Monday morning. It was so nice to have some time off. I was super busy still but it was great. I went to Rustproof Summer camp. I love junior highers! We had a great time laughing and hanging out. It was a nice time with the leaders too. The speaker was great and the band did great too! The students were engaged and opened up a lot. I hope they rememeber their commitments and seek God. I think back to that time in my life and wouldve loved to have been able to have something like Rustproof growing up. It really is a privilege. So I left camp and drove right to the church....slept in the car for a bit and then sang at Ed Horn's funeral. It was a great tribute to his life and how he lived. I was honored to be a part of it. On Saturday I slept in and then went to church. Jordan and I decided to go to see Monica in a play. She did great.....and I was happy to see it. We laughed and laughed at certain parts though. Some of the people were not that good and it was hysterical! (Maybe cause we were both extra tired...made it funnier!) Plus that kid is SO FUNNY! The things he says cracks me up. He has great one-liners. And those that know me...know that I love "funny" sarcasm. It is the best. Got up Sunday and served in Rustproof. Went to lunch with some of the team then headed out to Royal Oak...to hang with the babies and go over to Elements. It went well out there and then I went home....made some Ramen noodles....and went to bed. SO TIRED! I guess this is more of a re-cap of life since I havent been out here in "blog-land" for a few days. Dont really know what to say about the "anonymous" comment that was left on my blog and the others. I have a lot to say actually but what is the point. I am always open to be talked to if someone has an issue with me. Ask anyone in my life....and they would say that I want people to come to me if they need to. The door is open. So....I will leave it at that. Thanks to my friends that came to my defense. It matters to me and matters most that you really know me and know who I am.

Thank you Lord for a great past few days. Very tough moments and very fun moments....and thank you that you are there in it all. You are my best friend and my life is yours. Help me to keep my life open to you and all that you are teaching me. Transform me as only you can. I love you.

Thoughts on a Monday afternoon.....
-Sadness over my friend Ed Horn....waiting to see when God will take him home. Praying for Kelley and the kids...and his mom and family. What a great man and a great faith. Watching them and being able to be a part of this private journey (that they let anyone be a part of) is life changing. What a great testimony they have. Oh God....have your will and cover over them...
-praying for the Rustproof camp. The team left today. I will leave on Wednesday. Praying for their safety as they travel. Apparently there is some crazy person shooting cars on the espressway in Indiana...and of course that is where they are driving to. I guess with this Ed stuff the past couple days....it makes me a little more prone to worry. Not worry so much as the idea that we never know when we will loose someone we love. A good portion of my heart is traveling down there (meaning people I love a lot) and I am praying for their safety. I am sure nothing will happen but I am sensitive to it today. Why would someone shoot random people anyway? I mean not that anyone should shoot anybody but innocent people driving?? Gosh, we sure live in a crazy world.
-I had a great time leading at NRC this weekend. Singing the special was a blast too. I even got to sing in Velocity last night. Jimmy invited me to sing for the worship with him. Then I did a special with Jordan. Called I AM. What a great song. Love God being called Redeemer. That has stuck out for me the past couple days.
-It is a good day...but a "deep" day.....lots on my mind. In the light of things going on....most of it doesnt matter. But the things going on....are hard to take. My heart is heavy.
-God is good. God is faithful. So I will have faith in God. And I am so thanful that He is in charge. Of Lord how we need you. I love you.

Hillsong/Rueben Morgan song comes to mind....
Jesus, I believe in you, Jesus, I belong to you. You're the reason that I live, the reason that I sing, with all I am.

He is the reason that I sing with all I am. You alone are the reason, Jesus.

"Hold on.....love will find you...." I love the words to the song by Nichole Nordeman titled Hold On. I believe it is a song from our loving God to each one of us. It is like he speaks to each us right at the point of temptation, hurt, intense sense of loss or any issue we deal with in secret. It is a reminder to have faith and believe that Love will find us. God's tender love. I have been waking up lately and putting into practice speaking words of faith and trust in God. Telling him that I believe him for MORE for my life......for complete healing and restoration of my mistakes and bad habits. Telling God that I trust Him to transform me. And that I believe the best is ahead of me. Words of faith. Words of trust. And all the while....I know he is proud of me for taking this step. (This is big for me.) To expand my vision of what God has done...is doing...and will do in my life and the lives of the people around me. A lot of these ideas I have heard from Beth Moore, Joyce Meyer....and now in the book I am reading by Joel Osteen. Never thought I would get into that guy....but I love his attitude and his book is good. (I am cuirrently reading it. Your best life now). I am letting God speak to me in this reading....and walking the ideas out in my life.
To wrap this entry up....I will tell a revelation that God spoke to me about a restaurant that we like at work. See my friend Ann, found this place called the Bread Box. Yummy sandwiches. It is a small shop and they said they are having building problems so they are searching for a new place to move to. Well, again these sandwhiches are great and everyone loved them. While Ann was there she noticed that it didnt seem really busy....and they were so happy to have them as customers. Ann told her that she knew the people at Blue Cross would love them and tons of people would be back. The lady was excited. Well, we recently went back and they were closed. She called the number the lady gave her and no answer. They sent us a flyer and again....no answer. Man, did this lady miss a wind-fall of blessing. I think this is like us....sometimes we need to just hold on a little longer to get the blessings of God and we close ourselves off too soon. Dont miss the windfall in your life.....keep your heart open.....and Hold on....Love will find you. God will not fail.

