10 Things I'm thankful for this month...

I.
Going to Castle Lake with Jeremy and Marley...so beautiful. Also the argument Jeremy got into with a manager at a taco place on the way up. We got free nachos which were delicious....

II.
A couple days of rain, cuddling up on the couch with a book and a candy cane latte. I love rain more than any other type of weather.

III.
Beating Billy Brown (who writes blogs about playing poker), Matt Moseley (I heard he's pretty good at poker), and Jeremy (doesn't like playing games at all) at cards and winning $18. It was my second time ever playing poker. I guess having no strategy is a strategy after all...

IV.

Finding this fish-eye picture Emily took of us at a bowling alley. I don't know why I'm celebrating. I totally lost that day. I'm pretty sure I barely cleared a 70.

V.
My incredible friends in Redding and my amazing breakfast club, complete with stories, insight, and elephants revealed. Yum, breakfast. Every week I split delicious cream of wheat or a bowl of oatmeal with my friend Jenna. I wish I ordered the pastry above. Oh, Sarah & Jenna...Psalm 95:2..."let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song." I'll leave the music and song part to you though.
VI.
Beth Moore and Daniel and Danielle Fleck. Crazy learning times. Dreams and Visions. The definition of Submerting. Having friends you seek God with. Trusting Him fully with your life.
VII.
Yes, the "lame" Twilight Movie Premiere. I loved getting together with everyone, despite the fact that the movie could have been a little better and Jeremy almost gouged out his eyeballs. Can't wait for New Moon. Hehe.
VIII.
Tonight. Seeing a community come together for each other, the men calling each other out to fight for the women, the women calling each other to bring things into the light. People young and old telling their stories. Amazing. I've never felt more supported, encouraged, and a part of something great than I do right now.

IX.
Bend, OR. Sipping tons of Trader Joe's Chai Lattes with the fam. Taking walks in the bitter cold. Stuffing my body with a huge Thanksgiving meal (favorite dish: sweet potatoes covered in marshmallows). Hanging out with the nieces and nephew. Later I'll pass out in front of a guaranteed lame movie due to the excess
X.
Sleeping. Right now.

The day I've been waiting for...

My day has consisted of

anxiously awaiting midnight.
which means one thing....twilight premiere.
the day I've been waiting for for 4 months.
i'm so giddy and anxious and impatient and nervous.
after tonight, i don't have to watch the preview twice a day.
I CAN'T WAIT!
exactly 8 hours left. i'm going to pee my pants.

i am starting to wonder what i was thinking going to a midnight showing. I don't think i've ever done this before-not even in high school. jeremy puts a movie on at 8:30 and I'm out in 10 minutes. hopefully, we'll all be so hyped on caffeine and sugar that we won't be able to sleep until tomorrow morning. and there was no way i was going to miss this.

i'm seriously worried about people talking during the movie. pet peeve people. do not ruin my perfect night with your chatter. i've told (yelled at) people before in the middle of the movie that i don't need their commentary. so....if you don't want to be embarrassed tonight or tasered, don't open your mouth in the middle of the movie. ok, i'm done. i have to go back to watching the clock.

yippee!

retreat

So I went to a staff retreat this weekend.  I love retreats.  I love the laughter, the games, the prayer, the connections made, the relationships strengthened, the things you hear from God, the inside jokes, the good food, playing mafia 3 times getting refreshed.  It was at an amazing house, complete with hidden rooms behind bookcases, beautiful scenery, fun idiosyncrasies, strange sounding toilets. 

During our times together the first 2 days, I listened as some had profound experiences, were refreshed,  received words from the Lord, had an awesome time alone.  

I got more and more agitated.  

Usually I have a great time at retreats, but every time I sat down to study or think my mind started racing.  Not racing with important, God things.  Small, menial things.  Things that aren't important.  I couldn't stop it.  Crappy. Frustrating. 

Later on Saturday, God gave me A LOT to process....words about my past and how it's shaped my thinking.... belonging....pastoral....prodigal son's brother....not all related ( I think ).   Anyway, I think this part of my life is really about working on who I am, working on my habits, attitudes, thoughts, feelings.  Ugh. I don't know which is worse...not hearing or actually hearing and having to work on things for a very, very long, long time.   

So here goes...

what's going ON?

It's been 2 months? What the heck? I keep thinking last week was September. Sorry, my 7 faithful blog readers. I'll try to do better....

