SnowBall 2012--Kings & Queens:

I apologize in advance for the format; Blogger won't recognize the presence of enter keys, for some reason. ~January 4, 2013~ For those who did, or even did not, attend The Dance Syndicate of Yakima's Snowball 2012 this past weekend, I was listening to this song yesterday and was struck by it's application to what the Holy Spirit was consistently impressing upon people throughout the Snowball weekend. Audio Adrenaline's new single "Kings & Queens" has resonated within me each time I've heard it, striking a chord as it rings with truth, reality, and hope--my three favorite themes to find bound together in books, movies, music, stories, life. Hearing it after the Banquet & Ball...excuse me, Jared...the Snowball--I understand it in a new light, from a new perspective. Is it just me, or doesn't this epitomize what this weekend was all about? God designed men to be kings--not dictators, but respected and respectable providers and protectors. He designed women to be queens--valuable and valued (and equal) helpmates to the kings. Why is it, you may ask, that we do not always live up to these roles? The answer, my friends, is that we human beings brought sin into the world. God gave us a free will, and we used, and use, our freedom for ill, though our God-given conscience makes us aware of the difference between right and wrong. And so, we fell. In the garden Adam & Eve fell; at every wrong choice we make, we fall again. Alas! what a discouraging truth; however, it doesn't end there! God foresaw our fall, and He had a plan to redeem us in spite of our willful wrongdoing that separated us from Him, Holy & Almighty God. He wove His thread of redemption through history, and when the time was right, He came to live amongst us Himself. "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light SO THAT IT MAY BE SEEN PLAINLY THAT WHAT HE HAS DONE HAS BEEN DONE THROUGH GOD" (John 3:16-21). I feel an appropriate response to this passage from the book of John is as follows, from Psalm 103: 2 Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits— 3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, 5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Sin entered the world and marred it, but from that moment onward God has constantly both desired and offered to redeem us from the pit, and it is in and through Him and only Him that there is HOPE. Because in Him we have hope, when we accurately identify who we are in Him we are able to turn around and offer that hope to others who are hopeless, as we previously were. At that point, Boys become kings, girls will be queens Wrapped in Your majesty When we love, when we love the least of these Then they will be brave and free Shout Your name in victory When we love, when we love the least of these When we love the least of these -Audio A. This is one thing that this weekend was all about. This weekend experience was all about people whose identity is founded in Christ seeking, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to help others and themselves rightly identify who they are in relation to God & mankind and to therefore 1) Have hope and 2) Step forth into that position of king or queen designated for for them by Almighty & All-Loving Creator God who weaves redemption throughout our lives in spite of ourselves--who weaves it throughout my life in spite of my self-centered mindset and ways. "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me." As I finish writing, this song has just begun to play over the internet radio, and it's pulse beats out a tempo that beckons and challenges me to join Audio Adrenaline, the Syndicate, and Kings & Queens everywhere in seeking to love "the least of these" in whatever place or lifestyle we may encounter or discover them and to open their eyes to their God-given designation as Kings & Queens themselves. Soli Deo Gloria. ~JE

MIA

Yes, I have been, and will likely continue to be, MIA since the beginning of the school year. You'd think I could still manage one post per month, but the very idea of making that a priority stresses me out. I do, however, quite frequently contemplate blogging...:D. Sometimes daily. And I wanted to share with you the reason for that.

In, oh, May or so, I went to a yard sale on a Friday evening, and for some ridiculously low price like $1 or $.50 (I think it was the latter), I purchased an old edition of My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers. It was a beautiful, old red hardback, and I've always heard good things about M. U. for H. H., so I decided I'd take it. It turned out to be the buy of the year, because I've been reading that book almost every day of the year since June or July. Though I don't agree with absolutely everything Chambers says, his words are often profound, and where I disagree, he at least has done the job of getting me thinking about Scripture.. That is highly valuable, truly.

Many days I wish I had the time to simply sit and type out the entire content of Chambers' words for that day. I bookmark the day and plan to write or blog about it, but then I don't, and then there are too many bookmarks cluttering up my book. So here and now I am telling you: Find a copy of My Utmost for His Highest. Buy it. Read it daily, or as close to daily as you can manage. (At first I would try to "catch up" if I fell behind, but I gave that up, and that has made it easier to keep up with the proper day, somehow. FYI.) They are short, one-page devotionals written by a man whom I believe was closely in tune with God and God's Word. They provide a consistency that is different from other devotionals--consistent length, consistent depth, other consistencies that I'm too tired to explain properly. You don't have to keep at it for a whole year or even read it on certain days, but I strongly encourage you to check it out in some way.

~Blessings & Happy 2012!

P.S. Ghetto Apples to Apples, etc.

