Spidy

Beth and I saw Spiderman 2 tonight...man what an awesome movie! I loved it! And like the first one, it made me want to swing in between buildings, fly through the air, and climb up walls! I love the soundtrack to the movie too. Definitely an A+ in my books!

It was actually quite an experience seeing this movie. Beth had to work tonight, so she came late to the movie, but that's not what was interesting. When I went into the movie theatre it was pretty full...full of couples! It was like everyone had the same idea to go see Spiderman together. How sweet. Well the couple that sat next to me actually was nice and tolerable to be next to, but the one in front of me was sick. They only looked at each other for like twenty minutes and kept moving closer and closer, even though they had two chairs...they should have just shared one that way someone else could have sat down--but then again it wouldn't have been fun for that person. There were also these kids behind me--two african american boys who commented through the whole thing! It was quite funny! They would gasp and say "oh no!" at the right moments. It sounded like those pre-recorded laughter tracks that are on sitcoms! They were cute to listen to!

It definitely is worth seeing, so hurry into a theatre nearest you and buy your ticket to see one of the summer's best movies! Spiderman 2!

Who is teaching whom?

Well Beth and I started our summer Bible study, and so far it seems like we're learning more from God than they are from us! Both Beth and I are in a place where we are needing to trust in the truths of God and not focus on the lack of feeling in our hearts. It is so easy to sit back and pout that God isn't here, or that we can't feel Him moving in our lives anymore--instead of pursuing Him and crying out to Him in the midst of the desert place we are in. But God has graciously been showing up in my life this past week in His still small voice. He had to pull my eyes up to see how He has been here with me guiding me just as He promised.

The other night Beth and I were at Starbucks planning the study for that week and I just stopped and couldn't go on anymore. I told her I couldn't teach something I didn't believe myself! She said she felt the same way. So we had an awesome time sharing with each other where we were spiritually at that point and what we were struggling with...then God showed up and started to open our hearts and eyes to what He was using this time in our lives for. He started to teach us through His Word and through each other. He was the Bible study leader and we were His disciples. It was the coolest experience! We were so excited and couldn't wait to tell our girls about what had happened.

So Saturday arrived (the day of our second meeting)and no one showed up to our Bible study. It was so depressing and discouraging. Beth and I didn't know what to think, we were so full of questions. God, why did you show us so much and not let us teach it? Why didn't anyone show up? Did we do something wrong? Are we supposed to lead a Bible study this summer? What happened? So we rescheduled for Tuesday and today five girls came and listened to what we had to say. I hope that somewhere in the talk one girl was reached and touched by God.

Thinking back now on this past week...it really does seem like I benefited more than the girls did. Beth and I had a personal Bible study with God and He led us through His Word...He spoke to us again at Monday night's meeting and then...He met me at work as I cried out to Him in my frustration. It's sort of ironic that in my mind I'm the one supposed to be teaching the girls about God and seeing them grow....and this week I experienced that more than they did! But teachers learn just as much as students do...and man, this week I learned that really quick!

Bf from the past

Today I finally got a chance to talk with my former boyfriend. It was a great conversation and brought back many memories from last summer when we were together. I had a lot of fun with him and am glad we dated, even if it was a short while. It taught me a lot of things and gave me a guy friend who I can talk to who will listen and care about what I have to say. The best thing about him, besides his adorable smile and laugh, is his thoughtfulness. I never knew that would be an important quality I would want in a guy until I dated him. He knew how to cheer me up, listened to me complain about stuff, and even helped me let go of a lot of emotional baggage I had. I don't even know if he knew he was helping me that much! Even a year later he remembered all the dating mishaps that I've been through with other guys! I'm hoping we'll get a chance to really catch up maybe over coffee or Chai tea...like we used to drink together. He wants to leave Florida, since he's graduated from the D.A.V.E school, and hopefully work for a company that animates computer games. I know his dream would be to live in New Zealand and work there....maybe someday I'll get a postcard from him telling me he's finally reached his goal! Who knows maybe I'll go visit him and then I'll finally have a reason to go out to New Zealand and Australia--thus accomplishing my dream as well!

Sing to me Franky!

