The Golden Courts

How do you tell a team of incredible servants that you appreciate all they do?
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By holding a mock awards ceremony, of course!
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Welcome to The Golden Courts 2009~
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Hosted by yours truly, a.k.a. one incredibly dorky girl~
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As the doors to Court Street's Family Life Center opened, members of our worship team made their way down the red carpet and smiled for the paparazzi. They enjoyed a fabulous meal catered by The Wild Pear, and received awards made out of Play-Doh for such silly things as "Best injury sustained on a Sunday morning" and "Best faux hawk."

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By keeping the awards light and not self-indulgent, we emphasized the fact that as members of Court Street's worship team, our goal is not to taut ourselves but rather to bring people before the throne of God. That is our ultimate goal.

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But in order to accomplish that goal, these servants sacrifice so much of their time and talents in an effort to fine tune the worship experience, eliminating as many distractions as possible so that God is magnified. I can never seem to thank them enough for what they do, birthing the idea for a fun appreciation dinner.

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So, thank you, team. I assure you, Play-Doh will not be your only reward.

BFFs

Philippians 1:3-4

Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God. Each exclamation is a trigger to prayer. I find myself praying for you with a glad heart.

The Gift of Friendship

I want to thank you, dear friend.

You are a gift.

You listen.

You laugh.

You cry.

You hear.

You advise.

You understand.

You respond.

You share.

You open up.

You confide.

You love.

You heal.

You help.

You encourage.

You touch.

You glow.

You are fun.

You are real.

You are kind.

You are thoughtful.

You are wise.

You are vulnerable.

You are trustworthy.

You are caring.

You are addicting.

You are Jesus with skin on.

You are my friend.

You are a gift.

You are a gem.

I want to thank you, dear friend.

Darian

Here's an update directly from Abby:

Hi All,

I pretty much don't know where to start. The last few weeks Darian has been walking and having pain in his leg. He had shots on the 3rd of January so we thought it might be that. Monday we took him to the Dr, you then sent us to Salem Radiology for x-rays. The x-rays revealed something that needed to be investigated further.

Yesterday we had a appt at Good Samaritan in Portland. Upon seeing the specialist we were immediately admitted to Legacy Emanuel Children's Hospital. At 4pm they did a MRI which turned out to be bad news. The specialist saw a cancerous looking mass. This mass is located at the bottom of Darians left femur on a growth plate. Later that night (last night) they did a biopsy.

We won't find out the news from the biopsy for a few days. The specialist believes that it is one of two forms of cancer. The two types are called Osteogenic sarcoma or Ewings sarcoma. Either are not good. A team of specialist have been notified and will be ready to go when we find out the results of the biopsy.

Since it was a bone biopsy, Darian is still in some pain and cannot move his left leg. We are now at home and Darian is trying to rest comfortably.

Monday we will start on Chest x-rays, bone scans and more tests to make sure this hasn't spread to other parts of the body, especially the lungs where it likes to go. As we gather more info, chemo will start soon after.

Our Family is doing well. We are so glad this was found and we can start treatment. God holds our plans, and we know that amazing things will come from this. Its a new journey for our family. The most important thing for us is to remain positive. Please join us in prayer. May we all grow closer to each other and to God through this process. I love you all.

I hope you all know that you are always welcome in our home, and please feel free to call anytime, we will let you know things as we know them.

I hope this all makes sense-didn't get much sleep in the hospital, but wanted to let you all know what was going on.

Sending you all tons of love!
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak Kindly. Leave the rest to God.

Abby

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Please continue to pray for their precious family!

21st Century Friends

"Greta! Come to the computer and see this adorable girl named Sarah! You're going to meet her on Saturday at your volleyball game!"

When I was 9 years old, those words could not have been uttered, for they would have made no sense at all. But lo and behold we live in a glorious day and age where virtual friends can become flesh and blood realities! That is exactly what happened today!

Greta had seen pictures of Sarah on her mom's blog, LizzyG, of A Look Inside, and, always eager to make a new friend, Greta was excited to meet her in real life. And I was just as excited to meet the infamous Liz, aka LizzyG!

It was somewhat like a scene out of You've Got Mail, whereas I felt as if I needed to be carrying my favorite book with a rose in it, like it was some sort of blind date or something! Pretty funny when you think about it. As I entered the gymnasium, I scanned the crowd for some sort of familiar face from blogland references, but no one matched the bill. Apparently Liz saw me first and came around from the other side of the bleachers to say hello. What a fun meeting! We both had to laugh as we realized how weird and cool this was at the same time!

I think that other than the fact that Greta and I dwarfed them like we were strange giants, we felt like kindred spirits! So, thanks, Blogland~you done good!

