For Those That Asked

It was brought to my attention yesterday that I need to blog more frequently. I really do. Whether I actually post what I type or not I realized today that it's a good release. Since I have not posted in a couple of months this is likely to be incredibly long, but I'll try to keep it as short as possible.

Looking back through old posts I didn't see that I had posted anything about my family. I think this is because I've been in denial about many things that have happened in my life. So, a quick review of family life. In January my grandmother passed away from a very rare form of cancer. I used to stay with her and my grandfather during the summer. Some of my best memories from childhood are sitting up late playing canasta with her, eating a bowl of ice cream or a pickle, and talking about life and what we thought about it. I miss her. In April my uncle passed away from a rare form of leukemia. I wasn't as close to my uncle as I am to some of my other family members but I remember going over to his house as a child for Christmas parties planning what I was going to perform for everyone and then deciding at the last minute that I couldn't stand having everyone watching me. David gave me my first taste of beer, I was 5. Needless to say my mom was not happy with him. In August Carle, my step-dad, discovered that he has a ruptured intestine, not pretty to say the least. The performed surgery to fix it in September. On Halloween he was taken to emergency for his gallbladder. They can't do surgery for that until he finishes healing from the surgery on his intestines, so in January or February he'll be going through surgery again. Last month they found prostate cancer in my grandfather. He'll be having his first laster treatment this week. Oh yea, and Sam moved to Arizona. I really miss my partner in crime, having off-the-wall conversations just isn't the same without him.

Life in general hasn't been to terribly calm either. Over the summer a co-worker at Borders was killed in an accident, her car was hit by a train. Needless to say it was a blow to the Borders community. Those of us that knew her best, that worked with her on a regular basis and hung out with her outside of work were hit the hardest. Last week my doctor passed away. They're still not giving out any information all they're saying is Marsha (his wife) and the kids are ok. I'm thinking it was an accident of some sort but don't know for sure. I know this will sound incredibly cold, but I'm really not looking forward to finding a new doctor. For those that know the history, I still have my cyst problems. I have one rupture about every other month, but the pain is starting to be bearable.

I'm still teaching at the college, I have 5 labs this quarter, and am working at Borders still. I'm busier than ever with Pipeline stuff. I'm still praying for volunteers that want to help with behind-the-scenes stuff. If you know of anyone, please have them contact me. Yes, that was a plug for Pipeline volunteers; I have no shame. My big project right now with Pipeline is I'm helping plan the Family Ministries Christmas party. We have 255 volunteers in Family Ministries and a Christmas party would involve spouses and children of volunteers as well, so we're looking at about 500 people. Now albeit not all of those people will show up, but about two-thirds of that crowd is still 350 people. How do you plan a party for 350 people when you don't have your own church building without spending a small fortune on the thing? I am currently looking for solutions. I am also now leading a small group. I finally listened to God and became a small group leader. So I've added more to my plate, but there's still only 24 hours in a day. Per the little voices in my head and the not so little voices outside my head (Justin, Steven, Beky, my mom) I really am looking to cut back.

However, all of that being said, I am incredibly blessed. I have an amazing group of friends that love and support me. A small group of people I can call at any time day or night that will be there with a shoulder I can cry on or a great big hug to help me calm down. They remind me to put my focus back on God and to hand things over to Him. They are the reason I am still sane, that and a few well-timed trips to Disneyland. Disneyland has been one of my few "fun" outlets lately. Speaking of which, if anyone is still reading this and would like to join me, I am going this Friday, the 14th, for my birthday.

I think that's it. I really can't think any more right now. I'm sure something else will come to mind in the near future. If that happens I'll try to post it.

Motions Team

We had motions practice today.

We have a practice once a month, on the last Saturday of the month. We practice from 10am until 6pm. Yes, you read that right, 10 am until 6pm. Now that practice includes quite a few things. Let me give you a run down...

10 - 10:15am -> The kids arrive
10:15 - 11am -> Ice Breaker and the Lame Name Game (If you don't know what the Lame Name Game is, you're missing out)
11am - 12pm -> Bible Study; we look at a verse that deals with worship and the different ways to worship
12 - 1:15pm -> LUNCH!
1:15 - 6pm -> Practice, with breaks as needed

Now, if we finish practicing what we need to then we get to sit and watch a movie or play a game. Today, we finished early; about an hour early. So we watched "Happily N'ever After". It's a cute twist on the Cinderella story. Today we had Kilyn, Reighanna, Sadie, Rachel, Paige, Macey, and Chance. And then of course Rebekah who is my amazing assistant was there to help run things and teach them new songs. The girls curled up on one couch and Chance and Rebekah were on the other. They were just too cute so I had to take a picture.

