got no use for fancy words...

This blog is no more....BUT...

2010-06-10T19:31:00.000-07:00

I have a new one! With less personal info on it. So if you actually still have me on your list, the new address is kellyinchacos.wordpress.com

Have a wonderful day!

We are going to the mountains!!!

2009-06-06T15:22:00.000-07:00

Garden Acres is headed to the mountains of Angel Fire, New Mexico for one glorious week! Watch out bears, here we come!

Flowers

2009-02-19T18:51:00.000-08:00

I love flowers. I just do. I was thinking about what I wanted to write about, and there is a beautiful bouquet of roses sitting in front of me, courtesy of HEB post Valentine's sale. Good work flower people. I think it's only appropriate that the other people in my house like flowers too, thinking about the street we live on! Flowers are just so simple, and so pretty at the same time. What a great sense of enjoyment in something so small. I love the little things in life. Jesus shines through them. :) Enjoy our Garden Acre Flowers!

Semester Reflections...Yes I know it's been a semester since I've posted...Sorry!

2008-12-22T18:30:00.000-08:00

Hello fellow blogging friends, I apologize for the tardiness of this post. But alas, I write for the Lord and not for you so it was more redeeming of my time to not post this semester, til now. :) This was my first official semester of teaching and man have I learned a lot. I also have so much to learn, still. Here's a few things I have begun to lean for now:

You see your ugliness come out when you are told it is your job to keep 22+ people in line every day doing things they don't want to do. You see your sin and flesh at it's finest. Perhaps that's why the Lord's strength is made perfect in our weakness. It takes us doing something we can't possibly do on our own to humble us and DAILY, if not moment by moment, ask for his help.

When you ask for his help and his opportunities, the abundance of his answer is overwhelming..."random" conversations begun by my students to me include:

How long do you stay in hell?
Is hell a real place?
Did Eve eat an apple? Will you tell us the story of Adam and Eve?
But Miss Nall, nobody's perfect! How can we be with God?

The beauty of the Lord...I have been constantly challenged by 1 Cor. 1:26-31-"Brothers think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. BUT God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things-and the things that are not to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus; who has become for us wisdom from God-that is our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."

I have absolutely nothng to offer apart from Jesus Christ. Absolutely nothing. Never before in my life have I ever felt so inept, so inadequate, and so unprepared for the job I am supposedly qualified for, and paid to do! (Please don't let this scare you from public schools, I'm just being honest) But God is so abundantly gracious, and he has taught and molded me, while humbling me daily, all while encouraging me. What a paradox he is! Destroying pride and yet embracing me so deeply, a perfect example of true redemption.

Romans 3 "No one is righteous, not even one." We are all bent and broken apart from Jesus, and even with Jesus, he still has so much work to do in me!

God still chooses to use us, broken and messed up as we are. Praise God for that!

Now for some hilarious comments:

The word is not "tight" Miss Nall. It's "throwed."
Shut the do Miss Nall. Me: What's a do? Is it a female deer?
Miss Nall got game. (After the staff/student basketball game, where I was the shortest person out there by far:)
Who's gang are you in Miss Nall? Me: I'm in Jesus's gang!
How many guys can you "pull" Miss Nall? (this means get to go out with me)
Miss Nall, you gonna be 80 and live with cats... (that student was mad at me)
Rolling up a test paper, going "I hate you, I hate you, I hate you" to me (same student, still mad)

There is more, so much more and I will try and post more over break. One more thing, it is my anniversary of my intestinal surgery!!!! ONE YEAR TONIGHT!!! Go read December 2007/January of 2008 and be amazed at Him! I know I am.

Oh yes, and Merry Christmas from the Garden Acre Girls:)

CVS Madness

2008-10-25T14:22:00.000-07:00

So with teaching and all, my mind's been crazy lately...but for a short and hilarious post, the CVS at Villa Maria and Texas has the blinking sign advertising their products of choice. The big one is lately, "WE SELL PING PONG BALLS!" Your job, if you still read this blog :), is to comment on why the heck you think they chose ping pong balls to advertise at cvs. Ready go!

Even First Day Teachers Get the Jitters

2008-08-26T16:33:00.000-07:00

So yesterday was my first day as a 6th grade English Language Arts teacher (I got switched which was more than ok, less prep:). Besides everyone and their mom getting engaged, I have begun teaching! I was super nervous and at about 8:45, I realized they are just kids. Praise the Lord! Anyway KBTX and our very own Craig Weaver of LH walked into the building and my principal came up to me...and these words came out of his mouth: "KBTX wants to interview a new teacher and I think you would be great at it!" Thus I led them to my classroom and on my first day of teaching, I did an interview with kbtx...and was on the nightly news! If you would like to see it, go to kbtx's website and there is an article and a video...ENJOY! Go Davila Texans!

So little time...

2008-08-10T13:42:00.000-07:00

So post all the weddings (insert pic from DC with lise), I've had a pretty busy summer! I hung with the rents in New Mexico for a mini vacation...I got to see my awesome dad rock climb for the first time at age 54! That was sweet! My dad is great. Since then I also got a JOB! Yes that is right! I will be teaching starting Monday (tomorrow)! Actually just inservice things but, teaching, like in my own classroom...weird huh? I am teaching 7th and 8th grade Language Arts at Davila, the new Bryan middle school this fall! I just got the job this past week and I am up and going tomorrow. More on that when I actually have a clue what I'm doing. For now, I have a JOB!

Weddings Galore!

2008-07-07T13:03:00.000-07:00

So about 2 weeks ago, one of my best friends Elise got married in Dallas (SO fun!) and later today I will be leaving for the next wedding in Washington DC for our friend Lindsay...the one besides me in the pictures with dark hair! It is the THIRD summer in a row of 8 or more weddings, which I like a lot, BUT it does get old sometimes:) These weddings however are AMAZING, because of the three women you see in these pics. Elise, Jessie (the other blonde), and Lindsay. We basically lived together in the dorm and the Lord has cemented our friendships since then in a million different ways since then. These girls got my back. AND I LOVE DC! I think the history nerd comes out in me and I can spend hours learning about some of this history stuff. I have my tennis shoes packed to go run around the Mall, chat with Lincoln, experience the excitement of DC from a native's perspective, and just chill with 3 of my favorite people I don't get to see very often. Get ready for more pics next week! Or maybe sooner....

Shopping for Time

2008-07-05T12:48:00.001-07:00

Okay, so I'm not as cool on the technology as my friend D.O., but there is an AMAZING book that needs to be reviewed...thus Shopping for Time. This Carolyn Mahaney read is phenomenal AND it's about 90 pages long! The premise of this book is that we as believers need to be redeeming our time, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil, based off of Ephesians 5:16. So Carolyn and her 3 grown daughters got together and wrote this book with some practical Biblical wisdom about redeeming the time as women. Personally, I think it is just as applicable to men. The greatest thing about this book is how encouraging it is. My roommate this past year, Mrs. Ashley Carl, and I would sit and discuss during roomie accountability how we needed help in using our time wisely during our first year as working women and how it had been a constant struggle for awhile, even back into college. My great mentor Ashley Kinnard kept recommending this book to me and finally I gave in (you have to special order it from Scripture Haven) and read it over Spring Break. Let me tell you, my world was rocked. So much wisdom in such a tiny book! Big highlights that have been huge in my life:

5 a.m. Club-Finding accountability with people (of the same sex:) who wake up around the same time as you NEED to and calling each other so you get to have victory in buying back the best deal of time for the day...hangin out with Jesus. Ash Carl and I went from waking up around 6:30ish to 5:30 and watching the Lord move so much more tangibly because we were prepared and looking to see where he was moving.

Personal Retreats-Going off somewhere for an extended amount of time and listing out your main priorities in life, and then hardcore examining them next to Scripture. It's all about being purposeful in redeeming the time. I actually just did my first personal retreat and was SO blessed by the reexamination. The point of the book too is not for a specific age or time in life. It's applicable for all of us as believers, including moms, college students, and younger/older than those!

I share this because since I have read the book, I have given it to multiple other women in my life and seen radical transformation! It is such an encouragement and is not condemning for those who have struggled with all of this. The practicality and biblicalness of this blows me away! May the Lord bless you as you read and let me know how it goes!

6 months! Whoop! Praise the Lord!

2008-06-24T13:56:00.000-07:00

So, 6 months ago yesterday, and today (and the next 5 days:), I was laying in a hospital bed learning how to move again. Read about all the cool stuff physically that has happened since then:

-I can walk FAST, run, etc.
-I can sleep normally
-I can do any and all excercises and sleep on the stomach
-I can eat what I want:)
-On a totally unrelated note, I officially do NOT have asthma and never have! Thanks to the amazing Dr. Bacak, we discovered that I've been misdiagnosed for the last 5 years...so instead of $130 a month on meds I don't need and that don't work, I am on one amazing little pill...and I've NEVER felt better! God is a miracle worker for sure...nothing is too hard for him (Lk 1:37).
-I can climb, boulder, backpack, hike, rappel
-I can sit on the floor again and not in a soft chair all the time (but I do like those)
-I no longer have to carry my pillow for back support
-I am no longer a hunchback unless it's just my bad posture
-My body works better than it has my whole life!

If those aren't things to be excited about, I don't know what is:) The Lord is doing some tight things around this place. I am so thankful to be apart of them. Going back to the basics is a huge lesson in thankfulness. We take so much for granted.

SUMMER!

2008-05-30T17:40:00.000-07:00

What a beautiful word that is. Excellent actually. Yep, today was the last day of school and it was bittersweet but still good. I just don't know if that was my last day at Kemp ever or not, thus the sadness. BUT, nonetheless, it's SUMMER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SO this means lots of hanging out, on land and by the pool, climbing, paddling, and camping, chilling with LH fams, Experiencing God (in general and the class:), TWO of my best friends' weddings (elise and lindsay), trips to Dallas, DC, and Austin-for previously stated excursions, teaching Sam Kinnard how to read, lots of reading to myself, teaching guitar to 2 lovely ladies, playing guitar, movie watching, core group doing, sister discipling, hangin with my kemp kids around town, and other various exciting activities! WHOOP! Let me know if you want to join in!

Nomading it Up!

2008-05-26T14:15:00.000-07:00

Hello from the Nomad! This is me, as I am currently sporting the "I live at Chaney's house" motif...aka, Ashley and Landon are back from the honeymoon and i can't live in my new apartment til next week! It's all good though...I'm more than happy to give everyone their space. Interesting observations in moving:

1) We like stuff way too much.

2) Every time I move, I get rid of more and more because I hate moving it.

3) My sister laughs more than anyone I know...oh wait, I already knew that!

4) I really don't like moving. I don't like it at all! I think it stems from growing up in the same house for the last 23 1/2 years and not even changing rooms!

The three day weekend has been lovely. It's let me play a lot and also get up to date on my latest Bryan ISD teacher job searching...hopefully more on that soon!

What's Poppin With Me?

2008-05-14T16:40:00.000-07:00

I had a kid ask me that in the hall yesterday...so now it's incorporated into the vocabulary...So, what IS poppin?

-The roomie Ashley gets married this weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The pics of me and bride and bride and groom at their prayer shower a few weeks ago. I am so pumped for them! I am so abundantly blessed by Ash and Landon and thank the Lord daily for their presence in my life. Ex. Today Landon voluntarily moved all of my furniture out of the apartment! Then they are giving me free lasagna for dinner.

-Sadly, when bride and groom get married, due to groom moving in, roommate (me) must peace out. I love living with Ashley so this is a little bittersweet on my end (Yet I am SO pumped for them!) because I will dearly miss having her as a roommate. We fit like a glove. She is definitely a "heart" friend, our term for instantly connecting with someone and feeling like you've been best friends your whole life even though you've only known each other for a short period of time. Through so much grace this year we've triumphed in the waking up department together (5:30 baby), accountability time, lots of chipotle, lots of chatting, quoting Jesus videos, Landon chaperoning (on my part-joyfully i might add), and a bazillion other glorious things. Thank you for Ashley!

-So where may I move next you ask? For a short time I will be bunking with Chaney but then I get to move in with the wonderful Bekah Gooden and Amanda Holley! We are super excited about this next year and who knows what it will bring!

-In the job department, I'm praying for a job at Kemp (where I am now). I'm K-8 certifiied and it's where I want to be! I'm preparing other apps to be wise but this is where my heart is and I have no desire for anything else right now (but I know, the Lord can change it and I'm asking him to keep me open to other jobs).

-Time with the Lord in the early am has been so sweet. Words really just don't do it justice. It's just good. Morning time before the rest of the world is awake is glorious, literally. Going to bed between 9:30-11 isn't so bad when you have this sweetness to wake up to. And some coffee also:)

For Margaret...

2008-04-23T16:13:00.000-07:00

Sorry, I haven't posted in a while. My internet has issues right now. Margaret saw me at Sweets and told me I needed to post. Thus, the title. Life's a little crazy these days...I'm taking my Kinder-4th grade teaching test on Friday in hopes of teaching 1st grade at my beloved Kemp in the fall-we shall see! My little bud i work with at school has now switched to his 3rd school in a month, so he is no longer with me. Very sad...I miss him and life is WAY too quiet. I recently realized how many pictures from my kids at Kemp I've received and I'm wanting to make some kind of collage. Artsy people, any suggestions? I need some!

In other news, 2 of my best friends are getting married this summer 3 weeks apart. Crazy! But SO exciting! This summer I'm getting ready for teaching in the fall and chillin in CS. I'm SO pumped! Anyway, life is good! 5 1/2 week til summer! Less than a month til my beloved roomie Ashaley Baldridge becomes Ashley Carl! That's exciting! Thus life...

Oh I Wish I Had A Camera...

2008-02-26T17:32:00.001-08:00

So, my job requires me to begin at 7:15 every morning when I meet the buses. It just so happens that 7:10-15 is exactly when the sun starts to rise up in the sky. My favorite parking place happens to gaze exactly into the sun. Ergo, this morning the sunrise was BEAUTIFUL!!!! It came up over the clouds and I really felt like I had entered into the song "The Days of Elijah", it was so brilliant! It was like the epitome of seeing the cloud's silver lining. And what's even cooler is that it comes up over the projects. Such a sign of hope and beauty. I know I was sure pumped this morning. I think God planned it just for me:) at least I feel that way! I just sat in awe of it, until i realized it was 7:15 exactly and i didn't want to be late! Alas, I had no camera but I do have some other fun outdoor pics...so I will share. All these rainbow pics are courtesy of my Albuquerque, NM/ Santa Fe trip for my cousin Allie's wedding 1 1/2 years ago. Enjoy!

WOOOOOOOOOO!

2008-02-19T18:58:00.000-08:00

Yep, that's the title. I was talking to my dear friend Simone today about how miraculous God is about the way he heals our bodies! The fact that 8 weeks ago, they cut me open, took out my guts, and sewed me back up is crazy (still!). But what's even cooler is the fact that I can do practically the same things I could do 8 weeks ago-maybe not quite as intensely, but I can still do them...

For example, today and yesterday i went CLIMBING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yes, it deserves many exclamation points! Don't worry, on the crazy reach parts i did it the easy way so nothing would pull very hard and i'm fine!

Last Friday, I ran 2 miles!

I can go to work all day every week day. It's glorious!

I can wear all my clothes now! No more alternating the same two pairs of pants! Sweet.

I've even had sushi for my first time. Oh the craziness!

Layne's is TOTALLY in the near future. It's been calling my name since the hospital, fried food just hasn't been my digestive system's preference:)

Other exciting things going on: I think I'm going to take some of my Kemp kids rock climbing at the wall! 10 year olds on the wall: this should be very entertaining! I will definitely post when that happens.

I read Josh Harris's Stop Dating the Church. Everyone needs to read this book! It's phenomenal and my little sister is reading it now-and she is obsessed too. It reiterates The Great Commandment-Love God, Love People.

And because this is adorable I have to write about it...I greet the buses every morning at 7:15. There is the cutest 1st grader at Kemp named Colby. Every morning he is the first one in his class off the bus and gets the stack of paper off the corner of his class's table, and then puts one piece of paper in front of where each child will sit. No other child does this! Then he sits and colors by himself til everyone gets there. It makes me smile every morning. :)

Be Excited!!!! I am at least:)

2008-02-05T17:52:00.000-08:00

As of Sunday (6 weeks) the scar is at full capacity-in other words, it's cleared to play NFL Football...on the day of the Super Bowl. Hilarious.

I started full time work back again yesterday and it's going well. For those of you concerned, I just hang with AJ during the day a little bit, I'm not a discipliner right now...a sock in the stomach wouldn't be a good thing. I've also been able to go on walks!!!!

I love walks and walking. Especially in light of the last few weeks. I feel like I've run a marathon the next day, but I can tell I'm getting stronger every day. I love my kids and that I get to be back with them. They've been missed!

I think the biggest thing right now is reverting from survival mode and getting from point A to point B to having a clear mental state...I've felt kinda foggy in that department (as well as a few others:)

Exercising is helping that a lot though for which I am thankful. It is so easy when you've been waited on hand and foot to be totally focused on yourself... and my parents did (because they are wonderful and I couldn't have had it any other way) but I feel like I'm not only relearning things physically but also remembering slash re-realizing just how powerful my flesh is and how it wants to take over. Jesus is way stronger but I am so weak. In so many ways...

Thank you Lord for healing!

Back in the Stat

2008-01-24T11:37:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm back in College Station! It's been an interesting week...I've gotten to see my church family which has been BEYOND exciting! I'm working half days at school-but don't worry, I'm not disciplining AJ or playing football right now.

New developments/Observations...I can stand and walk for decent amounts of time, but then I need a rest.
My cloth strips over my scar have all come off, so it is officially in the open-to me that is:)
Wearing a seatbelt is getting a lot less painful!
I can drive successfully and don't feel too ADD.
I'm getting lots of reading in because I'm sitting a lot.
I am cooking a little bit but standing by the end of the day is really tiring
Aj didn't believe I had surgery, so I had to show him my scar.
I've read 300 pages in the last 2 days.
Now that I can see my belly button, I know that they didn't change the shape of it through surgery...it's cinammon roll shaped...and I like it:) I was concerned. I mean who wouldn't be?
I am healing more everyday. Thank you Jesus!
I'm not quite as slow as 80 year old people any more.
I've only gotten one hug from a kindergartner where he put his face on my stomach...that was a scary moment but it was ok!
I still feel like I'm in a bit of fog mentally right now
One day at a time...

Today I'm at 75%! Whoop!

Sweet Mary Margaret

2008-01-17T16:27:00.000-08:00

Mary Margaret Malloy
MALLOY, MARY MARGARET Mary Margaret Malloy, 20 years of age, attended Highland Park High School where she had a deep passion for academic challenges. She served as an editor of the high school newspaper, she enjoyed dancing as a Belle, and she was an enthusiastic and caring mentor who spent many hours with her Best Buddy. She took great pride in matriculating at the University of Texas in 2005 but in spite of many successes she soon returned home because of a deeply painful personal struggle. Throughout her life she preferred to be known as "Mary Margaret," perhaps a hint of the gracious, generous and somewhat reserved person we knew. She always laughed at little jokes and she loved music of all kinds. Near the end of her life she reflected on her family whom she loved dearly, her faith, and the many friends she cherished, kind and supportive friends that had been with her throughout her illness. We have lost, tragically, an intelligent, beautiful, intense and very sensitive child. She is survived by two grandmothers, Frances and Dorothy, her mother, Debbie, her father, Craig, loving brothers William and George, and many aunts, uncles and cousins in Texas and California. Memorial Services will be held at 4:00 p.m., Friday, January 18, 2008, at Park Cities Presbyterian Church, Rev. Mark Davis officiating.

