what? the weekend is over already?

seriously?

i'm convinced adding one more day to the weekend would give me enough rest to return to work monday morning and i would never ever complain about it being too short again!!!

soooooo. this weekend was super exciting and full of stuff! Series of events:

1. friday night i get off work, say goodbye to trev-trev (he went to arkansas and then straight to the cave springs camp in OK... he'll be gone til wednesday...sad face) and hit the road to the brothel (our fond nickname for our house, NOT for the implied slutiness, but because last semester, there were 5 girls living in the 4 bedroom house which is legally classified as a brothel in BCS). i walked into the house and saw lots of boys. not what i was expecting...being that girls lived here....but oh well. next, lauren, carly, and april and I made our reunion. all that was missing was assison! (and yes, i mean allison) :)

2. that night we had a reunion with the G manor, aka... bill howard.... and then i got tired and went to bed...

3. SATURDAY: took pictures of april for my benefit and also to use for the world race support letters she'll be sending out. what is the world race? http://theworldrace.org/ <--there it is!! that was super fun. and then we got prepared for the BIG EVENT: Carly McKnight and James Smith's ENGAGEMENT! he proposed at the george bush library pond and then took carly back to the brothel for a successful surprise party! it was great seeing them excited with family and friends. 4. round 2 of bill's house hangout later that night. i only have one phrase to say about that: lauren whisenant in the trunk. 5. Sunday Funday: carlly and james engagement pictures: be on the lookout... they'll be making their debut here and in the facebook world. then i saw my good friend for lunch. she challenged me and encouraged me with her faith. EB (as i call her and she doesn't like any more.. get over it) was a 2-3 month old christian when i met her at sky ranch as my co-counselor. hopefully she won't mind if i share that in the span of a year and a half she went from trying really hard to not cuss in front of the kids to accidentally saying crap at lunch yesterday and quickly picking another, less offensive word to express herself. for real.

um... i've been a christian 18 years, and you will still catch me unashamedly tossing a few curse words around. not that one's christianity is measured by how often you cuss. in fact, sometimes i don't think God even cares. but the point is... this girl has CHANGED. she is an obvious case of GROWTH, God's FAITHFULNESS, and PERSEVERANCE. the things she has learned and now puts into practice very well might out number everything i've learned in 18 years. my purpose in this is not to inflate her ego while decimating my own, but to really find hope in her story. when passion consumes you... you look different, you act different... when you choose over and over again the things of the Lord, life changes pretty quickly for you and soon just living life is your way of boldly sharing the gospel.

i love it. this woman is such an inspiration. i think it is easy to see wonderful things in people and immediately covet them. become bitter or jealous and not see them as inspiring. i also think that mindest is of satan. so i am casting satan out as i honor the obvious godliness of this woman. and share that i too want an intimacy with the Lord that radiates so brilliantly.

maybe i've gotten over the wonder of the cross. but i've been reminded of the lord's loving-kindness. as i study the book of esther and search out evidence of the lord's providence in plans and people, i'm reminded of this incredible God who chose me and just asks that i choose him too.

thats all for now. PICTURES next time! :)