Get yer tissue

I don't know what this is from - or who this is......but listen to it. Its awesome. And grab a tissue...get one for me too.

I've been tagged

Normally I don't post surveys like this, but I've been tagged. You can't just ignore a tag. Haven't you read about that? If you don't reply to a tag in like 3 days, you'll start growing a hairy wart or something gross like that. Not me, y'all. Here goes:

1. Grab the book closest to you. Open it to page 18, line 4:
knew that he had been assigned to serve and learn under the prophet
from "Deal with it!" By Paula White

2. Stretch out your left arm as far as you can. What can you touch?
My bed, my computer desk, my bookcase and almost my door…I have a small room

3. What was the last thing you ate?
Fresh cherries – and I don’t know why I was eating them, either, they had no taste…

4. Without looking, guess what time it is.
5:01

5. Now look at the clock, what is the actual time?
5:08

6.With the exception of the computer, what can you hear?
The fan in my room…

7.When did you last step outside? What were you doing?
About an hour ago coming home from Wal-mart

8. Before starting this survey, what were you looking at?
A letter telling me about my stocks from Citi…..they went WAY down…

9.Did you dream last night? What of?
Yes………I don’t remember what.

10. What are you wearing?
Grey slacks and a red white and black top.

11. When did you last laugh?
Christmas Eve, my sister was passed out on the living room floor and my mom jumped on her.

12. What is on the walls of the room you are in?
White paint and two very ugly pictures….

13. Have you seen anything weird lately?
Of course. I own a mirror….

14. What is the last film you saw?
National Treasure 2 with my niece Noelle.

15. If you became a multi-millionaire, what would you buy?
After paying of my bills, and my family’s debt….I’d probably get like cool gadgets and stuff like that.

16. If you could change one thing in the world, regardless of guilt or politics, what would you change?
That every man, woman and child would have enough to eat and a safe place to live.

17. Do you like to dance?
No. Dancing is a form of exercise which is something I shun.

18. George W Bush:
I don’t care what people say, I love him. Not much in to politics, I just like HIM. ;)

19.Imagine your first child is a girl. What would you name her?
Hmm, I like Madison so you can call her Maddie, or Emma (but I like Emmy)

20. Imagine your first child is a boy. What would you name him?
I like Miles or Milo. Weird, I know…

21. Have you ever considered living abroad?
Considered? Why yes I’ve considered. Then I went overseas. Stopped considering.

Ever Biffed It?

Okay, so this happened a few years ago, and my 'friend,' Elaina just LOVES this story...I don't. I don't think its all that funny....

It was winter in Detroit. I was on my lunch break and I thought, Hmm, Halloween is coming up soon, maybe I'll go to that costume store and look around. So I did, I took a little drive over the costume shop. The parking lot was pretty packed, but I snuck into a spot not too far from the entrance. This particular building was near my job and sat vacant most of the year, until Halloween came around, and for the month of October, it was a bustling costume shop. It was cold that day. I was wearing my hoodie. I had my iPod in my hoodie pocket, and both my hands were in there too. I was nearing the front of the store as was a group of people coming from the opposite direction. There was probably 6-8 people in the group. I slowed so they could go in first. I was fiddling with my iPod, still in my hoodie pocket while walking across one of those parking lot slabs of concrete. You know the ones people like to walk across like a balance beam. (you know you do it.) Thats what I was doing. Then it happened. My foot slipped off the concrete beam, and I started falling. Well, my hands were still in my hoodie, and I couldn't put them out in front of me to break my fall. And fall I did. My head slammed right smack onto the curb. I guess it would be more accurate to say that my FACE slammed onto the curb. Either way I fell and fell hard. And to make it worse....that group had seen the whole thing. One nice lady ran over to me and said, "Oh my goodness are you okay?" NO I'm not okay!!! I thought. Is that what I said? No. I got up as fast as I could off that sidewalk and said...."Whoa, I really biffed it." I really biffed it? Is that what I just said? Who says that anymore? I did. I hurt. I thought I might have cracked a tooth, and I could feel my lips swelling up. But, I didn't want those people to think I was really hurt. So I went into the store and started looking around. I tasted blood. I mirror and my mouth and teeth were red with blood. Gross. I left the store looking like I had bought one of those ugly masks. I got my looks for free that day, and without a mask.

My friend Elaina loves that story. She shares it with her friends. I never should have told her it. This happened a couple years ago, and she told it to someone just this week. It did get me thinking, though. How crazy that I actually got up and tried to pretend like everything was fine, when that whole group of people could see the blood on my teeth. I think we do that a lot. I know I do. We walk through life pretending we're fine. How are you today? Fine, you? Fine. Thats it, meanwhile our faces look like they just slammed into a concrete slab. That lady who helped me up wanted to help, but I was embarrassed. I truly needed help, but couldn't accept it. I had to act like I was okay even though I wasn't. But I didn't really have to. We should be sick and tired of walking around injured but pretending like everything is ok. The bible says we should carry one anothers burdens (Gal. 6:2). I'm all for helping you carry your burdens.......but I'll carry mine too. I don't need any help with mine. Why do we think like that? If I am not willing to let you help me, then I'm keeping you from being able to do what the bible says. Anyway....thats what I've been thinking about lately.

I hope you had an awesome Christmas! Post a comment, let me know you've stopped by, ok? :)

Puppy

No, I didn’t get a new dog. My niece, Noelle (5 yrs. old), has this stuffed little dog, which she aptly named, Puppy. She cannot go to sleep without this little dog. He is about the size of a beanie baby. Anyway, this thing is nasty. It hasn’t been washed in…well, never. She sleeps with it every night, and hangs out with it throughout the day, so needless to say its in desperate need of a bath. Its fur is long past being matted and is now just slicked down by grime. She’ll have it on the table at breakfast, and I have to pick it up and throw it across the room, stating, "Get that mangy piece of fur off the table." I hate it. She routinely wakes up in the middle of the night unable to find Puppy and will go wake up my mom and dad to help her find it (usually lost in the sheets). Oh, the grossest part is that for some reason she sucks on the dogs nose. I keep telling her she is going to catch some gross doggy disease if she doesn’t wash the stupid thing. But she won’t allow it. Her mom (my sister) had a blankie when she was Noelle’s age. It was gross too. It never got washed either. It must be hereditary. Anyway, the other day I as I was getting ready for work, I noticed my camera case on my desk, and it was empty. I started looking for my camera and didn’t find it but since I was getting ready for work I didn’t have time to look for it. So this morning I found the camera just laying on my desk. It wasn’t there the day before. I opened it up to see if my mom had taken some pictures of the baby on it. Oh, there were pictures on it alright…but my mom didn’t take them. This is what I found…

And the only piece of evidence that the culprit left was the picture of tiny feet that belong to my niece....



Man, that is SO something I would do.....

2007 Christmas letter

Hey all - this is a copy of my 2007 Christmas letter that I'm sending with my Christmas cards, and since I don't have all your addresses...I thought I'd just post it here, and wish you a merry Christmas while I'm at it! ;) I do hope that you're having a blessed Christmas season. I need to stay focused on WHY we celebrate Christmas to begin with... :)

December 2007
Dear Friends,
Hello! I hope this letter finds you doing well. Can you believe its Christmastime again? It seems like we just went through the holiday season, doesn’t it? Certainly a lot has happened in my life this year, and thought I’d use this little letter to let you in on it.

The first major thing that happened in 2007 was the passing of my Uncle Bob. He passed suddenly while on vacation with my parents and my aunt in Hawaii on March 30th. He was 51 years old. I know the holidays will not be the same for us this year.

