life.

I feel extremely bad I haven't updated this blog in so long. My life has been topsy-turvy for a couple of months now and I just now have about an hour that I have absolutely nothing to do, so I decided to finally update you all on what I have been up to this semester so far. In early January I started working at the nursing home I volunteered at last fall, I'm a breakfast server for the 6am shift. Waking up this early is a little bit of hell in itself for me, but I'm becoming accustomed to it. I work about 20 hours there, plus I am still working at my aunt's restaurant, the Junkyard Cafe about 15 hours a week as a waitress for one week night and weekend breakfasts and lunches. On top of working both these jobs, I've been taking 4 classes at Eternity Bible College. I'm about to finish up my 3rd week of school.

Doing all these things has really made me completely reliant upon God. There is no way I'd still have enough energy to wake up each morning without Him. This however, does not mean I haven't had countless emotional breakdowns. It has been extremely rough, but God always pulls me through and never gives me more than I can handle. I'm so grateful to have the roommates, brother, and friends that I do because they've been nothing but encouraging and helpful to me when I know I haven't been the funnest person to be around. Also, un-saved complete strangers I've met at both my jobs have turned out to be some of the biggest blessings in my life, which in all reality is a very humbling thought to see how God can use people like that to totally lift me up out of the slums. My best friend Angie was even actually able to visit me 2 weekends ago for exactly one day. Seeing her and just taking the day off--getting our noses pierced together, venting, crying, praying, singing, hugging and just laughing uncontrollably all day long was literally a gift from God at the perfect time. There was one point in the day when we walked into this piano shop that was going out of business and I got to play one of their studio pianos for about 20 minutes. I finished one of my songs and I looked up and I just had tears welling up in my eyes, realizing but never having thanked God for everything in this stage of my life right now - love, music, art, beauty, family, friends and always enough money to get by. I became so ashamed then, realizing how much I had been complaining about work when there are so many people in the world who would kill to have everything "together" like me. I've been struggling to maintain this mentality in my head, to remind myself of it everytime I find myself beginning to complain. Maybe I'll write it on the visor in my car? Basically, moral of the story is - my life is really good and I need to be more joyful about how I'm going to go about living it.

Anyway, these are just some unorganized bits and an overview of basically what's going on in my life right now. Hopefully another update will come soon - we'll just have to see though :)

Mondate

First of all no, that is not a typo. Monday is in fact our roomie date day. Today I spent with Hali (pronounced Hailey, not Hally) accomplishing great things. For real though, we conquer the world every Monday. It's quite impressive.

This particular Monday was spent at the park with picnic food and Owl City.

Subs from Simi Sub and chocolate coated marshmallows from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory.

Proof of my mad skills at using timers. Forgot to focus on US, because it is always about us. Always.

More proof... I forgot to press the timer button before I clicked shoot.

Gwappi and Lolly--Our troll names for eachother.

I love my Gwappi.

Counting Crows..... or chasing them =)

Friends

It never ceases to amaze me how God has brought me to this particular place in my life and how He keeps bringing old friends back into my life to be a blessing and an encouragement right when I need it the most! I've only lived here for 2 months and I have already seen:

Kristie Haynes
Rebeca Aulie
Eric Walter
Matt Hires
and
Charlie and KT Miears

Last night Mike and I got to meet up with Charlie and KT for dinner. It was such a needed "time out" for me. I had had a 35 hour work week, which honestly wasn't too bad. But the day before I had had a 14 hour work day where nothing went as it should, so seeing old friends was a total blessing!

Provisions

Just wanted to update this tonight before I go to sleep, before I forget what this feels like. Yesterday our rent was due for the apartment, so I got online to look at my bank account to see how much money I had and if I had enough to pay it. After I wrote the check I counted up how much I would have left to live off of and it came to be around 30 dollars - Barely enough to tithe and grocery shop before my pay check finally comes around. This afternoon after I got back from work and an afternoon at the beach with my cousin, I come into the apartment to find a check on the table from a friend of my parents whom I have never met before for $200 AND a 10 dollar bill from my grandma.

