Life is Changing and it is about time I post

Well, it's been ages since I have posted. I know. My "experiment" hasn't gone so well these past few months...in fact it hasn't gone at all. But there is a good reason. :) Life has been changing!
In fact the biggest change in my life maybe ever is about to happen and this whole year has been leading up to it. A year ago this Sunday I met the person destined to change my life forever. Not only did he bring an element of happiness and excitement that had been absent, but he has also brought a deeper understanding of who I am as a person and my role in God's great big world (not that there isn't a whole lot more to figure out, but it's a beginning!) Anyway, as I mentioned it's been an entertaining year and on October 15th it's going to hit a climax. Because that day I get to marry Nathan and begin a life together with him.
So, this climax, aka the wedding :) has been keeping my life pretty busy. Every day is filled with plans and decisions; phone calls and more decisions; and de-stressing time with friends at Starbucks. Then there is the whole beginning life together part, which for me involves moving from Kentucky to Georgia. So packing and preparing to move has been my life the past couple months. I'll be glad when that part is over and the setting up can begin. I have been so lucky though to have had time to travel to Georgia as well as a place to stay post-Newbury Way/pre-Georgia (thanks Kris!). In fact despite the business and the stress, God has blessed my life in so many ways. I've got time to spend with friends (thanks to the whole no-real-job-thing) and time to relax (much needed after all the decision making). And I do believe that life has been preparing me for this and I cannot wait to begin this new adventure! I promise to start keeping everyone posted a little more regularly! After all I have to tell about how exciting GA is so you will come and visit!

Katrina Hits Home

As many of you know, I traveled to Mississippi today. Ever since Hurricane Katrina's destruction, I've wanted to come home to my family in Jackson, MS. It was not that I was concerned for their safety, having been able to communicate with them on a daily basis, it's just one of those things. Bad things happen, and you want to be with those you are closest to. I finally had the opportunity to come home today.
It's a little difficult to explain exactly how it feels or what it is like. Jackson is 200 miles north of the coast and did not experience large amounts of structural damage to the city and surrounding areas. However there were many fallen branches and even some trees and many people were without power for an extended amount of time. The remains of this can be seen as you drive around Clinton. Everyone has piles of branches and trees waiting at the curb. Anyone who was around during Lexington's 2003 ice storm can imagine this picture.
But it wasn't the trees that got to me today.
I arrived in MS around 2 pm central time. I went straight to the Jackson Salvation Army to drop some things off and volunteer for a few hours. I was so pleased to be able to unload two grocery carts full of donations sent down by my friends back home in Lexington. It was amazing how in less than 24 hours everyone was able to bring things by my house...I have the greatest friends ever.
After unloading the car, I volunteered in the food distribution room. I can't really describe how I feel or what it is like, so I will tell you about a few of the things I saw.
As I was unloading my car, an older couple (who looked like they could be any of our grandparents) was loading up their supplies into their car. As a Salvation Army volunteered pushed their cart full of toiletries and their food box out, the man said, "There that is our car. It's the only thing we have left." When you truly think about those words--- "It's the only thing we have left," you're floored. These people have lost everything. And you can read about it and see it on the news, but when you are standing next to them it hits home.
In the food distribution room I was handed a voucher for a family. I went around and filled up boxes of food and toiletries for them. About 1,000 people were serviced today at the Salvation Army and by 2 pm supplies were running low. There was no longer shampoo or deoderant to hand out. The food boxes consisted of an asortment of cheese and peanut butter crackers, graham cracker cookies, saltines, pudding, poptarts, nutra grain bars, green beans, corn, and peas. That's it. Each time I filled a box I just thought about how this was it. This is what these families had to eat. It's something you just don't dwell on it, because when you dwell on it, your heart aches.
It was a only a few hours of my day, and I don't feel like I have done much. I'm not going to see houses that are destroyed or a city covered in water first hand, but I am seeing the people so greatly affected by it. People who came to Jackson for a night or two and now have no home to return to, and no job to return to. Despite this truth, I saw many people smiling. They were thankful to be alive and to be with friends and family. It didn't matter that all they might have for dinner tonight was green beans. In my opinion, these people are amazing. Brave people who are living life despite having so much taken from them.

Many many people have been so generous to the Salvation Army and I know that tomorrow the food will be restocked and a larger variety of things to hand out will be available. Disaster relief takes time, resources, and money to organize. So we gave what we had today, knowing that God will provide the resources for tomorrow.

For more detials on what is going on at the Salvation Army here in Jackson, check out my Dad's blog. chuckssalvationarmy.blogspot.com His is much more complete and includes pictures.

Late Night Dating Philosophy Part 2

In a previous post I compared the world of dating to dying your hair. Well, I have been inspired to continue my metaphor. You may think it is going too far, but I hope you enjoy. And if I have missed something…be sure to add it!!

The box that stays on the shelf:
This is the color that looks so good on the shelf. You think, wow I would love to try that but for whatever reason you don’t. You’re scared because it’s too bold; or maybe you just know it isn’t the color for you even if you wish it was. For whatever reason, the box stays on the shelf although you might regularly visit it on your trips to Wal-Mart. :)

The box that you take off the shelf and carry around Wal-Mart:
This is the color that looks good. You pick it up, you hang out it with awhile cause you really like it. But before you even leave the store you realize that it’s not the one for you. You just don’t feel the chemistry. And it doesn’t mean that someday you won’t come back and get that color. But for the time being you know that it’s just not you.

The box that you buy, take home, love it, and then hate it:
This is the color that you fall instantly in love with as soon as you see it. You grab it off the shelf and smile the rest of your time at Wal-Mart and all the way home. You put it on as soon as you walk in the door and it’s wonderful. You keep checking yourself in the mirror, smiling each time. And then the color fades. It doesn’t look so good anymore and you really just don’t like it. You may even regret buying it or wonder how you ever thought it looked so good. It’s not long before you find yourself back at Wal-Mart.

