Intramural Basketball

Something that I learned about myself while I was in India is that I have a really pretty deep fear of failure. I only like to try and so things that I think I will be successful at. It takes a whole lot of convincing for me to try something new especially if I think I will be lame at it. This is a horrible way to go through life. I think that I have missed out on some great opportunities in life because I was too afraid to fail.

This has always played out in sports. In high school I was a cheerleader. I never played sports even though I really enjoyed them. I was always afraid that I would be the one player that sucked and caused everyone to lose. I think even once I told my friends I wanted to join the track team, but they laughed at me and told me I wouldn't be any good at it. So I thinked I really missed out!

First of all, I love basketball. I don't know the rules or the plays I just like to play. The only experience that I have with basketball is playing street ball with a bunch of african american kids. I have never played on any organized team, but I love it. So anyways...CBU has intramural basketball teams. I saw the sign that they were forming teams and secretly I really wanted to do it, but didn't pursue it because I was afraid of being the LOSER player. Well God knew my desires and well somehow I got signed up and I am on the STAFF team! We played our first game last night and I had a blast. I was definetly overwhelmed by words like "screen", "block" and all the other technical terms....but I played and really enjoyed myself. We even won my first game!!

So anyways...I am learning to try new things even if I suck at them. Life is too short to not try new things! As I was playing basketball, I was remembering how much I really do love the sport!!

4 DAYS AND COUTING TIL....

SUG COMES TO SEE ME IN RIVERSIDE......

Virginia is For Lovers

I kind of feel like bloggers in America start their blogs with "Man- it's been forever since I have blogged and I am going to get so much better at blogging in the future." Well this is me today, but I am not making an excuses or any promises!!

My time in Virginia was really wonderful! I was slightly sad to think that I wouldn't be returning to the "farm" or to Richmond before my employment with the IMB ends. So I enjoyed it for all it's worth. Here are the highlights....

1. It snowed!
2. I got to room with Chesed, a kindred spirit, and we laughed into all hours of the night. She is the type of friend that I can be sharing my heart through tears and praying together and then three seconds later laughing at something absolutely ridiculous and probably scandalous a few seconds later. Do you have a friend like this?
3. I ran into Debbie! Debbie is a friend who lived in Delhi with me and I didn't know she was going to be there. She tapped me on the shoulder in the cafeteria and I screamed, hugged her neck, and got all teary eyed.
4. I also ran into a guy named Jeff. I met him at a missions conference in South Carolina and we had some significant conversations about him doing journeyman. And there he was...in Virginia...at a Journeyman screening conference!! I was able to see some fruits of my job!!
5. I got to see a little bit of Cali in Virginia...Juliana. She was also a journeyman with me in India and is from So Cal ( you never know who you are going to see there!).

Those were the main highlights! I love that place. It has a unique place in my heart!!

Off on a Buisness Trip

I leave bright and early for the east coast!! I have more job training and get to see some of my favorite peeps!! I have one last buisness trip and one last trip to "the farm" in Richmond, Virginia!! I hope you guys have a great week!!

Grand Canyon Adventure

So while Julie was here we decided to go to the Grand Canyon. We were feeling a little old and felt a little like we were having a quarter of a century crisis. So we decided we should try to do something crazy and feel young again. So the Grand Canyon was the answer...so we thought. We left at 11:00 PM from Riverside to head to Arizona to make it just in time to watch the sun rise over the canyon. Why not pull an all-nighter. Well, let me just say the idea was SO MUCH MORE romantic in my mind than it really was. First of all, our great friend bonding on the road trip turned into an Alicia by herself time because Julie conked out pretty early on. And then when we finally got the canyon it was like a snow storm! So we waited about an hour for the sunrise. Unfortunately, it just got bright outside and it was soo foggy you and cloudy we could barely even see the canyon!! ha. So our desire to kick spontaneity in the booty pretty much backfired on us. And we realize now why when you get older you don't pull all-nighters...cause you just can't do it anymore with the same flair. SO anyways...this was our little adventure. It was fun and we made awesome memories...but don't plan on doing it again until its at least green and warm outside!!!

Me and the NOT so clear Grand Canyon.


Me again. Just so you know the Canyon is directly behind me, but because of the bad foggy weather you can't tell!! Sad.

Here is Julie and I pretty delirious at about 5 AM as we are waiting to watch the sunrise. We were basically trying to stay awake and keep warm.

Um...this is what I had to fill my gas tank up with during the "road trip". It's the most I have ever paid for gas in my 24 years of existance. Basically this was the only town for miles in Arizona so they felt the freedom to charge a ton more because they could. So I thought I would take a picture for memories sake.

