Monday, January 31, 2011

I always forget about the big news

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I always forget to blog about any big news in my life. Well, since I just dropped an entire jar of the best pasta sauce ever, thus dashing any hope I had of eating amazing pasta over the snowpocalypse, I need a way to distract myself from my current pasta-pression.

Here it is: I finally got to switch over to work full time on Variance! Today was my third day on the job, and I'm enjoying it so far. It's pretty fast-paced and there's a wide array of things I get to do. Out of everything that's happened so far, though, there are two things I've enjoyed the most: 1) My opinions matter and are sought, and 2) I got to name my own title. I am officially the editorial director for Variance!

I'm sure I'll have more details as my job is shaped a little more by the new system we have in place, but that's all for now! Yeah...it wasn't enough to cure my sadness over the pasta. At least I tried.

Saturday, January 29, 2011

The birthday madness continues...

Hands down, birthday 24 has been the best one ever. Let's look at the evidence:

 

Shaun had flowers and chocolates sent to me. You have to understand that no one has ever bought me flowers. This is partially because I always said I didn't want flowers. Really, this was a lie. I just didn't want anyone [Shaun] spending too much of his money on something that I would immediately kill. Plants wilt at the slightest contact with me, I swear. They know I'm coming, and they just keel over and die. Anyhoo, prettiest flowers ever [and I'm sorry the photo is blurry].


My second piece of evidence is the abundance of desserts. Besides the above-mentioned chocolates, I've had dessert nachos from Abuelos [a family tradition for my birthday!], cake that Mom bought, and ah-mazing cookies by miz Emily. I'm amazed I haven't grown cankles and love handles yet.


Third point: presents. Shaun got me a Tim Tebow jersey. For those of you who don't know already, I love the Broncos and I think Tebow is one of the best Christian role models of our time. I used my birthday money from Mom and Dad to buy The Complete Tales and Poems of Edgar Allen Poe and a Woe, Is Me shirt. They also got me a wall decoration that says "dance." Haven't found a place to put it yet! To top it all off I got a set of Beats in-ear headphones.

Okay, I didn't have a photo for this one, but last night I got to hang out with some of my favorite people. Whenever I've had big birthday parties in the past something usually went wrong, so this time around it was nice to just chill with people I love!

There you have it folks...a very boring [to everyone but myself] list of why my birthday rocked. I do believe this one sets the bar for birthdays to come!

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Salt and light

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." - Matthew 5:13-16

I used to wonder why I was drawn to certain places, people, events. Why my heart goes out to certain circumstances and the people in them. Then I read Matthew 5:13-16 with new eyes. What good is a candle in a brightly lit room? A little bit, maybe. However, put that candle in darkness, and people draw to it like moths. I'm looking for darkness and praying for ways to light it. When Christians cluster together in their churches, waiting for unbelievers to come to them, they're missing the point. Jesus commanded us to go, not to hang out together thinking opportunities will come find us. The darkness consumes everything around us with wild abandon when we hide our light in the basket of the church building.


If we're not out in the world shining the light of the gospel through our words and actions then we disgrace our Savior. How can they know the joy and peace of Jesus Christ if we don't show them? When I was younger I didn't understand how my passions in this life were all to be used for God's glory. At least, I didn't comprehend that each could be used as a witnessing tool. Now that I understand, every time I have a band over to my house to hang out or go to a concert and mingle with fans, I know that it's my chance to show them the narrow road.


I trip over my words a lot when I speak to people, but it's always easy to do something that opens a door to speak with them. It's amazing how I'll get these urges and notions to do something without really understanding how God is going to use that action. Sometimes it's as easy as baking cookies. Little actions, little services done for others. I used to think of servanthood as a series of actions done with the mindset "have to serve. Have to serve." Now I realize that when you truly want to serve God and people, it doesn't feel like servitude at all. It feels like a warm glow inside. That's probably one of the most sappy things I've ever said in my mostly sap-less life, but it's entirely true.

I baked a whole bunch of cookies for some of our band friends this weekend, and when I gave them the cookies I made they were so excited. You would've thought it was Christmas morning. Being able to give people that feeling with such a simple gesture astounds me and drives me to do more. It's those moments that open doors in the hearts of others.


"...to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you." - 1 Corinthians 9:22-23

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Birfday madness

January 28 is a big day, so mark your calendar. It might possibly be the most important holiday ever...that isn't about Jesus. It's my birthday. You may start picking out your gift to me now. I like Stheart hoodies and silly bands.

