Norfolk: snow day!

we decided to brave the cold!

and play on some swings

thats our apartment complex on the left

uh huh..

oh thank heaven for 7-eleven

hot chocolate!

What a day it has been! Hooray for a snow day!

a week in the life...

Here a few photos from this weeks adventures.  

Here is why I love my job:

Student Organization Fair at Old Dominion

Some sweet ODU Students

Danny, Brie, and Jordan

Ken, Matt, Brie, and Stefan

Holding down the table

me, Amy, and Matt

Matt... sharing the KGP, pretty standard for an afternoon at ODU

Next day... Christopher Newport Weekly Meeting

CRUcial Fun Night!

Shannon & John-Mark

Next day... 

a little decoding at Tidewater Comm. College - Norfolk Campus

launching ministries sometimes feels like this..

oooh the possibilities..

first.. lets start with the map. 

Okay, TCC, four buildings..

our lives.. seriously a never ending adventure.

post-decoding.. time to pray.

Matt writes down things to pray for.

this is how I feel about praying..

just kidding.

Amy taking it all in.

This sign made us laugh today...

absolutely no thumbs-ups allowed.

or maybe hitchhiking

a pretty sunset to end an eventful week...

the LOVE tree...

Here are some things I LOVE:

my job!

my staff team

coffee

my roommate ;)

my family

my friends

Mountaineer Football

the Norfolk YMCA

Jesus

babies

the Olympics!

What are some things that YOU love??

humbled, becoming small... Part 3

Thanks for enduring that long post in Part 2.  

Now to finish the journey.

After considering weather or not to go, and with the encouragement of my sweet mama, I hopped on plane to  Pittsburgh where two of my close friends from college were getting married. I got a flight out of Tampa with a layover in Cleveland that would eventually get me into Pittsburgh.  

The Lord blessed me with two sweet women in my cramped three-person row.  Debbie and her mom were flying home from a family vacation into Cleveland.  Both women are/were long time public school teachers.  They are also sweet women of God.  After telling them that I work with CCC we became immediate friends. I love that! The bond of Christ is so sweet.  I came to find out that the late husband/father was a pastor.  We chatted about all kinds of things.  I watched in awe as the elder woman killed the crossword puzzle, ashamed that I only got about five of the words! ;)  They walked with me out of the plane and helped me to make sure I knew where to go for my connecting flight.  As we said our goodbyes they handed me a few bucks to have dinner "on them" and Debbie also gave me her email address to keep her informed about my ministry in Tidewater. What a sweet, sweet divine appointment. 

So I did the whole lay over thing in Cleveland, then soon boarded a 37 passenger plane to Pittsburgh.  37 passenger plane, friends.  About the size of a school bus. Eek.  I survived and landed in snow in PA after about 25 minutes and after meeting a boy named Zack.  He was probably 19 and hilarious. He made a lot of small talk and walked from the plane to baggage together. Then ended our friendship at the pick-up area. Tear. ;)

My dear friend put me up for the night in Hotel Amanda.  She is such a great hostess!  I probably told her 20 times during my stay.  It was so great to catch up with her and have her as my date to the wedding.  

The Bonasso Wedding was absolutely fabulous.   I'm so glad I was able to be there.  From 2 to 11pm we partied and celebrated!  So, so fun. 

My last stop before home was Morgantown.  After the wedding I was able to spend a few days with some friends from college. Thanks to Yopp for having me and for our sweet time together. Before long I met up with B&B and we were on our long journey back to Norfolk.

I am telling you. I feel completely stripped away. Stripped away of control and micro-management.   It was so necessary for me to be in all these situations.  In all of it, having to trust the Lord to guide my steps and trust that He had COMPLETE control.  "He must become greater, I must become less." -John 3:30  I am learning what it means to die to myself.  Because "every little death can, if embraced by faith through God's power, will result in life." (Rick James) Through every sacrifice, trial, circumstance, humbling, struggle we can choose die to ourselves. 

Thanks all of you who had a little role (or big role) in my travels! Be blessed! 

this made me smile.

humbled, becoming small... Part 2

(read Part 1 below)


Don't you love how God works? When He is trying to get your attention in a certain area, He filters into every area of your life, gently raises His voice, then pursues you with more grace than you humanly understand.


As I left Norfolk before Christmas, I knew I had to leave my car here and work out some rides to all the different places I was to be over break. A quick itinerary: Norfolk to NJ to Baltimore to Pittsburgh to Morgantown to Norfolk.  This alone was incredibly hard for me.  What would I do without my car?! How could I 'escape' if I needed to? I knew I'd have to rely on people to get me to where I needed to go. So God prepared my heart for the three week journey.  Teaching me about the importance of community and trusting others.  This world tells us to be self-sufficient.  That we need to make our OWN way and not to rely on others.  The bible teaches a very different message:

"All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need." Acts 4:32-35

I knew I was to submit to God and trust Him and His people.  

After my eventful ride home to NJ, recall that here, I celebrated Christmas with my family.  A particularly blessed time at home which I am so thankful for.  I had the chance to introduce the fam to some fun games including BananaGrams, Mexican Train, the infamous 'Bowl Game', and even tried a new little ice-breaker out on them that I found in Real Simple Mag (The Penny Game).  They think I am crazy, I am sure.. haha

Shortly after Christmas I was headed to Baltimore for Campus Crusade's annual Christmas Conference.  I was able to spend a couple hours with my older bro, who agreed to take me to the NJ Turnpike to meet my ride to Baltimore. We made small talk mostly... but also bonded over some Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift. Thanks Lord, for catchy teen pop star lyrics.  

