The MASSIVE UPDATE

Okay, so I've been really bad about keeping this updated, and now you're getting the Reader's Digest version of my life update!

The fall foliage in Colorado is surprisingly stunning this year. I'm not sure why the fall is actually beautiful to me for the first time in a long time, but perhaps I'm not minding it so much because it hasn't gotten really cold yet. I can't stand the cold...or the snow for that matter. Thankfully, it'll still be in the 80's this weekend...but I know that won't last long. I was really struck by the awesomeness of the beautiful purples, reds, and yellows bursting forth from the tree in the Dolph's front yard. It's just breath-taking. This pic doesn't do it justice by any means! Just take my word for it...or come over and see!

Also, I got to go see David Crowder & Third Day!! The concert was SO MUCH fun with my mom, my lil' sis Manda, and Karin. We rocked out to some amazing music, and I just felt totally connect to the Lord again. I'm so very impressed at how music can touch us so deeply...when nothing else seems to re-connect us with Him. It's so very cool when you can sing to God at the top of your lungs, "You are my joy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Nothing else seems to matter than pushing out every ounce of breath in my lungs to sing to God.

"And He set me on fire. I am burning alive. With His breath in my lungs, I am coming undone. And He set me on fire. I am burning alive. With His breath in my lungs, I am coming undone. And I cannot hold it in, remain composed. Love's taken over me, so I purpose the Letting Myself Go. I am letting myself go. You are my joy, you are my joy, you are my joy, you are my JOY!!!!"

And now for a brief intermission in this long blog entry...sit back, watch, and ENJOY!


Now, if you really want to enjoy some Crowder...how about this beautiful worship classic...


Okay, back to the update...
I got to go to a new Mexican Super Mercado (Super Market for you non-Spanish speakers) with my mom and sis. It was so much fun! I enjoyed the trip thoroughly...and it even inspired us to try cooking some good ol' authentic food. I was reminded of the terrible Salvadorian soup Sarah and I ate during the Spanish Safari (which made us sick for 4 days) because of the "fresh cat fish" available in the meat section. I really appreciated the whole aisle dedicated to Cup O Noodles...it was enormous. I tried making bunuellos (stuffed hot pockets with cheese and/or beans). I have to admit, they were pretty good! Everyone ate them up! I'm sure Grandma would have some constructive criticism, but regardless...it was fun to hang out and cook with my mom and sister. We also tried our hand at making yucca (a root). In Bolivia, we'd eat this very regularly...it's kinda like french fries, but BETTER! I still haven't mastered getting them just like Boliv, but I'll keep trying. We got to have an awesome fajita dinner with all the yummy sides to enjoy! Maybe some day I'll be as good as my Grandma! ;-)

Other cool news of note: my mom got her second nomination for Employee of the Month for August! Good job mama. We got to see her picture mounted up on the wall at work, and we were all so proud!

Two more things, and we'll wrap this update on life up...check out how absolutely cute my friend Mikey is riding with my mom at the store. I mean, if this doesn't just melt your heart, I don't know what would! He's so cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We found the finishing touches on his Halloween costume. If you couldn't guess already, he's going to be Leonardo from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (of course!). We found his swords for the costume. They had to have "cases" to slide into or else they wouldn't do...talk about accessorizing!!


And finally...because I love sunsets so much, I thought I'd include a cool one from this week just to say...I love You Lord. And I lift my heart...to worship You. Sometimes the beauty of Your creation takes my breath away. Sometimes I don't understand the reasons behind Your will...or Your glory for that matter...but You still let me participate in this idea of LOVE. Lord Jesus, You redeem me. You save me. You want me to worship Your Father...You help me remain close to Your Father. Your Spirit fills my emptiness, and I feel restored again. Thank You God for Your love. Amen.

An Incredible Story

As most of you know, I live with a wonderful family, the Dolphs. Since I've become a roommate with this family, I have grown a special fondness and awe of the beauty I see in each one of these amazing people...a beauty that can only come from the Lord. I've learned SO much about living among family and friends and what it means to care and love one another with deep sincerity. Amazingly enough, I see this in many ways--from the loving relationship that has created this family...all the way down to the youngest of the four children, Mikey.

