duck... duck... no goose

FRIDAY! FRIDAY! FRIIIIIDAAAAAY!!!!

It has arrived, people. And there was great rejoicing in the land.

Don't know why I'm so excited since I work everyday this weekend, BUT- i am.

Lately, I have been feeling like Ace Ventura in Ace Ventura 2: The Call of Nature or Evan Almighty in Evan Almighty. All God's creatures are flocking to me. Starting with the duck. I think I blogged about that already, maybe? (Oh dear, I need ginkgo)

- To recap: the duck in the peaceful pond dive-bombed me when I walked out my house one morning recently.

- This GIANT brown centipede with long spindly legs fell out of the ceiling when I was on the phone with Josh. Very scary. I had to supress my gag reflex, lift foot, press down firmly. Eww.

- There were these two silverfish insects hiding behind some of my stuff. They dashed super fast in opposite directions when I surprisingly came upon them. But I used my cat-like reflexes to kill them both with one foul swoop of the tissue.

- Wednesday AM- moth in shower. Thursday AM- moth in shower. Friday AM- moth in shower. What the crap? Where are these furry flying creatures coming from?

- Squirrel hanging out by my car this morning eating his breakfast.

- Mama ducks with ducklings running through 4 lanes of freeway traffic. So sad. I like ducks.

uninspired title

I've been running around like a crazy person these days. There's always some place to go and someone to see. In the midst of all that, I finished Project Runway season 4 (courtesy of Netflix). That's right people, I started up my netflix again. Anxiously awaiting the May 19th release of Friday Night Lights (Season 3?)--> whatever the next one is. Such a good show...highly recommend.

But, I think I hit it. The part in adulthood when life begins to feel routine. I despise routine. I try to pretend like life isn't a routine by seeing different people & doing different things- but each day always starts the same way. I wake up to a double alarm- utilize the snooze feature at least 4 times. (it's getting bad, i know) Disgruntlingly get out of bed and start my coffee maker as I drag myself to the shower. Eyes closed or slightly cracked to see where I'm going. Shield my face against the horribly awful growing lights now illuminating the laundry room part of my basement to mindblowingly inappropriate brightness. (ask me how i really feel...ha) Most of you know how I feel about light in the morning... I can feel the wave of rage begin to rise. Anywho- I shower. Barely managing to open my eyes by the end. Brush teeth, dry hair, makeup, lotion, clothes, coffee, pack lunch, run out the door to inevitable lateness. Argh. Stupid routine. I wanna blow it all off- sleep in, NOT shower, and go lay on the beach for the day.

Dear Summer,

Please come soon. Bring me lots of days with clear skies and bright sun.

Please make me tan.

Your Friend, melody
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My optimism is tired today. The constant self-disciplined reminder to be thankful I have a job. That I can work extra hours for a little while. Dependable car (knock on wood). Clothes to wear. Food to eat. Church I love. Cell phone to stay connected. *deep sigh* I know, okay? Can you just let me complain for a moment? That'd be great. Thanks.

gold nugget

Found this little nugget of wisdom yesterday in something I was reading...

With God's anointing, there is...

- supernatural power

- unmistakeable boldness

- undeniable authority

- unquestionable effectiveness

leader of the pack

My rent-a-dog, Scooter, checks out his cousin Lola.

This picture makes Scooter look gigantic, but he's a small, little poodle.

Becca and I decided to share a Hawaiian Pizza at California Pizza Kitchen.

How appropriate, since she's FROM Canada.

(She said the ham definitely tasted Canadian.)

A few of my youth group girlies!

They're SENIORS!

(Stephanie, Becca, Alyssa)

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I've been helping in the Grace Church Roseville youth group for three years now. I've been able to keep building my relationship with the same girls. It's been quite an experience! Who I am now is SO different from when I started. My identity has been re-shaped and re-formed just as much as my crazy 16-18 year olds.

*

Jake, the student director, sent this verse to each of the leaders...

Hebrews 6:9-12 Yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for His name in serving the saints, as you still do. And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

*

I will be attending a few grad parties this summer and sending my girlies off into the world- hoping & praying that they stay strong & keep growing in their faith. I sure will miss seeing them on a regular basis, but I'm excited for the next stage of college life that they get to experience. And, as many of you know, there is no way to prepare someone for college life. All the life lessons waiting for them are painful, but so worth the journey. I pray that their eyes are opened to new & bigger realities about Christ's love & sacrifice for each of them.

*

My favorite thing about working with Sr High is I get to be crazy & act immature & go on youth events with them & just do life. I like that. I like to see them grow & change. It's exciting to be apart of someone's life like that. The part that gives me the most anxiety was how much they look up to me. I'm just one girl- who definitely doesn't have it all together. Sometimes they think being an adult is easy & I have it all figured out. I don't. I have no clue what I'm doing most of the time. It's in those moments that it's good to show some humanity to them. Share some fears and weaknesses and pray for God's help. Anyways, I hope you can tell I care very much for my girlies. We've learned alot from each other.

