it is very stupid...

ok. so what consitutes as news? i was reading this morning about a woman with 6,005 piercings... is that really news? i mean, creepy yes, but news? and then there's this "Idol feud heats up" title where in the story both of the women are pretty cordial and not really "feuding" at all. our media will make something out of nothing. and maybe i'm the sucker that spent even a few moments looking at it.
now news, i'll tell you what was news today, i watched a pannel of analysts from both political parties discuss the current political/economical situation. THAT was news. i argued right along with my laptop while i was folding laundry.

Cause its a great day to be alive...

A friend reminded me today about how much I love Disney cartoons. I have a serious desire to pull out some old vhs tapes and waste about 3 days in sheer bliss of childhood memories, alas I will not.

An Important Observation

If you sleep in really late on a given day, you very possibly will not be able to get to sleep that night at a decdent time. When this happens multiple days in a row, you basically give yourself jet lag, without of course the joys of acctually traveling ANYWHERE.
Note to self: better structured bed time and wake up time.

fun facts

i got this from facebook but decided to put it out on here, its pretty great.
25 Random facts:
1) My Favorite TV shows include Alias and Veronica Mars (I’m watching both seasons from start to finish)
2) Netflix might be one of the best things of my life
3) Electronic Guestures is HASTERICAL!!
4) I would like a Pontiac Vibe or Nissan Versa
5) I am addicted to Albanese candy in both the gummy and chocolate forms (www.albaneseconfecgtionery.com)
6) I have recently been frequenting some really great clubs in Chicago to see my favorite band the URBANITES (www.myspace.com/urbanites)
7) I can’t seem to get ‘Single Ladies’ by Beyonce out of my head for the life of me and I’d like to learn the choreography from the music video
8) I have a SICK large TV in my room (total God story)
9) I would say “yes absolutely” today if Tim Tebow asked me to marry him
10) Traveling is my heroine, 25 countries and counting
11) I would like to road trip the US of A in a restored VW van with my Best Friend
12) I didn’t start enjoying reading until AFTER I graduated college and didn’t have to anymore
13) I LOVE politics, less the people and more the process
14) My Gmail inbox has ninja’s in the background
15) I like to think I can dance… this may or may not be true
16) I’ve seen a lot of movies, please don’t ask for my favorite, there are too many
17) I occasionally have cravings for grilled cheese sandwiches
18) Birthday cake ice cream is my favorite by far (even in the winter ice cream is an important part of my life)
19) I’ll be moving to Minneapolis as soon as I have my support raised
20) I wish I would have paid attention in Spanish class cause I now would like to know it
21) I recently got a new Geek Squad jacket, yes, I’m THAT cool
22) My high school musical sweatshirt is one of my prized possessions
23) I have close friends in at least 9 states and 3 countries
24) There is sometimes ice on the inside of my walls at night
25) I am on foxnews, yahoo, gmail, my blog and facebook every day.

Blogo Crud, Get OFF MY TV!

This guy is rediculous! Don't say "I'm just like the people of America that are loosing their jobs". YOU are not a hard working American that lost his job due to the economy, YOU screwed up because you're a greedy jerk. Why are we throwing cameras in this guy's face? Who cares what he says! He didn't care to put his thoughts in on the process and went to NY for a media blitz instead of getting his word in and then he says that he didn't get his say?! what? this dude is crazy. He can't say that the senate discarded the constitution in this.
I HATE that I love politics so much. Why do I have to care? bummer.
In better news I got Alias season 5 disc one in the mail, I love Netflix, good bye Blogo, hello Bristow! (have I mentioned that Sydney Bristow is my inspiration?)

ducks

that heading was intentionally random.
please feel free to take my poll :)

well hello...

Random thought for the day: People's lives are so complex. I think we'd all say that our lives are complex, but we always seem to minimize the complexities of the lives of others around us. Or maybe we all seem to make complex things that are simple. I wish I knew.
I hope you've enjoyed my random thought for the day.

