Renewable Resources...?

So on my my way back from Sonora to the beautiful Santa Cruz this weekend I drove by foothills filled with windmills. Do you know what I am talking about? It's like an alien planet, hills of white statues spinning in sync as the wind blows. Anyways, it got me thinking. There is so much potential, unused energy just sitting around. We could be using the wind, the flow of water down rivers, the sun... And that's when it hit me. Fat! We are the most obese country in the world. We should come together and make good on that blubber. Here's how it would work. Much like wind mills make energy from the kinetic energy of wind, we could turn gyms into power centers. As we run and break down the extra pounds, the treadmills could be harnessing that kinetic energy and our PG&E bills would shrink, hopefully along with our waists! I am a genius, I know.

Campfire

Every Tuesday night, we Naturalists come together to perform. There is no room for pride or shame. We must dance and sing and make fools of ourselves to the best of our ability whether or not we have a voice the next day. Ben and Drew seem to pass the gas back and forth each week. This week was Drew's turn and he even took the time to try and teach me how to harness the strength within and pass the gas right back! Don't worry... I declined! Girls don't fart anyway... Emelia at some point will find herself laughing hysterically. This week, her "seal cries" emerged at the sight of John trying desperately to pull the tightly fitting wet suit off of Drew's body. It got stuck at his kankles! But that laugh can get anyone going! And we all end up in hysterics. Never thought I'd meet anyone who could out laugh me!!! And what a pleasure it is! Cian is a new addition but what a great fit! He is awkward beyond words, forgetting all of his lines, kneeling at imaginary udders, dressing up like a total nerd, side-part and all! Fantastic! Cindy and I will always find a way to fake fight or push and shove before the night is over. I think she is jealous of my mad skills and tries to hold all the frustration in until she just can't handle it anymore! If you know Cindy you can imagine how gentle I have to be not to break her. The fight is always unfair... All I really have to do is yell at the top of my lungs, "NO NO NO NO NO!" and she folds! HAHAHAHAHA! Tina is a ridiculously amazing cheerleader who won't have a voice tomorrow! Ben's cow jokes are always a treat! Except when our audience is full of muslim kids and we realize he is actually making fun of their god... more awkward. Sarah as a mickey wizard is always funny. Jessica is the most impressive because she used to hide in the bushes when we first started, out of fear of performing such rediculous skits. And now she rocks our faces off! Or as Drew would say, "She makes our hearts sour like eagles." Tonight we missed Beth and Char. But on a regular basis Char's hair pokes me in the eye or Beth attacks me with a smore, so they are always a blast too! I just wanted as many people as possible to experience in some way the awesomeness that is Outdoor Science School Campfire... So there. Take that. We are BOSS.

The life of a Parrot.

You can tell me what to say.
I will repeat it.
You can teach me to compliment you.
I will do it.
You can teach me to laugh at your jokes.
I will chuckle.
You can teach me to follow you.
It may not be graceful, but I will hop along.
You can teach me to cry.
I will make the noise.
But I won't mean it.
I don't think you are pretty, I don't know how to.
I don't think you are funny, I can't understand you.
I don't know where you are going, I can't see that far.
I am not sad, I've never had happiness to compare it to.

I am a Parrot. I can obey but I can't enjoy you. Not really.

I don't want to be a Parrot.

Facebook Farewell... for now!

I have decided to take a break from Facebook. I am one of those people who checks my page every chance I get, maybe 5 or 6 times a day! I'm obsessed. And I hate it. I am sure I could find better things to do than stalk people. I could finish reading one of the books I have sitting on my desk. I could CALL someone or better yet hang out with someone. It is nice to see where people are and how they are doing but I feel like I need to get this obsession under control before I can use this communication tool wisely. But I will be back! And hopefully, will have a ton of pictures from my summer adventures to add! I will try to keep up on my blogging as to keep my "many" followers happy=) Love you 4 peeps! Talk to you soon!!!

