I heart Lake Superior

What's goin' on!?!? Well, every few weeks I have been taking some time out and going on a nice hike some where. Well, the other day I got the urge to go to Gooseberry Falls because it was a nice drive and I haven't been there all summer. Well, I happened to go on a cool, cloudy day so it wasn't as beautiful as it would have been if it were sunny. But that's ok. It forced me to really persue God and not sit, stare and be distracted.
These are some pics that I took and then played with some of them to make them cartoon-esque!

Well, it was great. I was able to take my time and wonder down the trail to the shore. The leaves are turning over and there was nice, crisp air all around. I picked a spot on the rock and sat. I breathed in the fresh air, listened to the wind blow, and sat as silently as I could while listening to the waves meet the rock I was sitting on.

*Sidenote: I have come to realize that I enjoy water. I guess I already knew that, but I'm starting to do something about that. I grew up near the Pacific Ocean for half of my life and then when we moved to Austin, TX we swam in pools and then when we had the oppertunity, drive to the gulf Coast and swim there. I grew up in the water. My mom would always call Sister and I fish.

*And we're back.
So as I sat and listened to the waves ever so gently hit the rocks, I had this lovely peace (It really gave me the urge to buy one of those Nature sounds CD's). I just soaked everything up God is His creation. Once again, I felt that God made this shore for me to sit on just for this day and no one else. I like thinking that. No offense to any one else, but it kind of reminds me of being in front of "an audience of One". And when I get to that point, I think it opens up myself to His presences.

The past week has been tough. A friend of mine is going through a hard time and they sent out an email that explained what they were going through. It hit a little close to home with me and put words to what I have been feeling the past few weeks and possibly months. It's scary when you recognize a sin in your life, but yet still are unwilling to change and pull yourself out of it. I have noticed my laziness lately and it's spreading from my working out routeen that I stopped doing, to even making time for devotions during the day. I know I want to spend time with Him, but I have been so disappointed with previous quiet times, that I think "what will make this one any different?"

I have been constantly reminded by some great people that God has put in my life, that sometimes God will allow us to struggle, wrestle, with certain things because in that we are able to realize that He is the only thing, THE ONLY THING, that will last. This world will fade; friendships will fade; circumstances will fade; life will go on, the things around you will change. But God will always be the same- his constant, unconditional love will be and needs to be the only thing that gets us through each day.

This is completely easy to write, but what will I do with this tomorrow morning when I wake up? Will I embrace a new day with new grace and mercy, or will I wake up, get ready and go about my day with little "thank yous" for not getting side-swiped, for getting an item on sale, a rockstar spot in the parking lot etc...

***PS my pinky toe is slowly healing. A little tender, but not bruised anymore and it is a little more flexible.

This was the set at River Valley Church in Apple Valley, MN. They are a mega church and their media is really impressive if you are into that sort of thing. I really enjoyed it there though.

Us after stuffing our faces full of malts, fries, and burger. But hey, it was totally worth it when you wait 30 min and get malts and fries for free!

Lexi and I

Here is my broken toe :o) It's a lame story: As we were walking, Im assuming I was walking fast than andrew, and our feet got caught and as I pulled my foot away, there was an annoying pain. I looked down, pulled my pinky to the left and then mess around with my right pinky toe and came to the conclusion that I broke my pinky toe. it's pretty sweet.

Lexi, Keely and Andrew. we were walking for like an hour before we finally decided to eat at the Hard Rock Cafe. It was cool though. I don't think I have ever eaten there before.

It was a good trip. I really enjoyed visiting Lexi and also getting out of Duluth for a little bit. I wish my next trip was to TX, but that's only a dream. Speaking of dreams, my pillow is calling me. Sorry it took a little while to get these posted. I tried on Monday, but I got frustrated when I got everything ready and then I lost everything. So, yeah. Peace out.

A Birthday starts out Happy, Now Ends Happy

This was my present from my mom, Jay and the kids: A surprise birthday party in a box!! Isn't she cute! It was a box and when you lifted the lid, all four sides fell down and every thing was glued down: cups, plates, milk duds, wooly willies, gum, etc. She thought of everything! It was the second best present I could have received, (the first would have been a plane ticket home to see them in person;o) ).

'Stina, Kristi, Metty at the Anchor bar in Superior, WI

My Awesome Bacon Cheese Burger. The Anchor is known for their burgers and I have heard so much about them, I decided to experience them for myself. This is one awesome burger!

My awesome Roommates!

Ryan, Gilly, Joanna (Nice pickles Gilly).

So, My day started out at

out at 1230am as y'all read before. I woke up around 6am (my morning bathroom run) and lay back down. With in minutes my phone rings. My first thought was, "Mom- are you kidding me?" But then I saw lace's name. She was getting ready for school and wanted to call and wish me happy birthday in song. It was awesome! I was able to fall asleep again, but I woke up around 830. That's when my mom calls me :o) She said to call her when my package came and she also sang, along with her husband, happy birthday to me. At 845 Sister calls me and doesn't sing but tells me happy birthday.
So I decided to get ready for the day. around 10am I check the mail and got the sweetest card from Sister! I almost cried. I love her so much! I couldn't ask for a better Sister :o) I also got one from my Dad and Gma. Isn't it fun when you get stuff on the actual day? I think so. My friend Liz calls me on her break and starts to sing and then stops saying, " that's all you get". I told her I was greatful for her even calling!
For Lunch, Keely takes me to an awesome place called the Duluth Atheletic Club and I have a great cajun chicken sandwich. We had a great time and I really enjoyed some of the stuff we talked about. I go home around 115 because my package is coming around 2pm. Sure enough, 2pm the door bell rings and I run down the stairs to get this huge brown box. I call mom and she instructs me on how to open it. I laughed so hard when I opened it. Stina was on the phone and gilly was standing next to me. I call Stina to come share in this awesome moment. I was so excited and happy!!