This is an obituary today from one of Chaney's best friends (my little sister) who died the other day after a 10 year battle with anorexia. Please pray for her family and that the Lord would show His face mightily in all of this. She's a believer and she is home with the Lord after a long battle.

Woo for 3 Weeks!

2008-01-13T12:36:00.001-08:00

Welp, today is 3 weeks after surgery, and according to the doctors I'm at 50%. I've gotten to where I have "outings" every day to hopefully increase my stamina. Today my outing was particularly exciting because I got to go to church! Sadly not LH, I miss you people!!!!! But nonetheless, I got to hang with believers and worship Jesus with them at the church I grew up in. I held up pretty well and it was just so exciting to go and be with other believers and worship. I haven't been to church in a month because I either was in the hospital or couldn't sit in a church seat for that long (not enough cushion).

Chaney's back at A&M so my house is a little bit more chill with just the parentals and me. I can somewhat function normally in the everyday things which is good. Mom and Dad still win the awesome caretaker awards. I had steak last night!!! That's the first beef I've had. It's funny, the staples I had on my scar leave dots and I figured out that they aren't in line with the dots I have from my surgery when I was 7. So I now have multiple dot lines on my stomach...I find it funny, but then again, I'm very easily amused, especially right now.

I'm not going to lie and say everything about this is easy, because it's not. I would much rather be in Cstat hanging at Kemp and chilling with my LH family and rock climbing buddies but I'm not.

However, this morning the Lord just overwhelmingly confirmed what he's been telling me this whole time. He's here. He's not leaving. He loves me. This has purpose. It's ok that I don't understand the why behind this exact thing. We will be tested on this earth in every way, but we've been told from Day 1 that we'll be tested in this world. We're also told that as the sufferings of Christ flow into our lives, the comfort of Christ overflows. And it does. Only God can explain how my pain the last few weeks has been hard, but not unbearable. Only God can explain how I was able to get off Vicatin cold turkey, two days after leaving the hospital because it was making me throw my guts up. There's so much more but that's just a start...

He's sovereign. I'm thankful it was fixable. It didn't have to be. That's all I got. One day at a time.

Doctor Check Up

2008-01-09T12:20:00.000-08:00

Today I went to the doctor, and in 10 days I'm cleared to do anything that feels "good" (and if it doesn't, don't do it again). Those were his words at least! 10 days from now will be the 4 week marker. This is when I think we're going to attempt the move back to cstat.Her Hands starts that Sunday, so I'll be there, don't worry Heather!

Yesterday, I got my haircut, which was my first outing since leaving the hospital! Thus the straight hair-I don't have the motion to dry and straighten the hair myself right now. Just like every day, I'm a little stronger today than the day before! Let me tell you, those doors at the hospital are heavy! I almost couldn't get in the bathroom because I couldn't open the door. Going to the gastrointestinal doctor is entertaining at the age of 24, everyone else is at least twice my age. They all stare at you, wondering why you're there. I find it hilarious:)

I've moved out of only being able to sit in the recliner to being able to sit in all chairs in our house-the padded ones longer than the stiff ones of course.

I can stand up 90-100% straight for 2/3 of the day now, so I don't look like quite so much of a hunchback! Chaney really likes to make fun of how I look like an 80 year old lady.

I've also done away with my 5 pillows on my bed and am down to the normal 1 and can sleep on my left side wonderfully-still working on the right side.

I'm also cleared to shower without Saran Wrapping/masking taping my stomach which is nice. That means my Steari Strips (cloth strips currently holding my stomach together over the stitches) will get to fall off soon and I actually get to see my gash. It reminds me of a cantaloupe that got dropped and has a crooked break in it. (My mom groans every time I say that:)

I got to eat fajitas today which were wonderful! Food is staying down and I'm feeling good. I'm so thankful that my pain has been minimal and taken away any need for Vicatin (probably the cause of my New Year's throw up disaster).

Everyone medical keeps thinking I should be hurting much more than I do, and I just am not hurting that bad! Not that i'm necessarily wishing to hurt worse, but I'm so thankful that I have not been in tons of pain. I just thought it would be worse.

I keep looking at Job a lot right now and something in 2:10 keeps going through my head as I'm still processing all of this in my brain...the whole why me? what's going in with all this Lord kinda thing? After his material things and family have been destroyed and he's been covered with sores from head to toe, his wife says "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!"

I LOVE how Job responds...

"You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" It's given me a lot to think about... The Lord gives us all tests, and He doesn't waste his tests. Each one has purpose.

Two Weeks!

2008-01-06T18:03:00.000-08:00

Today marks 2 weeks after surgery! Whoop! 6 weeks equals full recovery-February 3rd my friends! I'm getting more mobile every day, moving around my house and all. Tomorrow I may make the move toward real clothes and not pjs...we shall see. Thanks for the prayers about my cough, it's still around but SO much better. I go to the doctor on Wednesday to get a report as to how I'm doing officially. Food is going good, still trying to make sure my stomach can stomach everything so a little bit of new food at a time!

My Daddy is wonderful and got all the extra tape residue from IVs and tubes left on my arms off, so my arms look relatively normal now.

I can almost stand up straight again so I'm thankful for that.

The Lord is cultivating in me a heart of thankfulness. We take so much for granted. Praise the Lord for health! I feel really blessed that every day I wake up and I feel a little bit better, a little bit stronger.

So many people can't say the same thing about their lives and their health. Jesus keep making me thankful for my reminder!

Meckel's Diverticulum

2008-01-04T18:49:00.000-08:00

Wikipedia it! If I was cool and Internet savy, I would link it, but alas, I am not! Here's the background on all of this. When I was born, I was born with Meckel's Diverticulum. It actually has a name-I didn't know that til 2 weeks ago. It is a "small bulge in the small intestine present at birth" according to my friend Wikipedia. It's a malformation of the gastrointestinal tract. (This is all Wikipedia right here-I am not medically inclined really).

So, an hour after I was born I was moved to the children's hospital in Dallas to get rid of my bulge, called an oomphalacle (try and say that one:). They made a tiny incision by my new cinammon roll belly button and did whatever they needed to.

Other than that, I had my share of ear infections and such as a kid but nothing happened until I was 7, in 2nd grade. One night I had the most painful stomach ache and couldn't fall asleep all night...My dad thought I had gas and spanked me and everything for being a brat (my translation, not his:) That morning, I still felt awful and so Mom took me to the doctor and then promptly to the ER. We thought it could be an appendicitis but the doctor said, "No way! Go to the ER!"

My colon (part of the small intestine) was twisted in a knot so I was in the hospital for a week and recovered for a week or two at home and then headed back to school. This actually made me miss so much school that I repeated 2nd grade...little known fact.

From 7 to age 24 nothing's happened at all, minus what I now realize were some foreshadowings junior year at A&M that I thought were food poisoning episodes. I got better so I thought that was all it was.

I got home from cstat Dec. 21st and felt a little puny but ok. The morning of the 22nd I went and worked out with Chaney and around 6:30pm started having a bad stomach ache...it got worse and worse and then I started throwing up. Around 12:30 that night Mom put me in the car and inbetween heaves, we went to the hospital. After an hour in the waiting room, and being the girl gasping for help from Jesus, (that was all I did in the waiting room) they put me in the ER on a morphine drip to get me ready for a CAT Scan...After getting my Nasal Gastric tube (NG) from the nose to the stomach and my CAT Scan, they told me I had an obstruction in the bowels and they needed to operate.

My reaction? Go for it! The sooner the better. 10 am on the 23rd we went to operate for 2 hours and they took out all 22 feet of small intestine and cut away the webbings of scar tissue that were wrapped around them so I my bowels could be "free" :)

It's something that 2% of people deal with and most are males apparently. It's only 5% chance that it happens again according to my doctor-so I'm actually in the 2%!

6 weeks is the full recovery but I'm not sure when I'll actually get back to cstat-February 3rd is 6 weeks. Hopefully I will return before then...

Today, my cough is really painful. Please pray for that, I feel like my guts want to pop out...literally:) I kept down all food which included some new stuff so that's good! My people in charge of me at my job have been so gracious and said not to worry about a thing...we'll talk when I get better. That is definitely something to be thankful for!

Little by little, I think I'm getting better. According to my timeline, I should be a little further along than 25-30% healed right now. That's about it at the moment!

The GRIPMASTER

2008-01-03T19:26:00.000-08:00

Today, there's not a whole lot of change...Sadly I have a cold and it is rather painful coughing and sneezing with a gaping wound on your belly. Prayer for that would be greatly appreciated...I need gentleness for this cold. I can't take medicine because my system can't handle it, ingredient-wise. Violent sneezing and coughing are just not fun and I need help having a thankful heart on this and just how slow the healing process is in general. Today I bulked up on all the stuff from yesterday and added in a baked potato and lipton soup with crackers-and it's STILL DOWN! And I actually have an appetite. Whoop!

My mom found a pocket-size bible in our house which is so great because I don't have the strength to lift my big one for long periods of time. I am so excited about this, because now I don't have to solely depend on having someone orally read the Word to me every day. Both get to happen!

Also, I slept a lot last night and only woke up a few times...it's less and less each night. Yes!

Today has been funny because I feel a lot more like myself which is wonderful, yet I have a cold, a slight oxymoron, but whatev. The photo of the day includes my Gripmaster...one of my last minute Christmas presents from the parents...it works out the fingers and it's been my toy the last few weeks. My arms and legs have been so bored because my middle can't do anything, so I play with my Gripmaster. Best Christmas present ever. Tomorrow will be the full background on this story-i realized I don't think I've fully explained how this all started. Don't worry, I'll get ya up to speed. Thanks for reading and praying!

Pride Taking A Beating...

2008-01-02T19:01:00.000-08:00

Yep, my pride has taken a beating.

I haven't been able to do practically anything by myself until recently.

And I realized yesterday and today how embarrassed I've been about it.

I am ridiculous.

When I am weak, He is strong.

Oh how slow to learn I am.

I am so blessed by parents who will do anything to help me get better!

They help me shower, fetch my computer for me (my macbook is too heavy), put in movies for me, unscrew my juice tops, read Scripture to me (even Psalm 119-thanks mom:), rinse out and switch barf buckets for me, etc...you get the picture.

I stepped on a scale today and the official weight loss so far is between 10-15 pounds, which is funny. I could care less about my weight and am so much more concerned about just being healthy and living in a way that pleases the Lord. But still, I thought that was interesting, because I'd been wondering... I think I look emaciated:) I can't do a whole lot about it!

I'm staying far away from Vicatin b/c we think that may have contributed to my throwing up new year's!

Today I had rice, bread, applesauce, and a banana, with lots of juice and gatorade-and it's all still down. Thank you Jesus!

I've been feeling puny some today but food totally redeems. I have a hard time being restless at home and sitting in one place all day with laps around the house once an hour, but the Lord is making me thankful. Like I said, I'm SLOW to learn. Thank you so much for your prayers...you have no idea how much I need them/appreciate them.

And Kathryn, THANK YOU for putting up Psalm 34 on your blog a few weeks ago...I was blog stalking you :) and it's stayed in my mind and been at the forefront of my mind through all of this!

Oh Good Times!

2008-01-01T17:50:00.000-08:00

Well, yesterday and today have been interesting...I threw up bile about 10 times last night, along with all I ate yesterday. Combine that with a 5 inch scar and it equals a lot of unpleasantry. Basically last night was kind of scary, because if I had been in pain and throwing up, we would have gone back to the hospital. So we called the doctor and he said that most likely my stomach just hadn't caught up to all the food I'd eaten. I did have a bowel movement though! Today we went back to square 1. Juice and Jello. BUT no more throwing up! Praise the Lord! Now, we think I may be getting a cold because my immunity system is so out of wack. Thank you for your prayers and please keep praying. Sitting in one place all day and then getting sick and not being able to move gets really frustrating sometimes. I still have about 4 1/2 weeks until I'm completely healed according to the doctor. Highlights of the day do include seeing Elise and Jonny (the newly engaged couple!) and actually getting some good sleep in the LA-Z Boy last night-I think I may sleep better in it than in my bed right now... Now for the things to be thankful for list:

1. I had a bowel movement!
2. I stopped throwing up!
3. Throwing up made stomach muscles that hadn't been stretched yet, move some extra so I've had more mobility today (not the way I would've done it, but you know)
4. I have wonderful friends.
5. I have wonderful family who will even help me shower and dress when I am too weak.
6. I have a wonderful Jesus family too that loves me and prays for me too.
7. Elise brought me really pretty tulips (I'm kind of a flower freak)
8. I can turn over onto my side to sleep now!!!!
9. I can open my laptop (that magnet opening on the macbook has been killer!)
10. My laps around the house (my exercise) are becoming more frequent and longer (than like 1 minute)

Please continue to pray for a heart of thankfulness! Thank you for reading this and for praying!

5% ???? 5%!!!!

2007-12-31T08:23:00.000-08:00

So I am home! I went home yesterday (Sunday) and today is New Year's Eve. I am currently eating (yay!), sitting, taking vicatin, reading, watching tv,attempting to have a bowel movement (yes I said it-that's the reality of your life when they take out your 22 foot long small intestines and beat them up), and trying to learn to walk and move again. Sleeping on your back is really not my thing. Thank you for any and all encouragement...I need it! Being at home especially is harder because nothing is in one place so I have to move a lot more and sadly my bed stays in one place. This induces lots of new pain I haven't encountered yet. I tell you these things to inform you of the reality of what I actually deal with daily right now, not to complain. And my mind has been blown by the sovereignty of God, really. My doctor told me yesterday before he casually walked out the door that there is only a 5% chance of this happening twice to someone, and a 5% chance of it ever happening at all. WOW. Well, 1) it's happened 2) it's happened TWICE! I don't have a clue as to what it means, but I do know that the sovereignty of God is all over that. It pretty much blows my mind to think about. Please pray for healing-at 3 weeks I'll have 50% strength, and at 6 weeks-i'm cleared to play NFL Football (literally, my doctor said that:). I'm trying to figure out when the best time to go back to work is too. I'm going to miss at least a week, but we move around a LOT so we need lots of wisdom on the when. And also, I am not sleeping through the night very well. I think those are the main ones. If you are in Dallas I love visitors. We can sit and talk! I want to see the Lord move while I'm at home too, not just at the hospital with all the new friends I made, but in my house. And it can seem kind of defeating at times. Anway, here are the last 2 pics from yesterday and today! (Maybe I look better?:)

Day 7: A week ago today...

2007-12-29T07:29:00.000-08:00

This time last Saturday I was headed to the gym with my sister Chaney. We ran and did crunches. Today? Today I can get out of bed myself and walk up and down the hall 8 times in one day and go to the bathroom myself. Funny how life changes just like that! But ya know, this has been such a hard and yet gloriously humbling week. I've had to be completely dependant. My parents are champs, one of them has slept up here with me every night this week. I couldn't do anything when I came out of surgery at all. Today is a momentous day because I got FOOD. Well really "liquid diet" for breakfast. But still, I haven't eaten since last Saturday! So this morning? Jello never tasted so good. Jello, chicken broth,some icey thing, and apple juice (which I love!). I really love jello so i was excited that it was the first food i got to eat. I think the stomach has been more than ready for it:) Then I found out i get my staples out today! My stomach has a 5 inch long scar that runs vertical to my belly button with staples (like you use in a classroom) holding my stomach together along with many stitches. The staples come out today! Don't worry, there's no anesthesia...I still have little dots on my stomach from last time they took them out when I was 7. This is essential to happen for me to keep healing. When they told me this morning they were taking them out, I got really nervous. Then immediately the Lord reminded me that this is so how we are with him. He wants to heal us and completely redeem us but we are so okay where we are in our completely pathetic state that we are willing to just stay wounded so we can stay comfortable. He came to set us free and we just want to stay where we are. So good. Then my precious Daddy (Mark, not my heavenly dad) read to me from the Bible like he and mommy have done so graciously all week. My parents are awesome. Today the sun is absolutely gorgeous. Surprisingly I have a really good view of Dallas which is good. DO NOT READ IF YOU GET GROSSED OUT EASILY:) My doctor just came in and told me that during my surgery they took out my intestines that were basically in a blanket of scar tissue. They took them out of me put them on a table and "beat them up". Then they put them back in me once they got the kinks out. He told me another astounding fact but that will be a new and different post tomorrow! And I might get to go home tomorrow! This is the today picture...i need to wash my hair-i'll get my nurses to work on that:)

Day 6-O Glorious Day!

2007-12-28T08:57:00.001-08:00

So today, I feel so blessed. I've gotten some GREAT visitors and cards and everything...highlights were unexpected visitors my lovely roomie Ashley Baldridge and Mr and Mrs Butch Smith in towns for a wedding. Such blessings! Thank you for the flowers too! I love those! Recent Updates: I got my NG tube (Nasal Gastric) OUT for GOOD! It went from my nostril in previous pictures down to my stomach and was just not a pleasant experience. It got put in wrong the first time so i coughed up blood, the 2nd time it was bleeding and had a hole in it, but don't worry, 3rd time's a charm:) but now, IT'S GONE! I've never said praise the Lord so many times! I can fully breathe! I still have my IV, morphine, and my gigantic scar (well, cut, it's still healing), and MAYBE, just MAYBE, I get food today!!!! I haven't eaten anything since Saturday (this is completely the Lord let me tell you, I LOVE food). The Lord has just reminded me with all this semester, he is in control, nothing is too hard for him...if he wanted it done in different timing, he would do it that way (prayer is essential too, but that's another post). Ashley Kinnard sent me the best thing last week that is so applicable to this:yay for Jesus and his timing! She was talking about how the Lord tests us, and he's interested in sanctifying us, and God doesn't waste his tests on us. So good. It's a Piper article, but I'm too out of it to find the exact reference at the moment:) So that's the update! Currently, i'm listening to Andrew Peterson's Christmas Album, glorious, and Simone Watts is on her way to visit! Enjoy my new lovely pic:) Trust me, I know I look yuck:) I like to take strange pictures too...

Day 5 in Good Ole Presby Hospital...and counting!

2007-12-27T07:58:00.000-08:00

Hello there! This is my picture today, straight hair! Today is Thursday, AJ's birthday! I got to the hospital about 11 on Saturday night, and went into surgery Sunday morning...Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances. word. I'm starting to get rather hungry but can't have food and get my nose tube out until I pass gas...probably tomorrow. But you know, my only constant, the only thing i can count on is the Lord's consistancy and sovereignty in all of this. I got sick at the exact time i was home, i could've been a million other places-praise the Lord i was home! I can't count on men but on the Lord and the wisdom, knowledge, and capabilities he's chosen to give my drs and nurses. Even though I do hope for my situation to keep changing, and it most likely will, the Lord is my rock. He's been affirming himself in every way possible, not that he even needs to, and showing me his grace, even when i feel like i should be "allowed to feel sorry for myself" in the hospital over my christmas break. Silly me! I am so thankful for how this has played out, and as it will continue to, and he is increasing my faith in so many new ways. I'm still on morphine so this might be coming out funny. In other news, my best friend Elise is engaged! And feel free to come visit my hospital if you're in Dallas, I love viistors:) Thank you body (as in you people). I am blessed by you everywhere!

