A new take on birthday presents

My birthday is quickly approaching, and I'm reaching a new decade in my life. Which is so crazy, and I can't believe I will no longer be a "teenager" haha. I think Kyle is excited that he will no longer say "my girlfriend is nineteen." Anyways with a birthday comes presents, and I always get questions like "what do you want for your birthday" like everyone gets as that day approaches. The thing is I never know what to ask for, and especially this year because I really don't need anything. I usually just tell people "eh I don't know, whatever!" But I decided this year I was going to be more responsible with my choices.

All I really want is to spend time with the people I love and enjoy some good food. Which seems simple enough, but for so many families right now that isn't an option, and that breaks my heart. I have been volunteering out in Haltom City in various ways, and last Tuesday I was leaving The Academy at West Birdville school and saw the line out the door of people lining up for groceries at the Christian Center. It brought tears to my eyes because there are some weeks when I go to the grocery store three times and throw so many things in my cart without even a glance at the price. It also was very moving because Kyle and I have made a commitment to sacrifice one date a month and use that money to buy cans and take them out to the Christian Center. It has been such a humbling experience and taught us the importance of serving together. So as all this is running through my head, I decided that I am going to take an extra can donation out to Haltom City on Monday the 25th, so they can hand it out on Tuesday (which is my birthday how amazing is that timing). I want my birthday to bring joy to more people than just me, God has blessed my life in so many ways and He has called me to share that with those who are going through a hard time. I've told my family that if they want to add an extra donation I will be using it to buy cans. If anyone would like to donate any money, it goes to a wonderful cause and the families really appreciate it. Just let me know!


The only other thing that is on my list is a few things from Toms shoes. If you have never heard of them, let me give you a quick introduction. They started about 3 years ago after being over in Argentina and seeing all these kids with no shoes. After coming back to America, they started a shoe company with the motto "one for one" for every pair of shoes bought, they donate a pair of shoes to kids in need.They have already given over 140,000 pairs of shoes to kids in need. It is an amazing operation, with tangible goals. I love wearing my Toms because along with being comfortable, they are eye catching and I love when people ask me about them so I can tell them of the amazing company. Check them out for yourself

love.

Lip Sync

NSM had their 2nd Lip Sync competition last night, and it was a blast. Their were 8 teams that competed, all with awesome acts. The admission was $3 and then there were buckets at the back for change donations to add an extra vote on to the team whose bucket collected the most money. All the money is going towards buying school supplies for The Academy at West Birdville in Haltom City. Which is a cause close to my heart. Those kids are so precious and fun to be around. I had the privileged to help with Kid's Cafe this semester, which feeds dinner to the kids who stay after school. I also just started volunteering in the Reading classroom, and had an awesome time. Each of the kids was so excited just to sit and get to read to someone, to have someone listen and show them attention.

Me and Jaime's girls had put together an awesome act in a very short period of time. I had been talking up our act, especially to Nick since his team won last year. I'm really not a stage person, but I had agreed to a very small part in the act. I enjoyed the time outside of church that we got to spend with these girls, and grow closer to them. We had many laughs, and crazy moments, just good time together.

And I am happy to announce that we are the 2009 Lip Sync Champions!! :)
We won the coveted glittery goblet of fame. Our act was a mix of Disney songs, including Be Our Guest and Part of Your World. I played the part of Belle in Be Our Guest, which was really fun. I'm hoping to put up the video of it, but I'm in DC right now and the video is in Texas so that's a bit of a problem.


I'm so proud of those girls, they are great and I love them.

love.

Excitement

It's been another week filled with things to do, but it's been a great week and it's only getting better.

Sunday is NSM's Lip sync and so me and Jaime have been helping our girls rehearse and figure costumes out. I am pretty dang sure that we are going to win! :) The Lip sync starts at 6pm in the Plex, and it supports the youth trip to Mexico, so come watch us!!

Tonight Kyle and I get to go over to the Kimmel's house for game night. Not just Susan's house anymore! It's always a fun time to get to hang out, play some games, and enjoy laughs together.

Tomorrow night I'm helping with Revive, which is an awesome program at our church for families with special needs kids. It gives the parents a night out, with free child care at a place where people will love their kids. It's amazing, I love those kids and being around them. Kendra is coming on Saturday! I miss those girls and I'm so glad she's coming up here to hang out for the day.

Pretty sure the weekend will be filled with laughs and pictures, my favorite. So expect them next week.

love.

