Teaser

Spain has been incredible, I've had so much fun and learned so much, not only about the area but from the people here as well. I can't tell you how my life and my faith has changed because of this trip, I don't think I know it all yet.

All I can say for now is that our final rap up meeting on the beach tonight was so perfect, there was so much fellowship and so much love in that circle tonight. We're all tired, we're all ready to get home and after a very hectic schedule and many LONG days we are probably all holding on by very thin threads, but tonight, you would have thought we just got here! It was nothing but smiles and joy as we went around the circle talking about our favorite parts of each other and of the week.

I'll be back later to tell more, but for now here's a picture from tonight...

Off to Spain!

So I'm off to Spain in two days! I'm very excited and very nervous all at the same time...

I CAN'T wait to get over there and start helping!

However, a little part of me can't help but feel a bit horrible about the fact that I've only raised $700 for a $2700 trip. I will be coming back and needing to still raise more money to cover these costs which makes me nervous because:
1) I don't have the money to cover it
2) I would think it would be much harder to raise this money after the fact than before hand

I'm not going to let the money stand in my way though! Now if I could just find the time to pack between my date tonight :-), and small group tomorrow night...Hmmmmm.

It'll get done I'm sure!

Back in 1 1/2 weeks to tell you all about it!

What about teaching?

For the past 8-10 months I've been doing quite a bit of soul searching, trying to figure out what it is that I want to do with my life...(BIG QUESTION)

A lot of ideas have been thrown around in my head and the only thing I'm completely sure on is that I would like to work Monday-Friday, daytime hours. I have a love for children, event planning, using creativity while at work, and having each day be different. However beyond that I don't really know what I want...or how to incorporate all these things into my daily job.

For a long time I feel it's been weighing on my heart to work for the church, or to do something where I feel I am getting fulfilled every day by my job, making a difference everyday...I just don't feel that being an admin asst. for an Ad Firm is accomplishing this. I love my job here, and the people I work with are great, but I just feel like I could be doing more, making a bigger impact. However in these economic times it's not really the time to be switching jobs.

For the past few months teaching has been a constant idea I keep coming back to. I could use my creativity every day, I'd have some excellent vacation time (that's not a big seller as I already do have more vacation time than I know what to do with), and I feel like I would really feel fulfilled everyday...or if not everyday at least every week.

This is one of those decisions that is going to wrack my brain for at least the next 6 months while I pray about it and think about it constantly, and there are so many obstacles standing in my way, for starters, I don't have a degree in education...I have a degree in Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Management...however, in GA you don't need a education degree to teach. But to make any money at it you need to get a masters, which I don't have, nor do I have the money to go back to school right now. And I still won't make a whole lot of money, but as long as I can pay my bills and live comfortably I'm not too concerned about it...these are the things that fly around in my head every day! And this is only one of the many jobs I'm thinking about in my very confused head....

Just thought I would share, and see if anyone has any insights.

Here is the Church, Here is the steeple...

Open it up and see all the people (sorry I had to finish it)

I had a very sad night last night. 7/22 came to a close last night after 13 years of service in Atlanta. I wasn't blessed to have been a part of it that long, but I've been participating for about a year now and I cannot begin to express how my life has RADICALLY changed in that last year. I'm very sad to see it go, but I have realized two things from last night.

1) Praising God should be something you do everyday and you don't need a particular place to do it. I had started to depend on 7/22 to move me every Tuesday night, I thank God every day for the gifts in my life but I had started to depend on Tuesday nights to be spiritually filled each week.

That shouldn't happen! I should be spiritually filled before even walking in those doors on Tuesday nights!

2) A church is not a building. It's the people inside the building. It is up to us to find a way to let God shine through our daily lives. I sort of already new this but the argument was renewed inside of me. You don't have to bring people to church for them to see the way God can move you. Let them see it in your everyday life. Live a life that is always giving the glory to God and people will see how amazing he is through your trust and dependence in/on him.

Those are my thoughts...Really don't know what else to say.

Updates

So I'm off to see the Condo tonight, I'm hoping to walk in and see a fully painted condo since the painters were supposed to be done yesterday! I'm so Excited, and so relieved to not being doing it myself anymore. I spent a total of 4 days and at least 30 hours just trying to prime the place and it still wasn't close to being done. This is also after spending 3 days in the smallest bathroom and only getting half the wallpaper off. So I decided to start looking for painting quotes. As soon as I got one that was in my price range I dropped the brushes and handed over the task!