Tubes Tubes Tubes.

2007-12-26T08:55:00.000-08:00

this is what i look like right now! just for you do!

Hello from the Hospital!

2007-12-25T12:52:00.000-08:00

So about 17 years ago, my colon got twisted in a knot. I was in 2nd grade. I felt like I had gas that whole night and found out otherwise at the emergency room the next day. Fastforward to this past Saturday morning I ran 4 miles. So Saturday night, I felt like I had gas, then I started throwing up....and lo and behold, I had kinks in my small intestine aka blockage in them. So Sunday morning I was admitted to have surgery at Presbyterian in Dallas on my small intestine. They took them out, unkinked them, and put them back in. Now it's Tuesday Christmas Day and I"m just hanging out in my room at the hospital. I'm really out of it still-sorry i've been on morphine since sat evening and just got access to my computer. Amazing friends like my HOPE group, an email from butch, and some of my fellow Dallas believers and Dallas ministers have been visiting me. Such a blessing. If anyone is actually reading this, please pray for my walking, my intestines healing, and this nose tube that goes through my nose to my esophagus. My parents are so good and have been with me the whole time and my sisters have visited a lot. The visitors have made my day! And my roommate just walked in!!! I love Ashley! The Lord is SO good. I'm dead to the world but am so filled with thankfulness:) I've been living off of Psalm 34 the last few days. Feel free to call my cell phone-someone in my family will answer. Merry Christmas! One day at a time! And Psalm 146 and 147 are so good too.

Home. Home. Home.

2007-12-21T18:45:00.000-08:00

I'm sitting in our living room at home. Real home. Where mommy and daddy are. I've lived in this house since I was one. We lived here while we remodeled it to fit all five of us. I've never changed bedrooms. I see my dad washing dishes (yes he's awesome) through the window in our kitchen as I write this. A window that used to look out into the backyard. I just got home a few hours ago from cstat, which is very much home as well. I sit in this house and all these memories come to mind from over the years. When the air conditioner leaked in my room, Dad tried to nail the soggy sagging ceilling back up and it fell on him, leaving a gaping hole. I had to live in chaney's room for weeks! Our den is a beautiful blue color (I am a blue fanatic) and I think about how we almost didn't paint it this color and painted it lime green instead. Trust me, we made a good decision. Or this summer when I had 15 of my favorite people over for dinner. So fun! I picture all of us sitting on the floor because we had no furniture that week. But more than the building of my home, the actual structure, is the essence that is home. The people, my family, both blood and of Christ, that inhabit these walls, whether visiting or actually living here, these are what make me love home. I love people. I love family. Don't you know this is just mere symbolism of our homecoming to heaven one day? How I long for that day! Such a beautiful picture that just struck me. As much as I love coming home to rest and just be, this is how heaven will be one day. We get to just BE with Jesus. And it never ends. Glorious.

Daddy's Little Girls

2007-12-13T14:46:00.000-08:00

So it's been entirely too long since I've written. I think I've had a slight brain block which is now gone. Good! I love to write! While thinking about Christmas, someone asked me what my favorite Christmas tradition is. Hands down, such an easy question in the Nall household. Typically, my mom does the Christmas present shopping but it always says it's from my parents-typical in most houses I would say. Well having 3 daughters with no boys until last year, my dad decided he was going on a mission starting when I was about 15. My family is kind of obsessed (just slightly) with the outdoors and all that it entails. Therefore, we adore REI, pointblank. It all started as my dad got inspired at REI to buy all of us thermo-compasses one year. They tell you direction as well as temperature. Handy little contraptions. The next year, again, he was inspired. Pocketknives. The trend continued until it just became tradition in our house. As much as I'm blessed by anything anyone chooses to give me, the presents from Dad and REI are always favorites. He also wraps them himself. My dad is cool I tell you:) Last year he bought me a bison ball of chalk for climbing, which is shaped really awkwardly, and he wrapped it, as is (or was). Anyway, we like the outdoors and our Daddy (and of course mommy too:), thus we are Nalls. The outdoor gear exchange is always exciting! What's your favorite Christmas tradition?

Expansion. Quality.

2007-10-29T14:22:00.000-07:00

So this semester God's been doing a lot of expanding...it took me awhile to choose this word. I haven't written a lot about my job because I've had to figure out how to express what's going on. Basically, I hang out for about 5 hours a day with the same child who has some very serious anger issues because of his life story. We chill in his classroom, him and 2 teachers, me being one of them. Growing up the way I have, this child has brought up some deep issues within myself I've never really explored because of my sheltered past. First, I've never realized how much I took my own safety for granted, or how much I value it. For the last two months, I've been threatened verbally multiple times each day, and been physically threatened multiple times in a week aka a fist 3 inches from my face, threatening body gestures, etc. In this, I've left work literally shaking multiple times, and just gotten home and bawled several times as well. Yay for honesty. But in this, I've seen Jesus so much. One, I am broken over the lost and dying world out there, and the effects of it and the sins of the father visited upon the child. It's heartbreaking. (I can't elaborate on his past experiences for confidentiality sake.) My heart is daily broken for the experiences this child has been through and the way he views life. There is no trust, no real love. Everything is so conditional and it's all about self. I've learned about harsh words that stir up anger and gentle words that destroy wrath. And slowly but surely, I've watched God work mightily in the life of this child. His teachers are all believers. My church has found 5 men to come hang out with him for an hour or so every week day, providing solid male influence. I've seen him begin to trust people. I've seen him learn (beginning to) to deal with this rage, this pain that is etched so deeply within him, that's been trying to get out for years. I see a hope that's never been there before, but is so afraid to come out for fear of being hurt again, just like he's been his entire life. Prayer for salvation and mercy is daily. Behavior modification is not my goal with this child. He daily used to talk about how he'd be in jail by his 10th birthday. This comes less and less these days. I don't know what exactly is happening, but I do know God is working. I've become more thankful than ever as I see what God saved me from, growing up the way I did and then I sit and think...This is EXACTLY the way God saw me before I knew him. So lost, broken, and destroyed by this world, so desperately in need of him. And he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness, bringing us to walk in his glorious light. Now if that isn't something to get excited about, I don't know what is!!!!!!:) Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus.

To my dear Elise

2007-10-28T12:20:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday!!!!!! What a wonderful best friend you are! I could not ask for more in a friend and praise Jesus every day, because as you grow, I grow too. As you are sharpened, I am sharpened! I miss you in Houston but you're only an hour and a half away! I hope today is super special and can't wait to celebrate with you soon.

Just some things I love about you:

You live life to your own beat.
You take me with you.
HOPE group memories (all 4 years).
Not wanting to live together for freshmen year even after we were told we would be friends, and then becoming best friends:)
Trad Pad gloriousness.
Theta house accountability til 2 in the morning.
Your sassiness.
Your rebukingness to me for me :)
Your cool dance moves.
Fletch ministry.
Your love for Jesus.
Your servant heart.

You're great! And you should all post and remind her how great she is!

Happy Birthday!!!!!

2007-10-24T14:17:00.001-07:00

Well, some real cool people I know have recently had birthdays...My Dad's was on Saturday and Chaney and I went home to celebrate. Let me tell you about Daddy. He's one of my favorite people in the entire world. There is just nobody like him. He has the uncanny gift to say the one thing to relieve all tension in a room that's about to blow up. Then we all laugh instead. He is a picture of a man growing in the Lord daily. He puts his wife and hls family before him in everything, always doing something for someone else. He loves Mommy so much. He has great costume making abilities. He was known as the "hidden treasure" on his last mission trip because he's that great. He'd be terribly embarrassed to know I'm writing this right now. He made sure his children know that God comes before all else in life and we NEVER missed church growing up. Because his daddy died of a heart attack when Dad was 16, he's made it a priority to take care of himself so he will be around a long time. He took such good care of his mommy when she was sick. I know that when I wake up on Saturday morning at home that all cars will be completely washed, the lawn mowed, and a really great breakfast will be made, because my Dad is awesome. AND, breakfast is his favorite meal of the day and I've never met a man more excited in the mornings. :) Yay for Ronald Mark Nall!!! Thankfully he goes by Mark. :)

Sweetness.

2007-10-06T20:33:00.000-07:00

So the most fabulous little boy Jalen made my day on Friday. We, meaning the first graders, filed into the library to watch the computerized Randie the Racoon talk about recycling...they were pretty mesmerized to say the least...and so was i:) My head aide, Jeanie, had our student sitting in her lap in front of me while we were sitting on the floor watching the presentation. Now Jalen and I's previous contact had amounted only to the idea that he talked when I had bus duty in the morning and so after repeated warnings I had to lead him, crying, to the wall to sit and face so he wouldn't talk. So here we are watching Randie the Racoon and I see this little boy in front of me lean on Jeanie and then after a moment spot me behind her. I'm sitting indian style mind you, and this little guy scoots back so his back is leaning on my legs. Then in one foul swoop he scoots up into my lap, grabs my arms and guides them to embrace his little body and interdigitates his little fingers inbetween mine for the next 45 minutes. At first I wasn't even sure if it was him, but I got him to spell his name which confirmed my thoughts. My heart was so blessed by the simplicity of this child wanting to be loved. This is how I am with the Lord, pride aside. I just want to sit in his lap, arms wrapped around me, and just be.

Simply Glorious!

2007-09-26T15:02:00.000-07:00

These are the exact words that came to my mind as I thought about what happened a mere hour ago. It was 4pm and we were about to finish our faculty meeting at Kemp when it was time for Bekah and I to make an announcement...

"Our church would really like to help you all (the staff) out in any way possible, whether it be bulletin board making, organization, maintenance, whatever during the week of October 20-24th. So here are the forms if you all want help because we have tons of people who are ready to help!"

So that was pretty cool in itself, BUT absolutely NOTHING compared to what happened after the announcement...

Teacher 1: These are the same people who offered to help run Fall Festival!
Teacher 2: They also buy shoes for the kids at Christmas!
Teacher 3: And I think they've contributed to buying clothes and backpacks too!
Teacher 4: Yah, it's Living Hope, that same church!
Teacher 5: This is so great!
Principal: I'm so excited for their help!

Wow. That was such a blessing to hear in person. We didn't even mention what church or anything, because that's not what's really important...but they know us. AND, on a separate note, they need to raise money for the school through selling Kemp t-shirts so everybody get excited! Yay for getting out into the community and for schools ministry!

One Week!

2007-09-21T16:00:00.000-07:00

Today marked the end of week one of my new job at Kemp! What do I do you ask? Well, lots of things! Legos (I built a house today), etch-a-sketching, basketball (aka shooting a 4-square ball in a trash can), read lots of kids' books, hangman, do bubble letters, read things out loud, count play money, go to the playground (sadly i have to watch), wear scrubs, play lots of games, etc. There's a little more to it but it's complicated so just ask! It's got its interesting moments but I am really enjoying it. I get to hang out with some kids who've had some tough stuff go on in their lives and we talk about it/ work on stuff that will help them in the classroom! Let me tell you, I work with some really bright kids (and very sweet too). Working in an elementary school is really funny at times too. This morning after repeatedly telling kids to be quiet or they would have to sit on the floor facing the wall, I had 2 kids cry on me for punishing them, and it was only 7:45... I get there at 7:15 to welcome the kids off the buses. Definitely a difference from doing the whole middle school and older thing:) but i'm learning! I'm particularly fond of the jeans and bryan high t-shirt on friday tradition:) that's all i got for now!

Proverbs 13:12!!!!!!!!! By Faith!

2007-09-14T22:25:00.000-07:00

"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life." Well...so it's been kind of a frustrating last few weeks in terms of the whole job thing. Being back in College Station has been amazing, with my roommate Miss Ashley Baldridge soon to be Mrs. Landon Carl and lots of my other favorite people, including the LH goers. We have entirely too much fun together! But as we've gotten settled in, I'd been working on my substitute teaching papers...I guess what I'd figured i'd be doing this year. I just have known that I'm supposed to be in CS this year, be in the schools somewhere, and God said "We'll work that out later. By faith...". SOOOO with that, this week I was sitting in Shepherd Group talking about my most recent climbing adventure with Mr. Derrick Oliver, commenting on the fact that we were both jobless as on that day. And lo and behold, God drops. Literally, Miss Bekah Gooden turns to me and tells me that they have an assistant aide position at Kemp Elementary, and they're looking for someone with a teaching degree to fill it. This is Tuesday evening...Fast forward, I have an interview at 9am this morning...it lasts 17 minutes and my thought is this could be really good or not so good. I LOVED the principal, the school, the teachers, the aides I'd be working with, everything! After my interview, I went to chill with Mrs. Kelly Williams and 2 of her clan and Mrs. Ashley Kinnard and her 2 as well. After spending some delightful time with them, I received a phone call...I got the job! Whoop! I'm so thankful. Most of the Bryan kids at Saturday night service are from Kemp so I'll get to know them really well, I get to be in the schools, I have a job that provides, I get to work with tight people, the list could go on. But more than anything I'm just so thankful. So overwhelmingly, totally, thankful for this gift and for the body that prayed about all of this for me. Gosh I love you people! I still don't know many details, just that I'll be working with Resource and doing one-on-one and small groups! I find out more on Monday, but I don't think I start til Tuesday because I'm taking a teaching test monday morning to be officially certified!

Pondering...

2007-09-09T21:14:00.000-07:00

So I've been thinking a lot the last few days, and I've come to a strange conclusion. I have a problem. Okay, it may not be a problem, but I don't know what else to call it. When I see people I'm really excited to see, like beyond excited, I have absolutely nothing to say to them. My heart is so happy to be with them, that I lose all train of thought. The second I walk away, I have a million things to say to them and to talk to them about, but while in person, my mnd goes blank. Case in point: church. I get SO excited to see some of my most favorite people in the world and yet, I open my mouth, and nothing comes out. I think a lot of it comes from the fact that I skipped the awkward middle school years and I think I'm making them up at the age of 24 (which is totally ok, but really funny to me). I see people who are some of the greatest blessings, maybe people I haven't seen in months, and I'm just so happy to BE with them. So it's not a huge problem, give me a while and I can compose myself and my brain returns to actually ask them that question I was wondering about their life the last week, month, whatev. But I just want you to know, if you encounter me and I have little to say but I can't stop smiling and am very happy, it's you. Even if I can't get my brain to work correctly, I like you a whole lot, and I'm just being an awkward teenager at the age of 24. :) One of my favorite conversations in college consisted of a friend of mine and I talking for a few minutes and then I looked at them, my mind completely blank, and said, "I'm sorry, I have nothing left to say. You're great and I'm so glad to have seen you." and with that they said, "Awesome, me neither. See ya later!"

But then there's the flip side. Sometimes I can't be quiet. So just know, my brain has its own schedule and sometimes I don't get it myself. Does this ever happen to anyone else? Comment. Go. All 3 of you. :)

Crush Reality...aka new poem:)

2007-09-05T11:56:00.000-07:00

Bring on the feedback please...I like this one.

I feel like I’ve had crushes on you
But I want to fall deeply,
Headlong,
Desperately,
In love with you.
For good.
With every ounce of my heart.
For better and for worse.
Til death do us part.
Only we don’t have to!
There is no death.
Only life.
This is a difficult concept to grasp.
Help.
Help me get how long,
How wide,
How high,
How deep
Is the love of Christ for me.
For us.

And at the same time
I want to know
That you’re in it
For good.
That you deeply,
Headlong,
Desperately,
Love me.
That you want me.
For good.
The pain of the past
Knocks at my door
Seeking entrance.
Wearily at first instinct
I try and open that door
Once again.
Embrace my old me
And push it out
To make room for the new one
Two of me is far too much
The new one please.
Show me your permanence
That I would allow my heart your entrance
Rejection is gut-wrenching
Bring healing and reminding
That you’re not leaving
And all these things I’m dreaming
Aren’t truth

We are for good
We are for forever
There is no death
Only life
And amidst this strife
Is beauty
Of you, your cross and your life
There is mutual wantance
Based on my forgiveness
From your gracious self
Without it, I’m basically bound for hell
But instead my heart soars
As I embrace this deep love, Yours
And fall deeply,
Headlong,
Desperately,
In love with you.
Forever.
Starting…
Now.

Little Chunkers aka Chaney

2007-09-04T09:21:00.000-07:00

This is my adorable sister Chaney, or little chunkers. Ok so she's not that little, she's 21. Chaney is absolutely wonderful and just got back to A&M after a semester off with mono. I'm TOTALLY excited about the fact that she just joined LH and will be coming to Hope Group and getting plugged in...so for all you LH bloggers, if you see her around feel free to say hi! I think Chaney is one of the funniest people i know. really. She'll play off that she's shy, don't be fooled. And keep in mind, these are real conversations we've had.

Example 1: Christmas Day, I'm working on a puzzle I got with Hello Kitty on it.

Chaney watching me: Do you think Hello Kitty is a boy or a girl?

Me: A girl, she has a bow!

Chaney still in deep thought: maybe it's ambidextrous...oh wait, i mean neutered?

Example 2: today we're going to lunch and in Dallas we live about 2 miles away from SMU, but we're in College Station at the moment.

Text Message from Chaney: i have a break from 12:30-2:20. Wanna pick me up in front of moody (moody colliseum is smu's colliseum)?

My text: moody?

Chaney: collseum. duh.

My text: you mean g rollie? we don't go to smu.

Chaney: WAHAHAHAH.

Example 3: At Black Eyed Pea back in the day with the fam.

Chaney: I don't like mashed potatoes.

Mom: You must be a communist because all Americans like mashed potatoes. :)

Chaney: commUNists (she pronounces it like coh-mewnists) live in newbraska.

This receives lots of blank stares from the family, followed by lots of laughing:)

Just a few things about sweet Chaney. She's pretty entertaining, and pretty great, so get to know her!
And the name Little Chunkers? When she was little, her Sunday school teacher couldn't get her to speak up so she thought her name was candy, then chancy, and then chunky. It stuck and became her instant messenger name and pine cove name:)

I'm on the job hunt right now...i think it's going to be tutoring and subbing...but I will keep you posted!

Closer To Myself

2007-08-30T13:01:00.000-07:00

I'm currently listening to a cd by a girl named Kendall Payne, and the song on my cd player right now is called Closer to Myself. Here's the words...it's quality. And keep reading!

Digging deep, I feel my conscience burn
I need to know who and what I am
This hunger jolts me from complacency
It rocks me, makes me meet myself

Jacob walked a limp to remind him
Of the greater gift of the greater one
But when I fell, I fell to my own resources
How can I carry a truth, if I can't even crawl to you?

