A Glimpse of Thanksgiving Week!

This last week has been amazing. Not perfect, many times stressful, but still amazing. This Thanksgiving was spent differently than previous ones. Instead of being with my family in chilly Michigan (which I missed), I spent the day playing, laughing, and eating way too much with the kids and chaperones. Choir 35 has been so blessed to be all together for this last week and I have loved it!

On Wednesday, we recorded "All You Need Is Love" at Capitol Records in L.A. for Playing for Change/Product (RED). The recording process was so great, we all loved it!

Thanksgiving was spent by sleeping in, eating a big breakfast, playing at the park in nice sunny weather, and feasting on an amazing Thanksgiving dinner! When I think about all that I am thankful for it really overwhelms me. God has truly blessed me with amazing friends and family and allowing me to be an Auntie. This time in my life is like nothing I have ever done. I will never be in this place again but I am grateful that I get to live each moment where I am at right now. This moment, this Thanksgiving was laid out since the beginning of time...

Earlier this week in Santa Barbara we took the kids to the ocean!!! They LOVE swimming and they did not want to leave, it was great! Everyone was drenched in salt water and covered with sand, but it was worth it.

That was our week, busy but lovely.

Reflections from a coffee shop.

This day off found me at Starbucks, reading and reflecting on life.

I was thinking about things and the ways that God is changing me. He is teaching me so much about others and myself. He is showing me how to just sit and be in His presence. This is a practice that I hardly ever do, partly because I don't have the discipline to do it or because I am afraid if I sat for a few moments I would fall asleep. =)

So today I sat. I thought. I wrote. And I felt renewed.

Sitting and listening always surprises me. Things seem to become clear as I allow myself to slow down and ask God to speak. His wisdom is beyond anything I could imagine.

On the wall at Starbucks this was written and somehow it fit what I was feeling:

Vacation day, fall leaves, playing hooky, the first page of a book, a moment alone, a gathering with friends, a cup, a sip, a sigh.

Does it taste like berries?

Does it taste like chocolate?

Does it taste like wood?

Does it taste like cinnamon?

-She questioned.

It tastes like home.

-He replied.

What do you do when you are here?

Linger, sip, daydream, talk, meet, sit, talk, think, work,

BE.

I will continue to practice the discipline of BEing.

Of sitting in His presence and becoming more like Him.

I like to move it, move it...

A little dance at playtime =0)

Day Off

A montage of our day...

It was just before this that we saw a man wearing a trench coat covered in fake leaves.

He must really love fall.

This is for Ashley and Amy, I hope you appreciate that I posted this ;)

p.s. if you are ever offered Lithia Water, refuse it. It is disgusting and not healthy at all.

Grow

I have been thinking a lot lately on growing and changing. Perhaps it is the changing seasons and I am reminded how change is always happening, even when I am unaware. I know I am changing on tour. Each and every day God shows me His truth perhaps subtly, perhaps loudly, but each day I am presented with the truth of the Father. That is when my response is necessary though.

Will I choose to grow?

If I choose to ignore I will die.

Death is the opposite of growth. We are either growing or not. This is a harsh reality. God invites us to partake in this adventure, to live a vibrant life, to know HIM. Yes, many times I miss the mark, I make decisions based on human decision but God opens His fatherly arms and welcomes me home. That is where I will change and grow, in His arms, in His presence.

Oh if I could live every day waking with the expectancy of learning truth and sharing truth with others. Growth is a beautiful thing.

Well hello Uncle Gym.

A couple of days ago, Village 2 pulled into the parking lot of Northwest Christian University. We were all so excited to be together for a couple of days! We were hosted by Uncle Gym. So, for two days we ate in the cafeteria and slept in the Gym, well Uncle Gym that is. All 31 of us, boys on one side, girls on the other, slept on yoga mats covered by sleeping bags.

Being on a college campus made me ache a bit for college life. Walking to class. Sitting at a coffee shop doing homework.

My day off was spent with Amy and Chelsea sitting at a coffee shop talking about life, journaling about things that have been on our hearts. It was so great and refreshing. We then ventured to figure out the public transit system in Eugene, and while we made it to where we needed to go I think we had to ask oh about 10 people for directions. =)

Our last night was spent enjoying "specials" and popsicles. I'm reminded at those moments, when laughter is bubbling over and smiles are pasted on the faces of the children around me, that we are the church and that God finds us as pleasing to Him living out the joy that comes from knowing Him and living in that assurance.

Oh, and Uncle Gym gave us an amazing Host Family Evaluation!