I am a bit adventurous. I love to try new things. At times those new things spark a flame of fear just it is the unknown, but usually when I finally do it, the thrill is amazing.
Well this past weekend, I went river rafting. No I did not sit in a tube and float down a slow moving river. This was the actually eight-man raft that you have to paddle to get through the river. Since my mother wanted to go, we choose the lowest level of river it can be to river raft; we went on a Class One river. It was fun!
Being outdoors, away from the traffic was so serene. We saw a heron and otters on the river. The only noise I could hear was the voices of the other rafters or others enjoying the river. Other than, the river was quiet, serene, and calm.
It was fun working with the team to paddle our raft through slight rapids, away from submerged rocks, and hanging trees. Our guide even took us through a small canal instead of taking us through the main river part.
So after this experience, I want to try a higher class river. At least I want to try a Class three before hitting the Class Fives. It was fun. I highly recommend river rafting.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Another relaxing day.
It was another relaxing day, if you call walking three miles up a mountain trail that climbs 1000 feet up. My parents and I visited Yosemite National Park today. I went there during my last visit and was in awe of the beauty of this park. Today was no exception. Driving down into the valley as the mountain faces towered over us once again inspired an abiding sense of awe in me. The beauty of the edifices still amaze me with their majestic stances in the land. Trees and plateaus covered many of the open lands and up into the top edges. It was absolutely beautiful. Every time I go, I am in awe of God's artistry when He created the world. He definitely was the artist.
This trip around we decided to take the trail that lead us up to the Verona Falls. At this time of year, usually the falls are small and empty since most of the snow and ice from the winter months have melted and the land is dry. Yet these falls were full and beautiful.
The first part of the journey lead us up to a bridge that allows us a beautiful view of the falls. The hike was a steady uphill climb to a bridge that was .8 miles from the opening of the trail. The trail was pretty easy up to the bridge, but the incline at times made my muscles burn. At the bridge, we decided to continue our trek up the trail to the top of the falls, another .7 miles up the mountain. It was a good thing we did not know what we were getting ourselves into. The next part of the trail took us up 600 feet, a very steep incline that worked the leg muscles a lot.
At one point, my parents had to call it quits, knowing that the upcoming section of the climb was not feasible for their health. I decided to continue because I wanted to go to the top. It definitely was a climb, going up a steep, rock staircase that did not seem to end. I had to stop several times to give my legs a moment of rest and my heart time to slow down. I definitely had my workout.
Now, through my trek, I began to philosphize the last part of my journey. It never fails that I can take a daily journey and turn into an spiritual one. But I started out on this trek with a purpose in mind. I wanted to see the top of the falls. I had never been there. I did not know what I was going to find at the top; I just knew I wanted to go there. The journey started out easy, a slow incline to encourage me onward. This continued for awhile, the journey teasing me that I can actually do this and do it on my own. The hardest part did not come until later, after I had become used to the climb, the incline and the terrain. The hardest part came when the end was near and the promise of the end was within grasp.
Many times along that journey upward, I wanted to quit. I was tired. I was worn out. My muscles were quivering with the excercise. My heart was pumping hard at the strain of climbing. I had to stop many times to take a breather. I needed rest. I would look upward, at the rest of the journey and I would feel despair. The journey at times seemed endless and too much. I sometimes wondered if the climb would be worth it. Would the end be worth the struggle I had to do in order to get there?
I kept going, taking breaks when I needed them. I would look only to the one the step that I needed to take. I stopped looking at the whole picture and focused on the one step in front of me. Pretty soon, the journey began to shrink and finally I reached my destination. I was at the top of Verona Falls. The journey was worth it.
The view was spectacular. I went to the edge to glanced down at the valley where the river flowed from the falls. I could see for so far and it was beautiful. I turned around and the view was just as great. Another site of God's creation. I saw the Emerald Pools. I saw the other falls the fed into the Verona Falls. I just enjoyed the view and the truth that I had made it. My legs no longer seemed to quiver or ache. They were fine an I walked around.
How many times does God take us on a journey? We know that there is an end, a destination, but we forget that there often times a journey to get there. At first, the journey is level with few difficulties. It seems easy. We get going, we hit a few hard parts but not enough to deter us from the destination. We get to one part where we can see part of the beauty of that promised end and we are encouraged to continue on. Then hard times come, the journey becomes difficult, tiring, weary. Often times the journey seems endless and despairing. We get to points where we wonder if the journey is worth it or maybe we should just quit and go back down the trail.
Some do quit, never reaching the end or experiencing the beauty of the end. Some allow the despair of the journey to wear them down until they are immobilized. Some find a great spot to rest but never continue on. They are content to stay where they are safe and rested. Others continue on. They take the rests at points they need so they can take the next step. They look to the next step and take it, not worrying about the end because they know it will come. And they get to enjoy the blessing and the beauty.
