Just wanted to say HAY!!!!

I started writing this a couple weeks ago, but have been really busy, so here's the story:

So last night I did something new and absolutely fun! Kathy and I noticed that there were some barrels of hay that had not been discarded from Pastor Mark's going away party and so we thought it would be funny to take them to people. :)

So last night, Fred, Kathy and I went to the church and loaded up the hay into a truck. We first went to Ryan's house and since it was our first house, we weren't very experienced. We took one barrel of hey, cut the ties and spread it all over his front porch...

On to the next house on our list! So we went to Pastor Tim's house. We got there, had a game plan and then went to it! We unloaded one barrel, and then another. As I was spreading out the hay on the drive way guess who drives up, but PASTOR TIM!!! We ran! We then heard Tim calling to us and told us to finish what we were doing and then he'd go into his house and get the kids... so we spread it out everywhere! (see above picture)


Then onto Pastor Kirk's house. We parked along the side of his house and decided that we should use 3 barrels of hey. Now we're getting good and so we spent time thereWe got the hedges around his house, COVERED the lawn, driveway the side lawn and the porch. Oh Man! It was intense!!!! Here is a picture of Kirk's house.


Well then we had to go back and get more hay.. you heard me.. MORE HAY!!! We then went to the Drever's house and knowing that some students hang out there on Fridays we did this one very well. We got all over the driveway and front lawn, we even through some up into the tree. As we were leaving, we decided to "Ding-Dong Ditch" them and then we drove away...well Garret got in his car and caught up with us. We went back to hang out and all the kids cleaned up the hay!





This was so much fun and I don't regret any of it. Ok well looking back I kinda regret doing certain people's houses (one of them not being mentioned) but it was one of the highlights of having this job!

God wanted me at IPC

So I skipped a month! Sorry! I've been so busy with two jobs and school, I hardly have time to just relax anymore. I've recently discovered that I'm working 7 days a week. I was too busy to notice that!!!

So what have I been up to? Well, actually, a lot. September 2007 was extremely packed full of things to do. USC football has started and so far, so good. Last week was just agony to watch, but we made it through OK! (yes I use the words "we" and "us" when referring to 'SC football, because, well, I'm a fan and I am part of the sport as a fan)

Last week is what really sticks out to me right now about last month. The pastor at my church resigned and Sunday was his last day. He and his family have moved to Texas. I am very VERY sad. Mark did so much for me in my life. I started going to IPC as a Jr. Higher. When I was in college, my parents stopped going to church and I stayed. I had found a place that had accepted me for who I was and allowed me to be that person. I went through some pretty awful stuff in college and I know that if it weren't for a place like IPC, I probably wouldn't be a Christian anymore. It was Mark's sermons and the staff there that kept me coming and gave me a place to just be angst-y, cynical me during those times (some of that cynicism is still there though :) I knew that I could turn to Mark or Kirk and they would answer my questions, pray with me and for me and allow me to have doubts. I never had to act like anyone I wasn't. It was through their determination that I went to Urbana in 2003 and where I, for the first time, realized that I could be used in God's Kingdom. I didn't have to go to Uganda or Russia or Mexico. God wanted me in the Jr. High ministry at IPC.

So I went, reluctantly. I had left that ministry on bad terms, but again, the staff was forgiving and welcomed me back. I was a volunteer for two years and then the opportunity to become the "intern of Jr. High Ministries" opened up. I asked if I could take it and now, a year later, as the ASSOCIATE, I am looking at careers in Jr. High Ministry. I would not be here if it weren't for Mark. I know that... well I don't KNOW it but I can say with much certainty that he helped me and made a huge impact on my life that I will eternally be grateful for.

What I find so amazing about this story is that it's not over yet. When I came back to the Jr. High ministry I had the opportunity to be a leader to the Jr. High class of 2007. These students have always been so special to me. I was a summer Sunday school teacher to them when they were 3. I was a VBS teacher and helper to them all throughout their elementary school lives, not to mention being a camp Councelor too! And then I got to be their Jr. High leader. Needless to say they were always more than just kids at my church. They were my kids. I was friends with some of them before they came to Jr. High, and then in Jr. High I became VERY good friends with them. And you guessed it, one of them is Mark's son. There are a good 10 that I feel completely close to and would do anything for (see the post titled: Life is a Football Game--that was to them).

