tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46205863629800508552024-02-20T18:21:03.496-08:00Walking On The Narrow Path In An Overgrown ForestMy thoughts and life on a page...singingtwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06988897928330970567noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4620586362980050855.post-13825661053045383732017-08-10T09:29:00.002-07:002017-08-10T09:30:14.573-07:00UPDATESo... UPDATE!<br />
<br />
It's been a LONG time since I've written anything or posted anything here. And it's high time to get the ball rolling again.<br />
<br />
I will give you a quick overview now of where God has had me and where He's taking me in life. And hope to go into more detail on specifics later.<br />
<br />
Quick run down:<br />
1. I've stepped down from Youth Ministry (two years ago in October).<br />
2. I battled a long season of "refreshing and recuperating" from all the "running" that I had been doing for years prior.<br />
3. I have been blessed with an amazing man in my life.<br />
4. I've learned to appreciate the outdoors more through recreational activities.<br />
5. God and I are tighter now than we have ever been before.<br />
6. I put out a Christmas album last year for my church - it was small with only 6 tracks, but it was a phenomenal experience.<br />
<br />
Looking forward to updating you all on the details. So much more to come!<br />
<br />
For now-<br />
signing off<br />
-Jamiesingingtwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06988897928330970567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4620586362980050855.post-33594473814891399002013-03-27T11:38:00.002-07:002013-03-27T11:44:55.835-07:00The TRUE Hope<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What would solve the world issues? What would solve all the "world problems"? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have been discussing these questions in Youth Group recently. Most of the discussion has revolved around community - close, extended, and farther. We touched on going farther - to the ends of the earth - this last week and I found it really interesting to hear the direction it went. We discussed world problems (The need of food, water, and shelter. The need for a cure of diseases and/or need of medicine around the world, and many more.) and what would be the only real HOPE the world would have in solving all the issues. JESUS!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yesterday was a very interesting day. I was reading some facebook posts and saw that there was an overwhelming number of people that had changed their profile pictures to a red box with rectangles of pink or white inside them. (The EQUAL sign) This was/is a direct way to indicate through social media support of equality of gay marriage. More specifically referencing the "human rights" campaign and all the discussion happening currently in the Supreme Court. Marriage equality. "Love is Love", right?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I don't normally post things like this, but this has me very intrigued.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love is love. Doesn't matter who it's between. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I would agree, to some extent. It doesn't matter who loves who, however, it does matter how it is carried out. Marriage was intended to be between one male and one female. It was intended this way through God's perfect design. Any other way is a distinct motion/action against the Creator's plan. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God's design was made without flaws because He is perfect! Why would you mess with a perfect design?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I went to a conference last weekend. There were several helpful and informational workshops. One workshop was specifically talking about this exact thing. The workshop was conducted counselor (by profession) that counsels those with same sex attractions. This gentleman has a passion for this because he too is a man that has same sex attraction. He spoke about many things but a few points that stood out to me were the following:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. You CAN'T choose your attractions</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. You CAN choose how you act on your attractions</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. God designed marriage a certain way - one man and one woman. Living outside that design (action opposite of God's design) is sin. It's a distortion of the design.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4. No matter what your attraction is: You need friends (and JUST friends) of both genders</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5. No matter what your attraction is: you need to be treated like a man if you are a man and treated like a woman if you are a woman.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Personally, I choose to love everyone as Christ does. It's what I am called to do. Love the person, and point them to Jesus!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;"><strong>HE is the TRUE Hope!</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Something that was posted this morning from a good friend of mine. A great example of how to process this current action flooding the social media and our hearts:</span></strong><br />
<br />
<span class="userContent"></span><br />