This journey to California was very much like my trek up the mountain at Yosemite. God lead me on a new journey. During the first months, the journey was easy and fun. Then as times continued, the journey got a little tougher but still bearable. Then I had those times when it was difficult and I wanted to turn back. I wanted to go back to my home of fifteen years but then I took a moment to rest and allow God to speak to my heart. He reminded once again of the beauty at the end of this journey.
I don't know what it is yet. I am still on this journey to the end of the next stage. It has been fun and hard. I need to take breaks and rest. But the anticipation of the beauty at the end keeps me looking at the one step in front me so I won't despair at how many steps are left.
I can't wait to describe the beauty at the end. I will let you know when I see it.
Monday, July 23, 2007
The 2nd part of the Journey
Now I remember why I do not like to move. Living in disarray for weeks at a time. Getting everything together and packed into boxes. Getting the truck and then moving to the new location. All that takes time and is stressful and yet the excitement of something new gives me the extra push I need to finish the task at hand.
Now the second part of the journey begins. The unpacking. Since I did not fully pack myself, I am wandering around in a state of confusion because I know I am missing items that I need yet I have no idea which box they are in. Eventually I will find them but until then, I will manage.
For the most part, I am unpacked. I have had an interesting time as I have condensed my life from a six-bedroom home to one-bedroom. At least I get my own bathroom. The storage that I was so used to in my house in Iowa is no longer available here in my new home because my parents have used up most of the storage for themselves. So far I have been able to fit what I want in my room but I will have to store many items until I move into my own place. Also I have to get used to the decor. My mother has great taste yet we are very different when it comes to decorating.
I can't complain and I won't. The house is beautiful. I have my sanctuary, also known as my bedroom. I have my own TV which is great because my father and I differ on shows to watch. I could try to fight for control of the remote but I will lose. It is his house. I have hi-speed internet which allows me the ability to connect to family and friends regularly. Hopefully we will get the wireless working so then I can be anywhere in the house and on line.
I especially can't complain considering what is in the backyard, my own pool! With the weather as hot as it is right now, the pool is a great escape and relief. My father is hoping to add a heater to it so we can use the pool year around. Despite popular belief, California is not always warm enough to swim and without a heater, the water in the pool gets too cold to swim.
The back yard is set up nicely for a great time outdoors. We have our own little workout center with a elliptical glider and Total Gym. We have a sanctuary with chairs to sit outside and we have shades to block the sun from these sections.
I also have a great park just down the block that will provide a place to walk and run. Yes, I am going to get myself involved in running. Usually my legs don't mind the workout. Mentality, I hit a road block everytime.
Since I am writing about unpacking, I better get back to it. I still have some boxes to sort and hopefully today will reveal the missing items I so want.
Now the second part of the journey begins. The unpacking. Since I did not fully pack myself, I am wandering around in a state of confusion because I know I am missing items that I need yet I have no idea which box they are in. Eventually I will find them but until then, I will manage.
For the most part, I am unpacked. I have had an interesting time as I have condensed my life from a six-bedroom home to one-bedroom. At least I get my own bathroom. The storage that I was so used to in my house in Iowa is no longer available here in my new home because my parents have used up most of the storage for themselves. So far I have been able to fit what I want in my room but I will have to store many items until I move into my own place. Also I have to get used to the decor. My mother has great taste yet we are very different when it comes to decorating.
I can't complain and I won't. The house is beautiful. I have my sanctuary, also known as my bedroom. I have my own TV which is great because my father and I differ on shows to watch. I could try to fight for control of the remote but I will lose. It is his house. I have hi-speed internet which allows me the ability to connect to family and friends regularly. Hopefully we will get the wireless working so then I can be anywhere in the house and on line.
I especially can't complain considering what is in the backyard, my own pool! With the weather as hot as it is right now, the pool is a great escape and relief. My father is hoping to add a heater to it so we can use the pool year around. Despite popular belief, California is not always warm enough to swim and without a heater, the water in the pool gets too cold to swim.
The back yard is set up nicely for a great time outdoors. We have our own little workout center with a elliptical glider and Total Gym. We have a sanctuary with chairs to sit outside and we have shades to block the sun from these sections.
I also have a great park just down the block that will provide a place to walk and run. Yes, I am going to get myself involved in running. Usually my legs don't mind the workout. Mentality, I hit a road block everytime.
Since I am writing about unpacking, I better get back to it. I still have some boxes to sort and hopefully today will reveal the missing items I so want.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
I am here!
After four days of traveling, I have reached one of my destination, Modesto, California. We pulled into the driveway early this afternoon and we all crashed. The emotions and stress of the last month finally came over me as well as the reality of what I have done began to sink in. A bit of despair began to creep over me as I viewed the passing landscape, noticing the markable difference to what I have known. The truth continued to sink in as each passing mile brought me closer to this point. I was not just visiting. I was here to stay.
