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Is FREE always a good thing? Well, in the case of our new '94 Nissan truck, it is.

Jeff and I have been praying for a new car that would allow us to get out of our current car payment with the Hyundai. The Lord has such a good sense of humor when we ended up with Jeff's old truck that he originally bought over 10 years ago. It's been passed around his family ever since he moved to Colorado, and now it's ours. Jeff's new favorite saying is. "I brought her into this world, and I'm going to take her out of it." The fun thing about this truck is that it's the same truck Jeff used to drive me around during the week we first met! How romantic.

We don't have a name for her yet, although we at least know she's a girl. I'll keep you posted.

We have a potential buyer for the Hyundai already and the car is getting checked out by a mechanic as we speak. If they end up buying it, we'll be driving our old cars in style with a smile cuz we don't have any car payments! Oh the joys of fighting against what the world tells us we should have or deserve.

When Sharks Attack

Yes, I know sharks are out there. But I've always felt safe surfing here because it's just "Southern Cali". No one really gets attacked by sharks around here.

Until yesterday.

There was a fatal shark attack in North County. Right in Solana Beach, one of the main beaches. A 12-17 ft. Great White shark mistook a group of triathlete swimmers for a pod of seals. The man was 66 yrs. old and he bled to death on the beach before anyone could help him.

Ethical question of the day:
Am I playing God by knowing there is always the chance i could DIE because I choose to be a surfer?

Yoga Tropics

I'm hooked. I went to yoga today for the very first time, actually it was HOT yoga, and I loved it. You walk in and the room is a scorching 105 degrees. Then you proceed to spend the next hour performing yoga. Every single part of me was dripping, drenched, soaked in sweat. I couldn't breathe at some points. I felt so nauseous! I absolutely loved it. Supposedly it gets easier every time. I'm so chilled right now (literally and mentally).

I mean, where else can you be a few blocks from the beach in Encinitas (right across from my starbucks, actually) taking a yoga class and releasing toxins through your pores? It's so fabulous.

YOGA WARRIOR here I come!

Surprise, Surprise...Back to the drawing board

I didn't get either job.
I heard about both of them within a few hours of each other. But the Lord prepared my heart and I'm thankful. He was protecting me from taking it too personally. It really was for the better...neither job is what I would have wanted long term.

I just have one thing to say: The President of Youth Specialties isn't someone I'd want to work for because this is how he told me I didn't get the job= "We're hiring someone else. Thanks for your interest." THAT'S IT! I'm sorry, but if someone doesn't even have the time or the conscience or whatever it takes to say, "It was nice meeting with you" (oh and thanks for spending 4 hours of your day to interview with us)or one ounce of feedback, then I'm sorry but their priorities are out of order.

No excuses. That's just plain rude.

For all I know, my zipper was down the entire interview.

Queen for a day

Hey, if anyone is looking to hire someone in Carlsbad to disciple women, help with administrative work, help with worship, teach surfing lessons, encourage/lead/shepherd a team... call me. I'm looking for this job.

Interview Week

So I just finished my second interview this week. I'm exhausted. I'll start from the beginning.

The first interview was with Youth Specialties. Two hours after I arrived in hot El Cajon, I left the YS building encouraged and so confused. I met with the President and also with the President and the VP of events. I think we all had the same concerns: a) Is the position too administrative for a relational person like me, and b)The 40 min. commute each way and lack of "space/flexibility" in my day.

Pros= There just so happens to be one other person who lives in North County who just so happens to live 2 miles from me who I could carpool with...and she's not a Christian. pretty sweet. I could leave a little after eight every morning and get home right before six. Millions and trillions of other people in the world work this same schedule and are fine (but it tends to suck the life out of me if I don't have flexibility, which I had with my old admin. job in YL and even then I lost passion for it). I wouldn't be an "admin", I'd be an assistant. They are actually different. I really like the staff and could see myself working for them. The perk: I would be making some good $$! Which would make up for the expensive $4/gallon gas prices.

