July 27 - GoG 207
Did I do anything at all today?
What grace!
. . . about life lessons, parenting lessons, and faith lessons learned and LEARNING!
Saturday, August 21, 2010
GoGs 204-206: The PA/WV Adventure ... or lack thereof
Well, I'm gonna cheat a bit for the next couple of posts. I wrote about them on my bucket list blog. The story is too much work to tell twice, so here's the story of my wanna-be trip to Pittsburgh for a youth work camp.
Got back from Pennsylvania AND West Virginia on Monday night ... it was an interesting weekend. Saturday morning around 8:00, I left my house to head for Pittsburgh. A work camp full of teenagers awaited me there. Or not. I had set out to volunteer as a behind the scenes leader on the trip, cleaning bathrooms, sweeping floors, keeping the lodging facility spic and span for the week. But when I got to Pittsburgh, no one was anywhere to be found. I had arrived the night before to get settled in and have dinner with the staff. So I waited around for while, but no one came. I called 3 or 4 different numbers to get ahold of someone ... anyone! ... at the organization. Nada. So I decided to head out of Pittsburgh to find a hotel for the night. Stayed in a Motel 6 that night, got some Bob Evans for breakfast the next morning, and headed back to the facility for registration and welcoming the campers. Ha! But no one was there once again. I was beyond confused at this point. I continued calling the numbers I was given in case of questions or emergencies. No one answered. I walked next door to a church that was just finishing up its Sunday morning service, or so it appeared to be.
"Do y'all know anything about a work camp going on next door this week?" The man shook his head and said, "I see people doing things over there on Wednesday nights, but I don't know about a camp."
Weird, right? Wow. I was dumbfounded. Where was everyone? I wish I could say the camp folks eventually showed up, and they explained their tardiness ... but no. I waited around just outside of Pittsburgh for nearly 2 hours, waiting for a call ... but I heard nothing. I knew nothing. ... So I finally decided to head home.
Thankfully, I'm on a quest to see all 50 states .... and Pennsylvania is a beautiful state! Pittsburgh is awesome too - full of tunnels and bridges and a huge river running through the middle of it! So the trip wasn't wasted by any stretch of the imagination. AND! I decided to take the long way home ... through West Virginia! Ohhh! WV made it beyond worth it! I took I-79 through central WV to Charleston ... and it was entirely gorgeous! Mountains the whole trip into Ohio! Heck! It was pretty hilly into Indiana!!!! It was such a great trip! I'm still trying to get ahold of the work camp folks ... but the trip was great anyway!
Got back from Pennsylvania AND West Virginia on Monday night ... it was an interesting weekend. Saturday morning around 8:00, I left my house to head for Pittsburgh. A work camp full of teenagers awaited me there. Or not. I had set out to volunteer as a behind the scenes leader on the trip, cleaning bathrooms, sweeping floors, keeping the lodging facility spic and span for the week. But when I got to Pittsburgh, no one was anywhere to be found. I had arrived the night before to get settled in and have dinner with the staff. So I waited around for while, but no one came. I called 3 or 4 different numbers to get ahold of someone ... anyone! ... at the organization. Nada. So I decided to head out of Pittsburgh to find a hotel for the night. Stayed in a Motel 6 that night, got some Bob Evans for breakfast the next morning, and headed back to the facility for registration and welcoming the campers. Ha! But no one was there once again. I was beyond confused at this point. I continued calling the numbers I was given in case of questions or emergencies. No one answered. I walked next door to a church that was just finishing up its Sunday morning service, or so it appeared to be.
"Do y'all know anything about a work camp going on next door this week?" The man shook his head and said, "I see people doing things over there on Wednesday nights, but I don't know about a camp."
Weird, right? Wow. I was dumbfounded. Where was everyone? I wish I could say the camp folks eventually showed up, and they explained their tardiness ... but no. I waited around just outside of Pittsburgh for nearly 2 hours, waiting for a call ... but I heard nothing. I knew nothing. ... So I finally decided to head home.
