Adventures of a Small Town Girl

Story of My Life: Bumps in the Road

2011-03-11T13:10:00.000-08:00

Ok, here goes nothing. Remember the story of my life that I was telling you? (If not, feel free to catch up. I shared about my roots, my salvation, and an answered prayer.) I stopped telling the story in exactly the same place that I always stop telling it. Because I already shared the pretty parts. The parts that make me look good, that make faith look good. Faith is good. But it's not easy. There are messy parts, for those of us who are human. For some reason (ahem, pride) we like to paint a pretty picture of faith, and we excuse this by saying to ourselves that if we share the ugly parts, that people might be less attracted to Jesus. That is a ridiculous excuse, because A) Jesus is perfect, and B) people love stories that make them feel less alone in their own messes! We just don't like to tell them. Because of pride.

So, after that long winded intro, here comes the rest of the story. For a few years after I began my walk with Christ, things went smoothly. Storms and trials came and went, but I clung to Jesus during those times and my faith grew stronger. I went to college, and joined Campus Crusade, was always in at least two bible studies, and was pretty much doing everything a good Christian should.

I'm not sure when things started to fall apart. I had a few negative experiences with some people in my life who happened to be Christians. I won't share the details, for the sake of the people involved. Looking back, they were just some bad choices made by some flawed human beings. But somehow I allowed that to draw me away from my faith. I decided that all Christians were closed-minded and judgmental, and that I didn't want to be associated with them. I decided to try faith on my own. What a tragic decision.

I continued to go to church on Sundays, and I'm sure a lot of people didn't even notice anything had changed. Some people in my life may even be reading this right now, wondering what in the world I'm talking about. Most of the change just happened in my heart. I stopped going to bible study, or trying to have fellowship with other believers in any way. I spent the majority of my time with nonbelievers (most of whom I'm still friends with, so if you're reading this, I love you and you are still important in my life.) The problem with that is that no one was encouraging me in my faith journey, no one was keeping me accountable to my walk with God. My sister, who might have been that person, happened to get married around that time, and then moved to New York. I love and cherish my non-Christian friends, many of them have been in my life since childhood. However, it is essential for me (and every Christian, I believe) to walk through life with other believers who help them through the difficult journey of faith.

It didn't take long before my life reflected my change of heart. I became the typical college student, studying and working during the week, and partying on weekends. I made excuses about this behavior to myself. I put on my church persona, with certain people and in certain circumstances, as easily as some put on their church clothes. I was deceitful. I've always been the "good girl," even when I wasn't. In my family, among my friends, in school, at work. Some part of me was trying to uphold that image, while the other half of me was rebelling against it with every fiber of my being. A difficult balance, to say the least.

That went on for a couple of years. I became desperately heartsick for my Jesus, but I didn't know how to get back to Him. I started reading the bible again, and attempting closeness with Him. I tried to make rules and regulations for myself around drinking and going out, because I still spent all my time with people who lived that lifestyle. The rules did not hold up. I still felt unsatisfied and disconnected. I felt it was important to get away. Far away. I wanted to seek the Lord alone, with no distractions, somewhere I could start fresh. So I moved to Portland.

Things went well in Portland. The distance was good. Seminary school certainly helped. Plus church, bible study, and Christian friends. All good things. Things I needed. And I grew a lot. I fell back in love with my Savior. But sadly, something was still missing.

I'm going to leave you there, and finish the story soon, but let me assure you, there is a happy ending. I found what was missing. Stay tuned.

*If you're just tuning in, you don't have to wait! The next part of the story is here.

Hello Again

2011-03-10T10:34:00.000-08:00

Well it's been awhile, hasn't it? I decided to live in the real world for awhile. And it's been grand. God has done great things in my life. I will share about the biggest things He's done in the next post.

In addition to those things, I have moved out to Salinas, I'm living in a great house with a sweet roomie and our 4 (!) doggies. I have a church family now, and words cannot express how great a blessing that is. I am on a leadership team for a group at our church that ministers to people in their 20's. I have sweet friends who support me and help me when needed, and vice versa. I am happy.

In terms of blogging, I have been preparing for something that God has put on my heart, which I will also share in the next post. But for now, and probably for good, Adventures of a Small Town Girl will go back to what it originally was - a space to share my thoughts, feelings, updates and adventures with the people who care to hear them. I'm not going to focus my energies on social networking and gathering followers and all the stuff that gets distracting and overwhelming. Because my blogging energies will be focused elsewhere. But I still love my little blog home in this little corner of cyberspace. And I know there are some people who still care to hear what's going on in my life. :) So the adventure continues. Just... differently.

Thank you to those who have been here with me through the whole journey (Mom) and to those who have joined in along the way. As I write this it sounds like goodbye, but it isn't. It's just a bit of change. Maybe one of the reasons that I hate change so much is that it feels like something is ending, as we venture into the new... the unknown. Anyway, feel free to stick around, my blog is not going anywhere. But if you aren't that interested in my little life, that's ok too.

See you all soon.

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A Relevant Story

2010-10-26T18:06:00.000-07:00

Finding the words to describe my experience at the Relevant conference will not be easy. But the first step, as always, is putting pen to paper (or in my case, fingers to keyboard) and just diving in.

Before I left for Relevant, I had completely lost my motivation for blogging. My most recent posts chronicled my Haiti trip, simply because I felt I owed it to those who had participated in the giveaways and raffles that I posted in order to raise money for the trip. I didn’t want to leave anyone wondering if I was a complete liar who hadn’t gone there at all, or whether I had just set up shop in Port Au Prince and not returned. In all reality, though, I don’t think anyone was waiting with bated breath for those posts, because I had so completely slipped off the radar of the blogosphere. And in all reality, it’s a completely self-involved notion to imagine that anyone is waiting with bated breath to hear what I have to say.

I had become exhausted by all the tweeting, facebooking, reading, writing, commenting, e-mailing… and all other tasks involved with trying to be a "successful" blogger. The number of blog subscriptions pouring into my inbox became overwhelming, and I felt that I was responsible to read them all. At some point I basically just gave up on all of it and let myself become nearly invisible in cyberland.

So, the date was approaching… the conference that I had been so excited to attend when I bought the ticket. Back in the days when blogging was a joy and not a chore, and the idea of networking and fellowshipping with other Christian women bloggers left me with a feeling of exhilaration and anticipation, as opposed to an onslaught of social anxiety. But I knew that God wanted me there, so I obeyed. And oh, how He blessed me for my obedience.

I must admit, the social anxiety piece did not fade when I arrived at the conference. I was surrounded by beautiful, sweet, down to earth, and exceptionally real women, some of whose hearts and voices I’ve known for months from reading their blogs. I still felt overwhelmed. For those of you who met me and thought I seemed guarded, stand-offish, or, on some occasions, comatose, please excuse my bizarre behavior. Behind my glazed eyes and plastered smile was just a socially phobic introvert who was overwhelmed with it all, but bursting to yell out, “You are all so amazing! Can we be best friends?” And to those I genuinely got to know, thank you for sticking it out with me.

It turns out, though, that social networking was not the reason God had me at the conference. His purpose in bringing me there was not that I meet and mingle with other women. He wanted me there to meet with Him. I hope there is another Relevant conference next year, and that by that time I’ll be less overwhelmed with everything so that I can get to know many of the sweet women better. But I will be eternally blessed by the way God spoke to my heart at this year’s conference.

It was surprising, at a blogging conference, to hear the message of making your blog less of a priority. But this was the underlying, or in some cases overriding message, of every speaker at Relevant. They encouraged their captive audience that their relationship with the Lord should be first priority, and for those who had them (which I’m pretty sure was everyone at the conference but me) their husbands and children should be second. If, and only if, there was extra time and energy beyond those two priorities, blogging could find its place.

I do not, as you know from reading my blog or at least the last paragraph, have a husband or children. But God, through the obedient vessels that were the speakers at the Relevant conference, drove the point home that He should always be my priority, and He rarely is. In the past, blogging was an excuse, or in more serious terms, an idol. But as my excitement for it faded, other things took its place (general distractions of this life.) No matter what though, I always seem to find something to put before Him.

In sum, what I learned at my first blogging conference had nothing to do with blogging at all. I need to return my heart to my Lord, and make Him my very first priority in all things.

Additionally, I learned a ton about blogging intentionally and authentically, and over the next few months I hope to figure out how to integrate all that information and wisdom into my own blogging. On top of that, I was released from the insane pressure I was putting on myself to keep up with everyone and everything in the social networking world. I would love to pass on many of the lessons I learned. I also want to be more vulnerable in sharing all the pieces of my own story, which was another major theme at the conference. But I can’t promise anything immediate, because I have a lot of lost time to make up with my Savior. And I know that HE is waiting with bated breath to spend time with me.

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Haiti: The Hope

2010-10-17T16:20:00.000-07:00

"Before them the earth shakes,

the sky trembles,

the sun and the moon are darkened,

and the stars no longer shine.

The Lord thunders at the head of his army;

his forces are beyond number,

and mighty are those who obey his command.

The day of the Lord is great;

It is dreadful.

Who can endure it?

'Even now,' declares the Lord,

'return to me with all your heart,

with fasting and weeping and mourning.'

Rend your heart

and not your garments.

Return to the Lord your God,

for he is gracious and compassionate,

slow to anger and abounding in love,

and he relents from sending calamity."

Joel 2:10-13

If you'd like to, you can read the first 3 parts of my Haiti Journey here: The Heartbreak, The Joy, and The Work. Now for the best way to end things, with Hope:

I was in the middle of Beth Moore's study of Esther when I went to Haiti. This was certainly no accident. In week four, she refers to several verses in Joel. These verses (above) were absolutely what I needed to read while I was there, so that I could experience hope rather than despair in light of what I was seeing and experiencing.

Beth Moore says this: "God had told his people from the time of Moses that He'd protect them and fight their battles for them as long as they worshipped Him only. If they forgot Him, He would still love them but He would not shield them. Instead, He'd use their enemies to turn His people back to Him."

I don't know whether God caused the earthquake in Haiti, but I know that He allowed it to happen. I don't know why Haiti, I certainly don't believe that the people there are any more wicked than the rest of us sinners. But I do know that God is just, loving, gracious and compassionate. And I know that He will use whatever means He needs to return our hearts to Him.

After reading these verses on my air mattress on the cement floor of a Haitian school, I was comforted. Because there is a revival happening in Haiti. Souls are returning to their father.

The next day, I heard a woman's story of her experience during the earthquake. I can't properly tell the story, nor explain how much it moved me. But what I remember most is that she told us that after the earth stopped shaking, there was a beat of silence, and then a terrible wail went up throughout the city of Port Au Prince (and the rest of the country, no doubt.) A weeping and mourning in the land, the likes of which she had never heard before and would never forget.

And with weeping and mourning, we return to Him. He relents from sending calamity, but He will. So that we can spend an eternity with Him, laughing and dancing. That is the hope, my friends.

