Wait & See

...I've heard it said...

...that good things...



...come to those...


...who wait.






Well.....if this is true....

do REALLY good things come to those who wait longer :)


[Guess I'll wait (more) and see!]

Nehemiah 8:10

and

do

not

be

grieved,

for the joy of the Lord is your strength

Handsy

...Earlier today a few individuals had a short meeting with Pastor Cory--just going over some upcoming events and just sharing a bit of his heart. He started talking about making more of an effort to establish & maintain relationships with students outside of church. Many times he's told us this (lol) but for obvious reasons: a relationship is more than "seeing" each other on Wednesday nights and how does true relationship grow off one night a week. Lindsey said that it was hard for her too to keep in touch outside of Re:new too. Justin made a comment to the effect of "everyone has stuff goin' on so it is hard".....

I'm the WORST at this. I'm the worst at.....connecting to pretty much anyone outside of Re:new besides MY peers obviously :). I guess even bums can have a lot to do during a week. But honestly, who doesn't have a busy schedule?....who doesn't have a full calender?.....who doesn't have places they have to go to?.....appointments they have to make?....who doesn't have a job to go to or do?....who doesn't have homework that has to be done?.....who doesn't have kids to raise?....or laundry that needs to be folded?....who doesn't have a spouse that needs quality time?....who doesn't have memories that need to be made?....who doesn't have to go to Wal-Mart...again?.....

Everyone's got a plate and, unless you have no pulse, it's full :). I love hearing about our leaders who are making differences in our students lives outside the church walls not because they're extending themselves but because they're doing it while living they're crazy, hectic lives. There's a beauty in having your hands full with life and still grabbing another life and influencing it! I think I'm holding on to some things I need to let go of if I can't say hey on a Fri. when I do it every Wed. Let's see if I'll change this habit of mine--I got a mean death grip :)

Monday Baby

...Earlier today Justin, Kristina & I took a trip to Wal-Mart. Half a buggy full and 30 mins. later we got up to the registers. I think Monday is grocery shopping day 'cause everyone and their mama was there!...oh wait...maybe it's just a Wal-Mart thing--people are ALWAYS there :). The self-check out lines weren't bad so we got in line....

The lady in front of us caught my eye--actually, what really caught my eye were the 2 big tea-brown stains on her white pajama lookin' pants >:/ ! I thought "i wonder if she thought about those stains on her pants before she walked out of the house". (I know there have been some insteresting looks at Wal-Mart but the "stained" look could be perceived as rather tacky). My ADD turns my attention somewhere else for a second and then brings me back to the lady. She's moving to pay and get her change and as she does I notice that she's got something around her neck. It's a lil carrier...with a baby in it! The baby must've been pretty tiny because all I could see was a paci and a shadow. I then see a hospital bracelett around her wrist.....guess she recently had this baby...

I started thinking about the fact that...this lady was kinda young.....and she was by herself. And I have no idea what she was buying but I remember there wasn't much in her hands. (I love how all of this is in the forefront of my mind once I'm not focused on her pants).

"I just had a baby....I'm all by myself...and I have to go shopping alone"--yeah, she was probably thinking THIS before she left the house...

...actually....now that I think about it.....that carrier thing was like...super nice lookin'. I think it was by that one brand...umm.....Gecko or Graco! That lady could've had money!....she could've just been wearing that braclet as a souvenier!....she could've left her young, strong husband at home to set-up the nursery!...she could've just not seen those 2 huge brown spots on the side of her pants--not sure how'd she'd miss 'em but whatever!... ....huh....

Are you...?

Oh yeah…

...I'm Domestic :]

No!....Allow "Me"

...Today Au got onto Hunter for running in the house. He was VERY upset and ran into Easton's room. I went in to check on him and apologized for him not being able to run indoors. I said "I'm sorry love, but you're not allowed"!...

I don't have kids but there were a few times when I was one and I can remember hearing that "I wasn't allowed" something or to do something and I just thought it was the end of everything. Au will always ask to go outside--it's got to be a kid thing 'cause the only reason I like the outdoors is because it creates an indoors! Sometimes she isn't allowed to go outside and when she hears that she's not, she's quite upset.

I would laugh a little because of the fact that she was very angry that she couldn't go outside when she has tons of toys and a cute little brother to play with. I guess she just REALLY loves being outside. And I guess Hunter REALLY wanted to run around even when he could play with any of East's toys or Easton! But when I told Hunter that he wasn't allowed to do something I thought of how recently I was told that I'm not allowed to do something. And it's funny because I wasn't "laughing a little" I wasn't laughing at all. Do I have other options?....Sure. Do I want any of those?....No! I guess I REALLY want this.

