DANCE MARATHON 2006!!!!

So, Dance Marathon Rocked!!! I can’t stop talking about it…hence the blog post. It was simp[ly amazing. I learned so much over the weekend, went through so many emotions and even made some decisions about issues in my life.

Let me just start by saying I was so surprised at how our whole team was. (TEAL TEAM ROCKS MY WORLD!!) Everyone was excited, open, and handling everything so well!! I love you guys! I am so extremely proud of all of you…your strength and dedication through your tiredness and pain was inspiring. It made it easy for me to keep going. Secondly, the sacrifices some people made to come and support us….again AMAZING. And the support shown through those letters to everyone, I can’t even explain some of my surprise and joy from hearing people talk about what other people wrote to them.

Basically, I asked God to show up because I was already tired by the start of DM, and because I didn’t think anyone was actually going to like it and be angry that we convinced them to be involved. However He showed up and showed up BIG! I can’t believe how He kept filling me with the strength and energy to serve others continually with whatever they needed. What can I say besides He rocks!

So DM 06 is over and planning for DM 07 has begun. I am now so excited for next year, it is going to be 10x better, I can already tell…however at this point I don’t even think it can get any better. So, there you go some of my thoughts on DM, I will still be talking about it for a while so just bear with me….I just LOVE the KIDS! And “I SO EXCITED, I SO EXCITED”

~Angela

p.s. what? It’s peanut butter jelly time? AWESOME

Here I go...

Wow, do I love the Lord! I love Him so much that I am actually going to be serious and vulnerable here for once. So many things are taking place in my life and it is only the beginning of the semester, a semester I know the Lord is going to use to make some amazing things happen. There is so much, that I am using this blog entry to kind of sort it all out, and also to share so it may be encouraging to you- whoever “you” are.

One thing that has happened is my call to spring break down south and also to a summer project in New York City working with Student Venture, or cru for high school. I know that I am being called there and even though I am resisting, and very worried about my family’s reaction I know that I am going….and it will be awesome.

Also while at Christmas Conference the Lord told me to have a spiritual conversation with one of my friends. As afraid and worried as I was going into it- I learned a lot. 1- that you cannot put off the work you are called to. As much as I wanted to keep postponing it (so it would never happen) the Lord would not let me. 2- I learned the truth of my friend’s faith that I had been suspecting. 3- that the Lord is so gracious to allow me to be used in His plan for others. And finally, 4- that IT IS NOT ABOUT ME! That conversation was the Lord, speaking through me (pretty awesome). I heard the Spirit tell me every word that came out of my mouth and felt Him lead the entire conversation (seeds were defiantly planted).

Another thing that I am LOVING, is the word and how He is romancing my soul through song, driving tests ;) and socks! He has used those around me at the perfect moment, right when I start to turn away, to bring me back where I need to be and show His love for me. Also, I have had such a hard heart towards the word ever since my religion class days. But now He has provided me with a yearning for Him and His word, and also provided me with passages for each situation I am facing. For example: tonight as I sat there letting my frustrations turn to an ugly and disgusting anger, I had to leave and turn to Him. Faithfully, He brought me this scripture about anger, Ephesians 4: 26-32 (read it, it is good. I would have put in here but this blog is long enough already) Wow. Thank You Lord. That is really all I can say.

Finally, I am loving my community! I love the people I am surrounded by, and being able to see Your work in their lives is AMAZING and so encouraging! I love my Lifegroup, my cru family, and all of my friends from the people I am fortunate enough to see everyday, to the new and renewing relationships that are forming right now….I LOVE YOU all and am so blessed to have all of you in my life!!

There is so much more- more struggles, stories, and praises…but if you really are interested and want to know more I am always willing to talk, grab lunch, hang out, whatever. So let me know, I love to talk, and I love to hear about other people lives….what can I say but I love people!

~Angela

Indy Christmas Conference 2005!

So after a weird Christmas, I went to Christmas Conference with Cru in Indy....ABSOLUTLY AMAZING!! So awesome that this might turn into a five page post! (I will resist)

So first and foremost I have to thank the Lord for sending me, and making me trust in Him to take care of every doubt that I had about going. He has taught me so much this past week about putting my trust in Him and how He will provide everything from friends to answers. I am excited to put everything I learned into practice, and steart searching for the specifics of what He has planned for me this summer.