My birthday present to myself this year is a trip down to Dallas on the 21st to see two of my fave bands, Woe, Is Me and The Word Alive. We Came As Romans and For Today will be there as well, so all in all I'm pretty excited! Now let's just hope this under-the-weather feeling I have doesn't turn into something disastrous before then.

Among other things, I get to see two of my favorite people on Friday: Telle Smith and Tyler Carter. For those of you who don't know, that's this guy:





...and this guy:


Cuties, huh? And they're available, ladies! I love these guys and I can't wait to see them in action again. They're so passionate about their music and their fans. Let the games begin!

Friday, January 7, 2011

Hey look! Cuteness!

Meet Allysha. One of her many joys in life is finding alternate ways to wear her clothes. Alternate shirt wearing method #483 is ventilated bonnet. Note the wonderful positioning of the sleeve, which enables the wearer to feel the wetness of the rain on a cloudy day. None of that pesky "waterproof" stuff for Allysha. Later, her shirt became a skirt. Unfortunately, the shirt-skirt did not go over as well as the ventilated shirt-bonnet, and a small crying fit ensued.

 Allysha's life is consumed with taking care of her young one. Having a baby when you, yourself, happen to be a baby can be quite tiring. Fortunately, she has mastered the art of napping with her baby's bottle in, or at least near, said baby's mouth. This is a skill few possess, but many envy.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

The slow part of the race

It's days like today that remind me that the world sucks. Sin sucks. It made the world the crappy, heartbreaking place it is now. Death, unwanted change, jealousy, oppression, anger, sadness. I wish I had my own private island where I could escape. I can think of maybe five people in the world I'd allow there.

I spent half of last night hearbroken over the fact that my dance teacher was leaving forever and I didn't even get to drive her to the airport. There are very few people I'd say have had a huge impact in my life, and she's in the top two. She lit up my life with wisdom and purpose, and she had this habit of giving me this smile and a wink that said "you've got this." The last time I saw her, as I went to get in the car to leave, I turned to wave goodbye and she gave me a smile and a wink. Like, "don't worry, we've both got this. It'll be okay." Somehow though, I don't feel like it's okay. One of the best friends I've ever had or will have is gone. In another country where I probably won't get to visit. Available only by email.

I'm not the strong type. I'm more the break-down-and-cry type, and today gave me ample reason to do so. More than just my dance teacher leaving. How is it that the world pushes you down, and keeps pushing and pushing and pushing until you crack? Why does it all happen at once? I feel like I have these weights keeping me from moving. I just want to curl up and let life pass by right now. The only hope I have is that Christ wants to remove those weights. To stop the world from pushing. In the race of life I feel like I'm moving at a crawl right now, but thankfully that won't last forever, because I have the One on my side who said His yoke is easy, and His burden is light.

"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also set aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us." - Hebrews 12:1

Monday, January 3, 2011

2010

I had a lot of big stuff happen in 2010. Truly, this was probably the busiest year I've ever had!

The year in jobs:
I started working at Tate Publishing as a niche marketing publicist.
Grew to know and love the best coworkers EVER.
Helped jump-start a new publication, Variance Magazine.
Shaun and I started an outlet for hardcore/metalcore/etc. music news called scene[essence].
Started a management group for local hardcore and metal bands called Intellect Management.
Signed two great bands so far, Teeth Like Lions and Beyond Our Skies.

The year in big events:
Celebrated our one year anniversary by going to the Creation Museum and marveling at God's awesome power. I'm so blessed to be married to a guy who shares the same passion for God's Word that I have.
Started Elm Street Bible Study with a group of Yukon friends.
Had a Christmas that didn't suck.
Got the house-buying process started. Scared to death.
Helped Mrs. Lawrence get ready to move back to Scotland. Cried a lot.

The year in sugar:
I drank approximately 4,608 ounces of Dr. Pepper. Give or take about 2,000 ounces.
Had an infamous Pixi Stix incident, in which my blood sugar probably reached dangerous levels.

The year in music:
Got to hang out with some awesome musicians, including Tyler Carter, Telle Smith, Chris Dudley, Chris Cerulli, and many more. I'm looking forward to more of the same this year!
Saw upwards of 60 bands in concert. Possibly over 80, but I've lost count.