"we can do no great things, just small things with great love."

Just finished this book...

AWESOME!

Completely rocked my world. Where do I begin...

If you haven't read it, read it. What Shane Claiborne says will force you into authentic living...it starts with simply loving your neighbor. He challenges everything from loving the poor, social justice, violence and war, what it means to be a christian, the world of economics, patriotism, and the modern American church. He makes you think like crazy. It took me a while to finish this book, even though sometimes I could not put it down...I needed to process what I was reading and practice it.

I underlined, highlighted and wrote all over the margins, so much that I may need to buy my friend who lent it to me a new copy.

I wanted to insert a quote here, but I could not find just one...so just read it for yourself, you won't regret it. And I'm praying about leading a life group in the fall and go through this book, so if you're interested let me know or if you'd want to help me lead it...I'd love it!
Now I'm on to unChristian...just checked it out of the library (new favorite place). Can't wait to get started!

Another painting...

Here's another painting I finished a few weeks ago. I can't wait to give it to Lorene...it has a few different meanings but I hope God really speaks to her through it!

Thought you'd enjoy! Have a great week everyone!

Top 10 Reasons Why Life is Good!

(This is the last painting I did for Kristina Hayes, just thought I'd share)


1. I have this crazy joy right now, that I can't really explain, it's just there.

2. I serve at the Stirring with an amazing group of people. I love every single person there and Sundays are my favorite day of the week because of them!

3. With all my car trouble, I've been driving my dad's station wagon...totally nerdy but I think I can rock it. AND I can fit my 3 speed cruiser in the back SO I am always ready for night time bicycling ride, because I work all day and it's the only free time I have and it's not freaking hot out.

4. My dad comes home on Thursday. I miss my padre so much. I'm so blessed to be incredibly close to my family and it's just not the same at home without him!

5. I got free ice cream at coldstone tonight. So awesome.

6. The Lord has been streching me like crazy and showing me more of His plan for my life. I've had this serge of inspiration and passion this week and I feel like I need to share it with anybody and everybody.

7. Crazy stuff is happening with my art. God is good and works in amazing, surprising ways...

8. I will finally have enough money to buy my Macbook in 2 weeks! I'm so amped.

9. Everything at my work is going really good. If you don't know, I've really struggled with my job that I've had for over 2 years. I'm ready for change, I just don't know when it will happen. But until a door is opened, God has seriously made things so much easier on me there...

and finally...

10. Patricks Point Patio Camping Trip is happening in exactly one month. Can't wait!

Day from...well let's just be honest...HELL

You knows those days when you wake up, you have a huge zit right in the middle of your forehead and you just know it's not going to be a good day?
That was today.

9am...I got to work and it began...Dr's freaking out because he has no idea what he's doing...
"I'm sorry! I didn't know my job was to look like an idiot so you don't have to!"
Well...that's what I wish I could have said, but then I would have been jobless...

Worked 8 hours in total stress mode...

6pm...got off work and was driving home and thought to stop my Michael's craft store to pick up some supplies so I could finish the painting that is in my last blog...

6:30pm Get into car in Michael's/Cost Plus parking lot...turn key...car makes funny noise...doesn't start. I call my mom so she can come to my rescue. I hang up the phone and realize that I have her car key in my purse! Thank God she found a key to my dad's car that basically has no brakes, and arrived shortly there after.

7pm...Mom calls car club place for a tow truck..,

7:30pm...waiting
8pm...still waiting

8:30...Tow truck man arrives and jumps my battery...he tells us to go straight to Walmart to buy a new battery and to not turn off my car!

8:35pm...Sitting in my car at the Hilltop and Dana drive intersection...car dead...again! I immediately turn my flashers on but you can barely see them since my battery is dead.

8:40pm...Nice man named Jesse in a Nissan Marano pulls up next to me and offers to help in anyway. I get in his car and he takes me to Walmart so I can meet my mom and get a new battery.

8:45...Arrive at Walmart...run into the auto department and yell, "I have a 1988 Volvo sedan 240 DL and I need a battery!!!!" A nice man with a pony tail (which reminded me of my dad and how I wish he was here with me and not in the middle of Kansas on a bicycle!) Got the battery I needed, explained somethings to me and then I handed him 87 bucks and I was out the door to wait for my mom.

8:52pm...My mom and I realize we have no idea how to change a battery.

8:53pm...I start hyperventalating.

8:55pm...Mom calls her amazing boss Joe, who just happens to be at Chevy's and he and a guy come to help us out! My mom put the car in neutral and they rolled the car out of the middle of the intersection...while I am directing traffic because I am wearing bright yellow and red scrubs with ladybugs all over them and cars could not miss me!

8:56pm...Lady cop arrives saying they got a call reporting an abandoned Volvo in the middle of Hilltop. (HA!)

8:57pm...the amazing Emily and Brett Faulknor are waiting at the light and turn around to help us out!

Turns out I have no tools in my car so we had to Run to Big Lots to get a wrench!

9:00pm Brett, Joe, and David (I think that's his name) save the day and get the old battery out and the new one in...and I am on my way home!!!

Needless to say I was bawling my eyes out this whole time because I am hypoglycemic and I hadn't eating in 8 hours therefore I was not able to control my emotions well...and I have only had my license for 7 months so this was new and stressful!!!
10pm...go to starbucks...order venti iced americano...sit with friends and try to decompress

12am...Can't fall asleep because of the venti americano.

Good news...tomorrow is Friday!

New Painting...unfinished

I had a painting session with my dear friend Shelby tonight and this was what happened! I love it! It's not finished yet but it's for my dear friend Lorene Holley!

My amazing mother bought me eight canvas' this week! It's buy one get one for a penny at Aaron Brother's right now...such a great deal! I wanna try painting everyday this week and see what happens...sometimes when I do this all my stuff starts to look the same...but whatev I need to get the creative juices flowing...

dreams..

I've been having the weirdest dreams lately. Lastnight I fell asleep around 7pm (Yay for working 40 hour weeks!) and woke up at 6:30 am. I seriously had like 5 dreams and they were all things that I've been thinking about or things that have happened yesterday but totally twisted and randomized...word?

What the heck?! Maybe the chiropracter messed me up...haha.

Random blog...but I've been thinking about these dreams all morning.

It's official...I'm a Red Hawk!

On Friday I got the call from my admissions counselor telling my I was excepted to Simpson University! Haha..I know big surprise, I didn't think I would ever be excepted (can you sense the sarcasticness?). And maybe to some of you the idea of me attending Simpson is a huge shock! Ever since age ten Simpson was on the very bottom of my list of higher education possibilities, but God had another plan for me...

Even though I know God has me staying in Redding and going Simpson for a reason it was still hard for me to be content with that, for reasons such as, visiting Point Loma University and having my close friends Mark and Rebecca Carter move down there)...

So frankly, this acceptance means a lot more to me because it is just another confirmation that this is where I'm supposed to be and that makes me freaking amped on what God has in store for me!