Santa Monica and Malibu

On the Ferris Wheel on the Pier of Santa Monica

Yep...ketchup art....lovely.

um...the fog/mist in the air is POLUTION! Sick. I have never seen so much pollution in my life!! Crazy. A perk to living is So Cal.

Julie and I were pretty excited to run around the beaches of Malibu!

Hollywood Stars

Julie and I can now say that we have strolled the streets of Hollywood Blvd!!! I have heard since I got to Southern California about how absolutely ghetto Hollywood really is. So basically, I had super ridiculously low expectations. So to our surprise...we were impressed with Hollywood!! We had a large amount of silly fun. I was thankful I didn't go with a native Californian because it gave us the freedom to go nuts. I was surprised at how much you got harassed by the people trying to sell you the best tour. I kind of felt like I was in India, but the difference was when you say "no" they actually leave you alone! Brilliant! I saw sightings of Spiderman, Captain Jack Sparrows, Batman, and Shrek. It was a lot more Gimmicky that I expected, but I guess that's what made it so fun!

Yes. we are that hard core...we are lying down on Hollywood Blvd. But it's Bill...who wouldn't do that for bill?

I used to have a Kermit the Frog stuffed animal when I was little. So I felt i needed a picture to honor that great green frog we all know and love so much!

Julie is star struck by Regis....

Will Smith is one of my favorite actors and looks like a new addition to the famous square.

Julie thinks I am a super star...so she totally gave me this award...honored...truly Jules.

Guess Who's in Cali?

JULIE!!!!!!!!!!!!! We have 7 whole days of pure Southern Cali lovin'. This is the first time we have ever really hung out in America outside of IMB influence!

Tonight we are going to the Grand Canyon just in time to see the sun rise over the Canyon!! I can't wait!!! I have never been. I love being young and single. Wahoo.

Happy 2000000008!!!!

Happy Happy New Year!

I love the New Year. I love the thought of starting over, reflecting on the past year, and dreaming and planning of what the new year might bring. The past two years, I celebrated the New Year abroad. In 2005, I was with friends in Chiang Mai, Thailand and in 2006 I was in Singapore! This year in 2007, I was in California! I wonder where I will be next year!

I have made lots of random New Year's Resolutions that I have written and put them into three main categories.

Physical-

You can check them out on my weightloss blog... http://trunkminusjunk.blogspot.com/ Yes...I started up the blog again! Plan to visit their weekly (Monday's) and see my progress! I will need your accountability and encouragement! Don't forget to comment!

Spiritual-

As basic as this sounds, I want to be consistent in my time in the Word and in prayer.

I also want to start fasting for South Asia the first of every month.

Personal- These are Really Random

I want to start cooking in my apartment most nights.

I want to be Soda Free in 2008

I want to make my bed daily

I never want to go to bed without doing the dishes

Less facebook time

I want to read a book a month at least

I want to look into graduate programs and figuire out where my life is going

oh...and a DATE in 2008! ha.

My dream for 2008 would be to see my roommate from India Lindsey move to Riverside next year! I am trying to convince her!!

So how did I bring in 20000008? I spent the evening with my college group at church! We had a semi-formal party with lots of fellowship, food, and dancing!

These ladies are in my Small Group. I love them!

These are small group leaders in my college group! It was their house where the party was!

Just a few minutes before midnight...we had a sparkling cider ready to toast!

PLEASE PRAY!

I would ask that you would please lift of my friends Jesse and Shanne. They are workers in South Asia whom I trained with a couple years ago in Virginia. Shanne and Jesse were expecting their first born daughter Priya, but due to complications their daughter went to be with the Lord yesterday morning. Shanee was 7 months pregnant. My heart is so broken for them. All you moms and dads out there, I know that you can understand their loss more than I. Please keep them in your prayers.

They share, "This has been, without a doubt, the most difficult thing we've ever been through. We are pleased that our daughter is through with the troubles of this world and in the arms of her Lord. And we praise Him. We praise Him. Job said it best in the wake of losing all that he valued on earth: "The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord." That conveys our feelings better than anything we could say. The Lord gave us Priya, and He has chosen by His gracious will to take her away. Blessed be his Name. Her life was an undeserved gift to us. We wouldn't trade one moment of the seven months we had with her. And we praise God for it from beginning to end. We don't know the reason why she was taken, but we know the God who made that decision.
And He is enough for us. He is our glory and our strength. We want to praise Him right now as the God of all grace and comfort. He has been our truest and most constant companion in the midst of all this... thank you so much for your prayers and words of encouragement. It is our desire that you would praise the Lord with us at this time. He is always worthy of it."

Here is a video of her few precious hours here with us.