Baby Luke...He's growing up too fast!

Oh my goodness...I remember just yesterday Aaron was calling me to let me know that Downey was headed to the hospital to welcome little Luke into the world and now he's a little man. He's getting to be so big and so handsome. The problem is that he is growing up way too fast and I haven't gotten to see him since July. That's not cool!

But that will all change in about 3 days cause I'm going to visit, YAY! Now, don't be jealous. I know all of you want to go and visit this sweet little boy with me but you can't cause it's my weekend and my time with him, haha. But, since I don't want to leave any of you guys out...I stole some pictures off of Downey's Facebook page so you could all see this little person that I get to hang out with this weekend :)




I mean seriously, is he not the cutest little thing ever?!

A sweet fruit basket

I wasn't having the greatest of mornings! It's Monday...I woke up late which means I got to work...Walked into a stacked of things on my desk...and something about some keys(can't remember). Anyway around 10 AM I got a call from the front desk and Mrs. Lee said I had a surprise!

I rushed down to find this beautiful basket waiting for me with a sweet card that said 'Hope your day gets better! -Love Michelle'

How awesome is that?! I really have the sweetest friends in the world!

Thanks Michelle for the wonderful fruit and even more thanks for being one of my best friends! Love you girl :)

Run

let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

~ Hebrews 12:1

DRUM ROLL PLEASE...

...I am imagining a scene from the Drumline movie right now :)

Now why am I insisting on a drum roll? Well, because I want to introduce you to someone!

Ladies and Gentleman...meet Kevin...
.


...My boyfriend!

Now, some of you are confused at the moment and the rest of you are completely shocked. I know, I know... it's strange that this girl, whom some of you have known for years just being 'Shannon' now has a real life boyfriend(that's what my Mom called him, haha). It may be an adjustment for you all to grasp the fact that I now have 'couple status' but don't worry I'll keep reminding you daily on Twitter, Facebook, texts or whatever annoying social media tool I can use because this guy is pretty special... and I think the world should be reminded often :)

To my NC friends: I will update you all next week while I'm in Wilmington. Complete with pictures, stories and countless mentions of his name in conversation, haha.

To the rest of my friends stretched from Florida to New York to Texas to Washington, don't worry I'll fill you all in. Call you soon :)

Bold

God doesn't want us to be shy with his gifts, but bold
and loving and sensible.

2 Timothy 1:7 (The Message)

Rest up

Ugh... It's been almost a week since I've written! That means all of you have missed out on some much in the past 6 days and apologize.

There has been a wedding, a birthday surprise, 16 hours of driving, time with my niece, homemade chicken salad, becoming small group leader, creating homemade vegetable soup, waving good-bye to Cambi, becoming Facebook official, using my 4-runner's bright lights for the first time, watching Aiden walk, dancing with my Daddy, etc. etc. etc... >insert deep breath here<

It was all fun and all memorable and I wish I could write about it for days...but I'm exhausted just thinking about it all.

Here's the thing... I can't keep up. I can't keep up with my work, I can't keep up with my friends, I can't keep up with my laundry. I mean, I can't even keep up with my sleep and that's kind of important. My day is constant jump from one thing to the next and even on the nights when nothings planned, something comes up and I once again miss another opportunity to rest.

Rest is defined as a bodily state characterized by minimal functional and metabolic activities.

Yea, I don't get that! For me, rest is sleep...alone time...finding a hammock somewhere and completely shutting off my mind. Ahhhh that would be glorious! I would love to go home after work, curl up in my bed and take an hour to 2 hour nap. I LOVE afternoon naps. They are my favorite. I need more of them in my life.

Bottom line: I need a break or I'm going to break! And by break I mean nap :)

It's a Beautiful Day

I can now check 'Seeing the greatest concert' off my life to-do list cause I accomplished that goal last night! Muse and U2 were absolutely incredible. Everyone should see them no matter what the cost. I mean you could always sell some platelets or something to scrounge up some extra funds!









Mal thanks for going with me and sharing such an amazing concert filled evening :)

U2

U2 tonight!!!!!

Yes I will be there :)

I am so excited! I will write about how amazing it is tomorrow!

Never stop

Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Happy Fall

Being a Christian is like being a pumpkin. God lifts you up, takes you in, and washes all the dirt off of you. He opens you up, touches you deep inside and scoops out all the yucky stuff-- including the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, etc. Then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside you to shine for all the world to see. That makes me happy :)

Happy Fall!

Meet Michelle

Wow! I can't keep up with days or moments at this time in my life. It's like every second is taking by something or someone and I apologize for not keeping you all informed of all the things God is blessings me with. I promise I will do a better job!

Today I would like to introduce you all to my friend Michelle!

