Day One, "Arrival Day"

Oh to travel...

KATE arrived today!!! WAHOO! We made the most of our first day by - well eating. We saw the airport, and the wharf. We ate, and then took a break and planned our week. Then we ate again. Video- Take 25:

We will be continuing our adventures this week by photos and video. Don't miss one day or you will miss out on the exciting adventures of K&T!

Till tomorrow...

Media and Music

I don't waste anytime getting involved in church here in Marin. I decided before I moved that church was going to make or break my moving situation. Therefore, within the first two days of arriving at my new house, I was asking around to where people were going to church and why they decided that was the church for them. Having support from the previous nanny, I was prompted to go to Marin Covenant. I did. This church is solely pushing forward for the kingdom of God rather than having the sanctuary filled and the budget met. I know the first time I went to church, the conversation wasn't about how great this church is and let me get you plugged in, it was more about my spiritual growth and concerned about my walk with Christ. They were about where I fit in not squeezing me into something that could work.

Because I am a nanny, I think about analagies in "child" form. For instance, remember when you were learning your shapes and you had to put the circle into the circular hole, and the hexagon into the hexagon whole? That to me is like church. Church is the big block that has holes of many shapes, your shape may not be in that particular block. And that's okay.

I found my block- not that I know what shape I am. I have gotten involved in the singles ministry and love it. I have a Bible study on Thursday nights, and I am helping with Sunday morning worship and media. Did I mention I have only been in California for less than three months? I have fallen in love with Christ all over again. I feel like I am experiencing God completely different, in a good way. I finally think my ears are open and I am starting to get things more clearly. Of course it is still mud, but a little brown. :)

Please continue to pray for everyday challenges, and that my decisions about my future are done through wise council and planning.

~Girl on a Mission

Praise Him!

I went to the market on Thursday night to be prayed over and for, which I contemplated not going for reasons I will explain: Number 1. Market started at 6 over at 8:30, I did not get off of work till 7 and then had to eat something. 2. It takes about 20 mins to get there plus parking. 3. I was in pain and didn't want to walk to my car to go. 4. I didn't know where I was really going when I was to get to the market. 5. I was being challenged and tested.

So, I actually did go. I got prayed over for my lower back, and now my back no longer has pain. PRAISE HIM! My neck still needs some prayer- but under the circumstances, I can sleep through the night and walk around pain free. YAY. God is so faithful.

Chelsea and I prayed over my house last night. As the family is away and we were the only ones here, we felt it appropriate to do so. Then it allowed us to have peace to go to bed.

Remember when you were a kid growing up (if you grew up in the church) you heared the phrase, experience God, all the time. I am truly experiencing God on a new level here in California, and I am so excited to see where this experience takes me!

Prayer

I have killed my back this weekend, doing I have no idea what. I have not slept much this weekend at all. I am not so much in a great mood and I look like I have been hit by a train.

I also got a text from my best friend Jessika this morning, and her grandpa is in the hospital. He isn't doing well. Please pray for her family and everything that is going to happen in the next couple of weeks.

Also be praying for Chelsea who is fundraising for the World Race. She is home hoping until she goes in January. Pray that God gives her peace and patience.

Pray for April, as she will be returning from Africa this week and getting to go home to Texas the end of this week. (I am jealous!)

Pray for Shari as she has taken on a new leadership role in the church and as the devil starts attacking her, that she will call on the name of the Lord to help her.

These are my prayers for this week. Please pray with me too.

Expensive...

Why is life so expensive? From a pack of gum to a tank of gas, you practically have to give an arm and a leg to get anywhere. Then at the end of the day, you might have to run some stairs just to make yourself feel better. Which is kinda weird to think about if you only have one arm and one leg hobble'n up some stairs.

Thinking about the future and what I want to do with my life, I get overwhelmed with all the financial statements I am looking at. I have come to the conclusion that my brain is in overload. I think this is why God states, Do not worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow has enough worry for itself. (Matt 6:34)

Taking care of twin four-year-olds, I have come to realize my faith is not like a child. They hold my hand as for dear life, like I can protect them from anything. They snuggle with me because I can keep them warm and safe. When they are hurt, they cry on my shoulder because they think I make them feel better. Why can I not do this with my heavenly Father? Having this same faith should be instinct. But it's not always. Then I think that this life was not cheap. Jesus gave his life on the cross for me, so why can't I lay down my life daily in thanks for what a life he has given me. Even if it means hobbling up stairs with one arm and one leg.

-Girl on a mission.

Endless Stairs

With this morning wake up text reading, "Why are you not here yet?" I jumped out of bed to race to somewhere in Mill Valley. Somewhere- meaning someTHING I didn't really know what I was getting myself into. As I returned home, I looked up how "high" I walked today. Their are only (I say only in a very sarcastic way) three flights of stairs. These flights are as tall as a fifty-story building. Arriving to meet Kari and already breathing harder than normal just to get to the stairs, I look up and go, "OKay I can do this." The first set of stairs are like little baby step stairs. You would think that they would be easy. Kari says, "Put two stairs together and add a dip that will create a lunge." Yeah ok. So this is just the first flight of stairs in which we go up three times. Not so bad- feeling it still, but doing alright. Second flight gets a little harder bigger steps and the last 10 steps are stones straight up. So after I come back from gasping for air, I'm like ok. Then we walk 300 feet and go up the next flight. These actually were my favorite stairs, which is weird because at this point throwing up seemed reasonable. But each stair was dedicated to someone. So it was fun to read instead of thinking- I'd rather die than walk another step. haha

I really did enjoy the morning- which after reading the last paragraph, you might think otherwise. After thinking about and praying that I could make it back down to my car without falling over- I felt reassured that when I did get down, I would feel better than I did when I got up. Which is true. It was a sence of accomplishment for me. I did it. Every person on those stairs probably were 5'4'' and under weighing 120 lbs max. So I felt reassured that one day running the stairs might be an option.

I never knew how relaxing and stressful nature could be at 6:30 in the morning. But I love it.

P.S. Get ready Kate- We are doing the stairs. ;)

~Girl on a mission

It's very Marin

California is like a cult. It's not a religion it's an attitude of life. And yet I am trying to invade it giving them a southern hospitality feel that really confuses this cult. People actually enjoy talking about themselves around here. The problem is- NO ONE asks them! People in retail need those friendly customers to make it through the day. Trust me, I KNOW from experience. Smiling at people who work at gas stations- most don't speak much English, but no one cares about them. I have never felt like I have been making this much of a difference in such a long time, and it is just by being myself.

One very close friend told me before I left for California, "California changes people." Well, not me- or atleast not yet. It maybe changing me for the better and helping other people that it doesn't have to be so "Marin." I love that I feel helpful and needed in this community and let me tell you- They all need Jesus.

So keep praying.