Garba Dancing with Joy and Prashant

The other weekend I went to an Indain festival with two of my friends (one of whom is Indian) it was a great time! It's amazing how time flies when you're dancing and having fun. One thing I loved about it was that there were people of all ages dancing- children, teens, young adults, grown ups, and older people. Oh, and did I mention that it's such great exercise!
Here's a few pics and a videos
everyone dancing

Prashant, Joy and I

Fun group picture :)

Another fun group picture!

video of everyone dancing

me dancing, I'm in the red

Inspiration to Teachers

This is a great video. All teachers, or anyone how has an influence on children should watch it. Dalton Sherman is a 9 year old boy, he's going into 5th grade, who spoke to thousands of teachers and administrators in Dallas, TX inspiring them to believe in their students! Enjoy!

Current Happenings

So I thought it was about time to give a little update on life… You may or may not know that I am going to school right now… it’s crazy! I started my MAT (Master of Arts in Teaching) at Concordia University, here in Portland, about three weeks ago. I’m sooo glad I’m doing it but it is a lot of work!! The first week I thought surely I would die but by some act of grace I made it through. I am just starting the forth week and will go strong till the first or second week of August. At that time I will have a short break only to start up a week or two later for the fall semester. It’s a short and very intense program but by May next year I will be done! Ideally I would like to teach 3rd grade but I know that just starting out I’ll have to take what I can get. You can definitely be praying for me as I journey through these next 11months!

Fourth of July was fun! It was fairly low-key but fun nevertheless. I went over to some friends’ house for a BBQ with a couple other people. We ate and had a nice time and then made our way down to the Willamette River, here in Portland, for the fireworks. It was a good show but I will say that I was extraordinarily bummed that they prohibited people from standing on the Hawthorne Bridge and watching. Standing on the bridge to watch the fireworks is half the experience in and of itself… oh, well :(

BBQ at Tony & Emily's

Jen and I
Cory & JenMe
We were taking couple pictures but I didn't have a couple
Tony & Emily

Me, Emily, Jen
(too bad Jen's eyes are half closed)

God is Faithful!

The other week I was a bit discouraged about things and decided that I would sit and think about God’s goodness and faithfulness to me over the years. That even in times when I’m not sure what he’s doing in my life with circumstances and relationships I know that he is with me and never forgets me (even if it feels like it sometimes). Yahweh is faithful!

--High school, senior year: I chose to follow Him and found myself with few friends but he was faithful to bring me three new and wonderful friends- Sherri, Kim and Emily! He’s faithful to provide!
--Being adopted into my family and having the parents I do who love and support me unconditionally. Even as an unborn person he was watching after and planning for me :)
--Providing my apartment on such short notice and it being exactly what I needed
--Job at Western and the relationships I built there
--Guiding me to Multnomah and the relationships I built with a few professors there and the friendships I established there- they still love and encourage me in good times and bad
--My friend Ben, having lunch and being encouraged by him last month at just the right time!
--In this season of unknown with work, school and a relationship God has shown himself in little ways showing he cares personally for me!
--Pearl Church, after not being able to find a church during college, I found a great one where I least expected it. God has given me a family there, a support, a place to hear truth, and a genuine community despite my reluctance to go there because it was in the “pearl district” and I’m not fancy like that.
--Last summer Jen and Jodie brought me flowers super randomly and it happened to be a bummer day for me! God used them to encourage my heart!
--this last fall and winter was a bumpy season and my friend Sarah called 3-4 times all on days that were the roughest… lucky timing or God? I say God!

These are just a few of the things God has done over the years to care for me and show his faithfulness to me!

Beat the Burnside

My newest run that I’m stoked on!!

Portland's most unique 8k personal challenge run.
Choose your own start time, but make sure you reach the bridge by the time it goes up. The bridge raises at 9:00am exactly.
Which side will you be on?

Resting!!

