My New Fav For the Week

I have thin hair.

It's true.  Even though my mom likes to kindly disagree with me, the truth is the truth - I don't have a lot of hair!  To be more exact, I have fine hair, and a lot of it - which still means it's not very thick.

So I was delighted when I found this mousse at Wal-Mart the other day....honestly I have tried mousses before and they always leave my hair crunchy or sticky.  But this stuff is different.

Finally something that works - though it's slightly disheartening when your sister tells you that she can't tell a bit of difference.  :-( But if feels different; my hair has more body when I use this stuff....so I'm happy.

As a side note, I hope I have some hair left to style - I have been shedding so much hair recently that I feel like I'll be bald one of these days.  (And I don't mean just one wad after a shower.)  It's a little weird....maybe I'll need a wig soon?  Ah well.  Maybe it's cancer.  Whatever.

So if you've made it this far in this slightly boring-rambling post, let me tell you that I have been SO busy recently so pictures (once again) aren't to be had at the moment.  But I am going to try to get some of the family this week and maybe you'll get to read a post that's more interesting than this one has been.

It's just that sometimes the small things in life (like a new hair-product) are exciting.  For me anyway.

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An Announcement.....

Well!  Exciting news!  (And no we're not adopting again.)  My mom has started her OWN blog!!

This is an amazing addition to her already aquired ipod, laptop, cellphone, and she's started texting this week.  My own mom is advancing considerably in the techie world!!!

So here's the blog:
http://eightinarizona.blogspot.com/

She will be posting family updates......so hop on over there and give her some more followers!  (You'll notice I was her first).

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Religion vs. Jesus

Just wanted to share this little video clip with you....it really highlighted for me the difference between our man-made rules and expectations vs. the life changing grace of God.

And yes....of course there are things you need to "do" as a Christian; but there is a great difference between making our own lists of what a nice religious person looks like verses a radically changed believer in our amazing God!


*Viewer discretion cautioned: may not be appropriate for younger children.

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Awkward and Awesome Wednesday

Awkward:

~the feeling I got as I was wrapping a sock in my hair, attempting to do the "sock bun" hairstyle.  (see right: and no that's not me. :-) And yes, it did work; looked pretty good too (especially since the sock stayed hidden under my hair:-)

~jagged fingernails, compliments of my teeth.  When I was little my mom gave me the Berenstein Bears "Sister Bear Learns Not to Bite Her Nails" paperback, but somehow the message didn't *quite* sink in.  I try not to bite them, only happens when I'm bored or nervous.  Honestly, the only way I can keep from biting them is if they're always painted...nail polish tastes bad!!

~getting way too goofy with my little brothers.....having so much fun and then realizing that I'm running around on my knees and saying things like "I'm going to eat you"....they were having a ball and laughing like crazy, but since when did canibal tendencies enter my world of fun?!  Oh dear.  Guess that just proves I have way too much fun with those two goof balls.

~going to bed knowing ahead of time I would probably dream about 60 ft. anacondas after watching Vision Forum's The Mystery of the Amazon.  Hmmm.  Thankfully I didn't.  But snakes do enter my dreams quite a bit, especially after reading stories on the news about the python in the babycrib.  Hey, even watching a cartoon version of The Creation Story with my little brothers can trigger a dream about nasty serpents coiled with me in bed. 

~feeling like I should pluck/shape my eyebrows??!! but being way too much of a weeny to do it.  Seriously who has time to sit in front of a mirror with tweezers and pull out hairs?  Actually most women do have time for it.  My problem isn't time, it's guts.  I am SUCH a wimp.  So when it comes to eyebrow shaping/ear piercing, I am a no-go.  So I'll just have to go with the messy John the Baptist wilderness look I guess?  Ah, I'm exagerating.  Simply not a big priority for me - would be nice, but not worth the pain.

Awesome:

~my trip to Summit Ministries in just exactly a month!  So excited about this!  If I were a "cool" person I guess I should say something like "I'm really stoked about it" right?  I don't know.  I'm not up on cool words.  I've never used that one so it feels weird to start using it now.

~getting $5 in tips at work in one morning.  Sounds pathetic (it is) but I'm used to getting a dollar or less.  So that's pretty good for one shift.  I'm working movie night this Saturday....I've heard it gets really busy and you'll get a ton of tips, so we'll see. 

~going out to Starbucks with my dad!  I never go there because it is so beastly expensive, but I happened to have a coupon from Dad for such a time, so it was delish.  :-)  Seriously, what could be better than sitting in a Starbucks and people-watching while savoring a Java Chip and enjoying good conversation with one's dad?  It was fun.

~getting long texts from a good Christian friend at work....getting emails from a very dear sister in Christ....and getting together with good Christian friends (like we'll be doing this weekend!).  I love being able to be around people that I can talk openly with and be encouraged by.