So this last week was Mark's last week with us. I am so fortunate to have been able to spend so much time with Mark and Linda and Nathan and Kara last week. We went to a High School football game, Wicked, Disneyland, countless hours sharing meals, painting my office, and laughing and enjoying each other's company. I am so lucky to have such wonderful friends.

Well I have to read some more of Huck Finn right now and I'll tell you all about school and stuff later, but I just wanted to write a bit and tell you all that I haven't forgotten about you.... :)

Grace and Peace to you!!!!!

Well.. he was already going to miss a game...

I'm just saying....

Friday, August 31, 2007
Longhorns WR Pittman gets 3-game suspension for borrowing car
Associated Press

AUSTIN -- The Texas Longhorns suspended wide receiver Billy Pittman for three games Friday after learning he broke NCAA amateurism rules by borrowing a friend's car this summer.
In a statement, the No. 4 Longhorns did not identify the friend but said the person had no connections to the school.
Pittman, a senior, was already going to miss Saturday's game against Arkansas State with a shoulder injury. He will be eligible to return Sept. 22 against Rice.
"I want everyone to know I'm really sorry," Pittman said. "It was an honest mistake and I'll do everything I can to make up for it."
Pittman has 69 catches for 1,206 yards and nine touchdowns over the last two seasons.
Pittman is the latest Texas player suspended for off-the-field issues this summer. Linebacker Sergio Kindle and defensive end Henry Melton are also suspended three games after both were charged with DWI.
A third player, freshman linebacker Dre Jones, was suspended indefinitely after being charged with aggravated robbery. A fourth player, former safety Robert Joseph, was charged in the same incident. Joseph had already left the team after being arrested in a separate incident over the summer.


Maybe that's a little harsh?!?!?!?

I swear I'm not making this stuff up! I wasn't having a good night, so I started looking up stuff on the internet. It's funny what you'll find huh?

Not Well Designed

So yesterday I was at Disneyland and spent the day with some of my Best Friends. We did a lot for a summer day too! We even spent some time with Mary Poppins and Bert. :) When we first got there we headed into Adventure Land, and we saw Remy and Emile coming out of Frontierland. Let me tell you. These are not well designed characters. My frist impression was that they recycled OLD Mickey costumes, and then either Syd or Nate said that they looked like Chuck E. Cheese! THEY REALLY DID!!! And let's think about that! Do you think that Remy would want to be compaired to Chuck? Yeah, I don't think so... they don't exactly serve Ratatouille there do they? So good job everybody for the great design in costumes!!!!

The best part of yesterday wasn't that we did a lot or that we were even at Disneyland, it was that we were together and having a LOT of FUN!!!! We went on most of the attractions, and we even talked to Stitch. We told him that our friend was moving to Texas and asked if he had any advice for us, he said no but then he sang us a song. We met up with Lou and had a FANTASTIC time! We stayed until the parked closed, and I've never seen Nate get soooo LOOOOOPY!!!! It was awesome.

Well I want to end this with well wishes for the Roberts Family. They are moving today and I will miss them terribly! Thank you for all you've done for me! For Mark always teaching me something new in service and for being a pastor that I could always come to no matter my age. For Linda, thank you for always making me feel like I was a part of the church family. Kara, you have always greeted me with warmth and you have an abundance of joy in you. I know that you will blossom in Texas.
And Nathan, I will miss you and your humor so much. You will do great and know that we will always be here for you.

Thank you all for the diffrence you have made in my life!

New podcast to listen to!

So first off, I just want to say that I am pretty excited because I found out that Kevin and Bean have a podcast of their show everyday! Yea!!! Now I can listen!!! STHUPER!!!!

I went to California Adventure with Nathan, Josh and Ben on Thursday and we had a great time!

Tonight I'm headed over to Aarons house to watch HSM2 (that's High School Musical 2) the sing along version with all the ninth graders! I LOVE that they invite me and love to hang out with me. :) It makes me feel so loved and I think that they are so fun! Well I've gotta go get some dinner before I go. Talk to you later!

Being Understood is knowing you are loved

Sthuper Duper Exthited!

I am so excited. Our plans for Disneyworld are coming together. We're actually going! I'm so excited! I'm glad that Ray and Syd and I are going together. It'll be super fun!

Sthuper Duper!

PS have y'all seen She's the man, because you should. It's really good!

K--see you later!