best of...

Greetings!

I decided I needed to do a ‘best of blogs’ so the next couple of posts will be older posts that you might have perhaps missed….so sit back, relax and let’s reread some fond memories.

Thursday, July 14, 2005

deep and insightful??

So, I decided that the name of my ‘Blog’ wasn’t very interesting, so today I decided to change it. I think it is appropriate considering that is how my conversations usually are, pretty random.

So, you know it is interesting. I have been thinking, what type of things do I want to put in this ‘Blog’? What does the word ‘Blog’ mean anyway? It sort of reminds me of the BLOB.

So I thought I might put a mixture of things that happen or conversations or deep insight that I have.

It has been an interesting year to say the very least. Being a Christian, at times it is really hard to not say ok God, what are you doing? Oh wait, I DO do that! I think that we all go thru trials and it is the old saying what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I am waiting on the getting stronger part. LOL

Seriously, I have really learned that I can’t do it all on my own, as much as I would like to. Reminds me of that silly Kelly Clarkston song…ha ha.

I did have an interesting conversation with a friend about a few things, and something that they said really struck a chord. I think that this is good for all of us to think about.

They asked me “Why when something is so apparent to everyone else, can that person not see it?”

Well, I think it is like anything in our own lives. We can always look at someone else’s life and see what they are doing or what they should be or how something really is. However, when we are dealing with ourselves, it is much harder to see things in our own life. It is almost like seeing the speck in our brother's eye when there is a plank in our own. I also feel that we tend to be complacent with the way things are and cannot see anything different or can't imagine anything 'better' than that.

It is like that old pair of shoes we have, that are falling apart. You are so ‘used’ to them and they are comfortable, we do not want to throw them out. I think life is like that sometimes. When situations or places or even people sometimes. Now, I am not saying throw out people in your life, no, but just look beyond your comfortableness, or what you are used to. You might be really missing out on something.

Ok, that was my deep and insightful thought for the day. Please excuse my horrible spelling…it is true, it is not one of my strong suits.

Remember IF you don't post a comment, I don't know if you have been here!

blogmania!!

It is the Blogmania…a year for me! Woohoo! Yeah all that stuff. Ok that is enough of that.

Before I go on...thought i would post some recent pictures of myself. My new "do" just kept getting shorter and shorter. (not looking too bad for an old chick!!) So there ya go. My friend Maria and I were having fun with her camera.

So thanks to those who have responded to my blogging about the Mission trip. I actually have put some pictures online for your view pleasure. Actually, it was for work, but I wanted to make ya feel important.

http://wellshireyouth.org/index.cfm?PAGE_ID=151

So I was looking over the last year or so…and sometimes I have to say I amaze myself. ha ha such insight and wisdom. Well, now if I could just channel those powers for good. (i had to put that picture in..ha ha)

Actually a lot has happened over the past year. If I had to pick two “major” life-changing events, I would go with having the opportunity to go to Ireland. I so loved it there. It was lovely. Secondly, more on the spiritual side of course would be the recent Mission Trip.
It has been my cause since I have been back to let people know of the plight of those still there. I continue to get the same response from people. I had no idea things were still so bad down there. For me that was worth all the sweat and sweat, and did I mention sweat?

Well not much more to say today, I am still in need of some caffeine, you who know me, know that well I won’t go on anymore.

So happy year to me! As Nancy used to always say. Go me!

Part 2

It is funny. As I try and remember the mission trip. I will be honest. The first couple of days were a bit frustrating. I think learning to do deal with a slightly different culture and just how they ‘did’ things. I think mostly it was the old additive of wanting things to go ‘my way’ or how I think they ‘should’ go.

We finally got working on Monday. Which was supposed to be Monday morning at 8, which turned more into 9:30, which was a huge frustration on my part. The work days went until about 4 PM or so, but there was about an hour and a half for lunch.

I think by Tuesday I was ready to pull out my hair and had a slight break-down. Which is funny, because if I look at the trip as a whole, I have said and will continue to say that it was one of the best experiences I have had. It took me coming to ‘my end’ in order for me to let go and let God do His work. From that point on, I just relied on God and His peace and His purpose.

By time Thursday morning rolled around, the bus was gone by 8:05 and some of the work teams were out by 7:30…so it is funny how when we let go, that is when God really does His work.

Some of the work we did included dry walling homes, painting, clearing debris from the beach and a bit of yard work.

Here is a snippet from one of the students who wrote for our upcoming newsletter.

My name is Natalie Lays, and I will be a freshman this coming school year. As my first mission trip, I couldn't have asked for a better experience. When I reflect on the trip, there is always one thing that jumps into my mind. That is the sense of hope that can be found in every citizen of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Nine months ago, Hurricane Katrina destroyed practically the whole city. A Wal-Mart and a Sonic were the only businesses still operating. Some houses lost their roofs, and others were destroyed completely! The beautiful nine mile area of beach was polluted by a wide variety of rubble; everything from books and chairs to metal shelves. After all of this, wouldn’t you think people would have lost hope? I sure would have, but they didn't. Nine months later people were still enthusiastic about rebuilding and getting things back to normal, not knowing whether another hurricane of that force would strike them again this season, bringing them right back to where they started. It was a pleasure to work with people who had such a positive and hopeful outlook on life. Their attitude was very contagious and has definitely impacted how I live each day.

The day after we got back from Mississippi, a few of us were asked to speak at church. That evening, David Williams, Sarah Hahn and myself shared a bit of our experience. I will say this and continue to say this…these kids are remarkable. To be in High School and really have an understanding of what being a Christian is. Something that I didn’t really grasp until a few years ago. Can you imagine if they continue on this path, where they will be in 10, 20 years. It is amazing to think about.

Soooo, they have won my heart. Not only the kids, but the sponsors as well. I have to give kudos to my friend Kellie Steeples, without her I wouldn’t have been able to pull this trip off. My thanks to her. I am amazed at the people God puts in your life. he he loveya girl!

Also to the other sponsors and all the many people who gave their time, their prayers, their donations. Thank you.