Fire-station field trip to parking ticket

Last week for life group we toured the fire station. It was awesome! Way cooler than when I was a kid. The equipment is so intense. If I was a fireman, firewoman, fireperson, whatever the politically correct term is, I would surely break something. I don't know what it is about buttons. They always tempt me. And the fire-truck had a plethora of buttons! 

Coolest thing ever - the jackets have thumb holes! One of my favorite things in the world!!! I'm a simple girl. Simple pleasures.

After our run this weekend I diagnosed myself with peroneal tendinitis on my right foot. It hurt after my run last week. Thought it was my shoes. I was wrong. I'm going to the orthopedic institute tomorrow to confirm my internet researched self diagnosis. The remedy: a boot. I have a marathon next Saturday. I want to cry.

I went to my first opera Saturday night. Loved it! The lead tenor and soprano gave me goose-bumps. The soprano had the richest voice I've ever heard. Everything about her was grand. Her voice, her presence, her costumes, her attitude, her character. It was an amazing experience.

Today I met a couple of friends for lunch at Mamas Latas downtown. Delicious! Great food, great company, great conversation. And, when I left I had a parking ticket. What?! Talk about an instant killer. I can appeal and go to a hearing or pay the fine - $15. I want to appeal. I parked between two vehicles and the one in front of me was gigantore so I had to back up a little to leave space for it to leave eventually. No good deed goes unpunished. Bad form parking meter nazi! 

Live and love

The ultimate goal of an actor is to lose themselves in the moment. That is the greatest success. However, in today's world do we actually ever live in the moment? Do we really take the time to appreciate what we are given now? 

For example, today is the most beautiful day of the week. It's supposed to hit 50 this afternoon! Tomorrow it's supposed to be another Spring Blizzard. I'm finding that's what we focus on instead of soaking up the blessings we've been given today. I am totally guilty of what I will refer to as, chronic unsatisfaction. 

How tragic it is that we all to often miss out on the beauty before us because we're ultimately fixed on the future. 

It's sad that we're so quick to grow-up. Jesus says that we are to have faith like a child. I look at this photo of my cousins from Christmas and am reminded of the honesty of children. There is no in-between emotion for them. They fully embody joy, pain, hurt, laughter, tears, adventure. They're curious and seek the truth. They aren't scared of rejection. They don't worry about tomorrow. They do what they want, appropriate or not. They fully love. I want to experience childhood again. I'm sick of the rules and regulations we have created for ourselves. The lies the world tells us of who we ought to be, how we ought to act, and what success is. I successfully fail at what the world expects of me. We weren't created for this world anyways. We were wonderfully made for so much more than this! I want to break off the chains of expectation and recklessly love.    

With Easter around the corner my heart is overwhelmed with how recklessly God loves a fool like me to send his only son to die for me. I am called to love Him and my neighbor with my whole heart, which I fail at every day. I choose myself over others all to often. Lord help me to forget about me. I'm not as important as I think I am. 

There is a video on youtube that brings me to tears every time I watch it. It's a father completing an iron man while he is pushing, pulling, carrying his son who has cerebral palsy. It's a reminder to me of the love a father has for his child. To think that God loves us even more moves me to share that love with others.

This weekend may not bring what we want. Shame on us for being so selfish. Take the time today to breath deeply, listen to the robins sing, and walk a little slower so you can enjoy the warmth of the sunshine and the kiss of a warm breeze. God took the time to create it for YOU! For once, live in the moment and be satisfied.

Live for today, yesterday is gone, and tomorrow may never come.

I'm so jealous of her outfit right now. It looks warm and I am oh so cold right now. Haven't taken off my jacket since I got to the office. Her ensemble appears to be warmer than mine; therefore, the trade. I wish I could I dream of jeannie head bob my way to Southern California right now. I dream of wearing sun dresses, reading a book underneath the shade of a tree, running/biking on the trails, playing in the park, grilling out, picnics, volleyball, swimming, iced coffee and ice cream, mowing my parents lawn... These are a few of my favorite things! 

Until it warms up I will sit at my desk. Coated. 

Don't be that guy or girl

One of my favorite parts of the day is knowing that it's almost time to go home. Especially when I go to work after work. Last night was a work after work night since I closed at the mall. When 9:00 comes I'm ready to close the doors and prepare to go home. However, this hope is quickly ruined when a customer walks in at 8:59. 

This is one of my biggest pet peeves. It instantly puts me in a scrooge mood. I think it's so rude! I have to bite my tongue and control my temper, but I really want to ask them to leave and come back during store hours. The customer was very sweet, but that doesn't overrule this rude act. To speed things along I asked if there was anything she was looking for or anything that I could help her find. Of course not. She's just browsing. I believe she said, "I'm just going to try on a few things and then be out of here. We all need to get home." At this point I have been working for twelve hours. Selfishly, I want to go home now and she ruined it for me. I'm generally an upbeat and positive person. I had to play nice at this point. 

I realize that in the general scheme of things this is not a big deal at all. But, it's still rude. Moral of the story, don't go into a place of business when they are about to close just to browse. If you have ever worked in retail you understand where I am coming from. Please be respectful of other people's time.