Chorus:
I wanna feel something sweeter than this sin
Cover me in leaves and roll me over again
I've been everybody else now I wanna be
Something closer to myself

Paint me in a different light
Shed me yet another coat of skin
Mark me with ash until I'm clean again
Cause I'm so sick and tired
Of being sick and tired
I know I can love you, I know that I can

What awesome words to describe the last 8 months of life! One thing I've really been doing since I graduated in December is studying myself. Yes, studying myself. My relationship with God. I'm a lot different than I thought. :) I want to be who HE made me to be. This summer at kamp I was blessed to hear Phil Joel of the Newsboys in person. Let me tell you, this man KNOWS Jesus, not about Him, he KNOWS Him! As I heard him play, I realized more than ever how much I want to know God and know Him well, and how little time I really invest in it, in Him. The Lord continually keeps revealing the half-heartedness with which I walk with Him, and have for years. Now is the time for change, especially as I'm realizing that those behaviors which we don't surrender will continue over and over in life (why did i think it would just stop being a problem? really kelly...). God keeps showing me weaknesses I have and specific ways in which they are manifested in my life. So I'm fully intending to use this semester, this year, this life, starting with today, to KNOW Jesus. Ephesians 5:16 talks about being "redeemers of the time because the days are evil." I want to redeem my time and use it for Him. I so often get stuck on things that don't matter, and I want my life to be used to redeem. No this isn't easy, but that's why I'm sharing it with you. Ask me if I'm redeeming my time here as I finish the work God has given me to do. I know this sounds like a battle cry kind of, but that's what it is. Satan really doesn't like it, I know, but I know that life that's not fully following Jesus is no life at all. So please, pray for me and partake with me. :)

The Fellowship

2007-08-21T19:07:00.000-07:00

About a week and a half ago (sorry, slightly delayed post:) I had the privilege of having some WONDERFUL people over to my house aka my parents house in Dallas for some dinner, fun, and fellowship! These are some of my favorite A&M friends (we're missing a few for sure...Linds, Lise, Jonny, Jessie boy, to name a few, there's lots more) and I was so blessed to get to see them all at once. Three of them just left for Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, California. That's what brought up this idea in my mind, kind of a party for them. These people, every single one of them, bless me so much, my heart was practically soaring when they left that night. I am so blessed by the people around me who love Jesus! And that's just a few my age! There's a million older and younger who teach me all the time too. I also love this picture because it displays so much of the character and personality of these ppl. Their laughter, simple joy in life, loving the Lord, and each other, have taught and changed me TONS. My heart rejoices as I think about the person I was entering A&M and the person I'm still becoming, largely in part to their influence on my life. So thanks to all of you, even though like 3 of you read this:), you bless me and I love you a lot.

And Fellowship of the Rings (LOTR) is on tv on Friday, thus the title:)

Mesmerized and Side Tracked at the Same Time...

2007-08-11T22:22:00.000-07:00

Wrote this tonight! Still hasn't been edited so this is really more the raw version aka what popped into my head tonight....when I'm inspired, I write! Enjoy, and as always, comment away!

Mesmerized
Sweetly broken
Nowhere to turn
Nowhere to look
But up
Side to side is no help
Without the source
It’s all in vain
And yet laboriously
I continue to confide
In those from my left
To my right side
When will I get it?
When will I throw me aside
For good?
Why must this battle ensue within me?
I know the answer
This I have heard plenty
Once I switched sides
This battle will continue
To ensue until the day I die
My victory is won
And that day will come
When Satan will be vanquished
And my heart will feel no more anguish
True I have faced less in life
Than many people
But that doesn’t mean I’ve been protected by the steeple
Encouraged, Built up,
Torn down, frustrated
But as much as I’ve been berated
I’ve also become elated
At seeing the body in action on this earth
Seeking to be what Christ meant first
Before Satan maimed
Jesus’s bride
And now it’s high tide
And the water’s coming in
God’s work continues to win
It started a long time ago
Before time was to begin
And yet sitting back in perspective
My heart, mind, soul becomes reflective
When I fight alone
I am sitting
Inviting Satan into my home
And it is only fitting
That I will lose this war and become Lucifer’s clone
This daily war I fight
We all fight
Apart we are nothing
But together we stand in unity
Not just a community
But a force
Of something,
Or rather someone
Far greater than us
And with Him
We can fight
And we will win!
Sound the battle cry!
Satan,
You must die!
In every aspect of our lives!
We brandish the weapons of the King
Taking captive all thoughts from Death’s sting
We will not bend to this thing
This being
That claims to be King
Only the king of deceit
Our loyalty is to the true Lion and Lamb
And it is with swift feet
That we see this Antichrist’s defeat
Sound the trumpets of his victory!
Where O death is your sting?
It holds no power
As it has been destroyed by the God of the Hour
The day, the month, the year, the millennium
No wait
Time has not bound him!
Praise God for leading us to Him
I don’t know whether I would have found Him
Wretch as I am
And though this life is at times long
Praise the Lord for breath
To sing this song!
My heart sings your praise
And with that
To you my songs will raise
No matter the day
No matter the time
This is my pledge
This is my sign
My heart, my very being I give to you
Take me away from the tyranny of the urgent
And fill me with Christ’s aroma,
Completely with his scent
Inside and out
Til I’m yours
Without any doubt
Totally sold out.

Oh da Weddings

2007-08-07T09:00:00.000-07:00

Well, I went to wedding number 7 this past weekend, yes number 7 of the summer, that is correct. Throughout the summer, I've made some observations as I've watched multiple events. I've been to weddings that the goal is to glorify Jesus and I've been to the weddings where they say Jesus who? I for one love weddings, even though I know a lot of girls sit and compare the current wedding to their own (whether it be past or future...and you think I'm kidding), and I think this is a good thing (that I love weddings), because as a girl, it is difficult sometimes to be content with where God has placed you in life. This isn't to say I'm perfect, far from it, but merely to say that I thoroughly enjoy going to weddings and praise the Lord I'm content! That was a bit of a tangent...continuing...and switching gears...there's something I learned about in Biology freshman year at A&M called the Sum of the Emergent Parts, and unlike everything else in that class, I cannot forget about it. The Sum of Emergent Parts in Kelly words says: When you add things together in science, the whole of the ingredients is far greater than they ever were as separate entities. The second I heard this theory, rule, whatever (I usually am not a big science fan) marriage sprang to mind. When two people, correction, two believers, by God's grace, are put together, we should see an explosion of Jesus! Together, we should see their lives as far better, far more glorifying to the Lord, than if they were apart. By this, we KNOW that God is the center, because man could never have built a relationship like this. I love it when you see how science ties into Jesus. It's so cool. I've also come to the conclusion that marriage is a miracle of the Lord, at least in the attempt to make it God-glorifying. The process leading up to it, the perseverance during it, it's so God-put together. It's amazing to get to watch people begin their journey in life together. Rehearsal dinners are my favorite. I love hearing about the way the Lord has used these two people to affect those around them. How much more we as believers should get excited to see/hear what God will do through them once united! This may be a bit of a heavy topic, but since it has been such a great part of the last two summers (16 in all), I felt as though I should broach the subject...I think I could write thoughts down on this for hours, but that's all I got today. Here's a picture from the latest wedding of Amanda Nelson Joiner...a few pics including me wearing a matching dress with my new cousin-in-law, Kelly. :)

Rhett and Link! And other fun things:)

2007-08-01T19:37:00.000-07:00

So just for fun, I think I should share with you all some of my favorite websites, because Chaney and I sit and laugh at them for a long time.

Step 1: Go to YouTube

Step 2: Search "Harry Potter and the Mysterious Ticking Noise"

Step 3: Watch.

Also search Rhett and LInk Facebook Song and enjoy! Courtesy of my dear friend Simone Watts...and I think the guy with a beard looks like Matt Graham for those of you who know him:) This song will be in your head for hours...or it is in mine:)

And go to muffinfilms.com- chaney and i's favorite ones are psssst and The Muffin Tree

And look for Amburgers and Wootbeer too-go to youtube and look for my little sister Chaney, singing in her mosher dorm room!

Enjoy!!!! And give feedback!

CHALLENGE.D.

2007-07-31T10:15:00.000-07:00

Coming into kamp, I was having lots of mixed emotions. Here was this place I had idolized for so long, because I had seen Jesus work there so strongly, and yet coming back I knew life so differently. Jesus works EVERYWHERE. China and a million other things helped me realize this. When I made the decision to go back to kamp, the closer it got to work week, the more I did not want to go, which needless to say, has NEVER happened when I've gotten ready to go to kamp. But I also realized it was pure fear that made me not want to go. And knowing what God says about fear, it made me all the more determined to go, for Jesus. Not for myself or my own glory, terrified as I was. Work week was interesting to say the least. One, I only knew a few people who were on staff, so I felt like I was new again. Two, people would introduce themselves and tell me they were going to be a sophomore in college...translation: instant thought: you were in 8th grade when I was a senior in high school. AKA I felt old. :)
But the coolest thing happened, through being there, I realized how much I've changed since 3 summers ago when I walked out that gate. My confidence is no longer in man, or in his institutions, and the promises of this world. It is the Lord alone I trust. It's definitely not a perfect trust, but that's my heart. So fastforward from work week to second term. I know God is doing something huge, but I can't put my finger on it. As second term starts, craziness begins. Sheer craziness so great at kamp, I know it's from God, and I also know He can be a whole lot crazier:), if he so chose. Within the first 2 days, my co-counselor decides she doesn't want to be at kamp and leaves, I get a new co 4 days into kamp who I've never met (but is now one of my favorite ppl ever!), and leadership has told me from the beginning that they gave me the hardest kabin. Breathe.
So during kamp, I had the opportunity to be in this amazing woman of God's bible study, Mrs. Callie Dolloff. This was such a huge blessing because the Lord has shown me that when he changes my heart on something, like kamp for instance, I can have a tendency to dwell on bitterness whenever this subject appears. To clarify, when I realized Theta was an idol, I was bitter and hated being there for a whole year until the Lord showed me that my bitterness was no more pleasing to Him than my idolatry. When I gave the Lord my pain with that, he began to heal me and use me with the girls in the house, because that was what I cared about, the people, not the organization. Hopefully this example helps...sorry my brain's on overdrive right now...anyway back to the story. Callie had come to K-1 when she married one of our leadership guys so we had never met before this summer. I learned so much from her, but even more than that, was so blessed by her fellowship. It was really humbling to me to come to kamp, a place I had always been "cool" if you will, and now be orientated in classes I used to teach, to not know anyone, to feel old, to have to admit why I'd been gone for 3 years. As the term progressed, (if you want details just ask, i could go for hours) I got to share with Callie the new me, the one the Lord had been changing, and as we saw the madness of the term keep unfolding, I could only thank God for answering my prayers to humble me, the ones I've been praying the last 6 months. At the end of the term she shared this verse with me.

"From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded, and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." Luke 12:48

The reason I titled this post challenge.d. is because I ask you to take it as a challenge as I myself have been challenged. God has given each one of us so many gifts, so many opportunities, and even more than any of that, he's given us Him, the greatest gift of all. As she read this verse to me, God poured forth conviction and has continued to do so since July 18th, about the areas in my life concerning partial obedience. All during kamp one of the main questions I asked my girls was, do you want to follow Him? and Are you willing to give up everything for Him? This morning I was challenged yet again reading Luke 14:25-35.
26-27 says:If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his own brothers and sisters-yes, even his own life-he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
Through these verses God continues to reveal the areas I haven't surrendered and challenge me, are you in this for real?
Where are you slacking and why? I went to the dentist the other day and my dentist started throwing questions about me and jobs and attacking a lot of decisions I've made with deciding to go back to College Station. My dentist? For real? And yet, it brought me to tears. It showed me just how much I still care what people think about me, even when I know what God wants from me. God knows he's asking a lot from me, and he's pushing me for more. My prayer is that I would answer Him with an increase in faith, that's my hope. Please think about this in your own life! That's my prayer in sharing this! Lord bring clarity and wisdom!

30 Years! 1 Year!

2007-07-23T09:17:00.000-07:00

Today is a very special occasion in the Nall household! My parents have been married 30 years today! Whoop! And they love each other more than ever! And a year ago yesterday, my sister Kimberly was marrying Grant! Lots of good celebration around here! More on kamp soon!

By Faith...

2007-06-20T08:25:00.000-07:00

"By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going." Hebrews 11:8

Welcome to my life right now! The way all logistics go, I should be going anywhere in this world because there are jobs everywhere, especially in the big cities like in Dallas, where I'm from.

However, the Lord has made it abundantly clear that He is still not finished with me in College Station yet. So what decision have I made? I'm stepping out in faith. It sounds almost backwards because I am so familiar with College Station, yet I need a job to live and work there.This is where the faith part comes in (specifically that is).

I'm moving back to College Station after I go work at kamp (June 24-July 19th) and living with the wonderful Ashley Baldridge!

I keep thinking of Facing the Giants...the part where the coach is asked which farmer acted in faith, the one who prepared his fields, or the one who waited to see concrete evidence. (There's so much more to that scene but it escapes my mind right now!)

I know that since the Lord wants me in College Station, he will provide a job for me. Sadly, Brazos Christian didn't work out, but there's another school that won't be hiring until July, so I'll keep ya posted! And also, :) pray that I'm not really picky and want the perfect job, but that I'll take the one the Lord wants me at.

It's been a hard month, with BCS, my sweet little dog Sam had to be put to sleep, and a lot of other stuff. BUT...

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Word.

Exultations in Joy, No wallowing in the confusion! Yeah for Exploration!

2007-06-13T10:26:00.000-07:00

This last weekend, I had the privilege of going to one of my best friend's wedding. You Aggies probably haven't had the pleasure of meeting Mr. William Thomas Liggitt Jr. or his beautiful bride Brittany Salem Atkins Liggitt, because they spent their college years in Wacko (yes, I know i spelled it wrong) at Baylor. Willymo and I became friends during one of his girl drama episodes in 8th grade and have remained good friends since. He's practically a member of the Nall family, spending most afternoons at our house from 8th grade-senior year. We still hung out when we'd come home and I got to hear these stories of this amazing girl he'd started dating, Brittany. i got the pleasure to meet her and let me tell you, she's wonderful and she loves Jesus! Earlier this year, Willy proposed and thus, Winston-Salem (Brittany's hometown) on June 9th. I'd never been to North Carolina so Mom and I had lots to explore. We hit up all the random shops and met up with an old friend from high school miss Molly Averitt who actually lives in Winston-Salem. We got a tour of Wake Forest University (which has an incredible field for ultimate frisbee and great magnolia trees to climb) and the whole town from Molls. It's beautiful over there! I got to go to all the typical wedding stuff and it was so good. I love seeing when a man and woman who love Jesus are united in marriage.

On another note, I went down to College Station and interviewed for a teaching postion at Brazos Christian and I should hear any day! I absolutely love that school! I will keep you posted...literally I guess:) But still, there is a part of me that says, they won't want me and I am inadequate to do the job. Maybe I should apply for another job or something. Somewhere else. Oh my lack of faith. To quote Mark 9: "Lord I do believe, Help me overcome my unbelief!"

Along with everything else, the wonderful Derrick Oliver or D.O., has been coming to my church lately and the wonderful Erin Whitley has stopped in, and we think they look related:) So we took family photos! Enjoy!

Wow. Yay for mind blowing!

2007-06-02T13:52:00.000-07:00

I'm officially back in Dallas from K-1 Work Week...more formally known as Kanakuk Kamps Staff Training Week. It consisted of lots of weed pulling, tying knots, digging peat gravel trenches, craziness, fun, and LOTS of rain. :) For those of you who don't know, this was my first time back to kamp in 3 years, I skipped 2 summers. That's highly unusual for someone who's spent 13 summers of their life at a place. All I know, is the Lord is beyond good. Explanation: At the beginning of junior year of college, the Lord revealed that kamp and my sorority were idols in my life, and I was putting them before Him. I was ready to quit my sorority and God had me stick it out and taught me so much through the brokenness with that. However, kamp, I didn't want to give up. I just came to the conclusion that now that I knew better, that was good enough and I could keep going to this place I loved so much. Not so. On the very day, I was contemplating signing my contract for kamp the next summer, God totally shut me down and said no. That same day, I was sitting on a bench outside of the MSC and my dear friend Colby Ivey rides up and mentions this program about teaching English in China. Where God shuts one door, he opens another...I went to China that summer instead of kamp and it changed my life. Then last summer, once again God made it very clear that kamp was still not an option. I let go of the idea of going back ever again... Then this year came. While working at the bucks this semester, I realized I had a very free summer but still needed to make some cash. And for some reason, aka Jesus, kamp came to mind. But you see the crazy thing was that I hadn't thought realistically about going to kamp for over a year. I thought it was done. The reason kamp was no longer THE priority in my life? Jesus Christ had become once again THE priority. AND, I had a constant group of believers with me all the time, an incredible community who had my back and pushed me toward Jesus all the time, the church. THIS is how Jesus meant for it to be!!!!!!! I no longer have kamp highs because I have Jesus highs all the time! No, life isn't perfect at all, but I see how Christ means for the body to function, as imperfect as it is! Anyway, back to my story. I call my director, Diane, to see if they have any open spots and she says, "When do you want to work?" So all of the sudden, I'm going back to kamp. Crazy. As I headed up there 2 weeks ago today, I was crazy nervous, because I am a far cry from the person I was three years ago, thank the Lord! At first it was almost dream like, but i got to see how the Lord uses kamp as a haven from the world, a place so drastically different from the world inside of it, a place of reflection in life. And that's when it hit me. So many, not all, but many, believers who do kamp love it because it embodies what the church (the believers, they make up the church) is supposed to look like. In the middle of the hard stuff, we're supposed to love each other as Christ did, pushing each other toward Him. But, these believers don't have a local church body that does this. As I pulled out my camera and showed pictures of my HOPE group and talked about my Living Hope fam (I mean, really, how can I not? :), every single time I got a response of something like, "I wish I had a church like that." Oh church, that we would be that all the time! That we wouldn't have to go to Branson, Missouri, or Tyler, Texas, or somewhere else to meet with Jesus! That everywhere, believers would get to have real, authentic community with Jesus Christ and his people! This is a lot, but wow. More to come. This post is just already entirely too long!

Get pumped!

2007-05-18T13:48:00.000-07:00

Jennifer Cjmadalka or however you spell that dear one's last name is on her way! We leave for the rolling hills of Branson, MO tomorrow morning! Roadtrip with one of my favorite former youth:) Tonight will be full of packing and fun craziness as always, especially when one girl from an all girl family joins another all girl family. Good times. Updates are coming June 2nd or 3rd! I'm ready for gravel moving, rock climbing certification (WHOOP!), sawdust explosions, blob blowing, slew cleaning (as disgusting as it sounds), and all else. But there's no break as I am still working on stuff for next fall, so prayers are necessary!

Blown Away. And broken.

