the pure interest

all of my life
in every season
You are still God

i have a reason to sing
i have a reason to worship

*thanks kristin, via erica.

ServErie is in full swing at our church now. This movement partners with local organizations who help in a variety of ways around the community. City Mission, Habitat for Humanity, Mother-to-Mother, etc. Basically opportunities are presented to us, and slots are (hopefully) filled by the congregation.

Last weekend, the promoted opportunity was sorting clothes at the City Missio donation center. When I read it in the bulletin and saw on the ServErie board, I felt a very obvious “Go and do this,” from the Lord. Having some retail experience in sorting worn/used clothes and tagging (I worked atPlato’s Closet in college, w00t!), I knew this would be something I (and pretty much anyone who doesn’t mind laundry) could do. As I pulled up on Tuesday, I was a little nervous, but mainly because you don’t know the procedures of the organizations, if they’ll even need you, where to go, who you’ll work with, etc. The nervousness was totally unfounded, as I walked in they quickly ushered me in, kept asking if I was from Grace Fellowship Church (no) and introduced me to Tiffany, Nancy, Diane, Robert and Fred who usually hang out at the “sorting” table. I couldn’t believe the amount of clothes and donations - which was great. Bales full that were twice my height. But the need was also great - they definitely can use any volunteer to help with all of the merchandise. It is also the warehouse for furniture and all kinds of other items they get in to sell. So, in short - a simple behind-the-scenes job, but one that was really awesome. Fred told me… with a serious expression, “Your good.” Me “What? Why??” “Your good. We like you. You need to come back.” Me, red-faced “Ok. I’ll try.”

It’s also amazing to see the people that are there, and being there on Tuesday I joined them for their bible study and prayer time. I don’t know many of their histories, but I know they are all affected by and touched by the mission of the organization. I enjoyed the company of the people so much and was so glad to be serving outside of the church and helping the city, that I did go back today as well. Couldn’t stay as long, but everyone was glad to see me back. I’m hoping for one day a week, a few hours, but if my freelance picks back up I might not be able to swing it. I am doing my best though. Thanks, God and City Mission for the opportunity!

I had a big long post on the Shout to the Lord song done on idol, not once, but twice… lol… but I just realized it doesn’t matter and I didn’t want to even share it because my thoughts are too confusing and bumping around in my head and I might risk making you guys never want to read again, cuz you’ll think I’ve gone crazy.

Just read Danielle’s post - I guess really, deep down, that summarizes some of the feelings that I was thinking, along with just one that I wanted to share - that Shout to the Lord is meant to be a worship song sung in a worshipful spirit, and it was written for that purpose, so used as a performance piece for the Idols to showcase their voice was what deep down bothered me about it.

But then again, if it was done excellently, was it worshipful to God anyway? Probably not, because God knows your heart and without love and a true spirit toward Him, it is a clanging gong. (scripture reference)… but:

Philippians 1:18 says, “But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.” So I guess scripture shot me down there

Regardless, Idol Gives Back was an amazing cause, and for sure, Jesus would be 100,000,000,000,000,000 % behind it. So, I hope if you were able, you did give.

See? Scatterbrained. This is why I deleted the other post.

A few other thoughts…

• Hmm.. why am I still awake at 12:15 am on a worknight? Because I had a Diet Pepsi with Lime after 5:00pm.
• I got pulled over on Grubb Road on my way to church tonight for going 51 in a 35. Oops - I seriously thought I was in a 45. Luckily my cop was nice. But not nice enough to not give me the ticket. $150 fine baby. But it’s pretty typical that something else crap-for-crap would happen to me in April. For some reason, April tends to be my worst month in the last two years.
• My full appetite is back and I’m hungry basically always. Hubby and I are back to ourselves now, and our house is in the process of been stripped, washed in hot water, and disinfected, so you can come back over soon
• The cat just jumped up and hit the mirror above our bed, it is swinging.
• Work is ridiculous right now, and I think I need to go in at 5am and stay until 10pm.

Anyway, HAPPY FRIDAY from kitties!

ah… to be that carefree

• setting up my first blog through wordpress through a domain name by myself. Ok Sarah helped me a bit, until I found the right instructions!

• baking Rachael Ray cheesy corn bites for an after-wedding surprise shower in which I ingested way too may pieces of beautiful pink wedding cake.

• playing with my kitties

• joining snapFitness, since I’m really quite sick of the weight gain and I lost my broken elliptical a few months ago. I still love my turbo jam but my body needs more straight-up cardio and some zoning-work-out time (you know the kind where you just move but don’t think)
• cleaning then re-cleaning and then re-cleaning my house. How can two people be SO INCREDIBLY MESSY????

