where in the world?

It seems that California affords me time to think and write and pray. How is it that the bustling state that causes everyone else to speed through life brings me to a standstill? Reminds me of an old hymn. . . "God moves in a mysterious way."

For those who have not heard, I have recently finished up my ministry stint in Fort Mill and have moved back "home" to California. My mom has graciously ASKED me to come and stay a while. It has been good and strange and surreal all rolled up into one. After 13 years away, the city has changed. More than that, 13 years have changed me considerably!

The current plan is this: After the "dream job" position I was interviewing for was cut for financial reasons, I decided to pursue something else. Now if only I can figure out what that will be! I immediately started searching for a new job, but have been dissatisfied in the results.What I have concluded is this: the job I interviewed for was not the answer to my prayers. I believe there is something better. . . greater out there ahead of me than what I could have experienced in another job. I choose to believe that a person can ENJOY the work they do. Either the Lord will supply me with a job like this or give me an opportunity to share my passion for life in another way. I have managed to stay busy with projects around the house. (Working on organizing things for my sister has become a blessing so that I'm not idle!) Reading and visiting places I used to go has also been good. The last couple of days have been filled with memories of Thousand Oaks and my dad. (For those of you who don't know, he passed away years ago.) This has been a good time. I've also been doing a little research and hope to take a silent "listening" retreat within the next couple of weeks so that I can make some more life decisions with the Lord!

Among other plans, Saturday will be filled with errands, and cleaning out family storage units. Sunday I'll drive down to San Diego and spend a few days with my Papaw. He is having minor surgery Monday and deserves a little TLC from a lady of the family! I'll come back mid-week and spend a week or so doing projects. October 23rd weekend will find me off for a girl's trip with my sister and mom and some dear friends in honor of Mary's birthday to Las Vegas. (The prayer retreat will have to sneak in before or after that little adventure. )

Last but not least, here is a fairly recent picture. Taken on the day of my birth, July 7th. Shared for the sake of nostalgia (as I said goodbye to my friend Michelle in Fort Mill and many others) and to break the monotony of an all text entry.

Much love from your California girl.

news from california

though home is right outside of charlotte, i don't often find myself with computer access to write little updates. so, a little time in california affords me the opportunity to update.

first, what brings me to california? my sweet sister Mary had to have surgery to take her tonsils out. (not too bad if you're a ten year-old, but a rather painful process if you're in your 30's!) she's been quite a trooper. the doctor says pain should subside after about 10 days. on day 7, i'm hoping she gets some relief, because it hasn't happened yet!

life continues on from my little cabin in fort mill. the last weeks found us doing two fundraisers to try and supplement a ministry income that is solely funded by donation. the work: picking up trash -- mainly beer cans and cigarette butts at NASCAR events in talladega, alabama and darlington, south carolina. lots of folks have turned their noses up at the idea of doing such a task and honestly, i can think of other ways that i'd like to spend my time, but i've learned a greater lesson in the midst of it all. the Lord is seeking from his people a simple thing. . . a willing heart. when my leader comes and asks for my help, the proper response is a willing heart. that and a good dose of humility will go a long way in serving. (and that way the bills get paid, too.)

i'm overdue to write more in depth about what is going on in fort mill and in my own life, but i'll have to save that for another day. for now, i'll go check on my sweet sister and see how she is doing.

nephews.

So, I was actually sitting in the prayer room yesterday spending some time with the Lord when this random thought came and swept right through my brain. I said I was going to post pics of the nephews from the holidays. And I haven't yet. So now I am (because I want to be a woman of my word!)

These little guys are awesome! They were my entertainment for the few short days I had with my family over the holiday. Malachi's the younger one. As he has started talking, we're having great one word conversations.


Benjamin is the older brother. Totally awesome, he came make up stories and songs with the best of them. Which is exactly what we did while "Aunt Mary" built marble slides & we all played cars. If you ever meet Ben, you'll be drawn right into conversation. He has one of the best vocabulary's of any pre-K kid you'll ever meet. (No joke!) Definitely a little man, I think he may enjoy talking to adults just as much as the little people his own age.

Now I've kept my word and posted the pics.

Aah. . . this feels good.

holiday.

my favorite things about this past holiday season were the simplest things:
below are just a couple of moments from over the last three weeks. (this post is "Cause Family Christmas" and i'm hoping the next post will be "After Christmas in Kansas". my sister flew me out to meet part of my family in kansas on the 27th. it was good.)
so, without further ado. . .these were a few of my favorite things. . .

• a huge box of texas pecans sent with love from my dear friend peggy.

• christmas cards with family photos.

• quiet time to think and read.

homemade chicken noodle soup right before christmas that jason made for the group. a blessing because: #1 it was homemade. #2 i got a break from cooking #3 jason listened to the bible on cd the whole time he cooked (while i was upstairs cleaning!) and #4 there were leftovers for two more days of eating. yummy!










i had to list chris on my blog under blessings, though it's bittersweet. chris came to live at the cause in august. he hooked up with thecause on our tour this summer. chris was on the prayer set that matthew & i led the last four months. chris got his fill of teaching, reading, praying and healing over these last five months and has decided to hit the road again. we blessed him to go, but he knows there's an open door for him to come back. (soon, i hope!) this was the best of our try at a "self-portrait" the day before he left. we love you, chris!





definitely on of my "favorite things" is time with richelle. she rocks! (also in our prayer set, i get to see her almost every day.) this is just a snapshot from some of the girls exchanging gifts. (there were just a few of us left at christmas. some had a little $ to buy a new gift, others went thrifting for a little treat, and others gave something of their own.) my treasured gift from richelle was 2 carved wooden pieces that i can use to put my hair up with. it used to be hers. what a friend! what a joy!






ah, michelle. i would call her my partner in crime, except we don't commit any! this is my friend! (we just kind of make sure everyone's okay & fed when no one else is around. we also pulled off probably the best christmas eve dinner i've ever been a part of!)
our little band was so filled with joy on christmas eve, we couldn't sleep. at 2am christmas day, 10 or so of us went into charlotte, sang christmas carols & took pictures at/in the big christmas tree. (alaska phil is in the back of this one.) what a memory!




this last picture of the day holds two of my favorite christmas blessings. first, is the little christmas tree that graced our house the day before christmas. i will always remember the circumstance that led up to a good friend trimming a tree for me to have. in fact, i love it so much, i haven't taken it down yet! the tree brings me to the second of the blessings. anyone who has known me long, knows that i appreciate gifts. like them, enjoy them, even love them! (not for the sake of spending lots of money, but for the sake of honoring.) it's not any old gift that i like, but finding that little something that can be given that somehow seems to say, "i know you and i love you," moves me to tears. dare i say that one of my "love languages" from smalley's book is the giving of gifts? yes, indeed. i think it is! this wasn't a christmas where i could purchase many things at all, but it was a christmas of giving what i had or thrift store shopping. and more than anything, giving my love and my "thank you"s to everyone i could.

ah. . . favorite things. i think i have too many to choose from.
but one thing i will promise. the favorite nephews will make the next blog!

back in fort mill

left the 27th to fly to kansas (i even met a sweet family on the trip out that bought me a cup of coffee and let me visit with them. what a great blessing!) to be with my sister, mom, brother, sister in-law, and 2 nephews. we had a "white christmas". we laughed and danced and ate too much food. it was good!

now i'm back home and answering lots of work emails that piled up in my six days away. will post more pics and stories in the days to come.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL! 2008 is going to be a great year!