa had Parkinson’s for the past few years and it had gotten drastically worse this past month. He passed away Tuesday morning and went home to meet Jesus in heaven that day. Needless to say, we quickly rearranged our plans and traveled to Jersey to spend time with family for the holiday.

Let me just say, I am so blessed and so thankful to have an incredible family. Despite the circumstances it was wonderful to have the whole Domashovetz clan together to celebrate my grandpa’s life. At a seemingly somber time, we rejoiced because my grandpa was a strongly faithful man and fiercely loved the Lord. He spent his life ministering to those all across Ukraine and upholding a Ukrainian church in Jersey, proclaiming truth to everyone he met. In that we know that as he entered the gates of heaven Tuesday morning, the Lord whispered, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” To see the effect of the unswerving faith of my grandparents on my family is phenomenal. I can only pray that one day each one of my family members will come to know the joy and peace of mind that I have in Christ. My grandfather’s wish was that at his funeral that his life would be a testimony to those who do not believe. And he got his wish.

Praise the Lord for an amazing celebration of life and thanksgiving. I cannot be thankful enough to live the life that I have with the multitude of blessings that come to me with each passing day.

I’m thankful for the life and witness of Volodymyr Domoshovetz, my dear grandfather.
I’m thankful to have a phenomenal family to care for me.
I’m thankful for growing up in a loving home.
I’m thankful for parents who love me unconditionally.
I’m thankful to have my sister as my best friend.
I’m thankful to have a roof over my head.
I’m thankful to have food on my table each night.
I’m thankful to have an opportunity to get an education.
I’m thankful for the freedoms we have in America.
I’m thankful that Christ came to die for my sin that I may have eternal life.
I’m thankful for a mouth to speak my mind, hands that allow me do incredible works, and legs that let me run through each day of my life.
I’m thankful for dear, sweet friends who daily transform and encourage my life.
I’m thankful for people who have come and gone throughout my life that have challenged me to grow and helped mold me into the person I am today.
I’m thankful for my beauty and the honor to be called the “crown of creation.”
I’m thankful for the inexpressible beauty of creation that God has created for me to enjoy.
I’m thankful to have the honor of being a Young Life leader.
I’m thankful for the numerous blessings I have received from my Young Life family.
I’m thankful for my high school friends at D.H. Conley.
I’m thankful to live in America where I have more riches and opportunities than I could ever understand.

And with many more, I am most certainly thankful.





“Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name,
for the Lord is good...”
~Psalm 100:4

Fullness

Finally, I have a moment to update on my life. The past weeks since camp have been so full--full in the sense that my life is a cup overflowing and spilling over the brim! Rockbridge was incredible! I had a cabin of 9 wonderful girls and we had a blast together singing our hearts out at club, laughing our heads off at program, freezing down the zip line, braving the quantum leap, sharing our broken hearts during cabin time…I really could go on forever. I can’t quite explain my fullness and I definitely feel that I do not deserve the blessings in my life lately. Slowly, I’ve been learning to look for God in everything, a challenge that I’ve put strongly on my heart. Perhaps I am blessed because God show’s himself and his glory everywhere (whether we choose to see him or not) and just maybe I have gotten just a glimpse of that.







Last week after Campaigners I was so filled by God and how he worked through my girls that morning, but I was still pouring my heart out about how I have no idea where my future will lead even though I think I have it all planned out...will I get into PT school? Will I ever find a boy to love?! Will I be able to see my precious sophomore girls graduate?! Will I make it through life?! So I prayed, “Lord I need you to guide me. Show me what your will is for my life.” Then two seconds later, the song You Never Let Go came on the radio singing, "Oh Lord you never let go...Lord, you never let go of me." God was whispering, "Sandy, I am right here holding you in my arms. Trust me. I am here for you." I mean, wow. I can almost see God looking down on us lovingly shaking his head and kindly laughing at the mess of life that we make and then patiently waiting on us to call on his name once we figure out that we can’t do it on our own. It’s comforting to know that God is always in control.

Much has come and gone in my life in a mere two weeks, but perhaps the yearnings of my heart are more important to share at the moment. I was excited to have a slow week and do practically nothing, but it’s coming back to bite me in the butt with how much I’m going to have to do this upcoming week. But the end of the semester is near…can you believe it?! I’m hanging in there, trying my best to trust God with every step.