Transitions

Well Kids, it's official! My last day at Cascade is Friday, August 22nd. I have accepted a position in financial aid at Chemeketa Community College in Salem. In all of the crazy transitions my plan is to commute for now. I'm sure once I start paying for gas I will get over it real quick and will find myself moving to Salem. Thankfully little Timmy and Kori live there and some friends of mine just moved to Keizer. So I have at least a small social circle there.

I'm excited about this new opportunity. I've been waiting patiently for the right thing for a couple of years now. I'm thankful that I didn't have to move to Texas to find a new opportunity. An hour's not so bad when you think about Texas. :)

I will miss many of the beautiful people I have worked with for the last 6 years and of course I will miss many of our students. It just won't be the same ever again!

I am going from working with 300 students to a place where they serve over 60,000 each year. Crazy! It's going to be a totally different experience but I'm so excited to have it!

Happy Birthday Tim!

Little Timmy turns 30 today! I thought about listing all of the things about Tim that I love but I couldn't think of any...just kidding!

I think I will just list my favorite things about Tim and then ask you to go wish Tim a happy birthday!

My favorite things about Tim
1. Growing up and into our young adulthood Tim always had this great childlike spirit about him. He was always so much fun. He was up for anything and was almost always willing to be silly - just for the sake of being silly. Sometimes it irritated me but I have to say that now that I don't see him nearly as often as I used to, I miss his silliness.
2. I love that when we were younger (like college) he let me call him Moth -you know, TiMOTHy. It was my name of endearment for him. No one else got to use it. It was a silly name but he let me use it anyway and, if I remember correctly, I once got a Valentine's Day card in my campus mailbox from a guy named Moth. :)
3. Tim has always had a very generous spirit. If he had it and someone else needed it, he shared it willingly. Back in 2001 when I moved back to Portland from Seattle, Tim was very generous in assisting me financially. It took a bit longer for me to find a job than I had anticipated and Tim got me through. I wouldn't have made it if it hadn't been for Tim.
4. Tim desires to do good. He wants to do honor God with his life. He, like all of us, doesn't always get it right but in his heart of hearts, he wants to do the right thing in all circumstances. He wants to be known as a Godly man - a man who is trying to be like Jesus. There's nothing better than that.

Happy Birthday little brother. I hope you have a great day! I love you so much.

Tony Campolo on The Colbert Report

After Ryan Woods suggested that we check out Tony Campolo on The Colbert Report I had to see if he was on there more than once. I'm reading one of Campolo's books right now. I have been blessed to find Tony Campolo. He speaks to my heart in such important ways. I love God. I want to model my life after Christ - I often do a POOR job of it. And I don't feel like the conservative right has anything to offer me. I often feel embarrassed that they are what non-Christians assume we're all like and that we all think the same way. For most of my life I have felt a disconnect between my heart feels and what I hear in most churches and from many of my Christian friends. Thank you Tony for validating what I believe Jesus has written on my heart. As I read more and more of the book I am currently reading, the more I want to be like Christ, the more safe I feel opening my heart to Him. The God and the Jesus I have known most of my life is not what the world needs. The world needs a God and a Jesus who love them with unrelenting passion. I need a God and a Jesus who loves me with unrelenting passion. This is how we will change the world.

A couple of months back I read a book by Shane Claiborne called The Irresistible Revolution. In it he shared about the time he spent in India with Mother Teresa. He learned that Namaste, a Hindu greeting means "I honor the Spirit who lives in you." I am learning to honor the Spirit that lives in me and in all of those around me. It's definately a process, a journey, but I think if I look at all people as spiritual beings, self included, I will treat everyone better and see all people through Jesus' eyes. I don't think much of anything else matters. I think what I am learning about myself is that I haven't even been treating myself very well. I've struggled with the whole relationship with God thing. I think when you don't believe that He really, I mean really, loves you, what's the point of trying to do what He wants for your life??? Why would I honor the Spirit within me if I don't think He really cares about me or if it feels like the point of being in relationship with Him is only to do what He wants because He's a bully and will punish you for all eternity if you don't do things His way? It's not the point! He wants to be in relationship with His creation, with His people, His companions. He wants us to be companions of His. He wants us to choose Him because He wants to be with us - not to show power and domination over us but to love us and be with us, to be friends with us. I want that. I need that. My soul is crying out for that.

