addict

I love adventure.

Not like it's a secret or anything. Right now, I'm in my brand new tent from REI. Granted, it's set up in the living room. I love adventure, and when there aren't adventure partners I will pretend to have adventures.

Today, Dad came over to help me fix a hole in the bathroom wall. I was venting/complaining/whining about how none of my friends have time off work to go on adventures. He pointed out that Mom & Jeannie came on an adventure with me to Fort Flagler two days ago. (And yesterday, to retrieve the cell phone that I left there on the initial adventure.) Then he made a really good point, as Dads often do.

"Not everyone requires as much adventure as you do, Laura."

Hmm. Valid.

I've been rolling this idea around since this afternoon. I require A LOT of adventure. Hiking trips. Climbing adventures. Mapless road journeys. Youth camps. Mission expeditions.  I mean, it's a Tuesday night and I'm camping in my living room!

Tomorrow, Shannon and I are embarking on a trip to the Redwoods in California. We will get rained on. Soaked, probably. But that's the adventure!

I hate the rain in Kitsap county. It makes adventure partners choose to do "boring" things, instead. Sometimes the "boring" things are very worthwhile. But I was made for adventure!

Trusting God is an adventure.

"I have come that they might have life, and they might have it ABUNDANTLY." John 10:10

its nearly here!

CHRISTMAS IS COMING!!!

There's only one candle left to light on the advent wreath.

There's only one waxy chocolate left in the calendar.

This time tomorrow night, we'll be rocking out at the first of three Newlife Christmas Eve gatherings.

It's almost here!!!

life these days

Two of my friends had their wisdom teeth removed last week.

And it's Christmas vacation.

I have little wisdom to offer... but a few photos that capture life these days.

our happy Christmas tree

Melissa with 2 of the white elephant gifts from our Christmas party

UNITED worship night (over 500 people for our youth gathering!)

lip-syncing

I think I'm going to quit preparing lectures and just lip sync Bill Nye videos.

Today, I gave a two-page science exam to my freshmen science students. Already, I've spent 3 hours grading and I'm approximately 30% of the way done. Quick math tells me that I will be grading for SEVEN MORE HOURS.

Why should I switch to lip syncing Bill Nye?

Here's a sample test response:

Question: "Write the Law of Conservation of Energy in your own words."
Response: "Use green light bulbs?"

How many days until Christmas break????

the remotest parts of the earth

This morning after church I settled in for some Bible-reading time at Starbucks.

Acts 1:7-8 say: "It is not for you to know times orepochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."


My Bible has an added footnote from college. After "the remotest parts of the earth" it says "Pullman" in parentheses.

Today, in the midst of the deluge, Silverdale seems pretty close to the ends of the earth, too.

Waiting on God's power.

the most depressing song to listen to in western Washington

Amanda Conrad has excellent taste in music.

However.

On a certain mix CD (yes, she still mails me mix CDs because she is that awesome) there is a certain song by Eli Young band. It's called "When it rains." It is seriously depressing.

During the summer, it probably wouldn't be that depressing.

But there have been days this week when it never really got light outside. Yesterday, there was a thunder storm during first period. Klahowya (the school where everyone in my family graduated from) was struck by lightning.

Anyways, here are the depressing lyrics from the depressing song:
"When it rains, I don't mind being lonely, I cry right along with the sky 
When it rains, I don't pretend to be happy, I don't even have to try 
When it rains, Some people get down, They're sporting a frown, so I fit right in 
Yeah, the sun may brighten your day but if I had my way, I'd take the rain ."

And again, the answer is: JESUS!

In other news, Dad rescued a hawk with a broken wing. Random, right?

Quest for the can opener

It all began with a question:

"You wouldn't happen to know where my white can opener is, would you Laura?"

And no. No, I had no idea what had happened to Shannon's can opener.

"Could you have taken it to school?"

I had no idea. My classroom is a disaster area. Much like my car. Much like my bedroom. Much like my closet.

And such began the quest for the white can opener.

First, we looked in the kitchen (an obvious spot for a can opener). Then, I looked through the tub of random objects that used to live in my car but now sits by my parking spot in the garage. Still empty-handed, I dug around in my office and classroom. On the plus side, I did find my digital camera that had been missing for a month!

This morning, Shannon and I went snowshoeing at Mt. Rainier National Park. I couldn't find my hat. Or my gloves. Or my other pair of gloves. Or ANY of the dozen pairs of hiking socks I own. Or my left gaiter.

Can you say... INTERVENTION?!

There's a verse in Proverbs that I shared with a friend this week: Finish your outdoor work and get your fields ready, after that, build your house. Proverbs 24:27. (NIV) My outdoor work is actually indoor work sometimes. My disorganized mess is my proverbial field.

So, it was decided that after the adventure I needed to organize my life. Finish grades. Do my laundry. Put away the once-cleaned clothes overtaking my room. Look for the can opener. That sort of thing.

I unearthed four Sterlite tubs left over from moving into the house. They are now labeled: Clothes that are inappropriate for this season, Adventure clothes that should stay inside, and Skit-closet-clothes-and-props.

In the process of cleaning my room, I discovered the following treasures:

• My missing beanie
• One pair of missing gloves
• A lot of hiking socks
• My left gaiter
• Thirty-three dollars
• A 48-page pad of 12" x 12" scrapbook paper
• Posters for my classroom
• Many trial-sized toiletries for our school toiletry drive
• Two sets of curtains
• Christmas wrapping paper
• An extra charger for my cell phone

Staying in for a night (you know, to get the fields ready) I also was blessed with another treasure. One of the students from our youth group was texting me on the way home from her soccer playoffs. We talked about God's strength and the temptations to give in when no one else seems to care about God's plans. We got to read through some of the beautiful promises of Romans chapter 8.

"And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don't even know how we should pray, nor what we should pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words." Romans 8:26 NLT

If anyone cares, I also found the white can opener.

sweater fashion show

Hanging out with my friend Laura tonight. We hit up the second hand stores in search of some classic Christmas sweaters.

Here are some photos of the winners:

throes of the season

Life has seasons. Life lately is the major decisions season. So many friends becoming engaged, getting married, accepting jobs across the country, building homes, and starting families. Tis the season.

Listening to a podcast from The Village Church near Dallas. Of course, about Ephesians 5. I love love LOVE this chapter.

A good way to end the night, praying for friends to know deep blessing. Praying in the throes.