I also made my first trip back to Colorado this year since having moved to Detroit in 2005. That was awesome!! I spent a whole day at Compassion International, and got to see lots of friends! It was really hard for me to leave Colorado that time, but it was an awesome trip.

This summer I made a trip to Nashville, TN to see Amy Sporleder. It was an awesome trip – I hadn’t seen Amy in many years. It was a 10 hour drive and I was so excited to get there, that even though I wasn’t supposed to leave Detroit until 8:00 am I ended up leaving at 5:00 am. I made a couple stops at antique malls along the way. Also this summer, some friends from Colorado were in Detroit on business and it was really good to see and catch up with Pam Otto!

Upon return to Michigan, I guess God starting moving in me that I might not be in Detroit much longer. Of course, I didn’t know it was God, I thought it was just me…see how much I know... Okay, so I had been at my church in Detroit for almost two years, and some disagreements came up between the bishop of that church and Pastor Weatherly (the pastor I had come to Detroit with). It ended up that Pastor Weatherly, Yatron and their family and I left the church in June. Shortly after we left the church, another opportunity opened up for the Weatherly’s in Alabama. Though I very much wanted to go with them, I didn’t feel like God wanted me there right now. The Weatherly’s moved to Mobile, AL in early August.

It was around that time, I also found out that I was going to be losing my job at the end of September. So with everything that was going on, I decided that I needed to get out of Dodge… or Detroit in my case. I moved to Phoenix on September 25th. I’m living with my parents for now. Right after I moved in, my sister moved in with her two children (Noelle, 5; and Taylor who is now 4 months old!). Needless to say, this is quite a busy place!

I got a job working as a contractor for the state of AZ as a case manager. I’m going to be helping people find jobs and help them get off welfare. I’m really looking forward to getting into it!

Lastly, I found an awesome church here. Its called Desert Springs Church and I actually found it online while I was still in Detroit. Have you ever just felt something in your spirit so strong that you just know its God? That’s kind of what it was like about this church. I wasn’t all that excited about moving to Arizona, except to get here to join up with this church. Weird, I know, I didn’t even know these people but wanted to get here to meet them all! I joined an AWESOME women’s bible study, and met some of the coolest ladies there.

Lastly (for real this time…), in case you don’t already know, I have a blog (a web page) where I try to keep people up to date on the latest news in my life. The website will be at the end of this letter, along with my email address. Those are the best ways to keep up with me. I would like to leave you with this verse:
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27
Much love, Aimee
website: www.onetimewithaimee.blogspot.com email: schmeelivesagain@yahoo.com

Funny Friends

Okay, so I have a funny friend. She wasn't trying to be funny...it just happened. I promised I wouldn't use her name - but also promised that I WOULD post this on this blog! :) Oh, and this friend happens to have some Latino blood in her...

So, I called this friend a couple weeks ago to tell her that there is going to be a Beth Moore conference in Colorado Springs in May, and to see if she'd be interested in going with me. We both love Beth Moore, and since I missed her in Phoenix, and since Colorado Springs isn't THAT far, I thought it would be a good chance to go. (The dates are May 2-3, at the World Arena, visit http://www.bethmoore.org/ for more details) She was excited about it and we started talking about other friends we could invite to go. So as we're talking about she stops and says (trying to make me freak out that she can't/won't go), "Oh wait, you know, I don't think I can go..."

"Oh no! Why not?" I ask.

"Its on May 2nd, and I'll be celebrating my heritage for Cinco de Mayo..."

I paused. She paused.

"Cinco de Mayo, huh?" I said.

"Yep, sorry, friend...guess you'll just have to find someone else to go with."

Now I may not speak Spanish fluently but there is one thing I know...the word, Cinco means five or 5th...

"So," I say. "Are you going to be celebrating Dos de Mayo this year?!"

"What?" Pause. "Oh! HA HA HA HA!!! Man, I suck...."

Yes, friend. Yes you do!

Just Kidding, you know I love you!!! HA HA HA HA HA!!!

Refiner's Fire

I love art. Thats probably why I majored in it (well, that, and I'm too smart for rocket science...). My art classes in college were my favorite, and one semester I took a metals class. I liked that class because they let me play with a blow torch......ME!!! Yeah, they didn't know me very well at that point. Anyway, our first projects were in copper - copper is cheap. I learned to solder metal - used a blow torch to do that. An ACETELINE blow torch (that means its a really COOL one). something else I learned to do was lost wax casting. That was really cool. I made a ring. What you do is you make the ring out of wax just the way you want it, then you make a cast and heat it up. After its been heated the wax melts away and there is a void in the cast the shape of the ring. I was going to use silver to make my ring, and I was so excited because guess what I got to use?!? You'll never guess! Well, you might guess (torch), because I've slightly hinted (torch) to it a bit already. Yes, I got to use a torch to melt the silver and get it ready to pour into the mold. The silver we used came in little pellets, they looked like BB's and they were pretty expensive. So I got my little silver pellets into the mini cauldron and got the blow torch out and started it up. It was so cool to watch the pellets start to melt. First one melted, then a couple more until they were all melted. But the silver wasn't ready to be cast just yet. Even though it was all melted, the silver itself was dull it wasn't shiny like silver is supposed to be. My teacher told me to keep heating it until I could see myself in it. What? That sounded really weird at the time....but a few seconds later that dull layer burned off the top of the silver and it was like looking into a very strange mirror. It was awesome! It was finally ready to be cast.

I am so grateful that I had that class and was able to go through that process. Sometimes we feel like we are in a furnace thats being heated up. The bible says there are those that he will refine like silver and gold (Zec. 13:9) I might be going through something and He turns up the heat, and feel like I can't take any more, but just a few of my pellets have been melted. And then something else hits and its getting hotter and I know - this is it, I really can't take anymore, but I've still got the dull layer over me. And then something else comes along, and I say God, you have to help me in this - and thats when the dull layer burns away and He says, "Okay, I can see Myself in you - now you're ready."

My dog has tricks...

Yeah, so back in Colorado I taught Babe (my dog) this awesome trick. This trick has come in handy SO many times. Check it out - you'll see why....

I'll bet you wish YOUR dog would do this...

Scary Prayers

I need more faith. I just do. I don't want sway like the reeds when trials come, I want to be firm and grounded in what I believe and Who I believe in. So I thought to myself, I need to pray for faith. Now, praying for faith is a scary thing. Its like praying for patience. You pray for patience and God brings along a situation that requires you to be patient (like waiting 2 months for the Detroit Utility company to turn off the electricity at the house that you've not lived in for 8 weeks!! oh, but thats a different story...I digress). I'm pretty sure that its the same thing with faith. I ask God to strengthen my faith and the next thing I know I'm in some horrible situation that requires me to use my faith. I don't want all that - just the faith. I don't want to have to actually go through something just to get faith. Sometimes I wish God had a drive through where I could go and order up some faith minus the trials and tribulations, a side of blessings and living water to drink, and why not go ahead and super size that for me today. Ha ha ha. Thats like....spiritual steroids. We'd rather go the easy route and not have to work as hard for what we want. I know we've heard it said before, that faith is like a muscle- we have to use it to strengthen it. Use it or lose it. Nobody wants to go through trials. I don't hear people in church asking for God to bring trouble into their lives...and yet I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that its through these times that God exercises our faith and builds it and makes it stronger. I say all of that to get to my point...I'm going to be praying for faith. I'm telling you all this now so that when my 'faith building' trials come, we'll know why. Now, just pray in my behalf that the Big Guy goes easy on me....

Gainfully employed!

Hey! I just wanted to let everyone know that I got a job!! I'll be a case manager essentially helping people who are on public assistance (like food stamps) get jobs and stuff. I'm really excited. I start Monday the 19th!!! :)

WOO HOO!

