My Amazing Birthday- a life I don't deserve

Seriously- I have no proper verbage to express the blessings I feel for this, my 30th, birthday.

Thank you to Sarah, my sister, for my party in August, and for your amazing birthday card scheme. I have lost count of all the cards I have recieved. And for my trip of a life-time to LA.

Thank you, heidi, for taking the time and money to come be part of my Birthday in August trip to LA. It meant the world to me that you were a part of those memories.

Thank you to my Leadership Team, for the fun celebration at our last Team meeting. (even though I had to share it with Johhny... :))

Thank you, carrie, for our special birthday lunch. It was amazing and very very fun!

Thank you, Jen, and my Puerto Rican family for my suprise ice-cream taste-testing party. You guys!

Thank you, Johhny and Dana, for my Pei Wei party.

Thank you, Lori and Isaac, for my suprise birthday cupcakes, cake, card, and candle-blowing-out extravaganza. You are so invaluable to my life. How amazing that God brought me up here to be by one of the closest friends in my life.

THANK YOU, EVERYONE!! Who sent Birthday cards and wishes. I am tearing up right now thinking about all of you who were sneaky little contributors to my birthday being amazing and UNFORGETTABLE.

Missing family and friends in these holiday moments.

Comfort and true joy.

Things I am learning from "Heroes"

nothing humongous to write home about today, but it's been some time now, so I'll just lay a couple things on the table.

It's clowdy out, so it's time for a short-term tv series addiction. I decided to try on "Heroes", as a few of my friends find it entertaining.

Seriously, i have seen so many parallels for my life, our lives. Call me crazy. It wouldn't be the first time.

So, here's what's happening now.

- I am more hungry for God. I mean something is a'stirrin'. Before my eyes even opened, I felt such a need to pray for his presence today. I am so excited about it, but only because i am ever-increasingly aware of how badly i screw things up apart from him. Things can appear to be so beautiful and fulfilling, but are so empty.

- I am more sure of His purpose (ON-PURPOSE-NESS) for our lives, relationships, and situations. (that would include you, if you are reading this.) We aren't just little amaebas to him. He has a destiny for each of us.

- I want to love Him and you all better.

We are called to greatness- that is usually cloaked in hardship, in messy and inconvenient relationship stuff, and in discipline.

okay. I'm done.

i can't wait!

1 week. We are going to party DOWN!!!

Any suggestions for me for a costume? I'm thinkin' ugly betty.

Seriously.

Yes, your eyes are not deceiving you. My car got hit last night while parked. Hit and run.

Yes, it could have been worse. But WHAT THE HECK??!!!

I can't even find the words to begin to explain why i am flabergasted.

however, this all got me to think about God.

I incorrectly viewed Him as a side-swiper, hit and runner, for a long time. i thought He would wait until I got good and comfortable, and then WHAMM!, take off my drivers mirror or send a head-on collision my way.

I know, I know. I hate to admit that. It is really rediculous. but after careful inventory and some quiet inspection, I realized the distance I had allowed between an amazing, Loving God, and my little accident-prone heart.

He is the repairer and healer of all things; He can't help but be drawn to the broken and hurting, the lonely and lost. I am so thankful for the goodness of my God, and for the hit-and-run that put me right back at His feet.

What i have discovered.

I have discovered that I am very prone to take you up on a dare. I am wild and crazy and out of controll. And I refuse to go down by myself. Thanks, Connalitha. I know Lori would have been right with us.

Don't get me started

My favorite people in the world are coming to the big D in T-minus 14 days.
Not that I am excited or anything...

Friends in all places

I love this moment because I was with some of my very favorite people in this world, on one of the most perfect days of this, my favorite season, Fall.

We are looking for my marbles...
oopsie daisy.

For my patiently-waiting fans

There's something to be said about not saying anything. Silence used to make me so uncomfortable. But I am learning that I am more apt to save myself from an apology, or to actually process what the heck is going if I just listen and shut up!

Also, my wonderful amazing friend is in town, and I am realizing how stinkin' spoiled I am in this department. Got some pretty cool peeps in my little life. That in itself attests to a God who is involved in this thing called life.

I will also take a moment to let you know that not only did I get my drummer, but a new band member altogether. Very nice, very nice.

Coffee + Energy

I can't get over how hilarious it is that you can get Energy ADDED TO YOUR COFFEE at Starbucks.
ummmm......

It's beginning to rain.

So here's to my buckling fortitude against the blog bandwagon. I've held out as long as I could.

There are so many analogies given to our lives, and the, uh, challenges we go through.
We go through seasons, we go through storms, life's a journey, life's a process, and so on.
Everyone wants a life that avoids the cliches, but there's something comforting knowing we are going through things that someone else has gone through or is going through currently. What's even greater is being able to live honestly with a few trusted comrades, and go through the journey, seasons, process, storms together.

I also need a drummer for next Sunday.