Thursday, October 28, 2010

25th year of Vows for Life!

So... my parents had their 25th year Anniversary on September 20th! I know... I'm quite behind on blog posts... but here is a semi-recent one... :)

I got the chance to post their current picture and wedding picture in the local newspaper, along with a little something from my brother and I... It was fun to put together! Being a total surprise to both my folks... they were elated to see themselves that Sunday morning! They are both not the type to draw a lot of attention to themselves...

September 20th, 1985



June 2010



Love them so much! They have been amazing examples in my life, and I know my brother's as well! Thank you Mom and Dad for showing us how to live lives that are pleasing to God. You have set an amazing Godly example of how a true marriage should be... In Sickness and Health, for Richer or Poor, till Death... Love you!

Thursday, August 26, 2010

So many things, So little time

So I began this blog, writing about all the things this year that I had committed to.. Sometimes getting overwhelmed I just want to head for the hills!

So many things have happened in the last several months... I thought I would be writing much more than I am now. Let's see...

A couple months ago I headed down south to Silverdale to meet up with Kevin and Kara... While there I started weighing my options... We took a mini tour of the area, seeing all the apartments available, and ministry oportunities were shown as well! I was able to visit the Youth Group that KP is running now, and had a blast! It was an awesome experience! I was given hope of a possible job opportunity as well! So many things to consider... ESPECIALLY when feeling over burdened at home, with A TON on my plate!

At the time I wasn't feeling overly confident in my Young Life ministry; with my girls and campaigners, with Club and connecting with students, and even connection with the other leaders on the team... it was all so new! I had upcoming responcibilities coming up with a wedding that I was going to be singing at... so many details to get through. The song choice changed multiple times! So many questions... What is the sound situation? (the church is not normally equipt with sound equipment) Will I be singing by myself or with someone? If so, when who? (then getting up enough courage to ask...) Then the whole practicing... There was also the whole worship team thing... there are 3 worship teams at GNF. I am on all 3, and co-leading one. Our head coordinator stepped down in December, and we found out that the step in leader is backing off the end of this month! What that means as far as commitment level, and scheduling... Work was getting a little crazy as well, with the economy as it is... Family stuff, with health issues was luming as well! I just felt like everything was caving in, and I couldn't do anything about it!

A week prior to the Silverdale trip, I started thinking about the Summit... The Summit is a Youth Pastor/ Leader conference in Yakima, and KP took a group of us a couple years in a row a few years back. It was an incredible experience each time, and I felt like I needed to be there again... I talked with KP when in at their house, and it was coming up within the next couple weeks. I got home and signed up rightaway! Next thing I knew, time flew and I was on my way!

I made the decision ahead of time that when I got in the car at 5pm that Thursday that I would not think about work, family, roommates, weddings, worship, or anything else looming back in Whatcom County for the entire weekend! The next couple days were going to be purely days and moments between me and God! I got the priviledge of joining my friends Eric, Savannah, Clayton and his wife, Corissa on the way there and back! Great, fun people to enjoy the weekend with!

The Summit 2010 was the best weekend I have had in a VERY LONG TIME!!! I don't know still if I can even put to words what happened there? I felt FREEDOM for the first time in years. I was able to have concentrated intentional talks with God, and was able to take a step back and really evaluate my life as it stood. I didn't have to ask Him any questions, I just allowed God to speak to me...

I returned home with a new sense of "weight lifted off my shoulders". Some people will know exactly what I talk about... My life was officially out of my hands and into God's. Believe it or not, it's a quite freeing experience! :)

I came home knowing that I was exactly where God wanted me for the next spit of time!

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Watching God Work

Whoosh! It's been so long, and so much has happened...

My co-worker's double massectomy is scheduled for the 8th... things are getting a bit scarier. My co-worker called me a week prior and told me how scared she really was. She explained everything that was going to happen, and how as it was getting closer and closer the more freaked out she was getting. I sent her a "prayer email" and later on she specifically requested that I meet with her on the 7th to pray for her after work got out.

Wednesday Jan. 6th... I sent a phone call out for some work-related question I had. My Co-worker kindly answered it, and then wanted me to guess what she was doing... She said she was in the HR office and there was a bible on the desk... she said that she had just asked Jesus, "that if He could please let her, that if something happens, that He would let her come to heaven with Him..." I asked her what that meant exactly. She said she asked Jesus in her heart! I WAS ELATED! Talk about something to celebrate! I was so excited! I knew that the next day when the prayer was scheduled would be that much more special for her. I had asked several more people to join us then...

