A Little About Love

This weekend, I attended a retreat lead by Brennan Manning. Four sessions later, I find myself reflective, with a renewed understanding of how thoroughly and deeply I am loved by my Abba...and how everything else pales in comparison. The sessions were intimate, maybe 100 or so people, and together we were discipled by this brother who posesses an unmatched passion for the transforming love of Jesus. He's pretty old and there were moments when I feared his gusto just might give him a heart attack! I am still processing all the insights, but here are a few that have stuck with me...

* I am LOVEd as I am, not as I should be
* My primary identity is being Abba's child
* Jesus is LOVE whether I am in a state of grace or disgrace
* The meaning of our religion is LOVE
* LOVE one another as I have LOVEd you

Brennan is humble, witty, and transparent...I could not help but be attracted to him. He exudes freedom, grace, and love and he claims this is because he knows his Abba and knows who he is...Abba's child.

I highly recommend The Ragamuffin Gospel if you've never read one of his books. (Just wanted to mention that I now own a signed copy!)

Where's the off button?

Cayla (my roomie) really ministered to my heart this morning. She arranged to have us borrow two bikes from some friends in Huntington Beach and we road from their house down to Corona Del Mar and back. I had so much fun trying to avoid being run over, taking in the beautiful views, riding the ferry, and hanging out with a great friend. The pictures don't really do it justice, but it really couldn't have been a more gorgeous day.

I have been feeling so blah. My sister and Jay left this week and I've just really been feeling their absence and thinking a lot about my friendships. Who are my friends? Who would consider me their friend? What friendships do I really want to work to keep deepening? What ones am I okay to step back from? I really wish there was an off button to this brain of mine in times like these. :) So Cayla's tour of the beautiful Southern California coast allowed my brain to rest and I was able to step outside of my blahhness. It was just what I needed!

Yes, I am alive

Wow! It has been a long time since I've posted. For all of you that were wondering, I am alive. If you are reading this, I am amazed at your perseverance. You still check in despite my extended silence.

This summer has been busy with vacations, birthdays, summer school, and job hunting. Summer is officially over as I start my new job on Tuesday. No, I will not be teaching. I was hired to be an educational therapist for the Center for Learning and Behavior Solutions. Basically, I will be working one-on-one with special needs students on their school sites. I am really excited for it seems that this position will really utilize my strengths and my experiences. We'll see how it goes.

The goal is to work this year, pay off my car, and save money. If things go as planned, I will be entering a clinical psychology program in Fall of '08. Just thinking about it gets me pumped!

On a side note, my nephew, Jeremiah, has been in my life a lot more recently (he lived in Oklahoma his first two years because that is where my brother went to school and has now moved home). I just wanted to say that being an aunt is the best thing in the world. I don't have to fight with him to finish his dinner. I don't have to clean up his messes. I don't have to discipline him. I simply get to play with him and enjoy him and then give him back to his mom and dad once he gets ornery. It's a pretty sweet deal...for me at least! :)