Left to Right: Sadie, Macey, Kilyn, Reighanna, Rachel, Paige

Rebekah and Chance

It was an excellent day. Extremely tiring but very good.

Weekend Fun

This weekend was a weekend of firsts for me. I went to my first concert and I went rock climbing for the first time.

A group of us went to a concert in L.A. on Friday.

L -> R: David, Raylyn, Eddie, Me, Bekah

Us girls dancing.


Sunday after Pipeline we went indoor rock climbing at Hangar18 in Upland.

L -> R: Serena, Me, Eddie, Justin, Bekah, and David

Here we are learning to tie the rope properly so we don't fall to our deaths.

I'm actually climbing! That's Eddie to my right.
(Although I only got about half-way up the wall before I fell)

Let's try this again, shall we.

So, it’s been ages since I last posted. I think I should quit promising to be more consistent in my blog posting and then I don’t have to feel guilty.

Well, life has been quite hectic the last month or so. I’ve been sort of living in denial. My grandmother passed away at the beginning of the month. I have to say, I’m a little jealous; she gets to go home and party and I’m stuck here on earth. But, last week was seriously the best week ever! It was amazing, God blessed me abundantly. I got to share the salvation message with a student (who kept asking me questions!) and I got to share with two, count them 2, fellow professors at the university in the physics department. I got to have a blast with friends on Friday night, and Saturday night. Sunday was an amazing day and I got all the stuff done that I needed to with time to relax. Then after church I went out yet again with some pretty amazing people that I love dearly.

And because everyone loves pictures, here’s some pictures from my life lately...

Meltdown On Main Street!

This is what happens when Elise and I don't get our naps...
We throw temper tantraums and pout in the middle of Main Street at Disneyland.
This one was for you Nathan!

Trip To Roscoes House of Chicken and Waffles!
Don't knock it 'til you try it.

Me, Raylyn, and Eddie

Trina and David...David looks a little psycho,
but I promise he's as normal and the next Pipeline volunteer.

Aren't They Cute?

If you ignore me in the back isn't this a cute picture? I love my motions team kids, they're awesome and they bring a smile to my face every Sunday.

Not Typical

It's Sunday. Albeit, not for very much longer, but it is still Sunday. Sunday's are supposed to be my favorite day. I get to help out at Pipeline, love on kids, sing to God, dance and make a fool of myself. Then I get to spend the afternoon relaxing and organizing stuff from the morning services. And last but not least, night service. When I get to fellowship with other believers who love on me as I love on them, and then we get to praise God with an awesomely talented worship team. And when church is over I get to hang out and meet new people and help get them plugged in. Usually, this is what happens on Sunday.

Today was not a typical Sunday. See, today is the 10th, continuous, day that I have been in pain. It's like cramps but they're not going away, and they seem to get a little worse every day. I couldn't practice with my motions team at Pipeline because I couldn't dance, it hurt too much. I couldn't play with the kids like I usually do, it hurt too much. I couldn't relax this afternoon, there's no comfortable position for me. I couldn't be in the gym during worship this evening, the bass vibrated my insides, it hurt too much.

I know it probably sounds like I'm complaining, but I promise I not. This is my way of realizing that this much pain is not a good thing to put up with. Yet, I can't bring myself to go to urgent care or the emergency room. I don't want them to just give me some shot for the pain and then the shot wears off and the pain is still there. I guess I just need to bite the bullet and go.

So Bright, the space station can see them

Today after Pipeline, before evening service we had a Pipeline Leadership meeting. I think it was funny we were all wearing our glow in the dark, so bright even a blind man can see them, safety green (even though they look yellow) Pipeline shirts.


Really, these pictures do not do them justice. They really are blinding. As you can see, I was the class clown that took pictures during an important meeting.

On another note, it was mildly humorous, slightly ironic that Matt's message today was about being truthful with your small group about what is going on in your life. This Wednesday's small group marks the beginning of our accountability sessions. I told Matt afterwards he must have known we were starting accountability this week, he laughed at me.

1 Night 2 Unite

Sunday night we had one church service in the evening. It was amazing! There were so many people there! But what was so amazing (for me anyway) was the fact that some of my motions team girls got to go on stage, in front of the WHOLE church. They did such a good job, they were awesome! Thanks to Los for letting us come on stage and show the church that it's ok to dance and have fun during worship and thanks to Snap for the photos. You really should click on them to see they full size, they are amazing.

This one is of almost everyone who was there. See if you can spot the incredibly bright Pipeline shirts.


This one is of two of my girls who were on stage, Ashley and Alexis, they're doing motions to "Beautiful One".
This one is of Pipeline in the front representin' and following along to "Beautiful One". And that beautiful blonde on the right side of the photo is Raylyn who was totally awesome and helped me out that night.