Friday Afternoon T-H-O-U-G-H-T-S

-So glad that it is the weekend!
-Looking forward to having a sleepover with 4 fabulous girls (Kelly, Monica, Olivia and Britney Yeah!)
-Cant wait to sleep in tomorrow
-Had a blast with Lori at dinner last night! You are amazing! Thanks for a b-day dinner!
-Worship was SO fun on Wednesday...what a privilege to get to lead!
-It was really cool to have Jordan be my drummer that night too!
-Bonnie sang great!
-I miss baby Aaron
-Just got a surprise and fun call from my buddy from last years summer camp! We will hang out soon! Yeah!
-I love reading everyones comments on my blogs...you guys are the best! I love you.
-I dont like diet Mountain Dew that much.....what is the point.....but diet orange pop....MMMM!!
-Stacey blessed me with some amazing gifts for my b-day!
-Julie and Val sent me beautiful flowers....
-I had a great time with the family at dinner on my b-day.....gifts of money for my trip to the Holy Land.....and my hiking shoes
-walked in my shoes today to break them in.....I will be doing that till I go.....just over 6 weeks till I leave! WOW!
-Mark got me the funniest gift.....hahaha! Still laughing at it. :)
-Kurt sent me a pretty butterfly card and got me a butterfly pin when he was home.....awww....
-I have been thinking positive today and keeping my eyes to the hills where my help comes from.....Psalm 121
-Lord you are so good.....and I am ever thankful that you are the same yesterday, today and forever! Thank you that you have great plans for me and the best is ahead of me! XOXO

Have a great weekend everyone.....

I just have one thought this morning as I begin my workday. Where did most people learn to drive? I cant believe the morons that I have the honor of driving next to on my way to work. People seriously dont know how to drive. I just told Jordan last night as he was driving my truck home that I feel bad for him learning to drive in 2006...people are so distracted, in a hurry and MAD....and to drive with them....is really tough. (PS....cant believe Jordan is driving....haha!) But overall it is not a fun way to start the day. I even began to question God about why I have to live in Melvindale and work in Southfield and go to church in Plymouth....why cant I live close to both. My mom drives less than a MILE to work. How lucky is that?? And even if I can live close....why does EVERY EXPRESSWAY I need to be on need to have construction done on it at the SAME TIME! I have no easy way to get to any of my destinations. Great thinking Govenor Granholm....I think you might be one of the people I am driving next to on my way to work.....moron.

Dont worry about me....I will calm down in a few. Just needed to vent. hee hee!

28 is gonna be great! That is my slogan for the new year of my life that starts today. That is right...today is my Birthday! I am not gonna lie....it is not easy entering into the downword slope toward 30 :).......BUT I want to see the glass half full not empty. I am sure people that are older than me will think I am over-reacting....but your late-twenties is something you never think you are gonna reach. :) When I was in high school....30 seemed so far away. That is not my reality anymore. haha! Having the privilege to work with students makes the reality of being "older" more obvious. It is just something I think about more because I am around younger people all the time. Maybe if I hung around my age group more, it wouldnt be that big of a deal. Sooo.....I have decided to embrace 28 and make it great! There is a lot to look forward to in this new year already....Israel in August, High-school reunion in October, and my best friend from childhood's wedding in June 07 (she asked me to be the Maid of Honor! Aww!). So already 28 looks bright. I want this year to be marked with great God times and great times with friends. I want to walk in faith that my best days are ahead of me. I am actually excited....which is a God-thing! Well.....28 here I am......get ready.... cause it is gonna be a great ride! Happy Birthday to me! Thank you God for allowing me to make it this far.....have your will in my life this year.

Psalm 139:13-16
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mothers womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.