Thankful At All Times

1.) For a night full of culture, starting with the International Dinner and ending with Lyric Theatre's presentation of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. What a great night~!

2.) The crisp chill of winter. Yes, it is true that I don't really like to be cold, but sometimes I enjoy putting on my coat, gloves, and scarf and walking around places like Muskingum's campus. It feels like Christmas.

3.) Songs that I really like but haven't heard in awhile... I love when a familiar melody comes on, and I suddenly realize that I love this song, but I haven't heard it in forever! It's kind of the same feeling you get when see a friend you haven't seen for awhile.... For instance, tonight my ipod randomly played "God Shaped Whole" by Plumb... I love that song, but it has been a long time since I heard it.... it was nice to sing along again!

4.) The photo below.... it's of my friend Brianna and my dad as they walked on a trail in Sedona, Arizona this past May. It is a great reminder of a fantastic trip, but it also serves as a reminder of the "narrow path" that I've chosen to travel...

5.) Jim Brickman. He is probably my favorite pianist of all times, and I was slightly shocked and amazed to find out that he will be coming to Cambridge as part of his Spring Concert Tour... That is pretty awesome!

Giving Thanks

We have reached that time again. The time to give thanks. As my pastor and I met the other night to discuss youth group planning, we talked about a Thanksgiving themed night where we ask the teens to say something they are thankful for and why. Then, last night at youth group, we talked about being hypocritical. I felt convicted in various areas of my life. This seems like a pretty easy one to fix... If I am going to ask the teens to say what they are thankful for and why, I should be practicing what I preach! So here's to being thankful instead of hypocritical!

I am thankful...

1.) That I woke up early enough to get ready for work, eat breakfast, go downstairs and get my camera so I could capture this gorgeous sunrise. Good job God! You made a winner!

2.) That I got a jumpstart on my English paper tonight. It has been stressing me out for the last week... I have a page!

3.) Unexpected phone calls from friends....good to talk to you Taralyn!

4.) Brian & Jenn Johnson - Amazing worship leaders. I have loved them since I first heard them a year or so ago, but I recently fell in love with their songs again. Check them out!

5.) Warm things during these cold winter days...fuzzy blankets, slippers, sweatshirts, and most importantly, tea with honey!

Shamefully Overdue

Here we are. Gone are the warm, bright summer days. We have sprung into autumn full force with jackets and socks galore. I have put away my flip flops, sadly and have realized that I did not blog at all. Do I regret this decision you might ask? When I think back to all of the memories that the summer holds, the answer is no. And while another summer passed with little accomplished, I am happy to have had a summer that I am proud of. I made new friends, built stronger relationships with friends, and hung out with my family. While my list of "to do's" didn't really shrink at all, what I gained far surpasses any of my "to do's."

So, here I am in the midst of another semester. Life continues whether I am ready for it to continue or not. What's been happening? Let's see...We spent the summer talking about aspects of the trinity in youth group. Then we talked about prayer. I was reminded of so many truths that I take for granted. I love that! I was so encouraged this summer. In the midst of camp, youth group, worship, and spending one-on-one time with God, I was overwhelmed with His goodness.

My folks have been on vacation. They are returning tomorrow, so I have been holding down the fort. My brother got a job as a geologist working on an oil rig. He works insane hours and is rarely seen for weeks. However, he is making more money than I think he knows what to do with. He bought a truck, which I am pretty sure is the nicest thing he has ever owned. He is home now for awhile if you want to come and see it!

My exiciting news is that I finally bought a laptop after years of contemplation. I think it was time. I love it!

Hewlett Packard Pavilion DV9922US 17" Notebook PC

And, I think that is all I know. Perhaps when I learn something great in my postmodern lit class or my excursions in world music class, I will blog again.

Just One of the Many Activities that Has Kept Me From Blogging This Summer...

Aidah—Please Pray

As I sorted through my mail this past week, I was happy to see a letter from Aidah. She is a 12 year old from Uganda who I have had the privilege to sponsor through Compassion International for the past two years. Through Compassion, Aidah and I have had the opportunity to correspond back and forth fairly consistently. I have loved to see the transforming power of Jesus work in this young girl's life and in the lives of her family. She has eight siblings and parents who do their best to provide for all of them. When Aidah's letter came, I also received a postcard from Compassion International alerting sponsors about the current global food crisis and it's affect on the children of the world.