Last Thursday I learned to play Ghetto Apples to Apples, in which each person makes up ten or so pieces of paper (we used 1/4 pieces of notecards--sturdier, if you want to save them). Each paper has a quote or lyric or noun or something on it--whatever the person wants to put. Then all the little pieces of paper get thrown in a pile and mixed up, then randomly drawn so that you now have the papers of several different people rather than just yourself. Next, the players take turns making up different scenarios, like, "You were shoplifting in Mr. Boothman's bookstore, and Mr. Boothman caught you. What do you say to him?" The ensuing hilarity is both remarkable and priceless, and you will definitely want to teach this game to all your friends!

This also reminds me that I learned a new game on Wednesday (the day right before G. A. to A.), as well! It was named "Sock-o" by the guy who made it up, but I prefer to call it "Ultimate Sock." Basically, it's Ultimate Frisbee, except that you have a sockful of flour instead of a frisbee and your goals are hula hoops with one player from the opposing team standing inside. You play like U.F., but when you get to the goal, you must hit the person inside the hula hoop with the sock:D! As the sock is passed, thrown, and used to whack people, the flour gradually diminishes, and people end up with flour dust all over. SO MUCH FUN! It's less intimidating than U.F., and works best if you make sure all the players get to play, not just a few athletic individuals. Another game you should teach all your friends:D!

June's almost over, and July's just one month!

I am currently listening to "Beautiful Things" by Gungor. :D

Well, the title, said in a hurried and exclamatory manner, describes how I'm feeling right now! May had no blog because May was ridiculously busy; June is almost over; July is just one month; in August I'm going on a trip, & then school starts--YIKES!

But I am LOVING summer. It is beautiful:). I love eating outside, throwing open windows, listening to night-sounds, waking up at 5 AM to light! (Of course, I go right back to sleep.)

Allow me to backtrack, though. If you are reading this blog, you most likely already know, but I'm not 100% positive whom I remembered to email. Drumroll please.......I have a job! (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:) I'm stoked! Next year I will be teaching pre-school to 3 & 4 year olds, and though I'm a bit nervous about it, I am confident in God's direction. Honestly, that's what's keeping me excited, because otherwise I would be too overwhelmed by how many new things I am learning and discovering and trying to remember, so thank You, God:).

I got to know my job a little bit by observing, subbing, and then doing year-end inventory (which involved a great deal of getting to know my classroom and supplies:)! Throughout the summer I hope to get at least a month of school tentatively planned (I'm sure there will be plenty to learn and change as I jump on in). Additionally, I am helping my church with VBS, babysitting two of my favorite little monkeys four Fridays in a row, babysitting 3 others of my favorite little monkeys 24/7 for either 7 or 8 or 9 days--something like that, still loving on kids at youth group and in a girls small group, and hoping to make enough money to pay the bills all summer long! One of the big deals of the summer (I don't think it quite tops a full week of babysitting 3 little monkeys, but it's a close second for biggest deal:D) is that I will be going on a missions trip for 16 days in August! Not saying where, but ask for details and I'll mail them to you:). It prob'ly doesn't matter, but I'm not sure if I'm supposed to say.

Anyway, the summer's filling up, and I am trying to maintain a balance. Hopefully it will be achieved! Trying also to surrender my life more to God, but I am finding out that I am even more stubborn than I had realized. Thanks be to God for His indescribable grace, truly.

Don't know when the next update will come; I'm feeling like this was rather dry, but informative. Something of interest? ... I finally finished reading Francis Chan's Crazy Love; it rocks; you should read it!:D Also read Impossible by Nancy Werlin. I loved it, overall, but I was warned that it was weird. It has 2 or 3 things I really disliked, but there were a lot more that I really liked, so it's a toss-up on whether I can recommend. But I can't really explain the dislikes without completely giving away a lot of the story. If you like well-written fairy tales, it is one, and a modern one, besides. Well-written modern fairy tales are rare, in my book. So take a chance. But if you don't like fairy tales or fantasy, just skip it.

Read/reading tons more; maybe I'll review some things next time:D. Adios, y vaya con Dios.

Another Prompt: Favorite Teachers

Mrs. Linda Smith, formerly of Selah, Washington, did her utmost to make learning fun—and she succeeded! She was the teacher everyone wanted. Through songs, anecdotes, and empathy for her students, she gave me my two most memorable elementary years, the third and sixth grades. I most recently connected with her one year ago, in the midst of my own student teaching experience. As of then she was still pouring her love and energy into young children’s lives.

Mrs. Smith was the first teacher who made me want to be a teacher, as she made my classroom experience creative, exciting, memorable, and just plain FUN. I hope that somewhere in every student’s K-12 experience there is a Mrs. Smith, transforming the lives of children and, by extension, their families and communities. Thank you, Mrs. Smith, and the many dedicated teachers like you!