BUT......I'm not allowed :/

Regroups 2010

...Tonight was the first night of this years first Regroup term. Sunday's are always usually pretty crazy days in general and today was no exception lol. Even though we were runnin' late Kristina and I pulled it off--we didn't wing-it we pulled it off....(just for the record lol). With how things went last term I was anxious to see how tonight would go. They weren't BAD last time I was just curious to see if tonight would be the same as last....


Well, tonight definitely wasn't like last term. In my opinion, it was better! There were some things that were the same as last time. We were running late....like last term, we were "still" cooking hahaha....like last term, and we still stalled because we were still cooking...like last term, lol. But tonight there was a difference. Two new people came....this term, people raised their hands before they spoke...this term, and our girls--even the "new ones"--actually sort of opened up, and talked....this term!


We learned about James 1:2-4....being joyful about the stuff that we face because it has a purpose...it matures us and tests our faith. We talked about how we're kind of like butterflies. A cocoon of God's word is forming around us. But we can't stay in our cocoon because no one will see what we've become, no one will know that we're butterflies. All people will see is a little brown worm lookin'-thing......like small animal poop HAHAHA!--I was thinkin' it which means I had to say it :). My prayer is that to others, we won't look like poop but show God's beauty everywhere we go. A million kudos to Regroups--it's truely transforming lives one heart at a time.

la Bum ba Becca

...tonight Jason stopped by for a bit waiting on Ling-Ling to get off work. Some people might be offended by him just "hangin' out" until he could hang out with someone else but he was honest about his actions from the get-go and he's always funny so, regardless, it's cool to be around him :)...







Jason gets the "i'm close to my house" call from Ling-Ling and proceeds to head out. He asks: "So whatcha got planned for tonight?" thinking I might say somethin' interesting lol. My reply was simply "This!" and I laughed just sitting on the couch. "I'm a bum!" I said "this is what bums do".


A bum, by Dictionary.com's definition, is a person who avoids work and sponges on others; loafer; idler. I wouldn't say that I'm necessarily "avoiding" work and if I were I wouldn't be doing it AND proceeding to sponge off of people. Now I do loaf but that's only when I'm home and that doesn't count 'cause that's what a home's for. I wasn't quite sure what the exact definition for idler was so I looked it up and I so do not pass time in a lazy or unproductive way!



I guess I just throw the word "bum" around. Kind of like how people throw around the word "addicted". To be honest I use the term bum to keep from hearing it come out of the mouths of others. I mean...besides lazy what do you call someone who isn't in school who isn't working and who has no direction?! I may not be in school.....I may not have a REAL job--although what I do do (yeah I said it lol) I get paid for....and I have no idea what "I'm going to do" with my life it doesn't mean I'm a bum! It just means that I...need to pray more, hahaha, and be mindful that all of this is just temporary.....like the weather. Right now my forecast is saying a lazy, below freezing, "stay indoors" type deal BUT I'm hopin' the future's forecast will be a nice 75 degrees with a 100% chance of "insert occupation here, marriage & three kids (before I'm 25), and serving God in whatever way I'm supposed to". --I may wanna grab an umbrella :)

Foxy Banana Pudding

...Tonight Mrs. Joy pressured me into attending a scrapbooking thing at church. If you know me then you know that I'm not at all creative--I think my sister got those genes! It's always fun hanging out with Mrs. Joy though and I didn't have any other plans--especially since I've become a bum--so I decided to go; my spot was covered and everything...which, now that I think of it, I owe a lil lady some cash ;)....

I'm definitely not Martha Stewart but I did okay for my first scrapbooking experience--maybe because we worked with reciepes instead of photos....that I could ruin lol. I actually had a good time! It was just a good group of ladies, hangin' out, eatin' food, cuttin' stuff, punchin' things out, talkin' 'bout our day and whatever...and wow!...all that sounds really girlie to me now!!....BUT...I'm okay with that; it's a new year and I guess I'm doing some new things :).

As Christian as this is going to sound, I really liked the fellowship aspect of tonight. I mean, I see most of these people every Sunday but I feel like I'm gonna have another connection with 'em, ya know. I'm already, like, picturing myself sayin' hey to Mrs. Karen at church and then striking up a conversation about recipes we've been thinkin' of and "the coolest paper" we found at, like, Hobby Lobby or somewhere and how we're dying to use it at the next meeting...hahaha...

