Killing Bugs... Jack Bauer Style!

Thursday night was HIGHLY eventful...

1) I got a text from Emily that said she wanted to go to Cracker Barrel for dinner -- because we all needed to spend some quality time together. :) Arielle stayed home because she was sick, but Heather, Emily and I went out to eat. When we left the restaurant... Heather had a flat tire. I mean FLAT, as in, all the way to the ground. So, we rolled up our sleeves, put on our "I-can-do-anything" sort of attitude and got out the jack and wrench-thing to put on the spare tire. Yeah, that lasted all of 3 minutes until a kind fellow came out and saw us in our plight and decided to help. He just walked right up and started cranking away - didn't even ask if we needed help! That sort of thing only happens in Texas... It was probably for the best anyways. There's no saying what would have happened if we actually tried to drive on the spare tire that we put on... Thank you, Lord!

2) Then when we got home it was HOT. Our AC is broken again and it was hotter in our bedroom than it was outside. And it was about 80 degrees outside. Lord, have mercy! We have fans blowing every which way to just keep some air circulation. But now it sounds like we live in a wind tunnel because the fans are very LOUD. And we don't dare open the windows -- who knows what kind of creature could climb in and find refuge in our room while we sleep!!! horrifying thought.

...it only gets better from here...

3) So as we were contemplating how we woulc ever sleep in those conditions, a massive bug just hopped right into our room! It was a camel cricket, as Heather explained. It's not easy to just kill bugs that are that big... they're too juicy. :) Anyway, he hopped in and went right under Heather's bed! I grabbed the flashlight, "I've got a visual!" I yelled to the other two. He was too fast. We lost him. Within minutes a SECOND critter walked right into our room... a SCORPION. I grabbed my flip flop as the nearest weapon, but my shoulder spazzed out because I was so nervous so I ended up just throwing the shoe which didn't do any good at all. Thankfully, Emily recovered for me and whacked the nasty little thing about 27 times until he was good and dead. Then Heather scooped him up and we went to flush him -- I had to watch her back in case any others came up behind her to attack. It's this weird peeve thing she has.

The camel cricket was still at large, so there was NO way that we would go to sleep... BUT, it didn't take long for him to show up... on Heather's pillow! Heather and Em created this elaborate plan and it sounded JUST like something out of 24... "We need to blockade the edge of the bed so we can't get out." "Move, move, move!" I just tried to do what I was told. And not pee my pants! It was so exciting. And incredibly frightening. Up at the top are the mug shots of the two bugs that tried to invade, good thing we got to them in time. :)

Basking.

This train of thought it very interesting... I hope you can follow it; it really makes perfect sense to me. :)

I've been very much "lost in thought" recently. I have chosen to simply sit and THINK on multiple occasions this week. Sometimes it drives me crazy because I feel like I just "think" myself around in circles, but it just seems necessary right now.

I went to the Global Expeditions commissioning night last night. It's the BIG night on campus where we cast vision and prepare to send the missionaries all over the world starting in just a few hours from when I wrote this. It is a very special time of worship, prayer, unity and vision. I am not going on a trip for another few weeks, but I went to observe and pray over those who are being sent out.

After walking amongst the teams, I found a bench and sat down. I pulled my knees up to my chest and turned my eyes toward the dark, night sky to stare at the stars. I thought about some times. I prayed about some things. I sang along with the worship songs that the band played. I argued with some of the things that I had thought about. I poured my heart out to God. I cried only a little bit. Basically - a lot of vulnerability was happening. Nobody else was sitting with me - but sometimes it takes a lot of courage to even be real with yourSELF.

I've been learning about prayer for a long time and asking the Lord to give me a heart for prayer like I have never known before; I want to grow in deeper intimacy with the Lord and cultivate a desire to dwell in His presence. So after this awesome night of commissioning the missionaries and sitting on my bench under the stars and THINKING so dang much, I thought of the word "BASK."

