MADE

This past summer, I signed on to be a youth leader for the Grace Bible Church High School group. It has been such an amazing time and I am loving getting to know all of the girls in the group. I recently got to attend an all girls conference with 9 high school students and two other leaders. We had a great time. The conference was called MADE and was held at Hume Lake Christian Camp.

The theme for the weekend was "Set Free." The speaker talked about how non-believers are slaves to sin, while we (as followers of Christ) have been set free from sin. They also offered seminars during the day on Saturday. The first was a Q & A with Rich Baker, who most of the girls know from Hume Lake summer camps. Rich shared about how he knew his wife was the one, what qualities he looked in for a wife, etc. The second was a seminar on pain/loss. Both seminars had an impact on the girls.

I think my favorite part of the weekend was having "cabin time" on Saturday night. We split into our two cabins (I had the 3 freshmen girls with me) and just had some time to reflect and talk about the things we were learning and the things God was teaching us. It was a blessing to hear the girls speak and share about what God was doing in their lives.

(My freshmen cabin: Kina, me, Bradlee, and Savana)

Another great part of the weekend was just being out in nature! Anyone who knows me, knows that I am not a big nature girl. I don't generally enjoy hiking or camping, or anything remotely close to "roughing it" haha. But this trip was not like that at all. I do, however, LOVE seeing God's beautiful creations in nature. I can stare at a beautiful sunset or feel the breeze by the ocean, and feel God giving me a great big hug. We woke up on Saturday morning to a light blanket of snow on the ground... and on my car. We weren't exactly expecting snow, but it was a nice surprise :)

Somehow, my loving sister convinced me to do the High Adventure Ropes Course with 3 of the students. Weird that she talked me into it, seeing as she'd never do anything like that herself! But the highlight was "The Screamer." It's pretty much what it sounds like. Basically, you wear a harness and walk off a plank high up in the trees. Since I loved skydiving, the girls thought I'd like it. And it was so much fun! I wish it had been higher, but it was still exciting :)

We also just had a grand ole time being silly and laughing together! That's something that all great friendships require :)

A word to musicians...

A friend of mine recently shared this article online and I thought it was something worth mulling over...

The Sensibility

By Bob Lefsetz

People connect with artists, not executives. We're drawn to those who speak their truth, from deep down inside. There is nothing more powerful than listening to a song and feeling that the artist is expressing your inner emotion. You bond. If the artist does this more than once, you become a fan. You want to go see the artist live to feel the utmost communion with them and their material.

A pop artist is something completely different. A pop artist creates a confection that titillates the listener. Oftentimes working in predetermined genres, a pop artist is not about testing limits so much as building a bank account. A real artist is on his own exploratory adventure. He may worry whether others will join him on his journey, but he does not sway, he does not turn back, he does not do what's expedient, he soldiers on.

Historically, in between the artist and the audience has been a businessman. As legendary as Ahmet and Mo might be to music business insiders, most people outside this sphere are unaware of them. And that's the way it should be. Artists come first. If the businessman could create the art, he would, that's what we've got in the movie business, but in music, there's no substitute for practicing, for paying your dues, you learn your skill and jump off from there. Furthermore, beyond skills there is conception. Anyone can tell you what to do, you can work for the man, but can you plot your own path and follow it? That's what was so amazing about the Beatles. They were not following a prescribed path. They truly went their own way.

In the nineties, the executive became bigger than the act. Tommy Mottola. Clive Davis. These are interesting people to speak to, hearing their back room stories, but they don't touch your soul. That's what artists do. But the executives needed to feel their power.

And the executives made boatloads of cash. And after Reagan made greed acceptable, the masses followed the rich. They too wanted to become wealthy. Why be an artist when you can become a banker and make tons of money?

And our entire culture changed. Dollars became first. "Artists" all talked about getting paid. They'd play music for a while, but if they weren't successful, they'd go to graduate school. The concept of needing to create music, needing to express yourself, was overshadowed by pop stars willing to light themselves on fire for momentary attention and bucks. The executives made the big money.

But now the executives make much less. And not having let anybody new in the ranks, the truly creative went into tech. Artists lost their champions. If nothing else, the label told you how and what to record, and said your album wasn't coming out until there was a hit.

