"Beware Identity Theft"

Ben forwarded this to me and I love it.

remembering Peru & its lessons

I just spent the greater part of the evening endeavoring to scrapbook. I first had to organize to make space in my cluttered room, and then search for papers mute enough to accompany the Peruvian landscape. I ended up completing only two layouts. I also realized how far behind in scrapbooking I am... I went to Peru over two years ago!

But what fun it was to revisit the experience. I remembered Jean-Pierre and David, two of my "favorite" children we worked with through the YMCA children's programs. I remembered Sarvia, our host missionary, and her tireless and selfless service to those children, her family, her church, and to us. I remembered Sandy, the beautiful then-13-year-old in my host family in the community who was full of great dreams for her future, like following in her mentor's footsteps and serving at La Guay (The Y).

In my searching under my bed tonight, I found my journal from the Trek as well... I was reading from the part during "debriefing." We spent a lot of time looking back on the trip, thinking and reflecting on it, and many people shared testimonies of Great Big Things that had happened-- how God had used them, or what God had called them to through their experience. I think this atmosphere was a great deal of the reason, but I tell you... I was so frustrated! So frustrated that it overflowed within me during a group meeting. I didn't have a grand story of the work God had done while we were there. I didn't even have a neat take-home lesson from the experience. I couldn't express how my outlook had changed, and I hadn't uncovered a grand calling on my life. It sounds so silly now, but I was wondering if the whole trip hadn't been a waste. There was nothing I could "set on the shelf" and say, "This is what happened. This is what the trip was for."

Of course it sounds silly now, because I can see a little better now. All the ways that my Trek to Peru were good and worthwhile could make for another blog another time, and it should be enough to suffice anyway that it was what I believed God had for me that Summer, and I believe it was honoring to him for me to obey. But ONE of the reasons that Peru was worthwhile was this lesson that I came to understand, at least a little bit, during debriefing after pouting about the trip being a waste of time... even saying those words during that meeting came as a shock to me, but after I said them and they was able to talk, think, and pray about them, I wrote in my journal:

"This trip isn't a perfect package, an clearly defined "episode" in my life with God. I don't want to receive something profound, complete, and perfect now, and then live on it and tell others about it for awhile and then move onto the next big thing. Yet again, God, you are showing me that my walk with You is daily, always growing, always changing. And hopefully not feeling full of a well-organized, sorted-through take-home message might help me seek you more every day. Let it be."

I do not mean to belittle receiving lessons thatGod teaches us through various circumstances. As humans, we need those! How we need to be able to remember, "This happened, and God taught me this." It is good to think and pray about what those lessons might be...... but sometimes there isn't one. (And even more often, you don't see it the very next day!) And we shouldn't be discouraged and think that God is not at work just because it is not clear what the point is.

SO I guess I'm saying that one of the reasons I'm grateful I went to Peru two summers ago is that it prepared me for this "season of life," where I'm not exactly sure what the point is of my current situation. Surely it could be endured if I knew I was going to learn some bit of wisdom I could share with others, or that God was going to work some miracle. But I'm just not sure what the purpose is. And while I'm not exactly thrilled about it most of the time, it is okay. In fact, it is good because God is still at work, refining my character, teaching me to trust Him (and only Him).... and because of his presence, life is truly good.

weather thoughts

Starting over a year ago, every person that I told I was going to move to Arizona, and indeed every person I told in Arizona that I had moved here from Colorado, seemed to react the same way-- telling me how "horrid," "awful," or "unbearable" the weather is in the Phoenix area. Now that I've lived here for over 8 months and have even survived the better part of a summer, I feel I have earned the right to write an entire blog on the weather.

The much-awaited monsoon season has arrived in Arizona. On the flight into Phoenix last night, it appeared quite like we were going to land in foggy San Fransisco, looking out the window. But then I realized the truth- it was just dust. Maybe it was just my imagination, but after awhile, I felt that the dust had made it in through the ventilation system. Even in the plane, I felt like I was breathing it. And as soon as I walked outside, I was worried about how a few more dust storms were going to cause respiratory problems in the future.

Today felt and also smelled like Florida. It was warm and humid. But the sun was hidden for the entire morning, and it rained (really RAINED) for a good couple hours, which was nice. After that it was still humid, but at least it was only moisture in the air and not so much dust.

I like this variety in weather. I also like that this means that cooler days are coming very close. They tell me that August, which is almost half over, is the worst but last awful month.

It turns out Arizonans aren't really the crazies I thought they were. Sure, there are some that really do go running in the afternoon when it's 115 degrees (at least), and there are some that see no problem with hiking up a mountain in August (because if it's early enough, it's only 95 degrees!) but for the most part, Arizonans rely on their air conditioning and hate the heat. They are so adamant about their dislike for it, in fact, that I was expecting a far more uncomfortable summer. It apparently was a relatively warm July, and while I will not say it was always pleasant, I didn't seem to have a harder time than many natives. It seems they still haven't gotten used to the heat. And you don't stay here because you're used to the heat, you stay here because October-April, and sometimes September and May, are the most pleasant times you can imagine.

back from Colorado!

