A day of remembering...

A day of being thankful for the opportunity for times like this...

For being able to spend it with good friends...

And to be goofy with no fear...

Thank you for your sacrifice, for the freedom for days like this.

Tonight a friend of mine who is living in CA texted me warning me about the nasty storms that were, according to the radar, over our hometown and headed for where I live now. I love technology. From 1800 miles away, he knew what was going on here and sent me a message to warn me, just in case.

On that note, please pray for the people in Parkersburg, IA. A possible F4 tornado hit them today and literally wiped out a portion of the town; including businesses, the high school, and many homes. Five people were killed and the whole town was evacuated shortly afterwards. My old roommate alerted me to this because her folks live there...thankfully, they and their house were ok, but the one next to them that they rent out was leveled. Many people are homeless and as far as I know, not everyone is accounted for just yet. Small town Iowa communities are great about pulling together in times like these, but please pray for them as they begin to rebuild. And here is some aerial footage of the area from a local news station. Thanks!

"Whatever Your doing inside of me,
It feels like chaos, but somehow there's peace..."
-Sanctus Real, "Whatever You're Doing"

Uncertain. Overjoyed. Sad. Freed. Heartbroken. Chaotic. Content. Awed. Overwhelmed.

Welcome to my day. It is a big one. One of those that I will most likely look back on and say to myself, "That was the day I made a life-changing decision."

This morning, I accepted a job offer. Which means that in about a month I will be leaving Iowa once again to head east, this time to PA. There, I will be working with a mission organization as a Mobilizer which basically means that I will get to talk to people about missions everyday.

I know that this is going to be a tough transition. I'm not a city person and I like being close to my family, but when you see a dream materialize before your eyes, what is left but to walk into it and simply be thankful. So that, with the grace of God, is what I am going to do.

Thank You, Abba, for this dream
Thank You, Father, for this escape
Thank You, Lord, for never leaving me

I recently got a new toy...a nice camera. :) It was a good deal that couldn't be passed up. Just today I got to play with it...and well, here is the result! :)

Mom's and my walk at Kent Park...






An evening of fishing with the boys...





If you are really bored and want to see some fun photos from my high school years and beyond with what we have termed "the gang", then check these out.

(Or just click on "Photos" to the right and then click on "The Gang")

Water ice. Philly cheese steaks. Burroughs. Townships. Turnpike.

There are just a few of the new terms I have picked up in the past two days I've been here in Philly talking to a mission organization about a job. The diversity within the States endlessly fascinates me. I think Iowa will always be the culture I fit best into with its friendly ways and moderate paced life style. However, there were parts of South Carolina culture that were also nice - the hospitality for one. (Granted, I could go without the driving skills and cockroaches!) PA has another culture entirely...so the question has arrived - is this something I could get used to and eventually enjoy.

We'll see...within the next week, my life may be taking on yet another adventure.

As for now, I'm going to go to downtown Philly tonight and enjoy a Philly Cheese Steak (and I have been taught the "correct" way to order one)...and then tomorrow I'm heading back home where my decision will be made. :)

I am the only one to blame for this
Somehow it all adds up the same
Soaring on wings of selfish pride
I flew too high and like Icarus I collide
With a world I try so hard to leave behind
To rid myself of all but love,
To give and die

All said and done I stand alone
Amongst remains of a life I should not own
It takes all I am to believe
In the mercy that covers me

Take my world all apart
Take it now, take it now
And serve the ones that I despise

Worlds Apart by Jars of Clay

It frightens me the depth of hideousness that can be found in my heart. In those moments of realization all I can say to the God who confronts me is, "Really, are You sure you want me...even with all this?" And I am absolutely floored when He reminds me that I am covered by His grace.

Conflict in life in inevitable. As are people who thrive in getting under your skin. But God takes things like that and uses them as refining fires...or reflecting pools as it is in my case. After the flood of angry emotions, the water calms and I see my heart in the matter and become deeply convicted of where I am at fault. However, my mind will continue to hurl rocks and disturb the peacefulness, so I have to string boulders to the thoughts and let them drown in God's presence. The problem is, capturing those thoughts, as one author puts it, is like trying to package an octopus. Just when I think I've got it under control, another arm pops out.

I will never claim to be a perfect person...I struggle to love and serve the ones I despise, though I know I am called to it. My pride blinds me and my wings melt in the sun as I fly too high. Lord, take my world apart.

There are a lot of good moms in the world...I know many of them. But as I look back on the years, I can clearly see that God knew what He was doing when He stuck my mom with me. She's an amazing woman who puts up with me...which says a lot in and of itself. :)

So here is just a glimpse at why I think my mom is amazing...

• She hems my shirts that are always too long for this short torso
• She can get melted crayon out of an entire load of my clothes
• She makes the best hoagies anyone could ask for
• She spoils me with my favorite meal anytime I'm leaving or coming home
• She has a knack for interior design stuff
• She takes care of so many people outside of just her family
• She likes to watch Gilmore Girls with me
• She believes in me and pushes me toward my dreams
  
• She has a great listening ear and good advice
• She is the voice of reason in my head
• She lives a life of faith that is evident to those who meet her
• She is a good winner and loser in cards
• She joins in my shenanigans where Dad is concerned
• She doesn't get upset when I call after they've gone to bed
• She loves me even when I'm unlovable

Obviously this is not an exhaustive list...but just a snapshot. Thanks, Mom, for everything! I don't know what I'd do without you...love you! :)

You may remember several weeks back, I wrote about planting daffodil bulbs. Well, as it turns out, there may be something to being 30 and losing the black thumb of death. I think I see a green thumb coming through after all. My evidence: at least one of my daffodils bloomed! This past week, we actually had a frost, so I even put a cover over my little friends for the night.

Then came the horror this morning. I walked outside my door and greeted my plants with a smile when I noticed something was terribly wrong. I still don't know what happened. It looks like something got into my little barrel and dug up over half of the bulbs and tried to eat them...and had its way with most of the others that were already growing. I was heartbroken.

Maybe my growing things is just not to be. But I'm going to give it one more try at some point this week and get some new flowers to plant there. Any suggestions?