This blog is going to be a different style...it's going to be serious tracked. I might become seriously vulnerable after this.

This weekend I take off to leave my comfort zone. I leave for Mexico at 10:55 in the morning. I am loving this feeling of mixed emotions. Actually, I'm not. I feel like I should be taking some kind of emotion control medicine. Sometimes I'm overwhelminly excited, others extremely sad, and most of the time I stay in a state of inadequacy. Though, most of these are different than my norm because I usually am just happy. I wouldn't even say that I am happy, as Christ-followers I believe we have this constant joy in our lives. The reminder of who we used to be and who we are now as well as who we are becoming. I am a fairly flexible person in terms of what I will do, if it involves service I will try my hardest. I do not like being pushed past my capabilities because I fear failure and I do not like to show my sorrow to people, because I do not want to appear weak.

I recently went to my Uncle's church (Harvey Assembly of God) to tell them of my trip and establish my prayer team and raise some funds. When I was thinking of what I was going to tell them, God revealed something to me as I was praying. Whenever I would tell people of my missions trip to Mexico, the most common response I got was, "DON'T DRINK THE WATER"! I mean everyone would tell me that. It's not an uncommon phrase when talking about Mexico, but I guess I expected something different. Then I remembered the story of the woman at the well were she met Jesus. He told her that if she knew who she was speaking to she would ask him to have a drink of the water that will never allow her to thirst again. Growing up in America at the time that I am, water has always been available to me. But in Mexico it's different. They may not have all the things I have (i.e. good running water, an abundant supply of entertainment) but we do share something--Jesus. I may not fix their water problems in the week that I will be down there, even though that might be what they are looking for just like the woman at the well, but I can share with them Jesus and He will be their hope, their future, their all and everything. And through the team's ministry and those who come after us, our heavenly family will grow. And for that I will sacrifice.

As I spend my daily devotional time reading my Bible, praying, and spiritually and emotionally preparing myself for my missions trip I feel different. I feel loved in a time were I haven't felt that lately. I feel as though I have a purpose despite my age, experience, or capabilities. I feel stretched in a good way. I did track for one season (I know, right?!?), whenever we did a really challenging workout coach would always tell us to stretch out. That's an important spiritual lesson to learn: whenever you put in the extra effort in devotion time, you got to learn to stretch your spiritual muscles. Try something. Anything. Serve others, that's a simple one.

I'm not going to lie to you (because going on a missions trip, lying--not a good combo) going on a missions trip is challenging. It's not just deciding then going. Its about the sacrifice. Whether it be financially or whatever, God expects a sacrifice. And more often than not you find yourself sacrificing yourself.

"Only Me" moment #276...and #277

#276--Because of my job, church activities, and other random duties I have to do throughout the week I hardly am able to eat with my family for supper. Monday night was a rare occurance where I was home for supper, so my dad made one of my favorite meals. He had hollered that it was ready so I closed out whatever I was doing on the computer an dheaded for the kitchen. Kelli had already gotten her plate leaving me second place in line(out of 3). Not a problem except for she had unknowingly dropped a green bean onto the floor. I stepped on it and burnt my foot. That's right I burnt my foot on a vegetable not just any vegetable a green bean.

#277--In the past 48 hours I have slept 29 hours. Crazy! I might be getting sick but seriously that has left me with (hang on while I grab my calculator) 19 hours for other things. That is a freakish amount of sleeping time.

**Author's note** I realize this seems like a fairly low number of "Only Me'' moments for one to have in a lifetime and that's because...it is. I would guess this would be about a 2 week span. I will try to publish the painful moments from my past (a.k.a. Pool Attack and Camp Karaoke) as time continues to heal.

Wow! It has been a long time since I have been on here. I have been wrapped up with anti-blogspots myspace and facebook. I have concluded that I am technology deficient (and a horrible speller, I had to sound both of the words out) since I could not for the life of me figure out how to put a simple background on myspace. I left you all (7 faithful blog viewers) with my Black Friday list and I find it very important for people to not only read that list but study because that is the real world my friends. No more Mr. Nice Guy every man or woman for themself.
Since then many things that I know call "It only happens to me" moments have occurred lets start us off with the big shabang... While playing cards with my family I was joking about flashing gang signs and did the fake guns at my grandma when she up and gave me "the bird" yes thats right my grandma flipped me off.(Background on the woman I like to call G-mama: she is 4"11 or so, weighs less than my thigh, and cant remember the simplest thing)
I went to Jenn's house to put up her Christmas tree and decorate the outside. I now have a greater appreciation for people who put up their lights in July because about 3 weeks later my toes finally defrosted and the internal temperature of my Rocket Dogs got to about 40 degrees. We heard cows in Rock Island--for those who dwell outside of Sherrard it is apparently strange to hear that sound at night time. Granted we were in Rock Island. We went to see the infamous the Glowstick of House due to too many Christmas decorations and I seen the lady. We told her that we loved her decor and woosh Scrooge appeared in the night. She lost all the Christmas cheer that was expressed through the 19 blowup toys in the yard and gave us simple answers. I would just like to say i was very displeased.
I made a fool of myself in a major production of Creative Christmas. Thanks to some excellent editing I didnt look like a huge fool but I still looked ridiculous.
I have more but since most of you are either slowly falling farther down your seat or you have already quit reading and just skipped to the comments, I will leave the rest for a different time.

