Friday’s Feast Number Thirty One

Appetizer – If you could have a free subscription to any online service, which would you like to have?
Hmmm…great question. Maybe a free, legit, movie downloading (dvd quality) service.

Soup – Describe your bathroom (furnishings, colors, etc.).
Heh heh…in our new/old rental house: tub, old semi-stained toilet, no shower curtain yet, little cabinet w/ towels, sink w/ a cabinet under it. The other bathroom is dirty w/ a shower only.

Salad – What does the shape of a triangle make you think of?
Triangles and geometric shapes. ACT tests. Coloring books.

Main Course – Name 3 things or activities that you consider to be luxuries.
Owning condos at Copper Mountain, Lear Jets, cell phones.

Dessert – What was the last really great movie you watched?
Been a while since I’ve seen a great movie. Looking forward to a few though.

Where is home? I’ve called home a lot of places. I’m still actually paying for a house right here (where I’m typing this) but I’m about to pick up most of its contents and move it to a new place. So maybe I’m finally moving my “home”. There’s been a lot of back and forth driving the last few weeks, but especially the last few days. But it’s all for good.

Soon we’ll be in our new green house….then it will be Party At StateDOG’s!!! Heh heh…how funny would that be?

Pray that the move goes well, the move out and the move in. And also that the house sells very quickly. Might go ahead and list w/ a realtor, but it’d be super awesome to go ahead and sell it before hand.

Here’s to a tiring day and then driving a big honking Uhaul truck later!!

Friday’s Feast

Appetizer – Have you been sick yet this winter? If so, what did you come down with?
A few sniffles, but not sick. No.

Soup – What colors dominate your closet?
No domination. Grey tshirts maybe. Maroon of course.

Salad – How would you describe your personal “comfort zone”?
Not sure what you’re asking for here.

Main Course – On which reality show would you really like to be a contestant?
Probably Survivor. Though Big Brother does seem to have some creature comforts. The Amazing Race seems pretty fun.

Dessert – Which holiday would you consider to be your favorite?

Friday’s Feast

Appetizer
Using only 5 words, describe how 2004 went for you.
Changes galore. God at work.

Soup
Name something you did in 2004 that you’ll probably never do again.
Turn the big Three Oh

Salad
What did you learn about yourself in 2004?
That I’m not as smart as I think I am. That God’s much bigger than me and I have to allow Him to live His life through me. Also learned that as you get older your metabolism slows down and you have to be more concerned with eating right and excercising.

Main Course
What notable news event from 2004 will stand out most in your memory?
Probably all the Prez Election mess.

Dessert
Name something you purchased in 2004 that you really, really like.
That’s a toughie. Maybe the cell phone I got a week ago? Just because that’s fresh on my mind.

Happy New Year!

It’s a new year. New beginnings. All that jazz…

BreakThru was great, as expected. It was a great time to get to know some people I’d not been around much and get to know other people better. I felt a little behind on the learning curve since there was even a 5th grader there with us who’d been going for over 7 years! But next year should be a bit smoother, but of course I’ll have some sort of responsibility with the running of the camp by then. Most of the guys tell me to take ahold of Security. Apparantely it was ruled w/ an Iron Fist this year.

We’re housesitting right now for some friends, keeping their dog. They live out by The Resevoir. It is a bit of a drive to get to work/church/etc. But it’s nice to have a place where you can leave stuff out and pick it up when you want to (or when your wife finally asks you to), where you can turn the TV up as loud as you want, and you can eat breakfast in your underwear if you so choose. Man, we’ve GOT to get a place of our own soon!

We went and looked at two rental places yesterday. One was scary. The shower had dirty globs of what looked like slime/hair/mildew on the side of the tub, and there was a lizard in a closet. We then looked at another place that was just about 400 yards away. Nice, clean, neat, newly painted. But they don’t know if they’ll do a 6 month lease on it or not. We’re supposed to look at a house for rent tomorrow. Four BR actually! We’ll see how it goes.

We’re hoping to get a 6 month lease and sell our old house in the meantime. Jan/Feb really isn’t a high time in the housing market from what I’ve been told. So hopefully it will sell before summer. But the semi-month of The Wife and the girls being back at the old house has been tough on all of us. The Wife called once so my daughter could tell me she woke up one morning crying, “I want my Daddy!”

But God’s taking care of us. I’ve no doubt. And He’s trying to teach us all something in all this too. Now I just gotta find it!

