GABRIELA YARELIZ

Oscars: The Theory of Everything

By: Gabriela Yareliz

It was quite the match: a church-going, angelic-voiced polyglot filled with hope and an intelligent, boyish and mysterious scientist filled with angst. She became his lifesaver in more ways than one.

I am so hoping that The Theory of Everything gets Best Picture tonight at the Oscars. There are some serious inaccuracies in the film as compared to Jane Hawking’s autobiography. However, I think the former Mrs. Hawking’s life deserves a standing ovation. While things were not as amicable and simple as the film presents, what is portrayed: the strength, love, passion– everything that makes our hearts warm and fuzzy, that is what should be; what often is, but not for long.

People’s mistakes, victories, difficulties, beliefs, struggles, weaknesses, strengths or tragedies can help us determine what we hope for, and more than that, they can help push us to achieve what we dream.

[Images from Tumblr]

Sunday Girl: February 22, 2015

By: Gabriela Yareliz Back-to-work Sunday. I’m Florida dreamin’ and listening to Jake Miller (fellow Floridian) while getting stuff done. Soundtrack: India won the match against South Africa yesterday. It was greatness. When I saw the photo of the team players together in their blue and orange uniforms, it brought back memories from my Gator Cricket Team.

Last week of February! Shall we?

“I now know that we never get over great losses; we absorb them, and they carve us into different, often kinder, creatures.” Gail Caldwell, Let’s Take the Long Way Home

Hair inspiration:

“When God puts you in a position you don’t understand, He wants you to see He is God.” Dr. Tony Evans

“What hath night to do with sleep?” John Milton, Paradise Lost

“Maturity starts with the willingness to give oneself.” Elisabeth Elliot

“For what you see and hear depends a good deal on where you are standing: it also depends on what sort of person you are.” C.S. Lewis, The Magician’s Nephew

“Hey now! Hey now! This is what dreams are made of!” Lizzie McGuire

Time to hustle.

[Images from Tumblr]

Dreams & Oceans

By: Gabriela Yareliz

Soundtrack to the post: Britt Nicole’s “Set the World on Fire”

I’m thinking oceans. I’m thinking sunshine. I’m thinking warmth.

We are growing up. But at this point in the game, some of us have to realize that we can’t keep thinking about the adults we want to be; we are adults, now. Of course, we want to keep in mind who we want to be, but adulthood is no longer in the distant future. Suddenly, what was once future tense becomes present tense. It’s time to live the life we’ve always dreamed of and to continue being a work in progress.

It’s time to cross oceans, by foot on dry land.

“You are strong enough to take my dreams,

come and give them wings,

Lord with you,

there’s nothing I cannot do.”

Britt Nicole // Set the World on Fire

“Grab on to God with all you’ve got. Have faith that He can lift you high above your circumstance and fears.
I’ve noticed that He usually doesn’t do it until the wave is just about to wash over us. That’s what makes it faith.”
Sun Stand Still – S. Furtick

“There’s courage in these veins of mine,
because I’m part of His bloodline.”
Kalley Heiligenthal

“The terrible thing, the almost impossible thing, is to hand over your whole self—all your wishes and precautions—to Christ. But it is far easier than what we are all trying to do instead.”
C. S. Lewis

“Stop waiting for someone else to say that you count, that you matter, that you have worth, that you have a voice, a place, that you are called. Didn’t you know, darling? The One who knit you together in your mother’s womb is the one singing these words over you, you are chosen.”
Sarah Bessey

“I want my children to grow up barefoot running through the woods. I want them to know the feeling of the trees growing around them, to recognize the gurgle of a stream before they see it, to know the taste of a blackberry from a bush long before they know the taste of a chip. I want my children to experience the earth…through touch, not pictures, and video games. And I want to be right there with them through it all.” Unknown

“Vivan los porsiacasos.” Blanca Suarez

“He makes, we are made; He is original, we derivative.” C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain, Divine Goodness

“Jesus knew everything Zacchaeus had done and still loved him. It didn’t change Jesus; it changed Zacchaeus.” J.S.

Dream. See the ocean He has led you to and have faith that He will open the way for you. He will go before you during the day as a cloud giving you shade from the scorching sun, and by night as a column of fire, lighting everything in your path.

