Ol' Blue Eyes

This has been the week of music. Last night Stacey and I headed over to the Bremerton Community Theater and took in a Frank Sinatra Tribute. It was put together really well with a cabera setting. The music was timeless, but what was even more memorable was the other patrons of the evening. Other than two girls about our age, almost everyone was over the age of 70. It was really quite adorable.

It was interesting to think that those older couples had lived their lives to this music. I felt rather young as we walked through the lobby and found our seats, but also that I was sharing in their past and stories.

Thursday Evening Blessings

Tonight is one of those nights where you just don't want to go to work tomorrow. But I can't quite slip off to bed yet either.

I was blessed with an all-expenses paid evening out to Seattle for dinner (Chicken Marsala at Buca di Beppo's - always a favorite) and a concert - the Stephen Curtis Chapman, Casting Crowns, and Chris Tomlin tour. There is just something about listening to a band live that makes you appreciate their music that much more. I'm not a huge SCC fan, but Casting Crowns and Chris Tomlin were excellent. Both of them had their lyrics up on the screens, facilitating a large worship atmosphere. I soaked it in, while praising my God - it makes me anxious for heaven.

My one blunder of the evening - while walking out of the concert, I wasn't paying attention to where exactly I was heading, until I crashed smack into a pole. There's really nothing you can do but turn red and laugh it off. I'm happy to be amusement to my fellow concert-goers.

Alright, it's time for this chica to head to bed. Friday's tomorrow - dancing a little jig of joy.

Redemption

I attended a graduation ceremony this past weekend for a girl that I’ve know for quite a few years now. She had been going through the program offered by Teen Challenge (a one year residential program that helps men and women who have drug or addiction problems), and had finally completed all of the requirements. The graduation was a celebration of all of her accomplishments to straighten out her life.

It has certainly been a journey watching and intervening in her life for the past 5 years or so. There have been many others who have also worked to minister to this hurt girl, but it all seemed to not make much of a difference. The summer after her high school graduation showed the downward spiral that her life was becoming, but it was only when she hit rock bottom that she truly realized her need for a drastic change. She applied to attend Teen Challenge, knowing that without a radical alteration in her life-style, she didn’t have much of a future. A spot opened up for her last September, and through a series of challenges, she finally checked in.

It has been amazing to watch the transformation that has taken place through her time there. When she would call me before, I would hear a lot of, “Life sucks!” “Nobody cares about me.” “I hate myself.” But every time I spoke with her during her year down there, it was always positive, “This is really hard, but I know it’s good for me.” “Some of these girls drive me crazy, but I know I’m called to be an example for them, even when I don’t feel like it.”

To see this change in her makes all of those hours I spent more than worth it. She has made the decision to continue in her education at a Teen Challenge Institute and acquire her Pastoral degree. The ministry that this girl will have will be phenomenal. I know she will still have challenges ahead, but I also believe that God will see her through.

She recently asked me how I was able to continue to love her and believe in her even when she shoved it back in my face. I answered truthfully that it really wasn’t me doing the loving. It was Christ choosing to use this frail and imperfect vessel to communicate his love and forgiveness. On my own, I would have given up on many, including myself, long ago. It blows me away sometimes to think that God would desire to work through us, imperfect people, to carry on His work. But I am so thankful that He believed in me enough to not give up on me, and so I will continue to try and do the same.

Blue Skies, Shinin' On Me

I’m feeling the need for a tropical beach about now. It’s a little gloomy and windy outside and I’m craving the white sand, warm water, and glorious sun. Don’t get me wrong, I love the Northwest weather, but you can never quite go wrong with a sunny beach.

I was blessed last January to be able to accompany one of my best friends, Stephanie, to Hawaii. Her job was sending her over to Honolulu for job training (the benefits of working for the government) and I was able to tag along. We were put up in the Hilton situated right on Waikiki Beach, and it was like heaven. Our first meal there (steak and lobster on her business account) was a very surreal. It was hard for us to imagine we were really in Hawaii and not in some counterfeit setting like Disneyland. The week was wonderful and we were definitely spoiled with fun times in the sun.

