Sticky Note Saturday

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Letters to Myself- 16 year old me

Dear 16 Year Old Me,

I sit here and try to remember what you were like and the things that you struggled with. I wish so much that I had a journal to look at to read to remind me of the person that you were. So my first piece of advice is, keep a journal. Write it all down, don't hold anything thing back. Your thoughts matter and are important, maybe only to you.

Just Sayin'

Sticky-Note Saturday

These are just some of my random thoughts!
 PS. I's sorry if you subscribe by email and got like 10 emails while I tried to figure this out!

 

 

 
If you would like to join in the fun of Sticky-Note Saturday. Make your own sticky notes and then add your blog to the comments! That way we can all ready your Saturday thoughts!

The Elephant Room and the Flint Mission Trip

A couple of months ago Mark Driscoll posted on Facebook about being a part of a conference called the Elephant Room.

The Elephant Room Conference had some names that I have heard of before and some I never knew existed. Those that attended the conference were James MacDonald, Greg Laurie, Mark Driscoll, Matt Chandler, David Platt, Perry Noble, and Steven Furtick. One of the first videos that came out was this one…

Chandler and Furtick from Harvest Bible Chapel on Vimeo.

After watching this video and a couple of others from this same conference, I decided to check out some of the other pastors on the panel so that I didn’t judge people by sound bites. I am familiar with Mark Driscoll and Matt Chandler, I have listen to more of Mark’s sermons and talks then I have Matt’s.

So I started with Steven Furtick at Elevation Church in North Carolina. Where do you start when you have years of material at your fingertips,  I choose to start with his series “Mr. and Mrs. Betterhalf” it’s a relationship series from a Godly standpoint. I’ve listen to the first 4 messages, and I’m working on the bonus message and the fifth one.  It’s pretty good some pretty good points and I like that his wife did an entire sermon on what this messages series looks like in real life.

After watching a couple of sermons I did a Google search on Pastor Steven. I found his blog and his Twitter. I haven’t read too much on either so I won’t say go there and read his stuff, but I did find one thing I would like to use during the mission trip.  It was a neat idea, which hopeful people will continue to use after the mission trip is over.  We will see how it works out!

I’m sure everyone is aware of how I feel about rock and roll music after taking Stan’s discovery class.

Highway to Hell - Part 1 from Harvest Bible Chapel on Vimeo.

In the video above I saw Perry Nobel used ACDC’s song Highway to Hell. Automatically I’m intrigued, Just sayin’! So I checked him out as well. This is what I first found.

Beautiful_02- Single Guys Outtake from NewSpring Church on Vimeo.

I had to find the rest of this sermon series.  I did locate it and if you get the time to watch it since I don’t really want to judge on a 6 minute sound bite.

After checking out 4 of the 7 sermons of the Beautiful, A Series for Women and theMen Who Pursue Them,. I would recommend it!

Second and foremost I need to give credit where credit is due

Jesus always gets the first credit because he put you wonderful people in my life but I do need to give you the credit for your heart to serve Jesus! So here is my list and if I forgot someone it wasn’t intentional, I love you!

Thank you! Deb, Ed and Juanita, Kristine, and my mom, thank you so much for all of your hard work in setting up for the rummage sale. I think I would have gone bat poop crazy if it were not for you.

Thank you Andrew, Anthony, Matt, Ruben, Zach, Junior, Jay and the boyz! You guys made it very easy to tear everything down and get it to the Salvation Army. Hokey Smokes! I turned around and it was all done, I never expected the amount of help and it was really nice.

You are all amazing brothers and sisters in Christ and I wish everyone could be as lucky as myself, just sayin’

With all of that said, Saturday I ran a rummage sale to make some money for youth missions. We brought in a little over $500, which I think is really good. Everything we sold was donated by people in our church and I made it by “donation only.” So people paid exactly what they wanted too. I never told anyone what they had to pay for anything, which was a really hard concept for people to understand.  A lot of people struggled with my answer of “you tell me what you want to pay” when they asked me how much for everything on the counter.

We received some really nice donations, one of which was a propane grill that had been used maybe once. Someone suggested that we put a “suggested donation” on the grill. At first I was ok with this idea; we do need money for the mission trip.

