We are 'Made to Love'

Hello all. How was your weekend? Mine was great. Friday (George Washington's b-day) work was fine. I got off an hour early so I would have time to go meet my friends at their house to head to a concert from there. I got a little lost on the way, but I am glad that my brother-in-Christ called me I think just at the right time to help me get there. The directions I had were not 100% accurate off the computer. We left a little after 5:00 and headed down I-5 to Salem for the concert. "Now playing: Matthew West, Jeremy Camp, and TobyMac". Once in Salem, we all agreed (yea) to eat dinner at Izzy's. It was good since I had not been there in a while. By the time we got parked and inside, Matthew was up on stage already. All three groups did a great job, even though Jeremy said he had had the flu the last couple days and wasn't feeling well. He did say that he was thankful that the Lord brought him through his part of the concert. When TobyMac came on stage, it became quite loud, but I think he brings a good message across (as well as the other two). I think he targets young ones as I could hear young ones screaming during the songs. That is a good sign, though that God is definitely working through him and his group. I was waiting to hear his song, Made to Love, and I think it was one of the last songs they did. After the concert, we headed back up to Portland, and stopped to get gas in the car and a soda to drink. I really enjoyed the fellowship we had in the car both ways and during the concert!
Saturday morning came and I got up before 9:00 to go to Safeway to get a veggie tray for a memorial service they were having at church for a friend of a lady in my bible study group. I got to the church at 10am and saw a couple ladies from my group. About 12 noon I went to go see my niece play her basketball game. It was an exciting and the closest game thus far in the season. We were up 16-5 at halftime and won 26-25. I am proud of the girls for doing a great job!
Saturday night was church. A 'newer' pastor spoke this weekend on enduring in the Truth and I thought it was really good. I think that was the first time I have heard him speak. 1.3 was afterwards, or rather Mosaic now. I thought it went rather well. We had a couple more people come this time, which is always a good thing. We went out to Chinese for dinner, which I was thinking about earlier in the day. Beef broccoli was my entree to be different and boy, was it good! I watched a movie when I got home then went to bed.
Sunday, I stayed home all day and relaxed (and also took the dog for a walk). Hope you were able to watch the exciting All-Star game last night. Brandon Roy was an All-Star and he played well, scoring 18 points and got a few rebounds. It was really cool that there was a Portland Trail Blazer on the All-Star team! Unfortunately, the West lost, 134-128 to the East, but it was a fun game to watch!
Last but not least, I wish you a happy President's Day!

A "Stately" Birthday

Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday dear the State of Oregon...
Happy Birthday to you!!!

And many more!!!
Oregon turns 149 years old today...next year will be the sesquintennial...150! I think I will celebrate it within a few weeks or so by eating some halibut at a restaurant with a friend.

Hope you all are having a nice Valentine's Day. It's nice to know that if you don't have someone special to share it with, Jesus is your valentine. He is the best one, ya know! He loves us unconditionally!

From 1.3 to being puzzle pieces

Hope your Chinese New Year is going grand so far (even though there only has been six days since it started). I heard, I think, on Sunday, that they closed the mountain passes in WA because no one could get through the snow. My oh my! I just heard the weather report and they are forecasting up to 61 degrees this weekend (Sunday to be exact). If it hits 61 on Sunday (would be the first 60 degree day of 2008), that will be the same day, same degree as in 2007. As Care and I say, that would be creepy cool!
Changing subjects to last weekend...
I met up with the lady who is leading the team to Serbia on Saturday before church. I thought it went pretty well. I was on a Jesus high after that for church and afterwards (as some certain people may attest to observing). After service, we had 1.3 where we talked about where our group should go, etc. We have changed the name to Mosaic, which is what it was before it was 1.3. I like the name Mosaic because it's a puzzle and everyone has a part or piece of the puzzle. We all go together to complete the puzzle. That makes me think of where it says in 1 Corinthians 12 I believe where it talks about the different parts of the body and how one part or body cannot function without another part. That is so cool that He has given us each gifts to use to help complete the puzzle.
Tonight was Bible study which is always good. I enjoyed the songs we did in worship as I got to play my clarinet again. Please keep in prayer that God's will be done if I am supposed to go on a summer team. I also hope that the rest of the week would be time spent well at work so I can enjoy the concert I am going to with friends on Friday. :)

Heavy snow comes, bringing in the New Year.