Then a couple months later in April, I helped lead a group of students on a mission trip to Cabo San Lucas. Yes, we were in a highly populated vacation spot, but we really didn’t see a lot of that. We lived and worked in the barrio’s – helping to build a house for a doctor, and also putting on health fairs for children, to teach them about simple hygiene and healthy eating practices.

We did get a little bit of free time and the beach was our destination of choice. We were also blessed with a ride on a yacht our last day there and were able to relax and enjoy our beautiful surroundings.

It’s been 6 months and I’m feeling the need for a vacation again! Anyone want to offer me a free trip somewhere?

Yes! The weekend is finally here!

Wow, today was a doozy! Life as a church administrative assistant (that’s right, not secretary, administrative assistant) isn’t too bad, but it for sure has it’s moments. Today was one long moment. Fall is always the time for major events and they all seem to land in my departments (music and children) at once. Plus it seems that everyone but myself has decided to take vacation time. Why do I always get stuck there when everyone else is off in Hawaii or something? I was happy to see the clock finally tell me I could leave the madness and start enjoying the weekend.

My parents took me out for dinner tonight – no special reason, just ‘cause. I love that. We went to this great place out in Port Orchard (little bit of a drive) called Twetens. EXCELLENT seafood and a great atmosphere. It was nice to sit and chat and enjoy each other’s company – without schedules, interruptions, phone calls, etc. It’s so nice to take a break from the hurried pace and just enjoy those God has placed in your life. I encourage you to do the same.

A Home for a Puzzle Piece

In case I haven’t shared about ‘the ranch’ – it’s a place down in Bend, Oregon, that I heard about around a month ago. The place (www.crystalpeaksyouthranch.org) takes in abused and neglected horses and kids and pairs them together for a sort of therapy and healing. The director of the ranch, Kim Meeder, has found that many of these horses and kids have had similar hurts in life and it’s amazing to see how they help each other overcome their fears and damage. Kim has written a book with many different testimonies of the ranch (Hope Rising published by Multnomah), and I was close to tears at the end of each short story. I’m not much of a crier (Stacey can attest to this), but this place grabbed a hold of my heart and wouldn’t let go.

Part of the reason why it resounded so deeply with me is because of my own teenage years. When I was about 14, my mother was diagnosed with bi-polar depression. The year and a half that followed was just short of hell. I didn’t have a mom all of a sudden, and I had to become ‘mom’ to my 8 year old brother. My mom would sleep for days on end; she rarely came out of her bedroom. Occasionally she would be up all night, and the next day she would be on this ‘high’ – it was like life was normal again, but I never knew when it would crash back down. I was trying to present to the world this happy face, that everything was fine (one neighbor was trying to have CPS take my brother and I away), and I learned how to hide pretty well.

During this time, I worked at a horse farm, spending every Saturday for three years mucking out stalls, grooming, feeding, and riding horses, and helping the younger girls that were in my care. I had been in love with horses ever since I was young, so this was a dream come true for me. It was also a place of escape for me. Here was a refuge that I could go and be loved on by these gentle giants and forget the pain and confusion at home.

When I was 16, my mom was completely healed from depression, all through the power of prayer. She now is able to use that time in her life as a testimony and a ministry to others who are going through similar things. She is such an amazing example to me and is one of my hero’s.

It wasn’t until recently when I was sharing with a friend about this newly discovered ranch that I realized why I was so excited about it. I hadn’t thought of that past time in my life in a while (it’s not something I think about much. Yes, it partly shaped who I am today, but God has healed my hurts from that time and has truly restored the damaged relationship I had with my mom), and it was like a puzzle starting to take shape. It confirmed even more that everything in my life has a reason and God is able to work it all for good. I realized I connected so deeply with the mission that they have there because I was one of those kids before.

So, I’m not really sure where this will all lead, but I’ve made that first step (which is a big thing for me), and I’m counting on God to lead me down the path He has for me.

No Regrets

I got a call back from the ranch today.

That sentence kind of has mixed emotions for me. On one hand, the thought of a new adventure where I think I would actually feel like my soul was crying out a resounding, “Yes! Finally something that awakens me!” is an exciting thought. But the other side of me fears change. “What if it isn’t all I dreamed of? What if I am once again crushed from unfulfilled imaginings?” Ah, the uncertainties of life – you never truly know what each new step might bring. I have a month before I even go down there to check it out, so I get to wrestle with this for a while still.

