Summer 10

Here's how it played out...
It all started with a puppy - the cutest puppy ever... that didn't let me sleep for 3 weeks!



so... she went to stay with Grandma who of course fell in love with her just like I did. Who knows if I will ever get my puppy back. Pippi Longstocking (that's her name) went to June Lake with the family in July.

Then there were Dodger games... and a Barenaked night at the Greek (barenaked ladies that is).


A super fun week on the Delta with my dream girls - "Peanut Boater Jelly Time!




Then John Mayer at the Bowl

What a fun summer... exhausting... but fun.

new pictures of my place

I've been promising new pictures of my house for quite a while - so here they are...

A new point of view...

Again... sorry for the silence. I think I was waiting for inspirational greatness and ended up settling for nothing else to do on a day stuck at home sick. It's been a roller coaster ride of a year and I'm still growing and learning with each new day. New city, new church, new home, new friends, new places to discover, and most important a new perspective on life.

In Donald Miller's new book, "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years", he describes our life as a story, making us the characters in the story. Characters who need an inciting incident in order to truly jump into the exciting story God wants us in.

"Humans naturally seek comfort and stability. Without an inciting incident that disrupts their comfort, they won't enter into the story. They have to get fired from their job or be forced to sign up for a marathon. A ring has to be purchased. A home has to be sold. The character has to jump into the story, into the discomfort and the fear, otherwise the story will never happen."

I believe that's where I was - comfortable but not really a character in a good story. God pushed me into His story big time! It was painful and uncomfortable (it still is sometimes) but so worth it in so many ways.

Psalm 40:1-3 "I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God."

Thank you to all of my dear friends who supported me and loved me through the past year and a half of craziness. I hope I have the opportunity to show you the same love and support throughout your story.

Finally a new post!

Sorry it's been a crazy few months! I had my head (literally and figuratively) stuck in a book (I'm on my second trip through the Twilight series - almost finished again!). I know I'm a little obsessed. : )
I found a place to live - finally - it took everything I had to find the perfect place. Here are some pics...

front of my place
front house

my street - Ave. C 

the yard outside my house

living room

What a beautiful waste of time!

I spent the past few days engrossed in Twilight! What a great and strange book - I will start the second one today.
So much fun to spend an entire day in a book. An indulgence that I never allow myself. I am having so much fun! : )

I got a job! and a new bag!

God is good ... all the time! He not only provides but redeems! I found a job - Rolling Hills Covenant Church. I will be working with High School students (a whole lot of them). I don't start until June so I have some time to rest, prep, and move up to LA to start a new adventure. Thank you all for your prayers and support! I am so thankful to be on the other side!

I got a new bag to celebrate . . . ain't she pretty?

She came with a yellow squirt gun - I love Harveys!

Got him!

Ding Dong . . . the big fat rat is dead!

Hallelujah I can sleep again 

I broke the silence . . .

Life has been crazy the past two months to say the least. I no longer work at South Shores Church - I was laid off last month (most of you know that). I feel like I've been on a roller coaster of emotions from hurt and disappointment in leaving my friends, church family, and most of the all the amazing students I worked with, to relief from stress involving the possible lay off and no longer feeling trapped. Freedom has new meaning to me (every girls retreat theme has been a bit prophetic in my life). So I'm searching for a new job - which is no easy task in this economy. I've resigned myself to finding employment out of church ministry for a while, at least until the economy bounces back a bit. I refuse to take a sub par ministry job just to stay in ministry. God can use me wherever I end up. 

On another front - I have a rat reeking havoc in my life. We've trapped him in the walls of my house, however, he keeps finding his way into my space. This is a problem on many levels. One - he keeps pooping on all my blankets (this grosses me out more than you know). Two - he's chewed holes in a cashmere sweater, a silk sweater, and several pairs of my underwear. Three - I can't sleep knowing he's on the loose. I go to extreme measures to make sure he can't get into my room. We've set traps everywhere and he doesn't touch them. I hate being outsmarted by a rat, especially one with expensive taste. Ughhhhhh

Advantages to Stormy weather

We don't get much stormy weather in Southern California so when it happens we get stupidly excited. Christmas night I was driving home late from the movies with Di & Matt  and it was 36 degrees outside - we were excited. Cold but excited. 

Then yesterday was one of the prettiest days I've ever seen (at my parents house). They live so close to the mountains but can rarely see them as clear as yesterday. 

I started to compare the stormy weather with my own life. It reminded me that when God allows stormy weather in our lives - it's dark for a while but it always gives way to a clearer view of all the beautiful things He's blessed us with. I'm looking forward to the view on the other side.

follow-up comments on last post

No that wasn't a typo on my last post (Mark). I was referring to my 24th birthday ten years ago. Sorry I wasn't very clear - my thoughts were still in process. Thanks to those who understood my insanity (Dawnielle) love you!