Thankfully, I'm on a quest to see all 50 states .... and Pennsylvania is a beautiful state! Pittsburgh is awesome too - full of tunnels and bridges and a huge river running through the middle of it! So the trip wasn't wasted by any stretch of the imagination. AND! I decided to take the long way home ... through West Virginia! Ohhh! WV made it beyond worth it! I took I-79 through central WV to Charleston ... and it was entirely gorgeous! Mountains the whole trip into Ohio! Heck! It was pretty hilly into Indiana!!!! It was such a great trip! I'm still trying to get ahold of the work camp folks ... but the trip was great anyway!
GoG 203: The Porch
July 23 - GoG 203
I dropped by The Porch to say hi to my mom and brother ... when I got there, several cars were in the parking lot ... the entire front lot was full, and there were 4 or 5 cars in the back lot. That is awesome! Business is picking up! The full parking lot inspired me to take some pictures and start a facebook page for The Porch. It was great to see my mom's hard work starting to pay off.
I dropped by The Porch to say hi to my mom and brother ... when I got there, several cars were in the parking lot ... the entire front lot was full, and there were 4 or 5 cars in the back lot. That is awesome! Business is picking up! The full parking lot inspired me to take some pictures and start a facebook page for The Porch. It was great to see my mom's hard work starting to pay off.
GoG 202: The Night with Mags and Oliver
July 22 - GoG 202
I hung out with Mags.
We watched a movie. We hung out with Oliver. It reminded me of our friendship over the years. Mags has been my longest friend ... 17 years. Life-long friendships are God's grace in action, for sure!!!
I hung out with Mags.
We watched a movie. We hung out with Oliver. It reminded me of our friendship over the years. Mags has been my longest friend ... 17 years. Life-long friendships are God's grace in action, for sure!!!
GoG 201: The Free Sweet Tea
July 21 - GoG 201
Hahaha! This GoG makes me laugh because it shows how obsessed with sweet tea I am!
On the 21st, a few of the SoZo-ers and I went to the Indiana Dunes for a day of swimming and sunburns and running in the sand. On the way home, we stopped at Golden Coral for dinner. At the end of the night, I asked our waitress if I could get a to-go cup of sweet tea. And she gave me it for FREE!
Free sweet tea .... it doesn't get any better than that!
Hahaha! This GoG makes me laugh because it shows how obsessed with sweet tea I am!
On the 21st, a few of the SoZo-ers and I went to the Indiana Dunes for a day of swimming and sunburns and running in the sand. On the way home, we stopped at Golden Coral for dinner. At the end of the night, I asked our waitress if I could get a to-go cup of sweet tea. And she gave me it for FREE!
Free sweet tea .... it doesn't get any better than that!
GoG 200: The Short-term Dreams
July 20 - GoG 200
I met with a friend, and we discussed short-terms goals. Short-term being 5 years.
Mine?
Get married and start a family ... ha! 'Cause I have control over that ;)
Keep a couple thousand dollars in savings
Get a Master's degree in Bible/Youth Ministry or try to pass the Praxis again
Move out of my parents' house
Can't think of too many more ....
Goals. Setting goals, I found, is a glimpse of grace ... because another word for goals is dreams. God gives us dreams. And that is something we don't deserve.
I met with a friend, and we discussed short-terms goals. Short-term being 5 years.
Mine?
Get married and start a family ... ha! 'Cause I have control over that ;)
Keep a couple thousand dollars in savings
Get a Master's degree in Bible/Youth Ministry or try to pass the Praxis again
Move out of my parents' house
Can't think of too many more ....
Goals. Setting goals, I found, is a glimpse of grace ... because another word for goals is dreams. God gives us dreams. And that is something we don't deserve.
GoG 199: The Annual Grilled Cheese and a Milkshake :)
July 19 - GoG 199
The second day of the county fair. Every year, I go to the fair, specifically and ultimately, for a grilled cheese and a milkshake. This year, I walked around looking at my kids' 4-H projects ... and one night, SoZo passed out waters at the Calvary Chapel booth ... but I'm good with a grilled cheese and a milkshake.