Sanity... a thing of the past!

there is this one day that comes every year. In which consideration and patience are pushed aside for the betterment of the cause. That day is the infamous "day after Thanksgiving shopping". Anyone and everyone (including those not mentioned) are out on this day making complete fools of themselves to get the best early bird deals out there. i can tell you this because as a daughter of one of these "people" i am an experienced pro of dodging and ducking away from these animals.
Here are some rules and guidelines that can be applied when shopping on this day and this day alone :
WARNING: some actions may be punishable by penalty of law
1. It becomes ok to wait in line 2 1/2 hours earlier than the doors open to get five of something you will never use just because "It's a deal"

2. Time is of the essence--one must strategize to get to 7 doorbuster savings in the period of 2 1/4 hours.

3. Pushing, shoving, throwing bows, tripping, cart bumping, biting, and all other forms of violence are permissable if they allow you to take out the enemy(all other shoppers)

4. Wheelchairs receive no sympathy from others until you wail them in the ankles.

5. Children can and may be used much like the front of a bulldozer.

6. Placing a person with a decoy cart a quarter mile long line while you shop for the real stuff is frowned upon by the people behind you doing the exact same thing.

And to end on a happy note...
7. You never can replace the friendships you make with the other shoppers in line even know you know they seriously are planning your take down.

Taxidermy = DEATH

I have an extreme fear of taxidermy. That's right taxidermy! It absolutely terrifies me to where I can't breathe, move, or do anything for that matter but put my head down and cry. I did not realize how bad my fear actually was until a recent family vacation where it was everywhere(it's quite a sad story that if you ask I will tell you). Anyways, today me and my friend Karen were walking around the mall looking for a senior memory book that we could buy instead of spending a fortune on one from school, so we checked out places like Hallmark and Things Remembered to see if they had any. Everyone of the stores has the cute little puppy and kitty things that are kind of like taxidermy but not because they are cute. I wasn't real thrilled that they were everywhere but they didn't bother me like actually taxidermy. So out of fear I would extend my hand and pet their heads no prob! This went on for the first two stores and then we came to a store that was like Hallmark but not Hallmark and they were there again but this time as I reached out the stomach area moved as if it was breathing. I pulled my hand out of there as fast as I could, jumped back, and nearly cried. At the same time my friend Karen is dying because she is laughing so hard. I reach out to conquer my fears and taxidermy strikes again. That's it, I'm finished with that. No more trying to overcome my fear. I'm done.

I officially am a NERD!

Today is my first official day of break and where else am I than good all Heritage Wesleyan Church. I stopped to get my assignment from Jessica(actually Darci because I was late) and started talking to them when Mark seen me. We started talking about how I need to blog(well we talked about more than that... come on were not losers). Although we are not losers they in fact pointed out that I am a nerd. I should flaunt that but I cant. I fear that it just shows in my everyday life when I'm walking(I trip), Singing(shouts of 'Shut Up'<--that's a different story) I mean I just shine in my nerdiness. I have been brainfartin this entire time so I have come up with a brilliant idea for all bloggers in my category that we hire people to blog for you. You confess your story and that will make it better. Maybe I could do it. Wait.. I cant even write my own blog so that wont work. There Jenn, I hope I am over my hump now.

Sign What?

I have a very good friend named Leon Devriendt and he is a total blessing from God. I met Leon this spring because he was my ASL 101 teacher. I took the class out of curiosity because i thought it was a beautiful language and i would learn something from it. man o man i have learned more than this blog will ever tell from him.
Anyways, i was talking to him after church on sunday and i always end up leaving the conversation with a smile. There are two things one should know about me.
1. I am a goofball by nature. I laugh at anything and everything and i love to have fun.
2. I am a not so good ASLer(if you will)

so when Leon is signing to me i get most of what he is saying but not all. There is an ongoing joke of how i make up my own signs for different words. And if you ever meet leon just tell him that you believe SSL is the language of the future as a joke.

I couldnt tell you why we are friends because i just dont know. We are so different but yet so similar. He is great at golf and i think the highest score wins. He understands every aspect of politics and i cant vote for prom queen. That is just minor details because we share the same passion for Christ. We both love to have religious conversations with people to see their view on Christ. I mean when you look on the surface of our friendships it seemsthat we have nothing in common yet God knew that I would need him. I would need that spiritual leader to guide me by example of what to do when times got tough. I pray that he feels the same way. I know we strengthen each other when the day is long and the world hurts us.

Leon, I value our friendship in so many ways. I thank you for having patience with me as I learn ASL and make the smooth transition from SSL. I pray God continues to use you in praise team and as a teacher in Deaf for Christ.