Jet-laggin'

I just got back from Europe on Saturday.

Wow.

A team of 27 of us were gone for a week to the lovely country of Albania.  We also stopped in Munich on our way back.

May I just say that I'll never be the same.

I'll post pictures and stories soon.

But until then, suffice it to say that jet lag is real folks.  It's real.

A picture paints a thousand words.

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." James 1:2-4


I didn't know what else to say so I thought I'd show you how I feel with these lovely pictures.

Guys...I watched Never Say Never.

I wouldn't say I'm a Belieber (I tend to avoid the trends that are popularized by several million people...I like standing out. not that I'm super special by choosing to NOT follow JB on Twitter.  but I like to think I'm special in a passive aggressive sort of way) nor do I lay in bed at night thinking about his hair (which he chopped off. boo.) but I do want to be him now.  Kind of.

Think about it.  This kid has well over 13 million people following his every move on Twitter alone.  And that doesn't mean that everybody who has a Twitter and has heard of him, follows him.  (Jesseca = case and point.)  But besides social networking, just think about all the people who have seen his picture, heard his name, or hummed along to his songs.

Justin Bieber, you have touched the lives of pretty much the whole world.

The whole world.

That's a pretty juicy boatload of people.

What I want to know is...when he touches all these lives (which he does rather habitually. like everyday), what is he touching them with?

Of course, his musicality is brilliant.  His lyrics and melodies are so expressive that sometimes you just kinda stand there wondering why the radio is singing your thoughts.  And even though all those lyrics usually induce are a bunch of heartthrobs and squeals from admiring tweeny boppers, music is still the universal language.  And he speaks it well.

Yet as I listen to Aftermath by Hillsong United, I am suddenly transported into the very presence of God.  Hillsong's musical brilliance is comparable to the gift JB has...but it's in a different train car, running on a different track.  In  the world of One Less Lonely Girl and Baby, all I'm left with is a wistful ache of admiration and longing for something as great as he's singing about.  But in the music of worshipers, I find the Word of God coming to life within my heart, before my eyes.  And it's not because I'm special; the love in such music is available for anybody who wants it.

I mean, in the end, JB can only have one girl at a time (and how would you like to be #45498?).  And for his male fans...well, sorry guys.  Some got it, some don't.  And how superficial does all of that sound in the long run anyways?

But the love of God?  That's for everybody.  I don't care what you look like, where you live, how you like your burgers cooked, when you take your showers or why you use Crest over Colgate.

Music that's truly inspired by God carries His love in every strain.  And somehow, that love reaches across the earth, through the music, out of the speakers and into your heart.  It's a love that isn't hollow; it's so fulfilling.  It's a love that isn't temporary; He'll still love you no matter how bad you mess up.

Okay.  Back to the drawing board.

Justin Bieber, you're bomb.  And I want to be like you because you have potential to reach the world like pretty much none other human on earth.  But since I'm not you, I hope that someday you get a hold of how much God is in love with you so you can in turn start leading all those millions of people straight to His heart.

Get excitedddd

Frankfurt, Germany

Munich, Germany

Tirana, Albania

and Tirana again...

Soon I'll be off to see the world!  A small little part of it anyhow.  I can't express how excited I am for what God is going to do in the lives of His people in Albania.  I leave in exactly 2 weeks, 3 days and some odd hours.  Yaaaay!

I'd like to make your day too.

Pumpkin bagels and shmears are here again. It's fall, my friends.

I have so much to say but don't know how to say it, so I'll just give you a quote that made my day.

"Whenever you go out-of-doors, draw the chin in, carry the crown of the head high, and fill the lungs to the utmost; drink in the sunshine; greet your friends with a smile, and put soul into every handclasp. Do not fear being misunderstood and do not waste time thinking about your enemies. Try to fix firmly in your mind what you would like to do; and then, without veering off direction, you will move straight to your goal." -Elbert Hubbard

Did she really post some outfit pictures?!

God is amazing.  Let me tell  you why.

July 31: I got a [rather mild] concussion.  The weeks following were filled with no work, lots of sleep, and getting a virus.  No fun.

2 weeks later: I was almost 100% better and was back to working 35 hours a week.  (Thank goodness I didn't have school too!)

2 weeks ago:  I started getting pressure headaches, fatigue, and anxiousness, especially while I was working.  I thought I was relapsing from the concussion and was concerned that I hadn't fully recovered before I started going back to normal life...which could mean long lasting effects like chronic headaches and memory loss, which could hinder me from going to Albania and Germany in November.

I was kind of freaking out.

But God works all things together for good to those who love Him.

I quit one of my jobs, the one that was most stressful.  It was a huge step of faith, but He helped me do it.

Then I saw my chiropractor today for the headaches and she said it's most likely that they were from the stress not the concussion.

Can you say "WOOOOO!!!!!"

Bye bye, stress.  Hello, joy.

Oh, and I took some fashion shots today...I know, shocking right?

I was experimenting with the bright red lipstick...I think it kind of clashed with the new reddish hair.

I liked this better than the black.  And I ditched the lipstick for a nuder shade.

...and I'm glowing...

Can I tell you a secret?  The purple outfit was the only one from today.  The other ones were from yesterday.

When's it going to change?

There's so many hurting people out there. I see them all the time, everywhere I go. And what am I doing about it? What can I do about it?

I pulled up to my dad's office this morning and there at a picnic table across the street was a young woman with a baby carrier. The girl was dressed all in black and had a beanie pulled down to her eyes. My heart ached for her...yet what would I say of I went up to her? So I didn't.

I was eating pizza with my mom on Friday. A girl clearing tables caught my eye. Her hair was long with blue streaks under the ball cap she wore and she walked with a limp. When she came to clear our table, her voice was timid and her face sad, almost visibly searching for hope. I wanted to tell her how beautiful she was...but I'm ashamed to say that I didn't.

At Panera bread the day before is where this whole thing started. An elderly woman walked by my table and all I saw was her frail stoop, her gapped teeth and a few wisps of gray hair. When I got up to leave, I saw her sitting with some younger women and a child and I desperately wanted to tell her she was beautiful...but I didn't.

Today I am determined to leave behind my ego and tell someone they're worth something. Their salvation might have my name attached to it. I can't ignore the hurting people again.