I was watching the kids of one of my pastor’s again tonight. As we were chatting before they took off, he reminded me of something I had been thinking about a while ago (before all these choices presented themselves). I never want to look back on my life with regrets, knowing that I missed out on opportunities. It’s easy where I’m at right now, but the easy path doesn’t allow you to have great stories to share at the end of your life. I’m learning how to trust with each new twist this life brings me.

A Brief Interruption

This weekend was a breath of fresh air – a much needed escape from the daily grind. I love the little interruptions to the predictable pattern that life can become.

I jumped at the chance to road trip up north a couple hours with two of my favorite girls, Lili and Stacey. We stopped at a newly acquired friend’s house on the way up and were welcomed with open arms and feed with generous spirits. We left there after a couple hours with full bellies, hot tea for my cough, and a bag full of strawberry flavored vitamin C drops for us sickies. Trips can be much more pleasant without the sniffles, tissues, coughs, and sneezes, but we weren’t about to let those petty things stop us.

The trip on the whole was great, but here are a few things that stuck out:

• Funky and eclectic coffeehouses are much more desirable than college freshmen costumes parties. We arrived at our destination to find a houseful of young’ins looking for more beer and for their identities. We quickly hightailed it to a favorite spot of Stacey’s and mine – Stuart’s – a coffeehouse that serves up doses of caffeine, hippy patrons, occasional live music, and plenty of places to sit and contemplate, or enjoy company.

• Late on Saturday night, while the NyQuil was taking effect, Stacey started asking the really deep questions such as, “If you could be any animal, what would you choose?” Even more random than the question was Lili promptly yelling from the next room, “A penguin!” Why a penguin? I’m not really sure. Why she had that pre-contemplated? I wonder even more. Next on the deep question list from Ms. Rich, “If you could be any person in the world, who would you be?” I had a cool revelation as I pondered my answer. “I don’t think I would want to be anyone other than myself. My life isn’t grand and splendid all the time, and I’m not really sure what my next step will be at the moment, but overall I wouldn’t change much.” It’s a great thing to come to the conclusion that you are content with who you are. Not content as in there is nothing further for me to attain to, but content as in I am happy with who Christ has made me and who He is shaping me to be.

• I was able to attend a service at Christ the King, a church I’ve heard much about and couldn’t wait to visit. The pastor, Grant, spoke of what our focus should be – reaching out and saving that which is lost. He used the example of the original Humane Society – those who would row out to shipwrecks to save souls before the Coast Guard eventually took over. They still have banquets today to remember the “good ol’ days” even though they no longer participate in their mission. I never want to come to the place where I bask in the memories of old while no longer pursuing that which Christ has called me to – to join in His mission of reaching lost people.

While driving home laughing at new inside jokes, I smiled with thankfulness at how God chooses to bless me – with friends who allow me to completely be myself, and the reminder of my purpose here on earth and what is truly fulfilling.

Sacred Retreats

I’m heading up to Bellingham for a little weekend getaway today. Lili and Stacey asked me to join their excursion, and I’m really looking forward to it. Sometimes you just need to get away from your usual surroundings to really appreciate them. (And I’m excited about the group that is going. The last time I headed north, the car was full of four girls who were getting rather irritated by the time we were almost home. I’m great friends with all who were there; it was just too much time, too close of quarters. Lil, Stace, and I are all pretty laid back, so this should be really enjoyable.)

Long car trips and getting away from your usual surroundings always remind me of Cannon Beach, Oregon. I lived in CB for a year while going to school there, and it is the perfect getaway for a retreat with God. Small town, slow pace, and my favorite beach on the West Coast (not to mention the specialty chocolate shop where I was first introduced to chocolate covered gummy bears. Don’t judge them until you’ve tried them – they are perfect combination of gummy-goodness and sweet chocolate). The Bible school I attended was really small (120 students), but it was a great year of focusing in and connecting with God and being surrounded by those who were doing the same.

