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. 

Read more...

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!

Read more...

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....

Read more...

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.) 

Read more...

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.  :-)

Read more...