Cons= Gone would be the random morning surf sessions with my hubby (if I have the energy after working over a 40 hr/week, I might still be able to go on Saturday mornings, but then jeff and I will never have a morning to relax together...and our Saturday mornings are pretty special to us cuz it's the only day we have off together). Gone would be the hanging out with friends during the week and trying to fit it all into one weekend on top of helping with the worship team at church Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday. Gone would be my time Wed. nights as a small group leader for the jr. high youth group (I'd have to cut out something). My sciatica pain is a major con (from my back injury). Just driving down and back for the interview flared me up so bad! I don't know what to do with that... it really sucks and is hard for me to deal with. My back hurts as I'm writing this.

They were hoping to make a decision by the end of this week. I'm praying they just don't offer me the job and the door is closed because I can't make up my mind as to what I should do. GO WITH ME HERE...I'M JUST EXTERNALLY PROCESSING! If I take the job, don't hold these thoughts against me.

The second interview is one I haven't written about yet. It was for a temporary, potentially turning into permanent, job as a part-time Admin. Assistant to the Project Manager for North Coast Calvary's new church they're building.

(would have to stay at the buck part-time if I took this job)

Thoughts= this is only a temporary fix but will help the finances out until I figure out something permanent. This job would incorporate all of my experiences as an admin and would be totally new for me. I've never helped a Project Manager bring together the completion of a new church building! It's going to be challenging in many ways (including trying to fit it into my starbucks availability). I don't know if I'm the person for the job. It's crunch time in the project--only six weeks left--and they had to replace the previous assistant because her husband is passing away. I don't really know how to do a lot of things this job would require, but I do know I'd be willing to try ad learn. It's just that I'd also be working 20 hours at the buck on top of trying to learn a whole new job. Talk about being exhausted.

I should know Monday if they want to hire me or not.

I'm thankful for the experiences I had this week. I now have what I call my "interview outfit". My resume is fully updated. Each interview was completely from the Lord. I have just one question for the Lord: after 8 months of waiting and looking for jobs, could you have at least given me the interviews a week apart?!

Monday this will all be over. Or actually it might just be starting.

Executive

I have a job interview next week for a big job. Ever heard of Youth Specialties? Well, I'm interviewing to be the President's executive assistant. What the crap. Maybe you don't even know what YS is, and that makes me feel better. YS is to churches what Young Life is to the para-church. I don't know if that makes any sense. I don't even really know why I'm going for this job. I would have to commute 45 min. to work each way. I would have to work from 8-5 every day, M-F, week after week. Which means I'm leaving the house around 7am and not returning until 6pm. I don't know exactly what the job will look like, but I'm pretty sure it will entail me sitting for 40 hours a week, which my back can't really take. I felt led to apply for the position the second I heard about it, so I did. This is how it works. This is how God works in my life. And now I'm questioning why I'm even doing it. I guess I want to see if I can get the job. I would enjoy many aspects of the job. I would be in ministry. I'm flattered to even be a consideration. I'm externally processing.

I'm scared.

The interview is this coming Wed. at 2:30. Pray for me.

I don't even know what to wear. I haven't had a hair cut in over 2 months. I don't want this interview to cause me to question my worth... but it's definitely causing me to question a lot.

Flowers in the field

"...see how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.....therefore, seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6

And just think: He made these for us to enjoy!


Why then is it so hard to live out the verse above? Why can't I rest in the truth of his words. Why does it have to be such a fight.


i took this pic yesterday at the Carlsbad flower fields near our house.

Expressions

To see into me and believe what is true.
I want to dive there and bring life to the words.
Capturing feelings and placing them on paper
can't solidify true emotions flying like birds.
Through the air and past my hands
They escape with a whisper of what wants to be said.

Fair-Weather Surfing

I try and pretend I'm not a fair-weather surfer. So I go out in cold wind and choppy waves with cloudy skies, scared that I'm going to get attacked by a shark, tight lipped and aching ears.... to only catch one wave for an entire 45 minute session.
That's what I like to call fair-weather surfing.

I am lonely. I miss being near my close friends and spending more time with my husband.

Daffodilias

I left Trader Joes with a small bundle of bright, yellow daffodils peaking out the top of my bag. The sun was shining. I had just purchased my favorite nuts and corn bread. It is a glorious day.