<span class="userContent"><div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_515331fe17f1f0125863165">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em>"I hope each of you decides to read this...it's been heavy on my heart and mind all night.<br /> <br /> "In the past couple of days, I have noticed a large outpouring of profile pictures displaying a red equal sign. If you don't know where this comes from, it comes from the human rights movement supporting gay marriage, saying equality for all, no matter religious or sexual beliefs.<br /> <br /> "The reason this has been heavy on my heart is because I see people in my life that say they are Christians (Christ Followers), placing this red equal sign as their profile picture. I simply want to ask the question, is this Christ like? Is this a Biblical worldview? Would Christ have fought for gay marriage to be okay if you wish to live in that way?</em></strong></span><span class="text_exposed_show"><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><em>"The way I understand Scripture is that anything we pursue outside of God's design and purpose for our lives is living in sin. Scripture states that sexual immorality (which includes homosexuality) was not God's design for our lives. <br /> <br /> "So back to my question...is supporting this movement as a Christ Follower appropriate? I'm not saying Christians shouldn't be about human rights...we are called to love all...but does love mean saying that it's okay for people to live in a sinful lifestyle?<br /> <br /> "I'm open for a respectful conversation here."</em></strong></span></span></div>
</span>singingtwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06988897928330970567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4620586362980050855.post-24426954727862213522013-02-27T22:18:00.002-08:002013-02-27T22:18:36.289-08:00Wants and Desires<em><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Last time I posted I talked about contentment. Well, here's a spin on it with a focus on Spiritual contentment.</span></em><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I have realized that I'm not as content with things as I thought.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I would like more clothes, yet I'm getting rid of a bunch.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I would like a new car, yet I have a good reliable fuel efficient car already.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I would like a dog, yet I don't have time for one.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I would like a house, yet I don't have the finances or time for one.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I would like a deeper relationship with the Lord, yet I don't make it a priority.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I would like to do missions work in another county, yet I am scared & don't feel I can leave my job.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">LORD, IT'S ALL YOURS!!!!!</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Sometimes I feel like even though I'm doing lots of good stuff, it's all successful (overall) and most all of it is impacting the Lord's Kingdom, I feel as though I'm just not quite "there" yet. </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Obviously we all keep working on things. We never quite reach the goal we set for ourselves, and we can ALWAYS be striving for something better. Especially when it comes to our relationship with Christ.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Recently I have a desire for more boldness in my faith. I want to be more bold with courage to talk to my coworkers, family, friends, and students about Jesus and how He can impact their lives as He has mine. However, I have also realized one of the reasons it has been such a struggle is because often times it's a reflection of your own relationship with Christ. </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I believe in God, many people do. I believe it's not about just believing in God, it's also about a relationship. Sometimes I forget the truly incredible gift He gave us by sending His son and the magnitude of that gift. I realize how easy it is to accept it. That's what I have been teaching students and many others for years. All you have to do is receive the gift. It's there for the taking. You just have to take it.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">However, one of the things I miss in these teachings is this. The gift is precious, and it has several benefits. One of which is a relationship with Our Creator. How cool, right? But like any relationship, you have to take care of it and nurture it. It takes some work. </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Work: Activity involving mental or physical effort done in order <em><u>to achieve a purpose or result</u></em>.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><em><span style="font-size: large;">Effort - talking, learning and listening.</span></em> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We need to talk with God. It's a 2 way conversation. You talk some and you listen some. I like to think of it as.... I want to call or text my best friend to tell her about my day, I don't even have to text God, He's just there waiting to hear all about it, no matter where I am. </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Learning.... The Bible is PACKED with treasures.... studying it [regularly] will unlock the important and applicable truths. I am in a spot in my life where I am yearning for something of treasure.... Something that I can dive in and drink until my never ending thirst is quenched. And only by the Holy Spirit in the God breathed words of scripture will this happen.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">In my daily activities I am surrounded by this type of information, and regularly am I reminded that my daily walk or even weekly walk isn't what it should be. So, here I go.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Each moment and each day is a new beginning. Each meeting with the Lord is a fresh start to only get deeper from where you are and where I am right now. </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Next up.... digging deeper! And taking it just one day at a time! </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Talking with God more often, reading the word more regularly, and just finding the place and time to...