I'm Normal

I know. I was just as surprised as you are. I have been having these horrible headaches since about Sunday night. I hurt my should my senior year of highschool when I was in the car accident but never did anything about it. I tried a chiropractor but it was too expensive. I have tried various exercises and stretches but nothing seemed to realy work. Sometimes the pain seemed to go away for a little while but then it would come back.

Since Sunday, the pain had gone from my shoulder into my head. It was horrible pain. I was having trouble working. The only thing i could do to help the pain was to lay down. Yesterday during lunch, Steve and I went to Medpoint because the pain was so bad. The took some X-Rays of my shoulder, back, and neck. The doctor everything looked fine in my bones except my neck seemed to be too straight. He is going to wait until the Radiologist's report before making the final judgement though. He said he would guess that the problem is in my muscles. The muscles may even be so tight that they are causing the neck problems. I might have to start going to physical therapy. I'm so glad that we have insurance now or I would have no idea how we were going to pay for this.
We got me a new chair for work that has a massager in it. It is amazing. It's not a top of the line massager. It just mostly vibrates but its still cool. Maybe it will help loosen up my muscles so i dont have to go to physical therapy.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Monday was 26th birthday.
On Saturday, weekend Steve and Damian throw me a "Surprise" birthday party at our apartment. It was a good time. Steve made some chicken and we ate some cake. Afterwards, Damian, Steve, the Bones, my sister, and I went to see the movie Fantastic Four. The movie was pretty good. I wasnt sure what i would think of it since I dont really like comic books movies usually, but it was good. Then we went to the Steak N Shake in South Bend for some fun hang out time. We didnt leave Steak N Shake til almost 2. I was pretty tired when I got home. Shere came over with her girls to my apartment but she didnt come to movie with us. Ill have to try and find some time to hang out with just her later in the week.

Sunday, we got up for church at Gospel Center this week. After church, we just went home and relaxed. My parents went out of town for the weekend but when they got home Steve and I went to my parents to have Father's Day dinner. Steve and I did some grocery shopping to on Sunday.

Monday we both had to work. I didnt take my birthday off work this year. After work, Steve and I got dressed up and he took me out to The Emporium. The food was really good. It wasn't as expensive as I thought is was going to be. I was actually a little disapointed. I was expecting it to be more elegant than it was. Oh well, it was a once in a lifetime thing. It was a good relaxing birthday overall.

Busy...Busy...Busy

Apartment hunting is alot of work. Steve and I are trying to find a another apartment or house to rent. Autumn Lakes is just too expensive. It was fine when i was living with my sister because I only had to pay half of the rent but now the whole amount is coming out of just mine and Steve's budget so it's harder. We are trying to find something before the end of the month so we dont have to pay for another month at Autumn Lakes. Our budget will be very happy when we move.

It feels like life is flying by really fast lately. I'm hoping that life slows time soon. I just need time to relax. Our current apartment is almost all organized. Steve is still moving in some of his stuff. Some of the bigger things he is going to leave where they are until we move again. It's been an adventure.

Oasis went to Cedar Point. I hope they had a good trip. It is beautiful here. I hope it's nice in Ohio too.

Oasis Graduation!

Final Count: 1066!

No that is not a typo above, we really had more than 1000 people at Oasis last night. It was an amazing night. I got there at about 5:30 and ran back to the cafe. They was already a huge line formed since they cafe actually opened at 4:30. Carole and Wendy were working hard so I jumped in to help. We had a non-stop line of students until about 6:40 when the students went outside for the annual graduation picture.

Judy gave a great message last night. She encouraged the students to take leaps of faith. What is the next leap of faith you are going to take? She talked to students about the 3 big leaps of faith she has taken starting with when she gave her life to Christ, then when she came on staff at Granger. The last leap of she is taking is joining Jeanne Mayo in Atlanta. She told the students last night what she told all the leaders on Tuesday night. She is leaving Granger to join her mentor and hero, Jeanne Mayo, in Atlanta. There was an extreme quiet in the room last night when told everyone.

I'm excited for her. I hate to see her go but it sounds like this is something that she will really enjoy doing. Jeanne Mayo has been her hero and mentor for a few years now. A few weeks ago Jeanne asked Judy if she would be willing to join her in the mentorship of other youth pastors, helping lead the Mastors Commission, and doing some things with Jeanne in Atlanta. She is going to leave a huge hole in the leadership team at Granger, but i am more than confident that Judy has raised up some amazing leaders that will keep this ministry going.

The graduation was a success. After we cleaned up the cafe a bunch of leaders and a few students went to Steak N Shake for some relaxing and hang out time. I didn't leave until almost midnight. I should have left earlier but I didnt. I'm so tired today. I need to take a big nap later.

Shere's Girls :)

Shere's Girls

My best friend came over to my apartment with her girls last week. I have to share them with you because they are adorable. I love these girls. :)

Oasis 2006-2007 School Year

Wow! What a year it has been? This year seemed to be a little over shadowed by my engagement and marriage but Oasis is still a huge part of my life. One of my greatest desires in my life is to be a positive role for my students. My group has changed a bit throughout the year. A few students have moved away or stopped coming and some have joined us new within the year, but there have been a few faithful that have been there every Wednesday, or really close to it, the whole year. These girls are special and I want them to succeed to life.

Steve and I started doing a devotional on wisdom after we got married. We read a proverb every day and a little note about what we read. Today's reading got me thinking about my students. We read proverbs 2. Proverbs 2:9-10 says "You will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will find the right way to go. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy." Our quote of the day is: Training in wisdom is life preparation.

God is the ultimate teacher and he wants us to learn as much as we can in our lives. Good teachers and leaders know that someday their students will leave the nest and fly on their own. Our goal is to teach them as best we can so when they get out on their own they will be able to survive on their own. My desire for my students is that they look back on the last year and see it as a year of growth. I hope they made at least one new friend, they learned valuable wisdom, and most of all they took a step towards Jesus. Do they know Jesus a little more personally did they did a year ago?
I wish I could have some assurance that they will make the right choices, but God gave us freewill so they will make their choices. This world is getting tough to be a Christian in, but with the wisdom they have learned this year I believe they will overcome.

As I reflect on the last year, I pray for my girls that they remain strong and avoid the temptations that are so ready to attack them. There is nothing more beautiful than a girl that lives with integrity.
As Graduation comes close, I want them to know that they can count on my even in the years to come. I don't stop being there leader on Graduation day. I am their leader for the rest of their life if they need me.