The Wopsles: Chapter 3

Confession

2010-12-29T23:27:00.002-06:00

I suck at blogging. I get inspired but don't do anything about it. But things, I'm hoping they are about to change...

Change the 'tude

2010-05-04T16:16:00.002-05:00

Have you ever tried to inspire a group of people by simply asking them to change their attitude? Seriously, go try it.

In preparation for our upcoming recital, I told my hip hop class of 11 girls ages 9-12 years old that I needed them to be leaders at our upcoming company practice. Thinking that at least I could pull this little speech out of my back pocket when convenient I never expected them to actually take it seriously. So the next day when all 100 company members showed up hyped up on sugar, hopped up on adrenaline from the week, and full of little dancer energy, I was shocked to find them sitting quietly and doing their stretches when I arrived. I was so impressed that a 3 minute pep talk about being flexible and cooperative had impacted their actions.

Last night we had dress rehearsal at our performance space and and upon entering I could already feel my shoulders getting tight. I heard grown women yelling obscenities and making cynical remarks about all things that don't really matter. When I got on stage that attitude of my older girls (12-18 year olds) matched the heat of the lights boring down on the back of my neck. They were rude, ready to criticize each other, the production, and even me. I took it personally and hurries hastily through our practice time.

When I got home, I told Wopsle though gritted teeth the whole story. He asked me if I had given them the same talk that I gave my younger girls. "Why on earth would I have to give my older girls the same talk I gave my younger girls?" is what I wondered. Wopsle could tell my frustration and remarked that it sounded like even the oldest girls, the women, the MOMS! even needed this talk. WOW! We all need to be reminded to check our attitudes sometime, no matter what our age. There are some situations that we cannot control but that our complaining, whining, and fit throwing will do nothing to help.

Phil 2:12-14
"12Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. 14Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault..."

Changing

2010-04-29T13:17:00.004-05:00

Recently I had the pleasure of hearing The Pioneer Woman speak. She talked about the different hats that she wears, among other hilarious things, and spoke about how she feels like blogging is so organic for her and that it is something that she truly loves to do. I use to think that writing was something that I loved to do and that therefore blogging would be easy for me to take on also. Notsomuch. Although I do love sharing certain aspects of my life, I would much rather read about other people's wild adventures or even mundane observations. I live a much simpler life now, sue me. This thought of loving writing did make me think about how I feel like ministry is that organic thing that I love to do.

I also recently attended a Beth Moore (lerve her) simulcast and she made the comment that her Scripture memory was changing her life right now. Although this statement was just a transitional story unrelated to her main point, I was totally stuck on that statement. And it wasn't the fact that she was memorizing Scripture that I was amazed with (although I am blown away when people can do this too). Rather I was fixated on the fact that she said that it was "changing her life." Like changing as in the current process of, an active occurrence in her life. I feel like so often we focus on the "change" that occurs when Christ comes into our lives but do little to acknowledge the fact that each day His mercies and grace are new and offer change and renewal every minute.

That said, I am changing and growing and I want to acknowledge this. I also want to do something that actively "changes my life every day." I have a friend who loves to take photos and has started a 365 days in photo journal on Facebook. How fun, but what a commitment. All I can think is how miserably I would fail when I would inevitably look up on day 3 and realize that I had neglected day 2 already. I found a 365 days in Scripture website and this was the Scripture for today:

Matt 6:22 - "If, then, your eye is simple, your whole body will be bright."

This is going to be an interesting journey I'm going to continue on...

A Fresh Start

2010-01-25T19:54:00.002-06:00

I started my job last week. As cheesy as it sounds, I'm so happy to have realized one of my dreams. Something that I have wanted to do for a long long time I can say that I'm there. Livin' the dream! And do you know what? I love it! Through all the torture that was cosmetology school - the wackos, the poor grammar, the relentless days of working on a mannequin - it was all worth it the first time someone put money in my hand and thanked me for how special I had made them feel.

That's my mission now. To serve others through making them feel beautiful. I truly want my clients to know that when they sit in my chair, I am totally invested in their well-being. In fact, I want to come up with a slogan, or mission statement, or set of values and have it framed and displayed at my station.

I know I want the words "serving" and "beautiful" but I need it to roll off the tongue better. Any ideas?

Grammy

2010-01-04T17:45:00.002-06:00

Every day I remember my Grammy and the things that she taught me that meant the most. Today as I write my Christmas thank-you cards I will remember that she taught me how to give thanks. She led by example in writing thank you notes for each gift, card, or blessing ever sent her way often sending thank you cards for thank you cards. She was a remarkable lady and today I'm thankful for the blessing she was and will continue to be for what she taught me.

She always said these three things:

ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING

STAND UP STRAIGHT

REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE

I love you Grammy and I miss you each day.

New Year, no promises

2010-01-03T12:37:00.003-06:00

Yes it's a new year and if I refer back to my last year's resolution post I will undoubtedly be depressed and will cancel this blog altogether. So I won't look at what I haven't done but at what I am going to do. I just needed a little justification to get started.

I finished reading A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller just before New Year's Eve. It started off slow but I like Miller's style of writing so i was enticed to keep reading. In fact the first half of the book left me wondering what this guy was even writing about. Looking back, the entire book came full circle in describing a journey, or rather, a story. A wonderful piece of work in and of itself. I admire that greatly.

The second half of the book was captivating and left me wondering if I could ever have adventures like that. Some of the stories seemed unbelievable. Some were gut-wrenching. Some left me angry at myself and those whom I've felt abandoned by. All of them though left me asking myself what kind of stories I was partaking in.

After watching The Blindside I felt thankful that God has given me a heart to love and serve others. I strive to do that in everything that I do. I recently evaluated the activities that I'm involved in and, as humbly as I can say it, I feel like service is one of my greatest gifts. I love what I'm able to do, but I want to do more, for people, and for the world. I don't even want to be known for it but if I can improve how students love Jesus, their parents and their friends on a global scale then I've got something. If I can encourage young girls to dance with excellence and use the art of movement for good and to overcome the stigma of teen image, then great. If I can make people feel beautiful by giving them just a little bit of hope and encouragement through The Hope Portrait, then wow, what an honor it will be to serve God by serving his people.

More than anything, through The Blindside and A Million Miles in a Thousand Years I've realized that people are what matter and that there are people in need. Miller talks about going on "practice stories" and even though at the end of the day I can barely make it to bed, I intend on going on even more "practice stories" this year. Big things with big dreams and big expectations. Not for more notches on my belt, or pats on the back, or even a "well done good and faithful servant" in heaven, but for Jesus and for his people.

No, we're not having kids yet.

2009-06-22T20:58:00.004-05:00

I was very offended today when two separate people questioned me about having kids. Neither of these people really know me well so I can't be too upset with them, but it's the principle of the matter that just seems downright rude to me. One girl asked me about when we were thinking about having kids and after telling her my reasoning she said, "Well, you're days are numbered since you are 25." TWENTY FIVE!!!! When did this become past-due baby having age?! Last I checked 25 did not mean that your days were numbered for the having of the babies.

Oh, just wait, the next one was worse.

Another girl that I go to school with pulled me aside and asked if ::GET THIS:: I was having some marital problems. I responded with an emphatic no but I could tell by the look on her face that she didn't believe me. When I asked why she would think such a thing she said it was because we had been married "so long" without having any kids. Well excuuuuuuuse me! I guess that since I didn't have a baby at 17, that automatically means I'm having marital problems. Because I didn't have a baby and thennnnn get married, it means that my marriage is failing. Because I'm completely happy with my wonderful husband and best friend, doing youth ministry, living in a rent house, training a new puppy, loving my life, that suddenly qualifies me as a divorcee. Humph! I couldn't believe the nerve! That is such a sensitive subject for so many people, I mean, what if I had like a bum ovary or something?!

I do look forward to building a family....one day. I wanna know what you think: Is it ever okay to ask someone about their plans to start a family?

Days of Grace Two

2009-04-21T21:46:00.004-05:00

1. Living in a glorious new house with CLOSETS, CLOSETS, and MORE CLOSETS!

2. Having central heat and air once again, PRAISE BE TO GOD!!!

3. Work that doesn't feel like work.

4. Lovely spring weather that brings afternoons of tennis and softball.

5. Attending Duncan's Red Carpet Prom Event to see all my amazing students strut their stuff.

Blessed To Be A Blessing

2009-04-08T22:30:00.003-05:00

I've been wanting so bad lately to start my own 365 days of Grace inspired by my best-good-friend Lauren Germ. I might as well just go ahead and do it, but before I just started listing my blessings I wanted to take take the time to give thanks for my blessings. Each week in our new adult worship service we take the time to say "We are blessed..." and the crowd responds with "...to be a blessing!" It's a statement of empowerment for the week and really encourages me to start my weekly list of thanks. I could not be more sure of what I am doing in my life right now. I'm so not a morning person, yet I manage to wake up early, shower, eat breakfast, and skip off merrily to work with such joy and excitement for the day. Even though sometimes I can get frustrated with situations (that will remain unnamed), I still find myself excited at the end of the day to do ministry, wifery, and sometimes exercise despite how exhausted I may feel. This is due to nothing else but God's amazing Hesed over my life right now. That much I am sure.

Once a week I have even been waking up extra early to have a breakfast chat with some of my high school girls. The whole purpose of these breakfasts is to encourage each other by sharing how we have seen God in our lives throughout the week. I love these girls soooo much and feel so encouraged in talking with them. I am so inspired by their innocence and youth but also their wisdom and honesty. One of them told me the other day that she had been reading in her devotion about how we should do everything with a sincere heart and to the best of our ability. She went on to talk about how she felt that her attitude had been transformed with this consciousness. Mediocrity is one thing that I hate and so I really appreciated this fresh perspective coming from an age group that most people expect to just "get by."

I am blessed...

To have a husband who is my best friend, encourager, and partner in ministry. I'm so glad we got married when we did because I sincerely believe that we do better ministry together than we could have apart.
By my friend Katie who recently and tragically lost her mother. Not only am I inspired by her resilliance, but I am also reminded to be thankful for my own wonderful mother.
To live in a town where I can see a billion stars in the sky every night. It's the little things that matter.
To have had the opportunity to travel to countries with cultures different from out own. I love how deep and wide the love of God is!
To be able to dream big. I'm so thankful for the opportunity to fulfill one of my dreams of going to cosmetology school.