The Occasion of the Thirtieth Anniversary

This will have to be edited at a later date, but I need, at last, to get the email containing these song lyrics OUT of my inbox! I emailed them to myself over a month ago upon learning that these songs were sung at my parents wedding, thinking I would soon thereafter include them in a blog. Well, here they are:D.

There's something about listening to people singing at your own parents' wedding when those parents were just about your age. It is both incredible and enlightening, awe-inspiring and tear-evoking, beautiful and almost eerie. My parents, aged 20 and 22; the persons of these beautiful, "old" photos I've loved looking at all my life, being wished a marriage full of God and full of love. And I listen and consider how I, too, want that.

Were my parents once idealistic youths? Am I an idealistic youth? Did the wishes professed in these hand-picked songs come true? Will my own wishes for life and love come true? It's hard to tell; there are many invisible and incomprehensible variables. Regardless of what was, is, and will be, I admire those youthful parents for the lives they set out to live; I admire my raising-kids parents for the standards to which they held us; and I admire my now-parents, for whom they are now.

It's a little melancholy to only now find out, after thirty years, that my parents have a tape of their wedding; however, it is all the more treasured and meaningful because I am the age they were then and I am facing the same sorts of grown-up issues they were then. It's possible that I can appreciate this tape more than if I'd grown up having heard it now and then. Maybe, maybe not, but these are the songs that I've discovered as a result:

"You're a Gift" sung by their pastor's wife
[I have to copy these from a piano book my aunt has...the lyrics can't be found online. Stay tuned; it's really good, thought-provoking, and God-centric!]


"The Troubador" sung by my uncle
He is now to be among you
at the calling of your hearts
Rest assured this troubadour
is acting on His part.
The union of your spirits, here,
has caused Him to remain
for whenever two or more of you
are gathered in His name
there is Love, there is Love.

Well, a man shall leave his mother
and a woman leave her home
and they shall travel on to where
the two shall be as one.
As it was in the beginning
is now and til the end
Woman draws her life from man
and gives it back again.
And there is Love, there is Love.

Well then what's to be the reason
for becoming man and wife?
Is it love that brings you here
or love that brings you life?
And if loving is the answer,
then who's the giving for?
Do you believe in something
that you've never seen before?
Oh there is Love, there is Love.

(Short solo)

Oh the marriage of your spirits here
has caused Him to remain
for whenever two or more of you
are gathered in His name
there is Love, there is Love.


"Lady" by Kenny Rogers, sung by my dad to my mom:D

Lady, I'm your knight in shining armor and I love you
You have made me what I am and I am yours
My love, there's so many ways I want to say I love you
Let me hold you in my arms forever more

You have gone and made me such a fool
I'm so lost in your love
And oh, we belong together
Won't you believe in my song

Lady, for so many years I thought I'd never find you
You have come into my life and made me whole
Forever let me wake to see you each and every morning
Let me hear you whisper softly in my ear

In my eyes I see no one else but you
There's no other love like our love
And yes, oh yes, I'll always want you near me
I've waited for you for so long

Lady, your love's the only love I need
And beside me is where I want you to be
'Cause, my love, there's somethin' I want you to know
You're the love of my life, you're my lady

Have You Seen This Chicken?

Given the time, I could probably come up with a dozen or more puns on this subject.

There's the childhood songs route:

"Oh where, oh where has my little chicken gone; oh where, oh where could it beeeee?"
"______ stole the chicken from the refrigerator! Who me? Yes, you! Couldn't be! Then who stole the chicken from the refrigerator?"

Orrrrr, the Shakespearean route:

"Chicken! Chicken! My kingdom for some chicken!"
"Chicken, chicken, wherefore art thou chicken!" (A misuse of the word "wherefore," but one commonly used, and rather "punny," nonetheless.)

I'm quite sure I could come up with 3 times as much, but I'll stop there, because quite frankly, at the moment, I have better things to be getting on with. Suffice it to say there were two pieces of chicken last night when my parents and their company finished dinner, but where the chicken has gone between now and then is a mystery. Possibly the fridge (though we've thoroughly searched it); possibly the freezer (but we searched it, too!); possibly the garbage (unfortunately already and much-too-efficiently removed and thrown into the dumpster) or a random cupboard (for which I am not brave enough to face for an exhaustive search, yet). All family members have been questioned, and allegedly none of them ate the chicken. We didn't even know it was gone until we tried to start warming up the leftovers at 7 PM, in a state of moderate hunger since we'd waited for my mother to get home from work.

If it turns up, the mystery will be solved, but I'm not holding my breath.