"The price for rice, beans, corn and other food staples has risen exponentially in recent months, creating extreme hardship and suffering...Families earning less than $2 per day cannot afford to keep up with these rising prices. There is just no margin. The impact is truly devastating."

I believe that our God meets all needs! He tells us not to worry about where our food comes from because He loves us (Matthew Chpt. 6). Please pray with me for children like Aidah who are in desperate need. How else can you be involved? Think about sponsoring a child. For $32 a month, a child receives food, clothing, an education, and the chance to learn about the saving love of Jesus. Visit http://www.compassion.com/ to find out more. It has been one of the coolest things I have had the opportunity to be involved in. God bless you all!

Aidah and the goat she bought with her Christmas money from me.

Arizona Caught Me By Surprise

So, at long last, I am finally posting about our quick trip to Arizona over Memorial Day weekend... I was waiting due to the plentitude of graduation parties and wedding festivities that often come with this season, but also because of the photos that I wanted to post. You see, we went to visit our friends who were living in Arizona for three months. During this time, our friends made some drastic changes and they wanted to surprise everyone when they came home; hence, I have waited to post anything about the trip because I wanted to include photos. Now our friends are safe at home (where they belong, I might add), and now I am free to post photos of our trip!

Years ago, I heard a song by Andrew Peterson called, Nothing to Say. It was my dream that one day I would play that song while staring at the Grand Canyon. This year, that dream came true. I put this video together in a flash, so I'm sure I could've picked better pictures and played with the timing some more...however, it seems appropriate to have Andrew serenade everyone on my blog. I hope that you enjoy. And, if you ever have a chance to see the Grand Canyon—run, don't walk. It is truly breathtaking. As Andrew Peterson so aptly puts it, "Arizona caught me by surprise..."

Joining Forces—Music News

For those of you who don't know, CCM—which is a great magazine that used to keep me up-to-date on all the latest in Christian music, is no more. I received my final issue two weeks ago...hence, this blog: (which might be slightly biased due to my musical interests)...

So, it looks as though two of my favorite musicians/songwriters have joined forces... March 29, Shane Bernard of Shane & Shane and Bethany Dillon got married...perhaps this is semi-old news for some of you, but I just found out. I am excited to see how this will change music for both of them. Will they collaborate on a project? (I think that would be awesome!)... we shall see what the future brings. Until then, congratulations to two incredibly talented songwriters who I really admire! Click here for more pictures.


In other exciting news, the phenomenal wordsmith himself—Bebo Norman, has a new, yet to be named album coming out on September 16. To hear the complete podcast, click here.

Beautiful Baby Boy

The Happy Family - DeeDee, Ricky, and baby Tyrell

Tyrell

Dad, jealous of the baby getting all of the attention, decided to pose for his own photo shoot...

Congratulations DeeDee & Ricky

Tyrell Thomas

One of My Best Days

Today has been such a good day! Ok, so not all of it has been perfect... but I'll admit, I have been just kind of down/lethargic... trying to get through these last few weeks of the semester. Well, today is Administrative Professionals Day, and since, during this season in my life, I happen to be an Admin, I was showered by much love today at work! I received flowers and a gift from my boss, a gift from my supervisor, and flowers from a couple who came to visit campus.

When I went to my English class, I was nervous because we were getting our exams back today. I confess, I have been saddened by most of my grades in that class, mostly because I always try to do my best, and frankly, my best has not been cutting it, and also because I love this class. It is the best class I have had since my college career began! So, anyway, when he handed our exams back, I was slightly shocked and amazed to see a big "A" on the front! I can't tell you how happy that made me!

And, for those of you who don't know, our dear DeeDee who has lived with my family for the past several months, had her baby yesterday. Tonight, if she hasn't left the hospital already, I am going to get to see sweet baby Ty! I can't wait!

You know, sometimes life is hard and at times, it feels like you trudge through it. But I am consistently reminded of the goodness of God...in days like today, in blessings like Ty. While we should praise God in the midst of the storm, every now and then, it is so great to be able to praise Him in the midst of tremendous joy!