The last two days of travel were easy yet filled with interesting facts. Each section of our nation bears with it the truth of natural disasters. My mind has grasped the reality of tornadoes that could whipped through my land or blizzards that can shut down an entire state. Now, I face new ones. Earthquakes and fires.
Yesterday morning we were cruising along when suddenly we were forced to pull off at an exit. The stretch of highway was closed off yet I could not understand why. The highway looked as if it had been freshly paved in the past few months so I could not understand the detour. We turned off at the local gas station to discover the news that fires had sprung up around the land and the highway. Since the fires were so close to the highway, it was shut down until the fire was contained. Since we were on a schedule, we found an alternate route, yet when we reached the turn off for that route, we were told that it would be better for us to wait. The alternate route was also experiencing fire and would more than likely close. So we pulled off on the road and waited. About an half an hour later, we move on.
Traveling down I-80, I looked for the fires. Although most of them had been put out, the evidence of them were everywhere. The hills and mountain sides on my left were black and this went on for miles. At one point, I could see where the fire had jumped the highway and continued on my right side. I could still see the smoke rise from one section where the fire was still burning. The cloud rose about the land in a billow of white and golden hues. It eventually blocked the sun from my path as it continued to rise. I even glimpsed the one section where the flames still burned and ate away at the dry landscape. That is definitely not something I worried about in Iowa.
One thing that I will definitely need to get used to hearing is the reports of seismic activity that occurs along the San Andreas fault. Being an Iowa girl, such reports seem interesting yet for a native Cali person, seismic activity is a daily event, just not all of them are felt.
One interesting event along this trip could have been disasterious. I was driving along I-80 when a semi truck passed me along my left hand side. As the tail end of the truck came into view, I noticed smoke coming from his back tire. Half his tire was gone, revealing his rim. After seeing pieces of rubber tire littered around the roads and knowing that smoke is never a good thing, I slowed down to put distance between us two. I radioed my father to inform him but my mother and I were worried that the tire would explode, shooting a large piece of rubber towards my father and wondering if he would have enough time to react. I was worried that it would explode and cause the truck to jack knife and causing a major accident. So my mother and I started praying. The tire eventually exploded but into small pieces that were easily avoided. The truck driver was able to pull the truck easily to the side of the road to discover what happened. No accidents. No fatalities. Praise God.
So now I am here, in California, wondering what in the world I am doing. In my fear of making a mistake, I want to secure every loose end that has yet to be tied, job, school, church, friends. I know that everything will come together in time; I just have to be patient and rest in God. I think it is so much easier to make a faith decision than it is actually begin living it. I made the decision. Now I have to live it. Let the journey truly begin.
The last two days of travel were easy yet filled with interesting facts. Each section of our nation bears with it the truth of natural disasters. My mind has grasped the reality of tornadoes that could whipped through my land or blizzards that can shut down an entire state. Now, I face new ones. Earthquakes and fires.
Yesterday morning we were cruising along when suddenly we were forced to pull off at an exit. The stretch of highway was closed off yet I could not understand why. The highway looked as if it had been freshly paved in the past few months so I could not understand the detour. We turned off at the local gas station to discover the news that fires had sprung up around the land and the highway. Since the fires were so close to the highway, it was shut down until the fire was contained. Since we were on a schedule, we found an alternate route, yet when we reached the turn off for that route, we were told that it would be better for us to wait. The alternate route was also experiencing fire and would more than likely close. So we pulled off on the road and waited. About an half an hour later, we move on.
Traveling down I-80, I looked for the fires. Although most of them had been put out, the evidence of them were everywhere. The hills and mountain sides on my left were black and this went on for miles. At one point, I could see where the fire had jumped the highway and continued on my right side. I could still see the smoke rise from one section where the fire was still burning. The cloud rose about the land in a billow of white and golden hues. It eventually blocked the sun from my path as it continued to rise. I even glimpsed the one section where the flames still burned and ate away at the dry landscape. That is definitely not something I worried about in Iowa.
One thing that I will definitely need to get used to hearing is the reports of seismic activity that occurs along the San Andreas fault. Being an Iowa girl, such reports seem interesting yet for a native Cali person, seismic activity is a daily event, just not all of them are felt.
One interesting event along this trip could have been disasterious. I was driving along I-80 when a semi truck passed me along my left hand side. As the tail end of the truck came into view, I noticed smoke coming from his back tire. Half his tire was gone, revealing his rim. After seeing pieces of rubber tire littered around the roads and knowing that smoke is never a good thing, I slowed down to put distance between us two. I radioed my father to inform him but my mother and I were worried that the tire would explode, shooting a large piece of rubber towards my father and wondering if he would have enough time to react. I was worried that it would explode and cause the truck to jack knife and causing a major accident. So my mother and I started praying. The tire eventually exploded but into small pieces that were easily avoided. The truck driver was able to pull the truck easily to the side of the road to discover what happened. No accidents. No fatalities. Praise God.
