someone called it -

--- everything has been happening all at once. 

Saturday I bought a car! 

And a cell phone. 

And today I got a job!

YAY. I bought a 2003 Dodge Stratus from a family friend for way under what it could be sold for. Thank you GOD and thank you Paul. And my cell phone had died the day after my wreck so now I have a new one. Today I found out that I will be a temp. admin for my church for 25 hours a week. It probably will be a job for at least a few months if not more.  

So, I start tomorrow. Pray that the Lord will be honored in my learning this job. 

WHOA. A lot of changes, BUT God is, again, not surprised. May I be faithful. 

Goodbye snowpuff.

Tuesday night we went to a basketball game, went out for chic-fil-a, I filmed some interviews for the valentines video that my friends and I made ("The love of your life" is the name of the film; check for it on youtube or facebook or movie theaters sometime soon :) ), dropped off some of my friends at home and then started to drive home. The roads were kind of wet, but it definitely didn't look bad, so I wasn't being super conscious of my driving... I was going north and started to slide on some ice, tried to correct it, but couldn't, kept spinning, realized a car was coming towards me in the other lane, and that I would probably hit her, so I honked, closed my eyes, kept spinning, and hit her. I hit the side of her car, kept spinning, then stopped in the middle of the road.  

Thoughts at that point, running through my head, "I am okay. Is the person who I hit okay? Did I hit her drivers door? Oh, I'm still in the middle of the road, and other cars are coming... will my car start?" 

My car started (albeit very funny sounds), so I pulled off to the side, and then got out to check on the other driver. Don't worry, she was not hurt, is a Christian, is wonderful (and even wants me to meet her 28 year old single son), and was great through the whole thing.  

The cops came.  I called my dad, he came. We emptied out my car, I got myself a few little tickets, our cars were both towed, and then at 12:15 I got home. 

-----------------------------

So... Goodbye Snowpuff. I have cried about how much I loved my little car. I just thought it was perfect for me, it was little, a standard, quirky and had great gas mileage. In Arkansas, it put up with me driving to Lincoln every day and driving to and from Colorado often. So, I miss it. And am just sad to see it go. 

But, the Lord is not surprised by my accident, and He is much bigger than car wrecks. There has been a lot of tough stuff going on in friends' lives lately, and I am continually reminded of the Lords' sovereignty, power, and LOVE. He does have good things for us, and sometimes does take us through tough things. Will we praise Him in the midst it?  I hope to... over and over again. I got to help with worship again this week and it was just a treat to praise the Lord with hundreds of other broken people. We are ALL desperately in need of the Lords grace for life and salvation, and He has given it to us! We can rejoice in that!  

oh... what a world we live in

Whoops. Got a little behind on posting (really, that's the story of me blogging since day one). 

Some thoughts on life and some accomplishments, in no particular order:

1. I LOVE my church. We are in the middle of a teaching series on worship and it continually is shifting my perspective of God. It's a treat. 

2. I don't have a job. And I am not going to India. I thought I was, but I'm not. It has been a good decision - I'm very glad that the decision is made. And I am excited about what's ahead...

3. What's ahead? You think I know? Nope, I don't. I just know that I love worship (leading worship, singing, writing, playing in the band, any of it) and want to pursue that. But since that doesn't pay at the moment (or maybe never will), I'm applying for more admin. jobs (woo-hoo!). 

4. This week I hiked the incline in Manitou Springs. It was a big accomplishment. I hope to make it a regular event. 

5. I'm reading a book called "The Art of Compassion" and it has some neat thoughts on art and how our art/music/ability to make $$ and give it away can help relieve some people living in poverty. 

6. I want to spend my money in a way that reflects what I care about. So, that means giving more, even when I don't have. and being smart so that my checkbook reflects that I care more about Christ and His work and His people than I do about clothes from target (man, that's a toughie). 

7. Other good book recommendations: Crazy Love by Francis Chan, and Soul Survivor by Mike Pilavachi. They have been part of encouragement that's gotten me through this waiting season. 

8. The LORD continues to put great people into my life that it is a treat to run next to. I am always meeting great people who love the Lord through worship. And friends continue to encourage me in HUGE ways. 

That's it. G'night.

good, great God

Well... I almost didn't get a chance to write in December, but for a few minutes I'm glad to take a breather and write what's going on. It has been a sweet, great, advent season. This month the Lord provided money for me in great ways: I got a check from the school I worked at in AR last year that I wasn't expecting at all. I also have been the fill in secretary for my parents church, and they generously pay. The Lord has provided for me in great ways - He is very worthy of our trust. 

