things pondered

It’s been a week yet it seems more like months. A week ago today I pulled into Stafford, VA along with my stellar parental units who made the trek with me. What a difference a week can make. This morning I took one of the MABC summer interns to the airport to catch a flight to Houston, TEXAS, big mistake on my part. I should have prepared myself for how depressing it was going to be pulling up to the airport and not getting to catch a plane somewhere…say, home!

One of the many things I have had time to think about this week is how much we take for granted the comfort of wherever we might call home. Just a few things I miss right now: coming home to familiar faces who love you for who you are, a starbucks with friendly baristas who enjoy their job and make the starbucks experience worth the 2.71 I pay for an Americano, friends to share coffee with, parks with trails to run, friends you occasionally pass on the trail, church family or even students coming by the office to just hang out. How about chillaxin with the cutest little red head at the park, zoo, tubes, Lolli’s house, etc…, being home when the world’s greatest sister makes the trip back from Aggieland, small talk with mom and dad, laying your head down in a place/town/state/whatev that feels like home. I miss having to solve the dilemma of being parched, waiters on patios who know your name after one visit, light shows over the water, the comfort of friends who understand the occasional need for a road trip, usually having someone to visit at the final destination of the road trip, avoiding smokers outside, fireplaces, I even miss pretending to pack or maybe just all the distractions that allowed me to put off packing. Who knows maybe by this time next week it will be a different story.

For every season turn, turn, turn…. They jacked that one from Ecclesiastes!

National Cheesecake Day

Is anyone else aware that today is National Cheesecake Day? The Cheesecake Factory was celebrating 30 years with 1978 prices at 1.50/slice as oppose to the regular 6.95/slice. Random I know. Cheesecake used to be one of my favorite things in life, especially tiramisu cheesecake from Cheesecake Factory!!! As of late I have not been one who is big on sweets but none the less for those of you who indulge…happy day!

HOWDY!

A little update on the move:

Mom, Dad and I loaded up and headed out last Wednesday, spent the night in Nashville and then arrived here in Stafford on Thursday. The Gaston's had us all over for dinner Thursday, it was nice to see familiar faces upon the arrival. Friday we just kind of hung out, looked for housing and then took it easy, after two days of driving we were exhausted. Saturday we drove South to Fredericksburg and walked around their little historic (everything around here is historic) downtown area, ate lunch and then continued on to Richmond to drop Dad off at the airport. Really the week had been great up to this point, telling Daddy "good-bye" was torture but it is just part of the deal I guess. Saturday night Mom and I went to Woodbridge and hung out around Potomac Mills we saw Mamma Mia...cute movie! Sunday morning Mom and I went to worship at Mt. Ararat, it was so good to hear Todd Gaston preach (I'm going to enjoy being under his teaching each week). After worship I had to make another trip to Richmond and drop mom off at the airport...another beautiful display of the water works.

Sunday as I was driving back up 95 alone I had some sweet time with the Lord. One of my favorite things is to watch Him display his majesty through lightning and oh my I got to see some great light shows on the road. People in Virginia do not know how to drive especially in the rain, so as we sat in the rain I opened my moon roof and sang at the top of my lungs! I know you can hardly imagine but I had to do something to keep my mind distracted. Last night the students had a Retro Bowling night which was good for me to have a chance to meet and mingle with my new church peeps. After bowling a few of us came back up to the church for a little volleyball action which turned into a soccer game of some sort. All in all it was an eventful few days that left me completely exhausted.

Pack Your Bags

As I am packing for the move the Lord has been speaking to me and teaching/reminding me of many life lessons. I am sure I will share as the days go by but the first was a flash back to Main Thing ’96!