</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">JUST LISTEN.</span>singingtwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06988897928330970567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4620586362980050855.post-90942650141844708742012-11-08T23:09:00.002-08:002012-11-08T23:09:20.127-08:00Quick post<span style="font-family: inherit;">The last several days I've been working through several things. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">HOWEVER, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">One of them is contentment. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I've been apart of several worship services and conversations lately where "contentment" is the main topic... taking many different directions for each.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Personally it hits me in a few main categories in my life (knowing there are probably several others as well - these are what come to mind first).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">1. Spiritual </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">2. Material </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">3. Relational</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">#1 - I feel we can always strive for a better walk with our Lord. So... It's easy to keep pushing on in my faith - to at the very least to have the desire to continue to push forward. Sometimes we all need help from others.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">#2 - Generally speaking, I feel like I am very content with the "Material" side of things in my life. I have been blessed to not have a need for anything. I feel in some ways I have what our Pastor preached on a few weeks ago as "more than enough". Though I know, in this, sometimes I don't take the best care of my "more than enough" so it seems like I don't have the option to bless others with it. I know that if I continually give my needs and wants over to the Lord that He will continue to provide my needs and help me sort through my wants.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">#3 - I REALLY struggle with this one. I love my relationships with my family and friends. I may be biased, but I truly believe I have been blessed with some of the best friends and family I could ever ask for. God has placed such supporting, encouraging, and "healthy" challenging people in my life to push me forward in maturity, and growth as a person in all aspects of life. I try to continually praise the Lord for the gift of them He has given me. One thing I have a hard time with though is trust that the Lord will bring me the man of my dreams along. I had a rough go the last several weeks and even months on this one. (It definitely seems to be an emotional roller coaster at times...) This past weekend I have had a full peace about this part of my relationship status come over me. I have dealt with a hard "blow" from a guy recently (most likely unknown to him) that really made me search after the Lord that much stronger. Leaning on my faith and trust in Him that much more. Realizing that God is and should truly be my One Desire. It will probably be a constant battle for a while. Something I will have to give over to Him daily, and maybe even hourly on some days... but in the end I know, without a shadow of a doubt. He is completely and utterly worth it to the full extent.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The following songs have been a huge part of my life lately. Please enjoy and take care as you see and listen to my heart through song....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmaBhMOXXHg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Steady My Heart - Kari Jobe</span></span></a><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8vm8ORMZt4" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Footprints in the Sand - Leona Lewis</span></a><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<a href="http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=K66PZPNX" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Find You On My Knees - Kari Jobe</span></span></a><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<a href="http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=FMM2C1NU" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here - Kari Jobe</span></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<br />singingtwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06988897928330970567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4620586362980050855.post-83883761581433935372012-04-08T08:52:00.000-07:002012-04-08T08:52:04.633-07:00Easter Prep unlike the others....Good Morning to you all,<br />
<br />
This morning as I sit here thinking.... <br />
<br />
Today. <br />
Today is the day that I don't go to work. I have been working for 34 days straight and get the day off. My company is in TurnAround mode with the refineries so we are running 2 - 12 hour shifts a day to get the work done. I have a 9am deadline each day to make, so one of my co-workers and I show up at work around 5am each day and work like crazy to get the labor hours of our other coworkers submitting into the online accounting system by that deadline.... and without a hitch it has happend all but day 2 of this long stretch. (today may be another). We were told , by our great bosses to take today off. This is an amazing gift to be offered so we took them up on it! It causes a few issuses though... That means others are making the deadline for us... and even though they will probably do a great job, it's still another hand that is doing work and we get to weed through it later on and see how it was all accomplished.<br />