Yes, you may think it a little odd that I am wishing you a happy New year again. Today, February 7, marks the beginning of a new year in China. 2008 (or whatever year the Chinese are on) is the year of the rat. I've been reading in the paper lately about the really bad snow blizzards they have been having over there, which is making traveling difficult. The trains have been backed up or not even running as people wait in the station to get home to visit their families for the holiday. The article I read in the paper said it is the worst blizzard they have had in five decades.
There much snow we have had in this state and in this region of the country. I have seen on the news lately little towns such as Drain and Idanha. No I had not heard of Idanha before this news report. Evidently they have like 10-14 feet of snow and they have brought in the troops to help shovel the snow out so the residents can get out of their driveways and stores. I guess the snow is going in the lake because that is the only place it can go. The pictures on the news are just amazing.
Speaking of amazing yet scary, four tornadoes touched down in the midwest, killing 55 people (30 of them being in TN alone). That was the last count I heard, as of yesterday. I did hear that a couple firefighters found an infant alive lying in a field but unfortunately his mother did not make it. I hope there is a father or some relative that can take care of him. My heart goes out to the places where there have been hurricanes or tornadoes or tsunamies. I hope they can get some help in recovery efforts (I think they are).
In my last post, I mentioned I was going to meet with the lady leading the Serbia team on Tuesday. That has been postponed until this Saturday afternoon. Hope you have a good rest of the week, and please keep those affected by weather in prayer.

Go team go (again)!

Here we go again. Friday night at my niece's school, they had a night of midnight madness, which meant that they would play basketball until midnight. Or at least that's the plan. There were three schools there including the home team, and there would be three games played the whole night. Plus, in between the games there would be fun drills and games. The first game was between the two visiting teams...I don't know who won that game as I wasn't there yet. The second game we played against one of the two schools and won 39-21. During the games I went out to the car to check how the Blazers were doing on their game against New York. The third game we played against the other school and won 36-16. I think the girls all had a good time, but the madness only went until about 11:15. Of course there were snacks provided to keep up the kids' energy level when they had a chance to eat.
Oh by the way, the Blazers did end up beating the Knicks in OT 94-88!!!
Saturday morning we got snow! My sister and I went to go see "A" play another game as it was in the afternoon. The girls won and beat the other team 34-25 with "A" getting the last shot. Way to go girls!!!
Saturday night was church and again it was a good message. Afterwards we went to go hear a lady talk about her experiences in Uganda.
Sunday I stayed home. Of course I watched the SuperBowl with my family and rooted for the Giants. Why? I like to root for the underdog. They did win against the Patriots 17-14. Oh, I will say what my favorite commercial was, and that was the one with the Clydesdales and the dog training the one horse that got left out.
Today was a good day at work. Tonight I was at the Blazers game, first one (going to) in 2008 I believe. We played the Blue-jerseyed Denver Nuggets. I hope that we would win since we are chasing them for first place in our division. Sadly, we lost in OT 105-103. Next up is Chicago at home then on to a 4-game road trip.
Oh, I am meeting up with the lady that is leading the team to Serbia tomorrow after work so I pray it will go well.
Hope you have had a good weekend and first part of the week.

Go Team Go!

Last Thursday night, a rehearsal was held at my niece's school for pep band as we were preparing to play at the girls and boys basketball game on Friday night. Her school has not had a pep band so this would be very exciting. It was composed of kids in both bands from school, a few parents, and a couple teachers. I played my clarinet, my sister played her flute and my niece played her trumpet. That was one of my favorite things I did when I was in high school. Friday night came, and the girls game was up first. We played against City Christian school, and DCS won 37-25. The boys played after the girls, who won also, 44-38. Watching the boys game made me think of someone I know that lives in WI (hi TL). It was a fun night and all the fans there enjoyed the band.
Saturday, I got the opportunity to watch more basketball. My niece is playing in a community basketball league with some girls from DCS, and the coach is one of the parents of the girls. They, however, lost to the other team 38-24. Even though they lost, they played well. The girls on the other team were bigger and a bit older than they were but all in all was still a good game.
Saturday night, I went to church where Keels talked about the Gospel being the greatest treasure. That is so true! Then we had 1.3 where we shared our favorite verses in Scripture to each other. I liked that very much as I like to know where their 'nuggets' are in the Word.
Sunday was low key and I stayed home. This week at work has been not too busy, but I think I am looking forward to Friday when it will be payroll time again. Oh, I also am applying to go on a short-term mission trip this summer with the church and just sent in my application. I am praying that as things are now in His hands, so to speak, that the right people will be chosen for each team.

Enlightening Words

It's almost the weekend again. This week has been not so busy at work which is somewhat nice. Bible study was good Tuesday night. Hazel talked on 2 Peter 1:1-11 and I think one of the main points was that we need to be in the Word every single day. She mentioned that we should start our day with the Word so that it starts on a positive note. I say a brief prayer in the morning, and then I spend time at night in the Word, doing my devotions, which a lady had asked me if that helps me to have a good restful night's sleep. It does, most of the time, and there are a few times where I will read and I will be thinking about something that happened earlier in the day then I talk to Him. I like how, in each lesson so far, that I have had a verse stick out to me for some reason.
I must mention that the moon this week has been so full and so pretty in the sky. It's the main thing that puts light in the sky at night. The Blazers lost to New Orleans last night so they went 3-4 on their road trip which I will take.
"And Jesus replied, 'I am the Light of the world. He who comes to me shall not walk in darkness, but will have the Light of life." John 8:12