Haiti: The Work

2010-10-09T11:58:00.000-07:00

The first two parts of my Haiti Journey are here: The Heartbreak and The Joy

The work that we did in Haiti was at a school called Gressier, which will house about 1,000 kids when it is open. Here are some pictures of the work site:

This is the beautiful view from the back of the school:

Some of the time, we worked on clearing the classrooms of the construction rubble. Before we went in they looked like this:

And after a lot of shoveling, pick-axing, and wheelbarrowing, they looked like this:

The rest of the time we spent shoveling and sifting dirt and sand which would later be mixed to make cement.

This was my "boss," Elifa (I have no idea if that's how you spell it.) His only English was "spread" (the dirt) and "Wait for me, I'll be right back." He was a bit of a perfectionist, but when I finally got it right, he was sure to let me know that he was happy with my work. ("Moi contente.")

We took breaks under the shade tree, to get out of the beating sun. The only problem was the fire ants that would dive bomb from the tree and bite the heck out of us. But the shade was still worth it.

We also spent a lot of break time with the kids who lived on the property, and the neighborhood kids who came to visit with us.

I cried the day we went to our work site to say goodbye. Even though the physical labor was the hardest I've ever worked in my life, and the heat and humidity was exhausting to work in, the time I spent on the site was my favorite part of the trip. Working side by side with the Haitian men, and trying our best to communicate despite the language barrier, but finding that by the third day, they were our friends. Seeing the progress in the school and knowing that many kids would be blessed by it. Laughing and playing with the kids, and seeing their precious faces everyday. It went by in a flash, and I was not ready to leave. But I wouldn't trade the experience for the world.

The last piece in the Haiti Journey is The Hope.

Haiti: The Joy

2010-09-20T14:56:00.000-07:00

Part one of my Haiti Journey: The Heartbreak

These are the orphans we visited. When we arrived, they were singing to us. We played with them, colored, sang, danced, and just loved on them. It was a joy and a blessing to be with them. I hope and pray that God finds earthly parents for each of them.

I think their precious faces speak for themselves.

Here's the rest of the Haiti journey:

The Work

The Hope

Haiti: The Heartbreak

2010-08-30T18:11:00.000-07:00

I thought I had prepared myself for the things I would see and feel in Haiti. But, as it turns out, no amount of preparation could have kept me from the shock and heartbreak of seeing the conditions there. The trip was amazing, but I want to share it in the same way I experienced it - and it started by breaking my heart.

The very first thing I experienced in Haiti was the heat - the thick, heavy, humid heat that threatens to swallow you whole. The kind of heat that causes sweat to jump out of your pores as if escaping a burning building the moment you step outside. Not what this California girl is used to. I made it through the cattle call better known as airport customs, which was located in what looked like a giant barn (except made out of cement) filled with people and bags, the aforementioned heat, and maybe two fans. Our team drove from the airport to our lodging location in a very small, brightly painted bus with hard wooden benches inside. I was lucky to have a window seat for ventilation and a better view. I will reiterate, though, that I was not prepared for the scenery that we were about to encounter on our ride.

The first sight that was incredible was the sheer number of people in the city. I have spent time in a number of large cities, but I've never seen so many people in one place. There are 3 million people in Port Au Prince, and you can sure feel that when you are there. Some are sitting, some walking to and fro, and there were many crowds just standing there, facing the street as cars went by, as if they were waiting for a bus, although I'm pretty sure they weren't. There were tent cities everywhere, crowded together and going on for miles, homes for the lucky ones who have any roof at all.

Everywhere I looked there was a pile of rubble, or a vacated builing with a giant crack across it, or a chunk missing from its walls. The horrific thought did cross my mind that there are undoubtedly bodies under many of those buildings, that the people have not had the time or resources to uncover.

Even the palace, where the president lived, looked like a set from a movie about the end of the world. I can't imagine seeing our White House in such a condition.

As we continued through the city, I saw people washing themselves in the street with a bottle of water and a bar of soap. There were skinny dogs running around everywhere, looking for scraps. There were also goats, chickens and pigs wandering about, that didn't appear to belong to anyone in particular.

In some areas, the stench of waste and sewage was overwhelming. In others, I smelled fires burning, which were not for warmth or cooking, but for getting rid of garbage. There were piles of trash and all forms of waste everywhere. In the center of the city there is a huge area filled with plastic bottles, where it is burned, regularly filling the air with fumes and toxins. The surprising truth is that, with the exception of the rubble and building damage, Haiti was like this before the earthquake. It is the poorest country in the Western hemisphere.

Other times, I would only smell the exhaust fumes from the many cars that seemed to all be in competition with each other on the broken road. In many places, the road was only one or two lanes, and getting through seemed to be a battle of wills among the drivers.

In contrast to all the devastating sights was the most beautiful tangerine sunset. A reminder of God's grace, and His beautiful creation, amidst the mess (figurative and literal mess) that man has made.

Once the sun had set though, dark clouds filled the sky and droplets began to fall. As the rain and the night descended, the enviornment appeared even more dire. Even though the rain was a welcome break from the intense heat, many would not have shelter from it, and most who did have shelter had only a tent.

Night is the time when we go safely to the warmth and security of our homes, but these people do not have that luxury. Many gathered under tarps and prepared food to share. Mothers did what they could to shield their babies from the storm. But it remained a scene of chaos. After only minutes of rain, some parts of the road began to flood. It left me wondering what on earth will happen when monsoon season hits. It's just around the corner.

Instead of names and gang signs tagged in graffiti on the walls, there were prayers and pleas; "Help Us."

We made it to our lodging location, a large school building where around 1,000 children used to study, until the earthquake. The building was unaffected by the disaster, but the children were not. They now study outside, because they are terrified to sit in a building all day, which as far as they know, could come toppling down at any moment. If over 200,000 people disappeared from my city in a day, I certainly wouldn't recover quickly.

We headed to bed that night in sober state. Still excited for what was to come, but with heavy hearts from what we had already seen. I will never forget that day as long as I live. Don't worry though, things got much more hopeful as the week progressed.

Here's the rest of the Haiti journey:

The Joy

The Work

The Hope

Gone to Haiti...

2010-08-12T09:07:00.000-07:00

... be back the 21st. With undoubtedly lots of pictures and stories to share. I'd love it if you'd pray for my trip while I'm over there. Thank you and God bless!

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This Time Last Year... Spain Day 11: Valencia

2010-08-10T11:32:00.000-07:00

I'm determined to finish my Spain series before I leave for Haiti. Because Lord knows I'll have a lot more pictures to share when I get back! If you're just tuning in and want to see more, you can go to this post, which has a list of the previous Spain posts. So here is our day in Valencia. I'm not going to narrate too much because we were mostly just exploring the beautiful city. Enjoy!

Arriving at the train station:
The Bull Fighting Arena:

The Silk Exchange:

***

Valencia Cathedral:

A beautiful church:

We saw a wedding!

Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències:

(The City of Arts and Sciences)

Beautiful sunset:

A park where Adriana played as a kid:

You get to climb all over Gulliver. :)

The day ended when we stumbled upon a water show outside this music hall:

Then we took the train back to Tavernes and had some snacks with her family (her aunt could never stop feeding us) and then hit the hay. Only one day left of our trip!

Dangerous Minds

2010-08-06T09:18:00.001-07:00

My life is a movie. It's called Dangerous Minds.

Ok... so, in my dreams am I as beautiful as Michelle Pfieffer, or as creative and awesome as Louanne, her character in the film. But you get the idea. Unless you haven't seen the movie (which you should.) In which case I offer: The Freedom Writers. Take The Lead. Stand And Deliver. Mean Girls. Oh wait, that last one slipped in there, it doesn't belong. I'm talking about movies where inner city kids learn a valuable lesson from an adult in their lives, and that adult learns something from them in return.

I rarely write about my job, because I have a confidentiality contract with the kids I work with, (as a residential counselor at a group home) and the line between sharing about my life and sharing too much about theirs can be blurry. But, I believe I have the right to free speech, and as long as I'm not sharing specific details or identifying facts about my clients, I should be safe.

As you know, through your keen observations skills, I live in a small town. But every day, I drive over the hill to a city. It's no metropolis, but it's a city for sure. I work with teenage girls who grew up in that city. Some days I look at them in the rearview mirror of the van I drive them around in, see their hair piled high on their heads, their penciled in eyebrows and lips, the tattoos that no one stopped them from getting even though they're underage, and it's just another small reminder of how different their world is from mine.

They grew up surrounded by poverty, crime, and gang violence. It's what they know. They've seen it all, and they are tough. On the outside anyway. Getting through the tough exterior and breaking down the walls they've built to protect themselves is the most difficult and most rewarding part of my job.

It's the part of the movie where the toughest kid in the class breaks down in tears. The scene where the class clown, who's always telling jokes to mask his insecurity, opens up about the past. It's the end of the movie, when the kids acknowledge that their teacher/coach/mentor/counselor has actually helped them, and then they go on to have successful lives.

My movie doesn't always end like that. The story just as often ends in tragedy... I find out after graduating our program, the girl has gotten back into drugs and ended up incarcerated. Or there is an anticlimactic turn of events... I show up to work and one of the girls is just gone. A runaway. Or the kids just move on and the story ends in mystery.

But the moments, and sometimes days, when I'm sure that I've affected these girls in a positive way, or that the program has changed them for the better... The days when they open up to me, cry on my shoulder, ask for a hug... Or when I pick them up from school and they can't wait to tell me some good news - about their friends, their grades, anything. The moments when I catch glimpses of the childhoods they missed. Those are the days that keep me going. That's when I believe in happy endings.

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And The Winners Are...

2010-07-30T17:54:00.000-07:00

Thank you sooo much to everyone who entered my raffles and donated to my Haiti trip!! You are so appreciated.

Without further ado, here are the winners of the raffles:

Blog Makeover from Laura Jane Designs: Megan from It's A Love Dare
Blog Makeover from Creative Creations By Cristin: Kristina from The Churchill Family and Life as We Know It
$25 Gift Certificate from October Belle Designs: Julie from Dutch Being Me
Blog Makeover from Penny Lane Designs: Tami from This Mom's Delight

The winners were selcted using a random number generator. I will contact all of you shortly to make sure you are in contact with the appropriate designer. Congratulations! Thank you again to all who entered.

Memory Lane

2010-07-28T18:23:00.000-07:00

My Blog-iversary is coming up, on August 19th. 2 years! But, I'll be in Haiti helping the earthquake victims, and therefore not able to have a virtual party. (Incidentally, the raffles for that cause are still open, please see here to help out and enter to win big!) So... in celebration of my 2 years of blogging, I'm now going to reminisce on some of my favorite moments in my blogging history. (It conveniently intercedes with an assignment from 31 DBBB.) Join me?

I started blogging because I moved from California to Oregon and wanted to keep my friends and family updated on my life. Recently, due to some human and divine inspiration, my blog has taken a different direction.

In the early blogging days, though, I wrote about such things as my battle with the dryer in my new apartment, my first snowy winter, and my dependence on technology. I also shared a lot of the details of life in a new city, which aren't all that exciting to read two years later.

I did start writing a bit about my faith that year... what it taught me about acceptance and rejection, the extravagance of God's love, as well as His sense of humor. Those posts were the most meaningful to me, and they are part of how I discovered this blogging stuff was much more than I originally thought.

More recently, I haven't ceased to include fun and silly posts. I've blogged about my trip to Spain last summer, my best friend, and the qualities I look for in a man. I've also told my readers about some of my favorite places, some of my thoughts on vulnerability, and 10 of my secrets to working with troubled teens.