Middle School Life

I don't feel old enough to have children. In fact, now that I have a middle school-aged child, I feel more like a middle schooler myself.

It's funny how, as parents, we tend to enjoy the same things our kids do as they grow up. When Gabby was a toddler my favorite TV show was Little Bear and my favorite movie was Babe. I spent a lot of time on the floor, like she did, and I rekindled my love of Pop Tarts. As the kids grew, I welcomed the world of Spongebob with open arms and enjoyed shooting hoops with them in the driveway.

Now that Gabby is in middle school, it's all about music, friends, fun jewelry and make-up~and of course, boys. I've already chosen my boy, but I can wear fun jewelry with the best of them. And it's fun to watch them giggle over their possibilities of BFs.

Yesterday, Gabby had three of her friends over and they eventually found themselves in a wrestling match with one main goal: to try and obtain one of their cell phones that had a juicy text message on it from a boy they all had crushes on. I had to laugh, because I remember doing the same thing, only instead of a text on a cell phone, it was a college-ruled lined piece of paper folded neatly into a triangular shape with the tucked-in flap and the words "open here" on it next to an arrow. Technology. The paper would usually end up torn and battered past the point of being able to read the coveted boy chicken scratch.

When they're over I start saying words such as "like" and "totally." They just come out, like they have a magical key that opens those middle school files in my brain. I like to hang out with them and get into their heads. It's very amusing.

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But really, even when I hang out with my "grown-up" friends I still think that we more closely resemble those middle school girls than any group my mom would have associated with when I still lived with my parents. Maybe things are different today than they were twenty years ago. Are people aging more slowly? Or is there just a whole new attitude? I'm not sure, but I do know that there's nothing like girl time, whether it's seeing my daughter with her friends, or enjoying time with my own posse. There's nothing like it.

Here's to the girls in my life, both young and old (er). Thanks for enriching my life!

Footprints on My Heart

Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart."

Heather and Nolan have left footprints on my heart. A "quick visit" yesterday to their home near Seattle turned into a wonderful five hours of laughter, tears, and remembering. They are a stellar couple that I wish all of you could know personally.

Heather's brilliant smile and cozy sweatsuit hide the evidence of what her body has just undergone.

I want to thank all those who committed to pray for my friend, Heather, after her recent heart-attack and subsequent quadruple bypass surgery. She is on the road to recovery and is celebrating a new life: physically, mentally and spiritually. This recovery road will be a long one, as she is unable to lift her infant for possibly ten weeks, and even the force of opening the front door would put too much strain on her healing chest at this point. Even going up and down the stairs to her front porch proves strenuous, as the incision down the inseam of her leg is extremely soar.

(Make sure to pause the music before watching the video)



Throughout it all, though, as you can see from the video, the fruits of the Spirit remain vibrant and ripe in her life. Her main prayer concern now is for the hospital staff in which she was able to share the Good News with, especially Nurse Sherry.

Their adorable kids, Dane 6, Molly 4, Cole 2 and Jack 2 months, will be returning home with them soon, which will be a happy reunion. They enjoy dancing in the living room while Nolan entertains them with his amazing Bluegrass abilities on the guitar, banjo and mandolin.

Heather's body will heal, but the scars will remain with her forever. She chooses to see them, however, as awesome reminders of God's love for her and wonderful tools for evangelism. Amazingly as it seems, she is actually thankful for this opportunity that God has provided her.

What a wonderful example she is, and a lifelong friend. Thank you, Heather!

James 1:2-4

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Heather's Heart

If you knew Heather, you would certainly characterize her as a sweetheart or a kind-hearted person. Her heart is always full of love and friendship. She was my classmate and dear friend for my six years at Seattle Christian, and I treasure the memories that I have with her. Heather was the captian of our cheerleading squad and was voted "Most School Sprit" in our senior yearbook. Her amazing heart was and still is inspiring.

1992, Senior picture

Today I found out that Heather's heart betrayed her in a horrific way. As I write this, she is recovering in a Tacoma hospital, having just undergone quadruple bypass surgery. As I type those words, I still struggle in facing the reality of that fact.

Having spoken to a mutual friend today, I was told that Heather had a major heart attack on Wednesday and very nearly lost her life. She had just given birth to her fourth child one month ago, and apparently the surge of hormones released during childbirth thinned the lining of the arteries in her heart and four of them burst. This is an extremely rare occurrence, from what I understand, and the events that led to her treatment were truly miraculous.

Heather and me, Sophomore year

I am told that she is expected to make a full recovery, and I would like to ask that you lift her and her family up in prayer at this unbelievable time. It's obvious that God still has plans for her here and that her heart will now be bursting with passion and gratitude.

Happy Birthday Abby!!!

Today is Abby's birthday!!