Seeking the Son

From the time I left the womb I have been extremely independent. I don't see it as a bad thing. However, with independence comes pride. Kind of the tragic flaw of it all. This weekend God reminded me that it's okay to be dependent. 

My friend, Alyssa and I went for a relaxing run on Saturday. It was the first t-shirt weather day in March. Summer is almost here friends! Anyways, I'm a visual person and God speaks to me a lot through visual metaphors. Alyssa was moving some plants from the cool darkness of the shade on her steps to the warm light of the sun. One of the plants was physically leaning away from the house and into the sun. It was growing this way. The plant knows that it needs the sun and seeks it out. Like a child, the plant isn't worried about what will happen tomorrow. It finds what it needs day to day. 

Seeing this plant reminded me that God takes care of the lilies and the sparrows. He surely will take care of His children even more. Why spend time and energy worrying about what may never come? I know that I, and I'm sure others, need to learn how to live in the moment a little more. To forget all other distractions and seek out God's light. To find comfort that the darkness will not last and that we have friends who will guide us back to God's light and warmth and love. To loose our pride and be obedient and learn to depend on others, especially God. Let Him be your source of strength. See His light through the darkness that tries to hide it.

This weekend's sermon was about realizing how much God loves us. We've all made mistakes and often times there are people who remind us of what we've done. The good news is that God loves us way beyond our sins. He doesn't criticize us. We do that to ourselves. Never feeling like we're worthy enough. Jesus covers our sins and God loves us beyond and through them. There is nothing we can say or do to make God love us any more or any less. I pray that you find comfort in that and like a plant seek the son.

Quick catch up

Brandon Heath 

Favorite worship moment of the night

Kristie and I

It's beautiful outside today! I love sunny weather. I still stand by the statement that I was supposed to be born in California. Not sure why my ancestors decided to stop midway. Keep going clan! It gets even better! 

Last Friday I went to a Third Day/Brandon Heath concert in Spencer, IA with Kristie and Bobbi. We were all starving when we drove into town and wanted to find a cute local place to eat. Almost ate at a MSG filled, bars on the window, chinese restaurant. I think the building had rabies. Thankfully we ended up at a super cute Mexican place in downtown. The food was delicious and so was the conversation. 

The concert ROCKED! An Australian band, Revive, opened the show for everyone. I could listen to them speak all day. Love accents, unfortunately don't have one. Next to hit the stage was my favorite musician, Brandon Heath! I love, Love, LOVE his music! He's super talented! I got to meet him after the concert and was smitten. Love him even more after talking to him. Third Day, of course, rocked the house. It was a night full of fellowship, fun and worship! Check out the pics above to see just how exquisite the evening was :)

We had a super foggy drive home, which seemed like a death wish but we made it. PTL! Through the fog came the clarity that Bobbi and I are related. Crazy, huh?! Her aunt married my great-uncle. Such a small world. 

This weekend I have the St. Patty's Day five miler on Saturday and then I'm peacing out of here to go and help my parents with their Spring bull sale on Sunday. I haven't been home since Christmas. It's going to be a great break and I look forward to the home cooking ;) Always a bonus for going home, right? 

You Bring Me Joy

In the last chapter of Donald Miller's book Blue Like Jazz, there is a man who loves Jesus so much that when asked about his relationship with Christ the man simply begins to weep. I truly believe that actions speak louder than words. This is a beautiful example of that. 

For the season of Lent some of the members of my church, The Crossing, are doing a Daniel Fast. (See Daniel 1 for an example of the fast. I actually encourage reading the whole book. It's one of the many testaments of God's faithfulness.) With this we are eating fruits, vegetables and drinking only water. I've had a lot of people call this a diet. It's not a diet. A fast is denying the flesh in order to grow deeper in devotion to Christ. Fasting is one area of my spiritual life that I've been horrible at. I seem to find reasons as to why I can't do it at this moment, but I felt God calling me to do this fast, which we are calling The Return. Inspired by the verse Joel 2:12.

This has been difficult, but oh so rewarding. I didn't realize how captive I had become to this world and the things, just things, it has to offer. I feel free from that now. I have a couple of specifics that I am praying for during the fast. God has continually blessed me through this. It's incredible how much my relationship and desire for Christ has grown in just over a week. I feel like I could simply cry when thinking about how much I love HIM! I'm really excited for what the rest of this season brings. I think it will be an incredible time of unity for The Crossing. We are going to be meeting as a group every Saturday at the Firehouse Underground from 7-9 for prayer and worship. God is going to move in big ways! He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.

Tonight, I'm going with a friend from work, Kristie, and her friend, Bobbi, to a Brandon Heath/Third Day concert. I am undeniably excited to see Brandon Heath, who I jokingly call my boyfriend :) However, what I'm really looking forward to is that it's going to be more than a concert. It's going to be a worship service, which makes my heart leap with joy! I want to praise the Lord for who He is and all He has done and continues to do. It's going to be exquisite :)