After that exciting moment, I go to Caribou to have some down time and just relax before a crazy night of four-square and Chi-Alpha. This was good because I was able to refect on the day so far and thank God for the belssing of family and friends. I could care less about the gifts, it's sharing the moments with people you care about and knowing they care about you too.
I went to play four-square and it was awesome! Spud is awesome for wanting to get this going before X-A. The boys weren't there, so we made a phone call and they came. They are so fun! Tyler, Jared, Mike and Chase presented a muffin to me and then started (and finished) the Happy Birthday song.
later after Chi-Alpha Lace gave me a present: an amazingly soft fleece with my name ingraved in it and also a randmo journal that you can draw Wooly Willies on. It was great. After Chi-ALpha, My roomies, Kristi, Ryan and Joanna went to the Anchor Bar in Superior, WI. They are famous for their burgers and I vouch for that. Anyone and everyone should have one:$3 for a burger, $1 for fries, who can beat that? I got a stuffed cow with a tee shirt that was mocking my DQ amnesia a few years ago. I will never live that down or the infamous Q about Duluth not being built around a lake(please ask me if you want to know, Im not going to explainon my blog).

Over all, the celebration of my birth was great. I couldn't have asked for anything better. People sure do know how to make an out-of-stater feel welcome, although I am considering myself more Minnesotan each month. Keep it classy, Duluth.

A Birthday That Starts Out Happy

So, I just thought I would let y'all know how my birthday started out:
As my roomies and I hung out and played with sticky tack and chatting, Stacy pesters 'Stina for some chocolate cake and finally decides to let us eat some cake that her friend left at our house. As we (Gilly, Metty, 'Stina and I) dive into this chocolate excursion, Gilly comes in with a single tea light on a clear glass platter and busts out with some french(?) rendition of "happy birthday to you". Metty joins in in some other terrible key of french, while 'Stina is laughing and singing in tenor or bass the regular version of the song. As they are singing their hearts out, we all make some random comment about our neighbors, who seemed to have had a party six of seven nights last week, and see how it feels when we are loud and they are trying to sleep. boo-yah! Anyway, there will definitely be more added to this awesome day. Peace out to all my homies.

Aurora

Dan digging a hole next to the bonfire. Little did we realize how big it would get.

Angie, Rachael, Janelle hanging out while everyone is fixed on this hole being dug

The hole with a bridge

Dan in awe of the hole he has dug

Tyler in the morning chillin' in hole Dan dug that night

Good Morning Y'all!

We aren't tired or anything... really

This isn't exact, but an idea of what I feel asleep looking at last night. This pic is cool though, it looks like a hawk or Phenix from X-Men(except green not red fire). Anyway.
Saturday night Lace and I got people together and hung out at Wisconsin Point and had a bonfire. It was pretty much awesome. When we first got there, there were "clouds" in the sky, but I really started to think they were northen lights. Well, as the night progressed, the lights became more intense! They were amazing. I was reading that in order to see the aurora you have to be inside the aurora oval, aka "donut", which is above the magnetic poles.

The reason I bring this up was that at one point it felt like the center of the lights were directly above where we were and they were falling gently down on us. Like ribbons being pulled through the air; It was amazing! And there were other times that reminded me of when you shine light on some sort of metal or mirror and then it is reflected onto the wall or someone's face. As Mr. Continental would say, "Wow! I mean, WOW!" (in that not perverted way).

So I was just was thinking about how we hold gems and jewels as being so precious; the temples are covered in extravagent things like them; it is a sign of status to some. But I felt that as I lay under the vast darkness, with shades of whites, greens, reds, that this was uncomparibly better than any jewel or gem that is given. This was the best blessing I could have ever recieved. God brought me out there to show off to me and share with me his awesomeness. Why would he do that for me? But that is who he is and what he is about: LOVE. He loves me and he wanted to show me something that would be so sweet. How unconditional is he? Despite the hard times I give him, the flesh that I walk in, he knew that from the beginning and still chooses to give us good gifts.

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from
the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows"
James 1.17

How appropriate. Anyway, Thank you Lord for friends, fires and freedom. We love you.

Jealous Love

This is a prayer from "Deep Unto Deep" by Dana Candler

Little mountain, what are you?
Little ocean, where lies your strength?
If the Hand that formed the universe holds my heart,
How can man or power take me from Him?
His love leaves the oceans small
And the mountains powerless to separate.
The One that loves me
Will not surrender me to another hand
Though all of hell stands in His way.
He will have me. He will keep me.
He will not give me over to any other.
I had thought that I could lose my way
Until I remembered jealousy keeps me.
He keeps me,
And I'm a fool to think another could steal
What He has called His own.
If the COnsuming Fire is ravished my my small heart,
What man of the earth,
What power of heaven or hell,
Can keep me from Him?
No mountain He would not conquer;
No sea He would not cross.
Follish I was to fear that all could be lost.
My heart is not kept by mt own love,
But by the River of love from His heart.
I am my Beloved's and He is mine.

This has been my prayer, but not my words. I am overwhelmed when I know something in my heart and then will read something or talk to someone and God reveals words to my thoughts.
***Thanks Kel for the book.