hello blog world

it's been so chaotic lately. next sunday is my first youth sunday where i was 'in charge' of everything. i'm pretty pumped.
just been super busy w/ work and such. still trying to find my groove in the recreation role.
it's not even the end of january and i have 3 weddings. i guess it's that time in my life.
one of my youth has gotten me hooked on harry potter....i'm almost through w/ the first book and i cannot wait to read the second.
ahhh such a relaxing addiction.

stewardship

so today as i was coming back to the church from lunch there was a family that was offering to rake our leaves for some money. susan, of course informed them that our custodian, david, does these tasks. as i was turning the key to get inside she said 'excuse me ma'am'....to which i replied, 'yes'. do you guys have any food inside to feed a family of 4. we have our children in the car.
i had to tell them
no, ma'am not at this church. then i directed her to some local neighborhood centers, churches and soup kitchens that would be able to provide food, clothing and groceries for them.
she told me they were low on gas.
i simply apologized and told them i hoped that some of the organizations could help them because we simply could not.

oh how situations like these make my heart ache

patience & love

so today was proly the most stressful day i've had in awhile. i laugh at this b/c w/ the line of work i am in i take everyday as a blessing and use it as a chance to better myself as a person. i am constantly learning patience.
so today after a nice long talk w/ my best friend she shared some good scripture from 1 john and i turned to my own...
i remind myself of this regularly
the section reads
'marks of a true christian'
-let love be genuine. abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.
love one another with brotherly affection, outdo one another in showing honor.
do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be conceited. repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord" To the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by doing so you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil but over come evil with good.-

sometimes i feel like i am failing my youth. i try my very best to teach them and to be a living example, but life is so hard for them right now. i can't imagine being a teenager in the current times esp one without a sturdy home life.
i pray everyday that i may be the best living example, that i may reach them, influence them for the better, that i can make a difference in their lives.
i pray that they learn to take the high road and that everyone one day will follow the guideline of trying to outdo one another in kindness and good deeds.
i would like to touch lives in a way where evil and anger are replaced with love, understanding, hospitality, patience and love.
my heart hurts for those who are suffering.
may Christ let his love pour out of me onto those in need and i pray he use me as an example of love.

fallllllllllllllllllllllll

sally and jared got married. it was epic.

my students decorated pumpkins...they're pretty awesome


adam continues to be amazing.

life is good. life is busy.
thank God for everything.

brettell/gomez wedding

this week i leave for destin for the brettell/gomez wedding. i'm pretty excited.
next week is the salad wedding...which i am also super excited about.

i have something insanely epic planned for youth tonight. it's going to be a fundraiser/activity.
we're decorating pumpkins.....and going to have people vote on the pumpkins by dropping pennies, dimes, dollars in jars...i will give mad props to kimberly from pdo for that one.

i love my job, just thought i would throw that out there.
brad's been worried lately about me stretching myself too far...so there have been few office hours this week. which i'm not a fan of, but oh well. more time to bake & blog.

i'm afraid wesley is falling apart. i also realize that with the few of us that are left, we alone cannot save it. sigh. thank God for what we have and pray for the future.
keep chris in your prayers. this is going to be a long battle.
'his faithful follower i will be'

blessings

this is the sweet and wonderful adam, my boyfriend.
it still tickles me to call him that. i prayed about it for a long time, and i just couldn't imagine what it would be like when we became official. i started to try and get to know adam back in august 2007. it took us awhile to get to know one another before deciding that we wanted to get into a relationship, which is fine by me. all great things take time after all.
i went over to his house saturday to have some of his dad's home made pizza, which was AMAZING! adam and i hung out with his dad (jack) and brother (scott).
I fell asleep for a good bit as did scott.
After i woke up adam and i talked for a bit. he brought some things to the table that will better/strengthen our relationship, which just over joys my heart.
he continues to surprise and awe me.
i knew he was someone special when i met him and now he just continues to prove to me what a great person he is. He doesn't like it when I talk so highly of him. then again was it not mark twain that said something about if you do what is right and what you should be doing you will shock people.
as i work on things and as he works on things i think we're both in the boat of self improvement. it can only help our relationship.
i am blessed.

appreciation

i'm currently watching the movie fireproof
it's talking about love. true love. the love that endures all (bad and hard times included), the self-less love, the patient love.
the love that's slow to speak and quick to listen.
i appreciate this movie.
i strongly believe that if God is not at the center of all things (work, life, friendships in this case marriage) then things will not go right/well
the Bible speaks many words about love. true love and i believe that if more people loved like God has commanded us to love (one another...in a worldly sense not just a marriage sense) there would be fewer complications.
not that would be easier....maybe so, but def. more rewarding.

let me just also throw up a praise, because God is oh so good.
adam called me up to come over for dinner with him and jack.
i get there and jack is cooking some peas & mushrooms, boiling some shrimp and adam is grilling tuna steak. (yum...right)
then jack set up some places for us to eat....there was room for 4. jack, adam, SCOTT and myself!
woo to the hoo.
scott's home!!! which thrills me to no end.