All About The Hendersons

...After the 1st ever Re:new service of 2010 (woot! woot!), Justin & I went over to Pastor Cory & Mrs. Joy's to do our Christmas with them! It was very nice of them to think of us--as they do quite often--& I don't think we'll ever allow ourselves to forget them....just never happens :).


I can honestly say that God has given me a wonderfull family! My parents love the Lord & love their kids. They have worked hard in order to provide and they have been and continue to be there for us which sometimes can be better than anything they could give us....(sometimes it's about "prescence" instead of "presents").

I can also honestly say that God has blessed me with a wonderfull family! Pastor Cory & Mrs. Joy are something I don't deserve. I have a great family that I was born into and not many people can say that. I wasn't lacking as far as love and family went and yet....I got blessed with another great family--never saw it comin'!

Now...if you saw us all out together somewhere you'd never suspect that I was in anyway "apart" of their family, haha, but with them I've come to realize that....blood or genetics doesn't neccesarily make you "family" it just...makes you "related", a "physical" bond shared between people.


With that being said I'm sure I got some random stuff I could say about 'em real quick:

~Pastor Cory has the best hugs ~Mrs. Joy has the best laugh
~Pastor Cory has really good pennmenship ~Mrs. Joy always smells good
~Autumn freaks when she sees me :) ~Easton knows I exist & greets me :D
~Autumn won't let me leave without a hug ~Easton includes me in "his dance"
~Pastor Cory does the best impersonation of ~Mrs. Joy retells events perfectly
Morton on "Horton Hears A Who"--i laugh EVERY and engages you making u feel like
time! u were there. Ask about "Spanking"!
~Pastor Cory makes me feel good & accepts me ~Mrs. Joy makes me feel good & accepts me


...I have been exposed to a beauty more commonly known as the Henderson's. God is good and having them in my life is proof of this......pure, undeniable, inevitable proof!...

"...and a Happy New Year"

Today is the last day of 2009
I guess the expected and cliche thing to do is "look back" on this past year.
I should talk about all that occurred in my life...


I should speak of great or tragic events that took place
I should probably talk about the Daniel Fast in January that started the year off
I should talk about the intern missions trip to Dallas during Spring Break
(how it revealed things...)


I should talk about the 1st ever Re:new Block Party at Veterans Park
About celebrating my 20th Birthday and Jenni & John Peter's Wedding on the same day
(and Mrs. Karen's!)
About a summer of graduations and students going off to Masters and College
About a summer of running kids and youth camp in Marianna
I should talk about the ONLY canoe trip that ended in a crazy,
scary ligtning storm that seperated 2/3 of adult leaders from the kids
I should talk about the interesting speech given by a Maid of Honor at the
reception of Dallas & Tiffany's wedding :)
About how I loathe school and, for the first time in my life, did horrible at it
About how Kristina and I did a middle school girls small group for the 1st time and
it actually working out, and being better than I ever thought possible!


I should talk about Laguna Beach & how the band fell through and our band stepped up
(how organic and awesome it was...just a time of refreshment that couldn't come from another group)
How we got the news of Mr. Bernie's passing
(and the facial expressions of family I hope to never see)
I should talk about the news of Brian and Aundrea's baby boy-their 1st kid
About the shocking news of Ms. Vickie's death just day's before Halloween...
About how Easton burned his hand under my care & how I'll never live it down
About Ashleigh & Allens wedding a week before Christmas
About Lindsey & Jason's engagment on Christmas Eve night
(just like Ashleigh & Allen)


I should talk about my brother's divorce and how I'm discovering more and more that
love is an emotion that can change and marriage is about commitment
I should talk about him
I should talk about a whole years-worth of things lol but...
...that'd just take up so much space don'tcha think :-)


This year has been an interesting one but I'm thankfull to have either endured or enjoyed all that happened. I was alive and well and not everyone can say that. I'm hoping to be blessed with another year and I'm mindful of what's to come...

A Christmas Carol

Christmas Eve yesterday....

*go to Wal-mart for, yet again, some last minute shopping

*stop by Starbucks for a certain gift :)

*get home & change out of wet clothes into pjs...comfy!

*rockin' around the christmas tree with some rockband

*scream, ooh and ahh about Lindsey's beautiful engagement ring

and soon to be beautiful future

*short goodbye (lol) with some parting words from Jason's truck hahaha--along with

awkward moment with Nathan...sry Love :D

*exchange and open gifts with family....Yay starbucks card key chain, underwear, money and old jeep

*my dad reading the christmas story out of Luke....like he does "every" year :)

Christmas Day...Today hahaha...

