Copper Acorn

Horrible. I cannot believe it has been MONTHS since my last posting. If I were not to talk to my dad in months he would probaly ask me something like, “What have you learned in these past months you were away?” I love those questions and I love my dad. Chewing on this question, I believe I am amazed to have learned many things. However I think if I were to write them all, you would get tired of reading it and I would get tired writing it. So, I will say only what I have learned in the past week. It is this: dreams are not something you can make up or create. Dreams are birthed in you when you were conceived and could be deemed your destiny.
My dream has been, since elementary school, to be a writer. Now many people in my lifetime (which is all of 25 yrs) have scoffed and shook their heads at my dream. Yet I have learned the lessons of persistence and determination, and when my first children’s book is published and in the stores for sale, I will send them all free copies- autographed of course.

Please pray for me. I have been given the oppertunity to apply for a job which I feel very much unqualified. I am actually suprised and honored that Jesus would want me to think and concider this oppertunity. If I were to accept, I would have to quit my wonderful job which I love and also release some of the ministry I serve in now. However, I would be learning an amazing amount by strong women of God and could see this as a ‘spiritual promotion’- if you want to call it that.
It is as though He sees something in me that can tackle this opening and would like me to look into it. I met with the people today and we decised that I would come with a decision to apply/decline by the end of the week. I am going to fast tomorrow and see what He will tell me- it would be wonderful if you could take time as you read this right now to say a quick prayer for me. God will honor it and it would mean a great deal to me. Thank you…

I spent Christmas with my parents in Edmonds and Lynwood, WA. Crazy, I am home in the beautiful city of Edmonds, WA and love it! Yet I must say as everything else is wonderful, the most shocking change since coming home is the traffic. Now, I’ve lived in more states and cities than I would like to say and feel all the right to say what I will say…
What has happened to the drivers in Seattle?! You all have been morphed into the Californians that have all moved here. And although I am guilty of ‘Californian Stops’ I know that a red light does not mean go faster-that would be yellow. It’s like the East Coast has plopped itself down into lovely, polite Seattle and now the intersections are full of people who are content to sit in the middle of intersections pretending that they are not being yelled at by the people who have the right to go. Come on…In the city where you would almost never hear a car honk, I was amazed at show much I heard when I was downtown seeing the Nutcracker. With all this seen and heard, I asked my Father if this was normal or just abnoral holiday traffic. -‘normal’ says him.
So, I will let go of my amazment, shock and let go of my feelings. I live in Portland and the traffic in Seattle does not effect me. So I can say fully- I myself cannot fix Seattle. Yet I can do the one thing I can think of when I’m here-to not drive unless I have to. Yikes.

The leaves are gone and in it’s place are icicles and frost. the birds no longer churp and dance on the branches but instead the wind whistles and has the trees dance with her to her unheard waltz. What does winter hold?
Lakes and rivers freeze, protecting fish and other pieces which have found their way to the riverbed. Protecting them with branches and mud, beavers bravely live between the two worlds. The trees and wind as their neighbors and eating the fish trapped under the ice ready for the catch.
What does winter hold?
For me, it holds warm memories of sitting around a fire snuggling in a favorite blanket. Hot cocoa and thick books waiting to be picked up. Watching movies over and over and staying in bed half an hour after waking up.
The cosy hats as my helmet, gloves as a sword and fleece lined coats as a shield prepare me to fight mother nature. With all her weapons : snow, wind and ice…my warmth is well protected.

-that warmth snuggly and tightly held in my memories.

New Year Resolutions are huge. I think they are the only way gyms stay in business. I can remember years ago, going into a gym with a friend a couple of weeks after the new year, and can clearly remember what it felt like to be so excited to work out. The thrill of changing into clothes that really should not fit that tightly to anyone’s body, drinking the sugar drinks promising to be hydrating and stepping onto the dreaded machine- the scale.
…ahh the memories. That excitedness and anticipation to see change sadly lasted only a couple months. None the less, I think it is healthy to have the ambition to want to change the old to new. A friend of mine is wanting to loose weight while another friend wants to be able to stick to boundries she has set for herself.
I myself, am not sure what I want as a resolutoin. Knowing I don’t have to choose anything is a bit releaving, however I find I’m addicted to the feeling of…well, hope. Having the hope to acomplish what I want to. Now I know many could challenge and debate whether my thought process is healthy, but I am content to hope for tomorrow. Hope that I can do something that could improve me either physicaly, emotionaly or even spiritualy.

What is your New Year’s Resolution?

Here is a tough story-but true. I wish it weren’t…
Travis and I were in the parking lot of a Target when a woman passed us with her two children at her side. She was holding her son and her daughter was next to her-she was about 4. We heard horrible words the mother was yelling to her daughter- ‘Just shut up Cory. Just f*@! off Cory’ I’m telling you the truth when i say my that my face got hot and I was ready to ring that mothers neck. I was shocked that she would tell her daughter that…stuptified. What was she thinking?! What must the daughter be feeling?!
I took Child Educatoin for my work and what that mother said to her children and what else she might be saying is seriously damaging to both the kids. Where was the mothers love? Was it in the ‘shut-up’ or ‘f*@! off’?
People, if we are given children- we need to be the best parents we can be for our kids. Period. I do not see ANY good coming out of sharp and hurtful words.
Lord, may You open the eyes of the parents who are hurting their kids daily. I pray that You send someone who will either show them how to stop cussing out their kids or You take the kids out of the family. And I also pray for the kids-protect them. Lord, allow them to become deaf when their parents are frustrated at them and start saying hurtful things. May You also bring people into their lives who give encouraging, life giving words. Amen.

I’M ENGAGED! My apologies to you for the delay in writing this. Travis proposed at the Goroto in Portland. He asked me to ‘be my bride’ in a Christmas lit garden- very romantic and sweet.

Thank you God for giving me such a wonderful man and may I continue to strive to better partner for him.

This is Travis and I in Poland. We were standing in the iron gates of an old castle in the southern snowy countryside. It was icy and freezing and while we looked at the different treasures it held inside and outside the walls, a beautiful cat followed us in and out of the castle. My heart fell in love with the beautiful animal which seemed so comfortable in the snow. I tried to keep it as warm as possible but had to say goodbye when leaving for home. I thought about taking it home with me to Portland…but unfortunatly Trav said customs wouldn’t quite have much mercy for a stray cat I would be trying to bring home. Come on custom people…have a heart won’t you people?! 🙂