So now I am here, in California, wondering what in the world I am doing. In my fear of making a mistake, I want to secure every loose end that has yet to be tied, job, school, church, friends. I know that everything will come together in time; I just have to be patient and rest in God. I think it is so much easier to make a faith decision than it is actually begin living it. I made the decision. Now I have to live it. Let the journey truly begin.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
The Descent
All week my mother has been telling me about this stretch of road that we will face. It is a stretch of I-80 that takes us straight into Salt Lake City where we are staying for the night. The last time my parents took this trip, my father ended up driving at 92 miles per hour by the time he reached the bottom of the stretch. The downgrade is a 6% then a 3% grade from the original strip. That strip was such a blast to drive! I wish I could do it again. Let's put it this way...halfway down the descent, there is a lane especially for runaway trucks to enter. It was so much fun!
Today's drive was good but long. We left North Platte, Nebraska, and drove directly to Salt Lake City. The drive across Nebraska was pretty tough being so flat and Wyoming was not much different. There is nothing much in Wyoming, not even many exits. It is pretty barren. But once we enter Utah, the terrain changed beautifully.
The land on either side of me began to rise to heights not known to a native Iowan. There were several stretches of highway that seemed to disappear into the terrain as the mountain edges meet each other to far-sighted eyes. Evergreens covered the sides with their lasting color, dotting the sight with color as everything else was brown. Later along the drive, red rock faces entertained my eyes with beauty and awe as I measured myself against them. I was quite small compared to their majestic stand.
We finally pulled into Salt Lake City and retired for the night. The past several weeks and especially this past week has finally caught up with me. I am bone tired. Two more days of driving and then I will be in my new home. What a crazy thought!
Today's drive was good but long. We left North Platte, Nebraska, and drove directly to Salt Lake City. The drive across Nebraska was pretty tough being so flat and Wyoming was not much different. There is nothing much in Wyoming, not even many exits. It is pretty barren. But once we enter Utah, the terrain changed beautifully.
The land on either side of me began to rise to heights not known to a native Iowan. There were several stretches of highway that seemed to disappear into the terrain as the mountain edges meet each other to far-sighted eyes. Evergreens covered the sides with their lasting color, dotting the sight with color as everything else was brown. Later along the drive, red rock faces entertained my eyes with beauty and awe as I measured myself against them. I was quite small compared to their majestic stand.
We finally pulled into Salt Lake City and retired for the night. The past several weeks and especially this past week has finally caught up with me. I am bone tired. Two more days of driving and then I will be in my new home. What a crazy thought!
Monday, July 16, 2007
It has begun!
It has begun!
Current mood: tired
Category: Blogging
I find myself living on pure adrenaline just to make it through the time. The past week has been crazy but it has been accomplished. The house has been repainted, swept, cleaned and locked. The truck is packed and the car is loaded. I hit the road. I am in Nebraska for the night, resting until I hit the road tomorrow.
I am still in a sense of surrealness, hardly grasping that I have packed up my life and moved it away from the known. California still seems like a dream, more of a vacation than a move. Where I am going is somewhere I have been before and I am heading out to be with my parents. It just seems so normal, not crazy. I just don't think the reality of this will hit for another few weeks.
This morning was hard as I said good bye to my little nephew. He somewhat grasps what is going on but does not fully understand. I have been a major part of his life since he day he was born and now I put distance between us. I tried to keep a smile on my face as I hugged him goodbye but it was very hard. I shed my tears, especially when my brother gave me a hug. It was hard to say goodbye to them.
Yet I looked around the house this morning, empty yet clean. My home of fifteen years not empty of all of my things. What a beautiful home filled with memories of smiles, laughter and friends that I will carry with me forever. A sense of release came over me as I looked away and moved ahead. I grasped God's hand again to jump into His unknown.
So tonight I rest, letting my body and mind release the to-do list of getting the house completed before we pulled out.
Current mood: tired
Category: Blogging
I find myself living on pure adrenaline just to make it through the time. The past week has been crazy but it has been accomplished. The house has been repainted, swept, cleaned and locked. The truck is packed and the car is loaded. I hit the road. I am in Nebraska for the night, resting until I hit the road tomorrow.
I am still in a sense of surrealness, hardly grasping that I have packed up my life and moved it away from the known. California still seems like a dream, more of a vacation than a move. Where I am going is somewhere I have been before and I am heading out to be with my parents. It just seems so normal, not crazy. I just don't think the reality of this will hit for another few weeks.