I've also been sharing about my faith journey in a series called Story of My Life, starting with my roots, then my salvation story, and a bit about answered prayer.

Blogging has been a journey, and I can't wait to see what the future holds. Just looking back through my posts for the purpose of writing this one was a lot of fun. It changes as much as I do, if not more, but it also keeps record of all the lessons I learn along the way. Happy early Blogiversary to me. :)

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Sugar, Sunshine, and Link Love

2010-07-25T20:37:00.000-07:00

Today's 31 DBBB challenge happened to coincide well with something I've been needing to post for awhile... maybe it's cheating but who's gonna stop me? ;) I (relatively) recently received two blog awards from two fabulous bloggers! And since today's 31 DBBB challenge is to link some great blogs, I'm gonna kill two birds with one stone. Here we go!

Over a month ago now the delightful Sippy Cup Mom gave me the Sugar Doll Award! How cute is that name for a blog award?

I'm supposed to: thank the person who gave me the award, share 10 things about myself, and pass along the award to 10 other worthy bloggers.

So first, 10 things about me:

1. I love to sing. Preferably loudly, in the car.
2. The toilet paper has to pull from the top, not the bottom.
3. I'm a helpless romantic.
4. I have very long thumbs. Like, kind of freakish when you pay close attention.
5. In 8th grade, my closet door was covered in pictures of Matt Damon.
6. I'm a picky eater.
7. I've been to 12 countries. (13 next month!)
8. If I were a crayon, I'd be periwinkle.
9. I think birds of prey are the coolest.
10. I'm super excited to be a mom someday.

Now I shall pass the award to some bloggy friends upon whom, were I ever to use the expression "Sugar Doll," I would bestow it.

1. Melissa at Miel et Lait
2. Julie at Dutch Being Me
3. Lindsey at A New Life
4. Holley at Heart to Heart with Holley
5. Sarah Mae at Like a Warm Cup Of Coffee
6. Jessica at Muthering Heights
7. Laura Jane at Call Me Laura Jane
8. Cristin at The Domestic Savages
9. Mirinda at October Belle Designs for Kids
10. Marina at Penny Lane Designs Blog

Thank you Sippy Cup Mom! You are so appreciated! (Especially for all your twitter love.)

And much more recently, the lovely Natalie of Blonde at Heart gave me the Sunshine Award! Thank you Natalie!! The rules for this one are to pass on the Sunshine award to 12 other blogs whose positivity and creativity inspire others in the blog world. So for this one I'm going to share some love with other participants of the 31 DBBB challenge that I've discovered this week. I think they're pretty special!

1. Rediscovering Domesticity
2. Seeing God In It All
3. Crayon Wrangler
4. Geek. Girl. Wife
5. Colleenie's Couch
6. New Heart, New Life
7. Scientific Nature of the Whammy
8. Chickadee Prints
9. Exposing the Drapes to My 20's
10. Travel with the Magic
11. Real Life with Kids
12. This Mom's Delight (she's not actually doing 31 DBBB but she's just delightful)

Now go visit those lovely bloggers, and be sure to share the love! And then, be sure to check out the raffles going on over here if you haven't already!

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Raffle: Penny Lane Designs

2010-07-22T18:35:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Haiti Trip Fundraising Week 2! If you would like to know about the trip to Haiti that I'm raising funds for, or need a detailed explanation of how this raffle works, see here. There will be a link back to this post so you won't get lost. :)

If you don't want the long-winded version, here's the short: For every $1 you donate to my Haiti trip, you get one entry toward the prize below. Then just leave a comment saying you donated. That's it!

Today's giveaway is a total blog makeover from Penny Lane Designs! Marina at Penny Lane Designs is the amazing designer who beautified my blog! I can't even tell you how much I love her designs. And she truly translated exactly what I imagined and created something even better! Go check out her other amazing designs:

The makeover includes a Custom Blog Design (Background and Header, Matching Text and Links) with 6 Sidebar Items and a Post Signature, worth $100! This is truly a steal.

Marina designs for Blogger blogs only.

To enter just click here or on the "Donate" box on the top right and then leave your comment. This giveaway is open until 12:00 pm on Friday, July 30th. The winner will be announced that afternoon.

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10 Of My Secrets To Working With Troubled Teens

2010-07-21T17:42:00.000-07:00

In case you're new here, or didn't know, I work with adolescent girls with mental health and substance abuse issues. Yes, it's hard (to answer your unasked question.) Some days are downright exhausting. But I love it. Why? Because I make connections with girls who have had extremely difficult lives. It gets me through each day knowing that I'm one of the few positive influences in their lives. And hopefully, some days, I make a difference. :) But getting teenagers to like you (and therefore listen to you) can be tricky. So here are some tips for those who work with (or live with) teens.

1. Show no fear. I'm not kidding. If you are dealing with your average variety of teenager, this may not be an issue. But many kids who grew up on the streets, in poverty, or in abusive homes, have learned how to be intimidating. And they are like bees, they can smell fear. So even if you are terrified on the inside, find a way to put your game face on. Because a child cannot trust an adult who is afraid of them. Could you?

2. Do not take things personally. They are giant balls of hormones, they can't help themselves. Mood swings just come with the territory. If they feel like they're hurting your feelings all the time, they will feel guilty. And their emotional maturity level does not process guilt well, so it generally just turns into an even worse attitude. Just remind yourself it's not you, it's them.

3. Pick your battles. Stick to your guns when it comes to important stuff that involves their health, safety, and growth as a human being. The fact that they never remember to replace the toilet paper or they always pop their gum may not be worth an enormous power struggle.

4. Use humor. I find sarcasm works especially well, due to the generally cynical nature of teens. This one perfectly follows #2 and #3, and here's why - if they do something that annoys/offends/upsets you, but it's in the category of "not worth the battle" - make a joke! Humor can take them out of their funk and make you both feel better. You can even make fun of them! (As long as you are actually kidding, and they know it.) I do it all the time. :P

5. Be empathic. Remember when you were a teenager and you thought no one in the world had ever or would ever feel the way you did? A little understanding goes a long way. Especially when you're trying to get them to do something, and they are frustrated and defiant. Try saying "You feel ____ because ____." Let that soak in. Maybe talk about it a bit. There's a good chance they'll be more receptive when they feel heard.

6. Be consistent. Do what you said you were going to do. Follow through. It sounds simple, but it can actually be challenging. Do it anyway. It's important.

7. Communicate. Be honest. Teenagers sometimes seem like aliens, but they are human. Tell them how you are feeling, without blaming. "I feel ___ when you ___." These sentences sound dorky in theory but they are helpful when you really just want to yell and accuse. (As we all do sometimes.)

8. Accept them where they're at. They may go through as many phases as pairs of shoes, but this is all a part of the adolescent process. One of the greatest things you can do for them is just go with it. Accept it without judgement.

9. Give them space. A) When they are upset, let them know that you are there to listen when they're ready to talk, and then walk away. Check in periodically to make sure they know you're around, but don't hover. B) When you want something from them, tell them once. Give them a time frame to do whatever it is, and a simple, related consequence if it doesn't get done. Then leave them alone. One reminder right before the time is up could be in order. But don't nag.

10. Be you. While they're trying to figure out who they are, it helps to see adults who are comfortable in their own skin. When I first started working with teens, I tried to be cool, so they would like me. They saw right through it. Now, when I go to work every day, I'm just me. Silly, nerdy, uncool. They wouldn't admit it to my face, (or to yours) but I can tell that they respect me for being who I am. And it's a firsthand lesson on how freeing it is not to try to be someone you're not.

I hope that wasn't too preachy. I'm glad I made this list so I can look back at it and remind myself on hard days. And perhaps I will add more later... hope it was helpful to someone!

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Raffle: October Belle Designs

2010-07-21T16:35:00.001-07:00

Enter to win one for your son or daughter, niece, nephew, grandchild, or friend!

To enter just click here or on the "Donate" box on the top right and then leave your comment.

Update: This giveaway is open until 12:00 pm on Friday, July 30th. The winner will be announced that afternoon.

ProBlogger Challenge

2010-07-20T20:44:00.000-07:00

Just to make my life more complicated (and fun!), in the midst of all this fundraising, I'm also joining The SITS Girls in the ProBlogger Challenge, and will be trying all kinds of new blog-related things in the next 31 days.

The first challenge (as of yesterday, because naturally I'm one day behind) was to create an Elevator Pitch, which is a description of your blog that could be stated to another person during the course of an elevator ride. So here's mine:

A single girl in a small town loving a big God with her whole heart. Living the adventure of walking by faith, learning from mistakes, meeting people where they're at, and loving them like crazy. Kick off your shoes and sit in the grass with me.

Like it?

If you're visiting from the challenge, please check out how you could win a blog makeover here and here!

Raffle: Creative Creations By Cristin

2010-07-20T18:31:00.000-07:00

Raffle: Laura Jane Designs

2010-07-19T17:59:00.001-07:00

Welcome to Haiti Trip Fundraising Week 2!

If you would like to know about the trip to Haiti that I'm raising funds for, or need a detailed explanation of how this raffle works, see here. There will be a link back to this post so you won't get lost. :)

If you don't want the long-winded version, here's the short: For every $1 you donate to my Haiti trip, you get one entry toward the prize below. Then just leave a comment saying you donated. That's it!

The winner of this raffle will receive a full blog makeover from Laura Jane Designs! Laura Jane creates truly beautiful blog designs. Whether you'd like a fun, funky scrapbook-y look, or are going for simple and clean with a touch of personality, Laura Jane can do it! Go check them out for yourself. I'll wait.

Did you love them? Yeah, that's what I thought. Here's what Laura Jane is offering to you:

The Tulip Package, worth $35, which includes: Custom Header & Background, Blog Button & Grab Box, Installation of wide 3-Column Layout, Post Divider & Signature, 5 Sidebar Titles, and a Navigation Menu Bar. A pretty great deal! (Especially you're getting it almost for free!)

Laura Jane will not be able to start on your blog design until August 5th, but by the time I select a winner next week, that won't be too far away!

To enter just click here or on the "Donate" box on the top right and then leave your comment.

Update: This giveaway is open until 12:00 pm on Friday, July 30th. The winner will be announced that afternoon.

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Putting The Fun In Fundraising

2010-07-19T17:34:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! Welcome to week 2 of Putting The Fun In Fundraising! Well... I just named it that right now, but it's not bad, right? In case you're new here, read this blurb about why I'm fundraising, and those who already know can skip the next paragraph. :)

August 14th – 21st I’ll be going to Haiti with a missions team, through an international organization called Praying Pelican Missions. We will not only be sharing the love of Jesus with a hurting people group, but also helping in the relief effort dealing with the devastation left by the January earthquake. We will be working in schools, churches, and orphanages. I can’t wait to be a part of God’s work in Haiti! My trip costs $600, plus over $700 for a plane ticket(!) and a suggested donation of $300 for supplies. I've raised some of that total, but have a ways to go. (And if I raise extra, it will all be donated to the cause.)