My heart pretty much melts every time I have an interaction with this "little man" as we have fondly nicknamed him. The latest outpouring of love that comes from this guy comes in the form of his daily greetings to me as I come home. Nearly every time I step foot into the house, I hear from all depths of the house, "Hi Jo-oi, is that you?!" I usually yell back, "Hi Mikey!" He stops whatever it was that he was doing and comes to greet me with a huge *hug* and a phrase along the lines, "I missed you so much!" I can't help it....I just MELT at the cuteness factor.

Needless to say, Mikey is so curious about God. Being four and all only contributes to this deep desire to learn about Jesus Christ and His sacrifice. I have been SO moved by his passion to hear stories from the Bible, to try to wrap his mind around why Jesus was killed on the cross (even though He followed all the rules He was supposed to follow), and his passion to learn from his parents and me on the subject. He can ask about God in a way that makes any believer excited about being a follower of Jesus Christ! He asks the questions every evangelist prays to have brought up in a conversation. Even if he asks me to read the Bible at an inopportune time, I cannot say no! There's no way I can let someone who's asking to hear from God's life-breathed Word be denied the chance to commune with His Lord. If my day is too busy to miss the opportunity to help foster the seedling relationship between a boy and His Lord, then my priorities are totally distorted. If my heart is too hardened to open up to the opportunity to learn from a child, then my values will never grow into the likeness of Christ.

I love where I'm at right now...it's a place I never thought I'd get, but clearly God is good, and He carries us along the way.

Steve's Passing

I have to admit...I'm pretty sad that Steve Irwin has passed away so abruptly. I don't know why it's so striking that he died the way he did, but for some reason, he had this invincible nature about him. Nothing seemed too crazy for him to attempt. Even so, what he was doing wasn't all that dangerous...at least compared to some of the stunts he's lived through!

Regardless, it's just made me ponder the shortness of life, and the importance of being appreciative of what's been given to you. I know how easy it is to look at what you don't have, wish for more, feel deprived for some reason, etc. However, I've seen more and more that looking at those aspects of life can be so blinding of the Lord's SPLENDOR that is sitting before you. It's so startling to think about how driven we all are by materialism...myself included. I just want to stand up and scream..."GOD WANTS US TO KNOW HIM!!! HE DOESN'T CARE WHAT KIND OF CLOTHES WE WEAR OR IF WE'VE GOT THE LATEST FASHION! WE DON'T NEED THE WORLD'S APPROVAL TO KNOW THAT WE ARE LOVED BY CHRIST ETERNALLY!"

Somehow, I can never manage to get that one straight myself. Perhaps I can be a part of that revolution the Lord is trying to ignite within us all...I pray that this is true.

New Music and LOVE

So, here's a few songs that have been influencing me:

Leeland's new Sound of Melodies

SuperChic[k]'s Stand in the Rain

and of course....

David Crowder's Wholly Your's

I'm re-learning how much God's in love with me...and vice versa. This music seems to help me remember some important facts about the love of Jesus Christ. It's infinite, eternal, transcends any other power or force of the world, captivates all minds and hearts of the human race, without it, we don't exist.

I think sometimes that I am unlovable, but really that's so far from the truth. I just need to remember...all you need is love.

A good friend also shared with me something pretty cool to think about...
Women/girls are like apples on trees. The best ones are at the top of the tree. Most men/boys don't want to reach for the good ones because they are afraid of falling and getting hurt. Instead, they sometimes take the apples from the ground that aren't as good, but easy. The apples at the top think something is wrong with them, when in reality, they're amazing. They just have to wait for the right person to come along, the one who is brave enough to climb all the way to the top of the tree.

Pluto, my new favorite dwarf planet???

Anyone else upset that the International Astronomical Union kicked out over 9th and smallest planet from the status of 'planet'??? I mean, honestly folks....do we really have so much time on our hands that these guys can sit around for over a week and decide that it shouldn't be called a planet??

Who does that?

Well, aparently, it's a big deal for over 2,500 scientists from 75 different countries. Now, if we focused the brain power of say half of those scientists to something that actually mattered like curing cancers, finding help for those with AIDS, teaching the disadvantaged and illerate to read...wouldn't we all feel just a little bit better about 1,250 scientists sitting around argueing about whether Pluto should be called a planet?

Now, I'm wondering how many of these scientists were paid off by book publishing companies who endorsed the change in name in order to republish books for $$$$. That's right...probably another conspiracy...or maybe not.