Tasty. Fun. Simple. Grace. :)
The second day of the county fair. Every year, I go to the fair, specifically and ultimately, for a grilled cheese and a milkshake. This year, I walked around looking at my kids' 4-H projects ... and one night, SoZo passed out waters at the Calvary Chapel booth ... but I'm good with a grilled cheese and a milkshake.
Tasty. Fun. Simple. Grace. :)
GoG 198: The SoZo Testimonies
July 18 - GoG 198
SoZo shared testimonies about our Cottage Cove Trip. It was great to hear from many of my kids who went on my trip. And I found myself so thankful, once again, for the calling God has placed on my life - youth ministry ... and even more thankful for my 18 kids that He has placed in my spiritual care. My calling is more than grace!
SoZo shared testimonies about our Cottage Cove Trip. It was great to hear from many of my kids who went on my trip. And I found myself so thankful, once again, for the calling God has placed on my life - youth ministry ... and even more thankful for my 18 kids that He has placed in my spiritual care. My calling is more than grace!
GoG 197:The Hugs from the Bride and Groom
Well, I've beaten my record! It's been over a month since I've blogged!!!!! I've got some catching up to do ... so here goes!
July 17 - GoG 197
James and Hannah .... married!
It was a great day of chats and hugs and dancing and clean-up. And my GoG for the day was getting a hug from both James and Hannah.
July 17 - GoG 197
James and Hannah .... married!
It was a great day of chats and hugs and dancing and clean-up. And my GoG for the day was getting a hug from both James and Hannah.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Yo, These be tha Ghetto Ten Commandments, Bro!
The SoZo-ers found these commandments in the book we were given at our discipleship training at the mission trip to Nashville. Hilarious! Especially if you volunteer on the Eastside of Indy.
Ghetto Bible - The Ten Commandments
1. I beez God. Don' beez dissin me wit otha godz.
2. Don' beez makin no hood ornaments like nothin in my crib, anythang upstayrs, orr anythang anywherz elz.
3. Don' beez usin my name 'n a wack way - homey don' play dat.
4. Y'all betta be keepin da sabbathh.
5. Don' dis ya mama ... an if ya know whoz ya daddy beez, don' dis him neither.
6. Don' cap yo bros.
7. Don' cheat on ya babies' mama.
8. Don' be liftin no goods.
9. Don' be lyin an' snitchin on ya homies.
10. Don' be eyein' ya homie's crib, ride, or nothin.
Ghetto Bible - The Ten Commandments
1. I beez God. Don' beez dissin me wit otha godz.
2. Don' beez makin no hood ornaments like nothin in my crib, anythang upstayrs, orr anythang anywherz elz.
3. Don' beez usin my name 'n a wack way - homey don' play dat.
4. Y'all betta be keepin da sabbathh.
5. Don' dis ya mama ... an if ya know whoz ya daddy beez, don' dis him neither.
6. Don' cap yo bros.
7. Don' cheat on ya babies' mama.
8. Don' be liftin no goods.
9. Don' be lyin an' snitchin on ya homies.
10. Don' be eyein' ya homie's crib, ride, or nothin.
Friday, July 30, 2010
GoG 196: The Gushy, Heartfelt Message
Well, crap.
I totally just wrote out an entire post and then deleted it by accident.
Daggonit.
Well, this is an important post ... it's grace, and it's about Hannah Baker ... so I guess I need to write it again.
Shoot!!!
Hannah Baker - one of THE coolest people ever ... is my friend ... my cookie cutter friend to be exact.
Ya know ... those kinds of friends that God knew we couldn't live without, so he "cut" them out for you at the beginning of time.
Yep ... Hannah is one of those - for me. :)
When we get together, we always talk about the things that are on our hearts. We always laugh a lot! We almost always go to Los Rancheros ... our favorite mexican place and friend spot.
