not Turkey status by any means, but an improvement.
I don't know why I've decided this but I have.
So, last post I talked about our Post Secret event. Unfortunately, due to an emergency with a friend, I was unable to attend but I heard it went pretty well. A couple people got up and shared secrets they used to have and how God had redeemed them and it was apparently really powerful. I also heard there were a lot of new faces who asked a lot of questions so it sounds like it served the purposes it was supposed to. Thanks for all of your prayers and support.
So, this weekend has been such a wonderful break in the busyness that has been the last couple of weeks. Friday morning Debrah and I woke up early to do our newly established workout routine (8 am workouts Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) then came back, showered, got ready for the day, and went to the new bagel place! It has a real name, but I just call it the Bagel Place. I skipped my first class (I felt I had earned it...) so we took our time chatting and enjoying our Friday treat :)
I went to my one class, met Ryan (for bagels...at the same place. And I wasn't even embarassed to walk in again), met with Rob (my small group co-leader) to pray for our small groupers, then that night my roommates and I spent some glorious Roommate Time together because we hadn't in so long. Kat's niece, Bria, was here for the weekend so she joined us. We picked up dinner and ate it in the living room and listened to music and painted nails. After Bria went to bed we watched Coco Before Chanel. It's a french film we rented from Redbox that we got because Audrey Tautou was in it and we love her! Amelie...you must see it. Also, I thought the story would be interesting. I'm sure it would have been had I not fallen asleep early on, but from what I saw, I would still recommend it :)
Saturday morning we got up bright and early (9:30...early for a Saturday!) and made the three hour drive to Plant City for the Strawberry Festival. I don't know what we were thinking, but we did it. Also, I don't know what I was thinking either. I am so directionally retarded that I didn't even know how close I was to my grandmother in Lakeland until we drove through it on our way there! OR how close I was to my sister who took my nephew there the NEXT day! I am absurd. Anyway, pros: it was like, 15 degrees warmer there and the weather was perfect!
-It was quite possibly, the biggest fair I've ever been to.
-We went with a kid which made it 100x better.
-Kat brought her fancy camera and I got to play with it (pictures to come later)
-There was fair food!
-Strawberry Themed!
-Strawberry Themed!
Cons:
-There was fair food. I ate a lot of it.
-It was 6 hours of driving for 3 hours of play :/
-It was crazy expensive...ten dollars for two rides!
-I wasn't drowning in strawberries as I had hoped for.
But I'm still glad we did it. This is a picture of one of the two rides I went on. (The other was the swings...a timeless favorite). This one didn't look to scary until I was hanging upside down next to Bria, feeling my colar bones crush, and wondering how well the carnie folk had put this baby together.
Today Debrah and I got up and went to church at Coquina. Today they appointed their elders so it was an emotional day but very good. The thing I admire about this church is how bibilcally they try to do things.It's refreshing to see churches living that way.
Debrah and I came home, heated up some lasagna leftovers and watched two episodes of Dexter. One of our two DVD series guilty pleasures. I will confess the other one at a later date.
Then Kat and Debrah went on a short jog and I headed off to Barnes and Noble which has become a once a week (sometimes bi-weekly, depending on the stress level) trip. I order a white peach Harney and Sons tea, grab a little table, mute my phone, pop in my iPod, journal my worries away, then read a chapter of Forgotten God by Francis Chan. First of all, there is something to be said for sitting in the chaos of people chatting and milling about, but hearing nothing but your favorite Josh Garrels (which I highly recommend) or Pride and Prejudice soundtrack. It's so peaceful.
Also, Forgotten God is, at the risk of sounding super Christian cheesy...changing my life. I put off reading any Francis Chan books because it irriated me how a big chunk of the Christian community has, for lack of a better word, idolized the man. However, I have noticed the spiritual emptiness I've been feeling since returning from Turkey has been a product of straight up, not understanding who the Holy Spirit is. I get God. I get Jesus. But the whole Holy Spirt thing just baffles me...so I pushed it aside. I'm realizing that my faith will quickly burn out though when it is running on such superficial fuel. One day I off handedly picked up a copy and read the back, feeling as though someone was talking straight to me. Francis Chan doesn't write about anything the Bible doesn't already tell you. However, I could never wrap my mind around what I had already read there and he helps aply it to life in a pretty fool-proof manner. I am loving it and already seeing how my relationship with the Spirit is improving just from four chapters! I really recommend it, it's a quick and easy read!
Anyway, I came home to an empty house. Straightened up my room, read old mail on possible scholarships for grad. school, brochures I've been given on various schools, etc. and felt overwhelmed by my future and decided to blog instead :) Now, I should quick and do something actually productive like...homework.
Also, I've decided, as of today, that I was to grow my hair out long enough for Locks of Love.
Also also, I skyped with Df the other day and it was way exciting! And to all of you who want to know, they have gotten a new nanny from England and Df says she is good to them So that's that.
Love to all of you!
In the spirit of the Lenton season:
"Gather round, here the sound
of a story that's so old that it's been told
Before time
He was born in the flesh and in the blood
In a world that was dark as hell, and dead in sin
Born of the spirit, and the virgin child
He's the son of God, son of Man
I didn't recognize that look in his eyes
When they cried
With a sorrow that no man has ever known.
Hang him high, watch him die, hear the cry
Crucifed up on that God Forsaken tree
And all who have breath can sing
When we layed your body down
In the earth and in the ground
Oh Lord, rest your bones
With all hope be made good
If your words are understood
In the day, will we see you again?
Oh "Eloi, Eloi lama sabachthani?"
Oh my God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
-Josh Garrels, Good Friday
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