So... my last fundraising effort on my blog did not go exactly as I had hoped. A lot of people entered, and that was awesome and so appreciated, but few donated. If everyone who entered the giveaways that week had donated $1, I would have raised over $220. And if I had been given $1 for every entry total, I would have raised almost $350! Which, needless to say, would have helped a lot.

So this time we're doing a raffle, and the only way to enter is to donate $1 to my Haiti trip (through Pay Pal - very secure!) Every extra dollar donated adds an extra entry to the raffle that you've commented on. If you donate $5, you get 1 entry in each of the 4 giveaways, in addition to 5 entries to the one you commented on!

I hope that explanation was not too complicated. Basically, just click here or on the "Donate" box on the top right, give $1 (or more if you choose), and leave a comment saying you did. (Just one comment is good!) If you're not a blogger, leave your contact information too.

Each of the raffles ends at 12:00 pm Pacific Time Friday, July 30th. The winner of each raffle will be announced that afternoon.

I will put the links in this post as I add the raffles so you can read the instructions and then go back and check out each raffle. There are 3 fabulous blog designers, and one lovely home decorating designer involved in these raffles! Have fun!

Day 1 - Laura Jane Designs
Day 2 - Creative Creations By Cristin
Day 3 - October Belle Designs
Day 4 - Penny Lane Designs

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Vulnerability

2010-07-16T18:37:00.000-07:00

I have been a lazy blogger lately. I think the "honeymoon phase" has ended, and some days blogging, and social networking in general, feels like a chore. However, God has been convicting my heart about this. First of all, I already have several posts written on paper that I've just been too "lazy" to transfer to the screen. You know what it really is, though? Fear of being vulerable. And in the last week, I have been gently but not so subtly reminded that I need to let it go.

I'm currently reading an amazing book called Strong Women, Soft Hearts, by Paula Rinheart. Here's what she says about vulnerability:

"The word literally means 'able to be wounded.' To be vulnerable is to voluntarily place yourself, for the sake of a larger purpose, in a situation that could bring you pain. You see something at stake... and you are willing to risk your heart in a vulnerable way."

Paula goes on to say that writing is a great place to start. She quotes Nicole Johnson: "How else can we learn about ourselves if not by forcing our hands to tell the truth about our hearts?"
And C.S. Lewis: "Whenever you are fed up with life; start writing: ink is the great cure for all human ills, as I have found out long ago."

Writing has always come easily to me. Sharing, on the other hand, not so much. I am an introvert. I may be described as quiet, and shy. My close friends and family members know that I can talk your ear off when I get rolling, but I require a certain kind of safe space to feel comfortable enough to do so. The more public my blog becomes (which is intentional, don't get me wrong), the more nervous I feel about sharing my heart. And the more compelled I feel to do so. It's quite an inner battle.

Paula hits it right on the head though, asking: "How much of your real life - your story - have you shared with people you care about? How often have you taken the risk to share your heart, to let yourself be known?"

"The strength of vulnerability... that paradoxical place where you discover the strength God has placed in you by actually risking the pain you would normally run from... You step into the difficult place and find you are not blown away... You say the words you need to say. In these kinds of moments you can almost feel your soul expand."

And, if that wasn't enough to convict me, I just started Beth Moore's Esther study, and here are her words that spoke right to my soul:

"One of the most important parts of fulfilling our destiny will be transparency." Ok Lord, I get it.

So I promise to get real and vulnerable with you real soon.

But before I do that, next week I'll be hosting another week of giveaways! (Actually more like raffles to raise funds for my Haiti trip - but still exciting.) 4 chances to win a blog makeover, and one raffle involving home decoration. Come back and check it out!

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A Glimpse Of Heaven

2010-07-06T08:14:00.000-07:00

The smell of the Redwood trees, campfires and sunscreen.

The sounds of the birds chirping, the creek flowing, children laughing.

The feel of the sunshine on my face, the breeze in my hair, the ice cold stream on my feet.

The taste of pure water after a hike, meals made on a portable stove, roasted marshmellows.

The view of the mountains, meadows, streams.

This is the place where magic lives in the trees; where memories are stored behind each boulder; where promise whispers in the wind.

A place where I can get perspective, and at the same time let my imagination run wild.

The place that feels like home, but offers endless opportunites for adventure.

A place where families and friends gather for games or stories around the campfire.

In this place, I look out at snow-capped mountains while soaking in a pool of hot water that came bubbling right out of the ground.

In this place, my dogs run happily with their long, pink tongues hanging out the sides of their mouths.

In this place, my mind and body feel more alive, and yet at rest.

In this place, my soul feels closer to God.

This place is one of my favorites in the world. An escape, a getaway, a refuge. A glimpse of heaven.

Grover Hot Springs, California

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Out of the Proverbial Office

2010-06-29T07:57:00.000-07:00

Hello lovely followers! I just wanted to let you all know that I'll be gone for the rest of the week, in a place where I have no access to phones or computers. Unfortunately I'm not savvy enough to know how to get my blog to update itself, so I'll be missing for the next few days. I'm going to one of my favorite places in the world, Grover Hot Springs, California, for some good old fashioned tent camping!

When I get back, I'll be sure to have a lot of great stuff for you guys, because I'll have lots of writing time in the great outdoors! (Plus there are some more giveaways in the works.) Don't miss me too much. ;)

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152 Insights Into My Soul

2010-06-24T09:10:00.000-07:00

Ok... it's really just 50. The post title is actually from a movie. Can you name it?

So... I've never made a list like this because for some reason I felt like it would jinx me or something. Plus I don't want to be one of those girls who is single her whole life because she has a list of a zillion requirements that he can't possibly fulfill. I don't want to be the girl who refuses to date a man who drinks out of a straw. (Seriously, I saw that girl on Oprah.) But Mama Kat has issued the following writing assignment, so I'm accepting it. And yes, she asked specifically for 50.

50 Things I Look For In A Man

1. He loves Jesus
2. He cares about people
3. He makes me laugh
4. He thinks I'm funny
5. He's smarter than I am
6. He makes me feel smart
7. He's good with kids
8. He loves music
9. He's creative
10. He's outgoing (to balance me out)
11. He's honest
12. He's tolerant of all people
13. He accepts people (especially me) as they are
14. He's trustworthy
15. He cares about family
16. He's adventurous
17. He puts faith first
18. He knows how to be a leader
19. He's attractive! (To me)
20. He's attracted to me
21. He knows how to apologize
22. He knows how to forgive
23. He can communicate his feelings
24. He wants to be a father
25. He has Godly wisdom
26. He has a silly side
27. He's fun to be with
28. He's romantic
29. He's confident
30. He's humble
31. He's passionate
32. He's strong
33. He knows what he wants
34. We have chemistry
35. He has strong values
36. He's spiritual
37. He's generous
38. He can hold me accountable
39. He's compassionate
40. He's educated
41. He works hard
42. He plays hard
43. He can be spontaneous
44. He's good with his money (because one of us should be!)
45. He's respectful
46. He's sweet
47. He loves animals (or at least dogs!)
48. He seeks God's will for His life
49. He's flawed
50. He's perfect! For me. :)

I can't wait to meet him! And no, I did not jinx myself, and I'm not the girl with the 10 mile list of requirements. I'm waiting patiently for the right man, the one that God created for me (and me for him). And I'm not settling!

P.S. Please don't forget to check out how you can help send me to Haiti by buying Mary Kay products! The fundraiser ends tomorrow (Friday, June 25th.)

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The A-List

2010-06-22T14:25:00.000-07:00

Hello all! Just got back from a fabulous weekend in wine country with my girlfriends, for my friend Mollie's beautiful wedding. Hopefully I'll be able to share pictures at some point, but my camera is being repaired, so the picture-taking didn't quite go as planned. :( It was amazing though!

Anyway... one of my favorite blog friends Melissa, at Miel et Lait, has paired up with Gigi from Kludgy Mom to create a new networking site for blogger's called The Blogger's Concierge. They are putting on an A List Affair, and I want to be part of it!

So... I'm supposed to share a bit about my blog... Well, I started blogging in August of 2008 to keep my friends and family in California updated while I was adventuring in Portland Oregon. About a year ago, I moved back to the small CA town where I grew up. However, blogging became a lot more to me than just updating my loved ones. It's a community of friends I never would have expected to make, and a place to share my thoughts.

I've been sharing about my faith journey in this post and this one and this one. Sometimes I share about my pups, Penny and Rocky. I also love to travel, and have been slowly but surely sharing pictured and anecdotes from my trip to Spain last summer. I recently had my blog re-designed by Penny Lane Designs (I stumbled on the site because she shares my dog's name) and I love it! And recently, I've been trying to raise funds through giveaways and other fun things for my mission/relief trip to Haiti in August. If you like Mary Kay, please check out this post about how you can help send me to Haiti while buying make-up for you! It's win-win. :) That fund-raiser ends this Friday, but there will be more in the future, and I'd love it if you came back to visit again!

I'm not sure if any of that makes me A-list worthy, but a girl can try, right?

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How To Be My Hero - And Get Some Fun Stuff For You Too!

2010-06-17T20:29:00.000-07:00

As most of you know if you've been around lately, I'm going on a mission/relief trip to Haiti this August to bring the hope of Jesus and a helping hand to the earthquake victims.

Natalie, at Blonde At Heart has offered me a very sweet deal to help me raise money for my Haiti trip, and I hope you'll get involved. Natalie sells Mary Kay products and she makes 50% of the profits (pretty sweet, right?) She has offered to DONATE 45%of the profits to MY Haiti trip!(5% will go toward fees whatnot - she's not making anything off this fundraiser!) And I don't even know her in real life! Pretty amazing stuff. So I would love love love it if you would go here and buy some Mary Kay products for yourself! Shipping is $3, and because Natalie lives in Oregon (a no sales tax state) you don't have to worry about paying tax! Also, for orders $40 or more you will receive a free gift! After you go to her Mary Kay web site and look around at all the great products (some of them BRAND NEW!), you can place your order online. Then send her an email (nataliesmith82@marykay.com) that way she knows that your order is for my Haiti fundraiser. Everybody wins! Thank you soooo much Natalie!! And thanks ahead of time to anyone who participates. :) Happy shopping!

Also, the lovely Sippy Cup Mom wrote a blog post about my trip! So sweet of her! She has been an incredibly encouraging twitter friend too. Go pay her a visit!

Well I'm off to Calistoga for the weekend for my friend Mollie's wedding, so excited! See you all on Monday. :)

**This fundraiser closes on June 27th.

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Um... Spain?... Day 9 and 10 - Tavernes

2010-06-16T18:07:00.000-07:00

Remember how I went to Spain? Oh yeah, probably not, because it was almost a year ago and yet I still haven't finished putting the pictures on my blog. But I finally got the doo-hickey that I needed to easily upload pics onto my computer, so I can finish my Spain blogging. Yay! In case you missed the first 8 days, please feel free to peruse them. (Warning: Be prepared for lots of pictures if you do. They are good ones, though, I promise.)

Day 1: Madrid
Day 2: Madrid
Day 3: Toledo
Day 4 & 5: Madrid-Barcelona
Day 6: Barcelona
Day 7: Barcelona
Day 8: Barcelona

On day 9 Adriana and I traveleved from Barcelona to Tavernes de Valldigna, a little beach town where Adriana's family spends their summers (lucky them!) We stayed in their lovely apartment with the most amazing views:

The beach was about 3 blocks away, so we spent the next day lounging on it. I had joked earlier in the trip that I was going to get nicknamed La Blanquita (little white girl) and then her aunt actually called me that! It was pretty hilarious.

