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