I think because of that year, beaches will always be synonymous with communion with God for me. Watching the wave’s crash upon the shore, smelling the scent of salt as the wind blows, and feeling the tiny grains of sand sifting through my fingers are a sacred thing for me. During that year, God really spoke the message of Psalm 139 into my heart – He has ordained each of my days and knows every detail of me. He knows the desires of my heart; he placed them there after all.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Psalm 139

1 O LORD , you have searched me
and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways. 4
Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O LORD .

5 You hem me in-behind and before;
you have laid your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.

7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.

11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,"
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.

13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand.
When I awake,
I am still with you.

19 If only you would slay the wicked, O God!
Away from me, you bloodthirsty men!
20 They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries misuse your name.
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD ,
and abhor those who rise up against you?
22 I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Be blessed with the knowledge that He knows all of your concerns and will guide you as you lean on Him for his direction.

And I Thought I Had It Bad

It was a rough start to the day. I doped myself up on NyQuil last night so I could actually sleep and then had about 5 pillows propping me up so I could breathe. I actually sleep decently; well, as decently as you can when you are waking yourself up every hour or so by a coughing fit.

It was a debate this morning whether to go into work or not, but responsibility won out. I had way too much stuff to do to let it go for two days. Plus, we were taking the Staff Christmas picture this morning, and it always feels good to be included. (I was in the front row - I’m sure you’ll be able to see my droopy eyes.)

I forgot that we needed to wear black slacks for the picture until about 10 minutes before I had to leave (we usually have to ‘dress up’ somewhat, but I was going to try to sneak by with jeans today - I was sick after all!), so of course my pants needed ironing. (Thankfully they were already clean, though.) Since ironing is my mom’s least favorite chore and she only gets around to it about twice a year, the ironing board is stored out in the garage. As I step into the garage to retrieve it, I place my socked foot onto something soft. Wondering what this plush thing was on our hard concrete floor, I turn the light on.

To my unpleasant surprise, it is the tail of a squirrel, with one leg still attached.

My lovely cat who is older than dirt (she’s 15 yrs. old) brought me a gift. How sweet and thoughtful of her. Other than being thoroughly grossed out because I stepped on the thing, I actually thought it was pretty funny. I had no idea that hunter-of-a-cat still had it in her. (Years before, the cat had brought snakes, birds, mice, moles, etc. home for our approval.) But I guess this was the squirrel that my mom watched gather nuts every morning during her quiet time, so she wasn’t so thrilled. Oh well, the circle of life must continue.

Here is the offending, fur-ball of a cat, Nickee. 

Hmm, the comforts of home...

Today has not been one of my better days – woke up with a sore throat, stuffy nose, headache, the works. I called work as soon as I woke up and decided it just wasn’t worth going in (it’s always best to call in just after you have woken up, when your voice is extra gravelly from sleep). But other than not being able to breathe and felling like I have a bunch of cotton stuffed in my head, it hasn’t been that bad.

I’ve decided that one great benefit to living at home is mom. And my mom is the greatest because she loves to pamper and take care of people. I’ve already had homemade chicken noodle soup, crackers and juice brought on command, and now a batch of potato salad is being prepared. (I’m not sure why, but my mom’s potato salad is one of my favorite comfort foods.)

This is so much nicer that when just living with roommates. I was lucky to even get someone to bring me a glass of water.

So, mom, I salute you! (oh, and can you make me some tea to go with the potato salad?) :)

The Land of Familiar

Not long ago and not far away, a Nobody named Ordinary lived in the Land of Familiar.

Every day was pretty much the same for Ordinary. In the mornings he got up and went to his Usual Job. After work, he ate almost the same dinner he’d eaten the evening before. Then he sat in his recliner and watched the box that mesmerized most Nobodies on most nights. Sometimes, Best Friend came over to join Ordinary in front of the box. Sometimes, Ordinary went to his Parents’ and they watched together.

For the most part, not much happened in Familiar that hadn’t happened before. Ordinary thought he was content. He found the routine reliable. He blended in with the crowd. And mostly, he wanted only what he had.

Until the day Ordinary noticed a small, nagging feeling that something big was missing from his life. Or maybe the feeling was that he was missing from something big. He wasn’t sure.
The little feeling grew. And even though Nobodies in Familiar didn’t generally expect the unexpected, Ordinary began to wish for it.