We shared delicious meals with her extended family and watched the sunset while in the pool. Then we went with her cousin to the adorable little outdoor theater - the major exitement in their tiny beach town. We watched The Hangover in Spanish; luckily there was a lot of physical comedy in the movie, but I was still mostly lost. :)

It was an incredibly relaxing and enjoyable couple of days!

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Multitude Monday: Some Thank You's

2010-06-14T18:25:00.000-07:00

I have been neglecting Multitude Mondays lately. And officially, I'm not continuing my list quite yet. I do plan to get back to it soon. I'm thankful for so many things!

I just wanted to take this particular moment on a Monday to thank a few people who have been great supports in the giveaway and fundraising process. Please go visit their blogs and say hello for me, because they are awesome.

Of course, a huge thank you to those who generously gave their products away: Lisa Leonard Designs, Spunk & Sass Designs, Just Simply Southern, and especially to Creative Creations By Cristin and Buddy Notes who have taken extra measures to support my cause.

And to 3 great bloggers who have and/or plan to mention my Haiti mission and giveaways on their own blogs - thank you!!

Miel et Lait
The Life of A Sippy Cup Mom
Love Comma Ashlee

And thanks again to those who participated, and especially those who donated to my trip. I'm not going to name you because I'm not sure that's in good taste, but I appreciate you!!

And I promise that soon I'm going to write some REAL stuff about my life. I just need a bit of time to process some of the things I want to share. It will be good though, I swear. ;)

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And the Winners Are...

2010-06-11T18:20:00.000-07:00

Finally! Time to announce the winners of last weeks giveaways! Thank you SO much to everyone who participated! Some of you went above and beyond, and I will mention you specifically next week. But for now, thank you to everyone who came by and joined in the fun, and a HUGE thank you to those who donated. I am hoping to do more fundraisers on my blog in the next couple of months (because to be honest I didn't raise nearly as much as I'd hoped) so if you'd like to particpate at all, please let me know!

So, without further ado... the winners!

Creative Creations By Cristin - Paige from Some Days You Gotta Dance

Lisa Leonard Designs - Christina

Buddy Notes - Emily

Spunk & Sass Designs - Jennifer Norch

Just Simply Southern - Julie

Congratulations to the winners!! I am going to e-mail all those ladies as soon as this is posted, so if your first name is on this list, you'll know if it's you based on your inbox. Thanks so much again to everyone who particiapted! Come back soon for more giveaways!

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Outstanding Blogger Award!

2010-06-09T16:56:00.000-07:00

Brenda at Peek At My Paper gave me a blog award! Yay! I'm so glad I participate in something (blogging) that involves awards sometimes. I've never really been competitive at anything, but wow are awards fun! And in the blog world you can just keep passing the honor! So fun. Anyhow, thank you thank you to Brenda for giving me the Outstanding Blogger Award! I'm honored.

Here's what I have to do now:

1) Thank the person who gave me this award. Thanks again Brenda!
2) Share 7 things about myself.

1. I have a BS in Child Development from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and 1/3 of a Master's in Counseling from Western Seminary
2. I'm really good at getting teenagers to like me (even the angry ones)
3. I pray for squirrels when I think someone's about to run them over
4. I hate spiders, but I think snakes are neat.
5. I always squeeze toothpaste from the bottom and work my way up.
6. I play the harp
7. I want to be a foster mom.

3) Pass the award along to 15 bloggers who I have recently discovered and who I think are fantastic!

So without further ado, here are my recent favorites:

1. The Life of a Sippy Cup Mom

2. My Home in the Smokies

3. Ordinary Inspirations

4. So Stinkin' Cute

5. A Nuttier Life

6. Blonde At Heart

7. Love Comma Ashlee

8. Ann On And On

9. Some Days You Gotta Dance

10. Life Sunnyside Down

11. Loud And Out Of Key

12. Ma21Cuteboy

13. Living in Love With Jesus

14. Among The Blossoms

15. The Redhead Riter

In other news, my last (and mostly boring) post, was actually my 100th post! So yay for that. Even though I did nothing exciting to honor it. :P

And.... 2.5 hours until the Buddy Notes giveaway closes! Last chance to win a 6 month Pen Pal for your child!

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Giveaway One Is Closing!

2010-06-07T20:47:00.000-07:00

I'm just stopping in for a quick check in. I have LOTS of thank yous to share in regards to all of the help and encouragement I received last week with my trip and the giveaways. But those will have to wait, because I'm enjoying life in the real world. :) I am out of town visiting friends, so when I return I'll do all the necessary shout outs.

Just wanted to say hi to all you amazing people who have been reading and supporting, and also remind everyone that the blog makeover giveaway ends TONIGHT at midnight Pacific time. Hope you entered!

And I will share one tidbit. I went to dinner last night with my friend Kristin and her boyfriend Andrew. At one point, Andrew asked, "Are you going to blog about us?" Ha. And now I have. :)

The New Me

2010-06-04T18:06:00.000-07:00

Notice anything different about me? No, I didn't change my hair. :P I got a blog makeover!! Isn't it beautiful?!?

A huge thank you to Marina at Penny Lane Designs for transforming my blog! It's exactly what I imagined and more. I'm so so happy. I stumbled upon her web site because Penny Lane is my dog's name! :) And I believe it was fate because her designs are beautiful. And now my blog has been beautified by her magical touch. I love it love it love it.

Do you?

(Yes, I'm blatantly asking for affirmation.)

P.S. Please check out all the amazing giveaways below if you haven't already. They're all still open!

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Giveaway: Just Simply Southern

2010-06-04T09:18:00.000-07:00

**This giveaway is closed**

Last Day of Giveaway Week is here!

Today's giveaway is a $30 gift certificate from Just Simply Southern!

Go check out Just Simply Southern blog and see her beautiful handmade frames:

In case you are new to Giveaway Week, the purpose of this giveaway is to raise money for my trip to Haiti in August. My team will be working in orphanages, schools, and helping in the relief effort, and in the meantime sharing the love of Jesus with a hurting people group. The total trip cost (including airfare) is $1600.00 So every dollar helps! But you don't have to donate to enter the giveaway. Here's what you do:

1. Comment on this post. That's all! Automatic entry.

For extra entries:

2. Subscribe to this blog by RSS feed or subscribe by Email

3. Follow me on twitter AND tweet this giveaway.

4. Donate! Click the button on the upper right side of the blog, or go here to make a secure credit card donation through Pay Pal. You will get 1 extra entry for ANY AMOUNT donated. After that, you will get extra entries for every additional $5 donated. You don't need to tell me how much you donated, just THAT you donated, and I will be able to check on Pay Pal.

You only need to comment once and tell me what you did. :)

If you are NOT a blogger, leave me your e-mail so I can contact you if you win.

This giveaway is open internationally. It will remain open until 12 noon on Friday, June 11th. The winner will be announced that afternoon.

Thank you so much for participating! There will be more giveaways in the future, so please come back for those and to read about my trip to Haiti!

**This giveaway is closed**

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Giveaway: Spunk and Sass Designs

2010-06-03T08:35:00.000-07:00

**This giveaway is closed**

Giveaway Week Day 4 is here! (And this giveaway was a last minute surprise, so there are 5 this week instead of 4!)

Today's giveaway is this beautiful handmade necklace from Spunk & Sass Designs!

The winner gets to choose whatever they want stamped on either tag! (Hearts, letters, etc.) The winner will also get to choose drops based on what's available in stock. Shown is a freshwater pearl and a faceted gemstone.

In case you are new to Giveaway Week, the purpose of this giveaway is to raise money for my trip to Haiti in August. My team will be working in orphanages, schools, and helping in the relief effort, and in the meantime sharing the love of Jesus with a hurting people group. The total trip cost (including airfare) is $1600.00 So every dollar helps! But you don't have to donate to enter the giveaway. Here's what you do:

1. Comment on this post. That's all! Automatic entry.

For extra entries:

2. Subscribe to this blog by RSS feed or subscribe by Email

3. Follow me on twitter AND tweet this giveaway.

4. Donate! Click the button on the upper right side of the blog, or go here to make a secure credit card donation through Pay Pal. You will get 1 extra entry for ANY AMOUNT donated. After that, you will get extra entries for every additional $5 donated. You don't need to tell me how much you donated, just THAT you donated, and I will be able to check on Pay Pal.

You only need to comment once and tell me what you did. :)

If you are NOT a blogger, leave me your e-mail so I can contact you if you win.

This giveaway is open internationally. It will remain open until Midnight on Thursday, June 10th. The winner will be announced on Friday, June 11th.

Thank you so much for participating! Come back tomorrow for another giveaway. :) Then come back to read about my trip to Haiti!

**This giveaway is closed**

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Giveaway: Buddy Notes - Pen Pal For Your Child!

2010-06-02T08:13:00.000-07:00

**This giveaway is closed**

Ok everyone, Giveaway Week Day 3 is here!

Today's giveaway is great for parents to give to their children. Because what child doesn't love getting mail?

Check out Buddy Notes and find out about the 6 month pen pal that your child can receive, plus a special birthday letter! A pen pal is a creative way to engage your child in good writing skills, and they'll be excited to receive letters each month, which include crafts and activities!

In case you are new to Giveaway Week, the purpose of this giveaway is to raise money for my trip to Haiti in August. My team will be working in orphanages, schools, and helping in the relief effort, and in the meantime sharing the love of Jesus with a hurting people group. The total trip cost (including airfare) is $1600.00 So every dollar helps! But you don't have to donate to enter the giveaway. Here's what you do:

1. Comment on this post. That's all! Automatic entry.

For extra entries:

2. Subscribe to this blog by RSS feed or subscribe by Email

3. Follow me on twitter AND tweet this giveaway.

4. Donate! Click the button on the upper right side of the blog, or go here to make a secure credit card donation through Pay Pal. You will get 1 extra entry for ANY AMOUNT donated. After that, you will get extra entries for every additional $5 donated. You don't need to tell me how much you donated, just THAT you donated, and I will be able to check on Pay Pal.

You only need to comment once and tell me what you did. :)

If you are NOT a blogger, leave me your e-mail so I can contact you if you win.

This giveaway is open until Midnight on Wednesday, June 9th. The winner will be announced on Friday, June 11th.

Thank you so much for participating! Come back tomorrow for another giveaway. :) Then come back to read about my trip to Haiti!

**This giveaway is closed**

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Giveaway: Lisa Leonard Designs

2010-06-01T09:33:00.001-07:00

**This giveaway is closed**

Ok everyone, Giveaway Week Day 2 is here!

Today's giveaway is a $40 gift certificate from Lisa Leonard Designs!

Go check out Lisa's page and see her beautiful handmade jewelery.