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things." Phil. 4:8

Cosmo School: You can't fix stupid

2009-03-24T20:53:00.003-05:00

So, I can't write this stuff. I couldn't even make it up even if I wanted to. I am strongly considering calling my friend Tina Fey or Andy Samberg down at 30 Rock Place to see if they can use some of this material in a comedy sketch. Because this is a scene straight out of The Office from the lips of Michael Scott himself. And yes, this actually happened in class the other day, I witnessed it with my own eyes and ears, and am probably minus a few brain cells for it.

Teacher: "Remember girls, today when you answer the phone you need to use TACK. Just use good manners and above all else use good TACK. TACK. TACK. TACK. That's what we need to be about."
Girl Student: "Umm, what is TACK?"
Teacher: "TACK. You know, like the opposite of being TACKY, but instead being TACKFUL."
Girl Student: "Oh, okay."
Teacher: "Yeah you know the song 'If the devil doesn't like it he can sit on a TACK.' Yeah, that's where that phrase came from. So, just remember to have TACK today."

Wow. There are no words.

Hippo Lingo

2009-03-15T15:07:00.003-05:00

This week I've heard/learned the meaning of several new phrases I was previously unaware of. I've tried to use them in everyday convos but usually find myself errupting in uncontrollable laughter which is ironic considering the words in consideration. So, here are the words. Learn them, use them, love them, laugh at them.

ROFLcopter

LOLer Skating

Failboat

I'm roflcoptering and loler skating all over the place right now just typing this out!

Cosmo School: Did you know?...

2009-03-08T14:34:00.003-05:00

Fun facts I have learned so far:

The thumb nail grows the slowest of all fingernails, the middle finger grows the fastest.
The technical name for the nail is the "onyx."
Hangnails are also known as agnails and are caused by a disorder called onychocryptosis.
Skin is considered to be the largest organ in the human body.
Dark skin is a better barrier to damaging sun rays, (sucks for me).
The technical name for freckles is lentigines.

So, me and my face full of lentigines are looking forward to learning about hair this week. Yippee!

Cosmo School: Day 2

2009-03-03T22:39:00.004-06:00

I'm so thankful to be reminded that ministry needs to happen outside the church. When I worked at the Merchant I realized that I had had little to no contact with unchurched people for many years. And again I am reminded of this fault. So far it has been an amazing experience and has affirmed me in many ways. Here are a few:

I thrive on building relationships with people - this is good not only for building my clientele but also in ministry. A perk I did not expect.
I'm a fast learner. From years of experience in the "I do, you watch, I do, you help, you do, I help, you do, I watch" method I feel very confident in my abilities to follow instruction and execute with precision.
My OCD does in fact have a purpose and I'm learning to embrace this quirk that God has given me. Obviously sanitation is a must in the field of cosmetology. I am meticulous about each step in the process.
I'm talented. I believe it's a combination of the creativity I've learned to express in youth ministry as well as the virtue of excellence for which I strive.
My ministry is through serving others in some capacity. I'm so excited to begin to see that my career in cosmetology will be an extension of my current ministry. I'm excited about where it will take me, who I will be able to serve, and, most of all, who I will be representing.

I can't wait to chronicle some of the characters in my class. I'm making friends and learning to appreciate each of their personalities. Everyday is an adventure.

As for skills learned...we're practicing nail care including mani's, pedi's, and polishing. Some might say that I'm an overly perky person but I really really really really rALLY, reeeheeeheeely, love what I'm doing!

Cosmo School: Day 1

2009-03-02T22:42:00.003-06:00

I think I'll give it at least another day before I post any stories, but here is one quote that is just a sample nugget of the day I had today:

Said with a 'white-girl gangster' accent, "An' I kicked his B-U-T, and threw him to the curb!"

Yikes. Expect an update tomorrow.

Back to School

2009-02-05T22:22:00.004-06:00

I am just thrilled to start cosmetology school in just a few short weeks. Excited, and albeit a little nervous, there is something so satisfying to me about acting on a dream. I have wanted to go to hair school for years now and finally feel like I'm a little closer to fulfilling a piece of my destiny.

Don't get me wrong, I loved OU and wouldnt take back a single moment of that college experience, but the education part of it seemed so tedious to me. I finished, but not without tons of grumbling, some cheating, a few white lies, a little smooth talking/writing, incredible friends, impecable timing, a wing and a lot of prayer. However, I wasn't too motivated to finish because I knew that what would be waiting for me would be more of the same work. And as my Senior Capstone professor reminded me, "Who really needs a degree to be a writer?"

I remember being in 7th grade when I got the news that my favorite cousin Molly would be going to cosmetology school. I let her practice on me. Even though she gave me horrible tiger stripes, I will never forget the way I looked up to her that day. That's where my passion began. From then on, anytime I would get a hair cut I would always think, "hey, I could do this!" Especially when they would try to style my hair (or load me up with hairspray) I always knew I could do it better. I regretted every prom updo I got in high school because I always walked away with a different vision for how it would have looked. Confession time: I hated my wedding hair.

So, now here I am! Finally persuing a dream that is inspired every bit as much as it is a passion. My cousin Molly passed away a little over a year ago, but I can only imagine the conversations that we would have had about being stylists - about our common dream, shared talent, and fun job. Remember to never take yourself or your job too seriously. Learn from your mistakes and dream big. This ones for you, Molly.

Two steps forward, one step back.

2009-01-05T22:34:00.005-06:00

I know, I know, it's only January 5th and I've already broken one of my resolutions. No Media Monday Night has turned into a Media Free For All in my house. Now I'm going to put on my whiny lil kid voice and tell you why. Because Texas is playing Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl tonight (and is currently losing with 2 minutes left, YES!), and we're starting our At the Movies series on Wednesday and have to spend hours and hours rendering movie clips, and we just discovered iChat today, and there's ice outside, an' an' an' well I blame most of it on the economy but at least I'm writing, right? So. SUE. ME.

I had a very productive and pleasant day of officing due largely in part to the fact that I now finally have a, wait for it, a desk. And if that weren't enough to motivate and excite me and, oh yes, allow me to adequately work, I also have a brand new, get this, office chair. Yes, as sad as it is I have not had proper office space for the past 14 months. Words cannot express how much I love office supplies and now that place in my heart is enlarged to include office furniture. Oh what a joy to be able to perform my job to the fullest!

(Texas just scored with 14 seconds left to win the Fiesta Bowl. Stupid Longhorn buttmunches. That was said in my whiny lil kid voice again.)

For me, for you..

2009-01-01T14:23:00.002-06:00

Tis the time of year to begin resoluting (is that a word? well, the act of resolutions, so yes, it works). During the Christmas season, Wopsle and I were deeply inspired by the mantra of Advent Conspiracy: WORSHIP FULLY, SPEND LESS, GIVE MORE, LOVE ALL. Thus, my 2009 resolutions done with SMART goals:

Set weekly goals in Marriage, Ministry, and Myself with Wopsle each Sunday night.
Disciple 2 girls this year, Tuesdays at 4pm.
Take photos more often with the goal of posting these photos to Facebook once a month.
Cook at least one home cooked meal each week, trying new recipes that we might not necessarily be so sure about. First up, Turkey Almondine.
Work out at the Simmons Center 2 times a week. Pilates and yoga, watch out.
Get back to No-Media-Monday-Nights.
Begin praying with our family prayer plan - instead of praying for our food, we'll have a specific prayer point for each day of the week. Monday - Ministry, Tuesday - Friends, Wednesday - Missions, Thursday - Missionaries, Friday - Family, Saturday - Our Reach (Duncan, Tri-Delt, The Merchant, Facebook, etc.), Sunday - The Church
Go to bed earlier, get up earlier. In bed before Leno, up and ready to go by 9am. (*Sidequest* Start eating breakfast!)
Write more for pleasure, not just journaling. Once a week, probably during No-Media-Monday-Night, have a creative writing session.
Begin savings for adoption.

Windy, with a chance of...BBQ?

2008-12-18T14:51:00.003-06:00

This is from our lovely "no-budg" Witchita Falls newstation affiliate. I understand that Thursday there is a 30% chance of showers, but on Friday there is....???

Fresh Ink

2008-12-13T11:18:00.003-06:00

Okay, so I've been away from blogland for awhile but, my gosh, do you know how much good television is on these days?! Every night of the week my lovely vintage sofa gets to enjoy my butt for a solid 3 hours. From Heroes and How I Met Your Mother to the always alluring Pushing Daises and Eli Stone I simply cannot turn my eyes away from the soft glow of HD greatness. Looks like the combination of viewer ratings canceling shows and the inevitable "winter break" will break this habit for me. Is that lazy?

So many new things have arisen lately and probably too discombobulated to even write about but here are a few big thoughts that have been consuming me when I'm not sucked into the 42 inches of glory (the tv, that is). This past week I've had the worst case of strep throat that I ever remember having. This is the second time I've had it this year but I truly thought that this time was my last, meaning I swear to you that I thought I was going to die. My tonsils were so huge that they were touching even we I wasn't swallowing making breathing, speaking, and oh yeah eating almost impossible. This has let to the heavy encouragement/cattle prodding from my doctor and mother to get my tonsils taken out. This weighs on my mind for two major reasons: One, even though I'm in my mid-twenties I am still a tittybabybunghole when it comes to pain. Two, I'm not sure that it's entirely necessary. In my travels to various foreign countries I've found myself questioning the legitimacy of some American medical practices. More to come on this development.

While in Albania, we were introduced to this website. The whole idea of giving presence over presents is something that I've been wanting for some time now but didn't quite know how to express it until I saw this site. Watch the video clip for a better experience of the whole conspiracy. Wopsle and I have developed our own ideas of how we are going to do this starting by giving our friends and families more of our presence through experiences. Especially in difficult economic times, the experiences are so much better than the stuff. Concerts, shows, plays, restaurants, games - these are all things we want to return to - living simply.

On another exciting but perhaps contradicting note, we've decided that it would be wonderful for us to spend next Christmas in New York City. This has been a long-time-coming dream for us to go there and we could not be more thrilled to begin planning this trip.

Honestly, I don't know how often I'll be posting. I want to do more, but I'm not going to get my hopes up by promising myself something that I know may be overtaken by time to watch Lost. So, so sorry.

Honestly Honest

2008-09-15T20:36:00.005-05:00

I've been confronted with a lot of honestly lately and it's beginning to get the best of me. In a good way. I've decided that we're not honest enough with each other in general and have therefore been fooling ourselves and each other if we think we're doing anybody any favors. There's quite a lot of truth that can come from being honest, if I may sound so profound, and I've always said to take truth wherever you can find it. My mother was honest with me the other day and I didn't like it. But it was because I knew deep down that there was some truth to what she said. Too often we let honesty take a back seat because we're too afraid of the reality of what may be.