What's a hit? Something with beats that gets airplay on a Top Forty station or something that touches hearts that will never be forgotten?

Careers are based on the latter. But suddenly very few performers had careers. They'd played the money game, did what they were told, and now not only does no one want their new music and nobody wants to see them live, no one even wants to listen to their hits. They were expendable items. Like dishrags or underwear. That served a purpose, were necessary for a time and then thrown away and forgotten.

But the public still hungers for honesty, people still want connection. Artists are more desirable than ever. And since mainstream pop pays fewer dividends, more people are practicing, following their own path and becoming artists. There are scores of players with burgeoning followings that you've never heard of. They've got fans. Fans do it for the love, not the money.

Will there ever be tons of money in being an artist once again?

I'm not sure. Presently, recorded music is free and it's hard to get everybody to listen to you. Then again, Apple makes tons of cash with less than ten percent PC market share. And being in business for so long, they came up with an accidental hit, the iPod, which was decried as being too expensive and undesirable upon launch, but ultimately grew into a phenomenon.

But as much as you might love your iPod, you love what's on it even more.

Now that we're in a recession, money-grubbing is no longer the focus. Now it's about experiences. Laughs, love and music. Provide this experience. People are clamoring for it.

Whoa whoa whoa

Okay, so I just watched an episode of this new show called "The Spin Crowd" on E! Ummm... it is ridiculous beyond belief. And the funny thing is that it kind of reminded me of this school I used to go to haha... This show is about this PR celebrity marketing group. The episode introduced the boss, Jonathon Chabon, and his crew of 4 ladies and 1 man who work in his office. Basically, there is a new girl named Erika, who just moved from San Diego to Hollywood. First thing, Jonathon humiliates Erika by having all the other girls in the room stand up and show how she "should" be dressing (dresses, high heals, hair and make up done). Then he pulls her aside and says she looks "homely" and tells her she needs to have her lips done (yep, shoot em up with collagen!) Erika endures a tear filled appointment and decides not to go through with the permanent lip injections. She later says in her interview that she doesn't think the size of her lips should determine her place on the team.

And there is your recap for the first episode for The Spin Crowd. A couple other things happen, but seriously!

There's 30 minutes of my life I'll never get back.

Dressing professionally is one thing... but how will having larger lips help your client market their new tanning lotion to Mario Lopez? And how will curly hair and overdone make up bring people to know Christ? When you put it that way, doesn't it just seem a tad bit ridiculous?

Just a couple late night thoughts... :)

Time in Between

You were there when your Father said
Let there be light
You obeyed when He whispered
Son, You have to leave tonight
To spend nine months in a mothers womb
Three days in a borrowed tomb

But it’s the time in between
That brings me to my knees
Knowing you came for me
And all that I can't be
I'm amazed, so amazed
And I thank You for the time in between

Don't take much for this crazy world
To rob me of my peace
And the enemy of my soul
Says You’re holding out on me
So I stand here lifting empty hands
For you to fill me up again

But it’s the time in between
That I fall down to my knees
Waiting on what You'll bring
And the things that I can't see
I know my song’s incomplete
Still I'll sing in the time in between

So many ways
Your love has saved the day
And I'm grateful for them all

But it’s the time in between
The middle of two thieves
That says everything
It’s the reason I believe
I'm amazed, so amazed
And I thank you for the time in between
Oh Lord, I thank you for the time in between

Good Friday

"This is how the Apostles saw it. Herod and Pilate, Gentiles and Jews, they said, had together 'conspired against Jesus (Acts 4:27). More important still we ourselves are also guilty. If we were in their place, we would have done what they did. Indeed, we have done it. For whenever we turn away from Christ, we 'are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace' (Hebrew 6:6). We too sacrifice Jesus to our greed like Judas, to our envy like the priests, to our ambition like Pilate. 'Were you there when they crucified my Lord?' the old Negro spiritual asks. And we must answer, 'Yes, we were there.' Not as spectators only but as participants, guilty participants, plotting, scheming, betraying, bargaining, and handing him over to be crucified. We may try to wash our hands of responsibility like Pilate. But our attempt will be as futile as his. For there is blood on our hands. Before we can begin to see the cross as something done for us (leading us to faith and worship), we have to see it as something done by us (leading us to repentance).