I thought of an old Geoff Moore and the Distance song as I was writing this post, hence the title. It's a great song... even if I am dating myself! : )

Best Days

The river was deep, the water was cold,
I was only twelve years old.
My dad and me, trout fishing,
Waist deep in a Michigan stream.
He showed me how to make that fly,
Look like it was so alive.
And then he helped me understand,
How to be a fisher of men.

And all the world was right,
And I felt so full and alive
In the wonder and the light,
And I would never be the same,
For I knew somehow I had changed.
Even now I'd have to say,
It was one of my best days.

It was like a rock, a lump in my throat,
I was eighteen years old,
But I had to say something
To the prettiest girl I'd ever seen.
A new world record was set that day,
For the stupid things I'd say.
I made her laugh, It must've been enough,
For by day's end we'd fall in love.

And all the world was right,
And I felt so full and alive
In the wonder and the light,
And I would never be the same,
For I knew somehow I had changed.
Even now I'd have to say,
It was one of my best days.

Sometimes I look to the eastern sky,
Wondering what it will be like,
When we all finally learn,
Of the day You return.
What will I feel?
Where will I be?
Will it all seem like a dream?
I think it'll be like a long-lost friend,
Coming back to His family again.

And all the world will be right,
And we'll feel so full and alive
In His wonder and His light,
And we will never be the same,
For I know we all will be changed,
And we will surely say,
This is the very best of days,
This is the very best,
The very best of days.

Where Ya Been?

Some of you may be wondering where I've been—then again, maybe not... I am not always the best at regular blogging. What can I say? Life happens.

My life for the past month or so can be summed up into three words: homework, work, and meetings. I am happy to report that homework is on the decline. The semester is almost over, and I am thrilled that all papers, tests, and every other source of torture have been turned in! All that's left are the dreaded finals. Luckily, as a part-time student, finals don't have the same adverse affect on me that they have on my fellow classmates.

As for work, April is one of our busiest months. We have a biannual board meeting to prepare for (with some pretty important people in attendance)...I will refrain from name dropping, but let's just say that I've had telephone conversations with a former senator and exchanged jokes with one of the men responsible for VeggieTales! Anyhoo, even though we were really busy, I enjoyed the excitement and the fruit of hard labor. I feel like I am a part of history... seeing the groundbreaking ceremony for a new music facility and partaking in all of the festivities. However, I am glad that it's over and life can get back to normal.

As for meetings, maybe that's not the best word, but youth group has started to get...interesting... We are talking about dating, healthy relationships, and past hurts in that area... let's just say, it's not easy, comfortable or fun. I feel like the worst person in the world to even try to talk about those things. Who am I to offer advice on something that I have so little knowledge or experience?

Anyway, that has been my life in a nutshell.

Thankful for so many things.... here are a few:

1.) Interesting literature... for so long we were reading things like, "Of Plymouth Plantation." Thankfully, literature has moved on, and so has our class. We are now reading, "A Streetcar Named Desire." Not the most moral piece of literature, but at least I fully understand what is happening, and I can stay awake while I read it!

2.) That my parents are only vacation for another week. The cats are driving me crazy! It is obvious who showers them with attention while the rest of us are at work. Let's just say that I haven't had the best sleep with two cats vying for attention all night long! ; )

3.) Little Women—the Broadway rendition. I am excited that this show will be in Cambridge next week! I am even more excited because my cuz Sar and I have tickets!

4.) Friends who don't make fun of me when we go bowling. I love bowling. Unfortunately, I am really bad at it. Thankfully, God has given me Jodie, who looks past my score of 50.

5.) Oldies but goodies. Before he left for vacation, my dad informed me that Simon and Garfunkel's greatest hits was on sale at Wal-Mart... of course we made a special trip in to purchase it! Thanks Dad!

Finally::Georgia...Part 2::

So, the call from my mom caused my little heart to flutter. It was the dreaded, "I don't think you are going to make it home," phone conversation that every traveler hates to hear when they just arrive at their destination. Immediately, I jump into action mode. Apparently, in my absence, the heavens were beginning to unleash what was thought to be the biggest snow storm of the winter (turns out it was!).

I got on the Delta web site to see good news, every traveler flying into Ohio was able to change their ticket one time with no fee! Wow! So, I tried a few things online to no avail. I decided to sleep on it and mess with it in the morning.