I'm back from Colorado after a very full week!!! I spent the first couple days in Colorado Springs for Bethany's wedding. What a beautiful bride! Then I got to spend a little bit of time in Denver and Greeley with friends and visiting Christ Community! And THEN I got to spend a couple days with my wonderful family in Winter Park, doing such things as horseback riding and alpine sliding. The trip was a whirlwind, busy and with too many altitude changes for me. Now, I admit, I seem quite unwilling to return to "daily life," and I'm also quite tired.

rambling of recent happenings

This last week has been busy but it has been so fun! Plus I got 5 hours of overtime which is always nice.......... On Monday, I enjoyed a family dinner with some cool friends. They are from different churches around here, but just generally passionate, genuine people that I really enjoy being around. They go together to talk about Jesus on the ASU campus, pray together, and stuff like that, just on their own because they want to. Every Monday they have dinner at the home of one of the guys with his parents. I joined them this week, and then also sat outside and talked while it rained a cool rain with a nice breeze-- it was glorious. Then on Tuesday I met my friend Naomi for coffee at 5:30, and ended up talking, going to get Taco Bell, and then walking to a fish pond she used to frequent as a child, and hanging out until 11 before we knew what had happened. I so enjoyed my time with her. On Thursday after small group, Bonnie and I went in pursuit of the lighting (it is "monsoon season" here... which doesn't mean we get a lot of rain, but that there are crazy weather systems involving lots of clouds, wind, lightning, and often blowing dust)... we sat in her car and watched the lightning bolts reflect off the saguaro cactus, and watched the dust blow under the street lights, and then breathed as much rain smell as possible, and she took lots of pictures. Last night I hung out with Jessica M and Kellie at the house where Jessica is house-sitting. We swam in their pool (yes!) and then planed DDR in their theater room with a wall of a television screen. NICE! And I also finished my "classroom" training this week for volunteering at the Crisis Pregnancy Center. I get to start on-the-job training this week! I'm also training to become a manager at Chipotle... who knows how long I'll be there, so I may as well start the process, right? And that is all that is happening. I'm getting really excited for my trip to Colorado in a couple weeks for Bethany's wedding...

Well, big news... I have been offered my first nursing job. But actually the news isn't that big, because as I will explain, it seems it's only "kind of" a nursing job. It is seasonal (about 2 months) giving flu shots and swine flu vaccinations for a traveling immunization clinic at Wal-Marts, CVSs, and Frys. It's supposed to be very flexible, I'll get to sign up online for the clinics I want... but this also means they may be hiring a ton of people and there won't be enough hours for anyone... but if I get any hours, it will pay a lot better than Chipotle!

I had an interview this week for another part-time (but year-round, and with the possibility of becoming a full-time) position. Hoping it goes well.

Loving the Celtic Book of Daily Prayer I just got!!

Also loving lolcats... here's one of my favorites.
see more Lolcats and funny pictures

awesomeness of late

Last Thursday, it was right between my birthday and my friend Bonnie's birthday. Bonnie, being her cool self, planned a girly road trip up to Sedona. Sedona is known for being cooler than Phoenix (and by that, I mean lower temperatures and a "hip," new-agey environment. It's kind of like Boulder to Denver.) It was gorgeous and refreshing. AND we went to Slide Rock, a State Park on the creek with a "slick natural water chute." We jumped in, waded, and went down the water slide several times. Plus we ate the carrot cake that I made and celebrated birthdays. This is Naomi, Jessica, and Bonnie at a "scenic overlook."

On Tuesday it was my birthday. It was a wonderful day! I so enjoyed the people I spent time with and doing new things with them. My day included: going to breakfast at Joe's Farm Grill with Ephrem, having Chic-fil-A with Amanda and Hannah, and then browsing Bookman's. (I had never been there before and was enthralled... plus I got a copy of The Brothers Karamazov from 1950 for free!) THEN Amanda and I browsed a wonderful new thrift store (and I found two good shirts for cheap, wonderful!) and also had the best Gelato ever (cantaloupe flavored... and it really is the best- and I've sampled at least 10 gelato shops in Italy). THEN we had the dinner I planned with everyone at Gilbert Pizza. It was a great turnout from church friends, a great opportunity for everyone to be together. Here's a picture of half of the table.

I didn't have plans for afterward, was thinking about going to a movie or something. I'm still not sure how it happened exactly, but it was arranged for everyone to go hang out at Jim's house afterward. And there was a wonderful cake compliments of Christian, and wine with some berries compliments of Jim.

I was so surprised and felt so special that they had gone to the trouble. Then we all sat in the living room and several people shared "Evidences of Grace" in my life, and experience which was rather awkward and uncomfortable for me, but very encouraging. And then a few people prayed for me, which was of course a huge blessing to me. On the whole, the day was a joy.