Story.

I just got done reading A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller. It has provoked a lot of thoughts in my heart and mind. Life is starting to look a bit different now though as I begin to look at it like a story with a series of memorable scenes as Miller calls them. Never have I viewed life like this before. My picture of things has been in events and accomplishments but it is slowly starting to view things as scenes. Tonight for instance was the perfect example. I was sitting with my host family and their daughter who is close to my age. We sat around the dinner table for over an hour talking about travels, cultures, ACC, adventures and I realized that I will always have this scene and it was beautiful to me. Perhaps it is being more aware of the beauty in things that are near.

Miller also talks about writing his story and making sure that when he sees Jesus face to face that he will have a worthwhile story to tell. Can you imagine if we all made decisions, even the smallest ones, in light of this? What story am I pursuing? Hearing this makes me realize how desperately I want to have an exciting story, one that Jesus would smile at. It doesn't mean that it will be free from hardship or failure, but I really wouldn't want it to be either. So, my aim will be to live a story that Jesus would be proud of. One that searches for adventure and purpose, that knows no bounds.

I am reminded of my time kayaking a couple years ago. It was dusk and the sun was just beginning to set. Praying and asking God what was next I noticed the moon. It was beautiful and full and then I heard, "Don't miss my sunset waiting to see what the moon will reveal." I don't want to be so focused on what is ahead that I miss where I am at now. Right here, this is where I belong.

It is my choice to create the scenes and live the story.

Travel Day

I am sitting in the GRR airport waiting for my flight, enjoying free wi-fi. Whoever thought to not charge people to have internet after already paying for a flight is a genius. Yesterday was my scheduled day to fly back to the Choir but because of "Maintenance" my only option was to arrive in Calgary around midnight and then a three hour drive to the church, um not going to happen.

I had an amazing holiday. I got to see some very dear friends in Springfield, MO and Chicago, spend time with my family, relax, sleep in, read a book, kayak, going to the lake, and a few other things. It was a needed break and to be honest it was nice to have an extra day yesterday, one last chance to take it easy. I am thrilled though to see my kids and the chaperones again! It has been two weeks since I have seen them and it seems like such a long time. I am definitely going to wake my girls up at the HF when I get there, I can't wait to be with them again!!!

Over break I read one of my favorite books (now). It is one of those books that you read and ignites your spirit to imagine things as they could be and hope that you will be part of that change. The book is "Too Small to Ignore" by Dr. Wes Stafford. I learned so much and I have a renewed vision for my purpose on tour. In the book, Stafford shows Christ heart for children and weaved within his own personal story you see how God is using Stafford's childhood and all the pain that he experienced to bring compassion and hope to children.

God has given each of us a responsibility to care for the orphans and widows, to care for those in their distress, to stand up for those who are rarely given a voice. If I ignore that call I will miss what I was created for, I will miss God's heart. I am excited to go back to the Choir with a renewed vision of Christ's heart for children. I love what God is showing me. Here are just a few of the points from the book that I think are so important to do and with God's help I hope that I can accomplish:

-Go to them; enter their world and play...Am I really too "mature" to see life through a child's eyes? To see the world through a lens of hope?
-Bring them into your world...Psalm 78:4: We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about His power and His mighty deeds.
-Merge these two world: "We go far beyond the responsibility and role of guardian, in fact we are no longer aware when we are 'playfully entering our world' or 'deliberately include them in ours.' Instead, we genuinely like being with each other. This is child discipleship at its best.
-It does take a whole village...[Stafford speaking of his childhood in Africa] "Yet the scolding was tempered by maturity; it never became mean or sarcastic. This was a warm and generous community."
-Attitudes and behavior are more powerful outcomes than mere cognitive knowledge
- To welcome the young into the center of our lives is to enrich not only them but ourselves as well

...those are just a few of the things that I am praying to do and to become. I will only do it with God's help.

So I am heading off with renewed eyes and vision of the opportunity that lies before me. I only have one chance...


...for them...

Arizonia: as the kids like to say

Last week we left California and began touring Arizona for a couple of weeks. We have had a great time here and here are some pictures to show it:

Where Dreams Come True

Take 23 children from Kenya and Uganda and put them into a land that they could never comprehend before and see what happens. On Tuesday we went as a Choir to Disneyland! The kids has no idea what Disney was and when we tried to explain it we got a lot of big eyes and bland faces. =)

We had so much fun though! First walking into the park we heard over and over "Is it true? Is it true?" I loved how much the kids soaked everything in. We went on nearly every ride. At first some of them were nervous about the rides but afterward huge smiles plastered on their faces. None of the kids wanted to take a break for bathrooms or food because there were more rides to ride (Note: their good Aunties and Uncles insisted they do this though)

We all had a great day and I loved being able to spend a whole day just playing and laughing and having fun together. They also LOVED meeting the princesses! All of the kids (even the boys) have been talking about them for such a long time.

I have been quite inconsistent in my blogging. Busyness I suppose gets in the way. This month has been quite "normal" if you could call it that. We have been busy with concerts and just the other night we reached concert #100!!!! It will be even more crazy when we reach #200, oh man.

Chaperones began taking their holidays this month. We each get a two-week break, one after the other. I realize how vital each member of the team is. When one is gone you feel the absence of who they are on the team. I appreciate each person and the knowledge, laughter, and experience they bring. My holiday begins on March 30 and ends April 12. I am quite excited for a bit of a break and to catch up with friends and family. One thing I plan to do is to sleep in without setting my alarm clock. It has been 6 months since I did not need to set my alarm clock. I'm also really excited to go to sushi with friends and have coffee at Panera together. I'm looking forward to being at home, where it is comfortable and known. And, it will be nice to drive my car again =)

At the same time I will miss the kids and chaperones. They have become a second family and I know I will miss them.

Lately I have been reading/thinking/contemplating the cost. Reading about the cost of being a disciple in the Word and reading Irristable Revolution I have been challenged to rethink and relive this lifestyle. We are called to do greater things than Christ did with a love that comes only from Him. I am called to love and care for the orpahns and the widows, am I? Am I abandoning my desires and my needs so that others can live? I can't ignore those who have nothing, who have not felt the hands of Christ. That is my call. To be the love of Christ.

I just realized that it has been nearly a month since I have posted. Each time I think about sitting down and writing my mind draws a blank. Even this post is an attempt to delay writing my newsletter, but the hardest part is just getting started, right?

So what has happened this month?

^We did 5 ticketed events in theaters in California to Arizona. It was a great change of pace and we performed in some beautiful venues.

^The kids loved the mirrors at the Orpheum Theatre.

^I wore this sweet headset, haha.

^We also went on a safari! 23 African children on a safari in Northern California!

^We had a great time seeing the zebras and monkeys...

I'm sure February will prove to be just as exciting.

This last month has taught me many things, some easier than others to learn. I am coming to a place in my life when I realize I don't know what to do, and I think that is fine. I realize that I don't have all the answers, and that I never will.

I realize I am nothing without Him.

There's a song that says this: I am nothing without you, only the dirt below Your nails. My heart is bruised and it's broken and my soul is very frail. Please give me a reason I need to name this man and no longer this broken treason only on You I will stand.

To be loved by God even though I am nothing is powerful and life changing.

The perfect manicure

Playtime the other day I found myself letting the girls paint my nails. It was a wonderful moment and I think the girls had a lot of fun. The 5 layers of nail polish on each nail took until the next morning to completely harden, but it didn't matter. As Naomi and Ritah added their designs "just like they do in Uganda" I found myself smiling. There was more polish on their hands and the bottles then my nails (which is hard to believe but true).

I love moments like these.