That's her on the left...but don't be alarmed, we are not trying to keep from getting the plague or the swine flu in this picture. We're actually helping clean up some homes from the destruction caused by the Georgia flood. **If you've been keeping up, you've seen the pictures from our relief efforts.**

The reason I want all of you to meet Michelle is because she has been a big part of my life for the past 5 months. God allowed our paths to cross one night after church and we've been learning and teaching each other ever since. It's pretty awesome. We have similar stories but different at the same time and one of my favorite things to do is sit and talk with her about life, about goals, about guys and the best topic, about God. She has a strong faith, one that I hope is rubbing off on me daily. I watch her give her time and her money to help others. I see her investing in people even when she's tired and broken. I observe her as she interacts with new people and it's awesome to watch her hold out her hand and welcome any and everyone into her friendship circle.

She's got it! She's showing Christ's love in so many ways. Through her kindness. Through her willingness, Through her smiles. Through her encouragement. Plain and simple...Through her!

Thanks being an awesome friend Michelle. Praying that we continue to walk this path of friendship for a while :)

Be alert

Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.

~ Colossians 4:2

Go and help the others

I never thought I would step foot on to the concrete and see the things I saw today. Hearing about flood waters rising and homes being destroyed on the news never really prepares you for actually walking in to a neighbor that was smack in middle of all the chaos.

Piles of sheet rocked lined the streets. Couches and chairs flipped upside down, ruined sitting on the curbs. The smell of mildew mixed with mud and bleach filled the air. Grass and trees covered in mud from where the waters rose and settled feet above normal. Baby toys and bikes laying in the brush from where the water swept them away from their standing positions under porches and decks. It was heartbreaking and overwhelming! When I stepped out of the car, I stepped into the reality that what the news called "just a flood" was way more than that! It was a life changing event that left some broken hearts and broken pieces that may take a while to repair.


After staring for what felt like 3 hours at the cul de sac which held about 8 homes, I headed down towards the destruction with a group to get started. We went to the house at the end of the street first, which had the most destruction. The water not only flooded the basement, it flooded the first floor. The owner of this home was Ms. Monica and she is one lady I will never forget. Her home needed the most work because of how high the floor crept in. It could have used a many hands as possible gutting out walls and bleaching wood but when we approached her to ask how we could help, her response captured my heart. She handed us two bottles of bleach, gloves and 5 squirt bottles and told us " take these and go help in the homes of Ms Sharon and the Johnson's." I looked at her and thought 'this lady knows what it means to show Jesus.' In the midst of destruction and her home broken, she gave to others before thinking of herself. It was incredible! It was a blessing and it was one conversation I will never forget!

So, just as Ms Monica told us, we went out and we helped the others. We bleached Ms. Sharon's basement and helped her sort through pictures and memorabilia, trying to salvage all we could of her memories! We helped move furniture in Jamie and Shannon's house along with packing boxes full of things that the flood didn't claim. We moved trash bags, we swept floors and we basically did whatever we could to help! It was a Saturday that will be etched in my mind forever!






Please pray for these families. Pray for the work that still needs to be done, for the volunteers they still need to put things back together. Pray for the money to come to rebuild and pray for healing after the storm.

It's the little things!

It always has been the little things that make me smile! And this week was full of them. Let's look back and smile together...

Craft time with Jen! What is that you ask? Well that's a paper chain for the days Jen has left before she gets to see her boyfriend, Anthony! There's 16 links here and it's so cute to watch her tear them off with a big smile on her face.

My puppy always makes me smile. Her and her HUGE ears!

Baby pumpkins means it's almost time for Halloween.

And my biggest smile this week came from receiving these! Are they not the most gorgeous flowers you've ever seen. They may be an exaggeration to some but in my eyes, they are because they came from someone very special!

What a great week! Full of smiles because of the little things :)

Only 10 minutes and slightly caddy cornered

I came in tonight after an awesome time hanging out in Vinings with my good friend Michelle! Walking in my apartment, I turned and locked my door(both locks), gave my puppy kiss and pat on the head and proceeded to the living room where I sat down in the green chair that sits just to the left, slightly caddy cornered, exactly where Walker and Jen positioned it several months ago. The TV was on, like it always is and as I sat...by myself... I began to think back. Several memories ran through my head and even though I only sat in that chair for less than 10 minutes, I was reminded of years...great years!

I do this a lot! I sit and I think...about old times, how things used to be and what things are like now. I smile a lot when I think back because my memories are filled with the people I love and places I long to be. I start to remember smells and sweets tastes along with hearing crickets and some of greatest laughter, you know...people just enjoying life. Moments where the sand was beneath my feet or the dark star-filled sky was over my head. Remembering the feeling of my dad tucking me in at night or my Mom hugging me with encouragement. The joy I felt the day I first held Summer or amazement I felt when I first stepped foot on Caswell.