But as Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another (Proverbs 27:17). I don’t remember if I said anything about the suggested donation or not but while we were setting up on Friday someone made a mention about the widow in Mark 12 and how we need to bless others. What happens if someone only has $2. So I went to sleep Friday night thinking about that particular concept.

When I woke up on Saturday morning I was convinced that I needed to sell the grill for whatever price someone was willing to give me, if they were ripping me off them it was completely on them and had nothing to do with me. They were the ones that are going to have to answers to Jesus.

We did sell the grill for $3. A gentleman came up to me and asked me if it was really all by donations and I said “yes.” He asked if I would take $3 for the grill and I said yes and offered to load it up for him. He came back with a friend and loaded it up.

So maybe that $3 wasn’t the last money in his pocket, I don’t care. It’s not my deal. I feel I did my part. Thank you!

What is your Favorite View?

I was asked this for one of my classes so I thought I would post my response.

My favorite view is from front windshield of my car. First, I find that this is the only time I can sit still and enjoy the beautiful surroundings in Michigan. I tend to be moving and going place to place.  

But the thing that makes this particular view my favorite is I’m always looking forward and seeing what is to come all the while having the opportunity to keep an eye on where I have been.  That is something I have had to work on in my life. In my normal tendencies I will focus on my past. I will look at the things I have done and wonder how I could do them better or different.  So I have to work to focus on what is in front of me and only glancing what is behind me to reminding me of where I have been.

What is your Favorite View?

I have returned!

Instead of making a ton of excuses on why it has been so long since I have written I’m just going to start writing again. In my option those would be a waste of word.  

I will start with what is going on in my life. I know it’s pretty exciting.

I start to embark on the summer; I have two classes, one Bible study, I’m leading a mission trip to Flint for the last time, find a job and whatever else Jesus brings into my life, namely Caty.

Caty is moving back to Traverse City in a couple of days, her mom bought a house. Which is really good for Caty, she can now put down roots.

Since I watch Caty 3-5 days a week we have patterns that we follow, one of our favorite patterns is that we read together. There is nothing really significant to what we read; the only qualification is that Caty wants me to read it. Reading should be fun, let her grudge through books later on in high school. It is really needless to say that I end up reading books that I don’t really want to read. I have read through the first 3 Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, and half way through the 4^th one.  The reason I don’t really like the book is because I think Greg (the main character) is a really bad friend to Rowley. So it does give Caty and I something to talk about and how to be a better friend.

With Caty moving to TC, I was wondering how I was going to keep doing this. My thought was to use Skype and read to her. Caty asked how she was going to look at the pictures. This is a really good point so I asked my mom and she came up with a great idea. Her idea was to have 2 books. One for me to read and one for Caty to look at; that was her idea! Which I really liked.

More Later!

Project Life Tuesday!

Yes I know that it has been awhile since I have posted my project life. So here is 3 weeks worth of pictures! If you want to join the fun please go over to Jessica Turner's blog to see others.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010


I didn’t have to be at school but I went anyways. I wanted to be with the kids be there while they were hurting and just be a comfort to them. I don’t know if I could have sat home and wondered how everyone else was doing that day. The button says “He died for you, why not live for him.”

 

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

This is what a community that is mourning looks like.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

My dad bought me flowers because I’m a big help to him. I kind of keep my dad on track and keep his ducks in a row when we are at a school together. Today I made breakfast dishes for him to take to his “Happy Breakfast.” His “Sad Breakfast” comes in the fall when he has to start another school year, get it. So there are the flowers!

Friday, June 4, 2010

Kindergarten Graduation! Caty Graduated from Kindergarten!

Saturday, June 5, 2010

More open houses! This weekend we had seven to go to. Four on Saturday and Three on Sunday!

Sunday, June 6, 2010

A very good friend’s mom when home to be with Jesus. She was 61 years old and it came as a huge shock. I also started a Discovery Class and we are studying this book.

Monday, June 7, 2010

My mom and Dad have been married 30 years today. I trying to find the right picture!

Tuesday, June 8, 2010- Thursday, June 10, 2010

This was my week sick Caty and homework. Caty had a really bad case of constipation and a sinus infection.