Noelle and Taylor

I have to say that the best thing about being in Phoenix are my nieces. They are cool. The first video is of Taylor, being her cute smiling self. This is a change from how she was her first few weeks of life. My mom was calling her Lucy.....short for Lucifer. It was not a pretty picture. :) The second video is of Noelle because as soon as she realized that I could take a video of her, that was it, now thats all she wants to do. Ha ha ha!

Happy Birthday to.... ME!

I'll make this short...I've been a Christian 14 years today!!!

Prodigal Son

Do you ever wonder why its so easy for us to sin, sometimes? I mean, I've been a Christian for 14 years this month, and I've struggled with some real good ones, too. I became a Christian at 15, and didn't really get into the serious struggles that I've dealt with until after I became a Christian (drinking, smoking cigarettes... I know, I know: you had me pegged as being perfect...). Anyway, I've really been struggling with trying to get right with God. These sins that I myself insist on keeping in my life are not only affecting me, but are also deeply affecting my relationship with Him. I often wonder if a true "Christ follower" can be be called that, and still have these sins. (oh, and just a side note - I know that we will never be free from sinning until we are with him - the sins I'm talking about are the ones that are habitual and intentional) Anyway, these thoughts of how you can you call yourself a Christian and still turn to alcohol or smoking come up. In my mind, its different if you struggle with alcohol, and aren't a Christian, and THEN become a Christian, and then have to stop drinking. (oh, and ANOTHER side note - my issue is not with drinking - thats just an example...) In my case, the issues I deal with are ones that I began doing AFTER I became a Christian. I know the enemy comes in and tells me things like, "How can you be sure you're saved if you do this or that, and you do it after you've become a Christian..." Its hard to refute that argument. So, this idea has really troubled me for some time. Today, in the car, I was thinking about it, and thinking about the story of the prodigal son. How he went off, spent his inheritance, lost everything he had and came crawling back for mercy. We've all heard the story, but something hit me today. This son went off and did all these things, but even before he asked for the inheritance, even before he had sqandered it, even before he slept in the barn with the pigs, he was already his father's son. It wasn't like he went off and did these things and ceased to be his son, or when he came back to the father, THAT'S when he became his son. And not only that, but the whole time the son was away, the father would watch in the distance to see if his son was returning, just watching and waiting. I feel like God is watching and waiting for me to decide that I am going to live a Holy and righteous life. I cannot do it in my own strength, and I can't do it on someone elses strength, either. The only way its going to happen is for me to surrender it all - my whole entire life to him. He doesn't want just this issue or just that issue. He wants my whole life. And since he gave his life for me, I guess thats the least I can do for him...

Chunk Fest!

Okay, So Taylor is getting huge! I took some new pictures the other night. She is starting to smile now, and not just because she is passing gas! ha ha ha, well, it IS usually when she is looking at me...hey! We're still trying to get used to everyone living together in a fairly small house. I'm still looking for a job, I've had a couple interviews, and another tomorrow. I keep praying like, God, You know I need a job. I'm sure He's like, Yep, I know. Anyway, I'm still really enjoying my church. I know there is no such thing as a perfect church, but this place really seems to have it together! :) Grandma and Noelle are still coming with me, too!

Oh, I forgot...

This is a cute story from church last week. So, Noelle had just finished her first week at Sunday School, and I was showing her around the rest of the church (which meets in an elementary school right now). Anyway, I wanted her to know where I was in case she ever needed me during Sunday school. So I took her in to the gym, which is where the main church meets, and I told her that this is where the adults have church. Without missing a beat she sayd, "Oh, so its like the bar?" Uh, no, not quite..... ha ha ha ha

Not much new to report...

Well, there isn't a whole lot going on. I have an interview tomorrow that I hope goes well, I'm going crazy without a job, or at least SOMETHING to do! Taylor is getting bigger, she's probably 12 pounds by now, and is 6.5 weeks old (I'm sure you mom's out there will appreciate that) Noelle is doing well in her new school. She has been coming to church with me, and I think she likes it. Grandma came this week, too. She must like something about it to keep coming. Or maybe its just spending time with me, yeah, I'm sure thats it. Anyway, sorry for the boring post. Pray for the interview tomorrow, its at 11:00 Pacific Time. :) Talk to you soon!

I made it~

I just thought I'd let you know that I made it to Phoenix this week and met my new niece!! Here is some more pictures of her. The search begins for a job here, now.

An awesome weekend

Okay, so I have a new resolve. I have a particular 'thing'; a sin that I have struggled with since I was 17 years old. I won't go in to what it is here, because 1. I'm not ready to reveal it to the world.....and 2. what it is isn't important to the new resolve. Well, over the last few months this problem has escalated in my life, and I've done some things that I've never done before and really just didn't care too much that I was doing it. Anyway, I know that I am not alone in this particular struggle - and that many of us have things in our lives that keep us from the sort of relationship with God that he really wants to have with us. Anyway, this weekend was really cool. I had gone to visit a friend in TN, and it seems like God orchestrated the whole time to deal with me on this issue. All weekend things came up in conversation, in church and in dreams that God really wants me to address this issue in my life. Now, I have been feeling a range of emotion from guilt and condemnation to apathy where I just didn't even care that I was sinning. I had a dream over the weekend. A lot of times I don't remember my dreams, but this one I did. I was with my brother (which is weird, since I don't HAVE a brother) and he said we should rob the neighbors house across the street. For some reason I went along with the idea, and soon he had picked the lock and we were inside. I was going for the small stuff in the closet and on the counter. He was going crazy getting big stuff. So, then I hear the people rousing upstairs and I hide in the closet. I figure I better leave, so as I go outside, and the people are having a garage sale, so in order to be nonchalant, I go and talk to the lady of the house. After a brief conversation, I go back to my house and check out my loot. I found a little coin purse with like $200 in it and at first I was really excited, but then I thought, I can't spend this money, its not mine, and I decided that I needed to go to the lady and give her back what I had taken and confess it to her. I was so scared that she was going to be upset with me. I go outside and now there is a huge lake in between my house and her house. So I swim across and start talking to the lady, scared out of my wits, and when I tell her what I had done she didn't react in the way that I thought she would. I mean, she wasn't happy that I had done it, but she was happy that I had come clean and made things right. Okay, this is what I got from the dream - sometimes when Ihave these sins that I deal with, whatever it may be, I don't know how God is going to react when I come to him. Is he going to be angry? Is he going to be disappointed? Basically, I have an image of God that isn't an accurate image at all. Somehow I think that God is going to be upset or disappointed when I come to him about it, so I don't go to him at all. But the thing is, I don't really have to worry about how he is going to react, because if I read his word, his reaction is in there.

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.
Eph. 1:7,8

and

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
I John 1:8,9

Remember the prodigal son? He had gone off and squandered his inheritance, and lived any way he pleased, and where did it get him? Living and eating with pigs. He couldn't take it anymore. The bible says:

So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.

Luke
15:20-24

God wants me to come to him. Thats it; plain and simple. He isn't going to bring up the things in my past. In fact, he threw a party because the son had come back. Now, does this mean there aren't consequences for our sins? No. There are going to be consequences for our sin, but the price for those sins has already been paid. All through this past weekend the theme was the same, in fact, I had the dream on Saturday night, told my friend about it Sunday morning, then at church, part of the message was talking about how we view God. So, it took me going to TN to hear him, I'm really glad that I did. Anyway, this was really long....I appreciate that you're still reading! I leave for Phoenix a week from today!! Then I get to see Noelle and my new little niece! YAY!!