<br />
Today. <br />
Today is the day that I get to sit with my family and friends and remember what it really means. My Cousin and Aunt just returned early this morning from Haiti. They were there for 10 days covering my cousin's spring break! We are all hoping they can be alert enough, after the long traveling, at the family celebration to share some of their experiences with us. It's always incredible to hear of how God was involved in these types of trips! It will be a different sort of celebration time with family due to schedules of everyone today, but it will be so nice to enjoy the precious time together. I take time with family and friends for granit sometimes.<br />
<br />
Today. <br />
Today is the day when the ladies when to the tomb and found it empty over 2000 years ago. Today is the day of GREAT joy. Today is the day we can be thankful that unlike any other person, Jesus, came and wiped clean EVERY sin from each of us. I can't express my gratitude to the Lord enough. The fact is that Christ died a horrible and suffering death for each and every person that ever was, is, and were to walk the earth... Bless you, Father! <br />
We have a choice today. To remember the blessing it is to serve a God to GREAT and so wonderful or think about everything that seems to not be going the way we want it. <br />
Today.<br />
<br />
JESUS...<br />
Birth? HUMBLE<br />
Earth life? SHORT, BUT SO MEANINGFUL<br />
Cross? BORE SINS AND DIED.<br />
Grave? CONQUERED.<br />
Jesus? ALIVE!<br />
People? REDEEMED.<br />
<br />
Praise the Lord! He is RISEN!!!!<br />
<br />
Happy Easter everyone!singingtwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06988897928330970567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4620586362980050855.post-86434819159565772582011-07-12T08:48:00.000-07:002011-07-12T09:20:20.305-07:00In TENTS!?So when talking to people about my camping trip, the most common question was, "You're camping... like in tents?" To that I laughed! I think there is something to be said about camping in tents vs. trailers or any other way. There is a sense of 'roughing' it, and being in the climate... <br />
Needless to say, we camped in Washington so we experienced multiple different types of weather. Rain, Sun, Clouds, Wind... you name it! Just about everything but snow... (however just a little higher on the mountain there was some.)<br />
<br />
We had a blast! The first group (5 of us) got to the camp site about 9pm on Thursday night, so we quickly set up camp and got a fire going! Then the guys pulled out a guitar and we sang tons of songs ranging from "This land is your land" to "We all live in a yellow submarine". (It's stuck in your head now, isn't it! Muah ha ha ha!!! My evil plan worked! ha! Just kidding, I'm sorry for that...)<br />
<br />
<div align="center">Here is a picture of our tents... first morning....</div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi59h62h_rtQ9fjVYHmXlDFXteb5sNNpdHxFlAmvF_jU8xZftPll7wjTfjhrxQApo0SQMgLDkmwDDa1ynrzcZHlUnPnJrKDIPhV6SPTobHgHP5vh-h-0PboSJ6yI68t5L8-g0jFIe3RCMew/s1600/Tents.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi59h62h_rtQ9fjVYHmXlDFXteb5sNNpdHxFlAmvF_jU8xZftPll7wjTfjhrxQApo0SQMgLDkmwDDa1ynrzcZHlUnPnJrKDIPhV6SPTobHgHP5vh-h-0PboSJ6yI68t5L8-g0jFIe3RCMew/s320/Tents.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We played tons of Tennis, catch, horseshoes, and went for several walks with Sadie (Keith and Paige's dog). It was so fun and Lake Tyee was beautiful (something I failed at getting a picture of...)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Below are some more pictures of our time... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you look closely... there is dinner in that fire!!! (Poor Mans Stew - potatoes, onion, bell pepper, chicken, celery, and carrots! It was Delicious!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0vGWiHVy1729W5lTSxnDZb52T2M2F1ObJBaTdBthNSbZBwNdjYBo5GpB2oTvF8fF3hWB1DBvQM6ZVYwgVJha4ld3bVosUW4sPRE26JLcONsqps-RUs77A5DLQrllHEvfidacVekycZJaT/s1600/Dinner+in+the+fire.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0vGWiHVy1729W5lTSxnDZb52T2M2F1ObJBaTdBthNSbZBwNdjYBo5GpB2oTvF8fF3hWB1DBvQM6ZVYwgVJha4ld3bVosUW4sPRE26JLcONsqps-RUs77A5DLQrllHEvfidacVekycZJaT/s320/Dinner+in+the+fire.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here's Paige! She was a trooper! She was on top of it when it came to the meals! She is making our first meal in this picture... Spaghetti!!! Mmmm</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRyuFlWKZwMCHSSSC4mDqvaNUvgAFtf4-Yt_0Z9pR6WQTEJ9l3ASMY685hP53JIIRslrUwD0I4F8oTsgiCNmG9BKzOUIXTsRZT6W_5EtHXuek1-iPMJVRzJvXk49oFau3BE3qQW81KjJBc/s1600/Paige.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRyuFlWKZwMCHSSSC4mDqvaNUvgAFtf4-Yt_0Z9pR6WQTEJ9l3ASMY685hP53JIIRslrUwD0I4F8oTsgiCNmG9BKzOUIXTsRZT6W_5EtHXuek1-iPMJVRzJvXk49oFau3BE3qQW81KjJBc/s320/Paige.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sadie... Love this dog! Though sometimes a trouble maker, I always have a blast with her! We had some good walks around the lake together!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnv1maHXIYO2P2rYyQ4B78M_fjJpn_DiqPqbK3SP5HUiq6z4ORXXS7Jv7vKBF-9IsBw5W04-QY71SKU4MPnGL5wM2E5SwQmJn5A3GxRXeElLSTDOKnukkJ2RVHnK9WAq8V_JWCYm1LXb8Y/s1600/Sadie.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnv1maHXIYO2P2rYyQ4B78M_fjJpn_DiqPqbK3SP5HUiq6z4ORXXS7Jv7vKBF-9IsBw5W04-QY71SKU4MPnGL5wM2E5SwQmJn5A3GxRXeElLSTDOKnukkJ2RVHnK9WAq8V_JWCYm1LXb8Y/s320/Sadie.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We had a competition for the best s'more. I believe this one was the first of many... but here you have it! Keith's s'more in all it's glory!</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our Spaghettie dinner over the fire! Red sauce with meat, noodles, garlic bread, hot water for hot chocolate and coffee! (It was raining and cold this day.