The box you buy, love, and then they stop making it:
This is the one that hurts the most. You finally find that perfect color. You love it. It is exactly what you wanted. It fades into a beautiful color that keeps you smiling. But then one day when it’s time to refresh your color, you go to Wal-Mart and it’s gone. It’s been discontinued or something, you don’t know. You find yourself wondering if you will ever be able to replace it and days and months later you still look back remembering. It takes a long time for you to stop looking for it on the shelves at Wal-Mart.

The box you buy, love, and keep buying: This is it. This is the one that fits. It looks great on you and you love it. Now, it’s still hair dye, so it does have to be refreshed. You may even highlight it every now and then just for a change but it’s there. It’s true to you and you are true to it. Because it makes you happy and beautiful. It’s the color we’re all looking for. And someday we all hope to find it….

A Late Night Dating Philosophy from Rachel and Heather

“If only we could try out boyfriends like this.”

So quotes my dear friend Heather as she attempts to undo a recent hair mishap. If only dating was like dying your hair---if you get it wrong you can go back to Wal-mart and get a new color to fix it. How often does it feel like we “get it wrong.” I mean, the box looked great: the conversation was good, there was definitely flirting, the connection was there. And then not too long later, it just isn’t there anymore. If only we could go to Wal-mart and buy a new one.
But dating doesn’t work like that. There can be a lot of wrong colors in dating. For some people, they pick the right color immediately. And that amazes me. It’s awesome for them, but for the rest of us, we keep ending back up at Wal-mart.The interesting thing about dying your hair, is that most people always end up back to their original color, or their original color with highlights. Maybe that is what it is really all about. Being original…being yourself and finding someone who likes you for who you are. And maybe that person can be the highlight…the person who not only brightens your day but compliments who you are as well. Once that person is found, maybe we won’t have to go to Wal-mart anymore.

Heather and her Hair

Heather during the hair-mishap.

Where were you?

So, where were you the night Harry Potter was released and how long did it take you to read it?

I was in Lexington, KY, with my good friend Julie and we were at Joseph Beth Booksellers. Most of you know that Joseph Beth is a two story bookstore, so Julie and I had a lot of fun walking around and peering over the side looking at all the people. Inside the store it was packed with activities for everyone. Parents were walking around with their kids and teenagers were milling about. I saw a few Jessie Clark students as well as a couple teachers! One of the best things was knowing that all these people were going to go home and actually read this book.
Julie and I got to watch the parade of costumes before the book release. My personal favorites were the girl who created her own Crookshanks costume and the baby dressed up as the golden snitch. So cute.

At about 11:45 we got in line for the book release. I was SO lucky because my friend Kris had won a spot to be first in line to receive a copy of the book. It was awesome. I was the first person inside Joseph Beth to be handed a book (three books actually since I picked up Julie's and Heather's too). It was awesome! Then Julie and I left and walked by the HUGE line outside Joseph Beth that stretched all the way around the corner and back against the side wall of J-Beth. That line was for those who had reserved their copies ahead of time.
All in all it was quite a fun evening filled with people watching and anticipation. We didn't stick around though because we were eager to get home to read the book we had been waiting so long for.

I read the book by the next afternoon. I know that some of you have completed the book, so feel free to comment about any specific thoughts you have in the comment section. I am avoiding putting anything specific actually on my blog since I know there are a few readers who have not yet completed the novel (and those who we are still trying to convince to actually get on the bandwagon). So, a warning to all readers, there may be spoilers in the comment section so read at your own risk! Have fun!

My List

Okay, so here is my list of the HP novels. These are likely to change so if I have ever stated something different--sorry. A girl always reserves the right to change her mind. :)


Half-Blood Prince
Goblet of Fire
Order of the Phoenix
Sorceror's Stone (or Philosopher's Stone for my British friends)
Prisoner of Azkaban
Chamber of Secrets

Walking on Water

Have you ever heard a story over and over and got nothing out of it and then suddenly one day the exact same story brings a completely new light onto your situation? Today I was reading in one of my “Christian self-help books” (might as well acknowledge it for what it is! :) and the author was discussing the concept “fear not.” He notes that this is a command given throughout the Bible and one that we often do not pay attention to. To illustrate his point of the importance and value of “fear not” he told the story of Peter walking on water. Here’s what he says:
“The story begins in Matthew 14 as Peter jumps out of the boat to join Jesus on the water. At first, Peter’s eyes are fixed on Jesus and he walks toward Him, but as soon as he becomes aware of his surroundings and turns his eyes off of Christ, he begins to sink.
Did Peter fail? Well, yes, he took his eyes off Christ, but…there were eleven bigger failures who remained in the boat. Only Peter knew the humiliation of public failure, while simultaneously knowing what it felt like to walk on water, to trust God completely, if only for a moment. The eleven other disciples were safe, secure, and comfortable, but had no comprehension of Peter’s initial joy. Failure is a frame of mind.”

As I read this, the thought occurred to me that the joy of walking on water, of trusting in God completely, was something that I want to experience. So often our fears keep us from taking the risks that God asks us to. Only by truly trusting in God completely will we ever experience the joy of walking on water and the joy of knowing that we are keeping our eyes on Christ. When I read this earlier today the song that came to mind was “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.” It’s an old classic, but it was comforting to sing. Tonight at church one of the choruses we sang was “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.” Since we don’t often sing this chorus, it was a wonderful reminder that God truly has a way of bringing His peace and confirming that He is at work.

Finished

Well, it's about 12 hours after I started reading and I have finished the book. There is much to say, but then there is much reason to be silent. Those of you who read the book will understand.