*christmas with Shelly's family

-gifts

-kids

-pics.

-feeling like family even

though i'm brown :D
*'merry christmas' call from pastor Cory

-good to hear his voice

*christmas meal at waffle house

--not the ideal place for a

christmas feast but (it was open &) today it was about

the people not so much the place

*movie with my family...Chipmunks the Squeakuel

*sweet visit from Annalee with baked cookies

*chillen at home thinking about my last christmas endeavor tom.,

smiling and anticipating just being together--can't wait!

Proverbs 19:11

...This afternoon I set out to go do some work at the church. I got into my old Dodge truck and proceeded to back out of the driveway. I do that thing where I look back and all but I could really be more cautious and take a second glance but I don't. (I've been drivin' for a few and doing less has just become a habit I guess). Well I put it in reverse and start moving and right when I do a boy runs right behind me in the street...




I stopped the truck and waited. It hit me that I had just almost ended a boy's life. I think the same thought hit the boy too because when I glanced at him he was standing near our mailbox clutching his chest and breathing heavily. He started to mouth some words and from the looks of it, it seemed as though he was using some pretty foul language for such a small statured fella.


My first instinct was anger. I was thinking "did he just say that word?!...wait a min., he's the one who ran out behind ME!!". All sympathy for almost grazin' this kid went out the window about as fast as my foot had hit my brakes minutes before. I countinued to back up with this "you've got some nerve" look on my face hoping he sees me and when I put it in drive to go past him he just looks at me.......holding out his hand like a traffic guard.....mouthing the words "I'm so sorry....I'm so sorry!".


I realized that I had never really seen or actually heard the words he'd said seconds before. (But, you know, it sure "looked" like he was sayin' a certain something). I looked at him, put my hand up, smiled, and mouthed the words "It's ok. No, I'm sorry, I'm sorry" and then drove off...

Life is short; Eat dessert first!

Today I picked up a friend's sister and we both hung out till he got into town. After a good lunch, a great movie and just doin' nothin' we decided to go to Wal-Mart for some ice cream :)....

I scan the freezers looking at the different brands of pint sizes when I see it!....Starbucks ice cream! I never knew they had ice cream. I mean, it makes sense--coffee flavored ice cream exists so why shouldn't a popular coffee place sell ice cream. Heck!....I probably wouldn't be surprised if they sold.........Cereal!! .....well......maybe not cereal...

Needless to say it's delicious and I discovered how much a pint really was and haven't finished it all yet. Guess that means I get to have a little goodness later on aswell :)

The Darndest Things :p

...An eight year old saw a picture that I drew about a year ago. She raved about how good it was, how great of an drawer I am, how I should be an artist and how my picture should be in a museum lol. My response to her was "you've obviously never been to a museum before :)". Don't get me wrong, I was flattered by her compliments--she was completely sincere--but everyone knows how kids are at times; they haven't experienced a lot and therefore think that almost ANYTHING is amazing...all because they don't have anything else to compare it to...

This got me thinking--(something I don't recommend)--about people and how we compare things sometimes. Like...the Grand Canyon. I've never seen it in person but people say it's pretty....what's the word...mmm...Grand! And take mountains, waterfalls, ruins, the pyramids, deep ocean reefs, castles in Ireland, buildings in Mexico, the Northern lights, the Eiffel tower, Big Ben and so on. People are pretty amazed by these and many other things. God has created everything that exists and He allows them to be. So why is it that people oooh and awe over these things and just sort of act ho-hum about the one who actually made it all.
~That's one of the cool things about worship. It's a way to express how great God really is AND because there's nothing or no one greater than God there's nothing or no one to compare Him to!--He's like the ultimate drawing... with His own museum LOL...

Speed Bumps

The other morning I woke up thinking--something I don't recommend to anyone. Something a friend had said to me was sticking out and made me think. As cliche as it sounds--& it really is-- there are bumps on the road of life.... There!....I said it.

Right now...there are a few bumps. I know where I'm going--kind of lol and I wanna get there, but it seems like I can't all because of these stinkin' speed bumps. Then it hit me. Speed bumps aren't made to force you off the road they're made to just slow you down in certain areas. Sure they're a hassle, they're an interruption and they're pretty frustrating but they're not stop signs! I thought I'd stopped when really, I'm just slowing down to prepare for whatever I'm about to drive over to get to where I'm going...