2007-05-13T14:27:00.000-07:00

Really that's about the only thing that can describe the last few weeks of my life. I'm sitting here, in my camping chair in my house in College Station, because it's the only piece of furniture set up in my house right now. Yes, I'm moving tomorrow. Home to Dallas for the summer. Maybe longer, but I sure hope not. (I love you Mom. It's not you. It's Dallas:) Over the last few weeks, the Lord has brought forth a lot of reflection on my time in CS. God has been blowing me away with wisdom from fellow believers (even without them realizing it, thanks Heather Hendrick!), His Word, unbelievers, and DO's fabulous book reccommendation, Disapointment with God. Can I be honest? Ok, I'll be honest even if you don't want me to be:) I LOVE College Station. LOVE it. Even though I'm completely allergic to the town and get sick at least once a semester and can't breathe, I ADORE this town. I love everything about it, except my allergies and asthma... but i'm trying to work on that:)..."giving thanks in all circumstances"...but that's a TOTALLY different story. Back to the subject-I love the A&M Rec Center (I could live there, really.), especially the rock wall, campus, the people, Jane Long Middle School, my Starbucks (TX and Holleman all the way.), and more than anything else here, my church, Living Hope. Since December graduation, I've been workin the bucks loving being here, but accepting that most likely, I'm leaving for good at the end of the semester. I worked and did applications for the fall...and all during this I've been praying for brokenness. Well, last week, I got my last "deferrment" from all the different programs and such that I've applied for for this semester. As I was on the phone with Jeremiah...yes that was his name...tears were streaming down my face as he tells me I'm a "quality applicant" (what the heck is that phrase anyway?) but I wasn't accepted and I'm trying to be polite and kind, when in reality I want to throw something at him and scream...anyways...So I've applied all these places, in CS and away, trying to walk in faith that the Lord will reveal what's supposed to happen next. At this point I just lost it. Yep, I lost it and just cried, so hurt, but at the same time knowing that the Lord does not forsake His children and that He does have a plan for me, it's just not my plan. And in the middle of all of this, the LH sermons the last few weeks? Leave and Go, Partial Obedience, and Waiting on the Lord. I realized in all of this, how deep my love for the church, to be specific, Living Hope, really is. The last few weeks, literally every time I go in the building, or think about the idea that after the next few weeks I may not be here in this town, with this people (b/c the PEOPLE are the church), with this body, I just bawl. Weep really. Sob uncontrollably. Got the picture? The thing that has broken me? The IDEA of leaving this town (mainly my church) for good. I don't even know if the Lord wants me to leave! Just the idea. Literally right now, I can almost cry on command when I just think about it. Butch hugged me last night and I burst into tears! Oh goodness, I love you people, so deeply. Where else can you find a blog posting on this very subject with 47 comments? :) I love going to church 30 minutes early and being one of the last to leave! But through all this, the Lord has already grown and continues to grow me, for His glory. The very idea of not being here has made me think of all these people I'm just becoming friends with and am dying to know more, all the relationships with believers and unbelievers God keeps throwing in my lap...and I trust-He has a plan. Just today I found out that Brazos Christian School has a 5th grade position open in the fall! Whoop! Totally unexpected, and yet expected in my mind...so much of the time I feel like the man in Mark 9 when Jesus commands the demon out of His son and he says, "I do believe! Help me overcome my unbelief!" I don't know what's going to work out, but I know my heart is here, and as my great friend Ryan Couch reminded me in a comment on Heather Hendrick's blog (we're nerds I know), I have a heart and a vision for CS and for the people here to know Jesus and to make Him known to the world. The Lord is going to provide. It may not be the way I want, but my trust is in Him. See the tree post and the Jeremiah verses:) I don't even have a place to live in the fall but I know if I'm supposed to be here, the LORD will pave the way. And that my friends, is beautiful. To quote a wondeful band..."There's beauty in the breakdown. " Yes there is.

welp...a little bita poetry...

2007-04-25T21:59:00.000-07:00

So I've decided to post some of my poetry...enjoy! The first one's kinda old (maybe a few months) and the other one is my latest. Pass along any comments if you're feelin it!

Fear.
It’s an ugly word in most senses.
It keeps us from life
because the outcome
is uncertain.
It holds us back
from what we were meant to do.
Two words come with this kind of fear.
Of man.
Yes, that’s right.
Fear of man keeps us from living life
the way it was meant to be lived,
to the fullest.
This displaced,
distorted,
evil,
frustrated,
envious,
jealous
fear
tells us
to do what is expected of us,
to STAY AWAY
from the unknown
it’s way too scary
what if it falls through?
You’ve gotta have a backup.
And if you don’t
or you don’t
know what you’re doing,
you’re screwed.
Don’t wait on the Lord,
wait on yourself,
this fear exclaims.
God takes way too much time to decide these things.
Go with what you’re comfortable with
what’s gonna work best for you.
It’ll all be okay
even if you choose to disobey.
But then,
this places absolutely NO value on trusting the Lord and having the RIGHT kind of fear. The FEAR of the LORD.
Realizing I am either a slave to my sinful nature
or to Christ,
disobedience to God should make me be VERY afraid
…because I have been asked,
commanded to do something
by the most High
and I
Have told him to shut up.
Forget it.
You’ve taken too long
so I’m just going to decide it for myself
based on my far too finite knowledge
because I’m “well-educated.”
Barf.
God, may I not succumb to these lies.
Lies, yes
that is what they are.
These things that say
“God doesn’t care”
so figure it out yourself
before it’s “too late.”
Oh God.
Lord keep us from such things.

Secure

I become more and more insecure in myself
As I become more and more secure in Christ
It is a strange but beautiful place to be
Convinced I can do nothing right
And Christ must do it for me
With nothing left to do but throw up my hands
As He receives the victory
And I refuse to succumb to mediocrity
Good-bye to the way I used to be
Hello to my ever present eternity
Oh God I beg you to use me
To impact and affect souls for eternity
All else is but wind, come and gone so fast
There is nothing else in this life that will last
But the souls of men and the Word of the past
Present and Future of the God of Paternity
It is you who I yearn to be
I know this is not easily attained
And yet still this one thing remains
To be like you in whole
Is my ultimate goal
Not that I could ever be God
To admit that would be a whole lot of fraud
But to mirror who you are
This would be more satisfying by far
Than the sludge that I play in
To look deep into your face
And to know that redeeming grace
To remember you don’t condemn your saints
But instead you use them to paint
This indescribable, alluring scene
That you have woven millions of years before
What else could I ask for?
I could not ask for more!
Than to be used by the God of the Universe
As He secures who I am in Him
Chord after chord, verse after verse
There’s no need to pretend or even to rehearse
There is no life without Him
And it is there that Satan condemns
This is it, despite all the strife
Christ is it, Christ is real life.

Oh Life, Sweet Life...

2007-04-15T18:57:00.000-07:00

Proverbs 13:12

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

Word. Literally.

So I've been thinking about this verse a whole lot lately as I continue to ponder the next step. The most interesting part to me is the between the lines of this verse. PATIENCE in the waiting for the longing to be fulfilled. I feel like all I do in life these days is wait. It was really frustrating me for awhile (and it still can if i choose to let it) and then the Lord started to rock the boat on this. He's still rocking but i'm not sure what the rocking leads to:) Obviously in our times of waiting (I mean in life, we wait on the Lord all the time) God doesn't just want us to sit and twiddle our thumbs. He doesn't want us to be lazy and just sit around. So I've been workin the bucks and applying for different jobs and discipleship programs trying to be proactive about the future while balancing contentment with where I am now. Oh the patience required to live in the here and now! How cool is it though, that when that longing is fulfilled, it's gonna be tight! Such a good verse...aren't they all? Anyway, i'll keep ya posted when more is known...we will find out! And I just really like this picture from San Marcos 07:)

WAY TIGHT. Read on.

2007-03-26T17:27:00.000-07:00

So this was one of the many really cool trees we saw in San Marcos. My dear friend Chris Williams got a pic of it. And then check out this tight scripture:

This is what the LORD says:

"Cursed is the one who trusts in man,
who depends on flesh for his strength
and whose heart turns away from the LORD.
He will be like a bush in the wastelands;
he wlll not see prosperity when it comes.
He will dwell in the parched places of the desert,
in a salt land where no one lives.
But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
whose confidence is in him.
He will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit." -Jeremiah 17:5-8

"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel
of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers." -Psalm 1:1-4

And there's so much more than what i just wrote...good stuff. That tree is such a beautiful picture of scripture!

San Marcos 07!

2007-03-18T21:00:00.000-07:00

So at the request of mr. price specifically (who has not updated his blog yet might i add:), you're about to get the 411 on Spring Break 07, dubbed San Marcos 07 by the dear Simone Watts. It all began at the rock wall a few weeks ago. Simone and I were chatting about how we loved canoeing, then it became we should take a trip sometime, and then, how about the first weekend of spring break? Heck yes! Along the way, we picked up the fantastic company of Miss Alycia Erickson, Mr. Chris Williams, Mr. Nathan Fort, and Mr. John Fox. We were set. Favorite thing about these people right off the bat: We're all very into outdoors yet VERY flexible...this comes in handy later on. The journey begins about 7pm on Friday night, packed up with 2 cars, a canoe on one, and a ton of stuff! We get there, unload, chill, set up tents, the usual. We decide to cram all three girls into my two person tent for 2 nights, which made for some entertaining sleeping arrangements! We got real tight real fast. After an early morning trip to the grocery store, we head over to TG Canoe, at the entrance of Pecan Park to get some gear! We set out with a tandem (2 person) kayak, tandem canoe, a single canoe, and a single kayak. We were set. We packed highly nutritious food like tortillas and strawberry jelly...yesssss...That day was simply gorgeous! We canoed/kayaked 7 miles down river in about 75 degree somewhat shady beautiful weather. Full of fun games like Apple Core Baltimore (where you throw apple cores at each other) and the tipping of a canoe that resulted in losing an important pant leg with credit card and drivers license, we pulled to shore. That night was a blast with exploring for firewood, climbing trees, making homemade ice cream (john fox wins for his recipe!), some serenading by some super talented guitarists (mr fox and miss watts), and quality discussion and story telling. Sunday morning we had an awesome church service with the owners who are believers. It was not very pretty at this point and looked like rain...some foreshadowing if you will. Nathan and Alycia had to peace out so John, Simone, Chris, and I start some rousing games of uno, and in the middle of our go fish game we had to move in (all 4 of us) to my 2 person tent. Interesting:) We then decided to go see a movie in town, and on the way we instead went to fazolis and seattle's coffee company to play some 42. I love dominoes! So fun! Meanwhile it's pouring and we find out we're near a tornado and we head back to camp. This wonderful group that we traded our homemade ice cream for homemade peach cobbler with the night before were gone so we moved into their pavillion. As it rained, we had our kind of leaky pavillion roof that at least kept us mostly dry...the night was great as we had a massive dance party with music we put on in the car (we got skills) followed by a sermon. The boys slept in the car and Simone and I in the tent. In the morning, there wasn't a dry place on the ground except my tent! Praise the Lord! Then Tom (the owner) tells us we have 5 minutes to be out or the river will cover us. Flooding from the rain. So we packed up and did...what else? 30 minutes away from austin, REI here we come! And yes we hadn't showered in 3 days. Beautiful. Or not. :) It was a quality trip. Good times, good people. A tornado, a flood. Enjoy the pics! We had more fun than should really be allowed!

Learning, learning, learning

2007-03-01T12:33:00.001-08:00

Yes, that is what I'm up to. Learning! I've gotten some great learning time while at the bucks the last two weeks...I feel as though last week I had the opportunity to be the barista in the Living Hope Christmas play...first scenario-call me chelsea smith...three girls walk into the bux, being girls, not really acknowledging me at all (something I sadly am used to), and the conversation then goes something like this, girl A turns to me as I say, "Hey! how are you doing?!" and she replies..."yah I want a tall white mocha (i made that up, but that's what 80% of ppl who go to starbucks order:)." Then she turns back to her friends to continue their previous conversation..."Girl guard your heart! I know he's great but...". That was about all I could absorb on that one b/c i was pretty disgusted to be honest. God, let me treat every person I meet as if it was a permanent relationship. Even if i see them for two minutes of life... and help me love these people. I know I've been and still can be one of them. I'm not immune to this.
Scenario Two. I was making drinks on the bar and a splenda paper fell to the bottom of an empty cup for a drink I was making. Barely touching the bottom of the cup, but yes I did touch the cup, I went ahead and made the drink in that cup. Keep in mind, I had already made this woman's drink incorrectly once, and I had clean hands, so this was my mindset:to keep going and get her drink out as quickly as possible. But she saw me, and I guess in her mind, I stuck my dirty hand all over the inside of her cup. When I called out her drink, she replied with "I'll take this drink for now, but next time don't stick your hand in my cup." Well, she didn't really have the nicest tone and she also said it in front of 10 people who were waiting...so what did i do? I took a 10 minute break and cried. I'm not perfect but I do try to do everything with excellence as much as I can. But guess what, I failed. After the brief flesh outbreak of wanting to scream at this woman about how mean she was, the Lord got ahold of me and prompted me to love this woman as He loves her. So I prayed about it a lot, but it was/still is hard, because she cut deep. But she came in again the other day, this time i was at the register. I am praying for her, that the Lord would change her heart as He changes my own.
On a different note, I do love my job! These were just two instances that stood out...I have so much fun loving on people, even if it's just for 30 seconds. I just wish I could love on them for a lot longer...Currently I'm working on figuring out what happens post-summer. I still have no idea:) but we're working on it. I am officially working at Kanakuk 2nd and 3rd term, which should be tight. I've learned and changed so much since I was last there 3 years ago, I'm excited to see how God will use it all. And get pumped. That's right. A&M's Pumpfest is this weekend and I'm competing! More on that post Saturday!

*All scenarios are not written out of bitterness or anger but in effort to share some of the things God is teaching me with examples!

Well, not a whole lot of excitement but still...I like it!

2007-02-07T09:10:00.000-08:00

So, since my last post, I had a job and no longer have a job...a second job that is-I still work at the bucks. And i like it, A LOT. My dear friend Adam Hines found me a receptionist postion at the doctor's office he works at which was so wonderful of him. Unfortunately they were looking for someone more long term and right now my life is anything but long term:) So sadly, I decided to leave so they could make a more permanent hire. Sad day, because it's a great office of people to work for! But anyway, it's been good bc while I would have been fine doing that for a little while, it's encouraged me to be more proactive in what my heart really longs to do. Passions: Outdoors, people-specifically youth and college, sharing Jesus with people, church (the REAL church-not a building), camp, and learning about people, and teaching them. There are a lot more passions but these are the big ones. At least some of them. Continuing... I digress. I want to do something within this realm. I just don't know how it's going to work yet, and that's fine. I don't have to know. But as of 8:05 this morning, I am back to looking at some possibilities. Right now I'm checking out some young life positions even though I have no experience with them, just great respect for their ministries, and maybe some other programs...but to be honest I'm at a loss for where to begin...my lease here expires in may and i could sublease this summer if i wanted to, but i just have no clue. I would love to work at my church here but there's still no word on that...and I completely trust the authority of my pastor and other leadership and know that if i'm supposed to work there, it'll happen. If not, God has shown them otherwise and that's tight too. Oh but I love my church and A&M students, especially the ones who don't know Jesus. Anyway, this is just some of my rambling...there's no resolution to this post, probably because my life has very little resolution of anything right now. I love College Station, my church here, A&M and its students, but if I'm supposed to leave, so be it. Basically I'm not really sure what I'm saying in this post, just sharing some thoughts with my blogging friends. That is all. And on Chaney, she's no longer throwing up, but is still at home and we will come to a concrete decision about the semester very soon. I'm just glad she's finally feeling better and more like herself. Thanks for praying! Yall are great!

My dear Chaney...

2007-01-29T22:39:00.000-08:00

So I've been kinda vague about this...now i'll be really direct. Pray for my dear little sister. And when I say little, I mean 20 year old sophomore at A&M sister...That's Chaney on the right with the Nall trio at my graduation this past December. She's really sick. About a month agoish, she started throwing up. And if you know Nalls, we eat our food and we like it. It stays in us. Well here we are now, and she's still throwing up. She's been to the doctor and had tests run and it's been diagnosed as a really wierd mono with throwing up caused by anxiety...She gets better and then she gets worse. My parents don't have the heart to officially withdraw her out of A&M for the semester and to make that official decision yet, but that time will have to come soon. She's only signed up for 9 hours but her heart is to be here, in College Station. But her body does not want to cooperate. It's hard to recover from mono when you stay up half the night throwing up and are so weak from having very little in your body. She probably hates that I'm writing this but at the same time I know she's grateful for the prayers. We need them. Our fam, especially Chaney and my parents. Hopefully we'll get some more bloodwork done soon and find out if there's any new status. Any encouragement you can offer to them, do! Chaney sits at home all day long with very little to do and I know it's SO hard for her to sit at home while everyone else is off at school. So pray. That's all I got. And pray in faith too, that God will move, because He will. Pray for understanding in the way He moves, as it may not be how some of us like...And even if only about 2 people read this, that's two more people praying! If you've already done something for her, THANKS!!! She is so blessed by it all. Yall are great and thanks.

Judah. WHAT? WHAT?

2007-01-25T21:57:00.000-08:00

So this week, there's this organization called Impact doing something called counselor selections. In a nutshell (a small one) the purpose of Impact is to have a retreat for incoming college freshmen with followup afterwards that provides these freshmen with opportunities to learn about how to get involved in a local church (HUGE) as well as develop some relationships with other believers before they head into college. Then they have some believers they're already connected with who can help get them plugged into the body in College Station. Tight right? Well anyway, the reason for this post is that this exact time last year, I was reading 281 applications for counselors to try and find 12 who my great partner matt and i felt fit our vision for camp. And when I say "our" vision, I mean the one the Lord gave us. From the beginning we knew a few things were set in stone. Family. That's what the body of Christ is and that's what we wanted to represent. The other was to have people in all different places in life. And authentic. We literally wanted to tell our freshmen, somebody here has been through that. And what happened? This exact time last year, I was introduced to 15 of my best friends. They don't even read this page but I like them so much I'm still writing about them:) Matt, Sarah, Elaine, Josh, Josh, Josh (yes there's three), Alex, Stephen, Russell, Claire, Dana, Faith, Kali, Lauren, and Stuts. (2 cochairs, 2 prayer teamers, 12 counselors:) Cheesy sounding? yes. But it's true. The Lord has lately been sharing with me the incredible community I have been blessed with whether they are physically gone or not. This is one of the awesome groups of people I am so incredibly thankful for. Family. Yah. We were the camp that was told to hang out with other people...really, but we like each other so much we would hang out 5 days a week...and bring anyone and everyone else along. All walks of life. Check. Aunthentic. Totally. Literally, from Mr. Perfect Christian to Miss Party Queen, we were able to share our struggles on everything with these freshmen. Even this week, I saw one today and talked to 4 of them. They will all be at my wedding one day, without a doubt. I remember reading pieces of paper and going, "Lord how in the world does this work?" and being BEYOND blessed now looking back a year later. My original thought, I just want to play with my friends before I graduate. Why would I do co-chair? And yet here I sit a year later, not even able to fathom how different my life would be without my Alpha Judah kids. It's not about an organization, it's about seeing the body come together for a common purpose, to share what Christ has shown us while in college and pour into our younger brothers and sisters. If it was about an organization, these relationships would have fallen apart a LONG time ago. Dang I'm blessed by these people. And on another note, pray for my dear little sister Chaney. She's really sick. Much love.

Finding Purpose.