~Bruce Wilkinson, The Dream Giver

As I watch the season change outside, the leaves turning brilliant shades of autumn, the temperature cooling off, and the rain settling into a daily pattern, my life anticipates change as well. This time of year is my favorite, which seems kind of odd for me. For the most part, I resist change. My parents still bring up when I was about 4 and they were trading in their old clunker of a car for a newer model and all I could do was cry and sob out that I didn’t want a new car – I liked the one we had. Even if it broke down on the on every trip at the farthest point. But it was familiar to me and I clung to it with dear life.

This year has been doused with change, and a lot of those changes have felt like small deaths to me. Through a series of events, I am no longer involved in the youth ministry where I poured out three years of my life; the college-aged internship program that I was on volunteer staff for (the ministry where my heart felt alive and where I felt like I was actually making a difference) has morphed into a slightly different program and I was not asked to be a part of it; all of my roommates moved away and I was financially forced to move back home. During each of these changes, I fought to hold on so tightly, but God had other plans. So, now I am doing what I said I would never do – working a full-time desk job, living with my parents, and not involved in ministry at all. God, you sure are funny.

But through it all, I’ve also realized that without death, new life cannot spring up. During this time of ‘nothingness’ I’ve begun to open my eyes to new possibilities that God may be presenting. One showed up about a month ago, while I was ordering a book off of Focus on the Family’s website for our Children’s Pastor. It is a horse ranch down in Oregon that takes in abused and neglected horses and abused and neglected kids and pairs them together as sort of a therapy for both of them. I’ve read some of the amazing stories that have come from this place and as soon as I heard about the ranch, it connected very deeply with me. I’ve put off contacting them for fear of the unknown. Sometimes it just seems so much easier to just sit and do the things that are familiar. But that soon leaves your spirit dry and that is what I am experiencing.But a conversation with a friend tonight has reignited the flame of hope – that God would have a plan for my life that would give me a future and a hope, not just an endless flow of paperwork. So, I’m taking the first step this next week and I’m going to contact the ranch. I’m sure God has an adventure in store (no matter where he brings me), so it will be interesting to see what the future holds.

Best Buds! These are some of my favorite kids. I got to watch them last night and they loved the digital camera. "Miss Julie, can we see the pictures again!!!" It will be sad when Cole and Emma move away - Austin won't know what to do without his best buddy around. 

Raindrops on Roses...

Here are a few of my favorite things...

• I came home from work yesterday to discover that the books that I had ordered online had arrived. I love to see that large brown truck rumble up the street and have Randy (I see him deliver packages almost everyday at work, we are now on a first name basis) jog up to present me with a parcel filled with goodies. Among the treasures was the Ragamuffin Gospel. I've read Manning's "The Signature of Jesus" and discovered another favorite author.

• I got to see my good friend, Carly, visiting from sunny California last night. The girl looked gorgeous, obviously California is loving her. I’ve been thinking of friendships lately, and will write more later on that.

• It’s a Friday, ‘nuff said. But an added bonus to my Fridays is that I get to enjoy the sweet song of music while I am working. My desk is located in the front area of our church office that I share with another admin assistant. It’s difficult for her to concentrate with music playing, so I reserve this for Fridays when she has the day off.

• I got a new computer at work. I had been struggling for about a month on my old one that was slowly dying. I’m not sure what I downloaded, but it was bad. Now I have a sweet new machine, complete with a DVD player – anyone up for a movie??

• A co-worker just walked up offering these delicious smelling scone cookie things. Pumpkin with chocolate drizzled on top. It’s like heaven to my nose. And a reminder that autumn is upon us – the smell of pumpkin always conjures up memories of holidays past.

• It is lightly misting outside. It’s been awhile since we’ve had rain, and I just love it. I guess you have to grow to love it when you live near Seattle, but I truly do. It reminds me of the old being washed away, and the new being brought to life.

Alright, enough of the daisies and roses already, I need to get back to work!

Heads Will Roll

Tonight after small group for 40 Days of Purpose, David and Amanda (a great couple that Stacey and I met last week), invited us to the indoor soccer game that David and his friend, Jeremy, were playing. (Side note: Dave and Amanda are GREAT! How fun is it to meet people at a small group and actually spend time with them outside of that arena and find out what great people they are. That usually doesn’t happen for me, it’s more of the “well, see you next week” crowd.)