I woke up before Misty, and began the process to work things out with my ticket. I tried to change it online again, but I failed miserably. It was then that I decided I would do it the old fashioned way, I would call. So, after a two-hour hold, I finally spoke to someone who helped me get a later flight.

Here is the cool part of my adventure. Weeks before my trip, I had hoped to be in Georgia until Sunday night so that I could go to church with Misty and see her in action. Sadly, the tickets were $200 more to stay over a Sunday. Thus, I had purchased a ticket returning early on Saturday morning. However, now with the snow storm in Ohio, it looked like things were going to work out after all! I was able to change my ticket to a the last flight on Sunday night, giving me an extra two days with Misty and all kinds of adventures. I called my mom, who told me that Misty and I must be living right for things to be working themselves out so well.

After a long day of painting, Misty took me to a really nice sea food restaurant, and then we returned to her house to finish up our painting.

Saturday dawned bright and beautiful! Misty's new and dear friend Jenny offered to take Misty and I on a 4-wheeling adventure on her 2,000 acre plantation, Gray Moss. Of course we said yes. It turned out to be a brisk, beautiful day, even though it actually flurried in the morning. It was one of the only snows that some of the locals had ever seen, go figure. Anyway, Gray Moss was indescribably beautiful. There were times when it took my breath away. The entire time I thought to myself, "I might have missed this if not for the snow." God truly cares for His children!

Later that night, we went plant shopping to help Misty decorate her office and her house... you can see that we were successful!

Sunday was amazing. I said my good-byes, but with the hope of a return visit in the future in the back of my mind. At the Atlanta airport it became apparent how blessed I truly had been. I met several people who hadn't changed their flights earlier, and were now doing whatever they could to make it back to Ohio. Some had been sleeping in the airport. In fact, two people were asked to leave the plane because they had overbooked the flight. After some juggling with seats and luggage, I was off to Akron. We landed on the snow encompassed pavement, and I couldn't believe how perfectly everything turned out.

Looking back on the adventures of Georgia, I can see God's hand in all of it. He's just so cool like that.

Blizzard '08

Yesterday I just got back from spending the Easter weekend with our youth group. Our denomination's annual youth weekend happened—Blizzard. I am not new to this event at all. I started attending when I was 12 years old and continued to go until I was 19 years old. I missed the next year due to a missions program that I was involved in. I have since chaperoned a few times. Every Blizzard I recognize that God does really cool things.

This year started off with a bang, and I mean that realistically. The bang was my muffler. I offered to drive the overflow vehicle since not everyone could fit into the church van. On our way, I hear a "bang," and then I proceeded to pray that my muffler would not fall off on the way to the hotel! : ) Thankfully, we made it one piece. My parents, also my lifesavers, rescued us with a car and took mine to be fixed. The weekend continued to have all sorts of excitement from glasses breaking and having to be fixed, to air mattresses getting wholes in them...you name it, I think that myself, the other female chaperone, and our pastor dealt with it.

Despite the chaos that would normally send me packing, I really felt this odd peace about working with the youth group. I can't say that there weren't times when I was frustrated or annoyed, but I felt a renewed desire to do whatever I can to speak truth into the lives of the teens that are in this small group.

As I processed through what God did in me this past weekend, I recognized the following:

• I felt like God answered a prayer for me to build closer relationships with the teens.
• I was reminded constantly of the set of scriptures in Matthew 6, where Jesus speaks to the crowds about worrying. He takes care of birds and wildflowers, how much more does He love and care for His children. Through all of our struggles this past weekend, God continued to provide and work things out.
• I began to pray for our church body that God would increase in them a desire to step into the callings that He has on their lives. Everyone has a purpose in the body of Christ, and it is my fervent prayer that everyone would find their place in our church family. If someone had told me six months ago that I would be helping with the youth group, I probably would have laughed in their face, but I recognize that God has asked me to step up and out of my comfort zone. So, here's to being obedient and hanging on for dear life as God takes me into unexplored territories.

Survey Time

I promise that I will continue the Georgia yarn when I get a chance... however, I saw this survey on Melissa's blog (check out her blog on my blogroll) and thought it looked like fun:

1. WHO WERE YOU NAMED AFTER? My mom. My mom's middle name is Joan, but they thought Andrea Joan sounded less fluid than Andrea Jo. So that's how I have the classic 80's name. In elementary school, all of my best friends had the middle name Jo—Kara Jo, Amanda Jo, Jessica Jo... then there was me... how ironic is that?