Patience. Patience has also been a theme. The Jews waited 400 years for the coming of the Messiah - Christ - talk about patience! I have had trouble waiting 6 months for a job!!!!  So, this season I have found myself waiting for a lot of things: for the second coming of Jesus, (come Lord come!), for a job, for love, for an apartment, for things to be a little more clear. But in all of this waiting the Lord has taught me again about His love for me and that I am whole in Him - not in a job, or a boyfriend, or in a cute house, but that I am whole in the LORD alone. 

So, I am excited for a new year - excited to see what the Lord does and excited to continue to lean on Him and surrender to His ways (for the are best!).  And I have seen the Lord's blessing in so many ways: financially, with friends, with opportunities to lead worship, with working through good things with family, and with the hope that He will always walk with me. 

Snow way!

Snow. It hasn't stopped coming down all day. It shouldn't be a shocker - I did move back to Colorado which is known for white winters, but it's just snowing in my neighborhood!  And it's about a foot deep. And, if you remember I drive a toyota echo, affectionately called "snow puff." I mean, if I had a snow demon or a snow conqueror the roads would be no problem, but with the snow puff and dirt roads my attempt to get out of my driveway today failed. My car was lower to the ground than the snow was.  So... I missed church, missed having coffee with my sister and missed fun with friends in the springs and in Denver today because of it. Didn't realize those things were so important to me. Most of my thoughts toward snow are currently very grumpy thoughts, but as I've surrendered all of it to the Lord, it is a noticeable and stop-me-in-my-tracks reminder that I am not in control. I've had thoughts like, "This is it - I'm moving to the city this week." or "Which of my friends has a big vehicle that can get me out?" or "I've got to get a job... so that I can move... so that I can get where I want to go." Yeah, that's how it works! No. That the Lord does what He wants and that I am always and only dependent on Him. Not friends, not church, not coffee. Just the Lord. I must lean on the Lord. This is definitely not what I was expecting to learn or do today - He is always surprising.  So today... is Yours Lord, do what You want. 

what now?!?

Hi. It's Saturday afternoon and usually there is a plethora of great activities going on with my friends today - a hike, off-roading, movie watching, something... but today? Nothing. It is good because I applied for some new jobs and got some work done for my grandparents. But, I love being with people and doing crazy things and Saturday is usually one of the best days to do those things. My friends are beginning to mozy out of town for the holiday, which means... what do I do?????  It's been really great being a part of a community here and just feeling like I can run toward the Lord with people. Really great. So, what does this week hold? It'll be different from the rest for sure: Linds is here, huge party at the casa for Thanksgiving, no Bible Study, more free time. it's good; I want to pursue the Lord in the midst of it all.

Here's a low down on the job hunt: Banana Republic, had an interview, haven't heard back; ADF, didn't get the job; applications into a lot of new places (a new burst of enthusiasm): David C. Cook, Life Network, UCCS, Catholic Charities, International Justice Mission, and Youth For Christ... they're kind of all over the place and nothing that seems to suit me super well, but at least it's progress... and organizations that I would be excited to be a part of. Suggestions? People you know who could help? 

Fun moments lately: dressing up like a turkey for our Fakesgiving party, playing the accordion for friends, finishing up pottery class, talking about opening a shop called "the whimsical potato", running a 5k (this happens weekly in healthy downtown colorado springs - I've done it once), and hopefully singing in all 6 xmas eve services at my church (WOW). 

Happy almost Thanksgiving! 

baby, baby, baby

I love music. LOVE it.  I can't really explain why - something about how it calls us out of just life into something beyond. I don't know. But, here are some great musical experiences I've had lately:

- singing unashamedly on election day on the streets of DC with Devi - complete with motions, made up songs, high school musical, jack johnson and bing crosby covers. (Also, I got to carry the guitar on the metro which made me feel cool)

- leading worship for my bible study and then hearing the guys jam afterwards on my guitar, realizing that I am the worst guitar player there, and wowed that the Lord uses me 

- getting distracted from conversations because of good music. 

- new great worship cds. If you're in need of some things fresh, check out: new life worship's counting on God, and Hillsong's this is our God

- dancing. I need more dancing. 

God is good. He loves loves loves us, which is amazing. Satan is tricky. He wants pride or self-doubt or lies to sneak in and it's so easy to let him - which is why I am thankful for community because we were not meant to run this race alone.