This morning was hard as I said good bye to my little nephew. He somewhat grasps what is going on but does not fully understand. I have been a major part of his life since he day he was born and now I put distance between us. I tried to keep a smile on my face as I hugged him goodbye but it was very hard. I shed my tears, especially when my brother gave me a hug. It was hard to say goodbye to them.
Yet I looked around the house this morning, empty yet clean. My home of fifteen years not empty of all of my things. What a beautiful home filled with memories of smiles, laughter and friends that I will carry with me forever. A sense of release came over me as I looked away and moved ahead. I grasped God's hand again to jump into His unknown.
So tonight I rest, letting my body and mind release the to-do list of getting the house completed before we pulled out.
A Moment of Panic
I made it. I knew it was right. I am convinced that God opened this door. I had peace with it. I was ready to leave, to follow this new journey. So I thought.
The panic hit. My mind started racing with thoughts of doubts as I listened to my sister-in-law talk about her future plans for her career. I started wondering, "Did I make the right choice?", "What in the world am I doing?", "Did I hear God correctly?", and my thoughts kept racing along these lines.
This decision was not easy. I have lived in Iowa my whole life and in Des Moines for the past fifteen years. Iowa is my home. I had been at my current job location for over seven years. I was loved there. I was appreciated there. I knew what I was doing. It was all comfortable and known.
But over the past year, this disconnect started within me to this daily life. Discovering the source took me awhile. I spent many months knocking on doors and praying for guidance. I had a team of people praying along side me. God revealed the path. I accepted it. God told me the steps to take. I obeyed.
But in the one moment, I doubted. Did I hear correctly? There are still so many unknowns waiting for me once I reach California that my control kicked in. I wanted to take back the journey so I can make it comfortable, safe, and known. I literally could see myself taking my future out of God's hands and placing it in my own, not believing I could do better but that I could make it known and safe.
After much self-talk, reminding myself that God laid this journey before me, the moment of panic disappeared. God has confirmed this new journey in so many ways. But that step of faith and trust, moving out on a plan that is not by your design is scary and exhilerating at the same time. I wonder what is to come...
The panic hit. My mind started racing with thoughts of doubts as I listened to my sister-in-law talk about her future plans for her career. I started wondering, "Did I make the right choice?", "What in the world am I doing?", "Did I hear God correctly?", and my thoughts kept racing along these lines.
This decision was not easy. I have lived in Iowa my whole life and in Des Moines for the past fifteen years. Iowa is my home. I had been at my current job location for over seven years. I was loved there. I was appreciated there. I knew what I was doing. It was all comfortable and known.
But over the past year, this disconnect started within me to this daily life. Discovering the source took me awhile. I spent many months knocking on doors and praying for guidance. I had a team of people praying along side me. God revealed the path. I accepted it. God told me the steps to take. I obeyed.
But in the one moment, I doubted. Did I hear correctly? There are still so many unknowns waiting for me once I reach California that my control kicked in. I wanted to take back the journey so I can make it comfortable, safe, and known. I literally could see myself taking my future out of God's hands and placing it in my own, not believing I could do better but that I could make it known and safe.
After much self-talk, reminding myself that God laid this journey before me, the moment of panic disappeared. God has confirmed this new journey in so many ways. But that step of faith and trust, moving out on a plan that is not by your design is scary and exhilerating at the same time. I wonder what is to come...
The Days Count Down
When I made the decision to move, the day could not come fast enough. Now that the day is only a few days away, I want more time. It does not seem to be enough time to accomplish everything that I want to get done before I leave.
The house is in total disarray. I have had fun searching for items that I need because I can't remember where I have put them or the customary spot that I place items is not available. Boxes are everywhere. Items are everywhere. Clothes are on the floor. If anyone knows me, he or she knows that I do not like living in disarray. I am neat and orderly so the next couple of days are going to be stress for me.
My parents came into town last week for their annual July trip to see my brother, his family and me. They also came to help me move. Mom is going crazy because she doesn't know what to work on first. Dad keeps finding little projects to work on that really don't need attention but in his mind, they do. So now we have more work to do than before. Let's just say that two previously painted walls that I had marked off completed now have to be redone because my father found flaws he wanted to fix. He is painting those two walls.
But in all the chaos, I know this will eventually end and I will be back in my neat and orderly world. But this time in a new world. A new place. A new adventure. It all should be fun!
The house is in total disarray. I have had fun searching for items that I need because I can't remember where I have put them or the customary spot that I place items is not available. Boxes are everywhere. Items are everywhere. Clothes are on the floor. If anyone knows me, he or she knows that I do not like living in disarray. I am neat and orderly so the next couple of days are going to be stress for me.
