I Shot The Sheriff, But I Did Not Shoot The Deputy

(This Blog is being written whilst listening to Lovedrug and enjoying a cold Wingwalker Amber Ale)

Hello Cyber-world, I often neglect thee.... So I am trying to get better about this whole blogging thing, ergo this time it has only been 2 weeks since the last time I blogged. Nothing too paramount has come up since the 1 year anniversary other than truly realizing how blessed I am to be up here. You know when you are in something or doing something and you just don't take time to step outside of it and look in to see what you are a part of? Well I feel like I am just starting to step out and see how blessed I have been to be a part of this body of believers in Colossae. The closeness of this community is so unique and I am just amazed at how God has brought so many different and unique people together to serve together and work toward one purpose. It is still surreal to me that one year ago we were in a house with 20 people sitting in a circle on some couches and chairs.

One thing that is challenging is after a while of having things together is trying to stay continuously intentional and always seeking opportunity to serve and get outside of our "Busy Life". I am perplexed by this Diachotomy that we call routine: routine helps me to work well, structure my weeks and stay organized, while it also promotes laziness and a lack of desire to branch out. Shoot, as I sit here writing this the idea comes into my head of potential realization. "Am I still in this serving job because of the lack of routine that it gives me?" or "Is there structure in lack of routine?" some interesting Ideas, shoot I don't know the answers, haha.

So, I once thought that Carlsbad was SO unique with their flower fields; coastal hillsides adorned with multi colored floral arrangements. Well I just found out how impressive a 40 acre field of tulips is in oregon! here are a few pictures to visually explain.It was quite a sight to be out there and see all these ridiculous tulips. Kind of beautiful. I still am not a flower lover like my father, but they are very photogenic and I know that he loves them so I like to take pictures of them.

Next item on the agenda: SOFTBALL LEAGUE. So I joined a slow pitch softball league with some men from my church and some of our co-workers. We started practicing for the season 3 weeks ago and last night was our first real game! We were excited but also knew that the division that the league put us in may be a little above our skill level, since many of us hadn't played since little leagues. Well we got out there last night, and our hunch was right. I think the final score was about 30 to 1.... We scored our only run in the 5 inning right before they Mercy Ruled us, which for those who don't know what that means, they stopped the game because we were getting beat too badly. Well, looks like we have some work to do. I actually decided to go Gung Ho about it and start doing physical conditioning and training. I started a gym regiment today that will hopefully become 5 days a week. I figure, if we aren't good now, i might as well be in great shape and work my butt off to help the team. (lets see how long this actually lasts) but I am even changing my diet up, trying to get healthier.

Well there isn't much more going on here, just been working quite a bit and doing church stuff. God is good and life is good!

Ps. You should probably visit portland, because it is pretty legit!

My One Year Anniversary!

So truthfully, I don't really even know where to start on this blog entry. I just went back and re-read some of my initial blog entries from when I moved up here last april. It is amazing how some of it is so vivid in my mind and some of it is a blur. I think about it and I am like, WOW, I moved up here and truly only really knew like 1 person up here. I was lonely, jobless and curious to what God would have in store for me. The one thing I come back to over and over is just a realization of God's Sovereignty.

I was just talking with Aaron Chesnut from our church tonight at an Easter gathering we had at their house about the Sovereignty of God and the idea of God's Will. We were discussing the idea that without truly giving everything up to God and trusting Him, you can't see His will fully in your life. I can't believe how different my life up here has been than I imagined it. I sort of felt like when i moved up, a beam of light would pierce the rainy clouds and shine down, showing me the perfect job. Finances would be easy, church would be perfect, I would find a wife immediately, you know, everything Ideal. Well, of course that isn't how things went down. I couldn't find an engineering job, so I have been serving tables at California Pizza Kitchen for almost a year now, which has been good, challenging, frustrating, tiring and many more emotions mixed together. But I understand why we have trials and how much we grow and learn through trusting in God.

Something that I have noticed by living here for a while now is that maintaining friendships and life from california is much harder. There are lots of weddings coming up of good friends, and I am going to have to turn some down which is hard for me. On top of that, friendships that you thought would last, just begin to fade and you lose contact with people... but alas, this is life.

I think I could write about the last year for hours so I am going to try and wrap this up. This part of my life has definitely been an adventure and I am enjoying growing in my faith and learning what it means to truly live out my faith. God is continually faithful and I am more than excited to see what year 2 brings! Thanks to everyone for their love and support of me!