gifts and loves

About a year ago, I made a choice-- to stay and staff. I realize now it was more than a choice... it was a gift. Probably the best gift ever... other than eternity with God :)

On a different note, I think I'm in love with "Glory of It All" by David Crowder. I admit that "Streets of Gold" may just be infatuation, but "Glory of It All" has such great lyrics too... and it's been like a month since I've been listening to it 15 times a day. Okay, maybe more like 15 times a week (at least). Two weeks ago, I even forced my home group to sing it during praise O_O Prob wasn't the easiest song to sing along to. Especially for me because I'm always compelled to imitate DC's accent + voice, for some reason.

Speaking of love v. infatuation, it still blows my mind how some people can't wait to get married right out of college. They must be way more mature than me!! :) Hm... 2.5 years of dating... prob a couple more to come... and then... maybe I'll suddenly be called to celibacy! Who knows! =P It is either that or eventually being joined with another big fat sinner and hopefully a little family of sinners for the rest of my life :)

To top it all off, here's a super awesome version of another item (song) of infatuation.

MiX = Mentees in Christ

Again he asked, "What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough."

<Luke 13:20-22>

(I wish I had taken more photos... of everyone...)

A typical gathering

Lotsa love with no awkwardness at all...


We have our own Worship + Multimedia Ministries.


We're similar in some ways...


...like being extraordinarily cute!


Yet we display a wide variety of talent...

...like song-writing + serenading...

"...Teresa I love you, Teresa I love, Teresa I love you so... SAKAI!"

...and enjoying both hot dogs and ho doks!

(so hard to get everyone >_<... still missing several here...)


=)





And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

<Phil 1:6>

IG Discussion on Dating

So Filled with Honesty...



Hampton (Leader): So, girls, what do you think about dating? How do you perceive boys?
Lanasia (grade 5): I see them as associates.


Stirling (L): My mom always told me to go for the guys who aren't as cute-- they're usually the nicer ones. And they tend to stick around for longer because other girls won't wanna steal them either!
Kashirra (g 4): You tellin' me to go for the SLOPPY SECONDS?!


Hampton (L): Now, what are some fun and safe activities you can do with a boyfriend? For example, I'd enjoy playing tennis.
Kashirra (g 4): [mumbles something]
Hampton: Excuse me, bubble bath?!?!
Kashirra: I said double date!!!
Hampton: Okay. How about you, Carina? Just think about what do you like to do when you get home from school.
Carina (g 5): ... watch TV?
Claire (L): Yea! You can watch TV with a boyfriend.
Lanasia (g 5): I'd wanna watch a scary movie with my boyfriend so I can hug up on him!


Hampton: Girls, what do you think of this piece of advice... "Look for friendship, not love."
Lanaja (g 6): I want LOVE.


Kashirra: Ya know... Sometimes when you hang with girls all the time you just get sick of them, and you just wanna hang with some DUDES.
Claire: Yea, that makes sense. Guys tend to be simpler sometimes and care less about what they wear or about their hairstyles.
Kashirra: [stands up emphatically] YEA. Sometimes I just wanna GET DIRTY and dive into some MUD!


Hampton: Here's a sad fact I learned... more people in the world recognize the symbol of the golden arches than the cross. Do you girls what the golden arches are?
Kashirra: DELICIOUSSS!


[sunlight from the windows cause girls to squint]
[Claire gets up to close the blinds]
Kashirra: THANKYA JESUS!
Claire: Um. I'm not Jesus.

IG Sleepover

Highlights...










5th and 6th grade cuteness

















Chocolate Fountain Fondue
















Music














Free massages + hair stylin'












Me: Where did you learn to braid like this?
Makayla: Dang, girl! You don't know how to corn row?!












more pictures


This was all after a morning 5K + a full afternoon of frisbee under the sun.



When night rolled around...

11:30 pm-- "Lights out." We let the girls talk quietly.
12 am-- Girls wide awake. Girls start running around and giggling. My headache begins.
12:30 am-- Girls still very much awake. Claire reminds them to chat quietly.
1:00 am-- Girls sneak to bathroom in attempt to call up some boys......................
1:05 am-- Claire confiscates the girls' phones. My headache worsens.
1:30 am-- Girls still very much awake, running around and giggling. My ability to maintain sanity? Questionable.
2:15 am-- I get up and separate the most giggly girls.
2:16 am-- Girls protest.
2:30 am-- Girls finally comply.
2:31 am-- Joneisha complains about itchy eye.
2:32 am-- Lanasia complains about the heat in the room.
3:00 am-- Girls start to fall asleep.
3:01 am-- My headache continues.
3:02 am-- I watch the girls sleep.
3:03 am-- It is quiet.
3:04 am-- I realize that I love them.

In joy and pain, in sun and rain

You're the the same, You never let go

Everything is meaningless?

"Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind."

Eyes

"I love the Bible the way I love my eyes—not because my eyes are lovely, but because without them I can't see what's lovely..."

- John Piper