My parents came into town last week for their annual July trip to see my brother, his family and me. They also came to help me move. Mom is going crazy because she doesn't know what to work on first. Dad keeps finding little projects to work on that really don't need attention but in his mind, they do. So now we have more work to do than before. Let's just say that two previously painted walls that I had marked off completed now have to be redone because my father found flaws he wanted to fix. He is painting those two walls.
But in all the chaos, I know this will eventually end and I will be back in my neat and orderly world. But this time in a new world. A new place. A new adventure. It all should be fun!
Does it ever end?
So, I have enjoyed living in a home instead of an apartment these past five years. The space is great especially when I had friends over. The noise level was quieter because my neighbors did not live beyond the next wall or above me. The only thing that I drives me crazy is the work that goes into keeping a house up-to-date.
I have never been one for yardwork. I will maintain the yard and keep it clean. I don't let the grass get too high or leave tons of branches in my yard. I am not one to spend hours working on the yard in one day. I have better things to do.
I have this tree in the front yard that has been giving me fits for the past year. We had it trimmed a couple of years ago and I thought that would help but I think it only added to the problem. This tree likes to drop branches. And not just small ones, mind you. Big ones. Especially during storms.
Last Sunday, I came home from church and a branch had broken off and was laying on the roof. At least part of it was. I did not have time on Sunday to take care of it but when I inspected it on Monday, I found out that it was still attached to the tree by a large piece of bark. The weight of the hanging limbs was lessened because part of the branch was resting on the roof, therefore alleviated a large part of the weight that would have pulled the tree down.
Figuring I could take care of the branch myself, I have been trying to get my saw back so I could cut the branch apart. (Don't tell my mother. she hates it when I go on the roof!) But before I could get the branch down, we had those two bad days of storms. I came home Friday after work and the branched was down along with my down spout. I just stood there at the mess asking God, "what next?", because now i have a branch that I have to get rid of and a down spout to fix.
But on the bright side, the branch did not mess up my gutters that I just had replaced that week from the snow storm in February/March and it did not hit my neighbors house. I had one incident with them last summer and I was not looking forward to another one. So thank God all the damage is on my end.
The fun is that I am leaving in three weeks and this was just something I did not want to deal with. Praise God that only materials were injured and no person. This all can be fixed! Oh the joys of managing a house!
I have never been one for yardwork. I will maintain the yard and keep it clean. I don't let the grass get too high or leave tons of branches in my yard. I am not one to spend hours working on the yard in one day. I have better things to do.
I have this tree in the front yard that has been giving me fits for the past year. We had it trimmed a couple of years ago and I thought that would help but I think it only added to the problem. This tree likes to drop branches. And not just small ones, mind you. Big ones. Especially during storms.
Last Sunday, I came home from church and a branch had broken off and was laying on the roof. At least part of it was. I did not have time on Sunday to take care of it but when I inspected it on Monday, I found out that it was still attached to the tree by a large piece of bark. The weight of the hanging limbs was lessened because part of the branch was resting on the roof, therefore alleviated a large part of the weight that would have pulled the tree down.
Figuring I could take care of the branch myself, I have been trying to get my saw back so I could cut the branch apart. (Don't tell my mother. she hates it when I go on the roof!) But before I could get the branch down, we had those two bad days of storms. I came home Friday after work and the branched was down along with my down spout. I just stood there at the mess asking God, "what next?", because now i have a branch that I have to get rid of and a down spout to fix.
But on the bright side, the branch did not mess up my gutters that I just had replaced that week from the snow storm in February/March and it did not hit my neighbors house. I had one incident with them last summer and I was not looking forward to another one. So thank God all the damage is on my end.
The fun is that I am leaving in three weeks and this was just something I did not want to deal with. Praise God that only materials were injured and no person. This all can be fixed! Oh the joys of managing a house!
The Joys of Packing
I find it interesting that when I live somewhere, I can never seem to have enough stuff. I am always finding a spot for something new. It isn't until I have to pack it all up does everything I have seem to be too much. I keep packing bits and pieces as the weeks go by so the whole experience does not happen at once. It just never seems to end but I know it will. And I don't have that much stuff!
Today was a pretty quiet day. I finished downloading my knowledge of our database system onto paper so that my other teammates now have written instructions to navigate through our database. It is interesting writing a manual of how I work through the system and then compare it to the company's manual. Mine is definitely simpler and in layman terms.
I hope to finish the rough draft and proposal for the wedding booklet and pre-marriage course. In fact, it was this aspect of my job that pushed me towards my degree. As I have been working with the weddings of Des Moines First and evaluating the current booklet and pre-marriage course, my desire to get my degree in marital and family counseling emerged once again. I started researching materials that would help promote healthy marriages before and after the wedding. This course just made me want to be a counselor to help in marriages.
