Currently Reading Searching for God Knows What By Donald Miller see related

Oh my stars! Who watched "24" last night? Could you believe what happened to Edgar? I almost cried. Even Jack Bauer almost cried. Michael is so bummed because Kim has made it back on the scene again. He was saying the funniest stuff about her while we were watching it. Anyway. And what do you think happened to Lynn (do you spell Lynn for a guy name the same way you spell Lynn for a girl?)? Did he make it out of the holding cell? I know he's a big idiot on the show, but in my heart he'll always be Samwise Gamgee, so I'm hoping he's not a goner.

The Jamaica mission trip is less than a month away. I can't believe it will be here so soon. I'm very excited and can't wait to see what God has in store on this new adventure along my journey.

Peace out!

Currently Reading Schindler's List By Thomas Keneally see related

Oh my goodness, I am sooo sick!!! I got an ear infection. I haven't had one of those since I was about 18 years old. I woke up at 1:00 a.m. with this awful pain in my ear. I went to the doctor, which I haven't done for a long time too, well, not over cold/flu symptoms. That was weird, but in a good way. The doctor said he could not believe that my eardrum had not burst - YIKES! I'm on the mend, even though it's taking all the energy I have to sit here and update my xanga.

I guess I'm a little late on posting about the awesome time we had at Winterblast, but I'll do it anyway. Okay, first of all, Moxie just amazed me and the others from Hope and pretty much everyone at Winterblast with her ability to eat an icecream cone that was 3/4 filled with mayo - I stand in awe is all I have to say. Okay, next, the main speaker for the weekend made up a song about our (Hope's) trip to Winterblast. Morgan went up and told the speaker how she, Molly, Moxie, and Doug were doing all this crazy stuff (Doug is just guilty by association) on the drive up to Athens Y Camp, and then she told them how pretty much all the Hope students got told by this 4 year old, not 3 year old, girl on the McDonaldland slide, and he made up a whole song with many verses about it. I tried to write them down, but I don't have my journal nearby to look them up and post them. It was a lot of fun.

I was spending some time reading and chatting with God tonight, and I read this really cool verse in I Thessalonians 4:1. It goes, "We ask you--urge is more like it--that you keep on doing what we told you to do to please God, not in a dogged religious plod, but in a living, spirited dance." I LOVE that! Living a spirited dance. I want to dance with God, live in the moment, experience His tenderness as my loving Father, Daddy, Abba, as opposed to trudging through life feeling like I can barely take the next step, not really experiencing His grace, but kinda saying I do but then side stepping it. I want to be caught up in His embrace, Him twirling me around, even lifting me up and Him spinning really fast with me being lifted off the ground like a Father does his 5 year old. Even through the tough stuff life throws me, I want to DANCE!!! Dance through it - I may even stumble and fall, but that happens to dancers too. I know God will get me back up in the rhythm and on my feet again.

I'm off to beddy-bye to get some rest. Sweet Dreams, Sweet Dancing! Peace!

Currently Reading Early Sunday Morning: The Pearl Harbor Diary of Amber Billows, Hawaii, 1941 (Dear America) By Barry Denenberg see related

I got my first official MLK, Jr. Holiday on Monday! Wooohoooo! I've always had to work on MLK Day, but not this year. I had a very nice lunch with my Mommy at the OK Cafe, one rockin', delicioso restaurant. Ya know, it took me forever to learn how to spell "restaurant" correctly. I think I remember being in 5th grade before that word clicked for me. There was just something about it. I didn't have a problem with the word "Wednesday" which to me always seems weird to spell, but "restaurant", now that was a tricky one.

I'm already having "24" withdrawals. I've never watched it during its regular season, only on DVD, so having to wait the extra days to find out what Super Jack is up to and the way he's going to save the next hour is just about killing me. Well, not really killing me, but I am having to practice being patient.

Oh, I just have to give some kudos to God for being amazing! Something so cool happened today that was so much a part of God's perfect timing that Michael and I could have never seen coming. It's so cool how God uses your screw ups for good sometimes, well a lot of the time. God rocks!!!

Peace!

Currently Reading The Dwelling Place By Elizabeth Musser see related

Happy 2006! I have had a wonderful Christmas and New Year! Having more than a week off from work was amazing!!! I feel refreshed and relaxed. I didn't have the dread I usually feel as the Christmas holidays come to an end. I was actually excited about going to work today. I really love my new job!

We went to see The Chronicles of Narnia – The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe last night. Disney did an amazing job producing that movie. Lots of things were as I had imagined them in my mind as I read that book several years ago. I've never been that much into reading fantasy, but ever since The Lord of the Rings movies I have been much more interested, and I tried to read The Chronicles of Narnia, but I only made it through the second book. It just wasn't clicking for me, although I really liked The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I was talking with my friends Tiff and Lindsay and they said I should read through the series as they were written, not the way they are published these days which I guess is chronological, so I guess I'll give that a shot when I finish the book I am currently reading.

I got several drawing/artist kits for Christmas, and I started working on some drawings last week. I drew some of the things the book that came with one of the kits suggested, a walnut and an egg, and then I decided I would draw my dog, Ginger, as she slept on her big fluffy pillow, and I actually drew her. It's not perfect, but I think you could tell it was her if I didn't tell you it was a picture of Ginger. I really want to learn how to draw what I see. Another cool gift I got was a down comforter. I have wanted a down comforter since I was 15 years old. I got a soft brown duvet cover for it, and it's so comfy cozy!!! Michael got me a cool sketch book by the guy who did the sketches for The Lord of the Rings. It's not a sketch book I can draw in, but it's drawings from the artist's (Alan Lee) sketch book who did the conceptual design for the movies.

Fusion starts back this week, and I can't wait to chat with our Fusion Group and find out what's been going on with them. I am looking forward to seeing what God has in store for Michael, me, our family and friends, the Hope Church Youth Ministry and Hope Church. I have a feeling this year is going to be rockin'!

Peace!  Linda

Currently Reading Peace Like a River By Leif Enger see related

Had a blast last night with Shannon R. The 8th grade boys Fusion Group came over to our house to hang with Michael and Van R., and Shannon and I made tater tots and cookies, and then we went to Jonhnny Carinos (great place), and just shared stories of our lives, and it was so cool how much we had in common, even down to the way we order and fix our unsweetened tea. I feel like I've made a new friend.

Michael and I are about to hit the road and go to Waffle House, Hope, the skateboard park (go Whit), shopping, home, back to Hope, then to the Hope Staff Christmas party at Sopporos, my favorite restaurant out this way.

Hope you all are enjoying this wonderful holiday season. Oh, I almost forgot to tell you about our two Christmas trees, Caedman and Shyla. Caedman is the big guy upstairs, and Shyla is the whimsical gal downstairs. This is the first year we've ever had 2 trees, but Shyla was so beautiful, we decided to put her in our red room. They are both lovely! Oh, and the Nutcrackers say "Hello!"

Peace! Linda