Thoughts and time.

I'm sitting at my parents breakfast nook.

No one else is home.

My dad set up the coffee maker to make me a perfect cup of strong coffee before he left this morning.

There is a note from mom about having "real Nuremberger bratwursts" for dinner. But she asks it as a question because she always wants to make sure we all approve. Need to remember to tell my sister.

I want to remember this moment. It almost feels tangible.

Little things.

Time to notice.

Time to pray for people that I love.

Time to offer thanks.

Sitting with my dad...

Dad and I are both in the kitchen. I just ate some popcorn and he is working on his carbo- loading(bread with butter at the moment). He is playing his lute - which he ordered this past spring and is already very good. Very good as in - can play many of his Bach guitar pieces but on the lute. I wish I could paint the entire picture - not really for anyone else but so I can remember this moment...It is the coolest thing to watch.

My morning started on the back deck with a cup of coffee and the Ohio paper - and then dad and I watched a cricket enjoying the sun on the deck, that is till dad poked it with a leaf and it hopped off. Hopped off the deck about 15 feet to their ravine in the back yard. We discussed McCain/Obama, John Eldredge, music, Nigeria and so much more.

Now we are going to meet my sister at her office at Akron Univ. and then get our numbers for the Akron Marathon/Marathon Relay.

good food...for me...

I spoke at a local christian school on Wednesday, before the tornadoes that closed the school early, before my Wednesday ministries, before I finished packing, before the church's entire internet network shut down for 3 days.
Anyways, I was asked to come and share with a class about how I ended up in the job that I am in...especially since I am in Youth ministry. I wrote out a couple things that I could talk about before I got there because she said that the class really doesn't respond too much to people that speak and they probably wouldn't answer questions if I asked them. So can I say - that I was really, really looking forward to this opportunity(please note the sarcasm).
I decided to tell different parts of my story - and to help them all realize that they have a story - they talked, answered questions, and at least weren't too bored. hahaha. And I loved it. I love students. I love sharing my story.
I am at Youth Specialties national youth workers convention in Cincinnati - which I have mixed feelings about coming to, since I went to soooo many when I worked for Interlinc. Well, so far it has been good. I have slept a lot, listened a lot, learned some, gone running a couple of times and seen many great friends...and right now am listening to Ohio State and Michigan fans cheer on the game...oh, and I enjoyed learning from Donald Miller last night.
On Wednesday before I wrote out my outline to speak to the class - I found my last journal entry from this past February.
I always journal.
Until February.
I was on my home from skiing in CO with friends and it had been a week since my family found out that dad had Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. I had a hard time writing that journal because I like to have conclusions...and I didn't have any...so Wednesday, I read my entry and realized that I have shut down something in me...I don't really know what and I don't know if I can get it back right now...but I haven't really blogged on here as much recently - so I am going to write again. Get my thoughts on paper - or online or on Microsoft word.
I have always found healing when I pray in written word or work out my struggles/questions/hopes on paper...
I went to the worship/prayer room yesterday and left a few things at God's feet.
So now.
Now.
I am praying that you fill me Father.
And that you hold my dad.
And I am flippin excited to get to go home in 2 days for Thanksgiving.
I am thankful.
for life.
for hope.
for family.
for my Jesus.
for friends.
for opportunities to live Christ in the world
and for forgiveness when I don't.