I didn't mean to be whiny

I was reading back through my last blogs. Wow, how can someone be THAT whiny! eew. For those of you who have come back to this place even after those entries, thanks. Here are some positive things that I want to say: 1. God is awesome. 2. He continues to do amazing things in my life. 3. He loves me (and you) more than I can possibly fathom......

What else can I say - HE ROCKS!!!

So ready to leave

Well, 15 days left in the great state of Michigan, and BOY am I ready to leave!! Friday night I came home from work and my power was off in my apartment only. This had happened before, and the problem was the main breaker down in the basement of the building. Well, I don't know what I'm doing, and it was after hours but I happened to see the maintenance people outside, so I ran to get him, and we went to look at the main breaker, but that wasn't the problem. So we went back to my apartment where all the breakers in my house had been tripped. Oh well, at least the power was back on... I really needed the power to be on, too because I was having a garage sale inside my aparment the next day, and I really needed to get ready for it. I guess it was about midnight that I decided to listen to some music, and went to turn on my Ipod that is plugged in to a clock radio speaker thing (its early, and its Monday....) and realized that both my Ipod and its radio speakers were gone. I had only been out of my apartment for about 5 minutes when my power was out earlier in the day, but my door had been unlocked. Evidentially, someone came in and took it. So, all that to say - I'm SO ready to leave!! Even in that, though, I could see God's protection: I could have been home when it happened, they could have still been there when I came back... So, after this event I was quite unnerved about having the garage sale inside my house, but I really needed to get rid of this stuff, and make a little cash along the way. Besides some people from the old church had said they'd come and sit with me so I wouldn't be alone - they never showed. SO ready to leave!!

Some of you have asked about my talk with God. We're still in talks, though I don't think the negotiations are going in my favor. :) Keep praying for me. I've lost the passion that I once had for God, and I need it back. I want it back, you know? Okay, well, I'll talk to you all soon!! :)

More Pictures...

She's beautiful, eh? Oh, and she was born 8 lbs 9 oz......got that part wrong. :)

Taylor Ann....

Here is a picture of the latest addition to the Hamilton clan, Taylor Ann, and her proud BIG sister Noelle....

I'm an ANT!!

Or aunt, whatever title you prefer!! Taylor Ann was born today, weighing in at a hefty 8 lbs 6 oz!! Baby and mom are doing fine. WOO HOO!!!

God

You know how sometimes you just know that God wants to sit down and talk to you, or have you talk to him, or just wants you to spend some time with him, and you just don't want to because there is TV to watch, or you make up some other excuse? Well, I've been avoiding Him long enough, and I'm actually going to spend some time with Him today. I'm posting it so that maybe I'll be kept accountable...I'll let you know what he says (I may be in trouble....) :)

The end of an era

Well, I guess it is....if you can call 4 years an era (which I do). Pastor Weatherly and Yatron have moved to Alabama. It was amazing how God put it all together, and very encouraging for them after the events at the last church. I leave Michigan for good in 35 days, and I can't wait. I really didn't know anyone here outside of the church, and now that that is gone...well, I'm just ready to leave. Am I ready to go to Phoenix? Not so much - its suppsoed to be 107 there today. Its a balmy 67 here today, and raining - my FAVORITE weather!! Anyway, please keep the Weatherly's in your prayers and just ask that God would bless them in their new home and new church! I know he will!

Dang, I only knew the Weatherly's for 4 years? It seems like forever.... :)

Leaving on a jet plane..and other thoughts

All my bags are packed....I'm ready to go....I'm standing here outside your door..... Oh, sorry. I like that song - except right now all I can picture is Ben Affleck singing it to Liv Tyler in Armageddon. Whatever. Anyway, yep, I'm getting closer to leaving Michigan. I am leaving on September 25th, and I truly cannot wait!

I was emailing Dara earlier this week, and in the midst of emailing her I came to a realization...I don't trust God like I thought I did. I'm turning 30 in December. Thats going to be pretty hard for me. It seems like just yesterday I was turning 21, now I'll no longer be in my 20's. I've recently been dealing with thoughts about how fragile life is. I wonder, sometimes, why God didn't just create us in heaven to begin with. It seems like that would have cut down on a lot of stress in life, huh? Anyway, heres what it boils down to for me...if I really trusted God with situations and with my whole life, then I wouldn't be worried about the things in life that have me worried right now. Things like getting sick, dying, other people dying...crazy stuff like that. I know, I know God is in control, and I believe that. I really do. But you know how we give something up to God, lets say a fear about dying. Okay, God I give that to you. Then someone in my sphere of influence passes away, and I take the fear back from Him. Why? Because He can't handle it? Because He doesn't know what to do with it? No, He can handle it, and knows what to do with it better than I do... I think, for me anyway, its almost easier to hold on to that fear in the hopes that maybe I can do something that will eliminate that fear from my life, rather than to give it to God and hope for the best. Besides, if I give it to God and let him deal with it, then I have lost control of that thing. And besides, holding on to that fear doesn't hurt anything, right? Well, I think it does hurt. If I'm holding on to this fear, or this sin, or whatever it is I'm holding on to, then I'm not trusting that God can handle it. I'm essentially saying, "God, I don't think you can handle this, so I'll take care of it." Who am I to say that to GOD? I'm tired of trying to handle things on my own. I'm tired of taking control of things that I don't really have control over anyway. I'm just tired. Its too hard to fight with God, you know? I may as well let him have those things and stop trying so hard to keep control of them because, 1. I don't REALLY have control over them anyway, and 2. he knows better what to do with them than I do. I'll let you know how it all works out... Stay TUNED!!!

Moving, Job, all that stuff

Hey all, thought I'd give you a small update on whats going on around here. Well, our last day here at the office has been moved up about 6 weeks. Instead of October 31, our last days will be September 21. I'm actually quite happy. This means I will probably move to Phoenix probably around September 24-28. It all kind of depends on how quickly the car guys can get my car picked up. I'm going to call them this evening probably. Anyway, just thought I'd give ya a little update. OH, this is cool: my mom emailed me today and I'm going to have a new niece on August 31. My sister is going in for a scheduled C-Section on that date. Pray for her, Noelle, and our new little one Taylor Ann. Thanks!!

So...whats the point of life, anyway?

Some of you may remember the song I posted on this blog a few weeks ago. I wrote that song about a girl who I worked with here at the bank who was diagnosed with cancer. We learned last week that she passed away on July 15. Experiencing someone dying, especially someone so young (29 years old) like my co-worker, or someone so close like my uncle really makes you stop and think about the things that are important in life, and how short life really is. The bible says life is a vapor....a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. It makes you wonder, what is the point, or the purpose of life? You know? I've lately been thinking about things like this; life and its purpose and meaning. Wondering whats the point of it all. I'm here to tell you that if you think about this long enough, and with the wrong mindset, you can get very down and depressed. I did. So in my despair I asked God to lead me to a place in the bible to read. Distinctly I heard Ecclesiates....okay, never read that. Now, this is where sometimes I think God does have a sense of humor. So, here I am lamenting about life, struggling with what to do, crying out to God for the answer......do you know what the phrase in Ecclesiates says?

The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem:
"Meaningless! Meaningless!"
says the Teacher.
"Utterly meaningless!
Everything is meaningless."