It reminds me of a painting that I made during the Spring Fasting LTE my intern year. The painting is of a setting sun... or maybe a rising sun... I haven't officially decided yet. In the peachy colors of teh sun I wrote the phrase, "Bask in His Glory." In the blue of the sky above the sun are the words, "Find comfort in His peace." BASK. Just to be. To dwell.

I do not understand why my mind has been so inundated with thoughts of everything from family to relationships to the future to the present to work and emotions and priorities... and as frustrating as it may be Lord, just let me bask. Synonyms of bask: streth out, relax. To relax is to unwind, calm down, LET GO, and rest. Jesus - I want to bask in your presense. Help me to find my peace in who YOU are, and not in anything that my heart may wander after. Keep my attentions fixed solely on you and your purposes.

Ignorance is Bliss

So last August I bought a 2004 Nissan Sentra. I had saved and waited and searched and sought advice and eventually decided to make the big purchase. It may sound silly, but I learned an awful lot just going through that process of buying a car. It was a large purchase - which is rough on the bank account when you work for free at a ministry. My only income was my $150 monthly food allotment check! Well, I found a good deal and decided to snatch it!

Here's a shot of my quirky little car on the day I bought it... Broken doors, crazy "service engine soon" light, only starts on the third try, and covered in red Texan dirt... but I love it!

Being a native Oregonian, and a sheltered driver - my Dad always helped take care of my cars when I was in High School, I was very confused when I got pulled over on Saturday because my tags were expired. I thought I took care of that back in March or February or something like that?? Come to find out - don't laugh at me - all I did was renew my registration, which has NOTHING to do with my car's inspection. The inspection expired in MARCH. Whew. I plead my ignorance and explained that I'm not from here (well, that's obvious!) and I'm actually moving in a couple of months and I really don't know what I'm doing... "please have pity on me, kind sir!" Okay, so I didn't say all of that - but I hoped that he caught the drift anyway. Thankfully, he understood that I wasn't rebellious, I just don't know what I'm doing, so he gave me 14 days to get it inspected and send proof to the county courthouse.

That's only the second time I've ever been pulled over after driving for 6 and a half years! My brother has been driving for four years and has been pulled over about 50x more than I have. :) Remind me to check the registration/car inspection protocol when I move to Idaho... I could find myself in another sticky situation of ignorance.

A Blog About Blogging... My Work in Progress

This is a picture of me.

Not the most flattering... but blogs are supposed to be REAL, right?! (Just please disregard the yellow tint... must be the lighting in here. And the fact that I used my old school flip phone as a camera.)

This picture is significant for two reasons:

1) I am wearing a hoodie and sweats because the air conditioning was finally fixed in my bedroom and it's cold and I LOVE IT!

2) This is me learning about blogging. :) I just thought I'd capture the moment.

In the past weeks and months I have discovered that writing is not only something that I do well with in school; I really, REALLY love to write! I have become so passionate about writing and journaling and blogging and reading other people's writing. I'm a little bit hesitant to say, "I'm going to be a writer and live happily ever after entertaining people with my wit and wisdom." That just doesn't seem practical. But, if we're going to be real here, I think it just might be a dream of mine. We'll see what becomes of it.

And with that... Can you offer any advice?! How can I enhance my blog? How do I get people to read this? Really, I'll accept any kind of advice at all; I'm just a young whipper snapper. Also - How in the WORLD do you fold fitted sheets?! I've been taught about 23 times throughout my life, but I can never seem to get it just right. Maybe it's one of those skills that are only acquired after you get married. See! I need as much help as I can get!

Reasons Why I'm NOT Excited to Move...

1. Heather, Emily & I will be in three different time zones. That's just... wow... I don't really want to think about that right now.

2. Chris and Sarah Lay - steady mentors/friends since I was an intern

3. Sam & Lisa Hasz (and kids!) - I have been incredibly blessed by their love & support. I feel apart of the family. Thank you!