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? At my desk on Monday, thinking about how God works everything out.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? No.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Flavored Turkey. I especially love peppercorn turkey and sun-dried tomato turkey.

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? No, and I doubt I ever will...seriously.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? I think so.

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Never : )

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS Yeppers. I'm all about keeping my body in one piece.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Maybe if there was a lot of money at stake, but for kicks and giggles, NO WAY!

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? I love Oatmeal Squares, Oatmeal Raisin Crisp, and Cheerios with honey.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? No

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Physically, no. Mentally, sorta. Emotionally, yes. Spiritually, I'm a work in progress.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Butter pecan

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Height...since I am a shrimp.

15. RED OR PINK? No contest—RED! Pink is way too girly!

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOU? I wish that I were more outgoing. I hate that I'm not a good conversationalist...the curse of being an introvert.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? I miss a lot of people. All of my YWAM friends and Misty.

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK? Yes, please . If you are reading this blog. Send me an email or post it on your blog! I'd love to read it!

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Black dress pants and black loafers.

20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? A jelly bean

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? At the moment, I am not listening to anything, but most recently, the new Shawn McDonald CD Roots.

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Brown

23. FAVORITE SMELLS Snuggle fabric softener, Heaven from the Gap, and new CD's...

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? I think one of the vice president's at work.

25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Yes! Melissa is the best!

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? I love to watch the olympics, but other than that, I could live without sports.

27. HAIR COLOR? Brown

28. EYE COLOR? Brown

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? No...but I'm sure my time is coming.

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS Happy. I figure that life is sometimes scary enough.

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? I don't remember the title, but the last movie I watched in a theatre was P.S. I love you.

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? It has several colors... it's black and magenta day at work, so I have those colors plus a blue color.

34. SUMMER OR WINTER? Normally I would say both, but man, this winter has been so long! I am ready for summer and all the joys it brings, namely, a break from school and croquet with the fam.

35. HUGS OR KISSES? Hugs

36. FAVORITE DESSERT? I love oatmeal raisin cookies and most things lemon! However, my all time fav dessert is my mom's strawberry shortcake! I get excited for my birthday just so I can get some!

37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Well, like three people read this blog, so I won't get to overly concerned with this question.

38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? **See above answer

39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? The Bible, My Utmost for His Highest, and textbooks which consist of American Literature and African American Religion.

40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? The logo for Bebo Norman's fan club, The Simpletons.

41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT? Survivor...then I had to do homework.

42. FAVORITE SOUND? Wow, so many. I love the sound of rain, and the sound that cars make when they go through a puddle. I also love live classical music. And also, most laid back acoustic music.

43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? The Beatles, hands down. Wow, I love them. American Idol was thrilling for me last week. Michael Johns singing Across the Universe brought joy to my heart—incredible!

44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Probably Mexico.

45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? No. I have always been ok at several things. Never really good at one thing...that's why I have no idea what I want to do when I grow up. So frustrating!

46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Ohio...in a hospital in my hometown.

::Georgia...Part 1::

I have so many thoughts swimming in my head right now, it's not even funny. I started composing this blog in my head on the plane ride home Sunday night. "How can I put into words what happened to me?" I thought to myself as we waited to taxi down the runway at the Atlanta airport. It's not that I can't talk about it, but there are so many things to say.

I guess I'll start at the beginning with what seemed like the most ridiculous thing in the world—beans, sandals, peanut butter, vitamins, pillowcases, and mail. These were the items that were contained in a medium sized suitcase that just made the 50 lb. maximum weight limit for baggage. You see, I was going to visit one of my very best friends who just got a job in the deep south of Georgia. She has a fascination with a certain Mexican chili bean that she realized she can no longer get in Georgia. That's when I come into the picture. It started with a phone call, or maybe it was a facebook message. I can't remember. Anyway, Misty asked, "Could you please bring me some beans?" Me being the great friend that I am, I of course said yes. This was, after all, a trip to make up for me getting sick and not being able to help her move. I felt like I at least owed her this much. So, there I was Wednesday night, my small suitcase with enough clothes for my short, two-day trip, and what I now dubbed "Misty's suitcase," much bigger than mine, and filled with beans and all the worldly possessions she had managed to forget during the chaotic move to Georgia just over a month ago.

