How did I get here?

A Thursday afternoon, late last July, I was at home taking a couple days off to recover from two weeks at kids camp before starting a week of VBS. My phone rang and I didn’t answer it. Soon after, I received a text message and a Facebook message asking me to call the church. I was asked to help with a transition time in our media department. I was excited to help! Church media and production are two passions of mine. Seventeen days later, I was asked if I would accept the position as our new media director. 

I didn’t know what to say! While it seemed like it was seventeen days in the making for some, it was twelve years in the making for me. 

Around the age of 15, I was praying and seeking direction for my life. I decided I wanted to be an attorney. I was going to get a college degree in history then work my way into being a Constitutional Law Lawyer. That was my plan. It was set in stone for me…at least I thought it was. 

During my prayer time, the Lord told me I would go into youth ministry as the person who oversaw the service elements, like worship and drama so that the youth pastor could focus on the message. A couple years later, it turned into working with all church drama and worship. By the age of 19, I knew that I was supposed to be in church production. 

My college plan changed from law school to theater school. The thought in my mind was that if I wanted a job in a church, I would need to attend a Bible College. After all, where else do churches get their staffs from? My first two years of school were at a local community college. After that, I was set to attend a Bible College in the Pacific Northwest. After I had been accepted and given a room assignment, my parents and I were going over the financial part of things. The cost was more than they had anticipated. I was left with a choice. Go to a school that didn’t have the exact major I wanted and take out massive loans to pay for it.

(I wanted a school with a theater department. I chose this school because it was close to family and I could stay there over breaks. They didn’t have a theater department. They had an education department with a focus in drama.) 

Or, I could go somewhere local and have help from my parents. 

I didn’t want to be in debt at the age of 20. Looks like I was going to “settle” for a local school. I looked at some schools that were not in town. But again, I “settled” for UNCG. Their theater program is incredible. With only a few days to spare, I applied, got accepted, and enrolled for classes. 

I had no idea that my “settling” was actually part of His plan. At the end of my first semester, my advisor and I had a meeting. She asked me what I wanted to do. She wanted to know why I was a theater major at UNCG. 

While I was not ashamed of my answer, I always said it waiting for the reaction. In the liberal theater world, telling people you want to work in a church is not always accepted. I had heard before that I would be wasting my talent to work in a church and that it wouldn’t be possible for me to make a living doing that. My first reaction was always “I’m a theater major, I don’t expect to make much money anywhere I work!”

I told my advisor the short version of my story: I wanted to work in church production and help give it a better reputation. 

She thought it was great. In fact, she wanted to help me succeed in that area. She gave me the name of the production crew at a local church and said I should see about interning with them. I couldn’t get any school credit, but the experience would be good.

I didn’t know how to take this news. Here I was trying to get out of town. I started my internship in January of the next year and was there for a little over a year and a half. In the summer of 2008, I was offered a job at my home church…

…It was in Children’s Ministry. 

I struggled before applying for this job. I knew I couldn’t work at a burrito shop and be an intern forever. The Lord really worked on my heart and said I was to go for it. I did and He was faithful. I spent almost five years not only working in Children’s Ministry but gaining experience in leading people, learning the ins and outs of how a church functions, and becoming a better, more mature person. 

My summers were spent at camp and running supplies for VBS. My winters were spent preparing for Christmas musicals. All the time in-between was spent teaching, pasting, and drying tears for little ones. I did a lot of data entry and troubleshooting when our equipment didn’t work. 

It was a time I wouldn’t trade for anything.  

Plus, it lead me to where I am today.  A blog post like this has been on my mind in the past several months. I even started a post talking about my story. Most don’t realize that a call was placed on my life at 15. Well, maybe they would, but they wouldn’t guess it was for this. I’ve always been involved in Children’s Ministry. It was and still is a ministry that my entire family works in…both as a profession and by volunteering. I would often get asked if I was going to take over as Children’s Pastor if ours ever left. Politely as I could say it, my response would be “no and I have no desire to be.” 

My inspiration to write today comes from several things I’ve read about working in church production and media departments….and Oprah. 

More on those soon. 

Before I can get there though, it seemed logical to share how I got to where I am today. 

It is not a spectacular, dramatic story. Well, to me it is. I can look back now and see where I was, who I was and what I thought I should do. Then I realize that it was never about where I wanted to be, who I wanted to be and how I wanted to get there. It was all Him.  He had the plan. He directed me steps. He taught me many things about leaning on Him. That is how I got to where I am today. 

6 months and 581 unread emails

Currently, I have 581 unread emails in my personal email inbox and two blog posts sitting in my "drafts" folder here on blogger.

How does someone get to that point? Good question. If you find the answer, please let me know. 