The interesting thing in this whole transition and every detail is that the one thing that brings me great joy is the simple of act of finding toy cars for my nephew. My brother has started to collect the cars from the movie Cars and I have been able to find six of the cars that Ashton is missing. According to my brother, I will be my nephew's hero. YEAH!!!!
Today was a pretty quiet day. I finished downloading my knowledge of our database system onto paper so that my other teammates now have written instructions to navigate through our database. It is interesting writing a manual of how I work through the system and then compare it to the company's manual. Mine is definitely simpler and in layman terms.
I hope to finish the rough draft and proposal for the wedding booklet and pre-marriage course. In fact, it was this aspect of my job that pushed me towards my degree. As I have been working with the weddings of Des Moines First and evaluating the current booklet and pre-marriage course, my desire to get my degree in marital and family counseling emerged once again. I started researching materials that would help promote healthy marriages before and after the wedding. This course just made me want to be a counselor to help in marriages.
The interesting thing in this whole transition and every detail is that the one thing that brings me great joy is the simple of act of finding toy cars for my nephew. My brother has started to collect the cars from the movie Cars and I have been able to find six of the cars that Ashton is missing. According to my brother, I will be my nephew's hero. YEAH!!!!
The Countdown has begun
This morning I was emailing a friend and jokingly decided to count how many days I have left in my current office. The time seems so long but the days seem short; it is only 14 more days in this office. The days until I leave...26 days. Man oh man...it will go really fast.
My mind sometimes goes numb with all the details that flow through them. (I am known for making people dizzy when I share my thoughts of the details in life.) It seems so much but I am trying to slow down and breathe at times.
I have already met with our realtor, a man I had known only by reputation and recommendation. When I first talked to him, he did not sound very encouraging about the ability to sell the house. But after he saw it, he was impressed and was encouraging that our house will sell and might sell quickly. That bit of news was quite relieving for me as I have been anxious and worried about the possibility of selling the house. My parents need it to sell quickly and I pray that it does. They were so generous with the house and loved the fact that I used it for ministry, parties, and roommates. But it will be a blessing for it to sell quickly.
The front cutter is finally fixed. I had signed a work order almost six weeks ago and finally had to call the company to come out and replace it. They came yestersday so now the front looks good except for the one branch that decided to break and fall on my roof. I tried to get it off but it is still attached to the tree by a piece of bark. One section of the branch is big enough that it sits on the roof and gives the branch relief so the weight won't break it. Once I get my saw back, I will be getting that branch down.
I have already started packing the items I don't need, cleaning out rooms, painting, cleaning, and all the other fun things that go with moving. I have not done this since I was fourteen years old so I have a lot to go through. But one room at a time.
Yesterday we had our team picnic for work. As the Team Events Coordinator, this puppy was under my responsibility. The day was beautiful, no rain, low humidity. I could not have asked for a better day. Everyone had fun. Now that the picnic is over, I can really start to get my work responsibilities ready to be transferred to another department. Oh the fun of it all.
But before I can begin this next journey, I need to finish this one. So i better get back to it.
My mind sometimes goes numb with all the details that flow through them. (I am known for making people dizzy when I share my thoughts of the details in life.) It seems so much but I am trying to slow down and breathe at times.
I have already met with our realtor, a man I had known only by reputation and recommendation. When I first talked to him, he did not sound very encouraging about the ability to sell the house. But after he saw it, he was impressed and was encouraging that our house will sell and might sell quickly. That bit of news was quite relieving for me as I have been anxious and worried about the possibility of selling the house. My parents need it to sell quickly and I pray that it does. They were so generous with the house and loved the fact that I used it for ministry, parties, and roommates. But it will be a blessing for it to sell quickly.
The front cutter is finally fixed. I had signed a work order almost six weeks ago and finally had to call the company to come out and replace it. They came yestersday so now the front looks good except for the one branch that decided to break and fall on my roof. I tried to get it off but it is still attached to the tree by a piece of bark. One section of the branch is big enough that it sits on the roof and gives the branch relief so the weight won't break it. Once I get my saw back, I will be getting that branch down.
I have already started packing the items I don't need, cleaning out rooms, painting, cleaning, and all the other fun things that go with moving. I have not done this since I was fourteen years old so I have a lot to go through. But one room at a time.
Yesterday we had our team picnic for work. As the Team Events Coordinator, this puppy was under my responsibility. The day was beautiful, no rain, low humidity. I could not have asked for a better day. Everyone had fun. Now that the picnic is over, I can really start to get my work responsibilities ready to be transferred to another department. Oh the fun of it all.
But before I can begin this next journey, I need to finish this one. So i better get back to it.
Taking His hand and jumping
A few weeks ago, I read this quote by Corrie Ten Boom, "Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God." Of course, timing is always perfect as I was at a crossroads in my life, staying safe into a known world or jumping off into something unknown.