I got to the Akron/Canton airport with plenty of time to spare, and I tried to do the homework I was dreading. Finally, my boarding call came a little late due to some ice that the plane had encountered on the way to Akron. We had an uneventful flight to Atlanta, GA, followed by another uneventful flight to the Albany, GA, airport where Misty waited to greet me. I barely recognized her. She hadn't changed that much. I had seen her new haircut before she left for Georgia. It made me wonder what growing up did to a person to make them look different. I pondered this as we drove to the small town where Misty lives. She pointed out the important landmarks on the way, and we caught up on all the news.

When we got to the house, I immediately opened the bean filled suitcase (20 cans to be precise) to see if the dreaded white slip was in the case—it was. Yes, my suitcase had been inspected. I am sure that by now, the contents of my suitcase had been broadcasted throughout the entire greater Atlanta area. They are, no doubt, thinking that whoever carries a suitcase filled with cans of beans has to be a crazed loon ready to bomb the entire state. To make matters worse, I had borrowed my mom's suitcase which was covered in cat's—not real ones—no it looked like the suitcase had puked up cat tapestry and wrapped itself in the gaudy material. Misty and I had a good laugh over the stories that we imagined were spreading at the airport. We figure my suitcase set off every metal detector within a 50 mile radius. They most likely had brought in the bomb squad, SWAT team, and the FBI. We envisioned dogs sniffing this ridiculous suitcase and howling at the contents.


After our overactive imaginations had settled down, we got to work storing the beans in a hidden cabinet so that Misty's guests wouldn't think less of her and her bean obsession.

As I stowed my luggage in the guest room, (still seems strange that Misty has a guest room, two for that matter!), I turned my phone on to get a message from my mom that changed my plans entirely...

STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT INSTALLMENT OF ::GEORGIA::

Change for the Better

Some of us don't like change. I confess that there are times when I really don't like change; however, there are times when I really do like change. Sometimes there are changes that hurt. Sometimes there are changes that require sacrifice.

This weekend, I realized that I was in the midst of one of those changes that require sacrifice. It all started with a prayer-a-thon that we put together for youth group. This consisted of 10 hours of pretty much non-stop prayer through the night (we did take caffeine breaks!). I confess that I am a pansy when it comes to missing sleep. I get cranky, sensitive, and basically an unpleasant person to be around. Anyway, it turned out to be one of the coolest things I have ever done. It felt so good to intercede for friends, family, the nation, and the Church.

This morning, I was reminded again about how important prayer is. And, it's also important to note, that sometimes prayer is difficult. I confess that I have a difficult time praying...my mind wanders, I think of everything I need to do... I hate it. It's something that I have consistently struggled with, but this weekend I realized that I need to change. Just because something is difficult doesn't mean that we give up on it. In fact, those things that we have to fight for are usually the things that come to mean the most to us and are the things that we most need in our lives.

So here's to change—change for the better! In honor of change, enjoy the new template for the blog. (I do like change every now and then)!

FYE—I think this is me trying to catch a few z's around 3 a.m. during a caffeine break at the prayer-a-thon... I know I look crazy, but I was tired!

Haiku - Thanks Pastor Burt

Today an amazing thing happened—an upgrade to my computer. I now have a ton of ram, well a ton in comparison to what I did have. Don't ask me the particulars...that's what my cousin JM is for! : ) I will be getting a new processor soon too (as soon as it makes it from the mysterious world that is the Internet).

Today I was reminded of the haiku...thanks Pastor Burt! (Check out his amazing haiku's on my blogroll.) Anyway, I thought in tribute to my struggling career as an English major, I would attempt a haiku on this momentous occasion:

The days of slowness

Gone now that I have more ram

My heart leaps for joy

What Can I Do For You My Lord?

I was reminded today that every thing I do should be an act of worship to our great God! I thought about this song by Tree63...

Look what You've done for me
Your blood has set me free
Jesus my Lord
Look what You've done for me
I haven't been the same
Ever since that day I called Your name
Yahweh, Yahweh
Look what You've done for me

What can I do for You, my Lord?
I want You to know my heart is Yours
It's not a question of what You can do for me
But what can I do for You, my Lord?

