The currently listening CD is one I've been wanting for awhile. . .it is very quickly becoming a favorite!!  But, it kind of makes me miss Morgan and the laundromat because if I was in Minnesota we would be working and listening together. 

As the title indicates, this is going to be a rather random update.

I bought a car a little over a week ago--a 2000 Mistubishi Mirage.  Quite a blessing and answer to prayer!

I got a job with Home Instead Senior Care--a home health care agency.  Right now they just have 15 hours of work for me.  I spend five hours a day on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday with a dear elderly lady.  Hopefully, eventually they (or someone) will have more work for me. 

I have applied to attend Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga this fall. . . 

It poured down rain here this week.  The first we had experienced that.  I got to drive in it both days that it happened. . .so that was interesting.

Last weekend it was dreadfully hot.  This weekend we turned the furnace on.

I have been struck anew this spring with the whole idea of waiting. . .it seems like it is something God is teaching me.  I hope I'm getting it!

This morning, we attended a Brethren in Christ church in Ontario, California.  (They rent some space to Choice Books.)  The Pastor is an ex-gang member from NYC.  He made a point in his sermon this morning, that struck me.  He said in the gang, they don't love you.  But if you get hurt by another gang or something, everyone in your gang shows up to stand up for you and defend you.  He was contrasting the church against that.  Too often that "belongingness," that loyalty, that sense of "I've got your back," is missing from church life.  How sad!  We (the Christian church) should be a place of safety, a place where we stick by each other through thick and thin--defending, protecting, encouraging each other.  But, like one in the audience this morning observed, too often in the church we "kill" each other.  Obviously, it is not a physical killing.  But, rather, an emotional killing and even more disgusting, it is sometimes a spiritual killing.  Here we are supposed to be drawing people to Christ and due to our inability to sacrifice ourselves, our reputation, our opinions, our "whatever", sometimes people end up being turned off to Christianity.  This ought not to be!!  Anyway...enough of my "preaching."  I was just struck by the fact that we as a church ought to be a "gang."

Quote of the Day:  Pastor Reyes was comparing several churches he has pastored and in describing the move/transition to California:  "Out here in the West they've got their spurs, their horses, their cowboy hats.  But, now they've turned in their horses for surfboards, and their spurs for flip-flops, and their cowboy hats and outfits for 'Hey, Dude!'--still a laid back attitude."

Yup!  That pretty much sums up the stereotypical idea of California!

Blessings to each and everyone!

Wow!  I've put this off long enough. . .but where do I start?

It is still kind of hard to believe that we actually moved!  Though our new home is filling up with our stuff and looking more like home--I still can hardly believe it. . .it all fell together so fast!

A year ago, Marcel and I were on tour with SMBI in Costa Rica. . .thoroughly enjoying ourselves and anticipating going back to Minnesota and "normal" life.  I think it was in Miami that I first heard about the call my dad had received.  We had just gotten back to the states and it was the first time I had talked to my family in two weeks.  He told me that he had had a call from the CEO of Choice Books--wondering if we would consider moving to Los Angeles to help them expand their business in the greater Los Angeles area.  At that point, my dad had consented to at least do an exploratory trip with them.

He took that trip at the beginning of May. . . He had had a very good experience with Mr. Bomberger from CB.  We started seriously thinking and praying about the possibility of moving to California sometime in the next six months.  My dad talked to his advisory team sometime that month and received their blessing in leaving or staying--however the Lord led us.  Our home/business went up for sale the beginning of June--we only listed it for a week or two because there was a significant amount of interest right away.  We were keeping things pretty quiet there for awhile because of the nature of our home business, but, nevertheless, the interest was still there.  From June to January there was always someone interested and a couple times we thought we were really close to selling.  But it never went further than interest.  Then, just as my dad was beginning to think he would have to list the home with a realtor, some friends from town asked if we had sold yet.  They came and looked at it and were very interested.  They went home and prayed and researched, etc.  We prayed and waited.  Within two months time we went from no offers to SOLD!  The actual time from our friends making an offer to the papers being signed was about three weeks!  UNBELIEVABLE!  And it was so God!  It was so clear that He had everything in His control.  He had the right buyer at the right time.  The buyers had so many stories of rhemas and confirmations that God gave to them about buying our home/business.  It was so neat to see how it was such a good fit for them as well as for us.  Further confirmation that this is of God--they have had many calls inquiring about openings for people to come stay at the Senior Home just since they bought it.  We struggled to keep the place full at times.  That just amazes me!  I think it just goes to show that God is in this whole transaction!  May He continue to bless the Crabtree Senior Home and it's new owners.

So, here we are. . .in our new home in Upland, California.  This is a very temporary home as we would like to eventually be in Los Angeles proper, Lord willing.  But, Upland seems to be a good transitional city to live in.  We are still in the process of unpacking and settling in.  I am so ready for the whole process to be done!

My dad and brothers will be working with Choice Books here in the L.A. metropolis.  The CB racks that are already placed throughout the city are doing well and we just received word this week that there are 58 more stores ready for CB to place racks with them!!  We look forward to seeing how the Lord leads in that endeavor. 

We also anticipate entering into ministry here in the city.  This place is filled with people of varying religions, backgrounds, and needs.  Pray for us as we seek how to best get involved in making a difference and bringing glory to God here in the greater Los Angeles area.  And this is a large field--there is room for many more laborers! 

Pray, too, that I would be able to see where/what God has for me to do here in this area.  Pray that I would recognize and sieze opportunities to bring God glory--even if it means majorly stepping out of my comfort zone (which it very likely will mean that!).

Anyway--that is a bit of an update on my life. . .God is alive and at work!  This past year is definitely proof to that.

God bless you!

Several of our family were talking yesterday and the subject of radiance came up.  Letting the love and joy of Jesus shine out of us is so important to our Christian testimony.  Then, last night I ran across a devotional by Oswald Chambers in My Utmost for His Highest that was titled "Undaunted Radiance."  Here is the last paragraph:

"Undaunted radiance is not built on anything passing, but on the love of God that nothing can alter.  The experiences of life, terrible or monotonous, are impotent to touch the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

After our conversation yesterday, that just really stuck out to me.

Blessings!