I'm on vacation!!

Since the Korea trip, when I'm out of town and don't blog about it I feel like I'm forgetting to do something. So here's a little vacation blogging...

My parents, brother and me drove down here Saturday. We made it a quicker trip than in the past--maybe because my dad didn't think we really needed to stop for lunch. So we got here, checked in, and headed straight to . . . Applebee's. (Mom's meal was free; not for her birthday, but because her well done steak came to the table bleeding. . . twice.) After Applebee's, we went to the beach. It was after sunset, so the only light was the moon and the party at the beachside pool. It was pretty neat to walk down to the ocean because it was so dark, but you could still hear the slow-dancing music in the background, like the ocean had a soundtrack.

Sunday we did our grocery shopping and cooking for the week, hung out at the pool and again went to the beach at night.

Monday me, mom and dad walked to the beach before breakfast. We hung out by the pool and went back to the beach that night.

Yesterday morning mom and dad went walking and I went to the pool. I loved it! I was the only person there, so I swam laps until I thought I might pass out. I just didn't want to give up "the-pool-is-all-mine" time! :) After second-breakfast (I eat when I get up and with the family when we get back from morning walking/swimming) me, mom and dad went to the beach for the afternoon. We didn't swim in the ocean though. Last year I accidentally swam with a ray and I've been a little cautious since. Yesterday walking on the beach you could just stop and watch the jellyfish float in and the crabs walking under the tide. (Dad: "How big are the crabs?" Me: "Dinner size.") It was a great walk, but didn't do much to make me want to jump in.
We went "home" for a late lunch and went back to the beach for sunset. Then we went to the pool when it was dark. It was amazing. If you floated on your back and tilted your head back, you could see lights reflecting in the water, the palm trees, the moon and the stars all at the same time. Or you could just look up and watch the stars. Mom said it was like being inside a snow globe. (Mom, by the way, had on regular clothes, not a swimsuit, but Dad talked her in anyway. Oh, and the pool was closed. :)

This morning (Wednesday) I had been swimming laps and Mom came and joined me. A man complimented us on our swimming. He said he liked watching us swim because we made it look easy. What a compliment. Granted, he had been on the other side of the pool teaching a middle-aged woman in arm floaties how to swim. But still, I'll take that compliment. :)

So that's our vacation so far. Add in my dad walking 5 miles or so before everyone gets up, the tv left on FoxNews, my brother's gameboy, and the three books my mom is trying to read at the same time, and you've got a picture of our vacation. (Side note: I am a nerd. I always read a lot on this trip. But my current book makes my nerdiness official: "Infamous Scribblers: The Founding Fathers and the Rowdy Beginnings of American Journalism." Ha!)

More later. . .

Time to Stand

WARNING: This blog requires audience participation.

Step 1: Read the Blog

Step 2: Watch the Videos

Step 3: Take a Stand



1. My Blog. . .

Mike Huckabee may have said it best when he said that America's presidency is not meant to be a symbolic position. My fear, too, is that we do not realize the significance of this election. It's not about making history, but about being a part of a decision that will shape our country. Every election is significant; this one will determine the course of our country.


I was recently asked by a co-worker to be careful when talking about the election because there are people who don't agree with me. If you know me at all, you know I'm not picking political fights or shouting my views. The thought behind this request seemed to be that, as a Christian, I should not outwardly show support for something others don't agree with or show disapproval for something others do agree with--that I should try to not set myself apart. And that just goes against everything I know about being a Christian. We have the responsibility to take a stand; if that sets us apart, so be it.

"If my people, who are called by my name,

will humble themselves and pray and seek my face

and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from

heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the

prayers offered in this place." 2 Chronicles 7:14-15

"It doesn't matter who is elected in November if the people of God are content to not speak up and not step up. It's not enough to elect a leader; God's people need to pray and take a stand. It's time to live out loud." (Summary of notes, Sunday morning)

2. Their videos. .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2Kh-xzerjE&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9izhjnaLa3M&feature=related

3. Your turn. . . Take a Stand!

Election News

The election is on my mind. . . looks like it's going to be on my blog as well. Last night I could hardly sleep, partly in disbelief of the DNC crowd's near worship of Obama and partly in anticipation of McCain's announcement today.

Driving to work today the sunrise was amazing. I just kept looking at the sky thinking "No matter what happens in the next three months, God is still in control."

I asked my mom to call me with the announcement as soon as she heard. My phone was set to silent and I looked down to see my mom's number pop up on the screen right as one of my customers said "They just made an announcement. Do you want to know?"

Throughout the day I talked to my mom to find out what was being said on the news and to learn more about Sarah Palin. And the words I've used most since then have been "I'm so excited. I'm so excited!" Here's one reason why: I think a lot of people plan to vote for Obama not because of his record or policy, but so they can have a vote in history-in-the-making. And now history-in-the-making is on both sides. Now it comes back to what the candidates stand for and who is qualified to lead our country. The playing field is even. Let election season begin!

Election Q & A

Q: How do you feel about Obama?
A: I have nothing against him, unless you count his views on abortion, the death penalty, and gay marriage (to name a few), his inexperience and lack of military service, or the way he can talk all night and never really answer a question. It still blows my mind that we even consider people with no military experience for the position of commander-in-chief. We would never hire a principal who was never a teacher or a coach who was never a player. Why lower the standard for the most important job in the country?

Q: Don't you want a black president?
A: I think it would be amazing. However, the first black president still needs to be the right president and Obama is not that man.