So, if I can be completely honest, I want to start living with more to say. At work - I want to say, with gentleness, when I think one of my coworkers may need guidance. Not out of condemnation or without discernment. But constructively to build them up and encourage them. I've noticed that even the things that I've been quietly honest with, have changed the atmosphere of conversation around the workplace. And that's encouraging to me! At small group - I want to be very honest with my girls, and I want them to crave that honestly, that it may spur them on toward more God-honoring decisions and conscious thought. In my marriage - It's so easy to not talk about the difficult questions because we feel like we'll get around to it eventually. But I want to be spiritually challenged to pray with all sincerity for my husband and our life together. Most of all, I don't want a lack of honestly to cause unnecessary confusion or feelings of carelessness. So, can you handle the truth?

Camps Revisited: Week 6 - Dayspring

2008-08-24T18:58:00.004-05:00

Week 6: Dayspring - Dayspring has always held a special place in my heart because I will forever remember it as a camp where I made bold decisions to live, love, and lead differently. And I can honestly say that I honored most of those commitments. Going into this week I had the attitude of "If I can just make it through this week, then I'm done! I'm free!" I was already looking to the other side of the river without looking at what was even in the water! That's when I realized that my attitude totally sucked! And once again, God showed me that he knows exactly what I need and that it wouldn't be any more than I could handle. Dayspring is a magical camp - you know, where things happen and you're like "How did God do that!" This year I lead the graduate group and I couldn't have had a better group. Even though we didn't get to do all the special privileges like grads of the past, it was so incredible to be able to sit and admire God's goodness. While I was struggling in the "pong-game" of wanting to be home and finished with camps and trying to be love God, love people, and love camps, it wasn't until later that I would realize the fruit of my efforts. Just this past Sunday we had students share their testimonies from camp. I was able to sit with a few of the students and talk about their experiences and that is when I became thankful for enduring 6 weeks of camp. Other highlights from this week included grad group domination, Jello in my bed, a swim in the bathwater lake, and our midnight canoe trip with star tripping.

Good times, good camps, goodnight!

Camps Revisited: Week 5 - Tweens and Growin' in Grace

2008-08-24T18:25:00.003-05:00

Week 5 - Tweens and Growin' in Grace - Oh dear, where do I even begin with this one. I was hesitant to sign up for this camp because of my obvious growing exhaustion with Summer Camps and because it was organized through the United Methodist Conference. Little did I know of what I would be in for. Really the only reason why I decided to go is because my sisters were going as campers and I knew that I would love to spend a week with them. But oh, oh, oh, I completely forgot what it's like to be in 6th grade. If I ever have a kid of my own, I will mandate that they skip the 6th grade because I just don't think I could bear to watch them go through it! It's such an awkward transition time both physically and emotionally and there's just too many personalities in between. I'm so glad that I'm certain I will never be in that horrid grade again!

Anyhoo, as I was preparing for the week I realized something big. I moved out of the house when Caroline was just 6 and in kindergarten and Katie was only 4 meaning that I have had very little spiritual influence in their lives. So, in going, I was anxious about what God was going to do during our sister time. When I think about it now, I am so glad that I went. Here's why: organizationally the camp was equal to or worse than blind people touring the Grand Canyon, the overall program and teaching materials were probably written for tree-hugging do-do birds, and the team building activities were intended for a weekend at OU/Texas. Looking past all that, and in such a true showing of His character, God showed up and showed us that He didn't need flashy lights, rehearsed programs, or even a worship band - He just needed willing hearts. And guess what?! Lives were changed. (I'm writing this next part with a huge lump in my throat) My sister Caroline was in my small group and during our last session we asked the kids to tell about a time in their life when they first knew that God was real. Caroline responded with telling the group that she first knew that God was real when she saw our love for Him at our wedding. (Gulp!) She said that she has been encountering God every day ever since. !WOW! I never knew! Both of my sisters were changed that week and now live with a fresh perspective of what it means to be a Christ follower. Other highlights from the week include fun dance parties, ice cream in a bag, the "prayground" and excellent 6th grade quotes including these two gems:

Maegan: (after just waking up) "Ewww, my breath smells like a pet store!"

AND

Ashley: "Hey Amy, let's have a belching contest."

Me: "Um, how 'bout not. Belching is unladylike."

Ashley: "Fine then, I WIN!"

Camps Revisted: Week 4 - Youth Force

2008-08-21T16:49:00.001-05:00

Week 4: Youth Force - This was the camp that I was the most anxious about because I felt the most unprepared for it. Perhaps it was because I had never been or again, perhaps it was because I was not in charge. My role this week however was a familiar one - feed 200 students. I consider myself a pseudo-expert on feeding large quantities of people especially in lieu of my inability to cook properly for myself. But oh, when it comes to purchasing mass quantities of lunch meat and pizza, I order without hesitation. My other anxiety came from the fact that we were to be in Lawton for an entire week. Since 2002 I have developed a rather unhealthy hatred for Lawton and there I was to be living in Lawton, eating food from Lawton, and breathing Lawton air for an entire week. ( I just realized that while writing this that I was making a horrible scrunched up nose face.) I have no real reason for my disgust of this town except for what is hearsay. To my surprise, I actually kind of liked Lawton, or at least tolerated it. I learned to humble myself this week. And to do that meant not only serving in a town I didn't particularly care for, but it also meant loving strangers who made their homes there. I was amazed as I visited the 14 job sites where teams of junior high and high school students worked in the hot sun to re-roof and re-side the homes of Lawton families. And we got to know some of the homeowners too. Their stories were even more humbling. All in all, Youth Force Lawton taught me a great deal about serving the needy and loving the poor. Other highlights from the week include getting to be the shower cheerleader, the super awkward hugging man at Pizza Hut, the amazing 30-foot long ice cream sundae, and the best dance party of the summer.

Camps Revisited: Week 3 - VBS

2008-08-14T11:36:00.001-05:00

Week 3: VBS Sonworld - It used to be a dream of mine to be one of Barney's playhouse gang. And I'm not talking when I was a little kid. I'm talking like 13 or 14 years old I authentically wanted to audition to be in a Barney video. Why? Because I have a serious passion for queer songs and even gayer dance moves. I love it. So for VBS I naturally have to surround myself with all the music, singing, and dancing that is so teapot. (Put your hand out like a spout and you'll understand what I'm saying) This year our music was surprisingly High School Musical and, as you can imagine, I came up with some pretty inventive dance moves. Mind you, I choreographed every step in the car on the way to and from Dallas for my cousin's wedding. Did I mention the weddings I've been to this summer? That's a whole other blog. Anyway, VBS, songs, dancing, little kids. We had this one song in particular that we were practicing in which they galloped as if riding a horse. To better get the in the galloping spirit, I suggested that they name their horse. Instead of hearing the normal "Bob" or "Fred" generic horse names, two boys shouted out "My horse's name is Fohan!" and "Yeah! And mine's name is Shadesey!" And there you have it, Fohan and Shadesey, the VBS horses of the apocalypse. Other highlights from this week included getting to hang out with my wonderful VBS dance crew, figuring out that the lyrics were actually saying "Lord" and not "perv," and getting triple sick with strep throat, laryngitis, and bronchitis.

Long Overdue

2008-08-09T18:54:00.002-05:00

Camps Revisited: Week 2 - Falls Creek

2008-08-07T16:22:00.005-05:00

Week 2: Falls Creek - I know what you're thinking, but no, I am not pregnant. And forevermore when someone knocks the name of Falls Creek for being a camp of a bunch of sex-crazed teenagers, I will defend it and say "sex-crazed teenagers who love the Lord." And I'll go ahead and say it - my favorite week of camp. Wopsle led worship for Eagle Heights Baptist Church out of Stillwater and I got to go as a small group leader. I was nervous because of all the hype and because I knew not one student but they all took me in and loved me like one of their own cowpokes. I gotta say, Falls Creek is incredible. For those of you who may not know, Falls Creek happens something like 10 straight weeks in the summer every summer now for like 5,000 years. And it. is. intense! An evangelical based camp, students really do invite their friends which contributes to the some 6,000 people that come each week. And they do a great job of leading students to make decisions for Christ. Each morning a bell would ring from salvations the night before. One ring for each commitment. I never got tired of hearing that bell early in the morning. Not only is the evangelism spot on, but they also do an incredible job of praying with students, backing up their decisions with Scripture, and helping to know what their next steps should be. Everything was done with excellence, from registrations and free time activities to production and sowing long lasting seed. I may have just convinced myself to become a Baptist! Other highlights from the week include fishing each night in the creek and catching a bangload of fish, cabin food, theme night dress-up, and making lots of fun Stillwater friends.

Camps Revisited: Week 1 - Disciple Camp

2008-08-05T19:21:00.005-05:00

We're baa-aack!It feels so good to kick back, melt into the couch and re-enter the blogosphere! If I could only express to you, Internet, how good it feels to sleep in my own bed, not wake up at 6am, nor have to sweat it out in the dry dry heat 10 hours a day - then you might want to roll around nekked in a pool of chocolate pudding like I do. Yeah, it feels that good to be home.
But it wasn't all days of plastic mattresses and thigh chaffing. No, each camp was unique and had it's moments of hilarity and real life encounters with the Living God. So each day or so I'll be posting a recap of each of my 6 weeks of Summer Camp. After that, I promise to resume a regular blogging schedule.

Week 1: Disciple Camp - Ahhh, the kickoff to Summer Camps, little did I know what I would be getting myself into. Heart O'Hills in Tahlequah, OK has gotta be one of my favorite campgrounds because of the countless memories I have there. From the retreat where we played a game involving "purple prophylactics" (Thank you Timmy Coleman), to the two wonderful years spent with SJ Summer Camp, way too many Tahlequah hospital visits to count, and onto my 6th year of Disciple Camp. That camp and I have some history. This year was different...and difficult because of that. No longer was I in charge of the camp that was going on there, nor did I even have the opportunity to lead a small group. Instead, I was in charge of testimonies where each day I had the chance to sit with students and listen. I loved this because I love to hear about life change and lately I have been craving it. Camps are like a smorgasbord of God at work in the lives of teenagers. You get to sample nearly every experience and taste the goodness of Jesus Christ. I got full because of it. Some other highlights from the week included spending time with Toren Silas, seeing students conquer their fears on the trust fall, and eating way too much Arti-Toast at the famous Sam and Ella's restaurant.

You mean, you can't see me through that fancy TV screen thingy?!