2007-01-23T11:06:00.000-08:00

Nope not finding nemo, finding purpose. As I sit here in my house on Crepe Myrtle, I think about my purpose. I've thought about this a lot lately. Upon graduating and working at Starbucks, I think Satan has really begun to prey on me about my purpose in life. When people find out I've gtaduated, they ask what I'm up to now...I tell them I work at Starbucks and hang out. Apparently most people find this answer unsatisfactory and they give me a weak fake smile, like oh good, when in their minds they are thinking, how lame. Thanks to those of you I know who actually are happy for me:) Anyway, back to purpose. But getting this reaction multiple times has led to me feeling dissatisfied with what I'm doing in life right now. So I've been struggling with this some lately...My life in the scheme of things feels so meaningless, to quote King Solomon, working at a coffee shop and hanging out. There are so many greater things I'm told I could do in my life...But then the Lord brought me back to this book I read last year...Practice in the Prescence of God by Brother Lawrence. Now if you don't know about Bro Law, he's tight. This guy was a dish washing monk for 40 years and loved it because he was able to glorify God while doing it. The book is just a collection of letters and conversations from his life put together by others. As I've been repicking up this book on my 10 minute breaks, God has continually brought me back to the truth, that in EVERYTHING, do it to the glory of the Lord. So there it is...and that is my focus, that's what I want my focus to be continually. And right now, I'm learning that standing in a coffee shop, with lines out the door half the time, unknowing how to make drinks fast enough or how to work the cash register correctly...to God's glory. Yes our lives are short but we can use our circumstances to make HIM known. I'm not sure I know exactly how that works at Starbucks, but I plan to find out.

LOCKED OUT

2007-01-20T10:50:00.000-08:00

so my days have been pretty chill with not a lot to write about lately...until last night. I was playin with some of my judah friends after a great time at the wall bouldering and climbing (which i'm feelin today:) and after watching a movie, i peaced out. As I walked up to my new home and turned the locks on the back door, I noticed it still wasn't opening. After the lock and the dead bolt, nothing was happening...and then I realized our third lock, which you can only turn from INSIDE was locked....LOCKED OUT at 3 am. Not losing hope, I got back in my car and drove around front, thinking the light may have been left on in the front...I saw the light was on and went to try my key...i realized my key wasn't turning and all of the sudden, I hear this deep, "Who's there?" which scared the beegeeses out of me, for lack of a better term. I realize I'm standing on a hot pink door mat with a red heart-we DON'T own one of those. I yell to the voice, "What house number is this?" figuring out that when I got to the front of the house, out of hopefulness, I went next door. Dang it. So I went to the front of MY house and tried the locks in front. Lock. Deadbolt, dang it. The inside lock is on in the front too. Now my dear roommate Elizabeth sleeps in the front bedroom so I figured I'd have more success banging in the front of the house to wake her up. All this time I've been calling her over and over on the cell phone to no avail...not to mention banging on windows, back door, and now front door...Ringing the doorbell over and over and banging on our front door...still no Elizabeth-it's been about 20 minutes now...and did I mention it's about 35 degrees? As a last resort, I started knocking on Elizabeth's bedroom windows and I hear some kind of muffled sound....She's awake! The light comes on and a sleepy Lizbeth appears. VICTORY!!!!!!!! I think it was one of the funniest moments I've had in weeks...
On another note, I'm an officially certified barista! My job is great, now it's just getting enough hours! Let me know your thoughts on this story, I think it's hilarious. Have a good one!

Hello! Welcome to Starbucks!

2007-01-10T10:35:00.000-08:00

Don't I look awesome? So as you may have guessed, I started training for my new job last Monday (about a week and a half ago!) at Starbucks! So you may ask, how's it going? My answer: WONDERFUL!!!! Nope, I don't have it all down yet, but I'm working on it...things i love about it: the people, both customers and my co-workers, their patience, coffee tasting, working and yet still getting to enjoy the day, Things that will get better: My quickness and my memory of the drinks!!! :) But I'm not worried...practice, practice, practice! Highlights of ppl include getting to know the regulars names, Josh Bolwerk, Jon Fox, Steve Miller, and Emily Shead visiting! I love it when ppl come visit! I tihnk I actually finish training with the next week or so so come see me! :) I've also been having a LOTR marathon extended versions with Pauler and Bolwerk...we end up watching them about 1 1/2 times b/c Pauler falls a lot. But we love him! And if you didn't know, I love Lord Of The Rings! Nerdy I know. Anyway, yall have a fabulous day and if you see the dear Jessie Silvester or Jon Tettleton tomorrow, give them some birthday love or call them! Happy Birthday kids! DO, I felt you would appreciate the fact that I have my awesome hat and apron to wear daily...when I got it, it made me think of your REI vest! Have a great day everyone!

The KelLo Photo Shoot...brought to you by Mac!

2006-12-31T09:38:00.000-08:00

Enjoy the awesomeness of this! The dear Laura Nutter came over the other day to do some tae bo with me and we ended up hangin out til 12:30 at night...we just like each other ok? In the midst of all the funness, she gave me LINKS on the computer (yay!) finally and we had some fun with photo booth...here's a fun highlights...and yes, i'm so GLAD she's back home...even though she misses spain. And as of right now, I start at Starbucks for training on Tuesday, but no one's called me like I was told so it might be later...i'll check on that today, that would be important...Happy New Year!

One of the best kept Nall traditions...

2006-12-27T09:14:00.000-08:00

is Santa! No, not the story or whatever about Santa-the wooden creature of Santa. You see about 3 or 4 years ago, we came home from school (A&M) to find this life size Santa carved out of wood, as featured above. After my parents left Santa out for Christmas, they realized that this 5 foot Santa would not fit in the attic, forcing them to leave it out year round but "hidden". Our family's favorite game became moving Santa around the house and using him to scare people. Example: My dear little sister Chaney scares so easily, that is she screeches and makes noises, so the favorite with her is to put it in front of her closed bedroom door. When she wakes up, SCREAM!!!, as she tiredly stumbles upon the wooden Santa, feeling like it's a person. Or then there's the time she was out with her friends and my buddy William and I put a jacket and a beanie on Santa and stuck him in her dark room for when she came home. Do not think this is all about Chaney though. Santa is constantly put behind corners to scare all members of our household. My parents are not exempt from this at all, seeing as they started it all! So just know, if you visit the Nall household, a little joke might be headed your way:) And I find it funny that out of all that I could write about right now, with graduating and about to start a new job, I write about our live in Santa. I start work on January 2nd so look for a new post soon!

The Few. The Proud. The 5th Years.

2006-12-11T13:00:00.000-08:00

I hope the marines don't mind if i borrow that line...:)
DEDICATION OF THIS POST: Mikey, DO, Jon T, Jessie boy...the Sbisa crew:)

This is just a little tribute to those of us who graduate on Friday or Saturday of this week! Here's the first of a few graduation photos. This particular event to kick off graduation week was reliving freshmen year Sbisa...Although the crew was different compared to freshmen year, the joy of it was still the same! Jonny and I were the few originals left at the table. Some of the additions include Lise the Beast, Jacko Hooper, Mason "The King" King, Holly O-O-O O'Reilly, and No Tan Dan Darnell. We threw things in each others's drinks (thanks mikey), didn't use trays (jonny), took random pictures as featured, did a hullabaloo with the forks, yelled "Pick it up!", and capped it off with putting our hands in for a yell of "Pretty Boy!!!!" just for old times sake:) and for Holly. You old Sbisaers will get it:) We have some more fun things comin up so stay tuned to the blog this week! Enjoy the pics! Yah SBISA!!!!!!

TAG! It's my turn!

2006-12-06T19:58:00.000-08:00

5 things you don't know about me.... hmmm this could take awhile!

1. Nature's Path cereal Rebound is my absolute favorite. If I can help it, I eat it for breakfast practically every day and it's so good for you! Unfortunately, they don't sell it at HEB but I just moved by Kroger and they do sell it! It's a little more expensive but totally worth it in my opinion. Unless you've lived with me, you probably don't know this fact. My dad introduced me to it and i love it!!!!!

2. My favorite family event is what we call "kitchen parties!" In the Nall household, all of our bedrooms (the girls) go around the kitchen, which is in the center of the house. Growing up, my dad and i were never known for our incredible dancing capabilities...whereas mom was a drill team lieutenant and Kimbo and Chane were also "Belles" or drill teamers. I didn' know i liked to dance til i got to college really...but since our bedrooms were around the kitchen, we'd turn our radios on the same station and have a dance party in the kitchen...Dad would put his thumbs up and show us his cool dance and kimbo and chane would teach us some dance class dance and dad and i would attempt to follow, really a cruel joke but hilarious at the same time:) Then mom would do some of her middle school cheers. Fabulous. You should come visit and ask to see them! I don't think she'd do it, but maybe with some prodding it's possible.

3. This is so random...my favorite snack is hummus and fritos...i think it's one of kimberly's weird foods i have recently come to love. Hummus is a good bean dip substitute and i love dips and sauces! Mayo, mustard, ketchup, honey mustard, gravy, bbq sauce...you name it i like it...except layne's sauce...don't tell the garratts! :)

4. My most ideal store ever would be a deluxe REI like the one in Dallas (your workplace D.O.) with a J Crew sale rack, Sweet Eugene's attachment, and a HUGE bookstore/musicstore...coffee shops, outdoor stores, cds, and books are about my favorite things in the world. It's the simple things in life...

5. You know how in the movie, A Walk To Remember, she has one of those lists of things she wants to do in her life? Well here's a few of mine...go skydiving (mom tried to give me an ipod instead), adopt a kid from China, learn the guitar WELL:), be a mom and a wife (the noblest professions), go to China again, and several other things that i'm blanking on at the moment...but it's a start:)

So there's my tag!!!! I think everyone i know in the blogging world has already been tagged...but if you know of anyone, i'll tag them!

I have a job!!!!!!

2006-12-05T22:15:00.000-08:00

Well, i'm hoping to put the logo of my company up here but it may not work...so the drumroll please...as of January 2nd, I will be the newest barista at the Starbucks at the corner of Holleman and Texas! I interviewed with Mike, the ever pleasant assistant manager, who extended the job offer to me! I am extremely excited and will bring more updates about this up and coming job as they happen!!!! Next blog...one of the coolest three year olds i know, and the downlow on his birthday!!!! 10 days and i walk! weird huh?

Crepe Myrtle! Movin on up!

2006-12-03T13:17:00.000-08:00

First the title just makes me laugh...jane long had this funny motto of movin on up with taks scores to motivate the kids and the teachers sang the song...but that has absolutely nothing to do with this post:) On Tuesday, I moved out of F3. It was a sad occasion but exciting to make the move to Crepe Myrtle-my new street. My new wonderful roommate is Elizabeth Adams. Now Elizabeth and I go way back...we were in a kabin at K-2 together after our freshmen year of high school...other cool people in the cabin with us were meredith spencer and stephanie hargrove (luke's wife, living hopers). I bonded with these girls for two weeks and then we just liked each other so much that we stayed in touch. Elizabeth almost came to Aggieland for undergrad and went to SMU last minute. She was almost my roommate for freshmen year here if she had come! When I'd go home, we'd hang out some and still had the kamp connnection and such. We even went to Kanakuk Connection (a conference) in Branson over Christmas break one time with Jessie boy and Jessie girl. Jessie boy decided on that trip that Elizabeth looked like a Laura and called her that all weekend...oh Jessie... She ended up moving here this year to do the accounting side of the ppa program and when i decided to stay in cs, i knew she had some available space! And I like her too:) So since I moved in on Tuesday, here are some of the highlights:
1) staying up late and talking- i like that!
2) buying a Christmas tree for the house and decorating it ($6 at Hobby Lobby)
3) watching D2
4) and as of today, going to the Bryan Holiday Parade to watch our friend Ben Carter do his Ross Volunteer thing! It was FREEZING but so much fun to go watch! We saw the RVs, the Fighting Texas Aggie Band, some guy dressed as cat in the hat, etc. And then we went to get coffee because our toes were numb...or at least mine were!

Here are some pics of my new house, the parade, and Elizabeth! Enjoy! Lo, I'm so excited to see you soon!!!!!

Lacey!

2006-11-29T20:33:00.000-08:00

So I know it's been too long since i blogged. Now I will be doing new friend interviews, and we can learn about people I meet in the booming BCS metropolis! I got a new computer over the break and I can even take photos of my interviewee!!!! The first interview is Miss Lacey Craig, Lacey is a student at Texas A&M, class of '09, from Longview, TX. She went to high school we just discovered with my second cousins, and they live a block away from her. The same second cousins that roomed with one of best friends growing up at Baylor...How fun is that? She is terrified of whales and they wrote an article about her in all Aggie students main news source, the Battalion. She is facing the ever frustrating dilemma of registering for next semester's classes at 5:30 am tomorrow. What can I say? In the 2 minutes I've known her, she is a woman of strong character, facing the real battles of a college student. And our last mind numbing fact is that Lacey has a staple in her head from a car accident she was in last Wednesday where she hit her head on the seat belt. I am extremely glad she is able to be sitting here with me at Tuscany's fine gelato establishment unharmed, as I hang out with Josh Owen while he works, as well as my other new friend Leslie Bryant! Look for an update on moving within the next day or two. Thanks and gig em!

One month!

2006-11-19T15:24:00.000-08:00

Yep, get excited! The adorable laura nutter comes home one month from today!!!! I move out of F3 in 9 days and am in charge of followup for this ministry that came last week called AFTERdark...so my life is consumed with packing and typing up quotes on notecards and calling around to get people plugged in. Pretty tight. When I move to Crepe Myrtle, yall need to come visit me and my roommate Elizabeth! Lo, our beloved couch will be in my room so you can come sleep. YAY! Sadly though, my walls are beginning to get really blank...This weekend has been so fun, getting to see graduated friends pass through (thanks miss mckenty and mr ivey!) and watching theta and byx win songfest! way exciting! back to packing! I'm working on that whole job thing for 2nd semester...it shall be revealed in time! And there are some of favorite people left in this town!

Done.

2006-11-09T21:22:00.000-08:00

Yep, it's true. I am done with student teaching. Officially all I have to do now is walk the stage...and I don't even have to do that! It was a great experience overall with some ups and downs mixed in but I love all the people I know because of it and it was exactly where I was supposed to be this semester. What now you may ask??? Well, I don't have an exact answer on that but here are a few of my rambling ideas in my head right now... I have to move out of F3 by November 28th...very sad, bye green and purple walls (tear). But my dear friend Elizabeth, who was supposed to be freshmen year roomie (but went to SMU instead) is here at grad school and has graciously allowed me to live in her house in a spare room as long as I need! Originally that was til Dec 15th (graduation), but after further investigation, it's going to be until May! That's right. I am staying in the Station til May, at least. Nope, it's not the most thrilling, exciting thing to do post-college, but it's exactly what I'm supposed to do. What will I do you may ask? I'm working on that right now...But I do know two things: I want to work with my J Lo kids and A&M college students, sharing what I've learned. And the best place to do those two things is right here. As much as I'd love to move to Colorado or something like that, the Lord is teaching me about long-term investment in people's lives right now. All too often we invest in people's lives until it gets hard and then we peace out. Things like distance, or possible awkwardness of not having talked in a while get in the way. No we're not supposed to be best friends with everyone we come into contact with but the Lord does put us in certain people's lives for a reason. To echo Isaiah, I want to be an "oak of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor (61:3)." I want to invest deep roots in these people I have developed relationships with and for me a lot of those people happen to be younger. The Lord also used a wonderful friend of mine to show me to pray Philippians 2 over the situation (putting others' interests before my own). The idea of moving somewhere else to invest in more people when I know God's not done using me investing in these people's lives is just plain...i don't know...silly? Yes, we're called to move on at some point, but the point in being is that I'm supposed to stay and I'm not entirely sure why, but I'm excited to learn why. It is going to be completely different and I have some other ideas for further down the road, but for now I'm along for the ride...so come see me in the station!

J Lo B-ball!

2006-11-03T14:48:00.000-08:00

So last week at Jane Long, we had a staff versus student basketball game! Needless to say, it was so much fun. I had been wanting to play all week but didn't want to overstep my boundaries as a lowly student teacher, but then one of the coaches asked if I would be interested in playing...my answer... HECK YES! For those of you who may not know this, I LOVE the game of basketball. I love to watch it, play it, strategize it, everything. So Friday afternoon, several Wyldlife leaders, coaches, and myself suited up to play about 30 eighth graders in a game I love dearly. Now the boys that were playing have been all hyped up because they were undefeated last year...not to mention most of them were my students last year:) The staff team at first was a little concerning since none of us had played in a while but we were determined to win! Game starts off and we totally dominate! The score was like 42-20 at the end of the game! YES! Two highlights for me most definitely...one, i made a 3 pointer from the top of the key! WHOOP! When I used to actually play, I never made a 3 in a game! I was so excited about that one! And what's hilarious is, that made for highlight #2. Somehow by making my three-pointer, I became a mini celebrity with my kids. They heard me talk about how much I love basketball, but it's like that shot got me street credit. Hilarious! Their season starts up next week and I'm way excited about hitting up the games! I only have 2 days left of student teaching and then I'm finished! Still not sure what's up for next semester...we'll find out!
And here's one of my kids! He's pretty great!

Lake Bryan Camping Extravaganza!!!!

2006-10-21T14:10:00.000-07:00

So last weekend. I went camping with some really great people, just the girls: the lovely Erin Whitley, Michelle Omo, Becky Blackmon, and Amanda Greiwe from LHBC. I enclosed some wonderful pictures from the evening including the one of Michelle...absolutely hilarious! However, the evening abruptly ended for Amanda and I when I was awakened by some really loud people at 3 in the morning and being deliriously tired from school, made the two of us leave...and then I preceeded to not call or tell any of the other three girls...so they woke up and we were gone! Ridiculous i know! I clearly wasn't thinking at all. Highlights of the evening included putting up our tents and making our fire in the dark and finding sticks to cook our hotdogs with! Enjoy and give me feedback on the pics! 2 weeks, 2 days left student teaching!

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My new favorite hobby...!!!!!

2006-10-09T20:36:00.000-07:00

is ROCK CLIMBING! Forget the fact that a lot of my favorite people did it forever in college and I always watched them and even got gear. Have no fear my friends, it is being used and I LOVE it. Sometimes I think it just takes a little longer to fall in love with a hobby for me when I see everyone else doing it. I'm not a big fad person so much. I love picking up hobbies at this stage of my life. There's no expectation and little competition because you know that 99% of people are better at it than you are! That takes all pressure off and I can fully enjoy whatever it may be. My most recent hobbies I've acquired in college include guitar playing, yoga, rock climbing, being outside as much as humanly possible, and besides rock climbing as my most recent, being a dork and just reading a book at a coffee shop on Friday nights instead of hanging out with my 15 friends in college station (and that might be an exaggeration). I like alone time a lot. But don't get me wrong, I love people too! Anyway, bedtime. I have a J Lo football game tomorrow to watch...i'll keep ya posted:) it should be hilarious! i'm done in less than a month! craziness.

Chunk.

