May 28, 2008



At the "Beyond our Wildest Dreams" spiritual retreat I was on last week one of our first assignments was to pick out a picture from a selection of very different images laid out for us. We had time to look at them all, as we circled around. There were all kinds of pictures, conveying a range of emotions, times and places. Then once we all had a chance to view them all we were given the chance to go grab the one that we felt most drawn to. The image I was most drawn to initially was of a couple sharing an ice cream cone. Normally something that I would not be drawn to, but I really wanted that picture...but then there was one of a lady who looked like she might be a nun, no one took that, but it was kinda calling my name. In the end I snagged the picture above. As I sat there holding my image, looking into it I realized that I had just the right one for me.

There is nothing fancy about this painting, I have no idea who the artist is. It is just a swirl of paints. Red, yellow and blackish blue are the only real colors. The emotion could be whatever you or I imagined it to be. It is however the same image that I have been toying with for the past nine months or so. The idea of my spiritual journey not as a straight line, or an uphill climb as so many have tried to sell me over the years, but the more inviting (I think) idea of my journey with God as a spiral. As something that circles around, hits some of the same themes and plot points again and again, but always getting tighter and closer to the heart of God. This picture though, this took it to an even better place for me. In this picture I could see that my path was nestled in, next to God's. That it was messy at times, not neat and perfect, that we were becoming less and less distinguishable as we journey deeper together. This is not to say that God is conforming to me but that hopefully I am conformed by Him and the time spent together on this journey.

A piece of art was able to paint for me such a beautiful image of what my journey with Christ can be. My prayer thus has become that my life will be like that painting, able to display what that picture lived out can look like. Not perfect, messy at times, but in the end a beautiful thing to be treasured because of the love that went into it.
Hello friends, by now some of you may be wondering if I have fallen off the face of the planet a valid if not slightly paranoid concern. I guess if you were really concerned you might have called. Why haven't you called...

Well, in case you were in fact worried that I had gone missing rest assured that though I was gone I am back now. I actually did leave for Eleven Days I think. My intention was not to leave the computer in the process, but God or at least my computer had other plans. According to the computer experts my Mother Board is FRIED. This is not the tasty kind of fried, rather the left the land of the living kind of fried. I guess I was not the only one who needed the break. It is fortunate I suppose that it was the computer that gave up on life all together and not I.

you asked. First I went with my lovely family on an old school family road trip...I take that back. An old school Kay family road trip was me and Krista in the back seat o away in the back window of the car as we entertained ourselves or listened to my mom read to us from Anne of Green Gables or some book like that. This was not an old school Kay family road trip. This was my mom and dad sitting up front of an air conditioned mini van. Dad driving silently along on cruise control, mom playing suduko (sp?) Me in the middle with two seats to myself. While Lizzie and Jordan chilled in the back of the vanWhere have I been? I am so gladf a really hot car with no air conditioning, driving for miles on end, crayons melting plugged into their own DVD players, with headphones on, and Jordan managing to play Nintendo DS at the same time. It was the quietest trip ever. We made our way down to Santa Barbara to celebrate my Grandma June's 80th Birthday with family and her friends. It was a great weekend get away, and we stayed in a beautiful home overlooking Santa Barbara.

The day after we returned I packed up my car and headed in the opposite direction with my good friend Brittany. Ending up in Tahoe a few hours and a lot of conversation later. We spent our first night in a hotel resort taking full advantage of the arcade, and even winning ourselves a tiara. Man, we are good at ski-ball.

The next four days were spent at Zephyr Point in at a prayer retreat called "Be thou my Vision; Beyond Your Wildest Dreams" It was a hard but good time with God. Seeking His will, listening for His voice, and following His ways. I am sure there will be more to come on this.

After the retreat ended, Brittany and I spent the next few days planning out our lessons and our calender for our youth ministries for the year. It was so nice to have a chance to get ahead on some of that.

Now I am back with a new computer and a fresh perspective.

May 16, 2008

Baseball Fever

It was bound to happen sooner or later I suppose, considering that two of my best friends are Baseball addicts (fans...do not know every single detail of the sport from conception to today). I have officially caught Baseball Fever. Or at least I was really hot while watching the Giants game yesterday, and it went to my head. Literally, I bought a Giants cap.
It was a great day for a game in San Fransisco, the sun was out and shining brightly down upon us. The fans were in good spirits and the Giants were playing a great game. Leading 7-3 all the way until the top of the 8th against the Astros. Of course it didn't hurt that we were enjoying it all from the 8th row right behind third base.

While all of that made for a great day at the park I think what really sold me on Baseball is the spirit of it all. The families the fans, the perfect day, the grass the uniforms, hot dogs, vendors, caps, and cold drinks, and cheering.

So I guess its official that I am a fan. Not an addict yet but a fan.

May 6, 2008

Times Remembered

I went to the middle school today at lunch. Which is not abnormal (for me) I usually go once a week. I go with my good friend Brittany and we wander about the school during lunch hour (we get badges from the office to be "official") saying hi to the students. I love it.

We do this every week at the High School too, but its different. Sure a few high school students say hi and greet us warmly, but usually it is the same bunch and that is fine. At the middle school we often find ourselves surrounded by a mass of students eager to give us hugs, and share their latest crush, trend, word of the day, and even their lunch at times.

Today though, today was like a flashback to my own middle school days. As I watched my little sister interact with her new "boyfriend". I watched as she ran up and grabbed his hat, and quickly set it upon her own head. (which looked much better if you ask me) I saw him start to protest and then realize who it was and decide it was okay.

Oh, how I remember those days. How simple and uncomplicated it all seems now, but thinking back I can recall how I had butterflies and how I all the sudden felt grown up. Part of me briefly wanted to return to those simple flirty relationships for a moment today, as I saw her smile and could see the excitement of it all. But, then there is part of me that is so glad that my Jr. High years are well over and done with.


They were fun while they lasted though.

quotes i love

  • "they will never care how much you know until they know how much you care."
  • "never be afraid to trust a well known God with an unknown future." - Corrie Ten Boom
  • "God doesn't need you, He loves you, that is much better."
  • "the world has yet to see what God can do through a man/woman who is totally commited to him." - D.L. Moody
  • "be who you is, cause if is ain't who you is, you is who you ain't."-
  • "some people say movies should be more like real life. I say real life should be more like the movies."