So, what was "awkward or awesome" about your week?

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All Or Nothing

Though I'm not an Oklahoma fan (never liked that dream sequence Laurey has....and that mean guy Jud that tries to marry her ~ eek!), I couldn't help but think of the lyrics to one of Oklahoma's songs as I was begining this post.

Remember, when Ado Annie and Will Parker are in the barnyard, singing about their relationship?

"With me it’s all er nuthin’.  Is it all er nuthin' with you? It cain't be "in between" it cain't be "now and then" no half and half romance will do!"

This morning I was reading Isaiah 7.....and I wanted to share a verse that stood out to me. (Just shelf that Oklahoma bit in your mind for now....it'll make sense later.)

"If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all."

~Isaiah 7:9b

What immediately came to my mind?  Faith is not worth holding if you aren't unwavering in it.  If I treat my faith in God as an 'acessory', just one of the many balls I juggle, than what's even the point?

There's a saying that's becoming super popular these days....one of those phrases that everyone is posting on their facebook walls or jotting down on sticky notes or posting on their blogs (uh, ignore that last one).

"Wherever you are, be all there."

I would venture to say that that directly corellates to the way our relationship with God functions.  If I'm not "all there" in my faith, can I truly say that I'm "there" at all?  If I'm not 100% devoted to Jesus Christ, than why even bother with all the church stuff and seemingly endless rules?  There is no in-between.  I'm either completely sold out to the Lord, or I'm living for myself.

In Revelation, God says, "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot.  I wish you were either one or the other!  So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I am about to spit you out of My mouth."

It seems that we treat God as an afterthought much of the time.  Rambling on about ourselves and then tacking on a "oh, and I'm a Christian too" on the end seems so...backwards.  Trying to fit God into my life, as if He were a 'project' to fit into a busy schedule, is totally opposite from who He was meant to be.   

If I'm to be truly useful to the God, He needs all  of me.  And yes, this gets specific.  He needs to govern every thought, every desire, every dream, every goal, every piece of clothing I choose, every dollar I earn, every relationship I form, every decision, every minute I live.....He needs to be in it all.

So now, that song from Oklahoma makes sense, doesn't it?  I'm either all in, or all out.  All or nothing.  Everything I am or nothing at all.  Sold out or not even for sale.

Is it "all er nuthin" with you? :-)

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CPC update: Life After Abortion

The following video is just a small clip of the full hour documentary that I watched during training last week.  Just one of many heart-wrenching movies that we volunteers viewed during those three days.
I thought some of you might be interested in getting another peek into the whole issue of abortion. 

As I get more and more into this battle for life, I am simply more shocked than ever that we have allowed millions of kids to be murdered before they even have a chance at life beyond the womb.  It's an atrocity - and I feel more motivated than ever to stand up and advocate for these babies who don't yet have a voice to speak for themselves.  It's like orphans....never gave them too much thought until three of them become my own brothers.  Suddenly, there's a face to the millions of children without parents - now, adoption is a very important issue for me.  And, surprise surprise, God weaves that love for adoption into my new passion for life.  Women with unplanned/unwanted pregnancies need to know that adoption is a loving and valid option.  My own brothers are living proof that it works!

Anyway....here's the movie clip.  It's sad, but was another eye-opener for me.

 *Viewer discretion cautioned....might not be appropriate for young children*

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CPC update

So, volunteer training for the Crisis Pregnancy Center finally began!  All day Thursday, Friday, and Saturday I have been watching videos, seeing pictures, hearing personal testimonies, and listening to ex-abortion doctors tell their stories. 

It's partly horrifying.  Honestly, I've always known abortion was wrong...but only up until a year ago did I really begin to see it as very very wrong, something I needed to deal with personally. 

And now?  I'm just astounded at what I'm hearing.  I've always had a general idea of how abortions were performed, but seeing the actual tools, and hearing in graphic detail what actually happens.....it just takes my breath away.

I'm going through the Intimacy Before Impact training manual....basically it teaches you how to counsel effectively.  But it's so much more than just words on a page; each girl is going to be different and each situation unique. 

As a Client Advocate, I will have roughly 1 - 2 hours to speak with a pregnant girl, depending on what goes on.  One or two hours.  So little time to potentially make a difference in an unborn baby's life.  Right now I feel totally inadequate to really 'counsel' anybody or speak persuasively.....but I'm learning as much as I can during training, plus I will be able to shadow an experienced Client Advocate for 6 weeks (thank heavens!) before I start on my own. 