It's amazing what 10 minutes can reveal. I can only imagine what I would think about if I had several hours to sit in that green chair, slightly caddy cornered but perfect in my eyes!:)

Open the Flood Gates

Let it Rain...Let it Rain...Won't you open the flood gates of Heaven!
~ Pocket Full of Rocks

That's what's happening outside my window, down the street, across town and all over metro Atlanta! The flood gates have opened, the rain is pouring down and I'm thinking, it's not gonna stop. I got this same feeling in 1999 when Hurricane Floyd hit North Carolina and the floods just kept taking over. It rained, the rivers rose and the roads washed out, collapsed and caused several accidents and fatalities. Homes were destroyed, business were ruined and people were left with the memory of what used to be their lives. I remember trying to drive to a friends and every road I turned down was completely covered in inches upon inches of water!

Pictures keep coming across my computer screen and I fear for this city as the rain keeps coming down and water keeps rising. Please, please be in prayer for this city, for the people who have already lost and for the people right now who are watching their homes, belongings and possessions wash away.

Changes

Changes!

I know life is full of them but sometimes it really sucks! Especially when I feel like some changes don't have to take place. What am I referring to... Friendships! That may be immature on my part to think that way, but throughout my life the one thing that I have never made too many changes with are my friendships. My friend list has definitely grown since I was old enough to realize what a friend was, so that's a change, but I try really hard not to lose anyone when life tries to throw you curve balls. Is it difficult..YES! Do I always succeed...NO! My point is I try, I mend and do what it takes! I feel as if friendships are to stay strong not matter what, especially if they matter! There should be no distance, no situation and no additions that should change that.

Is that immature or unrealistic? Not my eyes but maybe it is to the rest of the world...and that's sad!

Anew

For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

~ Ephesians 2:10

Let's Build A Playground Together

It amazes me the people I have in my life! I watch them day after day, seeking after Christ, learning from their surroundings and giving with everything they have. It's amazing the things they are teaching me!

It's a group that can get together in the midst of boredom and find fun. It's group that can bring laughter and joy to teenagers half way across the states in the midst of terrible circumstances and horrible economy. It's a group that wants to absorb their city and finds ways to make it better. It's a group that will give up a Saturday just so kids will have somewhere to play! It's a group centered around love and I am so blessed to be a part of it!

This past Saturday, fifteen of these amazing people got together at 8:30 AM with their work attire on and their minds focused on the task at hand...building a playground! And boy did they build a playground...





Despite extremely hard ground and very hard manual labor, this group managed to do something amazing! Did I mentioned they stayed till 6 PM? Dedicated!!!

My friend Michelle said, "It was an exhausting day as we took turns digging the 15 (very large, very deep) holes, hauling away the dirt, pouring concrete and eventually assembling the giant swing set. (And actually there were no swings on said swing set... but that's not my point.) We walked away with blisters, aching muscles, dirty clothes... and the knowledge that we had truly made a difference in the world, at least in the eyes of a few hundred kids."

Well said!

I am so proud of each of them! And they should definitely be proud of themselves! They helped in making a place where kids can be kids and for a moment they can escape the craziness that this city and this world holds. I can't wait to go down there and see the children playing!



To read, more visit Moments Worth Mentioning and That's So Fletch. And if you want to get involved and help us with service projects in the future please visit our Facebook page, CONCRETE LOVE!

Be blessed!

Part 2: Ponchos, Wet Flip Flops and laughs!

Day 2: Rain can't drown our parade!

But in the best kind of way. One thing I love about this group is that we can find fun in anything. So if rain makes it's way in to the magical doors of Disney...you gotta improvise.

And we did...

with ponchos and flip flops...and yes! Mickey was on the back of all our trash bag type capes :)

We wore them to Epcot for lunch...

We wore them to the Magic Kingdom to see Goofy...

We wore them on the Monorail...

We wore them everywhere! And it was hilarious on all sorts of levels. I brought my poncho home with me so be prepared that the first rainy day here in Georgia... my poncho will be on :)

When I grow up!

I have decided I want to be like Lacy from Flyleaf when I grow up!

That's my new goal :)

Think I can do it?

My magical adventure...

Holy Fantastic Disney Weekend!

So many things to talk about, but I don't want to make this post ubber long and all of you quit reading before it gets to the good part! So I will write and post pictures so you can all feel like you were there with me!

Let me start by telling you that life on the road with Brock and Auny is fantastic! So many fun things to do, fun people to hang out with and at the end of the day it's amazing to be around to those two! They brighten my life and they have taught me so much... I am blessed to work with them and more importantly, I am blessed to have them as friends!

OK...enough mussy talk, let's move on to the awesome Mickey filled weekend!

Let's start with Friday...
After arriving at 1:30 AM Friday morning and a quick nap, we rose at 8:30 AM ready for a fun filled Disney day! First stop, EPCOT.

Yep. It hasn't changed since I was a kid!

We had lunch there at a fantastic Moroccan place...Hummus, Couscou, Lamb... It was all so fabulous. I ate way too much but who wouldn't :)

After lunch we went to Hollywood Studios where we spent the rest of the day. There were concerts everywhere, tons of familiar faces to see and of course some awesome rides. First up on our list was The Tower of Terror!

