Happy Autumn!

Autumn is without a doubt my favorite season of the year.
Cool weather is approaching and it's almost time to whip out the scarves & boots!

I just bought some skinny jeans to wear tucked into my boots, and new blush and lip gloss. What a boost it gives you to have fun new accessories. I'm in love with my new plum lip color for the fall!

Now it's time to get some new shoes! I hope to take a trip to DSW soon with my BFF Frances...let me just say, they have some FABULOUS shoes, and they're all on sale right now! Like these:

I also want to make pumpkin bread & watch the leaves change colors.

TO DO LIST for Autumn 2009:

• Make pumpkin bread
• Go to a concert out of town
• Carve pumpkins
• Go to apple orchard
• Go camping/hiking
• Hot air balloon ride
• Football game (college or high school)
• Lead high schooler to Jesus

I'm in such a good mood.
LOVE!

Why does God want to take all the fun out of sex?

This weekend in church was possibly the most shocking & most freeing message I've heard Pete give. Especially with where I am in my relationship with Dusty-Jesus exposed some places in me of fears & mindsets; things I was believing that were not true.

I realized that even though I would like to think that come marriage, I would have fun with my sex life, I was still living in the straight & narrow. God gives us guide rails to help guide us and protect us, but within those barriers, there is so much freedom when you're married. I've been stuck on a single lane country road when God wants me to drive on a 20-lane highway when I'm married.

For example, I didn't know oral sex was OK and a gift from God in marriage. Same with toys & phone sex, etc. Turns out, God wants us to have LOTS of fun having sex. He wants us to experiment and laugh together trying. And husbands want their wives to get dirty!

After this weekend, I'm looking forward to marriage that much more. Until then, I want to stay pure & let Jesus keep doing His work in me, readying me for what's to come.

My Stomach is in knots...

My stomach is in knots, of excitement & nervousness for what Jesus has for me next. I got to meet tonight with some great people, & Jesus is sharpening my vision for what He has next for me. He's allowing me to feel the weight of what I am being entrusted with, & it's bigger than the credit I've been giving it. I am a leader. He is going to stretch me in ways I've never been stretched & grow me like never before. All I have to do is say yes. & some no's. But always yes to Him.

I can't wait.

It's starting to feel a lot like Fall

This morning, I stepped outside & felt the chill of the sweet September air.
I can't believe it's already September. Time seems to rush by these days. I do look forward to the brisk weather: time to wear light jackets & scarves & walk through the red, orange & yellow leaves that layer the ground. My absolute favorite time of year!

Only 4 days left until Fall Kick-off & 5 days left until QPZA '09. It's approaching so quickly. The new building looks insane...I can't believe I've been a part of this church & have watched it grow from 2000-now. From the teeny auditorium at Dennis Drive to an auditorium with a HUGE screen & seating for 2,400 people. It's insane.

And I'll be assistant producing the weekends...sitting up front holding a white board helping with transitions-a role that I'm only now starting to feel the weight of & understand it's importance. I'm kind of in awe that I'm being trusted with this.

And on top of that, I get to say yes to being on the core lead team for Fused, leading the production...which is basically Wednesday night youth services. I'll be leading people...like our worship leader & tech leader. It's wild to me what Brad sees in me & sees Jesus doing in me. When I can't see it myself, it's neat to hear it from someone else. Even when I'm not choosing great, I'm shown grace & love.

It feels like this fall is a huge jump all over the place. Dusty said yes to stage managing on the weekends...which could mean we don't ever get to sit in a service together. That makes me a little sad, but Jesus knows just what He's doing. And I love that Dusty is getting to serve in this role...that makes me very happy!

It's still hard seeing couples all around me getting engaged & married, and hearing from Dusty that it feels like our relationship has hit a plateau; is stagnant. Why aren't we growing? I guess that's a question we both need to ask Jesus.

Anyway. Here's to Fall.