Q: So do you think McCain is perfect?
A: Of course not. No one is perfect, so there is no perfect candidate. But will I sleep better knowing that John McCain--and not Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton--is making the decisions that affect my country and its security? ABSOLUTELY.

Hmm..

There are quite a few things that I enjoy but let get squeezed out of my schedule. Occasionally I rediscover those interests, but I usually let them go again. Writing is one of those things. I think I've always enjoyed it, but never realized it, even when I received recognition for it. (I always made good grades in English and writing, but who ever says they like English class? :) Remember starting the day with Channel One? In seventh grade (I think) there was an essay contest for female athletes sponsored by Channel One and Reebok. I wasn't the grand prize winner, but I did well enough that Reebok sent me a pair of shoes and I think my name came across the Channel One screen. During my senior year my English class was assigned to write a poem. There were no restrictions or themes we had to use--we just had to write. After the assignment, our teacher encouraged us to send our poems as entries to be considered for publishing in Anthology of Poetry by Young Americans. We did it without much thought, and then. . . mine was chosen! (You didn't know you had a published author among you, did you? ha! My mom, of course, bought about 10 copies, so if you don't believe me. . . I have proof.) I went to college on full scholarship. The final stage of the scholarship application? A timed writing that actually used that poem as an outline. We didn't know the topic of the writing until we got to the classroom to write. When I got there and realized I had already worked through this idea and was ready to write. . . well, God's plan is amazing, huh?

My family has come to me for help in wording their writing on applications and in letters and such, but I hadn't really seen writing as a part of my future until we got to Korea. Korea was an amazing experience, but still difficult. I think blogging about our days helped me keep some balance. At first I didn't know if anyone by my mom was reading the updates. . . and then I started getting comments from people I never would have guessed would be reading my little blog. My mom emailed me updates and told me that my blog had even been read as part of WMU. I looked forward to each chance to write and received so much positive feedback that I really began to consider writing as something that could be in my future.

I didn't have to wait long. I thought Todd wanted to include devotions in the student book for camp and I had some ideas. I finally mentioned to him that I wanted to give it a shot and he let me go for it. A week and a half later I had five devotions that were used by two youth groups and a group of adult student ministry volunteers at a camp in Panama City.

I'm asking God for more opportunitites. I never pictured myself as a writer, but I can see how things in my past could be leading me that way. And if that's part of the plan the opportunities will come and I want to be ready to take them.

"Prisoners of Hope"

I just finished reading Prisoners of Hope about aid workers Heather Mercer and Dayna Curry's imprisonment by the Taliban in Fall 2001. Imagine being held on unknown charges in Afghanistan as September 11 unfolds. I read a lot at work, (it's okay where I work--I'm not just slacking :), and people always ask if my book is good. When they asked about this one I would just say "it's intense." (By the way Impact Students, the book is still available if you decide you want to read it.) Heather says a lot about the insecurities she felt being unable to communicate with her family and not knowing what was about to happen. I appreciated her honesty that while she knew God was faithful, she didn't always feel it. At one point while others were worried about her, she said really all she needed was to feel security for just a moment, for someone to understand that she didn't feel secure, and then she could go on.

I related to that, even though it was a much smaller scale. Our last night in Korea I was upset but couldn't explain it. I think Heather explained it for me. I didn't control the schedule, the activities, the anything, and even though I loved being in Seoul I felt like I was lost in a strange place. On my own I wouldn't be able to get anywhere or call anyone. My security really was in being with my group. Thursday when Kellie and I were seperated from the other nine of our team, I handled it well. . . for a while. I felt too vulnerable not knowing where everyone else was or where we were going. None of these details were a secret to our hosts, but I didn't want to be out in the city away from the only people I knew. I was frustrated that no one but Kellie seemed to think I had had any reason to be less than happy. After dinner when we were told to ride in the same vehicles back to church (Kellie & me in a car, the rest of the group divided in 2 vans) I was just mad. I didn't want to be seperated again. To me it seemed like an obvious bad idea, but others felt we should do what our hosts asked. Todd offered for him and Leeanne to take mine and Kellie's seats but the seats weren't the issue. No matter who rode in the car, someone would be seperated from the group. I flet that so intensely that I thought it should have been obvious to everyone. It wasn't and here's how I explained it: "No, I'm not riding there". . . "No, you're not riding there". . . "grr". . . some tears. . . ."no!" Very eloquent, huh?

So when Heather described feeling that the group thought she was just stubborn on some issues and that she couldn't control her insecurities, I got it. And I wouldn't call her unfaithful. She followed her faith all the way to Afghanistan and prison. She saw God do the impossible and still struggled with those feelings. So maybe I was just being normal. I'll be going back to Korea next year. I'm very excited to go back, but I will prepare differently. I've already begun checking into a cellular provider with international roaming and I plan to have my laptop with me. I guess I need to know that instant communication is there, even if I don't use it. I'm looking forward to another opportunity to work with Calvary Church, but I also see next year as my chance to redeem myself--to take better care of me so I can be more effective and enjoy more of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

I'm back

You may have noticed I haven't been blogging lately. I have no reason except that summer is almost over and things are getting back to 'normal.' New blogs are on the way, but until then, here are two things I just find funny:
1. The Olympics are sponsored by Coca-Cola, McDonalds and Budweiser. Somehow I don't see any of that on the athletes' tables.
2. Leeanne and I began this little saying last summer and were serious about it. Over a year later, it's just funny now: "We should do that...when things calm down." ha!!