Jacob gave it a trigger pointer up :)

Then Auny and I went over to the Rockn' Roller Coaster! By far, my favorite ride on the trip. We rode it a total of 5 times while we were there...thanks to Heather our amazing Mouseketeer!

We ended the day worshipping with Leeland! Incredible.

Needless to say...the first day at Disney was a hit and the best part was we got to do it again on Saturday. Check out the next blog for pictures from the second day:)

Copy

Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but
let God transform you into a new person by changing the
way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will
for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Romans 12:2 (New Living Translation)

Whatever's Next

Embrace it. Accept it. Don’t resist it. Change is not only a part of life; change is a necessary part of God’s strategy. To use us to change the world, he alters our assignments.

But, someone might ask, what about the tragic changes God permits? Some seasons make no sense…do such moments serve a purpose?

Well...yes! They do if we see them from an eternal perspective. What makes no sense in this life will make perfect sense in the next. I know that can be hard to understand sometimes but it's true. We go through trials, we deal with challenges ... why? Because they are preparing us, teaching us, growing us.

So we should then ask the question...

Might these challenges, severe or as minimal as they may be, serve to prepare us, equip us for the world to come?

YES!

As Paul wrote, “These little troubles are getting us ready for an eternal glory that will make all our troubles seem like nothing” (2 Cor. 4:17 CEV).

Sometimes it just takes a smile.

Today was absolutely fantastic!

Why?

Glad you asked...

Because we, meaning all of the NAMB staff, got to take a little field trip...a mission field trip. I felt like I was in middle school all over again. We met at the bus at 8:00 AM, grabbed a buddy and loaded up with a snack in hand and excitement on everyone's faces.

Can you see the excitement?! Good :)

The bus then headed to Clarkston, Ga where we sent the rest of the day at Clarkston International Bible Church. There were so many service projects to participate in... Mommy & Me: Conversational English was my project of choice. And a good choice is was. We started our day by washing doors...more fun than it sounds, especially when you realize you're suppose to dilute the spray and you don't. Oops! Outcome... unable to breath for a bit. I think my lungs are fine now though. What we found out is that the spray should only be applied to one thing without being diluted...a car engine! I really hope the paint stays on the doors:(

Sara and baby Ansley(in the belly) cleaning the windows.

Jill and I about to get serious about this cleaning thing!

After chemical door cleaning time we moved on to my favorite part of the day...conversation! I got the have one-on-one time with 4 ladies, all from Brama which is near Thailand. They were sweet ladies that are in the process of learning English. Our conversation was really limited but was awesome. They told me all about their kids, their love for cooking and how much the loved school and learning. I wish I could say the same...me and school, well let's just say I am glad I'm done :)

We gave the ladies some homemade dolls & bears for their children and their faces lite up! Seeing their smiles made my day perfect. Seeing the kids smiles made my year perfect :)


Isn't she precious?! Yes, Yes, Yes

What a great day! Let's do it again tomorrow!

Ice Cream Memories

I promised this blog to someone so here we go...

The question on my mind right now is how do you establish a favorite ice cream flavor? I mean, there are tons of choices and so little time to eat them all in one day. So there is always a time where you have to choose. This is where my indecisiveness comes in. You see each flavor brings back a memory and when I take that first bite, I am immediately right back in the moment. makes it hard to choose...

Like, should I go with the Cookie Dough which takes me back to Middle School, or the Strawberry that reminds me of my of Summer days by the ocean. What about Mint Chocolate Chip where I can picture my Mom and I sneaking bowls around 11 pm when I was 13 or Oreo... yummmm, homemade by my dad with Oreo cookies crushed by the pecan chopper in Vanilla Bean goodness. Oh wait, there's sorbet which I used to have after high school softball games and then there was Rocky Road which was a 101 Rotary favorite in college. Then we move into more recent years and you'll find Cake Batter ice cream which reminds me of Nashville days and my sweet friend Emily or Ben & Jerry's Half Baked ice cream which reminds of late afternoons with Kim. Oh and how could I forget soft serve ice cream with colored sprinkles...that's every child's favorite :)

Gosh, I could on and on! You see how this becomes tough for me. Great memories tied to great ice cream. So, I guess for me there is no favorite...there is only favorites tied to some of the best memories of my life.

What about you?

A new spin on homelessness

Jobless and homeless, blogger scores Elle job
...Writer puts new face on homelessness with blog for fashion magazine

~Francis Specker / AP

Six months ago, Brianna Karp found herself living in an old truck and camper she inherited after the suicide of a father she barely knew.

On Monday, her life became a 21st century fairytale when she turned her blog about homelessness into a plum internship for the fashion bible Elle magazine.

This is a story about love and Twitter, hope and the relative safety of a Walmart parking lot. Bri is our star, but there's also Matt, her trans-Atlantic boyfriend who found her on the streets of Orange County, Calif., as she wrote about her predicament at girlsguidetohomelessness.com.