Up to Your cross I crawled
Now I am standing ten feet tall
Jesus my Saviour
Look what You've done for me
I'm Free at last I'm free
I owe You my life completely
Yahweh, Yahweh
Look what You've done for me

What can I do for You, my Lord?
I want You to know my heart is Yours
It's not a question of what You can do for me
But what can I do for You, my Lord?

God is worthy of worship because He not only set us free, but He is worthy because He is God! The question should always be on my lips, "Lord, what can I do for You? How can I honor You today?"

Fun With Camera's and Photo Editing

My dad saw this picture and said, "Who's that?" It's amazing what you can do with modern technology...

I've Missed The Office...

Now, it looks like I don't have much longer to wait...

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601082&sid=aERZhZATdXvI&refer=canada

http://www.courant.com/entertainment/tv/hc-showstatus.artfeb13,0,6214897.story

The Good, the Bad, but Mostly, the Ugly

Today something happened that caused me to face the ugliness of my soul. It was scary. I won't go into details, but as I wallowed in self-pity, allowing thoughts of anger and revenge to run through my mind, I had a moment where I felt the Holy Spirit say, "Whoa!"

Okay, maybe it wasn't exactly the word whoa, but thoughts of Jesus began to penetrate my heart. I remembered Jesus turning the other cheek; I remembered Jesus loving me despite the many times I've sinned. It was truly an ephinany into who I've become, and I'll be honest, I don't like it. Lord, forgive me.

The other night I read this in My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers. The Lord brought it back to me tonight.

Are You Ready to Be Poured Out As An Offering?
Tell God you are ready to be offered as a sacrifice for Him. Then accept the consequences as they come, without any complaints, in spite of what God may send your way. God will send you through crisis in private, where no other person can help you. From the outside your life may appear to be the same, but the difference is taking place in your will. Once you have experienced the crisis in your will, you will take no thought of the cost when it begins to affect you externally. If you don't deal with God on the level of your will first, the result will be only to arouse sympathy for yourself.

"Bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar" (Psalm 118:27). You must be willing to be placed on the altar and go through the fire; willing to experience what the altar represents—burning, purificatioin, and separation for only one purpose—the elimination of every desire and affection not grounded in or directed toward God. But you don't eliminate it, God does. You "bind the sacrifce...to the horns of the altar" and see to it that you don't wallow in self-pity once the fire begins. After you have gone through the fire, there will be nothing that will be able to trouble or depress you. When another crisis arises, you will realize that things cannot touch you as they used to do. What fire lies ahead in your life?

Tell God you are ready to be poured out as an offering and God will prove Himself to be all you ever dreamed He would be.

Night Train

It's been a surreal week. I was sick, and I basically took the whole week of work off, which is totally unlike me. I did manage to make it to class most days.

Ok, I'm boring myself.

I am going to have to get a life! : ) Anyhoo, here's more reasons I'm thankful:

1.) Jonathon Edwards is NOT my pastor—One word—OY! So, in high school I had to read Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. Never for the life of me did I think I would have to read it more than once. Well, today that nightmare became a reality. Our current topic in American Lit is Puritan Literature. Just so happens that Jonathon Edwards made it into the textbook. It's not that I don't appreciate the message, but come on—who needs that many pages to tell people they are going to burn??

2.) Like Edwards says, God is holding us in His hands, and because of His grace He doesn't drop us into Hell, where we deserve to fall, but He gathers us close to His chest and loves us unconditionally.

3.) Understanding Friends—This weekend one of my very best friends moved out of state for her new job (congrats Misty...even though I am going to miss you!) I was supposed to drive down with her to keep her company, but I just didn't feel like I had totally recouped, and she was so kind about the whole thing. Tonight, I am most thankful that I have such a great friend! I am also thankful I had the chance to rest this weekend and now have the promise of a trip over spring break!

4.) Monk—It's my latest favorite tv show. Trust me when I say that I watched a ton of tv this past week. It was kind of a nice reprieve. I really like Monk. It kind of reminds me of Matlock with a funny twist. Take a brilliant detective with a severe case of OCD and viola, a hilarious, clean TV show that keeps you guessing.

5.) For health—I too often take this for granted until I get sick. Thank you God for wholeness!

**Bonus picture to make you all smile... this is my dad. Here is a good reason not fall asleep on the couch when your daughter is me!

