two things: writing and rest

Two things I want to be better at: 1. Writing. 2. Resting.
1. Writing. This is mainly because I love to write. But of course I write all of the time, we all do. Lately I've been writing an average of 30-40 emails per work-day. And in these work emails most of the people I am emailing are meeting me for the first time via email. Now that's some pressure to write... Okay, not too bad, but I've experienced some complications from this. I'm also in need of a writing upgrade because in my new job, a have projects where I am asked to use a lot of skills that didn't seem to stick from my Technical Writing class at good ole Evangel. Go Crusaders. It was a good class too. Tiny room, but good class. Maybe I just need another one. Maybe I'm just rusty.
2. Resting. Today is Sunday. Did you know in the definition of Sunday it says "observed by Christians as a day of rest"? So I promised myself pajama pants and cups of hot whatever all day long. Instead I did way too many productive things that didn't involve pjs and hot cups of coffee or tea. I washed my car. I did all three loads of my laundry. I worked on a funding letter (this is why #1 exists). I basically completed every to-do list item I could think of before I head to Europe this week. Am I Martha instead of Mary? Can one be too productive?

At least my car is clean. And I did drink some coffee too. Not too bad... I'm growing. If you meet me in an email though go easy on me.

renewal meetings

So this week has been fun (which is sort of an understatement). IHOP-KC has been in nightly meetings this whole week due to a move of the Holy Spirit. What started out as some anointed IHOP-U (the University here) classes has turned into a huge renewal - where people are getting set free of eating disorders, broken-ness, addictions, and physical healings are beginning to break out.. basically all sorts of good things are happening. They have moved the prayer room to IHOP's bigger building (FSM building) from 6pm-12am, and every night thousands are gathering - in the building and on the free webstream (find it on www.ihop.org). I've been among them. I still can't believe I actually get to live here. I'm walking around with a big cheesy grin on my face these days. I'm loving watching and participating in prayer as people get before God and get set free from major addictions, issues from past, healing, etc etc etc.
Come and visit. You definitely won't be sad that you did. Everyone around here seems to be riding the joy bus. :)

Yey, I'm all settled and ready to go.

Tomorrow is my first full day of being on full time staff here at IHOP. I'm really excited to get back into a schedule after not having one for so long. It's strange because months ago, while working a full time in Springfield, all I could think about is how mundane life got in the midst of routine. I complained of it being too boring, getting home at the same time every day and doing the same thing on wednesday that I did last wednesday, etc, etc. But now, after being completely out of one for several months I realized that I was crazy. I neeeed a schedule. And it really feels good to have one in place tomorrow.
Anyway, so i'm excited. I've realized this week as I've been settling in how being on staff at IHOP in KC has actually been a dream of mine for quite some time...like since I was around 21 (that would be 6 years ago..I'm getting old-er). The thought of doing what my heart loves to do, being close to family and friends, and having friends here in Kansas City - yeah, it's nice. The Lord keeps telling me this is going to be a season of joy and love...and it feels like it's starting right now as I lay my little head down because I have to get up early tomorrow and start a new season.
Yey. Yey. Yey.

i have a really cool family.

I am really really really blessed with a great family, and felt that way all day long as I spent it with them.
Today my mom and dad came to visit me in Kansas City with a truck full of my furniture and in the midst saw a good half of my extended family in the process. After we unloaded the initial furniture, we picked up my grandma and went to get a beautiful, very comfortable, red chair that my aunt asked if I wanted earlier this weekend. Later went with my mom and grandmother to the grocery store where I pushed the cart and as my grandma and mom put things in it for me. And after that, Arin joined us at my other aunt's house for weekly pizza night where we all sat around eating and talking together. Then I said goodbyes, got home, unloaded groceries, and spent the rest of the night in the prayer room thanking God for the blessing that is my family. Seriously thanking God for them. They are unbelievably cool.
So all that to say: 1. I'm spoiled. 2. I'm really excited to live in Kansas City and share a city with my grandma, aunts, uncles, and cousins. It's going to be so fun living in the same city as extended family and getting to spend more time with them, as well as be so close to the rest of my family and all while doing what my heart loves here in KC.
i'm a happy spoiled 27 year old. Here's some pictures to show off mi family.

new blog i follow: sharedsugar.com

Two of my talented best friends, Mara and Kesha, have recently joined forces to bring to you a blog full of homemade goodies.
Check it out. You'll be glad you did: www.sharedsugar.com

the honda dealership update

Stuck at the honda dealership at the moment, killing some time getting emails out of the way. All while my little Accord gets a new timing belt on it. Whew. Expensive. They are serving free lunch here at the dealership. What a novel idea. I gotta say I love the Honda dealership here in Charlotte, some of the nicest service people ever.
Anyway...
So Charlotte has been good. Mostly I've been helping people pack up to move to Kansas City. Lots of boxes and lots of tape. Also coffee. There's lots of that too. Been to Rusan's for sushi, watched some movies on the wonderful brown Quint couch and a dollar flick with some pizza, and gotten some good time praying at 24/7 broiler room.
God has been kind and my limp is gone, no more random ankle issues. I'm excited to get out to Kansas City and then take a ministry trip out to Amsterdam and Germany. We will be gone from November 27 - December 11th. Amsterdam is starting an internship with YWAM/IHOP and are having speakers come in to help. They are starting prayer on the red light district as well as doing evangelism stuff in the area. I'll give a full report from the trip for sure. Should be interesting. Here's a little info:
http://www.ywamamsterdam.org/imi.htm
http://www.ywamamsterdam.org/index.htm

Well, that's a little report from me...gonna go snag a hot dog now.

a mystery hour clip

Hi friends. I thought I would share with you a Mystery Hour clip. If you don't know what the mystery hour is - it's my brother in law's live talk show he does once a month.
Last night I missed him and my sister so I was showing my wonderful roomate Faith clips from his show. She laughed. You will too. (If you happen to want to look up more you can you tube it or go to www.themysteryhour.com)

I'm still a pilgrim x2: my right ankle

In all this walking I have somehow gotten a limp. Two mornings ago I woke up and unexplainably and my right ankle was screaming with pain. Not swollen, no random spider bites, no real explanation - just pain that made it frustratingly hard to walk. The pain subsided yesterday for most of the day, but as I was just sitting here revisiting my theme-y Psalm 84 verse the pain shot back. So the ankle pain is randomly sitting here with me as I type and is saying hi.

I know following sounds crazy, but I'm going to take the unexplainable pain in my ankle as a reminder to keep walking. To keep moving forward on this little pilgrimage that I am undergoing.
(ps. I found out today that my suitcase lifestyle will remain awhile longer, as I am going to Amsterdam and Germany on a ministry trip at the end of November until mid December!!)

"As they pass through the Valley of Baca (weeping), They make it a spring. The rain also covers it with pools (blessings). They go from strength to strength..." psalm 84:6
Here's something interesting - this verse says that the pilgrims make the valley of weeping a spring. And the rain covers the valley with blessings. Translated: we, the pilgrims along the journey, make the valley a spring. And if we do that, the rain (my theory is God) covers the valley with blessings. COOL!
Point being that in our struggles along our journey we are called to make those struggles our springs. The struggles and valley of weeping all the sudden become good things. The things we learn and grow from. And out of that place God gives us blessing.
...We will go from strength to strength.

Still working on studying this. Just thought me and my bum ankle would write on it for a minute. Any thoughts?