Savor. 651-700

651. Nickel Creek's "Doubting Thomas" & remembering all the stories & youth connected to it

652. Finding a 7-11 in Kanab, UT - which means a yummy Slushie.

653. Buying way too many bags of Trolli egg gummies.

654. Realizing that our hotel in Kanab is right next to the Escalante Staircase Visitor Center

655. Driving down a road just far enough to see if we could catch the sunset

656. Seeing at least 20 deer cross the road and chase their friends

657. Belgium waffles at hotel breakfasts.

658. Walking next door to the visitor center to register for the Wave

659. The fact that they only let 20 people hike the wave every day - to keep that land protected

660. Being the number four in the lottery for The Wave

661. Speaking German with a French/German couple

662. Not winning a permit for the Wave on Saturday

663. Driving three hours north east to the Hole in the Rock dirt road. 

664. Only getting to mile 16 out of the 26 miles on the dirt road.

665. Exploring the 25 mile Wash.

666. Stepping into mud or quicksand and being able to laugh about it and get my boots out

667. Climbing a cottonwood tree

668. Getting off the Hole in the Rock road before it rained on us. Didnt' want to get stuck in the mud.

669. The beautiful scenery that changes before your eyes

670. A second morning eating Belgium waffles - I really like them! So yummy!

671. Watching a couple from Japan celebrate because they got a permit for the Wave 

672. Driving over to Arizona for the day.

673. Finding a Sonic & drinking a Route 44 Cherry Limeaid

674. Sitting at the edge of Horseshoe Bend, AZ

675. New adventures

676. Experiencing Red Mountain Resort with Michelle

677. Yummy and healthy food

678. Access to a variety of hot tea all day long

679. Early morning hikes in the Red Rocks

680.  Trying new workouts back to back

681. Riding bikes to have coffee in a neighboring village

682. Laughing. A lot.

683. Trying to open wine without a wine opener

684. Sabbath by lying in a hammock for the afternoon

685. Walking the labyrinth by myself surrounded by red mountains

686. Meeting Deedre and Kim on one of the morning hikes

687. Running into Abby while getting my haircut with Merrill! I love small reunions!

688. Experiencing The Summit Youth Ministry conference for the second time.

689. Catching up,with Anne at dinner in Atlanta

690. Lunch with my YMCP guys

691. Meeting & listening to the guy behind the Kid President share how God is using them

692. Listening to speakers and feeling so thankful that I do what do & how we do it

693. Sonny's barbecue

694. A slice of pizza from the best pizza place ever in Atlanta

695. Love when friends come into town

696. Wine tasting with Candis at Arrington Vineyards

697. Talking about guys with Candis and her friends

698. Yard Sales. Don't like them but thankful for the people who give and the people who buy so my youth can raise money

699. Laughter with my youth after an entire today together at the yard sale

700. Face timing with my dad and Grace

"Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving." - W.T. Purkiser

Keeping my eyes above the waves...

I have a tendency to listen certain songs over and over. Typically they are songs that evoke some kind of response out of me. This week while driving around Alaska - there have definitely been a few that have been on repeat.

Some of the singers/songs:

Ingrid Michaelson
Maybe:
I don't wanna be the first to let it go
But I know, I know, I know
If you have the last hands that I want to hold
Then I know I've got to let them go

Everybody:
Happy is the heart that still feels pain
Darkness drains and light will come again
Swing open your chest and let it in
Just let the love, love, love begin

Philip Philips
Gone, Gone, Gone:
Like a drum, baby, don't stop beating- I freakin love this song right now!

Garrison Starr
Gasoline:
And I wish I could save you
From all the shrieking voices
Inside your head that rip you to shreds
And tell you lies
Like there's no happiness to find


And THE ONE that keeps taking my breath away today is from Hillsongs latest album
Oceans - Where feet may fail:

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior


That first line...Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders??? Really? No borders? What if I'm trusting in the wrong thing? How do I honestly know when it comes to the matters I have questions about?

My trust has so many borders - it almost pisses me off. I've cried today while listening to this song. Gotten angry. Even had moments of profound hope. I wish I was in a place to completely trust. But I'm not sure that its possible for me to trust God without borders.

I AM trying.

My favorite part of this song are these six lines - and they are repeated six times. Reminds me of Taize songs or even a longer breath prayer.

In my moments of profound hope today - I have actually said (to myself), "I'm in love with my life!" Which would crack me up.

I'm not exactly sure what is NEXT in my life but lately I've been smack in the middle of something hard. As well as beautiful. I like the steps I've taken. I'm sharing my heart more. I've cried a lot. I'm taking risks. I'm trying to be present even when I want to shut down(that's the hardest for me).

In the something next - I don't know how much of the story that I'm in the middle of now will continue but what I do know is that I'm trying to approach it all as a celebration.

I'm ok if I'm not able to trust God without borders. But I'm planning to repeat those six lines over and over as a prayer until they do become truer in my life.

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.

songs...worship...real...faith

Patty Griffin's song..."When it don't come easy".

Dang, I haven't listened to this song in a couple of months and it almost made me cry to hear it on one of my friends page. I love it that music/songs get in and create such an emotional response when I least expect it. You know when you almost feel it in your bones - that kind of reaction. So I am adding the song to my page - thanks Jeff, for letting me steal it!
Why now? Honestly, probably cause I am tired because I just got back from my Sr High Youth retreat. But I also had the opportunity to sing this song at a friends wedding two years ago, and while I was learning it, I was trying to move on from a pretty big relationship and figure out what to do next in my life. It was a huge transition period for me. Do I go back to school? Go into youth ministry? Work at Starbucks? I remember listening to this song over and over and wanting to share...to share - to draw others in and help them understand that it won't be easy but they aren't alone.

I long. I hope. I know. I love. I hurt. I yearn. I believe.

Life seems so hard at times, so alone. Even when surrounded by so many. I want someone to know me to my core...to stand with me.

I think the hardest thing for me, is when one of my students or friends comes to me - and they are trying so hard to see God, to hear His voice, and they still can't. For whatever reason. But the reality is, it happens to me as well.

Believing when you feel nothing.

Hebrews 11:1 (The Message)The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It's our handle on what we can't see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd.

Red lights are flashing on the highway
I wonder if we're gonna ever get home
I wonder if we're gonna ever get home tonight
Everywhere the waters getting rough
Your best intentions may not be enough
I wonder if we're gonna ever get home tonight

But if you brake down
I'll drive out and find you
If you forget my love
I'll try to remind you
And stay by you when it don't come easy

I don't know nothing except change will come
Year after year what we do is undone
Time keeps moving from a crawl to a run
I wonder if we're gonna ever get home

You're out there walking down a highway
And all of the signs got blown away
Sometimes you wonder if you're walking in the wrong direction

But if you brake down
I'll drive out and find you
If you forget my love
I'll try to remind you
And stay by you when it don't come easy

So many things that I had before
That don't matter to me now
Tonight I cry for the love that I've lost
And the love I've never found
When the last bird falls
And the last siren sounds
Someone will say what's been said before
Some love we were looking for

But if you brake down
I'll drive out and find you
If you forget my love
I'll try to remind you
And stay by you when it don't come easy