In case you are new to Giveaway Week, the purpose of this giveaway is to raise money for my trip to Haiti in August. My team will be working in orphanages, schools, and helping in the relief effort, and in the meantime sharing the love of Jesus with a hurting people group. The total trip cost (including airfare) is $1600.00 So every dollar helps! But you don't have to donate to enter the giveaway. Here's what you do:

1. Comment on this post. That's all! Automatic entry.

For extra entries:

2. Subscribe to this blog by RSS feed or subscribe by Email

3. Follow me on twitter AND tweet this giveaway.

4. Donate! Click the button on the upper right side of the blog, or go here to make a secure credit card donation through Pay Pal. You will get 1 extra entry for ANY AMOUNT donated. After that, you will get extra entries for every additional $5 donated. You don't need to tell me how much you donated, just THAT you donated, and I will be able to check on Pay Pal.

You only need to comment once and tell me what you did. :)

If you are NOT a blogger, leave me your e-mail so I can contact you if you win.

This giveaway is open in the U.S. and Canada. It will remain open until Midnight on Tuesday, June 8th. The winner will be announced on Friday, June 11th.

Thank you so much for participating! Come back tomorrow for another giveaway. :) Then come back to read about my trip to Haiti!

**This giveaway is closed**

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Giveaway: Creative Creations By Cristin

2010-05-31T07:12:00.000-07:00

**This giveaway is closed**

It's my first giveaway! Yay! And... I'm doing 4 this week!

Today's giveaway is a total blog makeover from Creative Creations By Cristin! The makeover includes a Header, Sidebar Headers, Custom Navigation Bar, Custom Sidebar Header Graphics, Blog Button and Code, Custom Signature, and a Custom Background.

Go check out Cristin's page and see her lovely designs.

The purpose of this giveaway is to raise money for my trip to Haiti in August. We will be working in orphanages, schools, and helping in the relief effort, and in the meantime sharing the love of Jesus with a hurting people group. The total trip cost (including airfare) is $1600.00 So every dollar helps! But you don't have to donate to enter the giveaway. Here's what you do:

1. Comment on this post. That's all! Automatic entry.

For extra entries:

2. Subscribe to this blog by RSS feed or subscribe by Email

3. Follow me on twitter AND tweet this giveaway.

4. Donate! Click the button on the upper right side of the blog, or go here to make a secure credit card donation through Pay Pal. You will get 1 extra entry for ANY AMOUNT donated. After that, you will get extra entries for every additional $5 donated. You don't need to tell me how much you donated, just THAT you donated, and I will be able to check on Pay Pal.

***UPDATE*** 6/1

5. I'm adding step # 5, because Cristin has been genrerous to offer $1 to every person who follows her blog. So if you do, you'll get an extra entry into the giveaway!

****

You only need to comment once and tell me what you did. :)

This giveaway is open internationally. It will remain open until Midnight on Monday, June 7th. The winner will be announced on Friday, June 11th.

Thank you so much for participating! Come back tomorrow for another giveaway - it's not just for bloggers. :) Then come back to read about my trip to Haiti!

**This giveaway is closed**

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The Help

2010-05-24T18:36:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading The Help, by Kathryn Stockett. It was so good. It made me think, laugh, cry, and think some more. I wanted to share on of my favorite moments from the book.

The first time I was ever called ugly, I was thirteen. It was a rich friend of my brother Carlton's, over to shoot guns in the field.

"Why you crying, girl?" Constantine asked me in the kitchen. I told her what the boy had called me, tears streaming down my face.

"Well, is you?"

I blinked, paused my crying. "Is I what?"

"Now you look a here, Eugenia - Ugly live up on the inside. Ugly be a hurtful, mean person. Is you one a them peoples?"

"I don't know. I don't think so," I sobbed.
Constantine sat down next to me, at the kitchen table. I heard the cracking of her swollen joints. She pressed her thumb hard in the palm of my hand, something we both knew meant Listen. Listen to me.

"Ever morning, until you dead in the ground, you gone have to make this decision." Constantine was so close, I could see the blackness of her gums. "You gone have to ask yourself, Am I gone believe what them fools say about me today?"

The book is amazing. If you haven't read it already, do it. You won't regret it.

P.S. Check out my new sponsor, Lisa Leonard Designs! Lisa creates beautiful, unique handmade jewelery. I've been reading her blog and admiring her jewelery for months, and it turns out we know some people in common! Small world. Come back next week for the chance to win a gift certificate to her lovely store!

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News

2010-05-20T18:25:00.000-07:00

Well, ladies and gents (ok, mostly ladies)... it's happening. I'm going to Haiti!! This August I'll going on a week long mission and relief trip to Haiti.

There is a lot of work to be done on my part, mainly fund raising. I'm in the process of navigating my way through the murky waters of social networking as it relates to fund-raising. To be honest, PR has never been my strong suit. But I'm going to work my butt off to raise the funds, because I believe God is calling me to get out there and serve in the trenches. (Different trenches than the ones I've been in the last 6 months.)

So... be on the lookout, because in the near future I'll be hosting my first giveaway(!!) which, if all goes to plan, will be the first of several. I'm hoping the euphoria of cool, free stuff will lead to a general spirit of generosity in the air, and I'll get some donations to the cause. :)

More details soon, but I would love if you would pray for me in my preparation for what is sure to be an amazing trip. And come back soon for the chance to win some loot!

P.S. In other news... I'm going to be a bridesmaid again!! Dress number 6 on the way to 27! :) Congratulations Kimi and Mike!

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Dancing Machine

2010-05-15T10:47:00.000-07:00

If you don't know my best friend Arletta, you can read a bit about her here. She moved to New York a few months ago to continue pursuing her dancing career in the big apple. I wanted to share this fun video, even though it's not, according to her, "the most artistic or creative thing I've ever done." It's still super fun. It's very hard to see her, but if you want to try she's the tiny one in the red shirt on the far right in the front row. :) Enjoy!

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A Big Thank You

2010-05-11T17:32:00.000-07:00

A huge thank you to Sarah Mae at Like a Warm Cup Of Coffee! In exchange for purchasing a (very cute) pair of earrings in a giveaway contest she was having for her blog, I got a half hour of free blog consultation from Sarah Mae! She probably didn't know, because I remained cool and calm, but honestly I felt like I was talking to a celebrity. :) She was extremely encouraging, and had loads of helpful suggestions for improving and growing my blog. Go and check out her blog if you haven't already, because it's a lovely place to spend some time, and even before the consultation, I had learned a lot from her, and you can too. So thank you, thank you, thank you Sarah Mae! I so appreciate your time and thoughtful suggestions. I can't wait to meet you at Relevant!

Look forward to some exciting changes to Adventures of a Small Town Girl, coming soon.

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Not a Mother... and Mother's Day

2010-05-09T07:21:00.000-07:00

I've been pretty absent from the blogosphere this week. The last couple of weeks have been pretty weird in my life. I had a bit of a health scare, which I was trying to remain calm about but was actually pretty freaked out. The anticlimactic conclusion was that they don't know what's wrong with me, but it's (most likely) nothing serious. In the meantime I got some bloodwork done (which is my least favorite thing on the planet.) And an ultrasound. Yeah, the kind where they put the gel on your belly and look at your insides. Only instead of my uterus, it was my gall bladder. And instead of a baby, there was just some bile. (Sorry to be gross.) I had no idea the affect this process would have on me, but it made me really sad. No baby. No husband. No boyfriend to hold my hand. Thanks for the painful reminder, universe.

So, I'm doing ok now. I'm happy that I'm not dying or anything, which my wild imagination was concerned about. I still have my amazing family and my amazing Jesus. Last week I went to see my friends in SLO and it was an extremely relaxing mini-vacation. And wow, do those girls make me laugh. I'm back to reality now. I'm still thinking about being a foster mama sometime soon, because my life needs to go somewhere. However, it's not likely that I can afford to do that... So if you wanted to pray for me, that would be oh so appreciated. For direction, and guidance, and answers. Thank you friends.

Also, Happy Mother's Day to my sweet Mom who came to my anti-climactic doctor's appointment, "Not because I think there's anything really wrong with you... Just, you know, for support." I didn't really believe her, but it turns out there's nothing really wrong anyway. :) Thanks for the support Mom. I love you.

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Blog Award!

2010-05-02T08:44:00.000-07:00

Thanks so much to Melissa (a.k.a. Miel Abeille) at Reminder List for giving me my first blog award! The Prolific Blogger Award is described this way:

A prolific blogger is one who is intellectually productive, keeping up an active blog with enjoyable content. After accepting this award, recipients are asked to pass it forward to seven other deserving blogs.

So, I happily pass the award to...

Linda at Thoughts On These Things

Julie at DUTCHbeingME

Michelle at SomeGirlsWebSite

Alicia at Confessions of a Snowflake

Stacey at 29 Lincoln Avenue

Rachel at A Steady Rain

Kristy at Learning As They Grow

Story Of My Life: Answered Prayer

2010-04-28T13:44:00.000-07:00

I left a piece out of my salvation story. I mentioned that I found hope in the Delta river, where a bunch of awkward teenagers revealed Jesus to me. What I didn't mention is that nothing actually happened on the houseboat trip. Well, things happened - swimming, mud fights, skits and singing, banana boating, all the good stuff. But no enormous, spiritual transformation occured in my life while I was there. As with everything else in my life, I took it all in, but I needed time to process it. When I returned home, I surveyed the situation. I knew that I was about to leap into something that could bring me unspeakable joy, but it would also bring radical change. And I hate change. I suffer from neophobia, (fear of new things) and I was freaked out. So I prayed, "Lord, I want to live for you. I want hope, and peace, and joy. But I can not do this alone. I need you to show me somehow that I can do this. I need some sign from you that I won't be alone. And then I'm all in. Amen." Yeah, looking back it seems selfish and ridiculous. But God saw me as a heart seeking after Him and being honest about my shortcomings. And He answered my prayer. The next day, one of my closest friends (circa preschool) who had never really claimed any faith, but had been with me on the houseboat trip, called me. She said, matter-of-factly, "I decided to give my life to Jesus. Just thought you should know." That was my amazing, miraculous sign. I think the reason that I left it out of the story is that my precious friend is no longer walking with Jesus. But that doesn't change the fact that she was part of my story. God answered my prayer. And for one glorious summer we worshipped, prayed, and read the bible together. And by the time she walked away from her faith, I was strong enough in mine to do it on my own. And her story is not over.

My story continues with Bumps In The Road and Freedom.

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Friday Follow

2010-04-23T20:11:00.000-07:00

I just discovered a fun way to get to know other bloggers! It's called Friday Follow. If you want to join in the fun, visit One 2 Try, Midday Escapades, or Hearts Make Families and link up!

If you are visiting from Fiday Follow, welcome! So glad you're here. Have a look around and get to know me. :)

Story of My Life: Roots

2010-04-22T20:09:00.000-07:00

Previous Entries in the Story of my Life Series: Salvation

As I mentioned before, I was raised in the Catholic Church.
Before I say more, I want my parents to know that I am absolutely, 100% grateful for my upbringing. Their dedication to their faith, their marriage and our family made me who I am today. Words can't express how much I appreciate being raised in a safe, loving home (especially working with girls who didn't.)

With that said, my experience of faith growing up was that it was: a basic belief system, a label, and a safety net.