Namaste.

Also Watching...

Monday nights are devoted to The History Detectives on PBS. I think this might be one of the most interesting shows on TV. If you're not doing anything on Monday nights at 9pm and you live in the Portland area, check out channel 10 for this hour of goodness.

Everyone Should Read...

The Twilight saga by Stephenie Meyer. I never thought I would be interested in "these kinds" of books but I couldn't get enough. I was oblivious to the world for about a week and read the first three in the series. The last one comes out on August 2nd and I can't wait! So, if you are looking for an easy yet entertaining read I suggest these!

Feisty Sesame Street

Oh how I love Feist...

What I've Been Watching

I think a lot of people misunderstand So You Think You Can Dance. I love watching it every summer. The dancers are doing some really incredible things. I find so much beauty in what they are doing. Call me a reality TV junkie - I can't get enough. I wish I could do these things. Take a peek:



And then there's this couple! She is a trained dancer and it shows in everything she does. Joshua is a hip hop dancer. I'm totally blown away but what he is able to do every week.




I see the greatness of our Creator in these dancers. I see how beautiful He made the human form and I see how dancing is an outlet for worship. I think if I were a dancer I would feel totally and completely connected to God when I was moving because I feel it just watching them.

Urge

This will probably be one of the most random posts I ever make.

I have had in recent weeks/months the overwhelming urge to move to New Orleans and be a part of the rebuilding of that city. I think I would go almost immediately if there was someone interested in going with me on a little adventure. I think I feel braver if I have a partner in crime. Any takers?

Peace Out Ol' Red

My 1992 Toyota Corolla has been given to a new home and I have a new car. That's right. I am a full fledged grown up with a car payment! Yikes! What have I done? I might be living with my parents for the rest of my life but I have a nice car. I'm so excited to have something that I can get in everyday and not worry about whether or not it will start. I just got tired of putting money into a car that had so much that needed to be done. Now my money can go toward building my credit and investing in something which will give me some pride. :)

So, farewell, Ruby Dee. I hope some teenager treats you well!

I've included pictures of my new car(from the interwebs, not the actual vehicle - same color though). And I have to say, while she is a bit bigger than I really need, it was this or like a gramma Ford Taurus - no offense to those who might drive a Taurus - and this actually gets better gas mileage than the Taurus I looked at. It is smaller than it looks in the picture. She's more the size of a wagon than an SUV. Isn't she pretty???

OH YEAH! I need help naming her. Maybe we can play a game and everyone can help choose a name.

YES WE CAN!!!!

Magic

Sometimes I wish I had a magic wand and I could make my life exactly the way I want it to be. I know, I know - it's totally unrealistic. Where is the joy in attaining what you want without the work? The work is what scares me but it's in the work that you find the satisfaction...

sicko

I wasn't in the office today, which was nice. I was going to have the day to do what I wanted when I wanted but I developed a cold and didn't sleep well last night and have felt kinda foggy all day. So, lazy day it was. I've read, watched a great film called Crazy Sexy Cancer (not great because of the subject matter but great because of her choice to document what was happening to her and sharing her journey with all of us). If you need something to watch - this is a good one. I also watched a documentary called Escape Suburbia. This is the description in the OnDemand Info (presented by the Sundance Channel): "Half a century ago, suburbia was hailed as the solution to urban decay. Now, in the light of diminishing oil supplies, ecomomic woes and unsustainable lifestyles, many concerned citizens are rethinking their options."