Crazy weekend

My weekend was full of friends, love, food, coffee, music, laughter, and pictures--couldn't have asked for anything better!

Susan and Andrew got married on Friday, which was so beautiful and exciting. I went early with the groomsmen, and helped set everything up. It was so fun to be a part of their wedding, and just to be around for the day. I love them both, and I am so excited for them to start their life together. One lady asked me if I was friends with the bride or groom, and I said um both? And she asked me, well who did you meet first? And I said well Susan, but my boyfriend is the best man. So I'm here for both of them!! I loved all the opportunities throughout the week that I got to know some awesome ladies better. Through the bachelorette party, rehearsal dinner, and setting up at the wedding.

It was a beautiful wedding, and God was definitely holding off the rain for them. We were all praying for the rain to stop, and it ended up being the perfect weather for the wedding.

Kyle caught the garter, which was really funny to see my dad's face when that happened. Pretty sure that's a ways down the road, but he is such an amazing guy! And was a great best man haha.

Saturday we did some lip sync practice with our girls--pretty sure we are going to win! Come watch us on Sunday night at the Plex!! Then me and Kyle drove down to Waco, which was a nice get a way after a crazy week. We got to see the girls, and eat Rudy's which is delicious BBQ. Of course we went to Common Grounds, I just love it. I miss seeing the girls and walking to CG like every day haha, but we had a great time catching up. Then we headed over and watched Robbie Seay in concert!! :) love.

Engaging with others

I just love how much patience God has, especially when it comes to realizing things He has been trying to teach us for so long. I mean if I was Him, by the second time I would be like COME ON! OPEN YOUR EYES! That's why I'm thankful God isn't created in our image, but that we are created in His.

Something He has been trying to teach me for a while now is the importance of community. While I was sick, this is what I struggled with the most, being alone all day. It made me realize how we as humans are created to be around each other and not in solitary. But I think the devil has really hooked on to the American ideal of personal space and reserved nature. After being home and at the house all day by myself, it was weird to be around people, I would want my own space or feel crowded. Just because I had been so used to being on my own. But Jesus doesn't call us to be on our own, He calls us to be in community.

During that time, even when I was feeling crowded, something in side of me was screaming out to those around me, wanting to be near them. When my mom would come home from work I would just follow her around, wanting to be close and hear her. It makes me want to go to nursing homes or hospitals and just sit with people, hear there story, tell them mine, just be close to them and connect with them. I think that is something God is calling me to do, that's one of the things He taught me through the mono. There are so many times when I get to caught up in myself and don't focus on the beautiful people around me.

It's such a beautiful moment when I realize how long God has been speaking to me about an issue, how many people He has used, how many situations big and small. It's incredible. Realizing the importance of community has been a journey, and now that I really see it I know it's been something God has wanted me to figure out for so long. From leading a DNOW group, serving at Kid's Cafe with others and connecting with those amazing kids, a couple sermons (including Dustin's dating sermon tonight), and surprisingly while running errands.

I usually make a point to say hi to the cashier or any greeters, and carry on any kind of conversation they start, but I don't usually press them for conversation. This past week so many times I've been going through the check out line, and while I'm focused on getting my money out I realize I haven't asked them how their day is and we have had no conversation beyond "hi." I know it's such a little thing, but God works in amazing ways. The thing that keeps popping in my head is when I was sick, and finally felt like I could venture out to Walmart, I got to like isle 2 and was sweaty and not feeling good. I pushed myself probably more than I should but found what I was looking for, checked out, and was leaving. There was this older Indian man at the door greeting people, and he smiled at me real big and asked me how I was doing and if I had found everything okay, and he gave me a sweet little side hug and told me to have a great day. I know he probably wasn't supposed to hug me, but it wasn't in a creepy way haha. That moment just sticks out to me because he was going beyond his job of saying "hi" and "bye" and connected with me. It brought a smile to my face, and a little joy into the pain I was feeling. After all, isn't that what all of us are called to do for each other?


love.

Life from behind a lens

I have always loved photography, and spend hours looking through photo blogs. I've been debating buying a nice camera for over a year, and finally caved in a couple weeks ago. I figure since I've thought about it for so long, and bought it myself that I would be sure to use it a bunch. And I already have! I went out in my backyard the first day, and then to the park. Me and Kyle went to the zoo this weekend so I got to take some awesome animal pictures. I was a little upset because I forgot my regular digital camera to take pictures of us with (since I'm a pro at taking our picture haha)

I still have lots to learn, but it's so much fun. When we are driving now, I'm looking all around at signs and houses thinking "that would be a good picture" haha. Just wanted to share some of my favorites so far:

Easter egg funThis monkey was so funny, that is a carrot in his mouth

Giraffes

A bird

Nick sliding home :)

love.