The only answer I can come up with is this: I'm ultra busy. 

If you're read my blog before you know that "busy" is a common theme. Especially in the past two years. I guess having a great boyfriend who turned into a great fiance who turned into a great husband can really keep a girl busy and keep her from writing. Add planning our wedding, helping with one of my best friend's weddings, looking for and buying a home, family vacations, working on new home and owning a currently 72-pound 8.5 month old German Shepherd into the mix and a there wasn't much time for anything else in the past two years. 

Oh wait. Yes there is. Work. I forgot to add my job.

Now, don't start thinking that this is a post to complain or gripe about my job. One of my posts sitting in my drafts folder details  some changes that I've made at work in the past 6 months. Eventually, I will finished that post and publish it...but until then, here is a run down of the past 6 months.

In August, my role at the church transitioned from Children's Admin Assistant to Media Director. Now, I am up to my ears in website and HTML coding, video editing, publications and marketing for the church. I am in a tech booth every Sunday and Wednesday working with a great team of guys to run lighting, audio, graphics, and even cameras for our services. I am the "voice" of our church each week for announcements (For those of you wondering who does that, it's me!!).  I print bulletins, troubleshoot copier problems, and attempt to help fix computers, printers, iPad, smart phones and who knows what else on the fly. 

It keeps me busy. I joke that I've spent more time at the church these last 6 months than I have the previous 5 years of being employed here. 

And you know what....I really do love what I do.

Yes, there are frustrating moments. But any job has those. Yes, there are times I wish I was at home with my husband and not working. But that comes with the territory. I wouldn't change what I do. This is what I love to do...this is what I was called to do. 

Six months ago, I was recovering from two back to back weeks of kids camp followed by 4 days of rest then a week of VBS. I had no idea that somewhere in that time my world would flip upside down and I would be doing this. I knew one day, down the road, this is where I would end up. But I didn't think it would be now. 

August 18 was my first official Sunday as Media Director. That was 6 months and 581 unread emails ago. 

Yes, I am busy. Yes, I could work on my time management. But you know, I really love life right now.

...make that 582 unread emails.

...also, in an attempt to make myself not sound lame...I've received MORE than 582 emails in the past 6 months. The 582 are the ones that we not important. You know, the ones with the diet and exercise tips. 

Hello Old Friend

I last wrote in January. I was frustrated with a "process". That process was buying a house. It was a long process and it wasn't until April that we ended up buying a house. 

That is what the first half of this year was all about: Finding a house.

We did. Then we went on vacation.Then did some work on the fence. Then I went to summer camp for a week. Then we got a dog. Then I went back to summer camp for another week. Then I came home for a couple days. Then it was time for VBS. During VBS I was offered a new job at the church. Then I got the new job. Then we started remodeling our basement. 

That has been our year in four lines. That has been our year in 75 words or less. Yes, there were other things that happened, but if you asked me to give a summary of 2013 thus far, that would be it. 

So here I am, with a couple minutes to spare before a band rehearsal to say "Yes, I am still here. Yes, I am still writing. And, yes, life is still moving faster than a NASCAR race."

...Did I just use a NASCAR reference? Good grief. That would be the influence of my husband. Not living in the South, but my husband. I don't even like NASCAR, just watch for the wrecks. 

But thats neither here nor there. 

I, however, am here. 

And, I will be here more often. I have a lot to say. I have a lot that I learned this year and I am excited to share it. 

Process Equals Patience

This time last year, I was well into planning my wedding. I think by the time January rolled along, all we really needed to do was send the invitations, pick out the menu for dinner and prepare Dad to write the final checks.

We easily could have gotten married in February instead of April. But, we had to complete the "process" of planning the wedding. It was a six month process and it was painful. Not painful in that it was horrid. Painful in that I had no patience to complete the process. I wanted it to be a lot faster than it was. (Then again, I know some brides who say six months is too short! They'd prefer a longer process!!)

I've never been a very patient person. I like to have things done at a rapid speed. I've learned to become an efficient worker at a quick pace. People say you can learn to be patient, but I don't think that is true. I'm a few years away from 30 and if I don't have it now, not sure I will ever master the concept. 

Well, here we are in another January and yet again, we are involved in another long process. This one is a big bigger than planning a wedding...which was huge by the way!! Don't get me wrong! 

This process has more paperwork, more people involved and more on the line for us. This is one of those things where we need to be really patient with things. It is easy to get discouraged. Need to remind myself to be patient. 

I'd like to think that this process is not a test of my patience, but more of a way to grow my patience well bigger. It hasn't yet...but here's to hoping, right? 

Just be patient. It will all pan out. 

My patience cup does not runneth over after my pep talks. Not one bit. 