So this is what I did with my time off. I think I'm going to go take a nap - if I can breathe while laying down.

distracted

I am struggling with getting my head wrapped around any of my work. The students have left and I need to transition into summer projects which are important but BORING. I need to edit the student handbook, check final grades of students in postions where GPAs need to meet a minimum criteria. None of this is any kind of appealing to me.

My mind is in another place. I am processing so many things and none of them have anything to do with work.

I have been doing some online training and looking at potential improvements for the office but not getting any "needs to get done" work accomplished.

Wish me luck.

Challenges

I'm at a place right now where I really feel like I am being challenged to evaluate my life and ask what it is that I want from it and how I can best be like Him while I'm here. With these feelings comes fear. I'm afraid that if I really look at what I want from this life and how I can participate in bringing the Kingdom of God to those around me in my community, I'm going to have to give some things up and I make some serious changes in the choices I make in my daily living.

For the first time in my life I don't feel like I need to make these changes out of guilt or shame but out of a heartfelt devotion to Christ. As He changes my heart I feel compelled to change my priorities.

I feel claustrophobic with all of my "things" around me but begin to feel anxious at the thought of purging them from my life - and that's how I know I have a problem. I know that there can be a healthy balance. I know that I have got to get my temple in better form to live out His calling for my life. I am no good to Him if I make poor choices and have to spend my time dealing with the consequences of those choices rather than being Christ to those around me.

I watch Extreme Home Makeover and see a family who intentionally moves into a neighborhood in need of love and they make a difference - giving so much of themselves to those around them. I'm challenged to think about what I am doing with my life and where I want to go with it.

I watch a documentary on the use of rape as a weapon in war (this one specifically about The Congo) and think "what am I doing???" There is so much need in the world and I know that I am impacting students at Cascade - or at least I hope that I am - but I feel like there is more and I am being called to something more. I just don't know what it is just yet.

I am being stretched and it's uncomfortable but I know it's good and healthy and necessary. The journey of life is hard and amazing all at the same time. I'm excited to see what is ahead for me. I'm unsure of where all of this will lead me but I'm learning to let go and trust in the Lord - and lean not on my own understanding.

Miracle of Miracles

Graduation was on Saturday and the last of the students should be moving out today. We have a few sticking around for summer intersessions but intersession students are usually pretty mellow. I feel as if this year went very quickly. I have to say that I am thankful because I don't feel like it was my best year. I'm ready to try again next year. I call a do over!

Today I am taking a breather and moving slowly through my tasks.

The Lord's Prayer

Manners

I am reading a book for work called The Resident Assistant by Gregory Blemling and I've been amused at some of the things I've read. For instance, this morning I was reading an excerpt from a book written in the 50's by Irene Pierson giving advice to students on manners - check this out:

Question: What is the correct procedure when a girl has a Saturday night date and her boyfriend from out of town pops in a half hour before time for the date?

Answer: Tell the boyfriend you have plans for the evening and cannot break them as you do not want the reputation of being a person who is not dependable. The boyfriend was inconsiderate in not calling in advance. You could have been out to dinner and not have been located by him all evening.

WHAT??? How about "You're awful for dating behind your boyfriend's back and you do not want the reputation of being a cheater!"????

Maybe I'll share some housing rules from 1870 later.

Project Summary

So there it is my friends. My 30 days of ridding myself of things I no longer want/need. I didn't spend nearly enough time in other places of my life like the CD collection or the books but I did get rid of a lot of clothes that I just don't need to have around any longer. I think there will continue to be more purging. I kinda got the hang of it. I found some pleasure in it. Wasn't nearly as painful on day 20 as it was on days 2 and 3.

I'm learning more and more about who I am and why I do some of the things that I do. I really believe that I have found security in having "my stuff" and it has gotten in the way of my relationship with God. He is my only security and I need to trust Him to provide it.

Now I'm going to go work. It's SO quiet around here. Students are on spring break and my boss isn't in the office. I think I got more work done yesterday afternoon then I get done in an average week! YAY for Spring Break!

day 30

slippers - donate

day 29

flip flops - donate