Now I've just got to get packed up before next Saturday! and hopefully get the furniture I have in there assembled by then so I can start to put things together!

I'm so excited! I'll post pictures as soon as I get my camera back, it decided to stay behind in Washington DC after my Labor Day Weekend Visit. I called and told Katie to inform it to quit hiding from me, it has work to do!

I GOT MY BRACES OFF!!!!
I'm so incredibly excited! I can't wait to show off my new smile! too bad I'm working on the Condo all weekend :-( Oh yeah! I also closed on the condo! Now the projects begin!

My Support Letter for My Mission Trip to Spain.

Hi Everyone!

I hope this letter finds you well and in good spirits. So much has happened in the last year I don’t really know where to start. So I’ll just dive in…

Last fall I decided to find a new church and a new job all at once. Amazingly enough it all happened at once too! I found a great job working for an advertising agency in Downtown Atlanta called GREY Atlanta. I’m the Administrative Assistant to the Senior Vice President, the office manager, the front desk reception, and anything else they need. I love the people in my office and love working downtown. While it’s not my dream job, it’s perfect for me while I figure out what that dream job might be. Check us out! www.greyatlanta.com

I also found a church that has opened up a whole new world of worship for me, and have had some great opportunities through it to grow spiritually and as a person. I’ve become a small group leader where I lead a group of women through a Bible study each Wednesday night, I’ve started volunteering for the church and outside the church, I’m in the process now of volunteering to lead another small group of children each Sunday through a Bible study, and I’ve got a great opportunity to go on a mission trip (to be described later).

I finally had my jaw surgery on April 29^th. The surgery went perfectly and I’m recovering well. No one ever warns you that 4 months after it’s over you’ll still have a little residual swelling and eating will still be an interesting process. Each day is getting better though and soon enough the surgery will be nothing but a memory (in the meantime any prayers that I can get back to normal faster would be much appreciated). I should get the braces off by Halloween so that’s exciting too!

This August seems to be the craziest month I’ve ever experienced in my very short life. I’m buying a Condo! And as Dad jokes, I’m getting the full experience of real estate with this one. The woman who owns it wants to close REALLY early, so about 30 days after I first laid eyes on the place, I’ll have keys in my hand and will own it. This is so exciting for me, and of course I’m learning a lot through the process. It’s in an awesome location and is such a cute place; I’ll post pictures online once I get in there and paint/decorate.

So what’s in store for the future? (Besides a few painting parties and housewarming soirees) I’m going on my first mission trip in October. This opportunity presented itself just a few short weeks ago and I’m really excited about it. Our group of seven will be flying out to Villanova/Stiges, Spain to lend support and do anything we can for a new church out there.

The church just started about 3 years ago and because it’s the only church in that area that is not Catholic, they’re often looked at as a cult. From what I’m told, people in that area often think of church as something you only do once you’re older and closer to “the end.” It’s an after thought for most of the younger generation. Iglesia Cristiana del Garraf gives an opportunity for the younger generation to get excited about God; it gives the people of the area another choice for worshiping.

There’s still a lot left for them to do though, their building is not finished, they’re still putting programs in place for Bible Study and childcare, and there’s a lot of encouragement needed for them, they’re doing something that seems so great, and so simple to us, but from where they’re standing this is HUGE, and there is no support coming from the area around them.

The cost of this trip is $2700 dollars per person and there are 7 of us going. That being said, we can use ALL the help we can get! Please don’t feel like you need to donate, prayer and support is just as appreciated, but if you feel so inclined you have many options as to how you can do this.

1) Write a check to me, I’ll cash it and put the money in our account

2) Write a check to North Point Ministries and put “Villanova Connections 2” in the Memo line

3) Go online to www.buckheadchurch.org and donate there, once to the site follow these instructions:

a. Click on “Welcome Back”

b. Find “Online Giving” in the menu on the right of the screen

c. Find “GlobalX online giving” on the right side of the screen again

d. Fill out all the information

i. Country: Sevilla/Spain

ii. Trip: Choose the trip with correct dates (October 17-26^th)

e. Fill out how much you want to give and what Credit Card you’re using.

f. You’re done!

g. Thank you!!!!!!!

Thank you so much for your support, please check out my blog for updates on what’s going on in my life and pictures of the trip once it’s over. http://timingiseverything52.blogspot.com

Peace in Christ