*

obscure and unrelated snippits

These are just a few of the thoughts that have trickled through my brain this week. You know when you're riding next to me in the car, and I smurk. I might be having a random thought like this, or I might not be thinking anything at all. ('Cause I'm tricky like that.)
1. I got a tetanus/whooping cough shot three days ago and my arm still hurts.
2. Overgeneralization in progress: I've decided people who shop at Walmart move SO SLOW. Why is this? I mean, compared to the fast paced Target shopper there is a difference.
3. As far as lunch goes, I made a bold switch to turkey instead of ham. Ham seems very winter-ish to me. I'm all about the Spring theme right now.
4. My armpits leak when I am cold. It's not smelly and I wear deodorant, but they still leak. Sometimes just one. I'm happy to say I'm not a freak of society, in fact- this happens to many women.
5. I really hate clutter. Especially the stuff that falls into the 'We'll-keep-this-extra-thing-just-in-case-the-other-one-goes' category. Seriously, keep the nicer one and just GET RID OF THE CLUTTER.
6. Garage sales are nice. Estate sales are better.
7. We burned boxes representing our sins after youth group last night. The firepit was in a medium sized, fenced in area that looked like a giant kitty litter box.
8. Someday I think I will write funny things with a Sharpie all over the stuff in someone's fridge. That way, they'll be smiling for alot of days.
9. I got in trouble at church last night with one of my 12th graders for bodysurfacing down the hall on wheely seats. Grownups spoil all the fun.
10. I've been easily startled, disoriented, and dizzy these days. Sorta feels like having my head in a cloud when allergies attack.
11. Today my playlist includes: Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Queen, Love Me Two Times by The Doors, Paint it Black by The Rolling Stones, For No One by The Beatles.
12. People waste alot of time in the day by using the bathroom facilities.
13. I have good ovaries, doc says.
14. Why do things magically fix themselves once you get it to the store and begin explaining the problem to the Customer Service people? It sure makes a person look dumb.
15. My alligator Chia pet is growing to mammoth-sized proportions.

I want a gun.

I'm not the type that is outspoken about my political preferences... but I saw this on a bumper sticker the other day, and I really liked it.
I'll keep my guns, freedom, and money- you can keep the "change"!

Also- there is an elementary school in St Paul trying to change it's name to Barack and Michelle Obama Service Learning Elementary. (http://www.minnpost.com/dailyglean/2009/04/10/7982/daily_glean_will_st_paul_school_be_states_first_named_for_obama)
Ridiculous. The man has only been in office 100+ days and hasn't done anything noteworthy yet.

Cue song...
"Some trust in government, I trust in the name of the Lord my God."

headline: church stolen

I started reading a new book yesterday. One of the volunteers at New Life suggested it. It is a fictitous story about real life reactions to the changing church movement. One point that has stood out to me already is the author's reference to how Jesus interacted with the church in his day. They tried to reduce church to a building that you attended. Jesus challenged the religious thought of his day by repetively showing them 'the church' is people. It's not about what building you come to or what the order of service is or whether you sing hymns or praise songs.

There is a strong movement these days to raise up church communities. That is, a group of Christian people who gather in intentional community to study Scripture and be discipled in their faith. But it doesn't end there, they also make a committment to God and each other to be intentional about interacting with strangers and non-Christians outside of the church group. Sometimes, these intentional communities will start Community Homes to live together and minister to their neighborhoods. I have seen or heard of these community church groups in small pockets from San Diego to Seattle to Minneapolis. Apparently, this Biblical concept is spreading like wild fire. If you think about it, this goes back to the roots of the Christian church. Jesus' disciples would proclaim the Truth of Christ in groups of people in homes, the catacombs, or in outside arenas. Much of this was due to persecution or just not having the money to build large and impressive looking church buildings. In fact, building impressive looking structures was a common practice among pagans in order to appease the god they wanted favor with. It's no wonder that Jesus' disciples met in small groups that could come and be fed spiritually, and then share the Truth with their friends and neighbors.

I have long struggled with this idea of getting non-Christians into our church buildings. If I didn't know anyone in the church that I drive by everyday, what would make me want to step foot through the door? A whole lot of self-motivation and desperate seeking. Not too many Americans have this compulsion. What a convicting point for me to dwell upon. Always be ready to engage with whoever crosses your path to share the love of Christ. Don't get stuck in the "Christian club" rut of working with Christians, going to my Christian church, hanging out with my Christian friends, listening to my Christian music... you get the idea. Don't seal yourself in a bubble. Open up your eyes and see those in the world. We are called to be in the world, not of the world. There's a difference. Think about it.