Goodbye!

Today, I am moving into my permanent residence. I'm ready. I've had a wonderful time living with Shells, but I'm ready to have a place where I can fully unpack and settle into a routine here in Manhappenin'.

So, I want to say goodbye to my temporary home on Browning and to my good friend Francis. I've loved you both and still do. Oh, I'll be back to visit, but you're not my home - or dog. Of course you never were, but I could pretend :)

I'm It

So, I too have been blog tagged by my friend Mandy. The rules are that I have to state 6 random things about myself. Let the games begin... 1. I LOVE people magazine. I don't read the other trashy tabloids, but people is real news. I flip through front to back and then I read the articles from back to front. I'm not sure where this habit came from, but it is definitely random. 2. I am a Christian (not anymore) and I have a foul mouth. It's the truth and now it's embarrassing. I used to call it a potty mouth, but it is no longer a curse word here or there - it's pretty bad. I allowed it worsen when I moved to New York and heard the F-bomb all the time and then integrated into my everyday language. However, I can't blame New York anymore because I'm back in Kansas. I hope this will not be a random fact for much longer. I'd like to start using other words to explain myself. (Nope, still have a potty mouth) 3. My favorite TV show is the Mentalist. I love it and think it's the best show on TV at the moment. I think I like it because secretly I want to become a super-hero. This show makes super-hero status seem attainable. Also, the lead guy is super hot! 4. I hate sausages, hot dogs, and processed deli meat. Seriously, the smell alone makes me gag and want to get as far away from the offending odor as possible. Even thinking about sausage right now makes me gag. Moving along... (Apparently the hotdog pursued because now we are in love! I love hotdogs and deli meat. I guess you can never say never!) 5. My stupid human trick is singing with my mouth closed. In this manner of singing people are still able to hear the tune and the words, but my mouth is closed. Tricky, huh. And last, but not least.... 6. In high school I played the violin, bass drum, flute, tuba, french horn, trumpet and was in the color guard. I played them well enough to participate in a concert at the end of the school year. Of course that doesn't mean I can play any of them now, but it's a random fact I guess. OK, I tag.... Matthew Holloman Ryan Smith Ashley Hill Carmen Shelley Crystal Jak. I'm ready to read some random facts about you guys.

I need You

I have had some difficult moments over the last couple of months. At this time in my life I feel like David, when he sinned with Bathsheba.

I have made poor choice after poor choice (alongside some good ones). My repentance and sorrow at the moment is more about me than it is about God, but I hopeful that I will be brought to the place where I will see 'it is against You that I have sinned'. Somehow, God wove David's decisions together to make something good. In many areas I haven't seen the 'good', but at this moment I feel hopeful.

So, David had a friend sent from God to speak directly into sin. The wounding led him to God in a significant way. He is not/was not identified by His sin. That is a hard lesson for me. I have trouble separating what i do from who I am, this goes for things both good and bad. I didn't realize how deeply this affects the way I live my life.

I too have friends who speak truth to me. I might have been swallowed by despair and regret except for God bringing community to me. These people have brought light to my darkness by..

1. helping me remember who God is and who I am
2. showing me hope even in the darkness

AND

3. granting me acceptance and love (when I was tempted to let shame rule).

I have a tattoo of the Chinese characters for faith, hope, and love on my ankle. I did this to remind myself that those three words sum up life. Anyway, it was nice to be offered faith, hope, and love by my friends when I was in need of comfort.

Today I remembered this Gospel song that I really love. It's about community, so I thought I would put the words here. Enjoy!


I NEED YOU TO SURVIVE

Chorus:
I need you
You need me
We’re all a part of God’s body
Stand with me
Agree with me
We’re all a part of God’s body
It is his will that every need be supplied
You are important to me
I need you to survive (2x)

I pray for you
You pray for me
I love you
I need you to survive
I won’t harm you
With words from my mouth
I love you
I need you to survive

by Hezekaih Walker