Story continues here...

Risk

After this prayer, the building where they were meeting shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the God’s message with boldness.
—Acts 4: 31

Sometimes we will take a step of faith if there is a backup plan, if there is a safety net. While there is a place for caution, a place for prudence, and even a place for seeking the counsel of those who have lived longer than we have. But having said that, there is also a place for faith. There is also a place for taking chances and taking risks.

As we get older, we are less willing to do that. We want everything laid out for us. We want to know what will happen after this and after that. But sometimes God will say, “I am not going to tell you. I want you to just obey Me.” That is why I would rather try something and fail than never try at all. And if you do try and ultimately fail, then learn something from your failure. I would venture to say that any person who has been successful in ministry, in business, or in any other enterprise has had more than his or her share of failures and has learned something from every one of them. It has been said that the doorway of success is often entered through the hallway of failure. So if at first you don’t succeed, relax. You are just like the rest of us.

So take a chance and do something for God. If you have been thinking about starting a little Bible study at work and are unsure whether anyone would show up, go for it. If you are thinking of sharing the gospel with someone, but you don’t how they would respond, go for it. Try it. Pray about it. Ask the Lord for direction. But take a risk. Take a chance here and there and watch what God will do.

tears, laughter, yawns and frustration

An emotional roller coaster I tell ya! One minute I'm laughing hysterically, the next minute I have tears swelling up in my eyes. I am completely drained but feel that I need to give more in order to accomplish what God wants me to accomplish. My emotions are all over the place between the thoughts of the kids in Oregon to the joys of men who are making a difference in downtown Atlanta to the frustration of the questions I keep getting about giving. It's a crazy in my mind right now!

I do need to vent for one mini second and then I'll move on...

When did giving become so question filled? When did helping become so political? And when did people forget how to show compassion? I am so tired of excuses, so tired of people who complain about having to give or come and partake in things but don't have the audacity to listen to what is going on around them. People who are so consumed with themselves that they forget that there is a whole world out there that is broken and can't be fixed by simple words like "Oh that's awful." I don't quite understand. My thought right now: Wake up people! There is more to this world than nice clothes and a stocked bank account. Money is money and you can always make more. Why not use your money to help someone in need instead of spending it on alcohol and $15 meals for yourself!!!

OK I'm done! Let's move on to something awesome...

Praise for the weekend: With a goal of $500 for postage to get the tents from Texas to Oregon for the kids in Bend, we tripled it! How awesome is our God.

Thank you to everyone who gave, everyone who has been praying and everyone that attended the events this weekend. You guys just showed some seriously LOVE to some kids in serious need!

Eye Opening...

I will have more updates on Bend,OR tomorrow...

...but today I want to tell you about what I experienced this morning right here in my backyard, downtown Atlanta. It was eye opening and in some spots, jaw dropping. Thirteen of us met with Drew Benton down at Safehouse Outreach where we began. What did we begin? Well, we begin a walk...one that lead us on a educational path to learning that homelessness is more than we imagined.

I had all these thoughts going in to this City Walk. I thought about the people I would come across, the money they might ask for, the language they may have used and honestly I thought about my safety. Then all questions came to mind. What is going to be like walking through where they sleep? Will they be offended when I stare or angry when I step close to their belongings? If I have no money to give, will they believe me or keeping begging?

All these things kept popping up in my mind last night and this morning before our journey. And now as I sit here and type this all out, all those questions and thoughts I had were completely dumb and stereotypical because of my ignorance to the life these people live.

You want to know what I saw this morning... A lot of people who need to be loved on. A lot of opportunities to get to know so awesome individuals who for reason have been dealt a bad hand of cards. A lot of people who need someone to invest in them, someone to help them ad someone to believe in them.

Like David! We met David at one of the local shelters. He is a resident volunteer which means he works at shelter so that he will have a place to live. The shelter provides him a bed, food and a chance, while he provides the shelter with volunteer hours and dedication to his work. David was really the only person we had a chance to truly hang out with and engage in conversation with. He took us on a tour of the shelter and then told us a little bit about his story...how he came to live here instead of the streets...how he was helping others...how he was putting his life back together one day at a time. It was amazing! He shared with us some things that he battled and the things that he's still struggling with today. The good thing about meeting David was for me to feel sorry for him, but for me to feel glad he is getting his life back on track.

There were several stops on this journey through the city. We stop and saw where people slept in cool grass areas. We went to 'Chicken Run' which is a dumpster area where homeless people can find food and a faucet for clean water. We saw an abandoned building where 30+ Homeless people live. But I think the place that hit me the most wasn't a shelter or a park where people laid all covered up with cardboard and rags. It was a church! A big church that sits on a corner of Peachtree Street. The name... Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

Now I know you're thinking to yourself 'What does a church have to do with learning about the homeless people in ATL. Well, the true is this church holds a story that broke my heart and fired me up. There is man named Johnny that sleeps on the stoup of this church every evening. In a sense, this is his home. He doesn't bother anyone and he is very respectful of the church. One Sunday morning Johnny woke up and decided to attend the service. He grew in a Catholic background and felt comfortable with what this service provided. He sat near the back and listened while the preacher man gave his sermon. Like in most Catholic churches, the preacher man stands at the back at the end of the service and shakes people's hands as they leave. Johnny stood in that line and as the preacher went from hand to hand, he skipped Johnny.