The romantic mood has swept me off my feet and asked me to dance! Here I am listening to the greatest love songs—singing along, wishing I could ballroom dance. Autumn Leaves, Moon River, As Time Goes By, The Way You Look Tonight, Unforgettable, You Brought a New Kind of Love to Me, Love Is Here to Stay...all these songs set the mood! Frank Sinatra is singing to me while I sway back and forth typing this entry. Maybe I’ll meet some people in Tally this up-coming year that will teach me how to ballroom dance or will just dance with me!

My freshman year I went Swing dancing a few Fridays…and even Valentine’s Day! I learned how to follow—I had some awesome guys helping me with that part! :) I also learned the Lindie and triple-step. But ballroom dancing is elegant and looks so fun! Someday...maybe I’ll force my husband to learn with me...or maybe he’ll teach me! How’s that for the romantic in me! ;) Dancing used to be classy and if you knew how to do it right gorgeous to watch! Just rent some Fred Astair and Ginger Rogers movies or any oldie for that matter. People used to be talented when they danced. Nowadays all you have to know how to do is bend your knees and bob your head and torso to the beat of rap music. No actual steps involved, or spins…just convulsing your body...and I won’t even discuss the nasty booty dancing that practically makes you sick if you see it.

I love music so much! Which reminds me, my friend borrowed quite a few of my CDs and she’s left the country, but I don’t have them back! I’m feeling slightly empty without them in my life! Is that sad? I love music, so not being able to play my CDs on my way to work has been a little tough. Good thing my computer has music or I’d go insane! That’s another thing that’s strange, what happened to that vintage sounding voice? The Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole sound? The only guy that is close to them is Harry Connick Jr. And possibly some broadway voices I’ve heard on soundtracks. Love songs aren’t the same without that voice.

Of course if I really wanted to go off I would start with the love songs of today...ok I think I will...they are pathetic. If it doesn’t talk about sleeping together, it’s talking about how hot a woman/man looks and how they are going to convince them to sleep together. Oh yeah, that’s definitely sometime I’ll want to listen to a lot. Whatever. It’s all self-focused. That’s the difference. Frank sings about his feelings and how the little things she does makes him smile, he compliments her, tells her things a girl would want to hear. He even uses adjectives and metaphors for his feelings. Love songs of today have a limited vocabulary…usually involving the words: hot, sexy, all the words for the behind, turn me on...etc. All of which suggest that anyone who is interested in each other should immediately sleep together and then get to know each other. Because a great relationship always starts that way. Yeah right. And I know that Frankie is not perfect,all I mean is that innocence and purity used to be valued in love songs. But obviously that is not true anymore. Alright I’ve stepped off my platform now.

I think I’ll end with lyrics from a song that I love--
“Someday when I’m awfully low, when the world is cold, I will feel a glow just thinking of you and the way you look tonight. Yes you’re lovely, with your smile so warm, and your cheek so soft, there is nothing for me but to love you, and the way you look tonight.

With each word your tenderness grows, tearing my fear apart. And that laugh that wrinkles your nose, touches my foolish heart. Lovely, never ever change, keep that breathless charm! Won’t you please arrange it? Because I love you, just the way you look tonight.”

Goodbye Mr. President

"We must delight in each other; make others' conditions our own; rejoice together, mourn together, labor and suffer together, always having before our eyes our commission and community in the work, as members of the same body...For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us." -from a 1630 sermon by John Winthrop read at President Reagan's funeral.

Well done good and faithful servant

Today there were two funerals. One was splashed on the television and one was in a church. One was expected and one was not. One was for the former President Ronald Reagan. The other was for Bill Beauvais, a strong man of God who served Him faithfully and humbly spurring others on in Christ--setting a great example to live by.

These two funerals affected me in a number of ways.

President Reagan's funeral reminded me of the time in America when we respected our leaders and had hope in the future. When the people here actually cared for one another. It brought this country momentarily together to remember and respect a great leader who changed the world. To see past presidents and prime ministers who were involved in his life sitting in the same room all doing the same thing was powerful. To hear four important people--former Canadian Prime Minister, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, former Pres. George Bush, and current President George W. Bush all speak about former Pres. Ronald Reagan was amazing. They all commented on his humor and peaceful demeanor in stressful situations. The two President Bush's both commented on his strong faith and his desire for America to be a city on a hill. Reagan was grounded in his faith, especially after the attempt on his life. He knew that God had a greater purpose for him that even he realized.