Another year older and none the wiser

My 24th birthday changed the way I look at birthdays all together. I get nastalgic and sentimental about all I've learned (or in this case unlearned) and how I've grown in the last year. It's made it hard to celebrate - especially when the year has been as hard as this one. However, God is teaching me even in the hard things to be content no matter the circumstances. But the testing of that lesson is taking it's toll.

My friends kids

I had such a great weekend with Amy and Bruce, Haylee, Alyssa, Drew and Amy's family. It's so great being a part of someone's life for so long that you get to watch their kids and family grow and change as well. I want to have kids of my own so desperately - but God's timing is perfect and so I wait. But what a joy it has been to be 

part of my friends kids lives - especially Haylee - your beautiful grown-up face brings me so much joy! Thanks Amy.

Idaho

I'm off to Idaho tomorrow to see Amy and the fam. It's been a pretty terrible week and I am desperate for a break - some place where I don't have to think about my life and what's going to happen next. Keep me in your prayers. I'll be back Monday.

Facebook killed the blogger in me

I've spent so much time on facebook lately I don't have the will to blog. I also have nothing interesting to say. . .

Kate cut my hair again today - it's even shorter. There's no stopping me now. Mark ran over my "forever in blue jeans" seatbelt bag - sad - poor little Jeanie - she's been at the Harvey's repair shop for 3 weeks - I get her back Friday. I'm going to Idaho a week from Friday to see Amy and the family - I'm excited for that. Things at Church are really bothering me - don't want to talk about it. That's all I got!

Round 2

I'm going back for round 2 tonight at Dodger stadium.

Go Dodgers!

Dodgers win! Dodgers win! Dodgers win!

The Dodgers won the west today and they haven't even played yet!

Oh Happy Day!

Giving in to the darkside

Until now I've refused to be part of the my space/facebook world for so many reasons. However, I gave in because I've got so many students and friends that I just can't keep up with anymore. Disclaimer- I have no idea what I'm doing so if I fail to respond to your comments it's because I simply don't know how. I'll catch on eventually I'm sure. So for those of you who are on facebook you can friend me but I'm not even sure what that means. (more thoughts on that later).

I just can't help myself

I took this picture a few weeks ago out my windshield - I know it's hard to tell from the picture but this couple was in their 80's at least. They had a full head of wild grey hair and lots o' wrinkles. What was so fascinating about them was that their bodies looked young - obviously - they were riding bikes and not on a trail - but out there in traffic. It was such a bazaar picture and it made me think - that's what my friends Derick and Rebecca are going to be like when they get old. (heeheehee - it's a compliment I swear).

Tuesday night at the Dodgers/Padres game at Petco - Tanya spotted this man a few rows ahead of us who was Garth from Wayne's World from the back - same hair - also the same hair as Will Farrell in Blades of Glory. Funny stuff I tell ya. Add to that - the man sitting one seat over from me was eating peanuts - but what was odd was that instead of peanut shells on the ground there were peanuts - was he eating the shells and tossing the peanuts? I couldn't figure it out and I could not stop giggling at him. I'm terrible I know - but people are so funny sometimes.

Most Embarrassing Moment #oh I've lost count

   As a freshman at Biola, in a student orientation group, we were asked to share our most embarrassing moment. Most people had trouble recalling an embarrassing moment. This was troubling to me because I had trouble deciding which of the thousands of moments was least incriminating.    Sad . . . I know and at the time I saw this as an insecurity and I have since embraced the ridiculousness and have learned to laugh at myself. It's just part of who I am and the journey to becoming all God wants me to be. 

 

Well I added yet another moment to my collection on Friday. I was driving to Yucaipa to camp with my family for a few days when I had to pee, so I stopped at the Coffeebean in Redlands that I love. I went to the bathroom and then decided to get an iced tea because it was 104 outside. As I stood in line to order a woman I had just passed in the hallway approached me. The look on her face spoke a thousand words and I began to panic. She whispered, "excuse me miss, but your skirt is tucked in your panties". OH MY GOODNESS, CAN I DIE NOW! You see somehow I had wondered out of the bathroom and down a hallway into the coffeebean and stood in line amongst several people, with my skirt tucked in my panties. Now we're not talking just the hem here - those people got a full shot of my pretty pink flowered undies. I told the woman, "You are my favorite person in the whole world" and I bolted out of there as quickly as possible. It's okay to laugh, like I said, I've learned to laugh at myself.

Happy Birthday Julia

Yesterday my wonderfully weird and equally beautiful niece Julia turned 9.

Happy Birthday Juju bean - you're crazy but also sweet and helpful and I adore you. I hope you had a super day - I love you and I'll see you on Saturday for your big partayyyyy!