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....
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! :)
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?
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)
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......... :)
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…
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....
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.
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!
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!