I also am so excited about the relationships that I have formed, and the experiences we all had together. "The Three Muskateers," the all night cru (haha...cru), and the signs players!! I miss hanging out with all of you already! (however I do not miss the lying...haha) Maybe we can all go to New York and buy milkshakes this weekend! (I am doing the sign language for it right now LOL)

Now that I have caught up on sleep- I have had a chance to really reflect on what happened those 5 days and it just gets better and better. Thank You Lord for sending me to CC- and if anyone one wants to hear more about my trip I would be MORE than happy to talk about it!!! (REALLY I would love to!)

Miss World 2005

So on my first day in my week of leisure I stumbled across the Miss World pageant on E! I am not a person who hates pageants, but there is a line- a line that Miss World could care less about.

First, this whole production is just…crazy. I really can’t put it any other way. From the crazy mini videos, the way they put regions together, the cheesy hosts to the fact that Miss Canada is a dark, belly dancing, girl that should be from New York—this show is CRAZY.

Lets start with the hosts; babbling about nothing, repeating the same line over and over, and being microphone hogs during the interview section, they were by far the cause of many laughing episodes. They were so cheesy and horrible!! We have Miss Italy who is only 17 and looks like Jessie Spano in Showgirls, and for talent did a figure skating routine on her roller-skates! (yes skates, not blades) Then we have Miss World from 1953…she is French and a little loopy. She kept talking about her great souvenir, and her make-up tips from “fif-ty tree.” To continue the bad English we have my favorite, Miss Korea. In her airbrushed ball gown, that looks like her nations flag on crystal meth that hurts the eyes, and that she trips in twice in front of everyone she answers the question “What will you do if you were to win this contest?” She answered: “I share my lucky and happy with others; if I win contest I share more with more fortunate than me.” WHAT??!!

Ok. So now it is time to announce the Miss World after an hour of rereading everyone’s name and walking around stage (not kidding). The host goes and talks to the panel of judges made up of past Miss Worlds including the one from 53, and she comments along the lines of back then there were twelve of us, now people are pretty. Then he asks another judge what they are looking for and the response: “Well, first of all beauty.” Did she just say that? Could she not think of any bs about personality, charity or inner beauty? To make it worse So right before Miss Iceland is crowned, the female host declares this “Is not just a contest of beauty, but popularity.” wow.

Let me just say, an entertaining and crazy 2 hours well spent. I am looking forward to my next four days of leisure because I have a feeling this it only the beginning!

~Angela

ps. I will get the pics of this as soon as I can! (Don’t get me started, don’t EVEN get me started)

I Didn't Mean to Make You Mad :(

After lunch, a conversation arose about writing in blogs and a few people were complaining that I never write on mine and trying to give me suggestions on what I should write about. I tried to explain that I need to be inspired to write something otherwise I was not going to spend time writing one. This conversation took an ugly turn into me being stubborn and set in my ways and some confusion that I guess I caused. Well….that was fun.

On dictionary.com they define stubborn as:

1. a. Unreasonably, often perversely unyielding; bullheaded.
b. Firmly resolved or determined; resolute. See Synonyms at obstinate
2. Characterized by perseverance; persistent
3. Difficult to treat or deal with; resistant to treatment or effort: stubborn soil; stubborn stains.

So am I stubborn? Yes, probably. But I also think it is good to be stubborn to a point. It is important to have convictions and strong beliefs otherwise anyone can influence you and even take control of you. Through my past experiences I have learned to be more stubborn in my principles because I do not want to be that person who let’s everyone walk all over them on issues where you should have your own stance.

I am not saying you should never listen to other’s views; you should always show them respect. Even if you do not agree with them, try and understand where they are coming from, and allow them to have their own opinion. If I am ever NOT doing this-please let me know….you can go ahead and call me out

In conclusion….I apologize to those I have been stubborn to when it was not appropriate, or acting like I know everything (I only know most things! ;) J/K) I am sorry, go ahead and call me out next time. However, my opinion on the KEWPEE vs. wendy’s debate will NEVER change! (especially since the creation of that appalling commercial with the square hamburgers!)

~Angela