Something that I had never expected to affect me the way it did... I called our co-workers, our former boss, my parents and more... I told everyone I could think of! I was so excited! The next day... the 7th... An owner of the company, the CEO, my current boss, 3 co-workers, the HR, and my co-worker going for surgery all sat in a room talking about faith, and encouragement. All the things that the Lord has to offer her. She shared that she felt as thought a huge burden had been lifted. "Last night was the first night I have actually slept in over 2 weeks!"
We then had a very emotional but truly amazing God lead prayer for her... encouraging her and asking for God's protection... it was fantastic!

The next day, surgery went a little longer, but it all went well... she is now at home resting and getting better... healing slowly... but doing really well! Love it! She is an incredible lady! So happy and excited that she will be spending eternity with our Savior! YES!!!

So... after those things life is good! With the bits of time I have, I made a trip to Oak Harbor to visit a friend! It was great to catch up and stay with her family! Her daughter is so adorable! :) So fun!!!

Well, signing out!

Until next time~

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Financial Peace through Coffee

Dave Ramsey Financial Peace Revised is being revisited! Yes, I said it! I have discovered that I need a little more discipline and a lot more savings! lol. Who doesn't? I took this 13 week course less than six months ago, but I'm already seeing a huge slide in the way I am handling my money!
**Example: I LOVE White Chocolate Mocha's. They come is sizes of $3, $5, and $6+. I like the $5 ones... ;-) What I am finding though, is that I enjoy more than one a day. Quite an expensive habit, if I say so myself!

So... through not saving, and making some outrageous purchases lately... I am unofficially, officially on a money strike! No more spending just to spend! Just enough to pay bills, buy food, and keep my car running!

Week one of Financial Peace University (FPU) is called SUPER SAVING... It's what I intend to do. Baby Step #1 is to get $1000 in the bank... ready, set, SAVE!

Here I go! Off to a good start... we will see what morning brings... :)

More to say later! Good night All!

Monday, January 4, 2010

Resolutions, Recognizing Relaxation, and Roaring forward!

Well, Never thought I would start a blog... but here I am writing away... People say that there is a ton I could write about, and I guess now we will get a chance to see if that's a fact or not! Let's start off with an easy one, shall we? :)

Do you ever feel like you don't have enough time in the day?

One of the first things I decided to do this year was to slow down a bit and to focus on things that really mattered... right now feeling like that is all too impossible. My first goal of the year was... the obvious... get healthy! Just to find time to exersize, and take time to stop and smell the roses. I have currently decided (4 days into the new year) that you can easily "stop and smell the roses" in your mind, but physically slowing down seems to be tough. I keep telling myself "the time to exersize will just kind of appear one day, and the time slot on each day of my planner will miraculously open up..." Did you know that that just doesn't happen? lol.

The second thing I set as a goal for this year was to start off organized... I am currently on day 2 of the re-organizing/re-construction of my bedroom, planner, bank accounts, and lifestyle... can you call it quits on this in one week? I don't know... but I am sure going to try! (I will get back to you later and let you know if I accomplished this...)

Number 3 goal for 2010 is to get deeper with God... In order to do this, I feel like I need to accomplish goals 1 and 2 fully! (I don't think it's actually necessary, but I feel like it is...) I feel like the best way to do this is get in a regular routine meeting with a spiritual mentor, being in a small group, and attending church... among other things...

As it stands my schedule for 2010 is quickly starting to fill... how to balance life is still beyond me... just a few things I am involved in (by default or new commitments) are as follows...

~Working full time as an accountant
~Working part time in the school district (about 6 hours per month)
~Being a full time Young life leader including meetings, clubs, and camps
~Leading a Campaigners group for my freshman gals
~Church
~Worship team
~Womens Bible Study
~College Small Group
~Meeting with a Spiritual Mentor once a week
~Teaching Guitar lessons
etc...

Oh, and did I mention, I like to hang with my family and friends every once-in-a-while too? lol. Seems nearly impossible over the next several weeks....

Well... sleep is calling my name...

Untill next time...