Nope. No patience. None. 

Oh well. Maybe by the end of this process I will be a pro at patience. Maybe I will be able to give seminars on how to be patient? Maybe I will write a book? Maybe...you know, everything I am thinking of has a long process that is attached to it...

First Married Post?

I do believe it is. Sorry about that! We'v been married for 6 months and I haven't written a single thing. 

Well, maybe that's not true. I've written in a journal once or twice.

Hence the blog makeover. I'm not trying to get published or even noticed in a Google search. I just like to write. And, sometimes, I will write a lot. Sometimes I won't write for, umm, 8 months. 

So what have I done the past 8 months? Let me recap:

February, March and the first half of April were spent working on the final details of the wedding. 
The wedding was at the end of April. I really loved the day itself. Really loved having family and friends in one place. Really loved how it all turned out. Then, really loved going on vacation right after.

Once we got back from the honeymoon, my summer at work really went into overdrive. We had events from May through July. That is pretty much how the summer was spent: Summer Camps, Vacation Bible School, and Volunteer Appreciation. Throw in a couple of swim parties, awards nights, and tons of planning meetings for fall 2012 and early 2013 and there is my summer. 

My dad's entire side of the family (all 13 of us total!haha) went to Las Vegas in early August to celebrate my Grandparent's 50th Wedding Anniversary. Their actual anniversary was just before our wedding, this was the best time for all of us to get together to celebrate them. We had a great time there but don't think we will be going back. Unless you like to party and drink or unless you are super rich to go shopping, there isn't really much to do there...except walk up and down the strip. We did that a lot. People watching was a big thing to do as well.

September meant getting ready to go back to South Africa. I will write more about that later. The trip was from the end of September to almost the middle of October. I loved being back there. It is like a home away from home. The way we are treated by our hosts over there is just like family. I think the fact that we get to stay in the same place each year helps with that. Being familiar with your surroundings in an unfamiliar place helps make the long trip not so long.

Coming back and jumping into the middle of October means getting ready for our Fall Family Festival. I'm pretty pumped for this event. It is one of my favorites we do. 

That is the past 8 months in a nutshell. Tonight is a quiet night at home, switching channels between the World Series and currently the final season of The Office. 

I'm excited for things to slow down for us. Not that they ever really do, but we are learning to work with crazy schedules. 

I'm excited to see where this new phase in life will take us and excited to see how much I will write about it...or not. 

Can't Sleep

It's 1:15am.


I cannot sleep. Not at all. I tried to go to sleep three hours ago but my body obviously decided it did not want or need the rest. Though my mind is begging me to attempt it again...


...or is it the other way around? Is my body begging my mind to try to fall asleep again? 


I am not really sure.


What do I know at the moment? My stomach is growling like something fierce. I think I need a snack. But then comes the dilemma. If I eat, I will wake myself up more and possibly not sleep. However, if I do not eat, then I will soon lay here in the dark dwelling on how hungry I am and that I should go find a snack. That will also bring no sleep.


It is looking like a lose-lose situation with my stomach. 


Maybe I can drink some water and that will satisfy...

epic fail when it comes to blogging

it's true. the last time i blogged was in August 2011. here i am, Janaury 2012 and i haven't posted a single thing. no end of year reflection. no christmas blog. no new year's update. nothing.


zilch.


nada.


zero.


it's like i fell off the face of the earth. which, is in correct. because since that time, i have not only been on the face of the earth, but i traveled to the other side of it.  


a lot has happened since the last time i posted. a few days after the post, hurricane irene slammed the eastern seaboard and caused some major flooding. that same weekend, my boyfriend's family came to visit. we enjoyed a lovely day at the pool while the coast was getting hit with the storm.


in september, i went to the dentist and had my teeth cleaned. not sure why it is blog worthy, but i have slacked off so much lately that i feel like i should just let you all know that my oral hygiene is still kept up.


on september 29th, i left to go to south africa for 14 days. i journaled while i was there. or, at least i tried to everyday. it was a trip that changed my life. even thinking about it now is bringing back tears. the people i worked with and the students i met are all extraordinary. it is rare that i use a word of that caliber, but it fits perfectly. soon, i will post about that trip. tonight i will only catch you up on life. and, i do promise that i will write about my trip. until then, here is a picture of me and some of the students i worked with...

i got back from south africa on october 12th. that was a wednesday. when i got home, around 11am, i went home to drop my stuff off, then went to have my first meal back on americian soil...taco bell...not my pick. but it was food and way better than airplane food. i went to work the next day 100% jet lagged. if you asked me anything about that day, i could not tell you much. i did, however, manage to get everything done that i needed to get done. 


