Embracing the Change

Well, here goes...

Change is inevitable. No matter where you go or what you do. So I'll embrace it! Now that's a change from say four or five blogs ago right? Well, I was thinking about the whole change at YFC and all thats going on. I think I like it...wait, I know I like it. Its fresher. Happier. More invigorating! Its good. **Sigh of relief and satisfaction**

So this what I like: Its more structured. Its more acurate...like we're starting to use real numbers (I know, none of you will get this). Its more professional. And you know what? I'm working better. And you know how God blesses you when you change for the better...well, we had a $31,575 morning...and when I say morning, it wasn't barely squeeking in by noon, this was all done by 8:00am EDT. Can you even believe it?

So I'm liking change. I just hope that this fleeting moment in time will be enough to carry on to my next change...

I guess I should take my own advice. I often tell people who struggle with the reality of God to do this: think of a time you remember God to be so real in your life that there was no ounce of doubt...that you 'saw' God. Now make that like a mile-marker in your life and when you doubt, remember that moment and all that God was in that moment. Like capturing a mountian top view with a camera and looking at the picture...it may not convey breath-taking awe in and of itself but at least you'll remember that you were taken back! Well, this I'll have to mark as a milestone.

Change is good...change is inevitable...change ought to be embraced...change is what God uses to make us better!

Good-bye stale ole life...Hello Change!!

Soli Deo Gloria

My Ha ha Moment...go ahead, laugh...

So every couple of days I go thru my "long" list of bookmarked blog sites of my friends. Two of them in this list are mine...this one and my Ministry one...and what is so funny about this is that pass thru mine (as I go from top to bottom) and I usually have to tell myself that nothing has changed on mine because I always hope that they all have new entries. For some of my friends, new entries isn't a problem...for others, I think they have to re-learn how to work a computer.

Love always!
Soli Deo Gloria

Too much of a good thing...

This past Monday was the start of morning walking with a friend of mine. Bright and somewhat early, at 8:30 we went for a 2.5 mile walk. It wasn't as vigourus as my normal walk but it was still brisk enough because of the hills. It took 45 minutes.

Later that evening, I was still feeling energized so I decided that I would walk my normal route (one I had been walking for quite a long time). It too was 2.5 miles. I thought that I might not be able to finish but I figured I was fit enough to go thru with it so I went for it.

Boy was I wrong. Boy am I paying for my mistake. Boy does my butt ever hurt! Its Thursday, let me tell you how my week went. Granted I functioned quite normally for the most part, the week in general still left a lot to be desired. I'm usually perky in the morning. I get up at 5am (4:35 if I have to shower) and pop out of bed and get to my routine. I'm awake enough even to sit for 45 minutes or so for devotions. Then I head to work where I have peace and quiet til 8am (I get there about 6:30). You would think that I would be sleepy but most mornings I'm quite awake without the use of coffee.

Well, this week has been another story. I've been dragging myself out of bed for two days (this morning was a nice change from that). I've beend dreading my morning walk (usually I"m all for it). I've stopped in for a cup of coffee and threatened myself to drink the brew from the pot (since the dawn of foo-foo coffees I've slowly stopped doing that). Not really drastic I know but do you understand how hard it is to wake up for me? Good gravy!

Anyway, this morning I only dread my walk but know that it will be well-worth the stimulation and circulation so I guess I'm for it. Speaking of which, I'm running a tad late...

Soli Deo Gloria

Well, I've done it again

You would think that after starting and stopping myspace and being disgusted with it and then starting and stuttering at facebook and then finally being happy with blogspot that I would just be happy with that. Well, no. I've created yet another blog site. ha ha ha...

Okay, this one that I've created is located at www.kellysministrymoments.blogspot.com. Long, I know, but its easy to remember because its all about my highlights in Ministry and stories from around the office. I'm so excited about it because I'm being able to tell about God's goodness in the lives of these kids, YFC Staffers, and so much more. I hope you're encouraged about it.

Until later...

I think its normal Nae...

I just have to say one thing...I have to say this for my dear friend from College who I talked to this past weekend. My heart goes out to her for giving 110% to her family and still feeling like she hasn't done enough.

We are all normal. I used to think that I was abnormal...in so many different ways...and that no one could possibly understand me or anything like that. Then, as I grew older and got to know people on a deeper level, I realized that we really struggled with all of the same things.

I think its normal for girls to think about how they look.
I think its normal for high schoolers to wonder about what others think of them.
I think its normal to feel overwhelmed at the thought of final exams at any point in your life.
I think its normal be overwhelmed when you get the homework assignments your first day of college life ever.
I think its normal to be scared of sex your first time.
I think its normal to be weary of marriage even though beyond a doubt that the person you're going to marry is the ONE.
I think its normal to be scared that you're going to screw up any kids you're going to have.
I think its normal to be clueless about potty training your toddler.
I think its normal to be on the brink of insanity when you have an infant and a 2 year old.
I think its normal that day after day you run around the house after your kids and your crabby the next day.
I think that most of our experiences are normal but that we precieve them as abnormal because we've never actually experienced them before.
I think its very normal to want someone to tell you that its normal.