Friday, June 11, 2010

Caty was feeling a lot better so she went to her day school for the first time this summer. This is Ms. Jane. We love Ms. Jane. I also went to another funeral. Today was the day that they buried Liz’s mom.

Saturday, June 12, 2010

I found this on mom’s tire. Can we say bald?

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Caty thought that this pose was hilarious. Going to Dairy Queen and like usual Caty took two bites and Papa got the rest!

Monday, June 14, 2010

A couple of weeks ago I joined the local YMCA. One of the summer programs is called Move it and Lose it. So I decided to join that too. Weekly weigh ins and prizes. So I will give it a shot this summer. This is what Caty looked like for her first swim lesson.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Dobby the Prince, Caty made Dobby a crown. Doesn’t he look thrilled to be wearing it.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Caty and my mom went out into the back field to pick wild flowers. Aren’t they beautiful!?!?!? Caty looks very proud of herself.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Dad has surgery today to help alleviate his carpal tunnel. This is what he looked like when he got home.

Friday, June 18, 2010

Just a new picture of me and Caty. I want to track my progress as I go on this journey to Move it and Lose it.

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Caty and her girl scout troop when and played miniature golf for their final outing. It looks like they had a ton of fun.

Sunday, June 20, 2010

With the mission trip less than a month away I started a To-Do List. I ended up making it for the week.

Monday, June 21, 2010

Got a ton done for the mission trip today, permission trip copied and meetings made so I can pass them out. Man it was good to cross off the list that I started yesterday!

Project Life Tuesday!

Thanks for joining me again if you want to join in the fun please go over to Jessica Turner's blog and see some of the other wonderful Project Life's That people are working on. If you read nothing else please read the entire journal entry for Friday, May 28th.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Senior’s Last Day: This is what the principal’s office looked like after the seniors got to it. The principal prides himself for a clean office. So that makes it even better.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Captain Obvious and his sidekick Nitwit: While subbing this is the presence that came into my class. The kid in the cape found both costumes in his locker. He had used them for spirit week in the past. I did get a flat tire today. My dad and a couple of kids went out to try and fix it no such luck. I had to call a tow truck. Not as much fun as you would think. Although the tow truck that came out only charged me $26 for coming out, taking the flat tire off the car, taking the tire back to the shop to fix where the nail had punctured the tire, and returning to put the tire on the car. I was thinking they were going to be jerks and add a bunch of charges that weren’t nessarry. You know the “girl charge” where you automaticly get charged more just for being a girl. Or the “emergency charge” getting charged extra for needing it done now. But none of that was done, PTL!

Friday, May 28, 2010

There are many things that I have learned as a teacher that they did not teach me when I was in college. For instance the first time a student asks you on a date, which now I respond with “July after you graduate!” What about if you are subbing a 2nd grade classroom and one of them pees their pants? Find the nearest paraprofessional they will know exactly what to do. And my personal favorite magic trick is catching a kid chewing tobacco. But you never reveal you secrets on how to do that so you can keep catching that disgusting habit. And I tell them every time I catch one of them that they are breaking my heart and they are eating worms. Eating worms never fazes them.

One of the other things they never teach you is how to say goodbye to kids. I mean you become so invested in their lives, work with them to succeed, cheer them on at their sports event, and celebrate with them when they accomplish something they never thought was possible. Tonight the class of 2010 went from being high school students to high school graduates. Some by the skin of their teeth others taking all Art classes their final semester because they had received all of their credits and where just biding their time. Things will never be the same again for anyone of these kids.

Tonight is a night to celebrate the accomplishments of the class of 2010, but that is not what tonight will be remembered for. Tonight will be remembered for the toughest goodbye of these kid’s lives. On the way to the graduation ceremony a high school junior was killed instantly. No one is releasing details at this point and to be honest I don’t know if I ever want details.

Her name is Debbie or as some people called her “D to the Ebbi.” She was going to be a Christian rapper just like TobyMac. She loved people and people loved her. She took the time to get to know why you were hurting and she listened to your problems. Her greatest fear was that her classmates would never know Jesus the way she did. She told everyone about Jesus. I had the privilege of challenging her on walk her walk with Jesus. I challenged her to pray for those her persecute her, all while assuring her that this was an area I struggled with as well. That my flesh usually took over and I pouted “But I don’t wanna….” She was never getting any condemnation from me just support on this journey, together, because we are all supposed to spur each other on in the Faith.