I'm trying to rest in life right now. I don't mean nap taking or the actual physical act of relaxation but rather the resting of my soul, the relaxation of my spirit, and the relinquishing of control to the Lord. It's so hard to "be still" to not worry about the future- am I going to school for the right thing- what should I go to school for- should I be going to school? do I want to switch jobs- what would I switch to? Will I ever get married- who will I marry- where will I find him?

I have been sooo anxious and discontent lately over life circumstances. I feel dizzy trying to create my own life, decide my own plans, pursue my own goals. In running around frantically trying to find my life I've, yet again, forgotten to look to God- to ask for his perspective and I haven't been asking him what He wants from me. My life perspective has been all about me. I've been selfish. In doing so I find myself like a little rubber ducky who's being continually flushed in the toilet, going nowhere, around and around and around and around, spinning in circles, never making any progress, never going anywhere. Just like the duck I'm angry at the "toilet bowl" I've been put in. Frustrated that I'm stuck. If I would just be still instead of squawking around flailing my wings for just one second then maybe, just maybe someone could reach in and lift me out. But so often I squawk and flap my little wings about giving no one the chance to reach in and help me. As a result of spinning and squawking and flapping I find myself feeling tired and worn-out.

The other week I finally became conscious that I was squawking and flailing about and started praying about it and asking God what I should do about my situation. I still don’t know what I should do about it but in starting to pray about it I’ve been convicted of my need to control my life, to keep it centered on what I want, keeping it safe. I began to realize that I need to REST in the Lord! I need to let him live through me instead of me exerting so much energy trying to do what I think I should be doing. I just need to Be Still, stay where I’m at and if I’m really to be doing something else it will come together. So often though I think I doubt the plans God has for me, I doubt that he even has plans for me, I question why he has me doing and being where I am. So often I don’t understand but then again I can’t understand the ways of the Lord. I just need to Trust, Rest, and Be Still!

I’m finding that resting is scary! It takes me out of the picture, takes all the control out of my hands, and leaves me in the mercy of the Lord. What if He wants me to do something I can’t do? But even that question centers around my ability to do/not do something rather then what God is able to do through me.

This feels very vulnerable to say but when it comes down to it I’m scared of life right now. I’m scared I’ll make the wrong choices, I’m scared I’ll fail, I’m scared my dreams won’t come true, I’m scared I won’t have an impact in this world, I’m scared I’ll be stuck, I’m scared that I won’t let go and trust God. And in my avoidance of fear and failure I find myself running around trying to find a solution, trying to find an escape- a new job, a different apartment, a new boy to like/date, a new career direction, something that will satisfy. And in doing so I exhaust myself, I loose focus and forget that contentment and true purpose are found in Christ. Its not about who I can be or what I can become but about who the Lord can make me, what the Lord can do with me.

Pray that I would REST in the Lord and what he has for me. Pray I would TRUST the plans the Lord has for me (Jeremiah 29:11-13). Pray that I would stop striving and looking for answers but that I’d REST in the ANSWER HIMSELF- Jesus Christ!

Shamrock Run... RAN!

Well, shamrock run was a success! Julia and I ran the race in 46:29 that’s a 9min mile, even in light of the ultra slow first mile due to the congestion of people, imagine our time if we wouldn’t have had such a slow start! WooHoo!! Although the race was a hit I picked up the flu the day before. Friday I awoke with the feeling that something wasn’t right and by Saturday I had a fever. I had been so excited to run the Shamrock that I was determined to go for it anyhow! Sunday morning I got up and ran my little heart out. During the race I felt pretty good. I was in just the right amount of shape! I was able to push myself on the hills and I wasn’t getting winded, it was sham-o-rific! Although I felt good during the race the remainder of the day took on the all the yuck and then some that I pushed past in the morning! I’m just starting to feel better… what a bug :( Well, the race was ran and that’s what matters right? It doesn’t matter if I’m still alive or not… really, highly overrated.