Anyways, I’m not much of a soccer player at all, but I can get very competitive. And I also get very competitive for the team I am rooting for. Granted I only knew the names of three guys on ‘our’ team (and had only met two of those), but once I get into the game a bit, I am a fierce cheerleader. :) Sometime during the second half, as things were getting rough, I told the girls that “heads are going to roll.” I’m not really sure why that popped into my brain, but I shouldn’t really be surprised. I always think of random sayings at weird moments. (It’s usually a combination of two cliches, and I always end up sounding like a fool.) But Stacey laughed at me for a couple minutes, and I couldn’t help but smile. I love to make people laugh, but it rarely happens. I’m just not the quick-on-her-feet type of gal.

I love laughter (and inside jokes) shared among friends, you can’t really ask for more. :)

I was missing my house today.

For the past two years I have lived in this old remodeled barn, complete with grain silo in the back. It has been a wonderful haven that I enjoyed with three great roommates, who added so much laughter, wisdom, and experience to my life. Through many circumstances, they all had to move out, and thus forced me to move back with my parents, as I couldn't afford living at 'the barn', as we dubbed it. I live in a pretty small town (not a college town where there are always girls looking for a place to stay), so there wasn't an overabundance of roommates available.

The week that I was preparing to move out, I would cry at the drop of a hat. I was so anxious about this upcoming change in my life, that everything seemed slightly out of control. Well, at least out of my control, which wasn't an easy thing for me.

It's only been just over a week that I have been back at my parents, and although there are things that will take some adjusting to (one bathroom for four of us, a teenage brother who eats everything in sight, including any leftovers that might even have my name on them in the fridge, etc.), God has proven once again that He is faithful to provide for me. Things could be much worse. I have a sturdy roof over my head, plenty of food to eat (even if it isn't food that I had been saving), heat as we are approaching the cold season, and people who genuinely care about me.

Through this I am learning how to lean even more fully on Christ for the plan that He has for me. I can't see the ending yet, let alone the next chapter, but I am holding onto the fact that there will be a new chapter, and it will beyond what I could plan. My God is so faithful, so creative, and I am so thankful.

Haloscan commenting and trackback have been added to this blog.

Only 81 Shopping Days Left...

I know it seems crazy to be thinking about Christmas already (especially with this Indian summer weather we have been having here in the Northwest), but it’s been rolling around in my brain for a few weeks now.

I am helping the music department of my church put on a Holiday Dessert Theater and preparations are well underway. We held drama and solo auditions yesterday and I was a part of the selection process. It’s been some time since I’ve been involved in drama and I’ve really missed it, so this is fun for me.

We had some really talented people audition, so it wasn’t hard to fill most of the spots. But there were a few that we were missing. I’m not sure exactly how this happened, but I am now singing a solo during one of the scenes (part of I Am by Nicole Nordeman).

I enjoy singing in my car (I’m sure I bring plenty of entertainment to my fellow drivers – this crazy girl singing her heart out), but put me on stage and I kind of freak out. I have no problem performing a drama or monologue, but make me sing and it becomes so much more vulnerable.

It’s funny how God likes to stretch me whenever He has the opportunity. And as much as it makes me nervous, it's also kind of exciting at the same time. It's great to be part of a production like this. So, now I shall be bring even more entertainment to those on the road with me - I've got a song I've got to perfect.

Kara, Stacey, and I at Northwest Youth Conference. Stacey and I actually weren't there for very long, but we had a great day. Yeah for lunch with great friends, and time spend browsing through Pike's Place!

Sucked In...

After reading and commenting for the last couple months on Stacey's blog and many others, she has finally sucked me in - so, here's my own. I'm not much of a writer or journalist, so it shall be interesting to see what comes of this venture. (I can already feel myself going into writer's mode, though.) This will probably be good for me - my job doesn't require me to think in this kind of capacity (I either have to be very detail oriented, or be very creative for graphic design), so it will be good to get back into writing. After being out of school for awhile, it kind of slips away.

So, I welcome myself to the blogging world! :)