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There you have it! A snapshot of my weekend! I had a blast! We had a total of 8 people up there over the weekend (in shifts) and I couldn't have asked for a better bunch of people to spend it with! They are truely the best!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now, I have less than 24 hours to go before heading to Malibu Young Life Camp with over 300 high schoolers, I have a lot to do! :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Until then...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>singingtwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06988897928330970567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4620586362980050855.post-76519761091064856582011-07-05T09:56:00.000-07:002011-07-05T09:56:57.429-07:00The 4th and More!Last night was the 4th...<br />
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I really enjoyed my weekend with Friends and Family! I started my weekend off on Friday afternoon shoveling the rest of the river rock from my folk's house into a pickup with Keith and Paige. Then off to our Double-header softball game... Lost the first and won the second, then off to plan for our upcoming camping trip! Hopefully I can get some sweet pics up of that! :)<br />
Saturday morning I was up and hitting to road early with Kristin for our Saturday Garage Sale trip! :) We tend to do this every couple weeks or so! We mainly stayed in Bellingham this time, but we have gone to Lynden and Ferndale in the past as well! There are always such interesting things at garage sales... ranging from furniture to clothing, to random household appliances and pets. I think the bonus is always to have a house selling donuts that early in the morning, accompanied by the sale being a fundraiser for a good cause! (A few weeks back we went to a sale being put on by 3 families that are adopting 7 kids from Haiti! How cool is that!!!) Anyway, Kristin found a few more "project" items and I got the enjoyment of driving! Can't get much better than that! :)<br />
Small group at the Bascom's that night with Caleb, Jaron and Kristin! Sooo good! We are going through James and unpacking all the good stuff in it! I have learned so much since we started! It will be a few weeks now, but it will be good to finish up chapter 5 in a couple weeks!<br />
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Sunday morning was a fun experience! I was on worship team, but this weekend was a little different! The team was a little smaller due to the Youth heading to Summer Camp last week in Spokane, WA. So, the team was Jaron, Steve (Jaron's dad0 and myself. We are currently working on a song set as a trio in our spare time, so it was fun to sing together! We were able to spend the morning really focusing on harmonies and doing some a capella pieces too! Ohhh it was so fun! It was great to just take things back to a more simple way of worship! Less distractions and more focused time with Our Lord! Music to my soul, <em>Literally.</em> <br />
Later I got together with friends (some old, some new) for a BBQ and some roasting marshmallows! Always a fun way to start off the month of July with having s'mores! :)<br />
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Monday... the 4th... there are so many things to think about... those who fought for us, those who are fighting for us, the freedom we have, the family and friends we share out lives with... so many things to be thankful for! I had a blast with my family for an afternoon BBQ and some ladder ball. It was nice to kick back and relax. Then I was off to Birch Bay to see the fireworks! Awesome night!<br />
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All in all, good time had by all!<br />
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Happy 4th Everyone!singingtwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06988897928330970567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4620586362980050855.post-6303193413965783692011-06-28T22:55:00.000-07:002011-06-28T22:55:07.584-07:00Catching up a bit...<strong><em>Do you ever feel like you have too much to do and not enough time to do it?</em></strong><br />
<strong><em>I feel like I have spent the last several months starting to weed out things in my life... (I have to stop there and say that all were good things that I LOVED doing, I was just doing too much)... and now I came to the realization today that, for me, this will probably never stop! haha!</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>I love being busy! Not the crazy-can't stop-can't see a light out kind of busy, just a life-full-of-stuff-people-on-the-outside-think-I'm-crazy kind of busy.</em></strong><br />
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A few things to catch up on...<br />
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My brother is getting married in August and it's been super fun to be involved in the plans and getting to know my future sister-in-law better! She is the BEST! :) But with all the wedding plans unfolding, it makes me wonder... Will my time ever come? Am I doing something wrong? Do I even have time for someone if the right guy were to come along? For all these reasons and much more, I can truely only give it over to the Lord! My thoughts, desires and so much more only belong to Him! In that I can find peace!<br />
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In other things... My summer has begun and is fastly moving forward! I have a camping trip (or 2) planned with friends at Lake Tyee (near Concrete, WA) and can't wait to share what that experience is all about! It's at a property that my co-worker owns who has graciously offered it for me and whoever I want to come join! It's awesome! I get to check it out next week! Pictures to follow on that one for sure! :)<br />