It's so CRAZY how God provides so abundantly for His children right when they are need and in the CRAZIEST of ways.


"For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?"

God is so good.

....

The girl was on her way out the door to go to class when she turned around to wish good luck to her other two roommates on their afternoon. One of them had an interview at Apple and the other was volunteering at a retirement home for the afternoon. As she turned around to address the two girls, she told the first one, "Knock 'em dead!!" She then turned to the second one and proceeded to open her mouth then quickly closed it when she realized how wrong it sounded to repeat the same phrase. Alternately, she decided to stick with the traditional, "Have a good afternoon!" while she turned and walked out the door laughing to herself.

There you have it - I'm the second girl. I joined a ministry Cornerstone has at a retirement home focusing primarily on people with Alzheimers. Predominantly, the reason why I have a heart for the elderly with Alzheimers is because of my grandmother. My Nonnie just turned 83 yesterday and for the last several months she's been working, caring for one of her closest friends that has been diagnosed with Alzheimers. Her name is Margie and she and Nonnie were best friends for over 60 years and as of this year doesn't remember her. Nonnie is my hero in many ways, but this story especially touched me and encouraged me to join in the ministry

I start this afternoon in about 15 minutes and would really appreciate prayer that God would use me there in powerful ways.

Holy Anguish

On Sunday at Cornerstone we heard an amazing sermon, I just thought I would share it with you.
It's the first one at the top, titled "Holy Anguish"

http://www.cornerstonesimi.com/special/media_player.html

Also, Francis showed this in the middle of his sermon, but apparently it doesn't come up on the podcast so watch it either before or after you watch the sermon. David Wilkerson's sermon called "A Call to Anguish"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGMG_PVaJoI


It was pretty crazy that God brought this message into my life this particular Sunday because I had been struggling with this same thing all weekend at work - In being a good example of Christ to my aunt and the other people working in her restaurant, but I was always too ashamed to bring Him into our conversation whenever I got the chance. Ultimately, God really spoke to me through Francis and David Wilkerson's video clip encouraging my heart to break more toward the unsaved knowing where they are going to spend eternity and making it more urgent to save them from that destiny.

It was really cool after church on Sunday night, a couple of friends, my brother and I all went out to a park and just prayed for a long time - that God would give us the heartache necessary to love others enough to tell them about God. A very cool thing to pray for. Hope this sermon stirs up in each one of you a love for others that is completely and supernaturally God.

Living it up

A week ago today (11-09-09) I arrived in Simi Valley, CA. So much has happened since then, I can't even believe it has been such a short time since I arrived.

• I bought myself a bed.
  
• I went grocery shopping (for myself only!!! who knew I was old/mature enough for this!?!?)
  
• I PASSED my written driving test today. WOOHHOOOOO!!!
  
• I got a job at my aunt's restaurant, the Junkyard Cafe, and I start work in 11 hours from right now. Only for 12 hours a week though. If anyone has a job Monday-Thursday, that would be wondermous for me.
  
• I ordered my brother and me a cell phone service, and 2 free phones come with it. I'll come in the mail early next week.
  
• I attended 3 different classes at EBC. But will only continue with one for this semester, a 4 hour Life of Christ class every Thursday from 6-10 pm.
• I've tasted the rhino. Here.
  
• I've bonded with my 3 roommates and the 2 neighbor guy apartments.
  
• I attended Cornerstone Church for the 2nd time ever.

• And most importantly.... I made friends. Thank you, Jesus!!

I just wanted to write everyone to let you know that I'm so thankful for your prayers, love, and support. This week went extremely smoothly for being "on my own" for the first time ever. I WILL be doing a picture update, someday soon!! I actually haven't even brought out my camera here yet, but I promise to do that sometime! =) God has been so good to me and I'm so thankful He's put me where I am at the moment, I'm loving it here!!