The past couple weeks I have been faux packing and then the last 2 or 3 days I have had to really cover some ground. In the midst of it all I decided it was probably time for me to get rid of some of my junk, (I probably gave away 30 t-shirts last week, already this year I have said good-bye to almost 30 pairs of shoes). As I was going through old t-shirts I came across my collection of “Main Thing” camp shirts, it was my seventh grade year and the theme “Pack Your Bags…Jesus is Coming!!!” If I remember correctly, camp was basically asking students if they were for Christ’s return>

One thing I cannot stand is clutter because it takes us space and serves no purpose. That was when the Lord spoke up, “Erin, what is it that is cluttering your life right now, what just takes up space and has no purpose???” I began to ask the Lord to reveal the clutter in my life and to help me have the strength to surrender it over to God. Bottom line is, you can’t take it with you.

All play, No work

Ever had one of those days??? Me too. Today has been good so far though, of course I’ve only been up for 5 hours but still… At a time when these kinds of mornings are few and far between I am going to run with it, take it in and savor the joy! Originally I had planned to get as much packed as possible today (and that still must happen eventually) but I’m thinking all play and no work sounds better.

Keep things light and surface level and writing is not a big deal, why did I ever stop?

Cry in My Heart

I was running this morning, with my ipod and God began speaking to me through Starfield’s song: "Cry In My Heart"

There's a cry in my heart
For Your glory to fall
For Your presence to fill up my senses
There's a yearning again
A thirst for discipline
A hunger for things that are deeper

Could You take me beyond?
Could You carry me through?
If I open my heart?
Could I go there with You?
(For I've been here before
But I know there's still more
Oh, Lord, I need to know You)

For what do I have
If I don't have You, Jesus?
What in this life
Could mean any more?
You are my rock
You are my glory
You are the lifter
Of my head
Lifter of this head

Here’s the deal I usually don’t run with music, I typically listen to podcast but this morning I didn’t feel like thinking. Anyway, as I listened to the lyrics of this song I began to ask myself, what is the cry of my heart? What is it in life that I thirst for? Father where would I be with out you? This journey called life has its ups and downs but Christ’s love is steadfast. After about the fourth time I listened to the song I stopped at a bench and began praying… God I desire those things that are deeper. Man, I do not want to be caught up in the superficial things of this life. Father fill me up so full with your Spirit that when I encounter others they yearn to know what it is that I have, for what do I have with out you Jesus? The desire of my heart is not to know more about God or His Word rather I want to know God in a more intimate way and to allow the scriptures to penetrate who I am.

Countdown continues and excitement builds

There is this little countdown going on right now as I am 11 days away from packing up my life in Texas and heading to Stafford, Virginia. With the move come mixed emotions, best termed as bittersweet, some days more bitter than sweet. Really I am excited and look forward to what the Lord has in store yet there is deep sadness to be leaving family and friends in the great state of Texas. Therefore, I have debated in my little mind whether or not to post the writings of days past because I read back over my reflections I sound emo…and I’m not!

Did you know that having just completed the second week of July the following holidays were recognized?

Music for Life Week- A good friend of mine says that music is life yet they don’t even know the artist or title of most of their music collection. In honor of Music for Life Week I think we will play a little music trivia next road trip!
National Therapeutic Recreation Week- exercise is good for the heart; soul and mind so get off your lazy bum and enjoy some therapeutic rec.
Take Charge of Change Week- That’s right let change know who is boss…evidently I’m not and change is getting the best of me. No one likes change but I hear it is good at times, I guess we will find out in about 11 days.
National Laughter Week- This is one of my favorites; I celebrate laughter through greeting cards. Just yesterday I was spotted in Hallmark (by a window shopper mind you) bent over in laughter. Then sometimes I have these random flash backs to past experiences that cause me to laugh without ceasing at times…SPLASH!

FYI…Today is Eat Your Jell-O Day (and the birthday of comedian Bill Cosby). To be honest I am not a fan of Jell-O unless it is in a little 1-2 ounce cup with a few special ingredients!

That will do for now. How was that for avoiding depth, substance and reality??? None the less I am not emo.

why am i doing this?

Once upon a time I wrote frequently and would occasionally post those writings on a blog. It has been a while since I last wrote but thought I would possibly begin posting once again… Problem is, there are so many thoughts floating around upstairs but I have no words right now.