Deep thought for the day: I was thinking about it last week, about how if my friend called from the side of the road with a flat tire or needed a lift from work I wouldn't even think about it. Not a second thought would go through my head, I'd jump in my car and head out, after all, we're friends, they'd do the same for me. My service to my friend is a direct result of my relationship with that person. Same goes with our relationship with Jesus Christ. We choose to serve him based on our relationship with him. There are needs in the Kingdom of God (big and small) that need to be met, and our willingness to fulfill those needs are based on our relationship with Christ. We're more willing to dive in with both feet if we know without a doubt Christ's love for us. Well guess what, KNOW IT! He'd pick you up if you have a flat any day.

Further thoughts: My prayer cards are printed now! If you want one, let me know I'd love to get it in the mail for you. As always, I appriciate your prayers.

Change of Power

I can't tell you how much I appriciate our political process. Did you realize what happened? yea we got a new President of the United States (you know, where we live?) but even more than that. There wasn't just a new President, but a whole new political party took power! I'm not sure if we're really grasping the importance of this statement yet, if we were in almost any other country there would be a civil war right now. WE ARE SO BLESSED TO LIVE IN A COUNTRY WHERE POLITICAL CHANGE DOES NOT MEAN WAR, BUT PEACE! I'll be the first to tell ya that I didn't vote for President Obama, but I pray that he serves our country well and that he would honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I was in tears all morning long as I watched the beauty of the process and the historicity of what happened. We now have an African American President, I am so glad that in the last 50 years our country has been able to put aside the issues of color and gender and embrace a person for what they can achieve, not just what they look like. So, while i will typically side with the Pro-life candidate, I am thrilled to see What our new President can achieve for our nation and My prayers are with him. It made me sad how apathetic toward this whole thing many people are. I got to work and people were asking me what the big deal was when i told them I didn't want to miss the moment when Mr. Obama became President Obama. They didn't get it, truth is, this IS huge and in 50 years, people will wonder what today was like, and a bunch of people will be like, oh yeah, i think i saw the news about that, but not me. i watched it... on tv of course, but i watched it.

prayer request.

It's 2am right now here in the frozen tundra of NW Indiana and I'm blogging. REALLY?! yea. i wish i were sleeping. which brings me to my prayer request. i've had a tough time getting to bed at night (i'm litterally not tired until.... like now) and that just makes my dis-love for waking up in the mornings that much more intense. I don't have to work in the morning tommorow which is why i've let myself stay awake tonight, but most nights i try to cap it off at 11 or so.
Pray for some steady sleep patterns. random? maybe. power of prayer? yes.

i spend a lot of time thinking.... i guess this is what happens when you don't get a ton of hours at work and have a ton of things going on in your world. But alas, thought. sometimes i think about my future, sometimes i think about things in the past. sometimes i spend time thinking of things that will never be. i think its crazy that a good chunk of the time is thinking about things that never will be, i don't want to call it worry or anxiety, because that's not really what it is. but i wish i just trusted more. trusting that whatever it is that's around the corner (even if it's not marrying my national championship qb trophy husband) is what God has for me...even if its tough.

This last season of life was tough. but what did i learn? what do i still need to learn from it?

well i'm thinkin i should sleep.

speaking of sleep, my room is above the garage so when the forcast is a high of -2 degrees, my room is the cold one... like, ice on the inside of the walls cold. bummer. this is why i'm glad for little heaters :)

ps. i love this pic of my fam.

New Year, New Adventures

I'm super excited about this new year, no offense to 2008, but it was a tough year. Anyone else feel me on that? I'm optimistic that 2009 will bring with it it's own blessings and trials, but I also know some GREAT things are coming around the corner. I'm getting ready to launch a support campaign to raise up a group of supporters who will be able to commit to a set, monthly giving. You can definitely be praying for this!
I ALSO have now found out which team I'll be traveling with this summer on Royal Servants and so I will also be putting some feelers out there to see who wants to come with me. COSTA RICA ANYONE!?! I'm so excited to get the opportunity to travel back down there with Mark Hoober, who is a GREAT team leader. I'm also going to set a goal to work on my spanish before we go. I mean, lets be honest, I'm no Bryana Madison-Gardunia or anything, but I'll try to at least understand people this summer. (no Mel our skype convos will not be in spanish)
Your prayers and notes of encouragement are and have been Wildly accepted and appreciated.