Everyone has a basic belief system, right? Humans are descended from monkeys.... The world appeared from nothing with a bang... Everyone is connected... The energy we send out is the energy we get back... How we live life now will affect who we are in the next life... etc. etc. Of course there are people who are unsure about where we came fromn or where we are going, but they still have a belief system. They believe in kindness or selfishness, in community or anarchy... there is something that drives their actions. Growing up, I knew what I believed. God created earth and mankind. Man was sinful, so God sent His son to die so that our sins could be forgiven. We don't have to be perfect, but we should strive to be loving and kind. These beliefs gain us a place in heaven.*

In addition to knowing my basic beliefs, I had a label. "Catholic" was a part of who I was in the same way that "White" or "Irish" or "American" or "student" were. Sometimes those labels were/are important, sometimes not. It was just a part of how I defined myself.

Lastly, my faith was a safety net. Outside of church on Sundays and saying grace before meals, prayer was for asking for God's help. Help for people I knew who were sick or injured, dying or grieving a loss, taking an important test or interview, doing something dangerous or traveling.

My faith, in sum, was a belief/understanding of where I came from, where I was headed, and how I should act. It was a part of how I defined myself, and it was something I turned to when I or someone I knew needed something. Faith is still all of those things for me. But it's so much more.

The Story Of My Life continues with Answered Prayer, Bumps In The Road and Freedom.

*This was my understanding of faith at a young age. If you would like to know the full extent of Christian beliefs, visit your friendly neighborhood church. :) Or feel free to contact me.

New Domain

2010-04-21T14:15:00.000-07:00

Just so you all know, I have changed my domain name. If you are one of my friends or family members who type the name in every time, the new name to type in is: http://www.smalltowncolleen.com/. It's simpler, really, once you get used to it. If you still type in the blogspot address, it will redirect you, but it would be better to get used to the new name. :)

Also, if you don't subscribe to my blog, or even know what that means, there is a way to get updated every time there is a new post on my blog. I am going to explain this in simple terms because I only recently figured it out, so if you already know all about this, don't take offense, and feel free to stop reading now. If you are new to all this, it may seem like a lot, but stick with it, because it makes keeping up with my blog (or anyone else's) much easier.

Here's how to subscribe: there's link at the bottom of every post on my blog that has a little orange square and says "subscribe in reader." If you click on that button, it will take you to a page that has a yellowish box on the upper right that says "Subscribe with Google." When you click on it, it will give you the option to "Add to Google Home Page" or "Add to Google Reader."

If you have a gmail account, select "Add to Google Reader" and enter your e-mail. What will happen now is when you go to your e-mail, you can click on "Reader" (on the upper left-hand side of the page). Every time there is a new post from any blog you subscribe to, it will appear as an "Unread Item" in your reader (just like unread mail does in your inbox).

If you do not have a gmail account, select "Add To Google Homepage." If you have an iGoogle account, sign in. If you don't have an iGoogle account, set one up. All this means is that when you go to the main Google page, you can sign in and have your own settings on the page. Once you do that, you can sign in to your iGoogle account, and in the upper left hand corner of the page, there will be a button that says "Reader." Every time there is a new post from any blog you subscribe to, it will appear as an "Unread Item" in your reader (just like unread mail does in your inbox).

That may seem complicated, but it really isn't bad. Try it, you'll like it. :)

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Relevant 2010

2010-04-17T07:11:00.000-07:00

This October, I will be attending the Relevant conference. This is crazy for a number of reasons:

1) I've never been to a blogging conference in my life, or even thought about going to one.
2) Um, it's in Pennsylvania. I live in California.
3) Large groups of people I don't know make me highly anxious.
4) I will not have met (in person) any of the 200 women there. (Remember #3?)
5) At this point, I'll be flying out there alone, getting to the hotel alone, sleeping alone, and leaving alone.

BUT

I'm soo excited!! I've been blogging for less than two years now, and only recently have I discovered that God wants to use my little ole' blog for His purposes. Since then, everywhere I turn, I see/hear something about the Relevant Conference. I am confident that He is going to bless this conference and use it to grow and teach me, and all the other women there. And through their blogs, I'm starting to get to know some of the amazing women attending, and can't wait to meet them in person!

So, to the ladies who are atteding: If you or someone that you know who is going needs a roommate and/or travel buddy, let me know! I also have a Relevant page on my blog for this purpose, and in the hopes of getting to know some of you, so check it out.

Today I'm featured on Gather Inspirit, so thanks to Chele and the other lovely ladies over there for putting that together so we can get to know each other.

I can't wait for the conference!!

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Multitude Monday

2010-04-12T20:46:00.000-07:00

This week I'm thankful for...

102. A steady job/paycheck
104. Board games
105. Sunshine
108. Getting some quality time with my sister Kelly

109. Curiosity
110. Imagination
116. The smell of a barbeque
121. Fits of giggles
122. Free Coffee
129. Getting to visit with my good friend Kimi

130. French fries
132. Time to myself
133. Living in a breathtakingly beautiful place
142. My snuggle bug (a.k.a. Penny)

143. My sugar booger (a.k.a. Rocky)

145. Freedom
151. God's provision
157. Developing relationships
158. Singing
161. Pajamas

The rest of the list is under 1,000 Gifts at the top of the page.

Join the Gratitude Community at A Holy Experience:

Story of My Life: Salvation

2010-04-09T17:43:00.000-07:00

I have believed in God as long as I can remember. Although raised in the (Catholic) Church, during my childhood and adolescence I experienced God more outside the church than in. I heard Him in the sound of children's laughter, felt Him in the warm, summer breeze against my shoulders, saw Him in the kindness of strangers, and felt His love demonstrated in the beauty and faithfulness of the sunrise. Despite my confidence in His existence, the world beckoned, and I sought excitement and satisfaction elsewhere - if you haven't yet been or can't remember being a teenager, consult a teen flick and you'll know what I mean. (Don't let your imaginations run too wild - I was still a pretty good girl.) My freshman year in high school, tragedy struck and my world changed. Two very close friends of my family passed away, both unthinkably young, and in completely separate but equally tragic circumstances. Suddenly going to dances, cruising the mall, and talking about boys was not quite cutting it. Life was short, cruel, and unfair from my new perspective, and what was the point of it all, really? After about a year of seeking various ways to ignore, suppress, numb, deflect or deny my painful emotions, I found hope. By some completely non-coincidental series of events that seemed random at the time, I ended up going on a houseboat trip with a church that I had casually (mainly socially) attended in junior high. I saw people who were joyful, peaceful, and genuine. People who had hope, and were not just living for the moment, but for eternity. I saw Jesus in them. I recognized the voice that had been whispering my name throughout my life, but now that voice was calling out, "Come to me! Rest in me. I have what you need." And I went to Him. And in Him I found abounding hope, limitless joy, profound peace, and unconditional, crazy love. Nothing has ever been the same. Thank God for that.

More of the Story of My Life in Roots, Answered Prayer, Bumps In The Road, and Freedom.

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Multitude Monday... Er, Tuesday

2010-04-06T09:19:00.000-07:00

I am one day behind on this post too, but I've been working diligently on counting my blessings this week, so I wanted to share. I will be posting the highlights on Mondays, but if you are interested in viewing the whole list (with added pictures) you can click the "One Thousand Gifts" link at the top of my blog (under the header/picture at the top.)

3/30/10 - 4/5/10

I am grateful for...

19. God working through me
20. Heart-to-hearts
22. Lions, Tigers, and Bears Oh My! (as seen at Wild Things in Salinas, CA)

38. Naps
39. Sweet friends
41. Sleeping in
42. Snuggles with my pups
43. Mindless television
44. Catching up with my best friend, Arletta:

45. New life! (Welcome Tyce Jeffrey Thompson!)
46. A stable family
47. Days off
52. My salvation

54. Cake

61. Getting dressed up
62. Seeing some of my SLO girls:
63. Krissy
64. Brittany
65. Camille
66. Mollie! (Home from Wisconsin)

67. Friends who are as sarcastic as I am (maybe even moreso...)
72. Philosophical debates (oddly started by the question, "what's your favorite color?")

74. A new engagement - congratulations to my sweet friend Jenn and her fiance Kenny!

76. Jesus' resurrection!
79. Going to church on a Sunday morning!
80. Worshipping with a huge room full of believers
83. Getting to spend the afternoon with my WHOLE family
84. Four nieces and nephews that I adore

85. Hearing a profound worship song out of a 3 year old's mouth (Bennett)
86. My 5 year old nephew Tommy, who knows the names of ACDC songs
87. Watching my niece Ally (10 yrs.) jump rope in the rain
88. The scrunched-nose smiles and mischevious giggles from Elodie (age 1)
89. A shard, home cooked, delicious meal
90. The best Easter I've had in a very long time!
95. Singing in the car
99. A nice dinner out
100. Getting to visit with (another!) old friend, Ginger

Happy Easter

2010-04-05T07:27:00.000-07:00

This post is a little belated, because I had a very busy Easter. It was amazing to get to go to church and see my whole family, instead of working all day. Despite the rain, it was a beautiful day!

Jesus' Tomb:

The Door To The Tomb:

The writing says, He Is Not Here - He Is Risen!

Hope everyone had a blessed Easter!

Good Friday

2010-04-02T17:39:00.000-07:00

He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter; And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.

Isaiah 53:7

Then Jesus said, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do."

Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, "Father into Your hands I commit my spirit." Having said this, He breathed His last.

Luke 23: 34, 45-46

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

Isaiah 53:5

My feet on the ground where Jesus was beaten.

Golgatha, where Jesus was crucified:

Holy Thursday

2010-04-01T21:17:00.000-07:00

"Father, if it is your will, take this cup away from me; nevertheless not my will but yours be done."

Luke 22:42

Me, in the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus spoke these words the night before He died.

Words of Encouragement

2010-03-30T18:02:00.000-07:00

Today my sweet co-worker, Martina, who does not have a relationship with Jesus (yet) or associate with any religion, said to me, "You're a great example to me of a Christian person. You mean what you say and your actions are in line with your words."

Best. Compliment. Ever.

Multitude Monday: A Thousand Gifts

2010-03-29T16:04:00.000-07:00

Ann at A Holy Experience has inspired me to begin counting gifts/blessings, and see how long it takes me to get to 1,000. Passion week seems like a great time to start. I have a feeling that counting my blessings will change my outlook and attitude... I'll let you know. ;) I will be posting the highlights on (some) Mondays, but the full list is here if anyone is interested. Click the link above if you would like to join the gratitude community.

I am grateful for...