2008-05-24T19:56:00.006-05:00

My sister Caroline graduated from 5th grade. Of all my siblings I feel the closest with Caroline. Not only does she look just like me but, my gosh, that child reminds me of myself to a capital T. I love all my siblings equally but there's just something about Sweet Caroline that makes me feel extra motherly. Maybe it's because I remember exactly how I felt when I found out that finally after 14 years of waiting, I was finally going to have a baby sister. Maybe it's because I couldn't wait for her to get big enough to shop at the Limited Too because, I was like, sooooo into the Limited Too. Maybe it's because I was there when she was born and I remember my soul wanting to jump out of my body and my heart fall out of my butt at the sheer excitement that I felt that I was finally getting to meet her. It was then that I learned how special it's going to be to become a mommy because no matter how a woman becomes pregnant, there is no other way to have a baby than attached to her body. Caroline is beautiful. And even though sometimes she is that annoying bratty little sister, and she hates to shop, and sometimes my soul still wants to jump out of my body (in a bad way) and my heart fall out of my butt (in a bad way), I would scale a mountain for her and would take every one of her insulin shots for her because I just love her that much.

So, she graduated 5th grade which means she is going to middle school. Yikes. But she is going to the same middle school/high school that Adam and I went to which, by the way, is ranked #43 of the Top 100 schools in the country. Thankyouverymuch.

At her graduation, it was no less than 102 degrees in the gym that was filled with 70 stinky 5th graders and their parents, siblings, grannys, and dogs. I'm frantically trying to save 8 chairs for family and as I'm walking to finally take a seat I see a familiar face. It's the kind of moment where you go, "Oh gosh, I know I know this person, and we just made eye contact, and even though I can't remember her name I know she's gonna remember mine, so I better wave to be nice." Then the waving began. And I start waving at this person and this was no normal wave, it was a big goofy slobbering tongue involved wave. This person, a girl, sees me waving at her and does the "half smile, is she waving at me look." It was still so crowded in our area that I decided to bypass the conversation until afterwards and take my seat. Still wrapping my brain trying to figure out which Tri-Delt this could be, it hit me. This lady doesn't know me from a hole in the ground because not only has she never met me, she's never even seen me before because she's on television. Out local news anchor, Amy McRee. Needless to say, there was no post-graduation rendezvous.

Dreamless

2008-05-15T14:24:00.002-05:00

I'm feeling a bit tired lately.
Uninspired and unable to dream.
My mother would probably say that I'm anemic.
But if you think that I'm gonna go get stuck with a needle to find out, you're crazy.

Decor

2008-04-28T20:39:00.005-05:00

I'm such a Design Star wannabe and Duncan antique shopping seems to only feed my appetite for bargains. And since somebody out there in Internetland let me have a blog, I think that means that I'm supposed to gloat about my thriftyness on here. Do enjoy!

We bought this buffet table for $125 at my favorite antique shop cunningly called, Oh La La. It was Pepto pink when we got it and decided to add our signature living room colors to liven it up.

This bird, along with his mate (not pictured) are my new pride and joy. I practically had to lay in the middle of traffic to get Wopsle to let me have them, even though they were only $5 apiece.

This was a coffee table that we found on the side of the road in Marlow. My favorite part about it is the fact that it is both round and square and you just don't find bi-geometric furniture very often. Oh yeah, that and the fact that it was free.

Oh the joys of making a house a home!

This Ends TODAY

2008-04-16T15:09:00.002-05:00

Dear Today Show,

I have been a faithful and longtime fan of the Today Show since I was 14 years old. Now I'm 24 years old and find that, sadly, my adoration is weaning. In high school I loved sitting down each morning with my family at the breakfast table and being able to watch quality programming that was both informative as well as tastefully entertaining. I have admired the hosts (Katie, Matt, and Al) for their outstanding and non-biased interviews as much for their uncanny ability to be real and relate to the stories they were reporting on.

However, recently I have been extremely disappointed with the obvious downward turn that the show has taken. I've noticed that Hoda has become increasingly more judgemental in her expressions and speech and with the recent addition of Kathy Lee, the Today Show has become nothing more than a glorified version of The View, ruining the good name of NBC and the former glory of the Today Show. Albeit, I do admire the platform of Kathy Lee, but that story takes a back seat to her blatant disregard for treating others as human beings. Today she referred to the alleged polygamist women as "freakish," right before she called for action to treat others with "class." Oh please! I didn't believe her for a second!

The last thing I want to see on television is another View. I want to see intelligent reporting, not the gossip girls. But I suspect that is exactly what you all are trying to turn the ten o'clock hour into! My suspicions are further grounded with the appearances of one Joan Rivers. Talk about a typical View performance. I guarantee those women will be at each others throats in no time! But I suppose that's what you all are competing with, so why not? I'll tell you why. Because I miss the heartfelt stories of tragedy and success. I miss the personal emphasis and charitable giving that was the Today Show before. Like I previously stated, I use to watch this show with my mother and father and never once did I cringe or want to turn the channel. Yet today, I watching with my husband when I heard Joan Rivers talking about how women "marry only for money" and "fake orgasms." Seriously? I was mortified and utterly disappointed at the lack of quality. I know that Joan Rivers has a complex that causes her to boast about herself and put other people down, but please, let her save it for The View.

Today Show, I'm appealing to you today to ask that you please remove the "Today Talk" segment from the show. If not, I can see the very near future turning into "'Today Talk' with your hosts Hoda Kotb, Kathy Lee Gifford, Joan Rivers, and Richard Simmons." Please don't soil the classy reputation of the Today Show any more! Use your programming time for good! I couldn't stand by and just watch anymore. Something had to be said and furthermore, something needs to be done. Please use your talented researchers and writers for what they are gifted for. If not, I know one right here who is willing to stand in the gap to bring positive reform to a wonderful show. I'm not ready to walk away from this show (mostly because I'd be walking away to watch The View) but also because I admire the work of those who have remained faithful to the integrity of the program, Matt, Al, and Natalie. But if something doesn't change soon, consider this 10-year viewer gone.

Thank you for your time and consideration,
Amy Wopsle
Duncan, Oklahoma

Sicko

2008-04-14T11:13:00.003-05:00

Me: "Ugghhh, how can I blogstalk if no one updates on the weekend?!"

Friend: "Well it is the weekend, people probably take a break from blogging on the weekend because they have to get back to their 'real' lives."

Me: "Well, that's what makes me a true blogstalker. I don't take a break on the weekend from my stalking because I'm genuinely interested in knowing what some people are doing every day. I'm a for real stalker!"

Friend: "Gah, you're so hardcore."

On my honor...

2008-04-06T21:56:00.006-05:00

This afternoon I went to the Eagle Scout Ceremony for one of our students. Boy Scouts is HUGE here in Duncan and literally I have not met a man or boy who has not been involved in scouts at some point in his life. So, as you can imagine, scouting. is. next. to. godliness. I cannot emphasize the importance any more emphatically.

During this ceremony I heard the Scout Oath recited about 4 times and the Scout Law recited no less than thirty-seven times. This being my first scouting ceremony and pretty much the closest I've ever gotten to a practicing boy scout, I was intrigued by the words that were spoken. These are the virtues upheld by the Scout Law: TRUSTWORTHY, LOYAL, HELPFUL, FRIENDLY, COURTEOUS, KIND, OBEDIENT, CHEERFUL, THRIFTY, BRAVE, CLEAN, REVERENT. And this is the Scout Oath:

On my honor I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country
and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong,
mentally awake, and morally straight.

While I'm not sure if I think that Scouts are the best use of time, I do believe that these creeds in which they pledge sure do have good content. Whether or not all scouts uphold these promises, I think it's important to have a life motto. Even my Big Brother application asked what my life motto is! Growing up, my family's motto was "Remember who you are." I never found this more true than in my Christian walk. Wopsle and I are continuing to pray about what our family motto will be but for now we're going with "Show them Christ, not yourself." Scouts, who knew?!

Weekend Update

2008-04-05T22:02:00.002-05:00

Let's recap a whirlwind of adventures from this weekend, shall we? Yes...we shall...
Here are some puzzle pieces that I will let you put together yourself.

Corndogs
Delayed flights
Henna tattoos
Underage bar visits...
Flat tires
Belly dancing 40-year-olds
Pooping on cars
Lemonade
Pom tryouts
Target

Ay-yi-yi!

Month Six

2008-04-02T13:46:00.003-05:00

Dear Friends and Family,

I'm anticipating good things for this month. It still seems funny to me, but through my confession (last post) I was able to experience peace like I have not had since we've been here. It's amazing how when I'm real with God, the lines of communication just open right up and my quiet times have been better, I've gotten more sleep, and I've been better able to communicate my feelings to Wopsle.

Never have I felt so close to believing in depression than in this past month. I was allowing my vulnerabilities to be validated through my emotions. But I'm done crying over it now. I'm here to make the most of my love for God.

On a high note, April 1st marked the 2-year anniversary of Wopsle's proposal. Yes, April Fools Day. We are continuing to grow in our marriage and love every minute we get to spend together!

Love,
The Wopsles

"but do you love me?"

2008-03-29T00:03:00.003-05:00

Lately I've been doing a ton of soul searching and what I've found is that I cannot rely on my own understanding but just have to trust in the faith that consumes my heart. I've made several confessions lately and it's true, I'm not crazy about living in Duncan. (you see, I'm kind of ashamed to admit it) And what's worse, I've begun to doubt my abilities to minister here.

In reading my sweet friend Jenny's blog, she linked her friend Bex who explains it so poetically that I won't even try to outdo it. (Keep in mind that both Jenny and Bex are missionaries overseas and in no way am I even trying to say that I come close to knowing what it is like to live that life far far away from family and friends in a foreign land. I just feel like I can relate to their sense of insecurity in ministry.)

Here's what Bex has to say...
” The other day I was walking down the road in a long skirt and long sleeve shirt with a head scarf and it was about 115 degrees and dusty and some guys were busy yelling about me being a foreigner and I caught myself telling God - “you know, I’ve been here seven months and I don’t really love North Africa that much yet, I could still leave and never look back and never cry much.” And I heard God ask me - “but do you love me?” And I’m not in North Africa because I love it so much, but I’m still here because I love God…and that’s reason enough.” Read the rest of her post here.

So often, my own complacencies allow me to feel defeated. It takes more than just a "can-do" and "make it work" attitude. It takes sacrifice and passion to endure anything that God puts in my path. So, in answer to the question...yes, I do love you Lord.

Team Chelsia and James!

2008-03-24T21:15:00.003-05:00

Wopsle and I are grotesquely obsessed with Big Brother. It would seem inevitable that one of them is going home this week, so in their honor I put a pink stripe in my hair. This picture doesn't really show how pink it is, but trust me, it's awesome.