Aaah, God sure knows what to tell a struggling girl, huh? Ha ha ha! I'm not kidding, I read the first few chapters of this book, and actually looked toward the sky asking God, "Is this supposed to be helping me, or what?!" (It did, eventually...) Now, I've not finished the whole book yet, but its all talking about how nothing we do in this life matters. We spend so much time working, only to die and let someone else enjoy the fruit of our labor. Solomon wrote this book, and he talks about how he built great buildings and amassed great wealth, but he knows that in the end he is going to die and that none of his accomplishments or riches will follow him to heaven. So then, what is the point? What is the purpose of life? Well, I don't know............. But what I do know is this: if all the things we work for in this world fade away why should we work so hard for them. Instead, what we should really be working for is the one thing that won't fade away, that won't ever change or leave us or forsake us. I John 2:17 says, "The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever." It doesn't matter how much (or how little) money I make, or how many things I accumulate or how powerful I become, because all that will pass away when I do. All I can do is do the will of God. Besides, I figure, if I'm going to be with Him for eternity, I better do what HE wants.....or I may never hear the end of it.......LITERALLY! :)

Blah, blah, blah...

And now its time for another update that can only be considered an update in the most general of terms as, technically, there is no ‘up’ to ‘date.’ Ha ha ha, I know…that makes no sense, but it was fun to write anyway. What I meant is that there isn’t much going on here. I started going through my things this weekend. I’m not driving to Phoenix when I go; I’m shipping my car and flying out there. This means I can’t load my car up with my stuff, and so I have to ship everything out there. This also means, I’m getting rid of most everything I own because I don’t really want to mail it all. So, as I’m going through my stuff I begin to find stuff that I’ve held on to for several moves now, and I think – I’ve not used this in two or three years….I’m getting rid of it. Okay, that’s hard for me guys! Like I had a whole box of stationary that I’ve had for a really long time, probably like 5 years or so….have any of you ever received a card or letter from me? NO!! So, that’s going. My electric guitar (that I really don’t even know how to play…) and my amp are going. Hopefully I can sell those. My bed, dishes, futon, table, chairs, my beloved Tupperware furniture...all going. I hope to have a garage sale, or find someone who really needs it and I can give it to them. Anyway, that was my Saturday. Sunday I drove around looking for boxes in dumpsters around where I live. I didn’t find any. I didn’t look hard, though, so that could be a reason. So, with no boxes to put it in, I have piles of this crap lying around my house. And if that weren’t enough, my mom called on Saturday and said, “Its 102 degrees here today, but its not that bad, and you can go sit in the pool and cool off and…..blah, blah blah.” I said, “Mom, I’m already moving out there, okay? You don’t have to lie to me anymore about how the heat isn’t that bad, because I already know its going to be miserable…” She laughed and said, “Yeah, its pretty miserable…” Great, I think I'd rather her go back to lying...

Sorry Nichole...

Yes, I am about to plagarize... I have been talking a lot about how we as Christians don't talk about the things that we struggle with, while we're in the midst of the struggle. I was on Nichole Nordeman's website today, reading through some of the awesome stuff she has out there (click here to check it out) and I came across this. This is the inspiration behind the song called "We Build."

Christians are an odd group.

We model our lives after this total revolutionary, a rebel who
turned the whole system of religion on its ear. We follow the teachings of this
man who pulled people out of the closets where they hid, and singled out the
most broken and unlovely, the lowest of the low, to make a point. God loves
every last corner of your dark and terrified heart. We write books about coming
clean before God. We write songs about not pretending anymore. We use words like
intimate and vulnerable to describe the way we should interact with one another.

And then. We hide. We go home and shut the door and hide the
worst of it from God and each other. Have you ever noticed that nobody stands up
in church and says, “I have bulimia. I can’t stop. I don’t know how.”

Have you ever noticed that nobody looks across the table from
you at lunch and says, “I have a real problem with internet porn,” or “
Lately, I can’t stop lying. I lie about everything.” But you will hear about
all that later. You’ll hear it about each of those stories and more on the
other side of deliverance. It’s okay to stand up and say, “I used to have a
problem with bulimia/internet porn/lying, but God has freed me from that
bondage and I’m here to testify about it.” And then everybody has a big
Hallelujah moment and claps for you.

Not too long ago, my husband and I hit a really rough patch in
our marriage. Not the “go to bed not speaking” kind of rough patch, but more of
an “I don’t know if we’re going to get through this” kind of crisis. It had been
building for some time, and the issues were deep and painful for both of us. I
sat down to write a song about us, and what love requires. I wanted to write
about staying (because neither of us felt like it)…and building something
(because we both were systematically tearing it down). I wanted to remind myself
that I made promises that weren’t attached to emotion (because neither of us
“felt” anymore). I wanted to tell the truth about the situation as it was, not
after it was better.

If I had waited, I probably would have written a far more
beautiful song. It would be an inspirational song, probably with a bunch of
imagery about how our love, with God’s help, can weather any storm, blah, blah.
Maybe people would have sung it at weddings, I don’t know. But it felt better
not to hide this time. It felt better to come clean to our friends during the
crisis, and not after. It felt better not to wait until we could give a
testimony about it, until God had saved the day (Which He did). Marriage is
hard. It is also a total joyride. But it’s hard. Errol and I have both said that
we wished somebody had prepared us a bit more. They probably tried, and we were
too busy picking out dishes. Maybe this song is a step in that direction. Any
roof worth living under is gonna take some work to build.

www.NicholeNordeman.com

Who would have thunk it?

Its hard to think that this time three years ago, just 36 measly, short months ago, I was living in Colorado Springs, attending Higher Praise and Worship Church and not really thinking too much about the future, or what God had in store for me. I was growing in the Lord, and learning more and more about him each day. I was being stretched in my worship of Him, in my thought process about Him and in my relationship with Him. Things were good. Then, I remember two years ago I was in the emotional thralls of preparing to move across the country to start a church. I had one emotional breakdown after another from wondering what God was doing in my life, to wondering whether God was even real. I had real bouts of anxiety and depression all wrapped up with actually being excited about moving to Detroit. I said goodbye to some of the best friends anyone could have and set off on the adventure of a lifetime. Life was exciting. Last year I was getting settled into Detroit. I had just finished one of the hardest years of my life trying to get adjusted to being away from family, not having very many friends and trying figure out what it was God was calling me to do. We had decided to help an existing church in Detroit as opposed to starting a church of our own. I was playing guitar in the church, being stretched in my playing and actually getting to be able to play by ear. I was learning that its okay to lift my hands in worship to God. For me, the church stuff was going pretty good, but I was still wondering why God had brought me all this way. This brings me to today. Its hard to try to cram three years of life into a few sentences, but I only metioned all that to say this: God is unpredictable. Just when you think you have things figured out he does something to bring you out of your comfort zone. He brings you to a place where you have no one else to trust but Him. On March 30 my Uncle Bob died suddenly of a massive heart attack while on vacation in Hawaii. I went to the funeral in Arizona, and for the first time I didn't really want to come back to Detroit. I wasn't ready. On previous trips to Phoenix, I've been READY to get back here, but this time I wasn't. I didn't know it yet, but God was moving. When everything happened with the church here, I really started to question what I was supposed to do. I started feeling like maybe it's time to leave Michigan and go back to Colorado. Actually, thats what I was hoping for, but that wasn't the case. It felt like God was leading me to move to Phoenix... Arizona..... Hot and ugly. What?? No, God couldn't possibly be moving me in that direction because that is NOT what I want to do. And isn't there a verse that says God will give you the desires of your heart? (Yes, Psalm 37:4) So, I held on to that verse thinking.....knowing......PRAYING that God will not make me do what I don't want to do. Thats when God gave me the desire of my heart: but instead of letting me stay in Michigan which is what the desire of my heart had been, he changed the desire in my heart. He GAVE me the desire of my heart! He changed my heart from wanting to stay in Michigan to wanting to move to Phoenix. Trust me when I say, ONLY God could do that!! Phoenix is hot (my Mom said it was 116 there this week), dry, sandy, ugly, big, far and I want to go there. So, it looks like sometime at the end of the year I'll be heading out on a new adventure......another adventure.....or perhaps a continuation of the adventure I'm currently on. Whatever the adventure is: I definitely know these three things: 1. That God is truly leading and guiding me in this decision. 2. That He will go with me wherever I go and 3. No matter what anyone says: I'm going to freaking MELT!!!

