My bad...

As the date of my previous post will prove, I have been absent from this part of the internet for many months.  I was recently inspired to get back at it...now I am left with the decision: to update the interwebz on the last 4+ months or just dive right in and pretend like they didn't happen.

I am going to opt for a combination of the two.  So--here ya have it:

September 2011--I got a Minnesota driver's license (whoa).  I spent a week in Glacier National Park.  I hiked more than I ever thought possible, but my legs didn't even get sore because I warmed up the weekend before by doing some pretty sweet Kid-O-Deo song motions with the preschoolers--weird, but true.

October 2011-- October was an uneventful month in general.  However, an uneventful month for me is filled with lots of events, ironically.  October marked 90 days at the World's Best Job.

November 2011--busy busy busy.  I started the month with the most amazing work trip ever. I went with 2 of my most favorite co-workers to NorthPoint Community Church in Atlanta and we learned a lot, slept, had a spa day (side note: I got a mani/pedi from 2 guys...awkward.)  Our trip was short, but our bonding was so wonderful.  I seriously love the people that I work with.  The middle of the month marked the beginning of the 6 week countdown to Christmas at EBC.  The end of the month included a quick trip to Indiana and lots of family time.

December 2011--aka...CRAZY TOWN!  I was prepared for the busyness of December as a church-staffer, and I was actually excited about it.  The thing that I was not prepared for was an upper respiratory infection that resulted in laryngitis.  Two weeks before the first Christmas service, I found myself with a pathetic voice that only got worse as the days passed.  A week before Christmas, I started what has turned out to be a long-term relationship with the ENT.  He told me that "Vocal Rest" must commence immediately.  I spent one of the busiest weeks of my career with strict orders of silence...lame.

CHRISTMAS SERVICES:  As the hours passed and crunch time began, and I started the first of 6 pills of death...aka- steroids.  I began taking an incredibly strong steroid to allow me to lead and teach over 200 volunteers and 800 kids under 5.  God's power (and the 'roids) allowed me to teach the message of Hope in Christ to hundreds of preschoolers, but not without several trips to the bathroom and a few face-in-the-trashcan incidents.  I took it like a champ.  After 5 services, 13 pukes, 206 volunteers, 835 kids and 2 incredibly stressed vocal cords, I rushed to the airport to make it to Indiana for Christmas.  (airplane = +2 rather embarrassing pukes:()

As I laid in my Indiana bed that night, I was blissfully exhausted.  I woke up Christmas morning with no voice.

The rest of my trip to Indiana was spent recuperating by spending time with family and friends, reading The Hunger Games, sleeping A LOT and playing Farkle.

January 2012--back to life.  I came back to Minnesota after 10 days away and realized that this Minnesotan life has become my new "normal"  I missed my people while I was in Indiana.  My ENT is in Minnesota (we are STILL good friends--he tells me not to talk as much, I secretly tell him to shut up), my favorite bed is in Minnesota, my best friends are in Minnesota.  My work, my church, my normal is here.

So, over the last few months, I would say that the biggest thing that has happened--Minnesota is officially home.  More to come about that realization.

Leaving on a Jet Plane

I have completely neglected this poor blog over the last 10 days due to my intense preparation for my upcoming vacation.  I am off to the airport in the next 30 minutes to go to Glacier National Park.  I have my suitcase packed and my loose ends are tied.  Assuming that there is internet, you can expect to see a daily dump of beautiful pictures.  If there is no internet...Peace Out!

Preparing to be Amazed

Today, I had the day off.  It was so great!  We have been building up for one of the most important weekends in the history of our church.  As I head into the weekend, I feel so prepared knowing that I spent this day off accomplishing the little things that are necessary for normal functioning.

I got my oil changed, went to the bank, stopped at the post office, cleaned out my car, picked up some groceries, bought a few fall jackets (not necessary, but still fun), ate real/homemade food, cleaned, did laundry, read a little, laughed with my roommate, turned down babysitting in favor of a night in, watched a movie, painted my nails, prepped my teaching for the weekend, prayed boldly for God's hand in all that happens this weekend at all of our campuses, listened to worship music, enjoyed the sun, took a nap and talked on the phone.  

I feel so prepared for this weekend!  I cannot wait to experience all that God has in store for us as hundreds of people are walk through the doors of a high school in Woodbury into our FIFTH campus for the very first time, new families are welcomed to our campuses across the Twin Cities for the first time, precious Kid-Os experience their first time in a worship service created just for them, faithful volunteers experience God's faithfulness and lives are transformed.  This will be a weekend to remember.  I am preparing to be amazed.

23

Today is my 23rd birthday.  This past year has been the most memorable year of my life.  This year, I went from student to graduate, intern to employee, Hoosier to full-fledged Minnesotan, AND (in my opinion) half-adult to full-adult.

All of these things and the moments in between have shaped my heart, mind, goals and perspective.  I am not the same person that I was 365 days ago, and for that I am incredibly grateful. God has worked in my life in unimaginable ways over the last year and I wouldn't trade it for the world.

As I head into the next year, I am excited to see how God will continue to work in and through me.

Is this real life?

Tonight, my thoughts are simple. I love that I get to do what I love as my job. I am living the dream. I have an amazing boss, incredible co-workers and responsibilities that I am excited to tackle each day. I am so blessed and amazed that God has chosen to use me in this way. He is so good.

Unplug

I challenged myself to post on this blog daily, but half way through the challenge, I realized that unplugging from time to time is more important than the challenge.  I am fully intent on picking back up starting today, but this weekend I realized that the time that I spent "unplugged" was really great.  I strengthened relationships, regained some sanity, spent some time alone in nature, played with my new camera, talked on the phone, cleaned and organized and overall enjoyed the extra weekend day.  I have been busy enough over the last few weeks to build up a decent level of stress and a few days of being "unplugged" was just what I needed.  I now place a high value on finding a day to "unplug" every once in a while.

From My Kitchen...Lemon Blueberry Almond Cookies

I have decided that I will be occasionally posting some yummy recipes to share with you all.  This week, we have Lemon Blueberry Almond Cookies.  Enjoy!

They are twice as good as they look...and they look pretty good:)