Also, we're both sending in applications and video tapes to audition for Season 10. Get ready for Team Wopsle! We each have to make a 2 minute long audition tape and are thinking of creative ways to present who we are. Any ideas?

"Board, Bra"

2008-03-20T20:54:00.004-05:00

This year we spent Spring Break a little differently than in years past by going on a ski trip. Now normally I'm against ski trips in youth ministry, but for this group, it was just what they needed. Late Friday night, we loaded up and headed to Crested Butte, Colorado. It was refreshing to see snow since, as I have referred to before, Duncan seems to be a weatherless wasteland. I've been skiing a few times before but since I decided to snowboard, there were a few things that I learned/blocked from my memory.

Elevation - Whew! Crested Butte sits around 12,000 ft. which makes for me and my little lungs being extremely out of breath. Also, the dichotomy of the snow and the sun makes no sense to me but I am happy to report that only my lips got burned. Mr. Wopsle, on the other hand, no so lucky.
Fatigue - Ugh! I came to board, not walk. The layout of Crested Butte requires lots of uphill walking. Couple that with being 12,000 ft. closer to the sun, and it was HOTT! I don't remember being so worn out in all my life. Every muscle and joint in my puny body aches with snowing pains.
Snowboarding is very different from skiing...in a good way. I was not so good at skiing mainly because of my noodle legs and aerodynamic frame. I felt much more in control of a snowboard because both of your legs are strapped down thus eliminating the independent nature of the limbs. However, hands down, heads and shoulders, far more than, and any other trite expression you can think of, the lift and getting up aspect of boarding is the most exhausting/stressful time.

Needlesstosay, we are now 2 full days home, and I continue to feel the lactic acid burning in my muscles. I am very excited about going back again to board more. And yes, I do feel extra sk8r style when I get to say "board," bra.

Month Five

2008-03-04T22:07:00.003-06:00

I've made it to the conclusion that Duncan, Oklahoma is a very odd town. It's like we're in some sort of "Pleasantville" where the typical Oklahoma weather skips right around us, all women are housewives, and the town reeks of lilies and chocolate. Sounds charming, right? It's not. Sometimes I miss not being able to drive because of the icy roads, onslaught of torrential rain, or hurricane winds. I miss having conversations with women my own age and I'm tired of pretending that I have even a clue about what it's like to have kids or, gag, grandchildren. Sometimes I even miss the smell of the crap-factory in Norman or the Alpo plant in Edmond.
However, I cannot discount the incredible things the Lord has taught me in the past month. Wopsle and I are more in love than ever, and, like you even want to hear it, we really enjoy the immense quality time we are blessed to spend together.

Over the last month and a half I've been doing Beth Moore's Psalms of Ascent Bible study. I love that lady - big hair, Texas accent and all! Not only is she full of passion for God, but she is wildly intelligent and I have learned so much!
I also finished reading "Help! I'm a woman in Youth Ministry" by Kara Powell. I referenced her in one of the National Youth Ministry Conference (NYMC) posts and I just can't help finding myself researching more of her work and learning more. I've never really had any "heroes" in ministry (as Wopsle would say), but the more I learn about these women and their passion for serving God, I'm starting to crush on these girl heroes.

Heading into month five, I feel incredible optimistic about the opportunities the Lord is setting in motion before us. Laughter is one thing that I'm definitely not in short supply of. The other day Wopsle and I went to the middle school for lunch. We checked in at the main office, and filled out our visitor name tags. It wasn't until we left that I had made a mistake in filling mine out...Name: Amy, Visiting? YES!

Love,
Wally and Beav

D. Le. Shuz!

2008-03-04T10:23:00.004-06:00

Quick! Go to Maggie Moo's and get a heaping helping of their new Grape Bubblegum ice cream. Guaranteed to change your life!

NYMC Reflections (Post 3 of 4)

2008-02-27T14:42:00.005-06:00

I went to Cathy Fields learning track for the first session but decided to change to another one for the rest of the conference. I chose Hope and Healing for Kids Who are Hurting with Dr. Marv Penner. I was floored by everything that I learned and by what God did in my own heart through these 3 sessions. After each session, I walked away feeling exhausted and broken from how much I hurt for these kids, but at the same time I felt a sense of empowerment. I'm still processing everything I learned but here are some key points.

There are 4 kinds of helping styles including the preacher, the teacher, the hugger, and the surgeon. Determining your style depends on how extroverted or introverted you are and then your perspective on how kids get into trouble. I tend to be a teacher, believing that kids are active agents in the decisions they make (as opposed to bystanders) and I believe in pursuing relational intimacy in ministry. No one style is necessarily better than another, although all depend on the extent of your relationship with a hurting kid.

Dr. Penner describes self-injury as the "act of attempting to altar a mood state by inflicting physical harm serious enough to cause tissue damage to one's body." He also asserts that self-injury is not a "half-hearted attempt at suicide" but instead it is an attempt to stay alive. We heard many accounts of gut-wrenching testimony of young teens who cut just to see their blood and know that they are still alive. One girl said that as a result of long-lived suppression that cutting was the only way she could cry. It broke my heart and brought me to tears. For many years, I had been so insensitive to kids with this type of disorder. Ignorance was my cry.

Learn to tell the difference between issues that need your intentional intervention and the generic developmental "chaos" of adolescence. The truth is, kids will be kids, but if they are "crying for help" the reality is that they probably need it!

For whatever reason, I feel so grateful that through all the crap I experienced through having an abandoning alcoholic father somehow, God's grace allowed me not to respond in such a way as I heard so many do. Wopsle, in the same regard, was protected as well. How? God's grace is sufficient.

NYMC Reflections (Post 4 of 4)

2008-02-27T14:11:00.004-06:00

I'm a list maker. That A-Type personality that thrives on crossing things off my to-do list. I confess that sometimes even when I do something that's not on my to-do list that I will compulsively go back and put it on there, just so I can cross it off. I'm a sicko, really.

So when I decided to go to Jana Sarti's "Must Have Administrative Skills" workshop, I knew I would be feeding my over-achievedness. Using the mantra taught by her mother, Jana based her habits on the following rhyme: "A messy bed makes a messy head." I knew it! I knew it! I'm a firm believer of making my bed everyday because it makes me feel like I'm on time, my house is clean, and I'm well organized. That, and I can't stand getting into messy mangy sheets at the end of the day. But, it's so true! I feel unprepared mentally and spiritually when I don't give myself enough time to make my bed.

Although I felt like I knew most of the tips, there were a few that helped clarify my management philosophy. For instance, it's imperative that I manage my time first, then manage my ministry's time. Ever since my internship I've learned to make SMART goals, but learning to prioritize has further helped me. Another way to look at it is making A, B, and C priorities. "A" priorities are those that move me toward a major goal. "B" priorities are those secondary in importance and time sensitivity and "C" priorities are more like goals that would be nice to do.

Last and perhaps most important, I've learned that I need to honor God with my time. So, as I will continue to make my to-do lists, I have now started writing a reminder at the top of the paper. It says "am I being a good steward of the time God has given me."

NYMC Reflections (Post 2 of 4)

2008-02-27T13:48:00.003-06:00

Throughout the course of the weekend, there was a combination of workshops and deeper learning tracks available. Originally I had preenrolled for one called Thriving As a Youth Pastor's Spouse: How to balance marriage, family, and yourself amidst ministry led by the sprite and incomperable Cathy Fields. Between that and Kara Powell's Balancing Ministry, Marriage, Motherhood, and More class, I picked up more than a few take-home nuggets. Here are some highlights:

Saying "no" to something in ministry is not the same as saying "no" to God. I need to remember that everytime I say "yes" to something, I'm saying "no" to something else.
The Sabbath - although it seems like it should be the easiest commandment to follow, it is often the most violated one by Christians. Sabbath is not an option and in fact is both a day and an attitude.
Superficial Relationships - For me, I realized that one of the reasons why I don't have regular accountability is because I'm too busy for anything superficial. I want depth, not fluff. Ask me the difficult questions!
If God is the great I AM, that means I am the great I AM NOT! Balance will only be possible when we realize that God is God, and I AM NOT!

NYMC Reflections (Post 1 of 4)

2008-02-26T14:44:00.005-06:00

Well we're home from chilly Cincy and, overall, this conference exceeded our expectations. So over the next 4 days I'll be sharing some of the more interesting points of the National Youth Ministry Conference '08.

The first workshop I attended was led by the FAB-U-LOUS (Dr.) Kara Powell and was called "Balancing Ministry, Marriage, Motherhood, and More." Allow me to chase a brief rabbit trail: This is the second ministry related conference I have been to and I've noticed that many people's main agenda for these weekends is to show off their babies. Don't get me wrong, I like babies, in fact, I love babies. But quit slapping me in the face with them! It's like "we have a baby, see my baby, my baby poops, my baby rides in a stroller, my baby deserves your attention, why aren't you looking at my baby parade!" I just don't understand the flagrant baby-one-upping done by couples in ministry. Maybe someday I will, but until then I'll just use this annoyance as free birth control.
....And back to the workshop....It was wonderfully executed and presented with discussion, worksheets, and relevant facts related to women in ministry. Perhaps the most significant thing I learned from this particular workshop was over some of Kara's research. She studied a group of college students who had been active in their high school youth groups. Her goal was to see why some students struggled with their faith once they got into college. Aside from the obvious pressures, here's what she and her team discovered. It was found that students who struggled had parents who were talking to them about their (the students) faith. The students who were solid in their faith foundation had parents who were talking to them about their own (the parents) faith. You see, real faith takes leading by example and teaching through their own struggles and successes. While I don't think that this is always the case, I think it does speak to how families communicate.

That night we had the astute privilege of listening to the great Tony Dungy give a keynote address. What a passionate and humble man. Again, he reinforced this idea of family involvement by saying that it is family who primarily installs the truth and secondarily spiritual mentors who reinforce those principles. Coach Dungy talked about how four of every five of his players grew up in a single-parent home. He attributed their success to mentors and teachers they had in high school and in their churches. He left us with three final thoughts of how to help reach both the athlete as well as the non-athlete. #1. Learn your craft and never stop learning. #2. Make it personal (take personal interest in who and what you are doing) and above all Be Yourself! #3. Recharge by Relying on Christ.
Proverbs 21:31 - The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord.