- The Cross of Christ by John Stott

Faithfulness

"Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation." - Psalm 91:14-16

I've always loved to journal. For one: it helps me get my thoughts sorted out and on paper. Two: I love to write. Three: I love looking back on old journal entries.

Most of my journal entries consist of written down prayers and scriptures I was reading at the time. I love looking back at old prayers and being reminded of God's faithfulness. I just read a prayer I wrote back in September and one in November. They both consisted of me pretty much crying out to God and asking him to rescue me (in one form or another)... I was pretty miserable down at school by that point... and it was neat to look back just a few months and see how he has totally answered my desperate prayers, and brought me to a completely new place in such a short amount of time.

He's just cool like that.

Another observation I made today... I'm in Riverside right now, visiting friends. I hadn't been back to CBU since moving my stuff out of the apartments. Driving onto campus yesterday felt surprisingly freeing. There was no longer stress and struggle associated with the school, because I don't go there anymore! It was a nice feeling. No worries about papers or presentations, just getting to be there to enjoy the amazing friends that God has blessed me with. That's what I call a good day.

Oh, Martha...

Joanna came to visit last week, so we did a few of our favorite things, which include: eating, talking, shopping, baking, and eating some more :) We tried out a new Martha Stewart recipe for my sister's upcoming bridal shower. Let me tell you, Martha sure knows what she's doin' in the kitchen. They were delish! Lemon cupcakes with lemon curd all made from scratch!

Yum!!! :)

Fruit shaped sticky notes!

So most of you know that I've started a website (TCS Designs) with my sister Tiffany. We feature all unique handmade items. It has been so much fun thinking up things to make and then showing them on the website and at our open houses. All of this work on my website has led me to browse different websites, looking for supplies, ideas, and inspiration. All of this to say, I found the coolest things tonight!

I would love to meet the person who came up with this creative invention... apple and pear shaped memo pads!!! They are so adorable and useful! And for those of us who love sticky notes, these are amazing! :)

Check them out at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/wiwicoco?section_id=6636965

Everybody loves a free giveaway! :)

TCS Designs is giving away a free item from the Spring 2010 collection! Just become our fan on Facebook, post a link to our website on your facebook page, twitter, or tumblr. Or write a short blog about our website! Then comment on this post and tell us what you did, and we'll enter you into a drawing! Post a separate comment for each thing you post and you'll be entered multiple times!

You can find our website at: www.tcsdesigns.bigcartel.com :)

Here's a preview...

New discovery

I just found this website that sells designer fabrics! They are all so cute! I need to restrain myself so I don't buy all their stuff :)

Check them out here.

It's about time...

I've been meaning to post an update since I've been home, but am just now getting to it. I guess I've been waiting for things to calm down and for me to get "adjusted" first... but alas, I've been home for almost a month and things are still whirling around me. I think I should just get used to that, because life is always in this constant motion no matter what!

There have been so many people asking how I'm doing and wondering if I'm "okay" (being home and all). Yes, I am more than okay :) I know that God sent me to CBU for a time and I also know that God has brought me back to the central coast for a time. There are always challenges when it comes to change... but those challenges are usually beneficial. God has made it very clear that He was the one who brought me back here. Within 3 days of moving back, I was offered a teaching position at the Coastal Dance and Music Academy in Arroyo Grande. I have now been teaching private voice there for 3 weeks and love it! My students range from little 6 and 8 years olds to one of the moms at the academy.

It has also been nice reconnecting with a lot of people in the SLO/AG area who I haven't been around much for the last year and a half. It's always nice to reconnect with friends.

All of this to say that I am doing well. God is still stretching me and forcing me to trust in his plan for my life. There are still a lot of unanswered questions, but I know that he is in control of it all and will work things out for the best. Why do we ever expect our lives to take a certain course? an ordinary course? If we only expect ordinary things, we don't allow for the extraordinary!

That's all for now!

xoxo :)