2006-09-30T19:28:00.000-07:00

So my little sister is ridiculous and hilarious. Really. This is us. One, she just tooted in my face in my bedroom. Two, her real name is Chaney and she goes by Chane, Chunk, Chunkers, Little Chunkers, Chunky, Chancy, Candy, Baby, Munchkin, Buddy, and like a million other names. Sometimes I wish I had these lovely nicknames, other times not. The origin of Chunk is from second grade sunday school. Her sunday school teacher could not get her name and she was really shy and wouldn't correct her. So the entire time during Sunday School, she went by Chunky. It has stuck since then and she is now 20 years old. Glorious! No, she has no self-esteem issues with it. She really considers it to be her name. She is the kid who let me go flying in a shopping cart out into the middle of the parking lot of target (next to the village:) not looking to see if there were any cars and not stopping for the wheelchair ramp either....i'm glad i'm still alive! Oh yes, and this was this summer...not when we were 5. Really though, she's my best friend...she almost killed me again this summer telling me a story about some pine cove kid who looked like paul mccartney while driving...we came within 2 feet of the guardrail before i yelled at her to look at the road! Oh Chaney...my life would be a million times duller if you weren't there. We always cuddle and i love the fact that as i write this post, you are in my room and have no idea that i'm writing about you. As they told you in your aptitude testing this summer, "you have clerical skills but you choose not to use them." And in Santa Fe this summer, our friend Mason King pulled her chair out from under her at Wendy's and she wound up on the floor. All funniness aside though, she is one of the most compassionate, loving, and most loved people i know. Ever since she was little, people fight to hang out with her. Literally. She's that awesome. She tears up at the smallest thing because she has such deep empathy for people. She's my buddy.

Halfway-Heck Yes. HOPE Group.

2006-09-22T15:00:00.000-07:00

So as previous posts have indicated, I am halfway through my student teaching at J Lo now! Weird, i'm like half done with my semester this afternoon. Funny. I feel as though I need to recount a wonderful story involving my favorite 2 year old from HOPE group, Sam Kinnard. Now I've known Sam since he was like 3 months old so we go way back. Personally I think Sam is one of the absolute coolest 2 year olds EVER. We take turns hangin with the kids during HOPE group and my turn was last night with my new friend Phillip. We had the Williams' children (all three boys under the age of 8), and a lovely little girl named Kaylin(sp?)...so anyway...i'll try to keep this somewhat short:) I thought this story was far better than any of my recent J Lo stories...although I have a kid named Jose and his TWIN brother is also Jose...what??? back to Sam. So Ashley and Jason have built a deck on the back of their house with some wonderful benches to sit on. Sam happened to be perched on top of one and Kaylin got mad...watch out. She pushed Sam off the bench onto the ground behind him and he was sobbing and screaming and I watched it, feeling like slow motion..."NOOOOOOOO!!!!" So anyway thinking Sam might be seriously hurt, I tried to go to him and in the process of stepping down I guess I leaped off the porch and fell funny on my right ankle...so now, not only is Sam sobbing/screaming on the ground with no one to help him, now I am laying next to him shrieking in pain as well, yelling to phillip, "GET ASHLEY!!!" So Ashley comes out and Sam ended up fine and my ankle hurts a little but nothing bad. And it's not over...Sam is fine after about 5 five minutes and says, "Miss Kelly, let's go look for frogs!" In my mind i think back to the time Elise and I found a frog outside the Henry's while at HOPE group and how we went and put it in Jonny's shoe outside his house:) I smile at Sam and off we go. After 3 or 4 unsuccessful missions, Sam asks me one more time. I was dubious by this time (good word:) but Sam yells, "Look in the driveway!!!" And there is this relatively big FROG. Sam starts yelling, "Ribet! Ribet!" and Phillip grabs the frog and we put him in the bucket to carry inside. Oh but it's not over. The frog's name is Mr. Pinkle and Sam is so proud as are Ashley and Jason. Then Sam says, "Hey let's let Mr. Pinkle go!" So we do and about this time, the neighborhood cat who Sam affectionately calls "Orangie" (he's great with names:) comes over. Long story short, we release the frog and Phillip and I see cat pounce on frog...so we hurriedly moved the children away. The End. All in an hour and a half...oh yes and Matt Williams told me while i was giving him Superman..."We have to be careful with girls because girls are delicate." Priceless. How I will miss my HOPE group mini friends when I'm gone. On a different note, I have school tomorrow on a SATURDAY...disgusting. I've been sick a lot the last two weeks and I'm hoping my voice can rest. To all my wonderful graduated friends, i love you a whole lot and really miss each of you and think about/pray for you often! Call me any time! Still don't know the next step but a new development is possibly moving to Vail with Merebear Spencer...we'll see. Have a great day!

Fo Lo.

2006-09-10T14:36:00.000-07:00

Well, since it appears at least to me that Laura Nutter, my fabulous former roommate, is my most excited blog reader, I'd like to dedicate this to telling her how wonderful i think she is. As of yesterday, September 9th, she is now in Spain til December 19th. How I am excited for December 19th!!!!! Here my friends is first and foremost, our story. It all started sophomore year at this bible study in Lake Highlands, a place neither of us went to school at, we were just both invited. Worship, Intercession in the Word or (WIW). We met a few times and I just really liked her a lot. Nothing more than that and I remembered where she went to high school because I had kamp friends who went there. Time went on and fastforward to senior year. My high school's power had been cut off by some poor guy who cut the wrong wire during construction so we had the whole day off!!!! I don't really know why we decided this, but we wanted to go raid this high school and hang with our friends there for lunch. I knew Laura went there but thought very little about it, just hoping maybe i'd see her. Of course she remembered me and we were both very excited to see each other. Later on Senior year, we played each other in softball and literally sat in the stands chatting til everyone in the stands (like 20 ppl) had gone home and her mom pulled her away. We were gonna hang but we lost each other's numbers:) Freshmen year at A&M: In April, I go to Mosher to watch LOTR and who calls my friend Caitlin but Laura Nutter, who is visiting and thinking about TRANSFERRING here!!! So I see her and I'm really excited about her coming... Second semester sophomore year was really when we bonded...RML (random muffin love) sneaking muffins into the WCL to Grant Usry and making cookies too for RCL...even when she was taking 18 hours, she'd never say no. Then the housing thing came up and she said, hey! share a room with me! As we started looking at paint colors for our room, she asked if she could paint in green. why not? well, i walked in when she had painted to walls, and to be frank, it was a little too tennis ball green for me. But ya know, it's paint, who cares?! But lo wouldn't settle for it and made me pick another color. I opted for a lavender color and she said that's great! However, then our friend Caitlin told me, as long as you didn't pick purple you'll be fine. Laura HATES purple. So, we decided to make our room green and purple. I am purple walls, she's green walls. Thus began two glorious years of living with her and the fabulous Tori Walters in F3. Favorite memories include: late night room conversations, cuddling, he talking to me from her bed while napping, her telling me everything i did while i was sleeping b/c she couldn't (still creepy:), random dance parties, her laugh (it's awesome), movie nights, gumby's 50 cent pizza rolls and gilmore girls, sharing a closet, her love for others, our discussions about guys who are annoying when they ask you why you don't have a boyfriend and you know they are currently single:), her kindness, going to the Mavs game with my parents, when Molly her dog came and lived with us, her WONDERFUL patience with my messiness, when she'd cut my hair, Tori and I's fantasy of duct taping her to the chair this semester and only undoing it when we want to play with her, her excitement for the Lord and passion to go anywhere He wants her, etc. Basically Laura Nutter, you are a blessing to me and I miss you a whole lot. Oh yes, and I know this probably is slightly strange for you, deal with it:) I love you! Feel free to all others, to leave comments as to why you love laura nutter or why you think you would if you knew her.:)

J Lo, You Know. Impact 06.

2006-08-20T20:00:00.000-07:00

So I've begun my student teaching in the booming metropolis of Bryan, TX. I work at a school I affectionately call "J Lo". So far we've only had one actual day of class but three days prior spent in first period going over PROCEDURES. Needless to say, it felt a little like kindergarten and the kids were restless but due to the excitedness of our kids, necessary. I love the fact that lock-down drills are the norm these days:) And I never thought I'd love Friday jean days as much as I do! I love hangin with those kids and it was so exciting to get to love on some of my kids from last year! Before this, I had the privilege to go hang with 15 tight folks who assume the alias of Alpha Judah at Impact! Basically, it was way tight and I saw the Lord move in so many ways. This summer was a hard one and not gonna lie, i'm pretty ecstatic to be back at school! Weird huh? We won the relay for Alpha and Omega actually! And you know, my life didn't change drastically from Impact, but praise God that I got to see it completely change a ton of freshmen's lives. And that my friends, is the purpose. To impact the freshmen with Jesus Christ (no pun intended:). Right now, it's 10pm and I should really be in bed...but i'm not:) I'm still not sure what I'm up to next semester but lots of options still...if anyone wants to go to china at the drop of the hat, I have some good leads on that, maybe working at J Lo, Focus on the Family Institute, maybe working with youth or college at LHBC, another church somewhere....still no clue. As always, insight is appreciated. Not gonna lie, it's sad not having all my favorite ppl in the station. To drive by the Luther House without the boyz is depressing somewhat, and all the same exciting for yall! One half of my room is so empty, but i'm trying as hard as I can to fill it up, but still you are terribly missed oh green walls one. Oh yes, and for those who didn't know, TORI IS ENGAGED!!! Exciting! That is number 4 of upcoming weddings so that will make it 12ish by the end of the school year in May. CRAZY! Anyway, I will keep yall posted with humorous anecdotes about my students. Stay posted:) Come down anytime on Sunday nights and come to slam poetry with me in Bryan!

2 weddings and a funeral...

2006-08-07T20:31:00.000-07:00

so i'm headed out tomorrow to the booming metropolis of graham, tx, followed by college station, all in one day. sadly, yet ecstatically my grandma (dad's mom:Fannie Imogene Jones Nall, terrible name, great lady) went to be with Jesus at 2am Aug 4th... we've been expecting it since the day of Kimbo's wedding (July 22nd) but it wasn't til the 2nd family wedding (Wade and Allison in Santa Fe this past week!) that she finally went home!!!! We miss her but she's been a widow since Daddy was 16, she was soo ready to go. I'm playing Amazing Grace on my guitar for it and then chaney and i are headed back to dallas and then i'll go down to the station. It's going to be an interesting day...
On a different note, Santa Fe was AWESOME!!!! I love the mountains still (of course) and we stayed in this sweet bed and breakfast that made homemade granola...wonderful! casa de la cuma...you should all stay there. We got to go on a tight hike too and i have some great pictures when i get a chance to put them on here. I have some of this gorgeous rainbow. We had our new family member mr grant simmons along for the ride along with special guest mason king, who was in the wedding and flew there and back with us. I enjoyed having some help in harassing chaney:) Allie and Wade's wedding was great and it was really fun getting to hang out with some of our family i never see and learning about their lives these days...and we came to the conclusion that our ENTIRE mom side of the family LOVES a good dance party. Heck yes. And last but not least, allie, manda, chaney, me, wade, brian, mason, and wade's sister amy all went to our beloved camp davis for a day. This is my absolute favorite place in the world, log cabins in the middle of mountain nowhere new mexico. I'll work on getting some pics up of that place. I went to it with my family (it's a family camp) for a week every summer since i was born and i worked for three summers, 5 weeks in a row... I think i've spent close to a year of my life there. After i stopped working there, we haven't been back since b/c we all so crazy busy. It was way fun to visit b/c we used to go with the twins as little kids...so many good memories. I've got to get back there at some point. I love it! Well Chaney is dying to get on her lappytop so i'm peacing out. later!

Brave.

2006-07-29T15:47:00.000-07:00

This entry is dedicated to this wonderful CD, Nicole Nordeman's newest, called Brave. The title song is really phenomenal. I think i could listen to it all the time. Before I continue, i want to share the first verse and chorus with you:

The gate is wide, the road is paved in moderation.
Welcome to the middle ground.
It's safe and sound and
they're kind and quick to pull you in
cause it's been fear that ties me down in everything.
But it's been love,
Your love that cuts the strings...

So long status quo,
I think I just let go.
You make me wanna be brave.
I wanna be brave!
The way it always was
is no longer good enough.
You make me wanna be brave.

Anyway, I feel like this is such a powerful song especially because of where I am/my friends are in life. I was talking with my friend Jessie about it today actually. At this stage of life (post-college/starting "real" jobs), we're told the community and fellowship we had in college is just a "college" thing and that it's time to grow up. Now I totally understand that as you get older, you get more responsibilities. duh. But the fact is, even Christians have bought into this lie that the older you get, you have to buy into this "getting through life until you retire" mentality. We're not necessarily told this in words but through actions. My grandmother is on the verge of dying any day now and as I go to the nursing home where death is a constant threat, I realize that if this is my fate at the end of life, i want the Lord to be so deeply engrained in me that the ppl there see him glorified in me til my last breath. I want to be that old woman in the church who is so in love with Jesus that all of the teenagers are so encouraged b/c this woman has known Jesus for 50+ years and is more in love with him than EVER!!!
Going back to the song, I love how it points out that JESUS makes us brave, HE makes us WANT to be brave. He makes us want to go to china on trips or to go anyway he has called us...like Abraham, who did not know where he was going:) story of life right now. My old ways are no longer good enough, and i don't want to be satisfied with what a typical life should look like. I want the life that Christ wants for me. No more middle ground for me. I want to be brave. For Him. That's who He has called me to be. Tight. Thoughts? Oh yes, and you should ALL BUY the cd or get the song on itunes.

Happy Wedding!!!! And we have pictures!!! New dimensions!

2006-07-24T14:53:00.000-07:00

This is Kimberly Nall Simmons, oldest of the Nall fam!

This is my little sister Chaney and I posing at Kimbo's wedding as maids of honor!

We all had a blast at the wedding and one way fun dance party. It's so exciting to see her in this new stage of life and we LOVE Grant! Chaney looks pretty good despite the fact that she cried like the whole ceremony:) I didn't fall in my 3 inch heels which was a plus. But really the most exciting thing about all this is that Kimbo and Grant are married and the Lord was glorified! I have one more week to go at the church and Chaney, Elaine, and I are going to see Kelly Clarkson FRIDAY! Whoop!

Wedding Week!

2006-07-18T20:36:00.000-07:00

My life is slightly crazy at the moment with the wedding fast approaching...tonight was the "wine and cheese" party...pretty sure i'm not having one of those when i get married. I hung out in the kitchen with chaney for most of it. I have three more parties before wedding night...they will be fun! or this is the attitude i strive to continue to have! Chaney and I have been trying to come up with good wedding toasts...so far this was what we came up with:

To the tune of Saved By the Bell Graduation Song

"It seems like only yesterday you started dating (ooohhh)
And soon you'll move all the clothes from your closet (from your closet)
We'll go on with our lives in this new chapter (ahah)
As we have now gained a brother (ahaha)
The double dates that we did not go on
Because you didn't talk to boys til you were 16
Oh my gosh what a loser
No we're just playing Kimberly (Kimberlyyyy)
We are so excited about Grant
We are so glad he'll be in our family
And soon you will live on Greenleaf
We're happy for you Grant and Kimberlyyyyyy!!!!!

Anyway, Chane and I can't sing through it without dying laughing so it's back to the drawing board. I'll probably just think of something off the top of my head...who knows?:)I hope you've enjoyed your insight into life before a family wedding. Peace out.

life...

2006-07-14T12:09:00.000-07:00

well, i turned 23 yesterday...slightly strange, i sure don't feel like i'm that old but maybe i'm going through denial. Who knows? It was a good day but pretty chill. Excitement of the day was going to Benihanas (sp?) with the fam...if you don't know what Benihanas is, you're missing out! It's a Japanese restaurant with family style seating and a huge open stove in front of you where they make your food and do tricks as they cook...way fun! Kimbo and Grant's wedding is a week from tomorrow (July 22) so I'm gearing up for that and trying to finish out the summer at hppc strong since i'm done at the end of July. I'm pretty pumped that chaney's my sister (she made me write that b/c she didn't see her name in the blog entry:) What i was really going to say is that i'm pretty pumped that i get to go back to cs and student teach in about a month. I think even more so i'm pumped that at some point i get to figure out what will happen post-december...i think i'm pumped about that:) i don't really know...i don't know a whole lot right now. i do know that i am NOT living in HP ever again. I have a heart for my church and i love my family but i am not 100% convinced that i cannot live here... i don't say this meanfully but truthfully. I was not made to live here. I could even live in Dallas, just not here. :) sorry, i'm rambling today. I'm kind of in the stage of trying to be content where i am but i'm so ready to move on to my next stage. The Lord has been so good showing me things here at home that i needed to see/still need to see and has taken away bitterness or frustration with this place and allowed me to see the church here as he sees it, rejoicing in his triumphs here and praying hard for the change that needs to continue to happen. And that my friends, is tight. I kind of feel like it's been a cleaning house summer, spending time with the fam and restoring relationships within the body here at home...stuff i'd just assume leave the way it was, but that is not the king's way! So anyway, praise the Lord for this time but I am ready to get to the next stage this semester! oh yes and chaney is awesome...she keeps interjecting for me to write her name...but i do love her a whole lot. she brings me cookies at work and vanilla dr peppers and decorates our bathroom for my birthday and gives me free ipod nanos with downloaded music on them...(no i'm not joking...CRAZY story. just ask!) but i love her for a whole lot more reasons than that...she's cool. so's the rest of my family. i like them. This next week is gonna be CRAZY...chaney and i want to sing kimbo and grant a song for their wedding rehearsal dinner toast. Any thoughts??? peace out homeslice...in honor of landon carl:)

well, i still wish i could move to the mountains...:)

2006-06-30T11:57:00.000-07:00

I don't know if that'll ever change!:) This week's been pretty crazy fo sho. I've gotten back into the yoga thing and i love it even though i'm the girl who falls over when we do balancing stances, and i'm not talking falling once but over and over. i think it makes the instructors happy to see someone try who is so "below" them:) i can at least say i'm always amused. i do think i'm improving somewhat though...we'll see. we also got to take our kids rock climbing at an indoor place called exposure the other day, so fun! I've come to the conclusion that i think i will stick with rock climbing! now i just have to find friends to do it with since all of my friends who love it are gone...i'm just that good with timing:) less than a month til kimbo's wedding, july 22nd here we come! so the nall household is needless to say an interesting place to live right now, especially with chaney aka "Little Chunkers" coming home from PC on Sunday. Hopefully it will be some good family time. The Lord has been doing a lot even though i'm not really sure how to articulate it at the moment. And the pressing on continues!

Oh how I wish i could move to the mountains...