Answered Prayers

2008-02-20T23:56:00.001-06:00

This semester I have the privilege of leading the 7th grade girls CORE group. I love leading this age because I'm always surprised at what they come up with. As I'm sure you can imagine, middle school can be a difficult time, especially for girls. So this week as I was preparing my lesson, I took some extra time to pray, by name, for each girl. I know I shouldn't be, but I was shocked at how the Lord answered my prayers this week. Allow me to explain.

Right now I'm going through Beth Moore's Psalms of Ascent Bible study with a group of women at the church. (Powerful stuff, but that's a whole other blessing to describe.) On Sunday, my study led me to think and reflect on oppressive situations. I thought and prayed through how much of our reactions are based on other's actions. I felt strongly that the Lord was telling me to share this word with my 7th graders. In my mind, however, I was thinking "what does this have to do with what they're going through?" That's when God reassured me that he would show me. Sure enough, Sunday afternoon some of my girls called to ask if they could come over a little bit early to talk about a problem they were having. I wasn't surprised when they wanted to talk about some issues they were having with their group of girl friends. It was awesome to see God speak straight to their hearts and bring healing and comfort to their situation. I was encouraged even more when our Bible study that night talked about loving others even in difficult situations. The girls and I learned alot that night but more than anything we saw firsthand at how awesome a God we serve!

Month Four

2008-02-04T20:55:00.000-06:00

Dear Friends and Family,

I feel like I should be writing "Month Twelve" by now and I can't believe it has only been just four. Wopsle and I took advantage of the amazingsummerweather and went on a walk tonight. Tonight was a night to take everything in from the past month. We smelled the fresh wet air, got a Chisholm Corner beverage, and listened to the quiet quiet sounds of Duncan at dusk. It's beautiful. The sound of silence is a wonderful calming sound and I swear you can see every star in God's big beautiful night sky.

This past month has been a whirlwind. We have gone back and forth in evaluating our purposes for the ministry as well as for our lives. I posted recently about some internal struggles I've been having on my own. Here's what I know. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I love the Lord with all my heart. I know that I love seeing life change and thrive on the ministry that I have with my husband. I know he is the love of my life and I'm a better person because of him. And I know that God has given me so many amazing gifts and talents. I know that there is much work to be done for the Kingdom and I am a small small part of that. So, therefore I know I be okay.

This past month I have discovered a new favorite movie in Juno. I love the cleverness of this film as well as the outstanding soundtrack it provides. I do not like the message of high school relationship working out as the result of a pregnancy. It's a cute, great, hilarious movie nonetheless. This movie also somehow managed to brainwash me into thinking that I wanted a baby. No, we are not pregnant although we did each have our first baby dream. Wopsle's included me naming our baby girl "God Yahweh Wopsle" and in mine I named the baby "Jaime Oliver Wopsle." He's a cook on Food Network in case you were wondering.

So, in order to silence those rediculous pregnancy cravings, we decided to get a dog. But alas, the iron fist of our Landlord came down with an absolute negative. Doesn't she know that babies poop more than dogs? I'll show her. Anyway, so through a series of unfortunate events, we inherited 50 Wal-Mart goldfist. That's kinda like kids, right? Anyhoo, we're down to 20 fish now and aren't they just a barrell of monkeys?! There's Carrot Top, and Big Whitie, and Favorite, and Hiro, and Dot, and Shark, and Blackie, and Poophead. The rest all look too much alike to name. To date, not a single one that we have named has died. We'll see.

So, to recap the month: Duncan smells good, God is good all the time, I'm not pregnant, and we have a fish named Poophead. Life is a chair of bowlies!

Love,
The Wopsles

Sick Time

2008-01-31T23:17:00.000-06:00

Well, here I am. Day 3 of sickness and my butt is still glued to my couch. My house looks like a the Oklahoma wind came sweeping through it and my hair is greasy enough to coat a cookie sheet. I'm thankful that I'm finally starting to feel better and move on from the monotony of the past three days.

I have watched at least 30 hours of television. My new favorite show is called Vacation Home Hunters on the Travel Channel. I watched a couple purchase a home, a vacation home that is, for 4 million dollars. E-Gad.

I have logged a stupid 22 hours playing Paper Mario. This role playing game is better than any drugs the doctor gave me. And yes, mom, my eyes are now crossed for good. Woops!

I've read most of Every Woman's Marriage. A great book for wives in all stages of marriage to read. Yesterday, I spent alot of time praying about what the phrase "Until we are parted by death." I got particularly sad in thinking about several losses I have endured over the past few years and not that I wasnt grateful before, but I realized how much Wopsle had sacrificed these past few days to care for me. I love him because he is so much more than a loving husband, he is my best friend.

ONE

2008-01-18T10:46:00.000-06:00

Last week, Wopsle and I sang this song as a duet in church. That week we were really connecting with the simplicity of the lyrics and just tried our hardest to make it our prayer for our ministry. This week, I feel like it is even more of what I need to be praying. Have you ever felt like you suck at multitasking? This week I have had the overwhelming feeling that I'm good at many things, but am I really doing just ONE with greatness? Yesterday I got really down on myself for this and that's when I realized that instead of trying to figure out what that one thing is that I can excel at, I should just instead make God my ONE. Here's this beautiful simple song by Watermark.

Give me one pure and holy passion

Give me one magnificent obsession

Give me one glorious ambition for my life

To know and follow hard after you

To grow as your disciple and your truth

This world is empty pale and poor

Compared to knowing you my Lord

Lead me on and I will run after you!

"OMG girlfriend! I just passed my driver's test!"

2008-01-15T13:45:00.000-06:00

This past weekend I realized that my driver's license had expired...back in September. Now, see what had happened was, uh, that since I had it renewed right after we got married (almost a year and five months ago, thankyouverymuch) I thought I was good-to-go for another couple of years at least. (Point of Interest: I had one of the old laminated licenses up until I renewed last, yucky.) Well, apparently the expiration date stays the same from when I had first gotten it. So, I had been one of those "illegals" for almost four months now and was informed when I tried to renew today that I would have to first go to the Stephens County Driving Test Office. ErrrrrrrrrrT. Wait just a second, hold up there, you mean, I might have to take some kind of driving test?!?
Turns out no, but I did have to show my passport and got a lengthy lecture on my expired license from the driving instructor who was no less than 109 years old. What does he know about driving anyway? So, I'm legal again and this weekend me and my homies are planning on cruising the drag. Peace out, yo.

REALLY?!...new petnames

2008-01-11T22:03:00.000-06:00

The Leave it to Beaver Christmas Story:

I've already had a few inquiries, so here goes, because I think it's just that gosh darn funny. The following conversation happened on December 24, 2007.

Wopsle: (rolls over as we were waking up) "Happy Merry Christmas Eve."
Amy: (somewhat puzzled look) "Merry Christmas Wally."
Wopsle: (really confused look) "Wally?"
Amy: "Yeah, didn't you say 'Happy Merry Christmas Beav'? I thought you were trying to be corny and cute."
Wopsle: "Who says that? Or for that matter, who makes Leave It to Beaver references? You're the weirdest person I know."
Amy: "I know, I love you Wally."
Wopsle: "I love you too, Beav."

X2 - As an extra added bonus laugh, here's what happened last Christmas.

Amy: (we're at Target) "Oh, look! They sell Chi Straighteners at Target now!"
Wopsle: (moment of realization) "Ohhhhh, CHIIIIII, space, STRAIGHT-EN-ERS. That makes a lot more sense."
Amy: "What do you mean?"
Wopsle: "Well, I heard you say that you wanted one and so I came in here the other day asking if they had a 'Cheese Straightener.' I thought maybe it was something for the kitchen. I even tried to search for it online. This makes so much more sense now!"

Month Three

2008-01-07T22:24:00.000-06:00

Dear Friends and Family,

Can you tell my New Year's resolutions are already off to a good start? I'm late with my first newsletter of 2008. What does that say about me?

Being late is, without a doubt, my worst habit. I thought that living in a tiny town would help me out too due to proximity, but lo, I am still late. This is such a rude habit, one that I am ashamed to admit because not only does it look bad on me but it reflects onto my husband also. So, as difficult as it has been, I have been taking tiny steps to contribute to my timeliness.
- I've started exercising. I do not work out, in fact, I loathe the process, but my body requires the strength. I got a new stability ball for Christmas and DVD to accompany it. My first workout I got through 12 of 30 minutes in the DVD and felt like someone had squeezed my legs like a tube of toothpaste. It was miserable, it was sweaty, it was exhausting, but it was necessary and the next day, I felt great. I'm currently working out 3 days a week. Be proud.
- I've been trying to be in bed by 11pm. No matter how it pains me to just lay there, I know that I have to wind down and relax. I read and sometimes write. This is a great time of day for me.
- I've been setting my alarm. Even if I have no job responsibilities for the next day, I get up with Wopsle and work around the house, cook, or scrapbook.

And guess what, I feel better about my tacky habit. I'm hoping soon I can learn to be completely on time and with the right persuasion, maybe even a little early in some cases.

Wopsle and I have laughed more this year so far than we did a year ago. We have found these quirky little sayings and quotes that just keep each other in stitches. Last year we laughed about him searching to buy me a "cheese straightener." This year, we have laughed hardest at the classic Leave It To Beaver Christmas. Ask me sometime.

Ministry has been going very well and we are so excited to start this new year with a new ministry branding. I began to make a list of things that I was thankful for last year, and there were many. But to put it simply, I am thankful, but I'm more optimistic about the future. I'm looking forward to seeing God move in my family, my marriage, and my ministry in 2008. Fresh perspective is always good.

Love,
Amy and Wopsle

Tea Time

2007-12-29T22:52:00.000-06:00

I bought these charming teacups today at the Antique Marketplace for $3. I love their timeless shape and simple design. They are made in England by Royal Osborne. So far I have not been able to find any more information on this china company but every other pattern I have looked at has been in stark contrast to this one.

Black & White

Fine Bone China

Royal Osborne

Made in England

I love these teacups by themselves but I also love that they go so well with the teacups from Anthropolgie given to us by Mrs. Thomsonario and silver platter given by my mother.

Pondering Production

2007-12-27T18:32:00.000-06:00

I have a confession. For no good reason, I was totally unprepared for Christmas this year. I got all my shopping done weeks before the Big Day, I sent out cards to nearly 100 people and I even took time to bake goodies for family and friends. But somehow I still managed to feel completely bewildered by the whole meaning of Christmas. You see, I had not taken adequate time to prepare my heart for many of the emotions I was to experience nor did I prepare my heart to worship the King.