So today is ranked in my top 10 days of 2008, despite the driving drum beats from below (I'll explain later). I absolutely love days like today. It's the fireplace, oversized slippers, sweats, hot chocolate & favorite book in hand kind of day. (finally, I've been waiting for months for these rainy days to hit Redding) You don't want to do anything, the rain makes you down to enjoy life. It reminds me of my favorite Seattle days when we had a REAL beautiful fireplace...

I love my fake fireplace now, though. It's very portable. I can take it into any room and it heats it up in like 4 hours. It also "sets the mood" if you know what I mean....

Ok, Scott Davis' driving drum beats are shaking my house right now and have been for 5 hours. Things are falling off my walls as I write. I feel like I'm in a cartoon right now, flailing around like a crazy person catching things falling off the wall. I was talking to Sarah today and she could hear the drums thru my cell phone. Crazy....I'll probably have a headache later but oh well. Such is life being married to a musician/studio engineer.

So today I was able to sit and think, which is seriously a luxury for me. I am usually thinking about my to-do list. Today I was not. I thought about Dan's message last night-so clear, so good, so God-breathed. I was imagining changing the world thru peace, thru humbleness and wondering what that world would look like. (thanks, Dan).

This elephant series that we doing right now at the Stirring is rocking me. Jeremy got this word from the Lord several weeks back for himself..."it's not about this or that, it's about Me". I think this totally describes the past couple messages on Greed, Sex, Politics, Drinking. I think we've talked about all of those and what they mean, but Nate and Dan have really gone even deeper...it's not about this or that, it's about Me (God). It's about the kingdom first, it's about loving others, supporting, praying.....

Danielle and I decided to do a Beth Moore study on Daniel and so far it's been incredible-diving into the ancient history of Judah and Babylon and Daniel and Nebuchanezzar. As Dan was talking about his new word "submerting" last night I was thinking that word describes Daniel's life. He submitted to Nebuchanezzar, but led a subverted life in that kingdom. I've never been one for Bible studies, but it's been so good to read and understand and link stories and prophecies. Anyway, that's what's goin' on.

RANDY MILLER

We're having dinner with Randy and Kristyn in a couple minutes. Pray for their family-for healing, for strength, for finances. I have so much faith that God is going to heal Randy of cancer. I don't know when, but I've never believed in anything more than I have that. Oh, spread the word that people can give to the family thru the "mercy fund" at the stirring-mail or online at thestirring.org.

Thanks for listening!

Randy

This past week we found out that the tumor they removed from Randy's body is cancerous. This news is such a blow to anyone who knows Randy. Randy the rock...the passionate friend...Jesus follower...the dedicated father...Kristyn's loving husband...the talented Myriad drummer...our motivational speaker. It's confusing to me. How can this happen to someone as great as Randy? The Millers are amazing friends to anyone lucky enough to know them. This past week has been so hard on them-not knowing what to think or expect, what to do. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers. I know they are feeling so loved and supported by their community....keep it comin'! Here's the letter the Myriad sent out...

Friends and family,

As some of you may have heard, our band mate Randy Miller had a tumor removed from his upper torso near his shoulder on Friday. Initial analysis has come back that the tumor is cancerous. The specific type is still being determined and we will keep you all informed as we know more. We ask for your support and prayers for Randy, his wife Kristyn, and children Connor and Gillian during this time.

There are immediate and ongoing financial needs for the Miller family. For this reason, a mercy fund has been set up through The Stirring, a non-profit organization in Redding, CA. There are a few different ways you can send donations to the family. One is online at www.thestirring.org . Located to the bottom right of the main page you will see “ONLINE GIVING”. If you click on this link you will be directed to a secure page where you can set up an online giving account. Once the account is set up you will see the “MERCY FUND” and be able to send secure, tax-deductible donations to the family through this organization. Donations can also be sent in the form of a check to:

The Stirring
RE: Randy Miller
3468 Bechelli Lane Suite E
Redding, CA 96002

Any financial support you can give in order to help the Miller’s through this difficult time is appreciated.

Thanks for your prayers,
The Myriad

Vampires

When I'm on a roll, I'm on a roll...3 blogs in one month!!! I couldn't not write about this....