Much love to everyone. Until next time…

Well, it’s the new year now. How does it feel? That’s something my dad always used to ask me on my birthdays, “Well, do you feel any older?” Today hasn’t really felt any different from last year yet. Or at least last month. I’ve not had to write a check yet, so I’ll need to practice my “05” for my checks.

We got back from BreakThru last night. Good camp. It was really fun and all. But it had been built up so huge for so long…but the church has a long time tradition of going there. Bad thing was The Wife got pretty sick while we were there. Nothing serious (we think) but enough to leave her in the room/bed for a while with a 6 week old while I take the 3 year old out to the regular camp stuff. Thankfully there were dozens of kids who loved on The Kid a lot.

That was a point of concern in our leaving our old church. The Kid had been born there and everyone from that church had almost helped to raise her. They loved her a lot and she them. Would the new church take her in is as readily? Would the new youth group play with her and love on her as much? I figured so, but you never know.

But no worries. She’s made so many new friends (teen friends) who think she’s pretty cool. It’s been fun to watch. This whole past month has been good. Tiring at times though. But like I said once earlier, you enter the whole situation wondering, “Will they think I’m cool or that I’m a dork?” I think it’s probably a mixture of both by now. But I’ve seemed to have been well received.

Now that it’s the new year and new semester and all that jazz….maybe before long we’ll begin to see a few changes in the youth ministry. Not sure exactly what at this point, but I really want to work more with the college students who are helping out with the youth ministry. They are such an asset right now. I want to see them be used more if possible. They seem so willing to serve.

We’re still living out of suitcases. Thankfully we can “live” normally this week. We’re house/dog sitting for some friends. It’s not IN my new city, but close enough. Already, having been here for barely 24 hours, it feels so good to have a space of our own. Not being cooped/cramped up in a room of a larger house. I know it’s only for a week. But it’s going to go good for us. Great news is that we’re going to have some financial help from our church to rent a place locally. That will be SUCH a blessing. The housing market seems to run in cycles and the Jan-Feb is the lowest point of the year supposedly. So it still may be a while on the sale of the house. So if you think of it, keep all that in prayer.

Bowl games are demanding to be watched. And new books for Christmas are needing to be read. Plus family stuff.

I won’t be such a stranger from now on….

I’m few and far between on these updates now. Life is crazy. But good. But sometimes you think you’re following God’s will, and you step out, and then I think he lets you sorta hang there alone out in the open for a while.

Life is both good and difficult at the same time. So pray for our family that we cherish the time that we have to spend together. Pray that our Christmas is really a meaningful time, not just rushing around so we can let people see us. Christmas is partly about family, yes. But not at an all out expense of not being able to be still. We’ll see. We really don’t seem to have a “home base” right now.

Working at the new church is good. Hectic in some ways, but there are good people and good students and all here. Really looking forward to living in a house with my own family. Got camp next week. Supposed to be crazy cool. Really looking forward to that as well.

Merry Christmas, everyone. I love you all!

Friday’s Feast #28

Appetizer
What is something that never fails to grab your attention?
Tornado Sirenes

Soup
Who was the last person who gave you money, and what was it for?
A guy from my message board sent me $10 to help pay for upkeep costs.

Salad
If you were a Smurf, what would your name be?
Whitey Smurf

Main Course
Do you believe in astrology? Why or why not?
No. God’s against it.

Dessert
Have you seen any snow this year yet? What’s the weather like today in your area?
I saw some on Monday Night Football earlier this week. Today it’s cold with a 100% chance of cold tomorrow.

I know it’s been a while since I’ve posted anything of any merit. Not saying that this will be of merit either, but it’s worth a shot.

Last Tuesday I drove down here to start my job. Wednesday and Thursday were whilrwinds of activity. Everyone showing me the ropes and whatnot. I was able to go back home for a brief weekend and then back down here. My step-mom’s mom actually rode w/ me. So I didn’t get to turn on the radio or talk any on the phone because she told me stories for 3 hours. Man that was a long trip. She has some family near here or something like that.

But Sunday was my first Sunday here. I spoke briefly at both services that morning. I actually expected to be nervous, but wasn’t at all. None. I was probably more nervous when I was back at my old church and speaking to the crowd than I was here. I felt wiped out in the afternoon, but rejuvinated w/ a mini-nap. Then the first youth group meeting of my new ministry. There were about 3 times as many folks there last night as I usually had at my old church. But again, no nervousness.

So I made it almost a week here now. Today was my first staff meeting. First prayer breakfast tomorrow. Still getting my feet wet. And it will be a while until I’m settled in.

Please pray for my house to sell.

I’m not sure if it was the right decision or not. I’ll tell you in a few weeks.