Watch out 2009, LB's on a mission.

year end..

I finally got my year end letters out for support. (shameless plug: http://freepdfhosting.com/9d473a7691.pdf ) and if i can just say, its scary stuff to be sitting in my room able to do nothing but pray. i literally have to leave everything in the hands of the Lord and trust that he's going to supply for my needs. i mean, i've raised support before, but this time its different, i'm a career missionary! oh my word i really can't explain how that feels. I'm reading a very well timed book right now called God's smuggler. its the autobiography of brother andrew. he was a missionary behind the iron curtian and his stories are incredible! it has been so good for my soul to read about God providing for him time and time again in the most random ways!

i was struck by worship on sunday morning, Jennie (whom i love) was leading alongside our worship director DJ and they sang the song Hosanna by Hillsong. if you have not heard this song, look it up, listen to it. its amazing. anyway, one verse of the song says "i see a generation, rising up to take their place" and when i sang that line i thought of brother andrew. i thought i am the generation, rising up to take the place of men like this. wow.

those are my thoughts.

I hope you have a GREAT Christmas wherever you are. take some time to remember why Christ is in Christmas, not just that he is. Rom 5:1-11.

Times they are-a-changing...

Something that hasn't changed over the last several months is the verse Gen 22:14 ...on the Mountain of the LORD it will be provided. Funny how the Lord takes our feet and directs our steps from one stone to the next, but the fact remains constant. HE alone provides everything. He provides financially, socially, emotionally, spiritually and everyother way I could need possibly him to. A few highlights of the change in my life:

- My Little sister is married to Devin Deich who i love as well. yes, i did cry. yes i was in full on makeup and a great dress and yes i looked fantastic.

- I went on vacation to Guatemala for a week of disconnect from the world as I know it (thanks again Mel, it was AMAZING)

- I am now a missionary. As of October 6,2008 I am on staff with Reign Ministries, the parent ministry of Royal Servants and I will be raising support until Ihave 100% of my needs commited and then I'll be moving to MN.

- My job on the Geek Squad has cut back my hours some (unfortunatly)

- We're studying the book of Hosea at the UNDERGROUND

- I've only visited Chicago ONCE in the last six months or so (killin me smalls!)

- I'm working on an addiction to 24. As in, gaining the addiction not kicking it.

- Exploring a new found love for cats and trying to figure out how i can get one and to have one survive in a house of cat haters. (could be impossible. only time will tell)

From now on I'm going to be using this blog as a source of updates and information as I begin my next new journey, my life as a missionary. All of my support information, many of my random thoughts, exciting God stories, and more. so tune in.

Debriefing!

we´re in debriefing now just outside of san jose. the camp we´re staying at is pretty nice, the apartment where the sr. women are staying is brand new and so the nicest spot on camp. our balcony has an amazing view of the mountains and at night you can see all the lights of san jose. we have huge picture windows so in the morning we just open them and sit and enjoy the cool of the morning. unfortunatly a beautiful green bird kamakazeed into our window this morning and thus lost it´s life... bummer.

we went to a volcano yesterday! it was rad, pretty cloudy, so we didn´t see tons, but way cool anyway. our students also played mud soccer. wow. one of the coolest things ever! haha.

you can be praying for the students as they work through the debriefing process that they can come home ready for the challenges that comes along with it.

kids...

i wish i had a picture to add, but i havn´t put them on the flash drive to bring over yet. yesterday we spent a good part of our day hanging out with kids at an Orphanage. it was a pretty nice facility, but you still have to hurt when you think about what these kids have been through. the facility held a lot of kids, all running around from infants to 17 year olds. some of our students were really struck by these kids. as it would turn out, a few of the girls are girls that we had played against in soccer last week. one of the girls in particular had really connected with some of our students and it was fun to see that relationship continue. a lot of these kids just wanted to be huged or wrestled, or just looked at. they were enamered by our cameras and wanted to take pictures of everyone and everything and then look at themselves and laugh. dispite the language barrier, our students loved on these kids so well. some of the guys played soccer or basketball with the older guys and some girls braided hair and played duck duck goose.
overall it was a very impacting day and i´m excited to see how God is going to use it in the lives of our students.