For those of you who I have not had the opportunity to tell yet, I have taken the jump, releasing what I know, releasing what is comfortable, and jumping into the wild unknown.
The first jump, I have resigned my position at Des Moines First Assembly. My last day at the church will be July 11th. The past seven years here have been a wonderful experience and I have been blessed with an amazing church family and awesome friends. God has stretched me in my faith and my trust in Him. He has brought awesome men and women into my life who have mentored me and pushed me into my gifts and talents, allowing me to grow so I can use them even more for His glory. So resigning was not an easy decision but one I know God has pressed upon my heart to do.
The second jump, I am moving to California in July. Surprised? So am I for I told God that I would never move to California. I had rather hoped to be somewhere on the East Coast verses the West Coast, but then I am still learning that I do not tell God never. He tends to make those statements come about at different times in my life.
For the fall, I will be living in Modesto, camping out at my parents for awhile until I get the next stage determined. For now, I am pursuing application to Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California for a Master of Science degree in Marital and Family Counseling or Christian Leadership.
As for the third jump, I will let you know as I find out. I know that God has a plan and He will reveal each step as I am ready. Right now, the tasks are overwhelming enough with transitioning out of my positions, transferring accounts around, changing my address, and moving. Plus I can't forget the times I need to spend with my friends.
So I am taking God's hand and I am jumping...into the unknown but what a exciting time it will be.
For those of you who I have not had the opportunity to tell yet, I have taken the jump, releasing what I know, releasing what is comfortable, and jumping into the wild unknown.
The first jump, I have resigned my position at Des Moines First Assembly. My last day at the church will be July 11th. The past seven years here have been a wonderful experience and I have been blessed with an amazing church family and awesome friends. God has stretched me in my faith and my trust in Him. He has brought awesome men and women into my life who have mentored me and pushed me into my gifts and talents, allowing me to grow so I can use them even more for His glory. So resigning was not an easy decision but one I know God has pressed upon my heart to do.
The second jump, I am moving to California in July. Surprised? So am I for I told God that I would never move to California. I had rather hoped to be somewhere on the East Coast verses the West Coast, but then I am still learning that I do not tell God never. He tends to make those statements come about at different times in my life.
For the fall, I will be living in Modesto, camping out at my parents for awhile until I get the next stage determined. For now, I am pursuing application to Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California for a Master of Science degree in Marital and Family Counseling or Christian Leadership.
As for the third jump, I will let you know as I find out. I know that God has a plan and He will reveal each step as I am ready. Right now, the tasks are overwhelming enough with transitioning out of my positions, transferring accounts around, changing my address, and moving. Plus I can't forget the times I need to spend with my friends.
So I am taking God's hand and I am jumping...into the unknown but what a exciting time it will be.
The journey of trust
This past week I was reading a devotion from a book that I recently bought. The subject matter was on trusting God and the scripture reference was a favorite, Proverbs 3:5,6. Trust is always a great lesson to learn over and over again and I don't mind the reminder. But it was not the devotion that has wrapped itself around my heart and thoughts. Instead it was the quote at the bottom of the page.
"God is God. He knows what He is doing. When you cannot trace His hand, trust His heart." -- Max Lucado
I lose count at the many times that I say I trust God but still keep taking back the people, thoughts, dreams that I place in His hands to have. I say I trust Him but sometimes my behavior contradicts my words.
Then at times who have God speak to your heart about a truth or a thought. I cherish that piece of truth so dear to my heart but as days pass and I don't see Him do something major, I wonder if I can trust him.
Over the past several months, I have not been able to trace God's hand on decisions, on my life. It is easy for me to wonder if I can trust Him when I cannot see what He is doing. But often times I have come to realize that I will not always see His hand moving, working, designing when many times He is moving into place things for my tomorrows. It is only when I glance back, do I see the paths and the movements. Seeing those movements, I wonder what His hand is doing today. When I cannot, that it is when I must embrace His character, His love to keep trusting.
"God is God. He knows what He is doing. When you cannot trace His hand, trust His heart." -- Max Lucado
I lose count at the many times that I say I trust God but still keep taking back the people, thoughts, dreams that I place in His hands to have. I say I trust Him but sometimes my behavior contradicts my words.
Then at times who have God speak to your heart about a truth or a thought. I cherish that piece of truth so dear to my heart but as days pass and I don't see Him do something major, I wonder if I can trust him.
Over the past several months, I have not been able to trace God's hand on decisions, on my life. It is easy for me to wonder if I can trust Him when I cannot see what He is doing. But often times I have come to realize that I will not always see His hand moving, working, designing when many times He is moving into place things for my tomorrows. It is only when I glance back, do I see the paths and the movements. Seeing those movements, I wonder what His hand is doing today. When I cannot, that it is when I must embrace His character, His love to keep trusting.
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