About 6 months ago, my sister-in-law, Erica, handed me a book "Twilight" and said "seriously, read this. it's so good. it's about vampires." I think my exact words (in my head) were "yeah, right. probably not." So 6 months this book has been sitting on my bookshelf collecting dust (sorry, Erica).
Two Saturdays ago I picked it up reluctantly and I read through the entire series in 9 days. I've been obsessed and completely void of a social life for 9 days. I can't think of anything else. I entered into an entirely different world of incredibly good looking vampires, compulsive werewolves, and clumsy humans, and now I can't seem to come back to "normal" everyday life. I poked myself with a knife while unloading the dishwasher and looked around to see if a vampire smelled my blood. If someone around me does something truly impressive and skillful, I've thought to myself, "I wonder if he/she is a vampire?" Am I going crazy? I hope not. I just need to transition into real life again.
It takes an amazing author to write a book that 1. you can't put down, 2. you can't think of anything else, 3. is clean, and 4. you have a time of mourning when it's done and immediately want to pick up the first book again. I've never been more infatuated with a book (or series) than I am with this one and I've never been more depressed when I finish (Erica, I will never doubt you again!). I don't want to ruin the book, so here's my advice: "Seriously, read this. It's so good. It's about vampires."

Farewell for now, sweet friends

Goodbyes are so hard. I cried 3 times when I heard that 2 of our best friends and Marley's BFF were leaving Redding, and I've cried 5 times this week. Em and Brett were really the first couple we started hanging out with after moving to Redding. They are the kind of friends you call to come over and have a chill night, to play games with, to mix drinks with, to plan parties with, to go bowling, to BBQ with, to laugh with, to have a lot in common with, to have a dog that your dog is best friends with, to share holidays with, to cry, to reminisce, to pray, to ask advice, to jam with, to worship with, to be comfortable with, to eat sushi with, to take pictures of everyone and their dog. My heart is happy for them to begin this new adventure in San Diego, to be just the two of them again, to be happy in their jobs, to have better opportunities, to meet new friends. I will miss them terribly at the same time. I know (thanks to everyone that WILL be hiring Em to do their weddings, baby, engagement, and family pics) that Em will be back quite often (I WILL be threatening your life if you do not hire her), but that doesn't fill the humongous void there will be day to day. Their presence here the last few years has changed lives, has ministered to so many, and has brought a joy to each of us. I'll miss you terribly, Brett and Emily and Teryx, but I wish you the best in SD and you better get a blow-up mattress because Jeremy and Marley and I will be on our way to visit in a couple days (haha).
Here's to the last few years of laughter, tears, puppies, house projects, Moscato, the Stirring, bowling, holidays, and FRIENDS FOREVER. . .

Christmas and pink Santa Hats...

Delicious...

Happy New Year's before Brett passed out...
Happy New Year's AFTER Brett passed out...

Birthdays, Grad Parties, and big lips.... Marley and Teryx- BFF's...
Merch girls....



Sunbathing @40 degrees for fame (at least we had donuts and coffee).....Photo shoots and nutritious foods...


San Clemente, boogie boards, and bloody noses....
All the girls.....


Aren't you proud of me, Em? I will get better at blogging...just for you!

My Summer in a nutshell

this summer was one of the most eventful summers I've ever had. sad, I know. here's a look into it...

THE WEDDING

So, I went to Pete and Jamie Metz's wedding in Tahoe (congratulations!) with Kristena. I'd never been to Tahoe before, everyone kept looking at me as if I was insane when I'd tell them that. It was so beautiful and the wedding was at an amazing location and Pete and Jamie are such a great couple. ... PS. this blog will be full of pictures

THE INVASION
A few weeks after the wedding, Jeremy flushed out a mole. Not the spy kind, the actual rodent kind that was destroying our backyard. For some reason this summer we've been invaded (for those of you who know about our squirrel problems in Seattle-this might not be a surprise to you). I feel like Noah. It's as if God is calling them to our house two by two. First the 4 cats that have adopted us. Then the Mole we named Herbie. We drowned him the day we met him. Then the ants (only not two by two-more like two million by two million) all over our carpets, our bed, our kitchen. We've been thru 4 cans of Raid and will probably all perish early from all the fumes we've inhaled. Then the opossums. Oh, the opossums. We've trapped 4 and had them "relocated". They like cat food and my laundry room and we even found a baby one curled up with the kittens. I think they're so ugly their cute. You decide.... Then the fawn in the backyard. Yes, a fawn ("Bambi"). It got trapped in the alley behind our house and decided to sleep in our backyard until Marley scared the little guy half to death. Ok, here are the picks to prove our invasion...they're a bit gross...