Mr. Beauvais' funeral caused me to reflect on how one man's faith can change a multitude of people. He was a missionary in Africa and raised a family there helping people understand the love of Christ. He moved to the States and continued to minister to people. During the funeral some men in my church and leaders within Campus Crusade spoke about his integrity, quite, humble spirit who understood the importance of team work and bringing glory to God and not yourself. What an awesome witness! It reminded me that the point of living isn't about me...It's about God. I was created to glorify Him, to grow to be more like Him and see Him use my life to further His kingdom.

Two men both serving God in very different ways, both humble, and willing to do what God asked.

"The steps of a man are established by the Lord, and He delights in his way. When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, because the Lord is the One who holds his hand."
-Psalm 37: 23-24

"Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many of you were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong." -1 Corinthians 2:26-27

List of Firsts continues...

Well I can add a few more things to my list of firsts for the year:

-Eating fried pickles with Amanda at Po'Boys! Yes you read right...FRIED pickles. They were surprisingly delicious!

-Watching the Stanley Cup Final game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Calgary Flames. Yay for Florida! Who would have thought a Florida team would be a Canadian one! Who has more ice?? hmmmm. ;)

-Looking at model homes in Avalon. These homes are insane! Laura and I went together today and it was so fun to pretend we had money and imagine that these houses we went into were our own. Ha! The one both of us liked was not even offered anymore, and was a 2001 Parade of Homes winner. So gorgeous and huge--but not too big. It probably was the most expensive too, but we didn't want to get a price sheet--we would probably have collapsed at the price of even the 'cheapest' home! We commented on the decorating, size of the kitchen, bedrooms, living rooms. It was great :)

* It's time for a little update on my bowling war with Sam...hehehe. So far the scores I've been getting haven't even broken 200. That is depressing. But hey, it takes time...and maybe one of these days it will just happen and I'll get six strikes and wipe out his score of a 229--that he seems to remind me of daily! ;) Just wait Sam....one of these days you will get the sinking feeling of defeat!!

Joy

Joy Williams

Meeting with my Creator

God met with me the morning after I wrote that last entry on my way to work. I was broken, He made me whole. I was crying, He dried my tears. He gave me a wonderful day and put a smile on my face. I have peace, joy, and am more in love with my Father. He always picks His children up when they fall and stumble. Thank You Father for carrying me and holding me close. You are with me, have saved me, and have taken great delight in me! You have quieted me with Your love and have returned my heart to gladness. (parts of Zeph. 3:17)

The song, Wish, by Joy Williams, is amazing. It was my cry to God on my way to work yesterday. I must have listened to it about three times...it would have been so awesome to see Jesus face to face and see His unending love for the people around Him...anyways...I wanted to put the words up and a picture of her. I have a link to her website under "Raindrops." On that website it has a small sound clip of this song. I recommend the CD, it is one of my favorites.

Wish
Words and Music by Rob Graves, Jason McArthur and Joy Williams

For just a moment
I wish I could have been there
To see Your first step, hear Your very first word
Tell me, did You ever fall and scrape Your knee?
Did You know Your wounds would one day heal the world?

For just one moment
I wish I could have seen You growing
Learning the way of a carpenter’s son
Just a little boy gazing at the stars
Did You remember creating every one?

If You passed by, would I have seen a child or a King?
Or would I have known?

CHORUS
I wish I could have been there
My only wish is to see You face to face
I wish I could have been there
Just to see You, Jesus, face to face

For just a moment
I wish I could have been there
When You left Your footprints upon the waves
To walk along beside You, never look away
Just Your whisper and the wind and sea obey

To see You feed the people
To feel the healing in Your touch

CHORUS
I wish I could have been there
My only wish is to see You face to face
I wish I could have been there
Just to see You, Jesus, face to face

To hear You pray in the garden alone
Laying down Your will with each tear
To see You walk that lonely road
Willing to die for me

And in that moment
I know I should have been there
You took my cross and gave Your life

But You live again!
I wish I could have been there
I wish I could have seen You rise again
I wish I could have been there
My only wish is to see You face to face
Someday I’ll be there, I’m gonna be there
I’ll see Your face, Your mercy and grace
Someday, someday
Someday I’ll see You, my Jesus
Face to face

© 2002 Logansong Music / BMI / WonderWhyMusic.com / ASCAP / New Spring Publishing, Inc. (a division of Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc.) / ASCAP. All rights reserved. Used by permission.