But most importantly, I believe God will give me the right words to say in each situation.  It will simply have to be Him working with me, because I have zero "credentials" that make me qualified for this job!  Honestly!  I've never had an abortion, never been pregnant, never been married, never even had a boyfriend, and haven't even known someone who has been in a crisis pregnancy situation. 

So I'm completely expecting God to show up in those counseling sessions.  (Because if He doesn't I will be in serious trouble.)

But He will.  He always comes through.  :-) 

"......for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” (Luke 12:12 b)

Just wanted to give you a little update, thats all......tomorrow is my last big training day, and then Client-Advocate-Shadowing-Time begins. 

More updates to come....maybe when I'm through with training and have a little more time next week I'll share a bit more of what I've been learning. 

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Our Latest Movie Project

So........many of you are probably aware that we have been "into" movie making for several years now.  (Nothing professional, obviously, but we get creative at home!!)  Well, after a bit of a video production slump for the last year, Jonathan and I got in the mood to make something together.  And here are the fruits of our labor.

Jon Jok Domonogue is a character that we use a ton in our little movie making world.  That's Jonathan.  And this time he has come out with his own album of songs for the world to enjoy.  And yes, I did make an appearance in the movie...so look for that.  :-)

 Take a look at his sneak-preview clip below!

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4th of July in Pictures

On the morning of the 4th, we all headed down to Benson for their great parade!  And...as I mentioned earlier, it DID get rained out!!!  However, the parade continued.  Everyone just got really....wet.  :-)

Isaac and Josh sporting their patriotic sunglasses.  So cute!  I especially love how their noses are too small to really hold up the glasses. :-)  Such cute little Americans!

  Me and Ashley, before it started to pour.

Mr. Doughty, Dad, and Mr. Addleman.

 You can see the threatening clouds rolling in just as the firetrucks made their debut.  All the floats and trucks that went by threw tons of candy out to the kids on the streets - even though I momentarily felt that little-kid urge to run out and scramble for them, I reminded myself that yes, I'm 19.  So I took ONE off the streets and peddled the rest from Amanda, our resident candy collector
(haha, thanks Amanda!!:-)

 Thank goodness someone brought a tent!!  We were all soaked!

 Traditional ice cream at the Dairy Queen on the corner....

After the parade, everyone goes to the park nearby and firefighters use their huge hoses to get everyone wet!  Much to their protest (but later to their delight), Dad took both boys over to get wet!

Moses?  He's been into the rod-over-the-head "let my people go" thing recently.  Ah well.  Sweet guy.

And another beautiful Arizona sunset....

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A No-Name Post

I had a wonderful 4th of July....it was different, but still fun.  For once in our parched state's life it actualy RAINED (think torrential downpour) during the parade and much of the rest of that day!  My phone kept giving me flash-flood warning alerts, which I didn't even know it was capable of doing, and we came home with mushy shoes and wet clothes.  But a fun time with friends was had....I personally loved the rain.  Who cares that the candy being thrown from the parade floats was landing the massive mud puddles?  The rain was worth it!

I have to apologize that I don't really having anything of interest to post today....honestly it's been a little boring picture-wise around here lately, plus I'm recovering from a red licorice - related stomach flu incident, so I needless to say I'm not exactly in the mood to do a big post right now.  :-)

However.  I am looking forward to church tomorrow ~ it is always so refreshing to be with other Christians and hear a good message....plus someone informed me that we are grilling out tomorrow (and I think corn on the cob will be involved), and my CPC training is coming up next week, plus payday is just one short day away.....

So life is good.  (Just don't mention licorice to me right now.) 

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Awkward and Awesome Monday

Awesome:
~Watching Bill Cosby shows on Youtube betwixt customers at the coffee shop.
~The word 'betwixt'
~Loving my mom's incredible enchilada casserole even though I'm not a fan of Mexican food
~The lovely monsoon weather that has finally rolled in
~Making cookies and cleaning the kitchen (yes, I actually do enjoy that)
~Getting to meet some Christian kids my age where I work
~Making a short video clip with my brother (coming soon on the blog!)
~Actually having a red/white/blue outfit to wear on the 4th of July

Awkward:
~Locking myself out of the coffee shop and having to call my manager to come unlock it for me.  Yeah.  Embarrassing.
~Attending my very first youth group meeting - a girl I work with invited me to it and I decided to go. It was actually a decent service, except for the strobe lights.  Plus the fact that the service was half in Spanish made things a little difficult. :-)
~Sitting next to a guy at the youth group and being asked in front of the entire group if I was his girlfriend.  Oh yes, that was awkward.  (Because no I am not!)
~Dealing with an ingrown toenail - sort of.  Not really awkward, just painful.
~Telling your little brother a story about a snake, realizing as an afterthought that snake stories as bedtime stories will likely produce nightmares for them, and then having one myself.  :-)

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