Happy birthday, my dear friend! I hope you had a wonderful day today, and that you'll have an amazing year ahead. You never cease to amaze me and I am so glad you are in my life!!

I love you! Remember the little Japanese birthday giveaway guy at the Mariner's game that night? I think he still thinks of us! : )

Thanks, Andersons!

Proverbs 17:17a says, "A friend loves at all times."

Thanks, Jason & Leslie, and the whole Anderson gang (including little Frankie!) for always extending your hand of friendship! You are a blessing to me and my family, and to so many others, as well!

Slushie Day was wonderful. The slushies were awesome, but the fellowship was even better. I am thankful that you are in my life!

I hope Frankie has recovered from all the love her received!

The Women of Court Street

"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." This is how the author of Proverbs 31 chooses to summarize his oracle of a woman.

As a woman now in her thirties, I have learned this truth full well in my life. As much as we strive to appear without fault in our external being, our lives are far more dependant upon matters of the heart. A bitter or unsettled soul cannot successfully hide behind a polished exterior for long. The only true path to becoming a Woman of Noble Character, as described in the Proverbs, is through the fear of the Lord. This is true humility. This is true beauty.

In reading the entire passage of Proverbs 31:10-31, it is easy to feel inferior to the ideal which is described. However, if we gaze past the initial picture that is painted for us, one of a woman perfected, we may see something deeper. Some have chosen to interpret these verses as a personification of wisdom, which may well have been the author's intent.

Perhaps you would allow me to offer a unique perspective that I was fortunate to have seen in action today at our Court Street Women's Tea.

Revelation describes Christ's church as His bride. We, as women, posses the feminine characteristics of that bride, those qualities that are unique to women, those that are described in Proverbs 31. As a body, the women that make up half of His bride, we fulfill the many attributes of the Woman of Noble Character.

Today, I witnessed first hand a woman that "works with eager hands" (vs.13), a woman that "gets up while it is still dark" (vs.15), a woman that "provides food for her family" (vs. 15), a woman who "considers a field and buys it" (vs. 16), a woman who "plants a vineyard" (vs. 16), a woman who "sets about her work vigorously" (vs.17), a woman whose "lamp does not go out at night" (vs. 18), a woman who "extends her hands to the needy" (vs. 20), a woman "clothed with strength and dignity" (vs. 25), a woman who "speaks with wisdom" (vs.26), a woman who "does not eat the bread of idleness" (vs. 27), a woman whose "children arise and call her blessed" (vs. 28), a woman whose "husband praises her" (vs. 28), and many, many women who "fear the Lord" (vs.30).

We are the Women of Court Street, but more importantly, we are the bride of Christ, a Woman of Noble Character. It takes the many workings of the unified body to accomplish the work that God would have us do. No one woman can go it alone. I am truly thankful for the opportunity to unite with you wonderful women in our pursuit of noble character. It is no mistake that we come together and celebrate on occasions such as this, for in fact, we are One in Him. We, together, complete the Proverbs 31 woman. Thank you for your invaluable role in that effort.

Proverbs 31 ends with this charge: "Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate." Our reward will be truly great when we at last will meet our bridegroom at the gates of heaven. Stay the course, Women of Noble Character! Jesus waits for us with open arms.

31 Flavors

As our Growth Group stood in a line 31 people deep to receive our 31 cent scoops of ice cream tonight at B&R, we gazed at the 31 flavors laid out before us.

It was obvious that some people knew exactly what they were going to order the minute our field trip was suggested. They order the same thing every time. There's no need to even peruse the options.

Others had an idea what they wanted, but glanced at all the possibilities--just to make sure.

There were some who changed their minds several times before hesitantly placing their order, then immediately second-guessed what they had just uttered.

Still others were so undecided that they resorted to having others decide for them. It was simply too much pressure.

Me? I am a decisive person. Rarely do I struggle with making a decision. I do not, however, enjoy monotony. I like change. I also will vary my preferences based on my particular mood or circumstance. Tonight, I wasn't sure what I wanted when I entered the store, but I almost instantly designed my creation the moment I gazed through the glass freezer. It was something I had never ordered, and it was perfect. Two flavors that complimented each other like Sanjaya and his hair.

Observing the plethora of humanity and their varied ways of choosing which ice cream delight to devour, I realized just how awesome God is. He didn't stop at 31. He has made each and every one of us so unique and special. We are each an absolute flavorful masterpiece. It is incredible.

You are incredible.

I am so blessed to have the many flavors of friends that I have. Each of them adds so much to my life. They are all a treat and I love them.

Tonight's ice cream choice? 1 scoop orange sherbet, 1 scoop chocolate fudge.

What type of B&R patron are you? Thanks for your flavor in my life!