Dec 28, 2008

funny

I am cleaning house. Throwing away the excess and making boxes of stuff for future garage sales or give-a-ways as I know that I will not be taking all of this stuff with me over the pond. My mom asked me the other day about what I would be taking, and I told her I am not really attached to any of the stuff I have. I could really just take some clothes and start over. I would want to leave pictures and a few special items in a box here, but for the most part its just stuff. This is a good place to be, but I still have a lot of stuff to sort through.

As I was sorting the piles under my bed, I came across a collage I made way back in my Jr. year of high school, you know the kind where you take words, quotes and pictures from magazines and put it all together. This "art piece" has lasted through well over 15 moves, and thanks to my laminating skills is still in good shape. The theme of the collage was who I wanted to be. This was not an assignment, rather just a lazy day activity.

So what Trinity? How is this funny? I am getting there, what is funny is that as I read all the words on this 11 year old piece of paper I can see how I have come very close to achieving what I wanted way back then. Not on purpose, obviously I was not giving this collage much weight as it was stuffed under my bed but I have a feeling God, who knows my heart and all my inmost thoughts kept this collage in His sights.

Here are the things on the collage so you can see what I mean:

At the very center is the word EMANUEL (God with us), funny that back then I put this as the center, because in the midst of my Jr. year of high school I was really having a hard time with wanting to give Him that place.

Peace - another thing I had little of that year, as that is when my seizures started.
Versatility - I have done many things that I never thought I would do.
Embrace - I pride myself on embracing life to its fullest, trying new things and welcoming new ideas.
Go Places you've never gone before - hummm yep going to live overseas, in a job that will likely take me many places.
Traveler - at that point in my life I had never been outside of the US now I have been to 8 countries.
Fashion - I really did not care about fashion until just these past 5 years, but now I love it.
Italian - Not even in my wildest dreams did I think I would be living in Italy...or speaking Italian or meeting Italians
Film -Yeah, at this point I thought I was going to be a psychologist or a teacher, not majoring in Film and Television production.
England -Went there
Paris - Been there
Hollywood and San Fransisco - Been there done that.
Take Pictures -Of course
Fine Art - I took painting, drawing and graphic design in college
Connecting People - This is one of my gifts according to the Strength Finder Assessment I did for ReachGlobal

And now get these Quotes:

"Communicating with people is how I always developed any kind of value about myself..."

"You can make the decision to cut yourself away from the World or be part of it. I choose to be a part of if big time."

"I don't want a house with one theme or color scheme. I want it to change, like my personality. I get bored easily; I want variety."

So the only things on this poster that have not come about yet are the following:
Mr. Right
Wedding and Marriage.
New York (though it says New York Spirit, which I do have thanks to Sex and the City)
Broadway - Though I have seen a lot of shows in London and in Oregon
Boston

Not bad.

Funny.

Dec 25, 2008

Twas the Night of Christmas

It's a little past 11pm on Christmas, and I am home in my bungalow. Which for those of you who have been following this blog would imply that yes the freaky gian purple newt has been relocated to a new home! Otherwise I would not be here. But, thankfully being a Youth Pastor has finally paid off and as one of my boys and his father promptly came to my rescue on Christmas Eve to remove the icky miniature dragon (or over-sized slimy lizard) type creature which had taken up residence in on my steps.

For those of you worried that I had them off it rest assured that it has mearly been taken away, not knocked off. Though those that know me and experianced my fear yesterday would know that I am not an animal lover or a slimy creature lover, and would not really have any quams having it killed, but alas it really just got moved into a friendlier neighborhood.

Knowing that my creature was no longer a threat awaiting me at home, it was much eaiser to return back to my lovely little place tonight, and reflect on my Christmas day. Looking back it really was a one of the better Christmases. Why? So glad you asked, because it was just my family, it was simple, and it was realxed in every way.

To be honest I was not looking forward to this siplistic Christmas, I love having the bigger family around or friends, I thought I would miss ahving the extras. I was wrong. I cannot explain to you how nice it was to wake up, start a fire (yep I did that) and have my little 8 year old brother come in so excited because Santa really did come and better yet he left presents. I think Jordan was really not sure if he was going to get anything this year, so the compleate joy when he discovered the lack of coal was so refreshing. We let everyone wake up as they did, and took our turns opening stockings filled with goodies, letting each person really enjoy the the treats they unwraped. After awhile we did cinimon rolls and gifts, at a leasurly pace, with lots of thanks.

You see about a month ago we all agreed to keep in mind the idea of not over spending, and we all held to it. So, none of us came in expecting much and I think everyone was really able to enjoy what they did get because of that understanding. There was honest excitement over each gift.

I also was encouraged to give a gift to a charity in my parents honor instead of getting them a gift, as was Krista and we both had a fun time picking out the charities to surprise our parents with. Lots of fun.

After all of this came a trip with the whole fam to the movies to see Bedtime Stories, which was much more fun than I expected! Then home to cook dinner together, eat and look at old family pics, it really has been wonderful life we have had, all of which is a gift because of the ultimate Christmas gift Jesus Christ.

Hope you too got to experince the joyu of Christmas this year!

Dec 24, 2008

It's back

I went home to find that ever creepy yet even bigger now newt...YUCK...NO THANK YOU!

So I ran away...called one of my fearless youth guys and bribed him with $10 to dispose of the icky gross creature that is stalking my home.

If it reappears he owes me $20! I needed some insurance to be sure it would not be freaking me out again! A girls got to do what a girls got to do.

Dec 13, 2008

Now I Can Tell You...

You may have noticed that I have not blogged in quite some time, that's because everything worth blogging about was off limits...but now that it's out in the open I can share it with you!

I am very excited to tell you that I am going to be starting a new chapter in my life!

Nope, not getting married, nor am I pregnant! So, what's the big news? I have been commissioned to be a long term missionary in Rome, Italy!

Some of you have known this for a week now and the rest of you are probably reading this in disbelief. I wanted to tell you all in person, but since I do not know all of you personally it was a bit impractical.

I have of course started a new blog that will follow me on this journey. I invite you all to visit that blog often, and right now, as it has the whole story including my calling, and information about the organization and team I will be going with.


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."