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My softball team is up and running as well! We have a great team this year and currently hold a 5-1 record! Best yet I think! :) (however we have had the possiblity of 10 games, 4 of which have been rainned out... but they will be made up for sure!)<br />
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Next on the summer agenda, I head off to Malibu Camp in Canada in Mid-July with a little over 50 FHS students! Can't wait! I love it up there! The amazing scenery, the solitude away from life, the ever-changing hearts of the students, and the pure fun and joy the kids (and leaders) have while there! All that while being smack dap in the center of God's creation where the distractions are few! There are 27 girls (including 3 leaders) going so far and I am really looking forward to seeking lives transformed! :)<br />
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Well, enough of a catch up for now... I am currently waiting for my clothes to dry for work tomorrow then off to bed! But maybe I will just read another chapter first...singingtwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06988897928330970567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4620586362980050855.post-29284691076371963552010-10-28T10:52:00.000-07:002010-10-30T22:34:28.047-07:0025th 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... :)<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">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...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">September 20th, 1985</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">June 2010</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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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!singingtwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06988897928330970567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4620586362980050855.post-89934919361953618492010-08-26T11:52:00.000-07:002010-08-27T10:44:10.225-07:00So many things, So little timeSo 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! <br />
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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... <br />
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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! <br />
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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! <br />
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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! <br />
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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! <br />
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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...<br />
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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! :)<br />
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I came home knowing that I was exactly where God wanted me for the next spit of time!singingtwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06988897928330970567noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4620586362980050855.post-77422117310100880292010-01-19T20:30:00.000-08:002010-01-19T21:17:30.042-08:00Watching God WorkWhoosh! It's been so long, and so much has happened...<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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...<br /><br />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!" <br />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!<br /><br />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!!!<br /><br />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!!!<br /><br />Well, signing out!<br /><br />Until next time~singingtwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06988897928330970567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4620586362980050855.post-81941306912393497632010-01-05T22:49:00.000-08:002010-01-05T22:58:38.236-08:00Financial Peace through CoffeeDave 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! <br />**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!<br /><br />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! <br /><br />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!<br /><br />Here I go! Off to a good start... we will see what morning brings... :)<br /><br />More to say later! Good night All!singingtwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06988897928330970567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4620586362980050855.post-49331519703435659182010-01-04T23:27:00.000-08:002010-01-04T23:48:05.082-08:00Resolutions, 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? :)<br /><br />Do you ever feel like you don't have enough time in the day? <br /><br />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.<br /><br />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...)<br /><br />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... <br /><br />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...<br /><br />~Working full time as an accountant<br />~Working part time in the school district (about 6 hours per month)<br />~Being a full time Young life leader including meetings, clubs, and camps<br />~Leading a Campaigners group for my freshman gals<br />~Church<br />~Worship team<br />~Womens Bible Study<br />~College Small Group<br />~Meeting with a Spiritual Mentor once a week<br />~Teaching Guitar lessons<br />etc...<br /><br />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....<br /><br />Well... sleep is calling my name...<br /><br />Untill next time...singingtwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06988897928330970567noreply@blogger.com0