The first time I met her she was in 8th grade and she had something about her that made her stand out. She did it on purpose and that is what everyone loved about her. Some of her classmates gave her grief about her wacky personality but I think that was because they wanted to be that free and where unable to do so for whatever reason. From the girl I remember in 8th grade to the woman she was becoming I was excited. Excited to see who God was going to turn her into. Excited to see how God was going to use her for his Glory. I was also excited to see that she didn’t make excuses for that passion either.

I have a feeling that D to the Ebbi made the same deal I made with God. That her life was for him to use in any way he needed to show off his Glory. When I made that deal I forgot, or as my mom would say I choose not to remember, that it means death too. So I have no doubt that at the end of this tragedy God is at the beginning of his Glory.

This is my message to D to the Ebbi: Debbie is has been an honor and a privilege to get to know you. You are an amazing young woman whose life was cut way too short. And while I run the spectrum of emotions happy that you have gone home to be with Jesus and sad because I want you here with me, I know that it will only be a blink of an eye before I see you again. And there will be a few people I want to see and hug before I get to you, I do want to find you and hug you and say that it was so worth it. I do think that there will be a long line of people that will want to hug you and tell you how much they missed and loved you. Thank you for being an example to me and to everyone around you, your legacy will be one that will effect generations, simply because you loved.

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Spent the day going to 3 open houses and ran into a lot of these kids and at the end of the day this is what grieving kids look like. At this point it had only been 24 hours since they had lost their team mate, classmate and friend. Huddled around and remembering the positive things that she brought to each and every one of their lives. And during the open houses they were happy and celebrating their friends accomplishments but at the end of the day they are still hurting.

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Not a very exciting day church and 4 open houses.

Monday, May 31, 2010

Happy Memorial Day!!! We (I mean my dad and Caty) got flowers into the flower boxes.

Project Life Tuesday!

Thanks for joining me again if you want to join in the fun please go over to Jessica Turner's blog and see some of the other wonderful Project Life's That people are working on.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Just the start of a really busy summer! Two classes that will take my time, one Bible study, one mission trip and my dad is going to have surgery. Nothing major, he is going to have some work done on his hand for carpal tunnel.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

For some reason I forgot Secretary Appreciation Day. So I made up for lost time. I made bouquets of flower pens for them to keep on their desks. They were a huge hit. There are things I would do differently the next time, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that everyone loved them.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

I didn’t get a picture for today.

Friday, May 21, 2010

This is a picture of my mom, my friend Deanna at the Hotel. Even though my birthday is in September, I got my birthday weekend this weekend. For my 29th birthday (9/8/09) I decided I wanted to see my favorite speaker live and she came to Grand Rapids. I love Beth Moore. There were so many amazing God moments for this weekend. For instance, my friend had a huge family emergency and through a ton of prayer she was able to go to the event. Lifeway only expected about 4000 to come to event a final total would be 7300. That’s right almost double of what they expected. And she brought a message! Hokey Smokes!

Saturday, May 22, 2010

These are pictures of Beth. I tried really hard to get her on stage. Multiple settings and different angles, so I took a couple of her from the video. This is her sitting down with a group of 7300 women and just having a chat with us. That conference could have lasted a week and I still would have wanted more! If you were at Van Andal this last weekend, I am so honored to have been able to share this experience with you!

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Wendy’s is offering a program where if you donate $1 you can get a free Jr. Frosty with any purchase. Well Caty, my mom, my dad and myself got Frostys for under $5. My mom got a tag as well. After such a fantastic weekend, it was kind of nice to get back into “normal” life.

Monday, May 24, 2010

Caty arch-nemesis! “Papa’s stinky pillow” when Caty and I snuggle in my mom and dad’s bed one of the running jokes is who gets to put their head on “the pillow” Well we played that game. Caty told me that I would never get her to touch the pillow that she wouldn’t do anything that gross. So I took the bet and won!!! That’s right I got a 6 year old to touch something that she didn’t want to. I picked up the pillow and touched Caty with it. She wasn’t impressed. So she picked up the pillow and hit me with it. So I had to point out that she had touched it. I even made her smell her hands and she did it.