Weird Dreams....

Okay, so I've had some strange dreams here the last few days. The latest one, though I think I'm going to try to interperet on my own, see if you agree. So, in my dream, I'm in some big auditorium, and some sort of service or program was about to start (maybe like church or something), and I was supposed to be playing the guitar. I'm talking to people before the show and now its almost time to start. Well, I'm ready, the people in the program are ready, but I can't find my guitar anywhere. Everywhere I look I find guitars, but they're not my guitar. Now, I know that doesn't seem like a very long dream....but I was looking for my guitar for a long time, okay? :) Anyway, so now I wonder what the dream means. I don't think every dream has to mean something....but I think this one does. I've recently been trying to figure out a lot of things in my life. My purpose and my calling and stuff like that. I've always thought, well, I play guitar in my church, so thats my calling. But now, being without a church I don't have that anymore. I've also recently thought about really getting going and maybe recording a CD of my music. So in the dream maybe I'm searching for my calling, my music and its elusive. Or, maybe I'm searching for my calling and I THINK its music, but its really not, and thats why I couldn't find my guitar. And what is the deal with all the different guitars and banjos and stuff that wasn't MY guitar? Hmm, maybe I just shouldn't eat sugar right before bedtime...then I'll stop having weird dreams like this all together.

I'm a Copycat

Okay, so a few of my fellow bloggers are posting 8 random things about themselves, and that sounded like fun so I'm going to copy them.

1. I am considered by some to be one of the funniest people they know, and by others to be the most annoying person they know.

2. I used to have these loud and obnoxious hiccups, but since I moved to Michigan, they've disappeared (now Elaina has them!). ha ha ha ha!!!

3. I have a close friend living in Ghana, West Africa (okay, so thats not technically about me, but I have to take what I can get, okay!?)

4. I got my first gray hair at age 16, and when my hair coloring fades out, I'm probably about 40-50% gray headed.

5. My favorite shampoo is Biolage color care. I only use it about 3 months out of the year, from January to about March...I only get it for Christmas and am too cheap to buy it for myself.

6. I have this......thing for Diet Dr. Pepper. Some would call it an obsession, I would call it.....well, yeah, obsession works...

7. I taught myself many things, crochet, playing guitar, web design....

8. I love my friends... awww

And now for something completely different...

Sometimes I wonder why things happen the way they do. As you know, I moved to Michigan almost two years ago with lofty hopes to start a church. Those plans changed soon after we got here and we hooked up with the church we’ve been with since we’ve been here. Well, amazingly enough, our plans have changed yet again. We (Pastor Weatherly, Yatron and I) have decided to part ways with the church we’ve been attending and ministering in for two years, and seek the Lord about what he’d have us do now. Unfortunately, this separation has not happened in a good way, and feelings have been hurt. I would ask, if you think of it, to pray for the members of this church. They’re the ones sort of caught in the middle of everything. Forgive me for not going into details about everything that happened, but just know that we know its time to move on. So pray for us, for our next steps and what we’re supposed to do. I have a hard time wrapping my mind around the thought that we might actually start a church here now. Sometimes I think, why did God send me here to begin with? There are so many people who could be more effective, a better witness, more faithful….the list goes on and on. I think of how many people must NOT have answered the call for God to have to end up choosing me to go. And then I am reminded, while I’m not everything I think I ought to be: God didn’t settle, when he sent me. He didn’t say, Well, I guess I’ll have to send Aimee, because she’s the only one left that I can send. Fortunately for me, God doesn’t look upon our faults and shortcomings the way we ourselves look at them. When I look at myself I see all the things I need to work on – when God looks at me, he sees perfection because of Jesus. That’s so awesome, huh? Anyway, yeah, its funny how God took us on a 2 year detour, maybe just to get me to realize that its not about what I think, its about what He thinks. And the cool thing about God, is that while he is teaching me one thing through this set of circumstances, he is teaching Yatron something totally different, and Pastor something totally different too. I guess he is able to do that, being God…

Anxiety

Do you ever find that people don't really talk about the things that they struggle with? I have struggled with a variety of different things through my life, and for some reason, there are times when I am too embarassed or proud or whatever, to talk about it. It stinks, we need to be transparent with each other because maybe the things that I'm going through will help someone else. Or maybe the things you've struggled with will help me. I know that's true when I read emails or blogs from people that I respect, and they're talking about their struggles, it strengthens me to know that we all go through things, and that in the end God really is faithful to deliver. Well, I have dealt with anxiety for a long time - and truthfully thought I had been delivered from it. For the past week or so, though, I have lived with an overwhelming sense of fear and dread. In the past its been about death, or finances, and this time its no different. I know being in God's word more will help, and actually ASKING Him for help will help. I have another close friend who struggles with anxiety and we have both talked about how its not something that is really discussed among Christians. At least not in our circles... I wonder why that is. I've talked about it a little when I've been out at other churches singing, and the response is always the same: Wow, I didn't think other people struggled with that. As I lay in bed last night, my mind racing and not being able to sleep I had to confess to God that I didn't want to give this to him. I didn't think he'd be able to help. Here is the cycle that I seem to go through all the time: It usually starts where I'm down in the dumps for some reason, but then I'll have some sort of mountain top experience with the Lord, and I'll be flying high for usually a few weeks. Then that wears off and I'm still following God and stuff, but not in his word as much as I should be. Then something happens, anxiety or depression will rear its ugly head and I'll take a few steps backward spiritually. I'll stop reading my bible all together. I'll stop praying. I'll start doing things that I know are wrong, that I know I'm just doing to be flat out rebellious, and then I wonder why God doesn't seem real, doesn't seem close. I don't want to go through that anymore. I'm tired of the weeks of mountain top experience followed by months of rebellion and depression. So, as I forced myself to read my bible last night, I read this scripture on spiritual maturity:
Hebrews 5:11-14 "We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil."
God really impressed this on my heart last night, and even now as I read it again. I've been a Christian for many years, over half my life now; I ought to be much further along than I am. I ought to be off the spiritual bottle and on to spiritual steak. I ought to be a leader and not a follower. I ought to be one who encourages and ministers to others, rather than the one always in need of encouragement. I ought to love God with all my heart, all my soul and all my strength, rather than love and serve him only when it suits me.
Okay, so I know this started out about anxiety...and I digressed a bit - forgive me. :) I believe that even when I'm faithless God remains faithful. I know this anxiety and depression will pass, and I'll probably have other mountian top experiences and other deep valley lows....I'm praying for the ability to deal with situations in a mature way, rather than the current way I deal with them. So, if you think about me, lift up a prayer for maturity, because if I can be spiritaully mature, than the other things will fall into place.

New Song...

I work with a lady, same age as me, and for the longest time I felt the Lord leading me to invite her to church. Well, I know she's been going through a rough time with a divorce and three kids, so I didn't really want to bother her. In January this year one of the other girls we know came to me and said, Did you hear about our friend? I said, No, what? She had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer that spread to her pancreas. She won't be back to work. I had missed my chance. I thought I had all the time in the world to tell her about God, or at the very least to invite her to church. I mean, she's only 29 years old for goodness sake! So, I began to think about the other people in my life that I had an opportunity to share God with but I didn't. This is a song I wrote about these people...