[Images from Tumblr]

Sick-Day Sabbath #2

I have sneezed so much, I am afraid I am going to sprain my neck or something. Unfortunately, I am sick, and fortunately, trapped indoors. Today, I was sneezing at a symposium (the photo above is from today–the one moment I was not sneezing). The symposium talked a lot about John Milton’s Paradise Lost. I am in a classic kind of mood. I saw an old friend from France and drank hot tea. I later proceeded to class, where I was cold called, while feeling clammy and cold sweating. I was talking and stating my arguments while stripping off my blazer, scarf, etc. I could feel the streams of cold sweat in my cleavage. Not a good feeling.

I walked, in what felt like an arctic blast, to the bank, and because I didn’t want to go outside after I had finished in there, I literally sat on the bank couch for 30 minutes texting a friend and avoiding eye contact with bank tellers who were wondering what I was still doing there. Then, I when to the pharmacy where I had trouble checking out and got ID checked while trying to buy cold meds. Because apparently only 18+ get sick, and all the sick minors live with parents who can buy them cold meds; also, I look 15 to them, in a suit. Whatever. I need to get a job on Disney Channel.

I took a five-hour nap, and now I am here, wide awake; can’t breathe; and craving french fries. Tomorrow, I will sit here and read my Bible, in bed, keeping pace with my 90-day challenge. The book of Job. How appropriate? *Kidding* I am sure it will make me feel better. Better to sneeze than to have boils and ashes on my head or something…

I hope you are warm and healthy. And if you are sick, I hope you have a roommate. It sucks when you are sick, and you live alone. Thank God New York Fashion Week is over, and people can start wearing weather-appropriate clothes again. Wearing nylon tights as pants in -16 degrees, people! People! I am off to find tissues in my fashionable knee socks, Gator hoodie and fuzzy pants. This kind of cold should be illegal.

XOXO.

Your sick Floridian trapped in a polar vortex

Reflections Before Bedtime #10

By: Gabriela Yareliz

I am sick, sick as a… I’ll spare you the simile. It’s freezing cold. The wind bites; that is how cold it is. So, I stay indoors sipping on tea and kale juice, and sucking on vitamins (because they are too big to swallow *kidding* but they really are too big).

Downstairs, there is a little plate with pebbles. Someone puts the pebbles into the shape of a smiley face. Today, I walked past it, and it had a little sign that said “Do not touch!!!” Ha. I wonder what people were doing with the pebbles.

As I study case law, I am overwhelmed with how fast society changes, and how the world shapes itself. Sometimes, the system makes sense, but more often, there is a tinge of sadness. Something is just so wrong about the way some things are going and happening. There are a lot of subtle double standards, ones we even have for ourselves. Anyway, time is flying by like a New York taxi. Some of us are trying to not get run over.

Today, I was reminded of a quote:

“When the whole world is running towards a cliff, he who is running in the opposite direction appears to have lost his mind.”

C.S. Lewis

Let the man run in the opposite direction; let him run. What others perceive as his “madness” is actually his sanity.

Reflections Before Bedtime #9

By: Gabriela Yareliz

So today, God exceeded all of my expectations. #speechless

Moral of the story? While I am over here having some weird mini heart attack, He is working in my favor. I realized today, that truly, some of the best things require the most patience.

I am so grateful. My heart spilleth over, you know what I mean? I start my journey through the book of Nehemiah, tomorrow. Every step of this walk has been and continues to be a blessing. I continue to receive words in due season and warmth for my soul. Every day, He proves He is with me, and His love endures forever.

Who You Are Dealing With

By: Gabriela Yareliz

Do you think that God is limited by your name? What school you went to? Where you are? What you’ve done? Where you come from? What others think? Your financial resources? What you look like? If you do, you don’t know who you are dealing with. God’s greatness and the amazing things He can do for you are without measure. Never doubt His power, His name and His goodness. He has plans for you, and He is taking you exactly where He wants you to go. A place where you will be fulfilled; where you will be blessed, and be a blessing.

[Image from princesskapoor.tumblr.com]

Bunny

By: Gabriela Yareliz

This is one of my favorite creatures ever created. Her name is Bunny. When I see her, she reminds me of what it’s like to persevere in faith and loyalty, trusting in the goodness of the hand that provides all things for you. When I see her, I remember her strength, and how God blessed this little creature when everything looked dim for her; even her vet was surprised and moved by the miracle she became. When I see her, I see answered prayers. When I see her, I see a creature who loves, protects and understands, despite her stubbornness. When I see her, I am reminded how important it is to have and accept guidance by those who love you most. When I see her, I am reminded that we were meant to live free, like her spirit.

In her, I see a sum of too many blessings. In her, I see a piece of my heart.