Breaks my heart! It angers me to think that a man can stand in a pulpit and preach about Jesus, his sacrifice and how we should love our neighbors as He loved us, but when it actually comes down to loving, he skips over a man just because he's different from all his other attendees! Ughhhh that disgusts me!

What an eye opening experience! What I learned today was never judge, always look someone in the eyes when you are talking to them, homeless people are people just like you and I, always give a hand up not a hand out and lastly...Learn to Live Love! ALWAYS!

Help needed in Bend

Listen guys and gals, I need your help in BIG BIG way! I received an email from my friend Walker this morning telling me about a need. He is currently in Bend, Oregon with a few friends ministering to the people there. What they have found is that there are hundreds of teenagers who are homeless, living on the streets with no money for food, shelter, education etc. Theses kids are 14 & 15 years old living on the cold streets. I can't even imagine what that's like and I bet most of you can't either. Check out this video from the kids... LOVE ...be warned that there is some strong language in this video!!

Anyway, Walker and Tim are in the process of purchasing tents and sleeping bags for these kids...over 100 of them. The problem they have run in to is the tents and sleeping bags are in Texas and need to be shipped to Oregon. The cost $500! While Walker and Tim would love to be able to pay that, they have both giving everything and now have no money left. Read Walker's email...

Ms. Shannon. I hope you're having amazing day. Miss you. I'm shooting you an email because I need your help. This trip has turned into a pretty crazy journey. Its amazing how many terrible situations we're surrounded by. This world is so screwed up. I'm completely broken at this point. I have nothing to offer these people. Just love. Anyway. There's a situation here that I need your help with. Tomorrow night I'm gonna spend the night homeless with some teenagers, prostitutes and drug addicts. These are good kids. But they're hurt. And on top of that they're cold. They need tents and sleeping bags. Tim has over 100 military tents to give to these kids. PRAISE GOD!! But the tents are in Texas. It's gonna cost $500 to get them shipped here. Tim is broke. I've given away all my money. But we really need those tents for these kids. The winters here are so harsh. Some of them won't make it without those tents. $500 is nothing. I'm hoping that you'll leverage Concrete Love and shoot everyone an email asking for support. Its completely screwed up for us to have so much more than we need while these kids freeze to death turning tricks. I can't live with that. Do you think people will give? Thanks. I'm sorry for the sporadic email. My mind is soup at this point. Something is changing in me. I need to be leveraging my life for the gospel and instead I live a completely self serving ignorant life. I can't anymore. These kids' pain is too real. Their eyes are too dead. And my life is too short. It's all or nothing for me at this point. Anyway. Thanks. Ill give you a shout tomorrow and see whatcha think. I just wanted to put a bug in your ear. The sooner we can get these kids shelter the better.

-Walker

This email breaks my heart and in an awesome way fires me up because I know that I help these kids. I know that I show them love...That we can show them LOVE! $500 is nothing to raise especially considering we all spend on average a good 50-100 bucks each weekend!

Now, I obviously don't have $500 as a whole laying around that I can give...that's where you guys come in. For the next week, I was wondering would if you guys could help me raise some support to get those tents and sleeping bags to Oregon. Would you please spread this post to everyone and anyone who would help in this journey...a journey to HELP, MEND, LOVE and SHARE what God has taught us! Spread this through your small groups. Share it with your family. Forward it to your closest friends. Whatever you could to help, I (and Walker) would greatly appreciate it!

If you want to give please email me at sdenise519@gmail.com!

Show me the right path, O Lord;
point out the road for me to follow.

Psalm 25:4 (New Living Translation)

Cause Breaking up is hard to do

Dear Sleep,

I feel that, our relationship has changed somewhat over the past week and that we need to talk about it. I realize that we have not been spending much time together lately and for that I'm truly sorry. We used to spend every Sunday afternoon together. Now, we barely see each other and, when we do, it's only for a short period of time. I know it may not be the same for you, but being away from you only makes me appreciate our time together more. Work has been consuming much of my time. And, when I'm not at work, I like to hang out with my friends - no offense.

Now, I'm not saying you're boring, but we've been dating for years. And well, things just get old sometimes. We always hook up in the same places - my bed, the couch, the floor, sometimes other peoples' cars. I need something more (though there was that one time at work...). You never go with me to the mall or the local hot spot. I can't take you to dinner with my friends. Sometimes you go to church with me or to the movies. But, let's face it, our relationship isn't as intimate as it used to be. I think we just need to be friends.