Somewhere Tonight

Becky’s out there somewhere tonight and I hope and pray she’s doing alright
Thirteen years have come and gone since I’ve seen Becky’s face
Every day in our art class, making jokes and praying time would pass
Life went on and now I wonder what Becky’s doing tonight
What Becky’s doing tonight

I kept it secret, why did I never tell
The message of hope that could save her soul from hell
I never told her, she never knew
The light I had inside of me, that she could have it too

Becky’s out there somewhere tonight and I hope and pray she’s doing alright
And somehow by the grace of God I hope that Becky finds the light
That Becky finds the light


Brandi’s out there somewhere tonight and I hope and pray she’s doing alright
Every day we’d go to work and make each other laugh
A couple of times she came to church desperate to find the thing that could end her search
But I moved away and now I wonder what Brandi’s doing tonight
What Brandi’s doing tonight

I kept it secret, why did I never tell
The message of hope that could save her soul from hell
I never told her, she never knew
The light I had inside of me, that she could have it too

Brandi’s out there somewhere tonight and I hope and pray she’s doing alright
And somehow by the grace of God I hope that Brandi finds the light
That Brandi finds the light


Nikki’s out there somewhere tonight and I hope and pray she’s doing alright
I always thought I’d have more time to share the love of Christ
But someone called me late one night and I could tell by their voice something wasn’t right
Sickness had come into Nikki’s body, she was fighting for her life.
She was fighting for her life

I kept it secret, why did I never tell
The message of hope that could save her soul from hell
I never told her, she never knew
The light I had inside of me, that she could have it too

Father forgive me, for what I haven’t done
And give me the boldness to lead others to your Son


Nikki’s out there somewhere tonight and I hope and pray she’s doing alright
And somehow before she runs out of time I hope that Nikki finds the light
That Nikki finds the light
That Brandi finds the light
That Becky finds the light
I pray they all will find your light

Memorial Day

I hope you had a wonderful Memorial Day. Mine was nice! I tried some new recipies out on Yatron and Pastor.
Sweet potato casserole - Good
Peach Cheesecake thingy - weird texture
Kung Pao Chicken - Yum!
Champagne Salad - well, it wasn't new to me, but first time I made it and it was good

Other than that, I had about 6 weeks of laundry to do this weekend, which sucked. I did get to talk to Dara, who is currently serving Ghana Africa with the Peace Corps. She is doing well. I'm sure she says hi to everyone! Her page can be found on my links on the side of my page. Check it out! Hope you had a great weekend....now back to the grind. UGH!

Exciting life?

I sometimes wish my life were more exciting than it is...then something exciting happens and I wish my life were back to 'normal,' whatever that means. I'm not saying anything especially exiting happened this weekend, but I wished it had....

Just one of those weeks....

Ever had just one of those weeks. You know the ones where outwardly things are going good, but inwardly things are a mess. Thats where I am this week. I know God wants more from me, and as of yet, I've been unwilling to give it to him. To give everything to him and live my life for him - it seems like a no-brainer, right? I mean, he IS God, and I AM his child. So then why is it so hard to give up certain things. There are things we struggle with, sins, that we know we have overcome, and yet we choose to engage in those things. And when we fall, yet again, into that sin, it may feel good for a time - but it leaves you feeling worse than you did when you started out. Praise be to God that his mercies are new every morning. I sure need them today! :)

Pictures and Random thoughts

So I've been thinking...what should I do if I can't find a job at the end of the year? Detroit has an unemployment rate of 7% (which is high, I guess) and while I believe I'm going to get a job right away, I still need to be planning for a contingency. So here are a few ideas I've come up with.
1. Deal or No Deal - I've got my application all filled out, and I will be filming my application video shortly
2. Amazing Race - People think it's all cool when I tell them I want to apply, until I ask them if they want to go with me...
3. Biggest Loser - Come on! I can lose weight, and maybe make some $$. Count me in!
4. Start my own business - The only thing is, what kind do I start?
5. Move to Bahamas - this one is looking REAL nice...

Okay, so thats just a few ideas...I still have about 6 months to think about it - so I'll let you know what I come up with. :) In the meantime, Elaina sent me the pictures she took from my trip to Colorado. I still haven't got mine out of the camera yet. Yeah, I'm a slacker...


Me and Elaina

This is our 'sexy' pose...

Aimee and Isaac

Uh....here, you can have him back...

Elaina, Brenda, Sarah, Aimee, Tara, Jessica

Okay, we were supposed to be looking mean...some are better than others

Brenda, Sarah, Aimee, Tara, Jessica

We may have had a few too many.....egg rolls.

Me and Tara

Awww...

Come on T, its not that bad...

What? I'm going to miss her!

Thats almost as bad as Desparate Aimee (click here)

Brenda - is that 'water' again?

Pre-Mothers Day Breakfast

I'm feeling rather random this morning. We had a Pre-Mother's Day breakfast at my church over the weekend. It turned out really nice - though I have to say I'm glad its over. I was supposed to be in charge of clean up, but since I had to play the guitar during the service, by the time I got downstairs, clean up was already finished. Woo hoo, score 1! We had some vendors there selling things, and one of the things they were selling was panythose. Some of the ladies were trying to get me to buy some. I wanted to ask, "Do you ever actually LOOK at what I'm wearing?" I never wear anything that would require pantyhose, so why would I buy some. They were like, "They're only $10.00" And I thought, $10.00!? ONLY $10.00!? Okay, these pantyhose must be made of golden nylon or something... I might be crazy - but are quality nylons really $10.00? Anyway, needless to say, I have no more pantyhose today than I did Saturday, woo hoo, score 2!



I wish I had some newer pictures to post (I will once I get the pictures from my Colorado trip on here), but for now, I'll post these pictures of our praise team. They're from several months ago, but we still pretty much look like this. Well, except Simone, she is a blonde now...




This is Yatron leading worship (in background are Sis Carmen, Sis Simone, Sis Shamika)








Here you see everyone (Sis Carmen, Sis Yatron, Sis Simone, Sis Shamika, Sis Melissa)








We are the musicians. (Aimee - guitar, Phil - bass, Tony - Drums)

Too bad...

You know what I realized? How sad is it that I can go on and on about a restaurant or food, but only a few sentences about the Lord. Pray for me......... :)

Kung Pao Chicken Lady

Okay, so by now you probably know that I was in Colorado Springs this past weekend. And you probably know why I was there. Nope, not to look for a job. Nope, not to see friends. Yep – I was there for the Chinese food. Now, don’t get me wrong, it was awesome to see everyone – but, I haven’t found a decent Chinese food place in Detroit that even comes close to what became my home away from home in Colorado Springs: Tsing Tao House. Let me take you on an imaginary journey through time and space and bring you to a place where you can truly understand where I’m coming from. At first, I thought Chinese food was all the same, that one place wasn’t necessarily that much different from any other place. Then, my mom brought me to Tsing Tao. It isn’t much to look at from the outside, and there isn’t much decoration inside, so I wasn’t expecting the amazing journey I was about to embark on. I ordered Kung Pao Chicken, House Style (mostly because they didn’t load it up with all sorts of vegetables I would just end up picking out and throwing away anyway). When they brought it out, it was steaming hot, obviously having just been prepared. I began salivating right as soon as I smelled it. Included with my lunch was a crab cheese wonton, and an egg roll. Now, not everyone can pull off the perfect egg roll. Some places put ginger and cinnamon in their egg rolls, which to me doesn’t even make sense, but okay…whatever. The Tsing Tao egg roll has the perfect combination of exterior crunchiness matched with interior tastiness. In other words they’re the best freaking egg rolls ever. The wontons (they call them rangoons) have the perfect proportions of cream cheese to fried wonton, not too little filling yet not too much. My family and I would come to Tsing Tao so often, that when they saw us coming in, they would get our drinks ready, and ask if we want the usual. So, now fast forward to this weekend. I’ve been gone for about 20 months, almost two years. I know that I have to make this dinner count because, well, I don’t know when I’ll be able to eat there again. I am drooling on the way to the restaurant, and excited to see if its changed at all – and to see my old friends, the waiters and waitresses. I told Elaina that there is no way they’ll remember me after this long and all the customers they have. Even in the parking lot, I can smell the Asian goodness cooking inside. We go in…I can sense the waitress looking at me, we sit down. I ask Elaina, “She’s looking at me, isn’t she?” She was. She remembered me – not only did she remember me, but she remembered my mom and dad and even what I always ordered – Kung Pao Chicken House Special Style. I told her I couldn't believe she remembered me, she replied, "Well, you came in every week." Its true, I did. I kind of went all out – trying to find a happy medium between savoring each bite with wanting to gorge myself. It was awesome, I’m drooling now thinking about it. I had to call my mom eat leave a message of myself eating a Rangoon, just to rub it in… She was not happy, she hasn’t found a great Chinese food place in Phoenix, either. Its sad, that’s true, but when you’re in the Springs, make sure you visit Tsing Tao House, and tell them the Kung Pao Chicken lady sent you by…