It all came to me as we were driving to church on Christmas Eve. Wopsle and I were discussing all of our favorite things that we had come to know and love about Christmas Eve services. Then we began to discuss some of the things that we DISliked. It turned into somewhat of an unhealthy conversation where we began to focus on more of the production of churches, family gatherings, and giving. I began to feel apprehensive that I might get so caught up in nitpicking the details that I would miss the meaning of Christmas altogether.

That's when we both realized... It's not about the production, it's about the person, Jesus. It's not about what the church service looked like last year, or about how crazy your family can be or even about how good you do feel when giving what you think to be "the perfect gift." It's about the one person whom the word Christmas comes from. Jesus.

COUGH ON, COUGH OFF

2007-12-18T13:39:00.000-06:00

I received an early Christmas gift last night from my wonderful husband. I have secretly wanted this item for awhile now and my wish came true at the clap of my hands. The Clapper! You know the 1990's gadget with the "Clap On! Clap Off!" commercial! It really does work and significantly contributes to my laziness of getting up to turn off the light. But you know, after a long hard day of work, it's nice to just give a little clap and POW! the lights are off!

So, last night we tried it out. We said goodnight and I clapped twice to turn out the lights. Well, I have been very sick for about a week now with all sorts of congestion, cough, and sinus issues. I still have a lingering annoying cough that worsens when I'm laying down. Each night I have fallen asleep with a tickle in the throat that causes a raucous of a cough. Just as we were both about to fall asleep though, I must have coughed hard enough to trigger the clapper and, what do you know, LIGHTS ON!

Really!?

2007-12-11T23:25:00.000-06:00

A very nice couple in the church decided to give us a Christmas gift this week. It was a heavy box and, as I'm sure you can imagine, we were sweating at the possibilities of what it could be. Our eyes and stomachs were astounded as we opened a double-decker ginormous box of delectable treats:

2 and 1/2 pounds of Assorted Fine Chocolates

Really!? Because I didn't even know that they made a toothache that big.

Wopsle: Age 26

2007-12-06T13:06:00.000-06:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WOPSLE!!!

(This was Wopsle's Birthday surprise from our youth. Wopsle's quote was "This is 'Ava Heard' style!")

Month Two

2007-11-29T22:15:00.000-06:00

Dear Friends and Family,

This past month has been a huge month of growth. From what I have heard, I really feel like I can relate this past month to a mother watching her child begin to develop a personality all their own.
The month began with a meeting of the minds, as it were, as our Strategy Team met to evaluate the overall health of the ministry that included a brainstorming session of programs. I was blown away by how God just showed up and took control and really made the heart connection for these leaders to the ministry. I get excited every time we talk about what it means to be Purpose Driven and not because I think it's a good system but because I really can see God's vision behind it. Here's a sampling of what we came up with that day:

A new mission statement: Our mission is to lead students into an authentic and growing relationship with Jesus Christ that changes their lives, changes their friends lives, builds the Church, and impacts the world!
New Ministry Name: First Student Ministries
New Wednesday night program name: Elevate
New Small Group Model: C.O.R.E Groups (CORE stands for Committment, Openness, Relationships, and Encouragement
We also brainstormed lots of events that will encourage outreach of students to their unchurched friends as well as new and innovative ways to get new leaders involved!

Overall, this was an extremely successful day! The next weekend, we took a group of 11 students to do a challenge course and taught them about what it looks like to be purpose driven. I must admit, I was so nervous to present the whole "Youth Group vs. Youth Ministry" idea to them, but I found that they were very receptive to this. Since that week, we have challenged them to memorize the Mission Statement and begin thinking of 5 friends that they can invite to church on Wednesday. I'm now happy to report that we have seen healthy progress in both of these areas!

This is why I do youth ministry. I love to see them "get it." I love to see them passionate and on fire for Jesus. I love to see the way it impacts their family. But most of all, I love the way it honors God.

Love,
The Wopsles

GleanWeanDreamNeedPlead

2007-11-27T14:11:00.000-06:00

This is from the Purpose Driven blog posted by Brandon Barker. The title is 5 Keys to Long-Term Ministry but I think it translates into most, if not all, aspects of living life to the fullest. Everyday I wake up and ask that God would use me to do his ministry to the best of my ability. Here's what he says...
After 17 years of being in ministry, here are a few tips I would suggest.
GLEAN
Glean: as much as possible from the people around you, the people in your field (Christian) or in a different profession. Look to people who have the characteristics you want. Do this because it will help define you. Also, be proactive about this by searching these people out, don't wait for them to approach you.
WEAN
Wean: yourself off of traditional ministry and thinking
Everything people tell you is not gospel. Remember the church will look and be different in 10 years so you cannot depend on how things are taught now or what is traditional.
DREAM
Dream: take time out to dream and to think about what you want out of life and what you want your ministry to look like. Get away from the daily duties and tasks for a time to dream. Remember, if you don't extend your dreams you won't extend yourself.
NEED
Need: other people, gifts, talents, resources. Figure out a way of needing and depending on people. You make them the heroes, and they will want to support you more.
PLEAD
Plead: wake up every day asking God to use you and keep using you. What you have now could be so much more if you invest it. Beg God to keep using you.

Wow! These words are so empowering to me and I truly feel that they are attainable. Here is a list of high school students whom we are teaching the value of being purpose driven. I encourage you to join with us in praying for them by name:
Jade
Jeremy
Ben
Jacqui
Allison
Claire
Jessica
Kate
Carter
Landon
Sarah
Jon

Notes from the FullBelly

2007-11-24T22:14:00.000-06:00

Well, as our Thanksgiving weekend comes to a close, I have composed a list of some of the more noteworthy things that we took full advantage of during this wonderful holiday.

Family - This Thanksgiving we split our family time up over TWO days. This was wonderful since we didn't have to eat and rush to the other house only to crash and barf. We love spending time with our families and this weekend made us realize how much of a priority it needs to be. There, you have it in writing, we promise to visit more often.
Football - Hands down, (next to quality time with family, of course) there is nothing better than gorging yourself on Turkish Delights and watching hours upon hours of football. The Packers, the Cowboys, LSU, Kentucky - we have seen it all! And it never gets old. Especially this season, we have seen some exceptional, and wacky, football games. It all culminated with today. We finished the weekend off right by attending the Bedlam game in Norman. BOOMER SOONER! Pokes...are for Facebook.
Stuffing/Dressing - I have never liked stuffing/dressing until this year. I don't know if it's because I've never really tried it, but golly, why hasn't anyone ever slapped me for not eating sixteen pounds of it before? D-Li-Shus! Wopsle's sister Sherri and I decided that stuffing is the technical name for when you actually shove it in the turkey's butt, and dressing is just the fancy name for StoveTop.
PikePass - Just trust me on this one. Tis always better to have one of these when traveling from Duncan to OKC/Norman. Quarters and stops - neeahhhhhuhhh no good.
Shopping - Hats off to my mother, for she is the queen. I talked a big game about getting up at 5am and hitting the sales, but she actually did it! Anyway, we were able to take advantage of the great sales later in the day but that came at the expense of picked over colors, smelly bathrooms, and ravaged racks of clothes. Still, my Christmas shopping is well underway.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Turkey and Cow Tongues

2007-11-12T21:35:00.000-06:00

Tonight, I am exhausted. We had an extremely busy, but successful, weekend. Friday night, Duncan had their first playoff game in 15 some-odd years. Saturday we had our first Strategy Team Retreat. I was so impressed by how teachable our leaders were in learning the purposes behind doing ministry. They were also just dead honest when evaluating the health of the ministry and the students. Saturday was the first day so far that I have been confident in our move.

Sunday we had our church wide Thanksgiving Lunch served by the youth. I was blown away by their servant hearts and by the church's response. Our students were so excited and willing to smile while cleaning plates, refilling drinks, and cut hundreds of pieces of pie. Way more people came to lunch than we had planned for and in one of the best displays of service, I watched students gladly give up their seats for others to sit down. Ah, maybe they do get it.
Sunday afternoon was the time I had been dreading: Duncan's Annual Ultimate Cow Tongue Football Tournament. There's nothing like a bunch of gangly teens running around a muddy field in competitive heat slinging a three-foot-long tongue at each other. I had been dreading it because I am the least competitive slash non-athletic person you will ever meet. So, I had to fake it with my wannabe cheerleader skills. And guess what, we made it, AND it was so much fun! We even finished the tournament 2-2. Go FUMC!

And so now, I am tired and would like nothing more than to sit here, sunken into my oversized couch, and watch mindless entertainment, I Love New York 2. Don't hate, it's my guilty pleasure.

Really?!

2007-11-03T20:53:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, I went to one of the few "fresh" restaurants in town for lunch. It happens to be next door to the old school movie theater. I have eaten here before and was really impressed by their Chicken Salad. So, I decided to try their Chicken Salad Sandwich. The sandwich was delicious but the side item on the other hand was not.

My side item was Day-Old-Popcorn. Really?!

Month One

2007-11-01T11:03:00.000-05:00

Dear Friends and Family,

I can't believe how the time has passed already. Probably because half of my month has been spent trying to come to terms with exactly how far away we are from the metro area. Have I mentioned that we primarily get Texas TV and radio stations? The reality it that it takes over an hour and a half to get to Norman or OKC, pending those inevitable bathroom breaks.

Overall, life in Duncan is wonderful. It was not an easy decision to leave Norman and Journey Church but God knew what we needed. We didn't realize it at the time, but we needed time with each other. Even though we worked together, the truth is that we were both more committed to our jobs than we were to each other. We have spent a wonderful month of watching TV, playing cards and boardgames, cooking, and laughing a lot! Before, we didn't realize how much time we could be spending devoted to things we really excel at. I have absolutely loved meeting families and getting to know students. And that's it! Before we left we read Next Generation Leader and it really stressed the importance of concentrating your efforts on the one thing that you are best at. For me, I'm confident that it is relationship building.
This realization brought about another thing I was missing. Relationship Maintenance. I've realized that God has blessed me with some of the best friends I could ever have. It wasn't until I had time to myself that I realized what a crappy friend I had been lately. So, whenever I find a place where my phone actually gets service, I scroll through my phonebook and call a friend. Have you ever tried this?

Every Monday and Tuesday I have the privilege of tutoring a little redhead girl. As I sit there and help her with her reading and comprehension, I also get to watch her mother cook dinner for their family. Dinner time has always been important to me and I am truly thankful that I had a mother who cooked for us nearly every night of the week. For those of you who know me well, you know that I am a "terrible" cook. I think most of this stigma came from my business and therefore unwillingness to try to cook. Well I'm happy to report that I have tried several new recipes and feel more confident in my ability as a cook (and as a wife for that matter!).