one thing i do remember is telling my boyfriend that i did not want to go walk around and give him a tour of a local church that i had interned at. that place is massive and being in the mental and physical state i was in, i was in no mood to go walk around that enormous building. 


the day after that, my boyfriend and i hopped on his motorcycle to go look at the fall foliage in the mountains. the leaves are beautiful in the fall here. and they are even more beautiful when you are riding on the back of a motorcycle. the day was bright and sunny...but it was an illusion. it was also cold and windy. we both dressed in layers but it wasn't quite enough. but we ventured on. somewhere along the way, i lost my hair tie. made for quite the windy look. i decided that instead of dwelling on being cold, i would dwell on the fact that i lost my hair tie. i was still pretty tired from the plane ride home two days earlier so i figured i was justified in my thoughts. 


we rode 2 1/2 hours up to the mountains. once we got onto the parkway, we stopped at the first lookout we saw. it was nice to stretch but it was cold and if we were going to be cold, i thought we should be cold and moving. not cold and standing around...


...well, lo and behold we were lingering in this spot for a reason....my boyfriend walked me down a path AND PROPOSED!!!!!!!!!!!! 


yup. that's right. he popped the question. now, by this time, most people reading this already know that we're engaged. but, like i said, this is an update of the last few months...


there is more to that story than i am posting. and i will fill you all in on the wedding details after the wedding. i don't want to give up all of my secrets before hand. i fully intend to chronicle the days leading up to my wedding on here as well as the things i learned along the way. hopefully it will help someone who reads it. 


so now do you see why i haven't been blogging? i've been busy wedding planning. he proposed october 14th. we're getting married in april. that gave us 6 months to plan. i needed to get on the ball. 


november flew by and in that month was my fiance's birthday. i was nervous about what to do for him. i mean, i've never had to plan something for a significant other's birthday...let alone for my fiance's birthday. i can plan parties (and weddings now!) like there is no tomorrow and they will be great. but when it comes to gift giving i freak out. i stress out over it way too much. so what did i do? went the simple route and we went to dinner at his favorite restaurant and saw a movie. i will have the rest of our lives to plan birthdays for him.


the day after his birthday, i woke up sick. the day after that i was beginning to lose my voice. the day after that i had no voice at all. i wanted some hot tea from starbucks that day. but had no way of ordering it. thankfully i had a small white board in my car. i wrote on it "hey, i lost my voice. could i please have a venti orange blossom tea? thanks!"


seriously, i did that. no shame. i thought it was pretty funny and brilliant. 


anyway, i was sick until the first of the year.


christmas was great. again, first christmas i've had with a significant other. we had fun. he got me a mop as a gift. haven't used it yet. said i am going to wait until we're married.


the new year was celebrated at one of my best friend's house. i was surprised i didn't fall asleep shortly after midnight. nope, stayed up until 4:30am. yeah, i can't believe it either. then, i got up at 8something to go to church. no, i didn't fall asleep during the service if you're wondering. i did have a nice long nap that afternoon, though. 


wedding planning after the new year has been kicked into high gear. all i have done the past 11 days has been devoted to the wedding. seriously, i don't think there is a day where i have not spent a little time working on stuff. i should keep a time sheet on it to see how much time i actually am putting into it. 


my fiance and i met a year ago on the 10th. we had our first date a year ago on the 12th. that was yesterday. we went back to the place where we had that date. its a coffee shop just outside of a college campus. neat little place. it hasn't changed at all in the past year. but my life sure has. i went from walking into that shop last year not quite remembering the face of the guy i was meeting to walking into it this year with him and knowing he is the man i am going to spend the rest of my life with. pretty big change if you ask me. i think if you had asked me last year if i knew that he was "the one" i would have laughed and said "who knows. why are you trying to rush it?"


actually, i did say that to some people. guess they were right. i should tell them "thank you" for being right. 


i think that leads me up to today. i've been sitting on the couch for several hours now working on wedding stuff. i took a break to go eat dinner with my brothers and had a great time with them. i've been back at it for 5 or 6 hours now. i decided it was time for a break. 


i cannot say how much i will post in the next few months. but i will promise to post the things i wrote in south africa. and, once the wedding is over and things have settled, i will write about the process of planning this shindig. i would say it has been an "ordeal" but then i checked to see what the meaning of that word is and don't think it quite fits...


ordeal - noun

1. A painful or horrific experience, esp. a protracted one.
2. An ancient test of guilt or innocence by subjection of the accused to severe pain, survival of which was taken as divine proof of innocence. (source:google)

i don't think it is painful or horrific. though i may think it has had its moments. as for the second definition, well, i don't think it is that either. wedding planning is something ancient, though. 

oh well. it has been an experience. and i will share it with you all once i am done with it.