And let's be honest, I know you've been seeing other people. I hear people talking about you all the time. "Oh I need Sleep" and "I had the best sleep last night." I'm no fool. I think it's best if we just dated other people. No hard feelings. I hope we can still be friends.

Love,
me

PS: Tell your cousin, Dreams, to leave me alone. He confuses the crap out of me.

Compliments of J. Brisson

Spirit tests and languages

So tonight we had a meeting of the ladies in a group of small size...also known as ladies small group! Tonight we learned about spiritual gifts and love languages.

After we all took test intense 120 question test, we found out a little more about our gifts.

My Spirit Gift (as the test revealed) is Administration followed by Exhortation with a close second place title. >this is where I sigh and say "DUH! Administration is my life, haha."<

"To steer the body toward the accomplishment of God-given goals and directives by planning, organizing, and supervising others" combined with "to come along side of someone with words of encouragement, comfort, consolation, and counsel to help them be all God wants them to be"

That's me apparently :)

Pretty cool huh? I thought so!

I also found out that my love language is...yep you should've all guessed it... Words of Affirmation! With my self-esteem, that's a given! This answer was nothing new in my book :)

You should all take a spirit gift and love language test! It's cool to see the results.

Glitter

It amazes me how selfish I can be!

I have so many things to be thankful for and yet I still long for more. I long for the moon when God sits there and sprinkles my life with amazing stars. I overlook the glitter that surrounds my every moment because I am focused on that one particular gem that is just out of reach...and it's out of reach for good reason!

Why is that? When do you get to the point where you stop longing and you become content with the many blessings that you receive every day?

Squished

I rode the Marta tonight for the first time and it's safe to say it will be my last time! I mean don't get me wrong, I think it's great that we have public transportation and all but it's just not for me. My reasoning for not wanting to step foot in that confined space ever again is because of the people I came across tonight.

If there is one type of person I have a hard time dealing with, it's someone who can't look past their snooty rich life to see people. Someone who thinks that life is all about them and how they feel about the situation. Someone who pouts when they don't get their way or speaks out without thinking about their judgment, words or how hey look when cruelty is expressed through their actions.

We came across a lady like that tonight. She was on her way back from The Jonas Brothers concert with her little girls(she already loses points for being at that concert). I was with my dad, my two uncles and two friends trying to make it up to the Dunwoody Marta stop. We're all tired. We've all been waiting to get on this train and this lady feels like she has the right to tell us to get off the train because she and her child are too squished. "We're all squished. Its hot. Some people smell. And we all want one thing...to be home!" These are thoughts running through my head as I am staring at her yelling at my dad and uncles to get off the train.

I'm not sure what that lady saw when she looked at us but what I saw when I looked at her was someone whose perception and motives weren't in order! I saw someone judging...someone who didn't think before she spoke and for that I had no compassion for her having to be 'squished' just like everyone else!

Some people just don't it! Life is about love. It's about sharing, investing, teaching, growing, helping. There should be no room for judging, yelling, anger, negative thoughts, evil glares, etc... and especially no room for snooty remarks!

Deep breath. Long prayer

My tummy is hurting and my head has all these thoughts running through it. It happened the exact same way last week around this time and I'd love to say it ended...but it didn't. I feel a sense of stress and fear. Sleepless nights are now occurring and my time is dwindling down to that moment. >insert huge sigh here< Spotlight on, all eyes fixated and hands trembling as I open my mouth and the words hopefully come out... in the right order!

I am talking about singing this Sunday... and I'm a little scared.

I was told last night that I completely underestimate myself a lot and that my fear gets in the way of my gifts. What I've realized is not matter much I run or fight it, God will always find ways to grow me even when I don't think I can do it. He has this way of pushing me when all I want to do is quit. A way of placing me in the middle of opportunity enough with the doubt filling my mind.

Deep breath. Long Prayer. Medicine to ease my tummy. Sleep.

God, I know you know what you're doing but why am I so scared and why is tummy turning thinking that I'm gonna screw this all up? Ugh.

Off to finish conversation...

Oh no...

My Baloney Has a First Name - It's C-R-A-S-H

Posted Jul 18th 2009 8:00AM by TMZ Staff

If you ever wondered how difficult it was to make a 3-point turn in a Weinermobile ... it's clearly very hard.



An Oscar Mayer Weinermobile crashed into a home in Racine, Wisconsin after the driver
turned onto a dead-end street. She tried turning around and accidentally hit the gas instead of the brake.

It's a double-blow for the baloney company -- this month it's founder died and now the crash. And to add insult to injury, the weinermobile wasn't even invited to Oscar Mayer's funeral.

Fear

Fear is something that holds me back from lots of things that I long to do or should do.

Examples: I fear jumping out of a plane thousands of feet in air, therefore I have never conquered that goal. I fear criticism so I tend to hide from things that people could judge. I fear rejection so I run ... and keep running until I'm back in a safe haven.