The Mole...
The Opossum...
SAN CLEMENTE

Every year our family goes to San Clemente. It's my favorite thing to do all year. We sit on the beach most of the time, BBQ, play boche ball, swim, Jeremy sits in the hot tub whenever there is a spare second. This year was a little different. We slept most of the time. We were crazy tired (I think this happens more when you get old). We also witnessed a crazy drunk driving accident, where the car ended up about 10 yards from us and upside down. It was right after we took this picture:Kristena and I on the beach...
Jeremy, Me, Kristena, and the waves...
Ava, Adiah, and Erica created this sexy mermaid body for Uncle Jeremy.



DISNEYLAND
Oh, Disneyland. The happiest place on earth...that is, until around 8pm when all children AND adults start to self-destruct. Literally, there is a HUGE difference in mood in the park at the beginning of the day and then at the end of the day. Hopefully the kids have fallen asleep in the strollers by the time you try to leave, if not they are most assuredly having a meltdown on the trolley. Here is a glimpse of our day in the blessed park of mirth and wonders and log rides....


This is me, pre-drench...


Rachel joined us...
California Adventures...
Ava will be on So You Think You Can Dance someday, and they'll show this photo that her favorite auntie took...

New Mexico
The Land of Enchantment (or entrapment - as some of the locals say). I flew in right after our SoCal trip and had a blast with the fam. (Jeremy had studio work and festivals to go to). Probably my favorite time was spent with my mom-staying up late and talking talking talking, oh and the time with Grandma doing crossword puzzles, with my dad at the baseball games, and riding with Matt on his motorcycle. I'll post some of those pics later when my mom decides to learn how to attach a picture to an email. Haha. Seriously a good time with the family.

Dad

Mom

Brother

The Girls

Well, that about wraps up my 7-blogs-in-1. I hope you enjoyed the exciting happenings of my summer, and I hope this pacifies you for at least another 2 months. Sorry you had to stare at weird "alien kitty" for so long. Peace.

Today

I woke up today looking forward to my day off. I had a massage, did a little shopping, got groceries, worked out. I also took Zoe to the vet. She peed on my bed (Yay) yesterday and I found crystals (UTI symptom). I think the vet made a mistake and gave me horse pills for my little sick cat. It took my 15 minutes to try to shove the horse pill down her throat, along with a syringe of water. In the end, I was super frustrated and winded. Zoe is not a cat to lay down and have me shove a pill down her throat. She's a fighter. This is I-booth Zoe ...Tonight in my second attempt accomplish this seeming impossible task by myself, I ended up crying, my arms were torn up, I dropped some choice words, and the pill is not being dissolved in a tummy-it's on my counter and kind of gummy. And I'm pretty sure Zoe is traumatized for life. She will never be the same. Sooooo.....tomorrow I will go back to the vet and ask him if he had in fact mistaken my 10 pound cat for a 4000 pound horse.

6 years

Ok, time to catch up on some blogging...So it's been 6 years since Jeremy and I said "I do" in the New Mexican heat and started our lives as husband and wife. It's been a crazy 6 years....together we've moved 6 times, lived in 4 cities, renovated a crooked house, killed 9 squirrels, adopted 1 dog, 4 cats (+ 8 kittens), captured 5 opossums, toured 32 states together, seen 36+ rock shows, been hooked on 9 televisions series, been on 8 budgets, and the list goes on. It's been a great road, with few potholes, a couple detours, but overall a totally blessed road. God knew we'd be good together. Jeremy is the most patient, gentle, wise, considerate person I know, he knows my love languages, keeps me laughing, loves animals, has a passion for God, is a talented musician, and is an amazing best friend. Thanks, lover, for 6 amazing years!

Thank you for taking our pictures, Em! We love them! You did an amazing job!

Auntie

I love being an auntie. I spent all day Monday at Nate and Erica's house and loved every second. Kids say and do the funniest things and it makes me want to be that innocent and honest. It makes me want to have kids for selfish reasons-to listen to their opinions and laugh later with someone about what they said or did.

Erica and I picked Ava up from school and she matter-of-fact-ly informed us that she did NOT like the snack (trail mix that Erica had never seen before) packed for her lunch today. She confirmed that she had told "grammy" that she did not want that snack, "but then grammy stuffed it in anyway. uuhh." It was all we could do to not laugh hysterically. Actually I think I did laugh hysterically.

Later I set up an obstacle course for the girls to have bike races. Ava won the first one by a mile. I explained that it would be nice to give Adi a chance to win too, so the next race Ava dramatically pedaled slower than a six month old and Adi won. All fine and good until the 3rd race. Ava was just rounding the corner for the win and Adi came out of nowhere with the most determined look on her face , pedaling as hard as her skinny little legs could and pretty much did the craziest cut-off I've ever seen. She sailed past the finish line with a huge gleeful smile and Ava melted down. It was a fun day.