A couple weeks ago, we got together for Los Rancheros and a movie night ... and we shared, we laughed, and we just spent time together ... we even made fun of movie characters together. It was a really fun night. And when we headed home. We both got on our computers and wrote each other a pretty gushy, heartfelt message. And we sent 'em at almost the exact same time too! It was like we were cookie cutter friend or something! ;) .... I would share the messages here, but they are a bit gushy ... so I'll spare you.
Hannah Baker is a glimpse of God's grace in my life .... sure thing! But my glimpse for July 16, 2010 was getting a gushy, heartfelt message from a cookie cutter friend. :)
I totally just wrote out an entire post and then deleted it by accident.
Daggonit.
Well, this is an important post ... it's grace, and it's about Hannah Baker ... so I guess I need to write it again.
Shoot!!!
Hannah Baker - one of THE coolest people ever ... is my friend ... my cookie cutter friend to be exact.
Ya know ... those kinds of friends that God knew we couldn't live without, so he "cut" them out for you at the beginning of time.
Yep ... Hannah is one of those - for me. :)
When we get together, we always talk about the things that are on our hearts. We always laugh a lot! We almost always go to Los Rancheros ... our favorite mexican place and friend spot.
A couple weeks ago, we got together for Los Rancheros and a movie night ... and we shared, we laughed, and we just spent time together ... we even made fun of movie characters together. It was a really fun night. And when we headed home. We both got on our computers and wrote each other a pretty gushy, heartfelt message. And we sent 'em at almost the exact same time too! It was like we were cookie cutter friend or something! ;) .... I would share the messages here, but they are a bit gushy ... so I'll spare you.
Hannah Baker is a glimpse of God's grace in my life .... sure thing! But my glimpse for July 16, 2010 was getting a gushy, heartfelt message from a cookie cutter friend. :)
GoG 195: The Love of My Life
Ha! So the bad thing about not blogging my GoGs every single day like I planned in the beginning is that you sometimes forget what some of the GoGs were. I try to write down a quick phrase to remind me of that day's GoG.
July 15th (GoG 195) - Worked on SoZo stuff
July 16th (GoG 196) - Hung out with Hannah Baker
July 17th (GoG 197) - James and Hannah's wedding
etc.
Well, on the 15th ... I didn't write something down. And I can't remember for the life of me what my grace was for that day. Sad, I know. Lame, I know. Forgetting God's grace ... now that's just bad. ... Eventually, I looked through some SoZo records and saw that I worked on some SoZo stuff that day ... so that's what I'm gonna use for my glimpse of grace for the 15th of July. :)
SoZo.
My favorite thing - people - calling - passion - in the world!!!!!
My kids are so amazing! They make my life complete! I just see a picture of one of 'em, and I start thinking about how much I love each of them, how thankful I am to be called to youth ministry, what a blessing it is for them to be in my life. It's beyond a privilege and beyond grace to get PAID to love on my teenagers!!!! It's not a job at all most of the time ... it's just the love of my life! My kids are the love of my life! :)
July 15th (GoG 195) - Worked on SoZo stuff
July 16th (GoG 196) - Hung out with Hannah Baker
July 17th (GoG 197) - James and Hannah's wedding
etc.
Well, on the 15th ... I didn't write something down. And I can't remember for the life of me what my grace was for that day. Sad, I know. Lame, I know. Forgetting God's grace ... now that's just bad. ... Eventually, I looked through some SoZo records and saw that I worked on some SoZo stuff that day ... so that's what I'm gonna use for my glimpse of grace for the 15th of July. :)
SoZo.
My favorite thing - people - calling - passion - in the world!!!!!
My kids are so amazing! They make my life complete! I just see a picture of one of 'em, and I start thinking about how much I love each of them, how thankful I am to be called to youth ministry, what a blessing it is for them to be in my life. It's beyond a privilege and beyond grace to get PAID to love on my teenagers!!!! It's not a job at all most of the time ... it's just the love of my life! My kids are the love of my life! :)
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