1. Spring

2. Getting out of the house early enough to see the sunrise

3. My adorable co-worker, Martina 4. Patience

5. Teamwork
6. Learning something new every day
7. A few extra hours of free time
8. Comic relief
9. Rare motivation to be productive
10. Finishing my taxes!
11. Encouragement
12. The blogging community
13. Squirrels

14. The in-between weather
15. A week of reflecting on and celebrating Jesus' sacrifice
16. Rain
17. Coffee
18. Compliments
19. God working through me
20. Heart-to-hearts
21. Getting paid to do fun activities (some days)
22. Lions, Tigers, and Bears Oh My! (as seen at Wild Things in Salinas, CA)

23. High fives
24. Hope for the future
25. Good timing (ex: finding my parents' dog in the street on the way home from work)
26. Music
27. The Couch

28. Unexpected surprises (ex: getting most of Easter off!)
29. Phone calls from friends
30. Having something to look forward to (A day of fun on Easter)
31. The beautiful full moon still available for my viewing pleasure at 6:30 a.m.
32. All varieties of personalities - they keep life interesting
33. Never having been arrested
34. The fact that my skin is mouch tougher than it used to be (figuratively)
35. Getting to go to the movies for work
36. The occasional good cry
37. Hugs

38. Naps
39. Sweet friends
40. My "Friday" (which is usually on a Tuesday)
41. Sleeping in
42. Snuggles with my pups
43. Mindless television
44. Catching up with my best friend, Arletta:

45. New life! (Welcome Tyce Jeffrey Thompson!)
46. A stable family
47. Days off
48. Antibiotics (modern medicine in general)
49. Health insurance
50. The free time that singleness affords me
51. Jesus' death on the cross
52. My salvation
53. Learning some more patience
54. Cake

55. Fun in the kitchen
56. Quitting time (3 pm)
57. Church
58. My hair
59. Seeing old friends
60. Learning flexibility
61. Getting dressed up
62. Seeing some of my SLO girls:

63. Krissy 64. Brittany 65. Camille

66. Mollie! (Home from Wisconsin)

67. Friends who are as sarcastic as I am (maybe even moreso...)
68. Catching up
69. Bridal Showers
70. Story telling
71. Learning new things about old friends
72. Philosophical debates (oddly started by the question, "what's your favorite color?")
73. Wedding season (in life in general)
74. A new engagement - congratulations to my sweet friend Jenn and her fiance Kenny!

75. Feeling like I had a vacation in one day
76. Jesus' resurrection!
77. A short day at work
78. Baby steps (a mumbled "good morning" instead of being yelled at when I woke one of the girls)
79. Going to church on a Sunday morning!
80. Worshipping with a huge room full of believers
81. Tears of joy
82. Feeling God's prescence
83. Getting to spend the afternoon with my WHOLE family
84. Four nieces and nephews that I adore

85. Hearing a profound worship song out of a 3 year old's mouth (Bennett)
86. My 5 year old nephew Tommy, who knows the names of ACDC songs
87. Watching my niece Ally (10 yrs.) jump rope in the rain
88. The scrunched-nose smiles and mischevious giggles from Elodie (age 1)
89. A shard, home cooked, delicious meal
90. The best Easter I've had in a very long time!
91. The peace and quiet in the morning when the girls (my clients) are asleep
92. April showers that bring May flowers

93. A sweet excited face when I woke up one of the girls and offered to take her to the movies
94. Shared interests
95. Singing in the car
96. A mellow afternoon
97. Rejuvinating hot showers
98. My spaz-tastic dogs
99. A nice dinner out
100. Getting to visit with (another!) old friend, Ginger

101. Waking up to the sound of birds chirping
102. A steady job/paycheck
103. The first day back to school after Spring break - refreshed children!
104. Board games
105. Sunshine
106. Sleep
107. My car
108. Getting some quality time with my sister Kelly

109. Curiosity
110. Imagination
111. The stumbling toddle of a new walker
112. Beautiful weather
113. Natural bodies of water
114. Ducks and geese
115. Walks
116. The smell of a barbeque
117. American Idol
118. Smiles
119. Shared experiences
120. The smell of sunscreen
121. Fits of giggles
122. Free Coffee
123. GPS systems (I don't have one, but they're just cool)
124. The wonder of childhood
125. Slides
126. Movies
127. Shopping
127. A new dress!
128. Great deals
129. Getting to visit with my good friend Kimi

130. French fries
131. My i-pod
132. Time to myself
133. Living in a breathtakingly beautiful place
134. Green, rolling hills
135. Lupin
136. Already having had my wisdom teeth taken out
137. Reminders to be thankful
138. Free meals at work
139. The meadow
140. Quiet times
141. God's Word
142. My snuggle bug (a.k.a. Penny)

143. My sugar booger (a.k.a. Rocky) 144. Healthy pups!

145. Freedom
146. Worship time in the car
147. Clouds
148. The Holy Spirit
149. Quiet mornings
150. Really easy days at work
151. God's provision
152. Future events to be excited about
153. Ambition
154. Humility
155. Rest
156. Getting to chat with a girl in juvenile hall
157. Developing relationships
158. Singing
159. Driving
160. Animals
161. Pajamas
162. Change
163. Reunions
164. Prayer
165. Building trust
166. Wildflowers
167. Oak trees
168. Country music
169. Time to sit outside and enjoy
170. Getting to visit with Leah
171. Inspiration
172. Amazing women of the bible
173. Amazing women in the church
174. Great authors
175. Words of wisdom
176. Learning new things
177. An excellent dinner made by yours truly
178. Feeling like a grown up
179. Feeling like a kid
180. Technology
181. The human brain
182. The difference between men and women
183. Book stores
184. Meatballs (especially pesto ones)
185. Jeapordy
186. Wheel of Fortune
187. Exploring
188. Jasmine flowers
189. Golden retrievers
190. Labrador retrievers
191. Pain relievers
192. Independence
193. Competence
194. Walks
195. Freedom
196. Diversity
197. Closure
198. Moving on
199. Cake
200. Support systems
201. Agape love
202. Thoughtful words
203. Community
204. Visiting new places
205. Live music
206. Art
207. Pay-offs
208. Driving
209. Church
210. Worship
211. Bright colors
212. Seeing beauty everywhere
213. Eye candy
214. Learning experiences
215. Common ground

Palm Sunday

2010-03-28T08:32:00.001-07:00

The crowds spread out their coats on the road ahead of Jesus. As they reached the place where the road started down from the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen.

"Bless the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in highest heaven!"

But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, "Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!"

He replied, "If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would immediately cry out."

Luke 19:36-40

This is my favorite part of the Triumphal Entry. I have always had a picture in my mind of my God, my King, Jesus, riding into the city on a donkey (arguably not the world's fanciest animal) Simple clothing, simple transportation, but still a King. And as his followers praise him with palm branches, others rebuke those who worship the Lord. I picture His face, calm and serene, looking at them and simply replying, "If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would immediately cry out."

And as I stood there, on the hill where my Lord entered that amazing city, I picked up a few of the rocks from the road. I imagined them bursting into praises, and to be honest, I kind of wished they would, because that would be something to behold. But they didn't have to, because I do it for them. Do you?

Pictured above: moments after my much less triumphant entry into Jerusalem, with my friend Jenn.

My Favorite Places

2010-03-26T18:15:00.000-07:00

No need to explain, really, just wanted to share. Some of my favorite places on earth:

Jerusalem, Israel

Honfluer, France

Toledo, Spain

Monteverde, Costa Rica

New York City, New York

Portland, Oregon

Grover Hot Springs, California

Disneyland! Anaheim, California

Any place that involves these four faces:

And, of course, Home!

Carmel, California

Penny Lane and Rocky Racoon (And Me)

Carmel Valley, California (Actual Home)

To join in the fun, visit Gypsy Mama.

Ministry of Writing

2010-03-22T16:38:00.000-07:00

I started this blog in order to keep my friends and family on the California coast updated on what and how I was doing in Portland, Oregon. Since then it has become something else entirely. The blogging world is, at times, like a second home. It is a place to escape to, a place to process the things that I experience, and the things that God is teaching me. And lately, He has been teaching me a LOT. Probably because I have finally put my listening ears on. I have been praying a lot lately about what, where, and who God wants me to be. I am 26 years old, single, with a Bachelor's degree that doesn't do me any good, and about a third of a Master's Degree, which, at least for now, I'm not finishing. The thing I'm most excited about in life is being a wife and mom, but my husband is nowhere in sight. And, when I returned to California, God dropped me right back in my hometown, exactly where I never thought I'd end up. So, I spent a few months moping and wallowing in self-pity. Then I decided not to waste this season in my life being bummed out. And I am beginning to fall in love with Jesus again, right in the place where I fell in love with Him in the first place. What do you know?

So, as I mentioned, I have been praying about what God has for me. I haven't gotten a big, booming answer, but I feel like things are heading in the right direction. I will share more about the things that I discover about His plans as I discover them. The main purpose of this post, however, is to share my most recent discovery, which may affect you readers.

As you may or may not know about me, one of my passions is writing. I dream of writing a book someday, but that seems like a huge, insurmountable task, especially considering that I have a B.S. in Child Development, and took no more than the base requirements in college English. When I do sit down to write, just for the sake of writing, I often draw a blank. I have at times wondered if this passion of mine is just a futile waste of time. But recently, I discovered that it is not. The other day, literally moments after praying for God to show me how I can better serve Him, I sat down to read. I am reading a book called Lady in Waiting: Becoming God's Best While Waiting For Mr. Right, by Jackie Kendall and Debby Jones. A book that I was pretty embarrassed to buy, mainly because of the title, but which has been so good for me. This is what I opened up to read that day:

The Ministry of Writing

This ministry requires pen, paper, and a willing heart. Much of the New Testament was originally written as letter to believers. An encouraging letter or post card [read: or blog post; this book was written before the internet. Gasp!] can be read and re-read. The Lord wants you to be involved in the lives of those around you and writing is one of those opportunities.

Wow. Talk about a very clear answer to prayer. It also co-incided with my discovery of other women's blogs that are so encouraging to my heart, so why shouldn't mine be the same? I want to be sure that those in my life who do not share the same belief system as I do (and there are many of you) understand that I do not want to force my beliefs down your throat. But I do want to share and encourage in the best way I know how. And since Jesus is my hope and my joy, He is the way I know how. I will still share silly anecdotes and pictures of my adventures, but my blog has a higher calling now. ;) Buckle your seatbelts.

Beauty

2010-03-19T20:12:00.000-07:00

Beauty.

How do you feel when you think of that word? Enthralled? Excited? Proud? Insecure? Disappointed? Restentful?

My guess is most women land in the category of the last few adjectives. I know I often do. But guess what? I am beautiful. And so are you.

In a previous post, I quoted John and Stasi Eldrige from their book Captivating: "Many of us have hardened our hearts to this desire, the desire to be the Beauty. We have been hurt so deeply in this area that we no longer identify with, perhaps even resent, the longing. But it's there. We desire to possess a beauty that is worth pursuing, worth fighting for, a beauty that is core to who we truly are. We want beauty that can be seen; beauty that can be felt; beauty that affects others; a beauty all our own to unveil." This quote, along with the majority of the book, spoke to my utterly feminine and romantic heart.

In a recent conversation with a male friend, he wondered aloud (out of curiosity, not meanness) at the insecurity that many women possess. He compared the compliments that he gives women as very carefully wrapped gifts, that women just throw in the proverbial garbage can by saying "oh no, that's not true."

This friend of mine is not the only one who feels hurt by a woman's lack of self-worth. Our creator, our king, is enthralled by our beauty. (Psalm 45:11) He gave it to us, in place of ashes. He wants us to own it, to rejoice in it, and in Him. You are a daughter of a King, which makes you a princess. And He thinks YOU are beautiful. His opinion is the only one that matters, in the end. Remind yourself of that when you need a little self-confindence boost. I do.

Read other women's thoughts on beauty on Sarah Markley's blog this week.