2006-06-25T11:28:00.000-07:00

A week in Gunnison, Colorado. A week filled with five eighth graders, 2 girls, 3 boys, 1 guy leader, 2 girl leaders, eight total if you can't count, in the glorious mountains. Basically, I had a REALLY AWESOME time. I'll try and go fast, as much as i can...Let's go to the very beginning...a very good place to start...anyway... We left last Saturday morning and drove to Amarillo and spent the night in a youth house there and continued on til Sunday afternoon. Oh how i love the mountains!!!! Like really...i think i'm like a kid at Christmas to say the least. So we get up there to our conference and move into Western State College dorms and go exploring. Sad to say much prettier than A&M but I still like A&M more. I'm biased obviously. In the morning and at night we'd have a band and speaker and some skits...probably my favorite was in the morning, we had this guy who would do art with sidewalk chalk on a bedsheet and draw these beautiful pictures...gorgeous. He also did a few sculptures that coincided with his talks and if i was electronically savvy enough i would put copies of them up. However, i have no clue. You'll just have to see my pictures. After getting settled in on Sunday. Monday afternoon we went white water rafting (10 ppl in our raft!) which was so fun. All the boys wanted to flip until they figured out how cold it was...oh jr high boys...always entertaining! Tuesday morning we met up bright and early with Crested Butte Mountain Guides to go rock climbing at Buddha's Belly...strange name but it does look like it. My rock climbing gear has now been officially broken in and i had a blast! Sad to say I was defeated by the mountain several times and have the bruises and cuts to show it, but it was still so fun. I'm always up for a challenge! I think i'm gonna keep going on this climbing thing...That afternoon I took my guitar out and was playing on their equivalent of an Academic Plaza and this lady approached me. She told me that they were doing a photo shoot for the college and wanted me to be in the background playing my guitar...so i did:) so check out the Western State College fall brochure and look for me! And of course we had a way fun dance party that night...although they could've used some help with the music...The next day we went mountain biking with the same guides (Colby and Grant, check out that company...such a cool place in the Alpineer bike shop, i loved Crested Butte!) in Crested Butte on the Lower Loop...they told me they're ski lift operators in winter and rock climbing/biking guides in the summer...i told them they should be friends with my friends:) Mountain Biking was so fun! I only fell off the trail twice with my bike on top of me once. I have this big purple bruise on my thigh (sp?) to prove it. I have come to the discovery once again that i have no balance and cannot walk/ride/run/anything else in a very confined space...basically i'll fall b/c i don't move in a straight line:) but this has never stopped me from attempting to enjoy it. While we were at an art gallery there I found a BEAUTIFUL picture of the Great Wall of China that i bought for my wall. What else is always on my mind?:) Later that day I won a FREE registration for the Passion 07 Conference which was pretty tight. Passion roadtrip anyone? One of my Impact counselors was there with another church so that was great getting to bond with her while we were there...So we drove home and got lost for a little bit but made it in Friday night...I'm the navigator because I'm not old enough to drive the van...it's a long time to stay awake! Yesterday Kimberly and I decided to visit Chaney at Pine Cove and got lost and made it to Tyler in 4 hours from Dallas (how i don't know...) saw Chaney for 45 minutes and came back home. We Nalls are crazy:) Kimbo gets married in less than a month! Craziness is descending upon the Nall household if you can't tell by my writing tone. Fo sho. Anyway, I love you guys and miss everyone wherever you are. Have a wonderful day! And one day I will move to the mountains...maybe FFI?...who knows...if you have any suggestions for my future plans feel free to throw them out:)

the state of CO!!!!!!!!!

2006-06-16T18:15:00.000-07:00

heck yes...i am going to colorado tomorrow morning! trip rundown: 15 hour van ride over 2 days to gunnison, 5 jr highers, 3 leaders, a ton of presby churches from all over the country, some tight people bringin the Word, hiking in crested butte (colby and grant, i'll check it out for ya:), white water rafting, rock climbing, dance parties, playin on the guitar, living in a dorm room, interesting food that i know is american but it still tastes unidentifiable:), and this is all FREE...and it's work...sometimes i think i get confused by what a job is I enjoy some of our activities so much...still though, lots of prayer for our church please. There's so much going on with Satan always attacking (like all churches) but I'm trying to rejoice and focus on all the stuff the LORD is doing. I'm way excited about this trip and quality time with these kids...i'll be back friday so get pumped to hear about CO!!!!!! Mountains here I come, goodbye heat (and i don't just mean miami...:)!

VICTORY!!!

2006-06-11T15:11:00.000-07:00

so this morning, i think was one of those breakthrough times...like really. like my last few posts have talked about i'm workin on the homefront at my church right now. My biggest thing with being home for the summer (which i haven't been since i was 14 by the way) is to rediscover my home aka remove biases and prejudices that stain my perception of where i come from and prevent me from seeing it as God sees it so that i CAN see it as HE does...with all of its flaws and even in spite of its flaws...the last thing i want is to fall into complacency and retrace my steps back into high school...gross. i am being pushed in so many ways because being in cs these last four years has changed me and now is my time to share these changes, which is scary at times...being with people who knew you differently than you are now. All my previous knowledge of this place is helpful in letting me meet ppl where they are and my prayer is that i would see them as God sees them. I never really wanted to be here at all post graduation until the Lord led me here...He's pretty funny. Now in a weird way, I can't imagine not being here b/c it is so obvious that i am supposed to be and that he is moving in HUGE ways that are so hard to describe but SO AWESOME! the latest victory was this morning at sunday school. usually jr highers are pushing each other around not paying attention or caring about what song they are singing, whatev. Today however, was so completely different. I started playing guitar for real about a year and a half ago and playing it and singing are like two of my favorite things in the whole world. However, I have been bound for a long time with not wanting to sing in front of really anyone by myself...the idea really just terrifies me sitting here in Chaney's room to be honest. But the Lord has made it clear to me that although there are people far more gifted than me (and there are!) he wants me to use this gift (which once again TERRIFIES ME:). Anyway, crunch time came and i VOLUNTEERED to play guitar and sing this morning...now please know that the reason i share this is because this is COMPLETELY the LORD. In my flesh, I would never do this, just ask any of my close friends...anyway, as i'm pretty much terrified this morning, the Lord played for me, and spoke for me. I have nothing to offer of my own at all and it was totally the Lord. They actually sang and I think they actually thought about and prayed through the songs! I mean i can't be sure but none the less, I was pretty much amazed when i sat down...because it wasn't me at all up there. I got nothin. But anyway, I just wanted to share that story for encouragement sake, that the Lord will use our fears and our inadequacies and use them to His glory, if we will just surrender. peace out.

not a ton but here's what i got...

2006-06-04T12:34:00.000-07:00

well, not too much going on but i promised a fairly updated posting so here i am! working at the church is going well...learning a lot about myself and God is changing some of my old selfish attitudes (always a good thing, not always an easy thing)...i'm doing all the tight things interns get to do like staple papers and run powerpoints and make copies...BUT i also get to hang out with kids!!! and i am actually starting to know their names and build relationships! YES! that's why i'm here! or at least one of many...i went to wedding number 2 out of the 8 i'm invited to this summer last night for Clayton and Abby...it was such an amazing wedding! two people i love dearly who love each other and the Lord dearly. tight combo. Megan McKenty came and stayed all weekend and we began our LOTR quest we've been talking about forever! One down, two to go. Let's see...weddingness for Kimbo is great but it's definitely made me realize i want as simple a wedding as possible. it's not really even about me at all if you think about it. But i'm having a good time helping kimbo out for sure and hangin at home with her. On a lighter note, Chaney's PC name is Little Chunkers which so fits her...thanks billy millet. Daddy just got back from Cuba and smuggled all sorts of cool stuff in; he's got some tight stories! that's all for now...have a great day!

back to Jerusalem...

2006-05-24T17:45:00.000-07:00

so i'm interning at my home church this summer, and i'll be honest. it's really never been my exact dream job to go back home and spend the rest of my life in hp. to be honest, my dreams were/are probably pretty opposite. HOWEVER, this summer the Lord has called me home for whatever reason (which i am beginning to find out) to hang with jr high kids for two whole months and has somehow (unbeknownst to me) gotten me really excited about it! we just got back from our staff retreat and having been away for about three years in college, it was crazy! a good crazy though:) Basically, our church is super traditional which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but sometimes (like in any church) it holds too tightly onto the traditions. Going to a church that is completely different in College Station, the Lord has given me a passion to see some of the fruit i see in cs at my church in dallas. The retreat this week pretty much was a part of several answered prayers. The staff is seeking Jesus like I've never seen before in my church with a desire for renewal, which, needless to say is SO TIGHT! I feel as though an appropriate description of where we are right now is "Growing Pains". Trying to be respectful of the older in the church yet not in such a way as to hinder anything God is trying to do. Complicated balance for sure. Anyway, I have no idea what the Lord is planning on doing with this summer but it's really cool to come home and see a place that invested so much in you as a kid attempting to change for Christ, because being a Christian is about making a commitment to change. I know God is starting something big and I am SO excited to see what it is. And the coolest part is that I can to be in the middle of it!

Oh yah, and we went to the lake for our retreat! I got to wakeboard and it was so fun. I haven't gotten to do that since K-1 and I think it's one of my top 5 favorite things to do. I get to work with some sweet people. Check out the church website if you want! www.hppc.org
Have a great day!

Male Spiritual Leaders...no, don't worry, this is not a serious blog:)

2006-05-22T13:05:00.000-07:00

So I made a visit to good ole CS this past weekend to play with my friend Megan and my new-found friend Melissa (twins). So amongst some amusing babysitting episodes including Megan getting locked in the pantry by one of the babysittees:), and me getting to babysit the adorable Sam Kinnard (we had a sticker war!), we went to our favorite slam poetry on sunday night in bryan...this is one of my new favorite activities actually...we're in the process of buying a cd or two from some of these people. It's tight, you should try going. So anyway, we went with my friend Josh to that and it was SO good. You learn so much about people when they are open and real with you. We should all work toward this...then we can truly share in each other's lives. Anyway, way off subject really. We're looking up this cd we want to order online and we happen to check megan's facebook account. She is typing in mallory and she gets to mal- and what comes up but male spiritual leaders. So needless to say we questioned megan as to why this was in her facebook search engine and she had no answer for us... then we rolled on the ground laughing for about ten minutes at the fact that someone in their household was checking for that through facebook. Awesome. That was just very entertaining so i thought i'd share. I start my internship at my home church today and we're going on staff retreat to the lake! whoop! more updates wed/thurs ish...have a great day!

let the scattering begin...

2006-05-17T10:50:00.000-07:00

so this semester was pretty insane, let's be honest. but this summer I am at home and will have time to write on my blog, so i promise updates and of course reading of some of my other favorite friends who have them as well...I've been reading some 1 Peter lately and in the very first verse or so, he talks about the scattering to all different places around the world. Oh how I identify with Peter so much right now! The scattering of the class of 2006 has begun. D.O., I dared to read the Hendricks' and Brooke's blogs and yes, they did make me cry. I love you people a whole lot. While I will still be in CS for one more semester, so many of these people I have journeyed with through college are moving on. No longer can I go visit my favorite kids at the Luther House or the Extreme or go play at the Guernsey Girls House...not even F3 will be the same anymore as my sweet Lo has moved on and just T and I will remain. But ya know, these people have been put in my life for a reason, and my life will never be the same because of them. Just a few memories with some of my favorite graduates...with more to come i'm sure.

Not wanting to be elise's friend because we went to high school together and i wanted nothing to do with my high school, Pasture dancing freshmen year and being dropped and on crutches for 2 weeks:), movie nights at Trad Pad, our Christmas card, Mullet Week, DO's awesome outfit he wore all week and still wears, Sbisa freshmen year, Mikey putting food in people's drinks, Jessie Harris's many haircuts...ridiculous...cutting a rat tail off of Colby's head (disgusting, never really grow one of those please!), learning I definitely do not know everything, 6 o'clock church, Youth group craziness, riding around in Grant's jeep, constantly invading jack, logan, and grant's room with elise, playing in the mud with Elise, driving to Calvert with Lise, Jess, and Linds, living on the purple walls while Laura inhabits the green side, Lo and T dancing on top of Tori's car, Luther House Parties, dinners at the Guernsey house, Edinburg 2005 and Claire Borne and i being Butch's sidekicks (I love power tools), Claire also singing show tunes and falling flat on her face while building:), for Elise's birthday, Paul, Jonny, Jack, Nate, Ben Graves, and maybe more dressing like cows and grazing on the side of the Theta house, Colby telling me I should go overseas the day I decided I wasn't going back to kamp and telling me about Camp China (by the way, thank you, really.), BCA Yuk Crush, a zillion meals and coffees with all of you people, the bizillions of blessings I have received in my life because of knowing you and that I am not the same because of you. We will scatter, but I am so thankful for you because I am constantly amazed and inspired by all of you and praise the Lord for your presence in my life. But I can confidently say, the wonderful times are NOT over yet...we are so not the same people we were, even twenty four hours ago.
I start my job at the church monday, be praying! I have no idea what is going on this summer, I only know that this is exactly where the Lord wants me right now. Oh yes and I think I'm going to start filling out my Focus On the Family Institute application...craziness.

oh yes, and I just put my first picture on ever, so this might look terrible:)

life...and ramblings

2006-03-25T22:28:00.000-08:00

so as i sit here in my room with lo at 12:30am after chillin with friends, i am typing up my resume. No, don't worry, i'm not applying for jobs yet but merely a class assignment. However, as I work on this, i am constantly reminded that my resume is worthless...in the end, nobody will care what i was involved in and what i wasn't and who i was friends with and who i wasn't or how cool i was or wasn't, and believe me, i have no idea how to be cool. i can only be me, which is actually a lot of times probably pretty awkward:) embrace it. i have. while these little things in life seem meaningless, they serve as a reminder of my purpose...my purpose in life as a college student at a&m, and in the organizations and other things i am involved in, and anything else and how they come in to play with the main purpose. I'm reading a wonderful book right now called Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence, who was a dishwashing monk for 40 years. He's so tight. The Lord's been showing me so much through reading his book about simplicity. Funny that I would write about that in the midst of all my busyness right now, but it's what i'm learning. How in the middle of life' s craziness to just come and sit at the Father's feet every moment of every day and the idea of surrendering it all to Him. It blows my mind. This book has served as a reminder for me. A reminder that if whatever this thing in my life is is not serving the Lord's purpose for me on this earth, then why am I bothering with it? I think the Lord can use the littlest to the biggest things in life to reveal himself to us, everything from a well-done movie (note well-done:) to a sunset to a smile to a song to a facebook message. How tight is that? Our God is not bound by culture (yet he doesn't change to yield to culture) and his purpose for me here in 2006 is the same as it was for the Christians in the early church. And why? Because life is not about me!!!! Christ is it. One of my favorite parts of Bro Law's book is when he talks about how God's will sometimes brings us pain and sometimes immense pleasure, but if we're seeking his will it doesn't matter the outcome. We just want God's will. And that, is what I so desperately desire to take hold of and what I desire for the church of Jesus Christ to take hold of as well. Press on my brothers and sisters, and pray for each other. sorry lots of ramblings... :)

Isn't it Ironic...Don't ya think?

2006-02-10T12:34:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm not gonna lie...I have to laugh that my last post is about resting. Yesterday and today are the first days I've gotten to rest at all since I've come back to school. But the Lord is so good. In his grace, he waited until today to break me down physically, knowing how important it would be this past month to keep me healthy. Sounds weird, but i'm only filled with thankfulness. However, in this past month I have been more encouraged than I have in awhile. I'm in a leadership position on campus with an AMAZING group of some of the godliest people I know. I have been blessed beyond measure as we have read applications, done countless interviews, and prayed over decisions...some of the hardest and longest moments have been so sweet sharing them with my fellow co-chairs and exec. And the best part is that we were merely vessels. All of the choosing, the decision-making, was done by him. So tight. And now we have COUNSELORS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Josh, Josh, Joshua, Stephen, Russell, Alex, Claire, Faith, Sarah, Kali, Lauren, Dana, Elaine, Sarah, Kelly, Matt. We are Alpha Judah. Whoop! Get excited! The fun is just beginning...Tonight: Dodgeballelluiah!!! Does anyone know how to spell it at all?

Doing stuff in the schools is pretty neat too. I really love my kids and my teacher in Bryan. More to come on that but this is already kinda long. Peace out and have a fantastic day. Enjoy the rain!

Oh to rest...how sweet it is.

2005-12-22T15:57:00.000-08:00

Christmas break...how refreshing it is...I really like just chilling around Dallas right now. In 24 hours I went with Dad to Whole Earth Provision two times and REI once, looked at dishes with Kimbo and Mom, and sat on my floor playing guitar...oh the fun! That makes me sound busy, but let's be honest, it's the fun, i don't really have to do any of this but i get to, busyness. That's my favorite kind...i can be busy but I sure don't have to be. Favorite moments so far have included sleeping in, Chaney listening to Amy Grant Christmas CD and thinking the song disusses "holiday greetings and gay apple meetings..." (gay happy meetings), Mom giving us the real definition of the manger "it's called the creche, like paper mache, not a manger", Dad reiterating to Chaney that "Life is not always golden-brown", refering to that wonderful color for toast and marshmellows, and buying a tent at REI. My family is pretty much amazing and it's so fun to hang out with them...Jess and Elise came and played which was a party of course...I sometimes forget Jessie is married...I like Nick though, we'll keep him:) Dad's getting so excited about having Grant join the family right now! After waiting 24 years, he finally has another male friend in the house, he might even be more excited about the engagement than Kimbo:) nah, i highly doubt that...Anyhow is anyone is actually reading this, Merry Christmas to you and just remember what the real purpose of Christmas is...It's not about you, contrary to the Christmas marketing media...Celebrate Him. We have every reason to! Merry Christmas!

An Ode to Breathing...How I miss you...reality.

2005-12-13T23:27:00.000-08:00

Yah, after a month and a half, two colds and probably close to 10-15 breathing treatments, we're almost back to where we started...I know I said this before, but I'm REALLY identifying with Paul in this whole physical ailment thorn in your side thing. But the tight part about it? His strength is made perfect in my weakness, and when I am weak, then HE is strong. Yes. Victory. And the fact is, even though i'm going crazy because I feel ridiculously lazy, I see that he is teaching me things and I am right where He wants me. That doesn't get any better.
Another thought on my mind these days, reality. Gone are the days of long off graduation...oh they are approaching...thankfully i have a year left unlike my comrades with only a semester. Will I go back to China? Will I work at a school? Will I work at a church? Will I do something completely unrelated to my degree? Good questions huh? Yah, I think so too...answers? no way. One day at a time. I know it's coming and I am seriously looking into going back to China for three years for a tuition free masters program but who knows? we will see. As much as I'd like to know what God is doing in my life, He doesn't HAVE to tell me. He knows and that's gotta be enough for me. He'll clue me in when He thinks it's time. I just have to trust in it. 7/9s of college finished. Craziness. In a year, I will be somewhere really weird doing something very different. I just have a feeling. Funny, I still feel like a 12 year old half the time. I think the older i get the more childlike I become. I guess the world outside of Texas A&M will just have to deal with that because there's no reason for me to change myself for the sole purpose of pleasing them. I've got one person to please, Praise God, literally. Tomorrow I get to go home to my wonderful, amazing family. They are so great. I cannot wait to rest, read, get better (hopefully), reflect, and prepare for next semester along with chilling with them. I also get the opportunity to bless Kimbo with wedding stuff even though I have NO idea what i'm doing. Yes! Just a quick challenge to you guys and myself too: Pray that the Lord would let you see the people you've known for years that you will see over the break, in the same way that he sees them. Not, as we see them tainted by our fleshly experiences with them. May we seek these opportunities to love on people as Christ himself did over the break. If you be in Dallas, give me a call. I am way blessed to be friends with so many AMAZING people.