Now how we deal with this feeling of abnormality is another story...I think we just need to take five seconds and look around with all practicality and realize that others go thru the same thing we have...our parents, our friends, our grandparents, our neighbors. Hopefully this will get us thru to the end of today.

Caffine Overload

So how is everyone today? I'm doing well. This is my new niece!

Every once and a while I treat myself to a Mocha Mocha care of Beaner's Gourmet Coffee. Okay its two or three times a week. My co-worker introduced me to an alternative route to work with one along the way. It's exactly the same mileage as my regular route to work too. That is just too much of a coincidence to actually avoid. It's almost like God telling me to buy coffee.

Yesterday Kregel told us that because of YFC's funds, we all must try as hard as we can to spend a full 8 hours fundraising. So, with my brain already focused on doing such a thing today (actually, I did three yesterday and so I needed five today) I paused my morning and asked the Manager at Beaner's a simple question of curiosity: "Do you by any chance, support community organizations?"

And yes they do! Wow! It's like God using my little coffee break this morning! ...Because usually I get coffee for only one reason: because I'm barely awake to drive. For instance, one day last week I was so tired and my brain was so in need of coffee that when I got to the window of the drive thru, I didn't even realize that part of this process is paying for the coffee. Hello!

Anyway, this morning he said yes and I was off to the office to write them a formal request and mail it in. Until my co-worker arrived. Then, out of my great excitement, I told her what I did this morning and asked her to proof the letter. I suggested that we both sign it and both send it in and thats exactly what we did. Well, we didn't send it, we delivered it! My co-worker has been visiting that same manager for three years (and that is the study that proves coffee is addictive...she knows exactly what three stores are owned by the same guy because over the course of these three years, she's seen the same people).

Within an hour this manager of Beaners said that he would donate coffee and possibly cookies for our next Point of Entry Event and also send himself or request his District Manager (two managers above him) go to our little humble event. Wow...I'm so glad God gave us coffee...for yet another reason!

So I'm not obligated to write what I'm about to write but I do want to do it out of their generosity. Beaner's Gourmet Coffee on 28th Street across from Studio 28 in Wyoming, Michigan is honesty, the best coffee shop I have ever been here. Maybe not for their variety of scones (even tho they do have delightful baked goods) but for their committment to not only their coffee but also to their community! Thank you Louis!

Grrr...

This is my lovely better half. He keeps me sane and grounded. He's a part of Fiji for me and I'm a part of America for him. We live in a collection of cultures, times, places, and people that walk this earth in all forms and colors. Our family is rich!

Today's adventure is looking on to tomorrow. You know the passage in the Bible that talks about not worring about tomorrow cause it has enough worries of its own (well, after you get past the logic of that statement...)

Tomorrow's adventure actually begins last week. I was doing my hair (for all those who were like Jo, shocked beyond belief, yes, that does include both a hair dryer and a curling iron along with three bottles of product...no joke!) and it dawned on me...I had had it with a lady that runs a ministry we partner with. I had actually had it with her for a while. And altho that sounds very harsh, I had consoled others with my issues and they could see plainly where I was coming from. So I sent her an email tellling her about the struggles I was facing with her and that it was putting a strain on the relationship. I had chosen email because I had been to the point of bringing it up with her in person when she would go off on something and not let me get a word in edgewise.

On the phone with her a couple of days later she let me hear it about she didn't want to discuss it on the phone or on email and how disappointed she was in me for choosing email (even after I had told her why I chose email and agreeing with her email wasn't the choice for me either). She went on...discussing the issue for 20 minutes before she let me get a word in. And all that was left in me after the tears I had shed during that 20 minutes was, "Okay..." I barely got to finish my sentence.

So that 'Okay' was in a statement of agreement that tomorrow we meet, in the presence of two others discussing the issue that she already told me about.

What's the point? I ask myself that question often because I've known people like her, serveral. They're people that have things all figured out in their head before hand. I know, I used be one. I still am in many respects (mostly cause I don't like change and I don't like things to go not my way but I am changing...despite the fact I don't like change...ironically, I'm finding I like this change).

I also know a couple of other things: 1) we were not meant to agree with everyone. Yes, we're called to love everyone and live in harmony with everyone but we're not always going to agree. The fact that God made us all different means that we're not going to agree with everyone. Its okay! 2) Sometimes relationships end. God has people in our lives for three different lengths of time: for a reason, a season or a lifetime. That means that when the reason is accomplished or the season over, the friend is meant to go away and the relationship needs to end. As for the lifetime, this is reserved for a few special people: spouses, children, parents...the like.

"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity." 1 Timothy 4:12

Testing...Testing...1...2...3...Testing...