4. I've grown to be comfortable in Texas. I didn't necessarily expect that to happen. But after 3 years of living here, I finally know my way around. :)

5. Leaving the protection of Teen Mania - housing/food/job all provided

6. Leaving the environment of Teen Mania Ministries

7. Choices - Yes, I'm fully aware that this was ALSO a reason why I AM excited to move... but I'm still in the beginning stages of learning how to go through that sometimes-sticky decision making process. And most times it's just downright hard. Most times I just wish that somebody else would tell me which car to buy or which job to apply for or how many hours I should work or when it's okay to choose sleep over studying. You know... all of those things that my mom used to help with. But now I'm 21. Have I mentioned how strange that is, being 21?!

8. Will I have climate-shock when I experience the many months of COLD in Boise?! I think that's a legitimate concern!

9. What if I don't make friends?! Just kidding. I know that I WILL make friends... but there will surely be that awkward first few months when I'm still in the process of actually building up friendships in a new place where I know all of ONE family. It will just take time.

10. I will miss my wonderful interns and awesome GI's in ATF Ops. I'll even miss ATF Ops, the department. I'm sure there will be many times next year when I wish I could just come back and HELP when it gets busy. I'll want to have my little office in the corner so that those stressed out GI's can come sit and cry and I'll want to make them coffee and feed them starburst candies and take them out to lunch and remind them to depend on the Lord's faithfulness because He is still in control... even through our many failures. Gosh, I love those moments.

Reasons Why I'm Excited to Move...

1. Internet Access

2. Coffee Shops GALORE

3. Jamie York. My dear friend.

4. Mountains

5. I'll feel like a real college student. Sometimes I feel like I should still be in High School. But I'm 21 years old... I should be passed that phase. Is this normal?

6. I'll be far, far away from the blistering heat and swampy humidity that burns my face and keeps my lungs from working properly. It's rough down here in Texas.

7. Choices. Where I live... where I work...how I spend my time. Just another step toward adulthood. Not always fun or easy, but a part of growing up none the less.

8. A MUCH shorter drive to see my family. (i.e. my first Thanksgiving at home in 3 years!!!)

9. Settle into one place and not have to think about what I'm going to do "next year" - just live in the here and now.

10. Community - become involved in a church and meet people and live life together

*** Disclaimer: For those of you who don't know, if anybody even reads this lovely little blog, I officially decided to move to Idaho and go to school at Boise State. I am VERY much looking forward to this next phase of life... but in a day or two I'll probably make a post of all the reasons why I am NOT excited to move. It goes both ways, I guess. ;-)

Sunday Naps.

I took a nap Sunday afternoon. It was wonderful. Sometimes naps are just the right sized mini vacation to relax your bones and your brain to feel refreshed. That's the good side of naps. There can be a bad side to them, though... They don't always end in the same state of "bliss." Have you ever taken one of those healthy/supposedly energizing 15-minute naps? They mostly just make me cranky that I was only able to lie down for 15 minutes. It never seems long enough! (It's likely that I will recant that statement when I become a mother... but for now, it stands.) Besides, it probably would take me the first 10 minutes just to quiet my mind and actually fall asleep!

But no, this nap was luxurious. I got home from church after running to the bank, car wash, and grocery store and I made myself a tasty little lunch. I picked up a book that I borrowed from my mom and as I read and ate I could feel the sleepiness settling in. It's almost as if you have to go through a checklist before you allow yourself to nap. You know what I mean... "If there anything else I should be doing right now? No... and I don't have to be anywhere for three WHOLE hours? That's awesome. Okay... FREE TO SLEEP!" Ahh. I felt so relaxed. I set the book down and curled up on the little couch in my room with no air conditioning and closed my eyes. I just love those slow-paced Summer Sunday afternoons. Glorious.

Encouragement for today... go... go take a nap. :)