Monday Inspiration: February 16, 2015

By: Gabriela Yareliz

Happy Monday! Below-zero temperatures, snow and readings, oh my! Here we are. Just two weeks shy of saying goodbye to this red-heart themed month. I hope you have Presidents Day off. Apparently, the whole city is closed today, except the law school, of course. Time to brave the cold, brave the books, and brave the week.

XOXO.

“Do not dare not to dare.” C.S. Lewis, The Horse and His Boy

“But luxury has never appealed to me, I like simple things, books, being alone, or with somebody who understands.”

Daphne du Maurier

“In my deepest wound I saw your glory, and it dazzled me.” St. Augustine

“Some people are artists. Some, themselves, are art.”

.چو استاده ای٬ دست افتاده گیر
As long as you are standing, give a hand to those who have fallen.

Persian Proverb

“Everyone discusses my art and pretends to understand, as if it were necessary to understand, when it is simply necessary to love.”
Claude Monet

“Nobody ever outgrows Scripture; the book widens and deepens with our years.”

C.H. Spurgeon

“The truth is like a lion. You don’t have to defend it. Let it loose. It will defend itself.”

St. Augustine

In my dreams, I sit under a tree that looks like this:

“Even when I cannot see HIM, I can hear the beautiful gallop of God’s heartbeat for humanity.” Christine Caine

New Yorker humor is always smile-provoking:

I hope that you start this week in a productive, healthy, warm way. Stay safe, stay warm, and stay inspired.

Expect miracles, always.

[Images from Tumblr]

Sunday Girl: February 15, 2015

By: Gabriela Yareliz

I like to find out what things mean. Curiosity…I should have been a cat? Kidding. It’s like the time I didn’t know what pound cake meant. It turns out that pound cake takes a pound of each ingredient (flour, butter, eggs and sugar). Apparently, the expression “Life is your oyster,” means: Oysters have a pearl (treasure inside), but to get it open you need to get a knife or something to slice it open, twist it open, and then pry out what is inside. It takes work, effort, and desire. So, life is there, holding treasures and blessings, but it’s up to us to decide to put in the work to obtain the pearl. I don’t know about you, but I have got my knife in hand, and I am ready to twist until my fingers are red. I want the pearl.

This past week was full of adventure, walking on the sidewalk playing a game of avoiding the trash and ice sprinkled throughout. I also went to my usual chair massage place (after months of not going), but the man wanted me to strip down to my underwear. I was like, “No, I will keep my clothes on thank you.” Weird, and life gets weirder.

I learned about how I need to work on being more merciful and full of grace and reflect the mercy and grace God has bestowed on me.

I was also reminded that the just shall live by faith, means faith is more about actions.

I just finished carrying groceries in like 10-degree weather praying not to have my arms rip off and that I wouldn’t slip and break my back on ice. New York City (0); everywhere else in the world where there is parking for cars (1).

Shall we start getting pumped for this new week?

“All get what they want; they do not always like it.”

C.S. Lewis, The Magician’s Nephew

“No great wisdom can be reached without sacrifice.”

C.S. Lewis, The Magician’s Nephew

“She’s a dreamer, a soul searcher and a wanderer. She drifts along, deep in thought, her mind craving exploration and her eyes telling tales of mysterious adventures.” Unknown

I can’t wait for it to be ice cream season again!

Lessons we learn in life: “We may give human loves the unconditional allegiance which we owe only God. Then, they become gods; then they become demons. Then they will destroy us, and also destroy themselves.” C.S. Lewis// Four Loves

“For Christianity is a fighting religion. It thinks God has made the world–that space and time, heat and cold, and all the colors and tastes, and all the animals and vegetables, are things God ‘made up out of His head’ as a man makes up a story. But it also thinks that a great many things have gone wrong with the world that God made and that God insists, and insists very loudly, on our putting them right again.” C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, pg. 41

“You do not look so happy as I mean you to be.” Aslan, C.S. Lewis, The Last Battle

“The love of knowledge is a kind of madness.” C.S. Lewis, Out of the Silent Prayer

“The soul, fortunately, has an interpreter–often an unconscious but still faithful interpreter–in the eye.” Charlotte Bronte, Jane Eyre

“Always resignation and acceptance. Always prudence and honour and duty. Elinor, where is your heart?” Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility

“He stepped down, avoiding any long look at her at her as one avoids long looks at the sun, but seeing her as one sees the sun, without looking.” Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina

“To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.” C.S. Lewis

#SoTrue

“It was the stars themselves which were singing, and it was the First Voice, the deep one, which had made them appear and made them sing.” C.S. Lewis, The Magician’s Nephew

[Images from Tumblr]