It's weird. I see myself as a strong individual who tries really hard not to take crap from anyone and still maintain a sweet encouraging demeanor. Problem ... well that sweet encouraging strong girl that you all think you know, you don't.

You know a little but I bet you can't figure out why sometimes I clam up when certain subjects arise. I bet you don't know why I remain quiet when everyone else voices an opinion. I bet you wonder why some nights when everyone is hanging out, I'm not there!

It's fear and I'm working on it! I won't go into detail but know that sometimes you're just not going to understand!

Recognize

We never really know enough until we recognize that God
alone knows it all.

~ 2 Corinthians 5:7 (New Living Translation)

The Time Traveler's Wife

I laughed. I cried. I was nervous. I was anxious. All I can say is 'Where's my Henry?"

It's a must see!

God answered my wish ... now just move those clouds!

Stars are my absolute favorite thing if you couldn't tell by all my blog posts about them and my fun little tattoo. I love laying in grass and looking up at night in hopes of seeing a beautiful burst of light shooting across the sky. I wish for it and then when I see one I wish on it :)

Well God answered my wish! Read below...

Did you notice hundreds of necks craned to the sky Tuesday night?

They were gawking at the annual Perseid meteor shower, which every year brings up to 100 meteors per hour blazing fiery streaks across the sky as the Earth passes through the dust trail of Comet Swift-Tuttle, said Mark Hammergren, an astronomer at Adler Planetarium.

The bright spectacle isn't over yet. The meteor shower is expected to peak between 12:30 and 3 p.m. Wednesday but sky watchers only can see the meteors in the dark, Hammergren said. So sit tight until the sun sets, then look up. You could see up to one meteor a minute, Hammergren said. The show should continue for at least a week, he said.

Discovered in 1862, the comet is a giant iceberg made up of ice, rock and dust particles that likely has been in orbit for thousands of years, Hammergren said. Particles -- about the size of a sesame seed when clustered together -- slowly have been eroding from the comet every time it has approached the sun, leaving a trail of debris that the Earth's orbit intersects once a year, Hammergren said.

The particles, known as meteoroids, create a meteor shower when they collide with the Earth's atmosphere and burn up, forming fiery streaks across the sky.

A bright meteor glows as much as the brightest stars in the sky, Hammergren said. And pay close attention: They zip across the sky at about 132,000 m.p.h., leaving a gazer's sight in a second or two, he said.

The best viewing place? Get away from the city lights and look northeast.

~By Kristen Schorsch, Tribune reporter
August 12, 2009

Rejoice

This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.

~ Psalm 118:24,

Missing Baby Luke

One of the reasons I miss living in North Carolina....

Getting to see his little face everyday!

Snuggies for you pet

This article was sent to me yesterday at work and I laughed out loud. Please read it and watch the video that goes with it then take a look at the graph below...

Snuggies for your dog

Now here is a graph that will give you some insight on if you need to purchase a snuggie or not...for yourself or your dog! I am hoping the answer is 'NOT' but you never can tell these days :)

Criticism ... in a good way!

I have been struggling lately with criticism. Not meaning that I feel like everyone is coming down on me, but in the way that I'm not really great with people telling me I did something wrong or that it could have been done better. I guess in my mind, when someone tells me that I shouldn't focus on that detail or I should think about doing it in a different way, I get all sensitive. In that moment, what is happening in my mind is this... I screwed up because they were not happy with my thought/idea/comment. Isn't that the dumbest thing you've ever heard?!

Advice or criticism or reviews or whatever you want to call it, is not always meant to tear you down... sometimes, a lot of the time, it's meant to help you look at things in a different perspective and offers a chance to make what you have ten times better. It can actually be quite helpful once you get past the whole "I can't believe they just told me my idea isn't up to par" thing. Haha...putting down the pride stinks sometimes!!

I'm going to work very hard on this and I will needs every one's help. Now, this is not an open invitation to tell me all the things that need to be changed in my life but this is an invitation to politely tell me that sometimes things can be better if we look at them from other perspectives and we take constructive ideas to heart :)


If you love learning, you love the discipline that goes
with it--how shortsighted to refuse correction!

Proverbs 12:1 (The Message)

Idea

I have an idea...and I think it's a good one :) Not that my other ideas aren't good but this one, well it's good. Just wait and see!!


For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?...

~ Isaiah 43:19

Rocking out...

Preparing....

Laptop in hand, Itunes open, lyrics in front of me, music blaring!

What's playing? Glad you asked!

It's Bon Jovi, "Living on a Prayer" and I am singing at the top of my lungs :)

Why? You have to wait and find out!

August 16, Watermarke Church. Be there!

Drawn

It's the weirdest feeling ever....

Drawn in like the tide to the shore but pulled away like the sun setting at dusk. Something has my heart strings but something else is holding me from it.

Hmmmm, What a beautiful disaster!