Today was a good day!

Today was a good day! Things are getting better, and this week is really looking up! I leave tomorrow for our Junior High retreat, and am starting to really look forward to it!

I know this sounds funny, but I want to share some of the highlights of my day. As you well know now, I am trying to get healthier. My heart wasn't doing so well, so I decided that it was time for a change. I used my trip to Europe as my encouragement. In the month and a half since I started exercising, I went from pushing through a 20 minute workout, to now finding an hour to be easy. Not only that, today I tried running, and easily ran a mile. I couldn't even tell you the last time I ran a mile. Maybe I did it when I was living in Texas, but I know for sure that I haven't since. But more importantly, I'm feeling good, and making good decisions!

On top of that, I decided to change my attitude on Tuesday. Things are really looking up since doing so. God has definitely got me in His care, and it is the best place to be.

Did you know that today was "Pay it forward" day? One of my students and I did an experiment, and it was SUCH a neat experience! We went to our local Starbucks for coffee. We chose this Starbucks, because it is close to our church, and I know that a mix of people go there. Business men and women, mom's doing their grocery shopping, students walking home from school, people stopping to get gas, just about every walk of life. We bought a gift card, and told the barista to "pay it forward" using the gift card to buy the next few people their drinks for the day. We told her we wanted it to be anonymous, which made it really fun to watch the reactions. We sat and talked and watched people come in and out for their free drinks, surprised that it was taken care of. It was so neat! I think I want to do this again sometime! It was also really fun to see the barista's reaction when we asked her to do this experiment. It seemed to change the mood of everyone in that place, including ours. It was really fun!

I also celebrated my one year "friend-iversary" with one of my students. What an image of grace! A year ago we met, because her mom wanted me to counsel her. She had recently been arrested for shop lifting, and was getting herself in a lot of trouble. It has been so much fun to be a part of her life this year! She has grown and changed so much, and I am so incredibly proud of her! What a difference a year can make!

And to top the day off, after years of the Mavericks taking the Spurs out in the playoffs, the Spurs finally took down the Mavericks! GO SPURS GO!!!

So all in all, it's a good day!

If you've been following me on Twitter lately, I still need prayer. But things are looking up! There is hope for the future!

old blog

So, when I decided to blog again, I thought I would use my old blog and continue on. Unfortunately, I couldn't sign on. Well, today, I was trying to sign on to this blog, and managed to finally sign on to my old blog instead! Whoops! Kind of neat to take a trip to the past!

Grace and lines

How to you give grace to someone, when you have to call them out on breaking rules? I'm a person that used to see everything as black and white. Lately, it is all grey. But when it comes around to it, I want to see it for black and white. Instead, I see how I believe God wants us to live, but also the area of grace. How do we encourage others to accept grace, but not to abuse it. And if they believe they are right, how do you explain that they are making bad decisions, without telling them they are wrong? And where does grace fall in this?

Also, just because God gives grace, does that mean I should allow something to go on? Or do I call a stop to it, even if it hurts me and it hurts the person.

I am so incredibly confused right now.

Please pray for me. Pray for clarification. Pray for understanding of grace. And pray for a situation that I have to deal with.

I thought youth ministry was supposed to get easier as I learned what I was doing...I feel like I'm starting all over!

Dissappointment

Ever feel like you pour so much of yourself into one person, only to see it go out the window? The problem is, this happens over and over again. Sometimes I wonder why I even try. And what is the truth. I know what I believe and why, but sometimes even I question it. I just wish the world were black and white. I wish I had the answers. and even if I did, I wish people would listen.

Now, how do we handle that next step?

Here I go!

Here I go...

I’ve been warming up and working out for the last month, getting ready for this trip! It’s finally here! My clothes came just in time! I leave in 4 hours and 23 minutes!

I just found out that my cell phone won’t work. Completely away from my world, traveling in a new world! Crazy! I’m excited and nervous all at the same time!

This is going to be a different kind of adventure!

Away completely, and already excited to get back, see my youth group, see my friends, see my family, and see the babies!

But for now, I’m going to get lost in being away…

I’ve never completely been away from a phone since 2005!

Inspiration

Today, I started thinking about the many people I know who have lost a bunch of weight this year, but more importantly, gotten much healthier. I've decided to write them down here, so that I can remember their inspiration, that if they can do it, I can do it. These are normal people, and actually (almost) all friends of mine.

Emily S.

Jason M.

Donald Miller (so I don't personally know him, but I have seen him before and after within a year)

Robin B. (I haven't seen her, but I've been following her results on facebook, and she is a friend from high school)

I'm sure I can think of more, but especially Emily and Jason have been quite an inspiration to me this year. Maybe I can be just a little bit like them. Healthy. Thats all I want. Heart health.

WAHOO!!!

Not to sound all "Bridget Jones' Diary" on you, but I just weighed myself, and I lost 5 lbs! AWESOME!!! I'm feeling good!

Now, lets just see if that stays off while I'm in Europe! We'll see! But if I can at least keep some of it off, I'll be on my way to getting in...well,...better shape for Jen's wedding!

On another note, I'm very blessed to have found such great friends in Hillsboro! I have two friends who love "FRIENDS" as much as I do. We meet up every 4th Tuesday for dinner. We call ourselves the "Fourth Tuesday Friends of FRIENDS." These girls are so much fun, and although we are not together tonight, and we missed last week, I am still very blessed to have them in my life, and I love the time we spend together!

I've been spending a few weeks, or months, of reflection and thinking about how I've now been here longer than any other church, how is my life different. I'm still not in a small group, which is killing me, but I am realizing that I have some great friends, and a great bunch of youth workers that I work with in the Presbytery. Life is good! It's not perfect, but it is sure good!

Spending the evening with one of my best friends, and tomorrow with my best friend who just came from Idaho. A great week, to lead off to a great vacation!