• talking with good friends
• feeling like an insane person at work and at home, procrastinating yet being productive, missing people, struggling with javascripts…
• celebrating kristin’s birthday with her at her house, and hopefully making her day a bit brighter with the surprise of *me* and springy flowers
• watching the piles of snow melt into disgusting dirty wetness and typical-march-erie-ugliness
• washing almost every textile in my entire house so prepare for my in-laws Easter visit (we are excited to see them!) Yes, all the below blankets were washed and Tycho has successful re-cat-allergized them.

• singing at church a lot and preparing to help for a beautiful Good Friday experience
• watching my husband do his first baby dedication, which he did incredible at, and watching him hold beautiful Lydia basically made me want to have a baby right here, right now. (photo courtesy of the parents)

 

 

 

———-

 

 

Is it really almost Easter, and seriously Wednesday already tomorrow?? I feel like my life is flashing before my eyes sometimes. I am excited for this holiday and remembering the point of everything I believe in. 

 

Well… thanks for sticking with this.

 

Love,

me 

Danielle tagged me to do this. It’s been a long while since I’ve done any sort of survey, so here we go!!

4 Jobs You’ve Had

Graphic Designer/Art Director - Obviously this is my current and most important job, as well as longest held. It started with an internship my junior year of college that I got through a photographer I knew who worked with the agency. I stayed on part time until they had to lay me off the winter of 2003, but then I got hired back in May of 2004 right at graduation (which I still count my blessings for everyday). This is a great place to work, and of course every job has it’s non-perks, but some of those (the schedule) have been helped by my drop to part-time and on-the-side freelance designer career. I work in a big old house that is so amazing and I have my own office. There’s not too much I could ask for except maybe a few less last-minute projects

Campus Minister - This was my workstudy in college. Basically, I didn’t do anything but greet people coming into the Campus Ministry office, sort papers and envelopes occasionally, eat pretzels, clean the sink and drink hot chocolate. Oh and sometimes I would design a horrible little alumni newsletter on their tiny old and slow PC with I-don’t-even-remember-the-name-of-the-obscure-program I used. It was a great place and I met many friends there… it was cozy and comfortable and felt like home. I made $5.15 an hour, but hey, I mainly got to do my homework so it worked out ok

Communications Specialist at Erie Insurance - This was a good paying, good company but kill-me-now boring job. I sat at a desk in a cubicle with headphones on listening to depressing dictations of insurance claims, hearing about accidents, floods, robberies, damage and sickness. It was very hard for me, and made me miss the advertising agency a ton (this was the job I had in between internship and full time). The environment was very rigid and I felt like I was always being watched and clocked. I remember whenever I would come into the windowless area, my hands would swell up from the heat and stress and I would have to take all my rings off. The only redeeming factor is that one of my best friend’s Kristin worked there, and when she was there, it was a great place to be - but it was rare because we worked different shifts. Kristin still does this job and she does it amazingly, and I totally give her props for it.

Retail Salesperson at Plato’s Closet- Ever heard of Plato’s closet? Yeah, that place where you bring in gently used clothing and get paid for it? Well… the pros of this job were the people. I met some great girls there and developed pretty close relationships. The second pro was getting first pick of cute clothes. I had more clothes when I worked there then any other time in my life. But a lot of other things about the job sucked. Telling people their clothes didn’t fit the requirements was basically one of the hardest things ever. People would get so offended. sometimes clothes wouldn’t be clean and it was very very difficult to not cause offense in telling those people their clothes had an odor (we were required to). I didn’t like closing the store, but I didn’t mind running the register. I did this for about 2-3 years.

4 Places I’’ve Been

England (from Wales to Manchester to Liverpool) - My father is from Liverpool and he has family and friends scattered in all the above mentioned parts. My sister and I were actually born there so it has been good to go back when we can, but I really have no early childhood memories from it. I do love it there, but I have to say I’m glad my parents moved here, I am definitely more Americanized. Last time we went we met our friends there who flew down for a marriage proposal. That was awesome!

Toronto - I know this isn’t that cool, but when we went it was usually pretty cool. Mainly Niagra falls, and one time a worship conference.

Maryland - there to see Brian’s family a few times a year. I LOVE LOVE LOVE it in Maryland. We are usually around Baltimore to Bel Aire.

NYC and New Jersey - We took a trip there to see our good friends who were there due to Mike playing for the New Jersey Devils. It was a really cool trip and we enjoyed ourselves a lot.

Amy

Michelle

Katie

I know that I have been pretty M.I.A. the last few weeks.

Basically my weeks have been filled with this: (Most designs and by Danielle and implementation by me)

Basically the main photo bar takes you to a new section of our site. The campaign billboards are around Erie and direct you here to read true stories from real people in our church from all stages of life. Who is grace? We are grace. I am grace.

and this: (looking at these now i see some dust on my lens and i’m not happy about it)

and this (first time i’ve witnessed them on a bed “together”):

and many other non-photographic elements including web updates, grocery shopping, budget planning, laundry, kitty playing, husband and friend time, worshipping at church, volunteering, life life life life.

Can’t wait to get back in the game!