Sunrise Service

Mount Hermon has a sunrise sermon each Easter where we all trek up the hill to the top where there is a 15 foot cross and a beautiful view of the Santa Cruz Mountains. I usually find myself distracted by a lot of "man-madeness" up there. Whether its the city of Scotts Valley down the hill, the rock quarry, the fence, the water tower, the AT&T tower... whatever it is I usually see it as in the way of seeing God. Danny Wallen shared a perfect lesson for such a person like me. The water tower reminds us of His provision for us. The fence reminds us of the prison we are now free of because of His sacrifice. The AT&T tower reminds us of the open connection we now have with God. As Kit was leading us in worship, we all sang as the sun peaked over the clouds, conspicuous at first, and then beaming over the mountains and valley, the buildings and people. I found myself seeing the city so much differently. His people were down there, His creation. And here He was proclaiming Himself through this magnificent sunrise, proclaiming His might, His beauty, His provisions, His power... and these people below don't see the miracle. They want to stay warm in their beds. They want another hour of sleep. They want a longer break from this fallen world. The sun is their enemy as long as they dread that day that has now arrived. And they don't see Him. As I sat on that hill I was so humbled. The LORD woke me this morning just in time to get up there. The LORD enabled me to climb that hill just in time to be with the body. The LORD provided this hope that each new day brings. I am so blessed to know this Lord and to be supernaturally lead by Him. And as I looked down on that once distracting pile of cement and street lamps and roads, my heart broke. It broke, I think, because His heart breaks as He reveals himself in these wonderous ways, and His people don't even notice. They need Him. I need Him. And He is willing and patient. What an amazing Easter morning. He is Risen. He is Risen indeed!!!!!

Sorry, its a sad one. But honest.

Today was one of those days. You never really see them coming. You know there is stuff in your life that isn't quite right. Relationships that need mending. Decisions that need making. Prayers that need praying. Problems that need solving. You know. They are no secret to you. But you don't expect it all to come crashing down on you in one day. And its not a crash actually. That might make it easier. Because then there would be onlookers, good samaritans ready to jump in and help clean up the mess. No this day starts like any other. And the destruction is from within. No car. No windshield. No air bags. Just thoughts. Thoughts that slow you down. There are bandages that are slowly being pulled away revealing open wounds vulnerable for the re-wounding. And anything can do it. A remark that any other day wouldn't have been noticed. A disapproving glance that sends your mind into a whirlwind of doubt and insecurity. And even neglect. Even the lack of words or lack of glances. Even that makes it worse. Because today, everything reminds you that you are alone. Everything reminds you that no one really knows you. That when it comes down to it, there is no one on this planet who loves you the way you want to be loved. And it takes all day to remember Him. All day to remember that you are right. That there is no one on this earth that loves you because He has a kingdom of His own, far above this place. It takes all day to remember you are NEVER alone. To remember He is speaking to you, He is looking over you. He is affirming your heart and walk. He is proclaiming His redemption and grace through you. It takes all day to remember that under those bandages that you placed on your heart over and over, under those bandages there are no wounds, just scars, painful memories but healed and safe. Healed by Him, by His presence, by His peace, by His comfort. By His redemption. It takes you until the moments before you fall asleep to be reminded that this is the day that the Lord has made. And as you dose off you realize once again the Lord is reigning victorious over the great deceiver. And this day becomes something different. Oswald Chambers said,

“When a man gets to despair he knows that all his thinking will never get him out. He will only get out by the sheer creative effort of God. Consequently he is in the right attitude to receive from God that which he cannot gain for himself.”

Unintentionally Condemning Myself

Romans 2:1

Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.

Example of me judging others

As I am walking into the Santa Cruz Diner, I spot a man in
a minnie skirt, polo and an iguanna on his shoulder.
The whole things disturbs my being, from head to toe. Freak

Example of me actually judging myself

I have a pair of shoes that my mom bought me once. Really expensive and they are supposed to help your posture and burn more calories. The problem is their soles are like 3 inches thick and they make look like I have 2 club feet. I wear them out of guilt sometimes for letting my mom buy them for me. I think it might be a conspiracy to make me look retarded. Freak.

Moral: Don't judge someone by what they are wearing. I am sure Michael Jackson goes out in normal clothes sometimes... that's deceiving.


I make a joke of this but in reality it hits home. Everytime I can think of that I have chosen to judge someone not only can I mirror it with a similar offense of my own, I don't need to. Because ALL have fallen short and I am the least of these. Seeing the good in all people, now that is a task! But such a good and God-honoring one!