While I was at the conference I spent a good amount of time on and off the phone with my mom about my grandma (who I call memere, pronounced mem may) who was in the hospital in Florida.  By Monday, she headed to Florida to be with her, and by Tuesday morning we found out that memere didn't have much time left.  A few very special people helped me get things in order to get to Florida within a few hours.  Between packing, getting a flight, getting to the Baltimore airport, covering my conference duties, and all the hugs and words of concern... I am so thankful for everyone who helped out.

While I sat in the airport, my make-up was clearly wiped from my face from tears.  I looked like a wreak.  I happened to be sitting next to a woman, probably in her sixties, who was also flying into Orlando unplanned as the result of a sick relative.  So there I sat with this woman who I just met.  She understood me, I understood her. Our emotions the same: uncertainty, sadness, pain, fatigue, anxiety.  I wanted to hug her.  

So there I sat in the Baltimore Airport, at gate D5, feeling very small. Being confronted with the possibility of losing my beloved memere. In so many ways it didn't make sense. I had just talked to her, she always bounces back from things like this. Her spirits are always positive.  She loves life. Loves her husband and her daughter and her grandkids.  She loves living in the Florida sunshine and beating the ladies down at the clubhouse in poker.  She loves to shop and send mail. She is funny and quick witted.  She loves to spoil her grandkids and tell them that she loves them 'very much.'  She is a good listener.  She just learned how to send text messages!  Someone with so much life left to live, none of this harsh reality made any sense.  I board the plane and soon arrive in the Florida sunshine.  Needless to say, it didn't feel as wonderful as it usually does.

The next twenty-four hours were as raw as they get. I will cherish this time I had with my memere, mom, and pepere forever.  It isn't something you can prepare yourself for.  You don't know the right emotions to feel, you don't know the right words to say.  You just get the chance to experience it vulnerably and wholly.  Its a chance to let down your guard and embrace it.  

I have been overwhelmed by the grace of God throughout the past week and a half.  When you are confronted with the death of a loved one, you are forced to let go of control. In earthly terms (bear with me) death is the end of life.  Nothing beats death. Its the end to all.  There are so many things we allow ourselves to have control over.  We choose to love or not to love. To forgive or not forgive. To care or not care.  But with death, we don't get to choose.  Death ultimately wins in the end. Ultimately, its a part of life.  Its not fair, but it is what it is. 

But here is our hope and resolution to death.  Jesus Christ. He is the reason that we can look at death in a different light.  A speaker once said "Americans are far removed from death.  We relate to death in abstract forms." Death sucks without Christ.  But what Jesus preached is that death brings life.  The resurrection of Christ has power over death. As Christians we are to humble ourselves, we are to lay down our rights.  We must die to ourselves.  Because through death we then experience life.  Christ had to die to be able to overcome death.  When He died life was changed forever, death was swallowed up by life.  

"We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you." -2 Corinthians 4:10-12

The speaker goes on to say that each day is to be filled with little deaths which include trials, humblings, sacrifices, struggles. When we become small, Christ becomes great.  When we allow Christ to become great, His resurrecting power is magnified.  He are humbled and begin to look more like Him.  

So in this season of wrestling with the death of my memere, the Lord has given me great hope.  He reminds me of his sovereignty in this, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." -Romans 8:28. In trials and suffering, and in pain and confusion He is in control.  For that, I am thankful.  

Isn't she beautiful?

I love you Mem.  

I am excited for you to receive your new (pain free) body in heaven!

the completion of the journey in Part 3

humbled, becoming small... Part 1

January 8th. Where on earth have the first 7 days of January gone? Over Christmas break I had a comical, yet serious conversation with my mom when she asked how I would say 2010.  Like it was a life or death situation. She decided on two-thousand-and-ten. I think I agree with her. twenty-ten sounds cool now... but go ahead and try 2011. Twenty-eleven. eek. I'm glad her and I got that out of the way as 2010 rapidly approached us.

I have a lot to say...  i think that is why I haven't updated since Dec. 24th..

When I look over the past three weeks I think I was traveling more than anything. In my mind, I knew I'd be all over the east coast.  But sometimes I misestimate things. (made up word, but sometimes its over and sometimes its under) Like the amount of luggage I pack, how long it takes to get from point A to point B, how much work I think I am going to get done, etc. Then throw some unplanned circumstances into the picture and its enough to make a girl crazy.

So here I sit in my apartment in Norfolk on January 8th, thinking about where I've been, who I've encountered, and conversations I've had.

One thing you may or may not know about me is that I tend to be pretty independent.  Always have been.  It's probably a pride issue.  No, maybe a control issue... Okay, both.  I like being in control of situations. I find comfort in closure. I typically do whatever it takes to be where I want to be, when I want to be. Sinful, I am aware.  So the best way I can describe the past three weeks would be: releasing of all control.  Humbling...wouldn't you say?

(new post... long posts quickly lose my attention.. See Part 2)