One Constant

So, I'm here in Colorado Springs today, visiting some friends here. I'm leaving the Springs today after church to go to Castle Rock to visit another friend, and then fly back to Detroit on Monday. Anyway, for some reason yesterday, it hit me that I'm leaving here soon to go back to Detroit, and I was really sad. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love Detroit and my life and all my friends there, but I love my friends here too, and I've missed them so much. So, I was in a somber mood, and Elaina asked if I was okay. Well, that broke the floodgates and I started crying. Elaina was great telling me that its okay to be sad, but we both know that God has a work for me in Michigan. So, not wanting to actually deal with the situation, I hopped in the shower, where I continued my crying in private. :) It was there I cried out to God, and he met me there...in the shower. It was so awesome because he began to share with me that there is always going to be change in life. Even if I moved back to Colorado, it wouldn't be like it was before because people and things change. He reminded me that there is only one thing in life that will never change. One thing that will always remain faithful and true, and thats him. Hebrews 13:8 says, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever," and Malachi 3:6 says, "I the Lord do not change..." The loving God that he was to me when he saved me almost 14 years ago, is the same God he is today. He reminded me that there are people in our lives for a reason, and sometimes just for a season and that no matter what, I just have to trust him. Maybe I don't have some of these wonderful Colorado friends in my life from day to day. Maybe I can't drive over and see them whenever I want, but they are still in my life, and still important to me, and to God's work in me. I love everyone here so much, but I know I need God's will for my life, not Aimee's. So if that means leaving some of the most important people in my life to do what He wants me to do, then that's what I've got to do. I'm writing this here partially so you can know whats going on in my life, but also as a reminder to me and how I'm feeling today. We always go through times of trouble and doubt, and I can come back to this post and remember all the things God spoke to me this weekend. He is a good God, isn't he? Check back later on for photos from this weekend - trust me - you won't want to miss that....

One thing after another....but its not that bad...

Uncle Bob and Aunt Katie


So, the funeral for my uncle was really nice. It was this past Saturday at my mom's house in Phoenix. We didn't have it in a church, and it was really more like a party than a funeral. Well, a party where we were all crying... Anyway, everyone said my uncle would have loved it. I think he would have. Except they crying part. Did I mention there was crying??
Anyway, while I was in Phoenix...for a funeral, mind you - I found out that the company that I work for would be phasing out my job. My last day will be October 31. I've never been laid off before, so this is a whole new experience for me. At least I get 7 months notice, but I live in the Detroit Metro area, where unemployment is one of the highest in the country. You may have heard that Ford and GM are doing major layoffs, well, most of those are in this area. Anyway, I have to say that initially, I was scared at the prospect, but now? Now I'm trusting in God. I know that he always has my best interests in mind. Truthfully, I'm tired of working in a phone center, and I've thought about quitting and doing something I enjoy. But the thought of looking for a new job made me tired, and I just didn't feel like doing it. So God, in his divine wisdom, gave me a Holy kick in the pants. Now, I have no choice but to get out there and find something new. So, I know that God is going to use this whole situation in a good way, isn't that what he meant when he said, What the devil meant for evil, the Lord used for good? Anyway, there are about 2000 people getting the boot, so if you think about it, pray for them. Not everyone is as "holy" as me.

Thanks

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone's emails and comments about my Uncle Bob. I got back yesterday, and the service was nice. Keep praying for my Aunt Katie, you can imagine how difficult everything is for her right now. Thanks everyone!

Tragedy

Sorry I haven't posted in a while, I've had a pretty rough last week and a half. Things had been going pretty well, especially spiritually. I was reading my word, and praying and feeling close to God, then Friday, March 30th came. My parents, along with my aunt and uncle were in Hawaii on vacation, but it was in celebration of their 30th wedding anniversary. (yes, they both had 30th wedding anniversaries last year, they actually had a double wedding in 1976!) Anyway, they were having a great time, and I even spoke with them on that Thursday and they had just been kayaking. Then, the morning of the 30th, my dad and my uncle Bob had gone on an early morning fishing trip. They came back to the condo they were staying in, and my uncle Bob told my aunt he wasn't feeling well. He got worse, and said he thought he was having a heart attack, my aunt called for my mom (a registered nurse) and they called 911. Unfortunately, despite the efforts of my mom and the paramedics and hospital staff, my Uncle Bob didn't make it. He was 51 years old. I had not had someone very close to me die before. I've been keeping myself so busy for the last week, that I haven't done a whole lot of crying. It really doesn't seem real that he is gone. The services are this weekend, and I'll be flying to Phoenix to attend. My mom said since I'm the "spiritual" one in the family, that I should write something for the funeral. Anyway, not the best of posts, but even through all this - I know that God is still on the throne, still in control, and still Lord of my life, and that he uses all things for the good of those who love him. Even though it may not feel like it, I know that his word is true, and that even in this tragedy, that he will turn it for good. I'd appreciate your prayers for my family at this time, we all just need the comfort of the Lord. We're really going to miss our Uncle Bob!

I'm a nerd...

One time, a couple years ago, I met a hero. This story may be old to some of you - but it accurately details why I have the picture I do on my profile. The year was 2005, I had recently made the decision to move from Colorado Springs to Detroit. I had also recently learned that my favorite singer, Nichole Nordeman, would be in Detroit about a month after I moved. I was so excited - how awesome was this going to be? I had seen her in concert one other time, she was opening for Steven Curtis Chapman, but she only did a few songs. Here, SHE was the headliner. It was the longest two months of my life, partially because I had just moved across country, and was missing everyone and everything I knew, but partially because I could not WAIT for this concert. I invited Yatron and her daughter, and a friend from church to come with me. The concert was awesome! She sang everything I'd hoped she would, and more. After the concert I heard someone say she'd be out soon to sign sutographs. My friends graciously said they'd wait for me, Yatron even bought me a journal to have her sign. The line was long, and I was near the end of it. When Nichole came out, the young lady in the front of the line was crying. "What a nerd," I thought. I was getting closer to the front of the line, what should I say? Some of her songs had really helped me through the last few months, I should tell her that. Or maybe I should just say how incredibly talented she is - but she probably already knows that. I was next in line, my heart started racing, my eyes started tearing. I was next. I handed her my journal and said, ".....this is my friend Yatron..." That was all I could muster. We took a photo, perhaps you can see it in my face "Did I just say, "This is my friend Yatron." to Nichole Nordeman? The lump in my throat didn't leave, even on the drive home. I think its because I realized...I'm a nerd, too...