It's too late to think of a good title...

This weekend I am filling in on bass for the Tim Aaron Band. We're (they're) playing at the FCA State Retreat this weekend in Marshalltown, Iowa. My friend, Julie, is here because her in-laws are part of the FCA family and she's helping out with things so we're rooming together. I ended up helping her with the game time after the evening session and then we got a ride back to the hotel with her sister-in-law about 11:45pm. We were sitting in our room just talking and we decided that we were hungry. So after much debate we decided to go find food. Our first choice was Sonic...but they were closed. Wendy's was closed...and we pretty much didn't want to eat anywhere else. But we settled on McDonald's. I can honestly say this was the first time I've had McDonald's at 1:00 in the morning but it was really good!!

Now it's time for bed but Julie is not tired!! And she keeps telling me she not getting tired...it may be a long night...

Fountain Mountain

I went to Costco with my friend, Jennisa, at lunch today. On the way out I tried to get a slice of their pizza for lunch because it looked really good!! But you can't use your debit card at the little place to eat there......so I couldn't get it. It always surprises me, in this day and age, that some places still only take cash. I, for one, rarely carry cash because it gets spent if I have it but also because I get airlines miles whenever I use my card. So we just stopped at the HyVee gas station that is near work to get something for lunch. Jennisa wanted to get a salad and now I had a craving for pizza. They're having a "Spring Special" where you can buy a sandwich or something from their hot menu and get a free fountain drink.

So I purchased some pizza for lunch.......and it was very good and that is disappointing b/c I was really wanting pizza. But I did get a Fountain Mountain (for all you stay-at-home moms out there [This is you, Julie!] that means a Mt. Dew from the fountain with ice and a straw and not a can or bottle) and that always make me happy!

Throwdown

I've been talking with my friend, Julie, about our quiet times and how we each have our own struggles with time, content, becoming too busy, etc. She just sent me an email and ended with this sentence...

"Maybe starting on Monday you and I should make a very conscious effort to have quality quiet times for an entire week and see how it changes our lives. If you're up to it I am."

Wow...how can you pass up a challenge like that? And who in their right mind would? I told her I'm in...so the challenge is before us...

Bible Translation

One of the most beautiful and beneficial Bible Translations to a lost world is the translation of the Bible into our daily life.

Wedding Bells

No not mine...

My niece, Brandi, is getting married tonight...in Las Vegas. Her fiance is, Jayme - the drummer for Rev. Peyton's Big Damn Band (that's really the band's name). Brandi took a leave of absence from her flight-attendant job so she could be the merchandising/tour manager for Jaime's current tour. And while in New York City on February 24 (the band had the night off) Jayme dropped to his knee while they were dancing and asked Brandi to spend the rest of her life with him...and she said yes.

The wedding is tonight, Friday, March 14, 2008, in Las Vegas b/c that's where the band is in their touring schedule. They are opening on this tour for Flogging Molly and tonight's show is at the House of Blues in Las Vegas. They'll have the wedding after the show. I wonder if Elvis will be there?

Congratulations to Brandi and Jayme! I wish you much happiness and many blessings as you begin your new life together!

True Friendship

Are you tired of those sissy 'friendship' poems that always sound good, but never actually come close to reality? Well, here is a series of promises that actually speak of true friendship.
1. When you are sad -- I will jump on the person who made you sad like a spider monkey.
2. When you are blue -- I will try to dislodge whatever is choking you.
3. When you smile -- I will know you are plotting something that I must be involved in.
4. When you are scared -- I will rag on you about it every chance I get.
5. When you are worried -- I will tell you horrible stories about how muchworse it could be until you quit whining.
6. When you are confused -- I will use little words.
7. When you are sick -- Stay away from me until you are well again. I don't want whatever you have.
8. When you fall -- I will point and laugh at your clumsiness.

This is my oath.... I pledge it to the end. 'Why?' you may ask; “Because you are my friend.”

Another video

This one I got from my Pervian sister, Mely. Mely was a foreign exchange student that lived with us when I was five...

Interesting and Funny

I found this link on Leslie's blog. Check it out...it's a division of Focus on the Family.

Aliens

Today is shaping up to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

From the moment my alarm went off this morning not much has gone right. At some point during the morning I tried giving myself a "pep talk"...you know the ole' "I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it" speech. I can hear Chuck Swindoll in my head even now...and I do believe that but for some reason today I just didn't want to exert the effort to change my attitude. How lazy is that? It's one of those days where you just want to crawl away from the world. You ever have those days?

I don't know if it's b/c today at work I've felt more like this is not where I belong that ever before. Not that I don't get along with people here or that I don't like my job - it's not that at all. I just that I've become so sure of my "calling" that this doesn't feel like home anymore. But in all reality Brasil should never feel like "home" either. Because wherever we are we are only passing through. We are aliens in this land - I guess I just feel that more now than ever.

BUT!! As I learned last week at ABWE I need to not focus on my flesh but on my Father! And my Father is a Rock...

End of the beginning

Today was our last day of Candidate Seminar. We finished with dinner at 5:00 and then said our goodbyes. It was a little weird and sad b/c you've been through so much with these people over the last week and God has really created some very cool friendships between us. But now our paths won't cross until this summer - when our next round of training will be held. That is when we will have our official appointment ceremony at the mission agency. Here's a picture just to give you an idea of the amount of information we gathered this week. Only 2 of the books you see are required for me to read. The others were given to us or I won during a portion of the week. The binders and other things you see standing up are all vital information...



Needless to say...I made a run to Target with Gail on my way back to the hotel b/c I had to buy another bag just to get those resources home! No kidding... I found a duffle bag for $15.00. It was the cheapest thing I could find and I can just give it away when I get home. No wait! I should keep it for when I come back out here this summer! Oh yeah...good idea.

I need to go pack b/c I think it will take me a little while to get everything situated. And my ride is coming at 6:30am to take me to the airport. You can see the rest of my pictures from the week here.