Overall, we love our Home. We are encouraged by Romans 8:28 and know that Ephesians 3:20 is real. Now, Welcome to our Home:

With Love,
The Wopsles

Our Reach

2007-10-25T23:18:00.000-05:00

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."

-Romans 12:12

Things we've been praying for this week:

We pray for the students in our ministry. That their hearts would be softened and open to hearing the Good News. That they would be hungry for things outside of themselves and that God would expand their minds to reach the lost and hurting around them. That they would be protected from gossip, compromise, and complacency. That God would connect us as His Church to fulfill His plans.
We pray for the students in Duncan who are unreached. There are 1200 students in the high school alone and only about a third of them have a church home. Allow us to be open to opportunities to minister to them and love them for who they are. Let us extinguish unwholesome talk among groups, and encourage love and authentic relationships built on Biblical principals
We pray for the families that God has allowed us to minister to. For the broken and unbroken, the rich and the poor, the special needs and busy schedules that strain a family's relationship. We pray that nothing would come before their love and commitment to Jesus Christ and the Church and that strong values would be upheld.
We pray for the city of Duncan. For leadership in the community, for the town's Church body, and the overall prosperity of the city. We recognize that we need God to be our leader and that without him, our efforts are useless. We know that we must put Him first and through every blessing that he pours out we should turn back with praise.

The Wopsles' Pumpkin Adventure

2007-10-21T22:04:00.000-05:00

Honestly, I have not carved a pumpkin in over 10 years. I forgot how much work it takes to scrape out the guts and saw out the pieces. But the excitement of seeing it lit and sitting on the front porch is well worth the effort. Here's the story of the Wopsles' Pumpkin Adventure.

Wopsle decided to carve a Level 3 Pirate Ship. Quite a challenge!

I went with a self-made OU pattern. We were both pleased with the results.

Time to turn out the lights! Oooo, spooky cool!

This one is for Mom.

This one is also for Mom.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Jolly Fallidays

2007-10-17T12:05:00.000-05:00

Well, the wind has picked up, the air is brisk, and it seems like almost overnight the ground is covered in crunchy leaves. Fall is in full swing and Wopsle and I feel like the "real" ministry has begun. The first week we were here we struggled to stay afloat trying to learn names, getting use to small town schedules, and surviving without cable TV. But now, it seems that we are finally finding our niche.

Everyday, Wopsle gets up and goes into the office while I stay at home and tend to some "wifey" duties. I thought I would hate this, but I really enjoy this time to myself. I feel accomplished after a few hours of house work, something that I had never found satisfaction in before. We meet up for lunch and spend the remainder of the afternoon doing ministry. I love this part because instead of being stuck in our office, we actually get to interact with people. We'll visit the schools or meet with a parent or take time to ourselves to study and write talks.

Last Sunday we had our first parent meeting where we introduced our new Vision and Mission statement for the ministry. The parents were overwhelmingly responsive and supportive of everything we presented. A huge win! Last Monday we had our High School lunch group at the church and had over 30 students come! Another huge win! Students are out of school for the rest of the week for Fall Break so tonight we are having a Mafia night at our house. We've heard so much talk of students coming and bringing friends so I'm already counting that as a win! Tomorrow we're taking a group of students to the OKC Zoo and I know that will be a great time of relationship building and vision casting for attitudes this semester.

We're looking forward to more ministry opportunities and pray that the holidays wouldn't hinder our progress. Please partner with us for open hearts and vision. We love you all!

Third World Country???

2007-10-08T12:38:00.000-05:00

Well it's officially Day 10 here in Duncan and despite rumors, we are still alive! Even though we have been out of communication over the past week and it would seem as though we are living in a Third World country, we are in fact just living in "the country," and everything gets done a little slower around here. We are humbled. Here are some things that are quite a bit different about living in a small town:

The cable guy only gets out once a week around here. Herego, even though we called last Monday to get our cable and internet hooked up, it will not be hooked up until this Thursday.
Most restaurants and stores are only open for business on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday. Almost every local store is closed on Sunday.
Much to our surprise, the church still uses a dial-up internet connection. Currently I am using it. It took 5 minutes to send 1 email. Again, we are humbled.
Wopsle is currently on a goose chase to get our electricity turned on in our shed (yes, we have a shed). In order to get the electricity turned on he has to go to a sketchy store called "Mr. Lucky's Nuts and Bolts." You try to figure that one out.
I have almost ripped every single one of my hairs out of my head from the frustration of the traffic lights. They are not smart lights and so when one turns green, you go through it, and the next one is red and you must sit through the full rotation of traffic.

These are just a few of the differences we have noticed so far. Not weird, but different. Now, here are some of the things we love about living in a small town:

The hospitality. Not only did we have half of the town help move us in, we also received flowers, baked goods, and gifts to welcome us.
The handshakes. We had a reception after church yesterday and every single member of the congregations came through the receiving line to greet us. We also had a traditional "pounding" (I had never heard of this before) where we received a "pound" of different things to fill our pantry with. Everyone is so generous here!
The schools. Not only are we allowed on campus during lunch, the principal of the middle school personally thanked us for what we are doing in the lives of students. And she encourages them publicly to get involved in their church!
The food. Granted that everything is either fried or bbq'd around here, everything is made fresh! Seriously I have been given a great challenge to start cooking, because as of now, I am the odd one out!
The gas stations. Wopsle and I are gas station snobs so one of the first things we did when we got to town was to scope out a good one. Our favorite is just a block away from our house. It's called Chisholm Corner and there are 6 in the town of Duncan. I personally love this store because of the pellet ice (as they call it here) and styrofoam cups, the Lays Limon chips, and grape BubbleTape. You can't just find that combination anywhere! Each store also has an ice cream self serve with toppings station and heat lamp food, some of Wopsle's favorites! Other gas stations that receive honorable mentions include Dave's Cave, Stripes, and Quik Stop.

We haven't had a lot of experience with the ministry yet because we're still trying to build relationships with parents and students. Last Wednesday night was awesome though and in our prayer times, Wopsle and I really feel like God is setting us up to do some pretty cool things.

We love you all and hope to be in better communication soon! Oh, also our cell phones get poor service down here, so we will be working on changing this too! So many new things to figure out!

Lasts

2007-09-24T22:40:00.000-05:00

Since it seems that we will be moving far far away from all that seems normal to us, the past weekend has been a week of "lasts." Here are a few photos of our journey...

Our last meal...at the Great State Fair of Oklahoma:

Our last visit with the fam...at our surprise party:

And our last days as bunnies...Ok, I know that all these things are not coming to an end, I just like to keep a record of things that we hold near and dear to us.

P.S. Right now, Mr. Wopsle is watching the LIVE Halo 3 release on the G4 channel. It's kinda sick how intense it is but I like that he likes it. However I will probably need to join the "Help, Halo 3 Has Taken Over My Husband" Facebook group.

1106!

2007-09-21T17:29:00.000-05:00

This is our charming new Duncan home located on Beech Street! I love the vintage look of it and can't wait to get in there and decorate! There are large windows all around the house and the front porch is going to be wonderful for these warm fall days. We move next Friday so I'll post more pictures once we get the inside all set up!

Happy Fall!

A Healthy Dose of Faith

2007-09-16T21:30:00.000-05:00

So, we're moving to Duncan in just a matter of weeks and each day I find out more and more fun facts. They may seem random, but I'm confident that it is all God bringing peace to us about this decision. Here are a few confirmations and fun facts about Duncan:

The website for the city of Duncan is one of the more impressive city websites I have ever seen. I mean, have you ever tried to navigate the OKC website? It is atrocious! Anyway, I think Duncan's is worth visit. www.duncanok.org
Lynn Samples, mother to the wonderful Sheridan Samples, visited Journey this morning. We were able to meet her and chat about the town and hear how excited she is about us moving there! Also, she is Kyle Cantrell's cousin, so she's practically family already!
We've learned that the town pretty much revolves around activity at the Simmons Center - the local activity center complete with workout facilities, theater, and indoor pool. We're looking forward to holding a membership card soon.
Since we love to eat and I'm a terrible cook, you can bet that we have already scoped the local eateries. We've found out that Grant Goodner's family owns two restaurants in town that we are looking forward to trying. One being Goodner's Smokehouse, owned by his cousin, and the other Cedar Street Grill, owned by his father. I'm extra curious to try out Giovanni's Italian restaurant and compare it to Victoria's though I doubt it will measure up. We'll see...
And last but not least, the people. I know many excellent people who hail from Duncan including Chad Higgins, The Gossetts, Alison Headrick, Mary Garis, and Annie Terracina just to name a few. But perhaps one of the most unlikely encouragements comes from the Willefords. Jason and Becky are that couple that I look to as an example in my own marriage. They are both such authentic people who are loving and generous in all aspects of their lives. While Becky is from Ardmore, another town I am fond of, Jason is from Duncan. The minute that he found out that we would be moving there, he began texting friends and hooking us up! They said that they visit Duncan often, on account of his family still living there, and that they would love to introduce us and hang out whenever they come in town. Such a blessing!

I took a Spiritual Gifts test today, not really thinking too much of it until the results portion. Sometimes it is difficult to take those tests because I feel that my knowledge of the questions and answers skews my results. However, today I was surprised. My top gift was Faith. Now, it would seem to me that one should be aware that they have strong faith but it wasn't until I saw it on paper that I realized just how much I have learned about faith in the past month. Wopsle too. We've learned to have faith even when things seem uncertain or improbable. We've learned to have faith when we surrender our comfort and give in to change. And we've learned to have faith that each other is asking and listening for the Lord's guidance while spinning in circles with hands surrendered. That's faith. And I would say that we have had a healthy dose of faith in the past couple of months. For faith, I'm thankful.

Doing Life Together

2007-09-14T17:36:00.000-05:00

So, what's with the blog, you may ask? Well, we want to stay in touch. We're not going to be that family that just says that "we'll visit" or "keep in touch," we actually want to do it. I've never been fond of the phrase "doing life together" but nevertheless, respect the principle. So, we invite you to continue on our journey with us as we celebrate the life that the Lord has so graciously given!

Well, we're off! Through much prayer and tried and true faithfulness, Wopsle and I have accepted jobs in beautiful Duncan, Oklahoma at the First United Methodist Church! This has been such a bittersweet process for us, one that the Lord is still strengthening us through. We will be sad to leave our friends, family, church, and home but feel so so confident that God has BIG plans for us in Duncan. So, our next step is finding a home. It is my intention to use this blog as an update as to what the Lord is doing in our lives as a young couple and our ministry. More stories to come soon! God is good...All the time!

Happy Reading!!!