Signposts

"The kingdom also calls us to be signposts along the road of life, pointing to the reality of heaven and our King. It calls us to hold that sign up among those who suffer. The kingdom shows up, and we stand in the midst of their suffering with them and declare they are loved."

I've been reading This Beautiful Mess by Rick McKinley, it has opened my eyes to the kingdom of God all around me. There are so many times when I get too focused on myself, or my schedule, or some pain I am in, and miss out on the beauty that God has so carefully placed all around me. I love that quote that says we are to be signposts, because it just requires us to go out into the world. To go out into the world and be an example of God's love for His people. To comfort people in times of suffering, to feed those who are hungry, to talk to those who are lonely, and to love kids. Because when we experience the full kingdom of God, either when Jesus comes back in all His glory, or when we finally get to His throne in heaven, there will be no more suffering, or hunger, or loneliness, and we are to be that example to the world around us. Jesus says in Matthew 18 "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

My goal is to become less focused on myself and more focused on the creation that God has placed around me. To let go of some of my self-awareness and run around outside in the grass like a kid would do, and feel God's creation around me. And to make sure to say hi to those I cross paths with each day and to ask them how they are doing, I am never to busy to be relational to one of God's precious children.

love.

Autism Awareness Month

My mama is an aid in the STARS classroom, which is for kids with high functioning Autism. The kids are in regular classrooms but come down when they need help with certain work or are having trouble in their classroom. I love hearing all her stories about the kids, the funny things they say, and their amazing abilities.

I used to go in every week when I was a senior in high school and just help out. Kyle and I had been talking about going in for a long time, because I wanted him to meet the boys. We decided to go in yesterday, and my mama told the boys we were coming in. They were so excited to hang out with Kyle (I was pretty much just along for the ride haha) and talk to someone who knew video games and movies.

We had a really good time :) Kyle played pokemon with one boy for a while and then watched another build a mix between Indiana Jones and Spongebob movie set out of legos. These boys are amazing, they all are unique and most of them have some extraordinary skill. Like memorizing movie release dates, or doing math problems in their head, or building sets out of legos. It was so nice to spend the afternoon with them, and to see a little bit of the world through their view.

It is Autism Awareness month, and I am so glad we got to hang out with these boys and see how precious they are. Autism affects 1 in 150, and is more likely to occur in boys than girls. There is a spectrum of autism, and each case is individual. But most importantly these kids are wonderful and deserve respect, love, and care. I am so thankful for my mom's job and her amazing heart for these kids.

Here's a website to check out more info on these wonderful kids http://www.autismspeaks.org/index.php

God calls us to love everyone and look for opportunities to reach out to those different than us and to share His love for them.

Babysitting

So I have been blessed to find an amazing family that I have babysat for almost a year. They have two boys and one on the way. I love the time I get to spend with the boys because they have such an untainted view of the world. Everything is good, and fun, and if they fall down or get hurt they forget about it a few minutes later and are laughing again.

Yesterday was a tough day for me because of some family situations, and I was having a hard time focusing on what was going on. On my way over to babysit I was just praying that God would give me peace of mind so that I could enjoy my time with these boys and give them my full attention and love. Man God is good! We had a wonderful time, they always make me laugh. Jack is a crazy man and runs around but whenever I sit down he always comes and sits on my lap or right next to me which I love. AJ is a talker, and can remember things so well. Whenever I ask "Do you know where I ate last night?" He says "Yeah." Which always makes me laugh. Or if you say "AJ how's your snack?" He'll say, "Doing good."

I brought over plastic lizards yesterday for April Fool's Day. I thought we could play a joke on their mom when she got home and have them say "April Fool's". But AJ told me "I don't want to say that!" So we had fun just playing with them, AJ would bring it over by my face and I would pretend to freak out and he just looked at me and goes "It's not a real lizard Maddie." I guess he's more mature than I am! haha.

Being around them, and my Sunday school kids, just reminds me of the beauty of life. And I am so thankful for the time I get to spend with them doing all the fun things I enjoy...coloring, play-dough, chalk, bubbles...I mean it doesn't get better than that!!

love.