Kittens

ok, so I love these 4 kittens, but as much as I would love to keep these precious creatures, I already have a zoo. they will be ready in a week and I know someone wants a kitten (or two) out there. they are super friendly, comfortable with dogs. there is a white one (above), white and orange, orange with white feet and chest (above), and all orange. just let me know.

2 in one day!!! World record!!

So...anyone want to go with a team to Africa or Philippines or Haiti or somewhere in August? I'm going. I have to go. God's calling me to go. There's no question.

Sound the trumpets!!!

Yes, this is my third blog in over 2 months!!! I'm sure everyone is on the edge of their seats, waiting for a glimpse of some epiphany I've had over the last month. "It better be good" you say, "after all this time..."

So, here goes, I'm saying "goodbye" to the Olympic gold medal for blogging twice a year (thank you, Nate, for pointing out my non-blog blog).

For some reason even after Jeremy leaves for tour and I should have TONS of time on my hands, I don't seem to have a spare minute. I try to fill every last bit of it with errands, walks with Marley, picking up all of Marley's toys, making sure the kittens are still alive and cared for, house chores, erase the dark, the Stirring, hand watering the massive amounts of grass, planting grass, vacuuming up all the cat hair, etc. Ugh. That list just exhausted me. haha.

When I go home the last thing I want to do turn on Jeremy's massive computer thing that sounds like a semi truck. He borrowed my perfect little laptop that fits perfectly on yes, my lap, and gave me this monstrous thing to use to blog and check emails. haha. A blog for me is this huge hurdle now that I have to jump-most of the time I just run around it. I applaud Dan, Emily, Anna, Amy, Nate, & Erica for being sincere blog heads. You guys are my inspiration, thank you for the comments, I'm glad you haven't lost hope in me!

Back to being busy....this seems to be a general theme in my life lately-or for years. First, the women's retreat when we talked about Mary and Martha (in case you had any doubt, I am a Martha-constantly trying to make people comfortable, feeling responsible for everything, comparing and asking God why others don't kill themselves to get things done) , then Dan's message on Sunday about family and not being too busy to be a part of each other's lives, and other conversations with Jeremy and multiple friends.
It's amazing how God knows what we need to hear when we need to hear it. For years Mary and Martha's story has come up at every retreat I attend. Without my permission. Before the women's retreat, I would have been happy to never ever hear the story again. I was mad at Jesus for not sticking up for Martha. It was always Mary, Mary, Mary. Until this retreat I felt like I had no choice but to be busy and get things done and work until I'm exhausted-like good 'ol Martha. I can't be silent-my mind is constantly making to-do checklists, I can't stop for a second or I feel guilty-I know SOMETHING needs to be accomplished! Luke 10:42... Mary has chosen what is better. Chosen being the key word. I have to choose. Do I sit at Jesus feet and listen? Or do I go through life never knowing what it is to rest, missing out on Jesus and family, feeling lonely lonely lonely, missing out on the beautiful things in life because I'm rushing by?

Anyway, just a little piece of what's been happening in my little life! Hope you enjoyed! Stay tuned, I'll be back next year!

excitement, dreams

There's a sense of excitement in the air. Even though I have an incredible headache right now, I still feel it. I feel like God is doing something crazy right now. I don't know what it looks like at the moment but He's working-in my life, in other's lives around me. Giving them dreams, fulfilling them, changing life courses, bringing friends and communities together to seek him, giving them a desire to reach out and touch someone else's life (otherliness). Does anyone else feel this, or is it just me? I've realized in the last month that I need to live NOW, not wait for the future. Not wait for what could happen, just DO SOMETHING! I need to speak truth, encourage people, pray for people. Maybe I'm experiencing life like never before.
Marley feels it to. I can tell. He's usually at the window, looking out anxiously. Waiting to experience what's out there-beyond his four walls. Right now, though, he's passed out next to me at the office after devouring a delicious Java Detour doggie bone.

I'm Confused

I consider myself a smart person, but I can't for the life of me figure this blog thing out. The pages and technical terms seem way out of my league. Even the question mark help circle confused me.   Can someone tudor me or something? I'm pretty sure Marley could figure this out faster than me... maybe I'll go play fetch with him.  I know how to do THAT!