Okay, its been a few days since I started this and it seems like I'm keeping up and going to continue with this blogging blog so I think I'm going to start telling people about it. Yeah, thats they way my world is.

For example...

When I was in college, my second year, I spent two or three weeks thinking about a hair cut without telling anyone. How short...what style...what I would do with it...people's reaction...how it might possibly look if it went well...how it would possibly look if it went bad...and on and on. I finally decided to do it. A friend of mine lived about four doors down in the same dorm building on campus and after deliberating about it I just decided to go for it...just like a snap of the fingers. It was 5:00pm and at the time I was watching 'The Simipsons' with my roommate. All I said to her was, "I'll be right back and then we can go to dinner."

So I walked down and said to my friend, "I would like a hair cut...cut it in half." It went down to an inch and a half long (talk about drastic)!

Then we went to dinner. One of my other roommates (at dinner) started introducing herself to me and asking my name. Everyone cracked up because she was the only one who didn't recognize me. "I'm Kelly, I sleep in the bed under yours."

Yeah...the story of my life...

Not all Change is Necessary

I'm trying to convince myself of that. We got a new ED here at YFC and it seems like every week he's changing one or two things. Its frankly driving me up the wall. I can understand some change and it is good. But my newletter at the moment looks like we accidently printed it on letterhead. In the middle of our 'being professional' it has come out like a mistake.

So these are the changes he's made (and yes, its mostly him and not a joint/board decision):

• new cell phones
• Logos must go out on ALL documents
• there's an offical 'line up' of who answers the phone
• blah
• blah
• blah...

Really people, is all change necessary? I know its not all bad. I think society changes sometimes because there hasn't been a change in a while. Like that whole i-phone thing. Really, we already have computers, hand held palms, laptops and cell phones that get the internet and email. Everyone who wants an i-pod has one or is getting one. Why do we really need to have an i-phone when we already can do what it does? Good gravy! If we get it, while having say, a laptop, palm, and cell phone with internet capabilities (and sometimes even a desk top) and lets just say that together these gadgets cost $3000 - give or take - now we're spending $500 or $600 on one thing that will eliminate the need of those $3000 gadgets. Which means, these $3000 worth of gadgets that are prly no more than 18 months old have just gone to waste because resale on those, exists but probably similar to buying a car. hum...lets think of practicality people. We screen our calls, postphone returning emails, and play games on our cell phones, i-pods, hand helds, and laptops so really, we're prly just wasting all of that money.

Note to self...be careful what you buy, money comes and goes until retirement...then it just goes. Spend wisely.

Black Mustangs

The other day, I was driving down the road a little ahead of me in the lane next to me was a black Ford Mustang driven by a young "man" who had to be between the ages of 18 and 20. He was drifting into my lane and since I was driving a bit faster than he was, I gently tapped my horn to make him aware that he was drifting. I had figured that he probably did not realizing he was drifting. So he moved over and I proceeded to pass him...almost to my mistake. As I was next to him he decided that he would 'drift' again into my lane this time, very obviously on purpose (as he proceeded to go on as if he was telling me off for tapping my horn).

At that very second, split second actually, the sin inside me welled up almost over the breaking point. I had nearly had enough! In my mind (and only in my mind) I had proceeded to 'drift' into his lane at the same time resulting in an accident. I thought about the practicality of this as I was really tempted to do it. It didn't seem too practical as I couldn't garantee that the accident that would proceed would be his fault cause his car was in my lane at the time of collision and I couldn't really afford to have my car gone.

Oh what joy it would be to be able to afford to teach people road rage lessons! Where's a cop when ya need one?

Blogging Blobs

Lately, with these website blogging places I've been trying to find my groove. I'm not tech savy, sometimes I feel more like a complete idiot when it comes to blogging and websites and that whole deal. I decided that my myspace is just a loss because I'm just confused. I went to the 'help' option thing and all it said (this is literally), "ask someone, they'll tell you." When I read that these two thoughts came to my mind: "They're completely clueless, they don't really care, and this sucks." So the door closed on that space.

Next I tried facebook. Its alright...much better than myspace. The huge downside for me was that it had way too many comments on who's friend is who's and what someone is doing and all that. I went to edit that part and well, it just got irritating. I want to know about my friends. Not my friend's friend and who joined their network! Who is Amy Wood anyway?

I liked my friend's Blog website. It only had her info on it. You could leave a comment or not. You could read comments or not. You could click directly to it and there it was. It seemed simple. So I got a link and tried it. Perfect! It took less than two minutes to set up and figure out and there are exactly three easy to understand options. I'm not five. I'm 26 and I have a job and a life and I need to keep updated with people. I don't have five months to learn every option on myspace, I don't have time to read about people I don't know (sorry Amy Wood who's now friends with everyone in the world), I need to write what I'm doing so I can pass it along to others. Thank you Bloggspot!

Soli Deo Gloria
Kel