Back to the Basics

This month in Reader's Digest, they gave several reasons why happy people are happy. One of those reasons—listing daily why you are thankful. I thought to myself, "Self, you were really happy when you remembered to have a thankful heart." So, tonight I am returning to the basics. Here are five more reasons why I am thankful:

1.) New foods—inspired by a friends grandma, who likes to try new recipes on me, my mom and I tried to two new recipes for dinner. They were both delicious! I love variety! It is the spice of life! Mom cooked a whole chicken which we turned into a chicken/broccili/cheese/rice dish, and I made what looked like chicken dumplings.

2.) That my taxes are done—I know, it's early, but welcome to my world! :)

3.) Saturdays staying in—today I woke up leisurly, watched a movie, ate breakfast, cleaned and organized my room, played games with the fam, cooked dinner, and am about to do some homework. It's been a good day.

4.) John Mayer—I have been wanting some John Mayer music, and a few nights ago at Wal-Mart my friend urged me to splurge on some new tunes. I am thoroughly enjoying his sweet guitar skills and rugged voice! (bonus thankfulness - other new music of late: The Beatles 1967–1970, Amos Lee, Supply and Demand, The Temptations, The Ultimate Collection, The Best of Cat Stevens, Shane and Shane, Pages, Colbie Caillat, Coco, Amos Lee, (Self-Titled).

5.) The Confidence I Have That One Day I Will Be With Jesus—this past week I have been distraught about Heath Ledger's passing. He was incredibly talented, not that I always agreed with the roles he chose to pursue or the way he lived his life, but I was always very impressed by how he refused to take roles for the sake of money. His death has made me think a lot about how our lives are but a vapor. We only dance on this earth for such a short time. Now is the time to seek out the truth of the Father. I wouldn't survive without the peace of Jesus.

The Invitation

This was given to us in our American Lit class, and I think it is beautiful...what do you think?

The Invitation
by Oriah Mountain Dreamer, Indian Elder

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for, and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.

It doesn't interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dreams, for the adventure of being alive.

If doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I want to know if you have touched the center of your sorrow, if you have been opened by life's betrayals, or have become shriveled and closed for fear of further pain. I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or yours, without moving to hide it or fade it or fix it. I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or yours, if you can dance with wildness, and let ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning you to be careful, be realistic, or to remember the limitations of being a human.

It doesn't interest me if the story you're telling me is true. I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself, if you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul. I want to know if you can be faithful and trustworthy. I want to know if you can see beauty even if it's not a pretty day, and if you can source your life from God's presence. I want to know if you can live with failure, mine or yours, and still stand on the edge of the lake and shout to the silver of the full moon, "YES!"

It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money you have. I want to know if you can get up after a night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone, and do what needs to be done.

It doesn't interest me who you are, or how you came to be here. I want to know if you will stand in the center of the fire with me and not shrink back.

It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to know what sustains you from the inside when all else falls away. I want to know if you can be alone with yourself, and if you truly like the company you keep in empty moments.

Friend Of God

James 4:4b "I say it again, that if your aim is to enjoy this world, you can't be a friend of God."


During a recent prep meeting for youth group, we discussed this verse. I don't remember the last time that one thought from scripture pierced my heart so strongly. We started discussing what this verse meant... We first focused on the outward—obvious sins like lying, cheating stealing, addictions, etc., but then our fearless leader brought us back to the idea of enjoying the world. Talk about hard to swallow.

There are so many times when I might not seem to be doing too badly in the sin department, but the heart of the matter is that I don't always feel like being concerned with what is on the heart of the Father. I might not be stealing, but I am focusing on my desires instead of Gods. What's worse?

Truthfully, I think that stealing might be the lesser of the two evils. So often, the heart issues get overlooked and buried because they aren't always obvious. We deceive ourselves into thinking that we are doing okay, but in actuality, we are painfully falling short of what God deserves.

Please don't misunderstand me. I don't think that it is okay to go out and steal, but I know that I need to start thinking of all of the time I have stolen from God. This section of scripture ends with a promise from God. The more and more that we make it our aim to be a friend of God, the more and more strength He gives us to stand against these evil desires. Isn't that just like our Heavenly Father? We consistently make a mess of things, and He pours out His strength when we turn to Him.

Tonight I am most thankful for that same grace that saved me.