Gracious Uncertainty

Throughout my life, mostly in my married life, I have done so many different things, moved SO many times and changed the course of direction that I was headed in a million times. You see, when I set out to do something, a project, a new career field, a ministry opportunity, I was really excited and I had every intention of doing just that thing for a very long time. But somehow, something always happened along the way; it's not that I "flaked out" of the situation, things just sooner or later shifted/changed and fell through.
People have often "criticized" me for not having a clear direction with what I want to do in my life, or the fact that my plans often change. (Like I planned on them changing!!) But through all of my experiences in life, I have learned many different skills and valuable lessons that will stay with me for the rest of my life. I realized that God had a reason and purpose for everything I've been through. I have also learned what I want and don't want to do in life. Now, I am not saying that it's not good to have some clear direction and obtainable goals for your life, but I am saying that it's okay to not always know where your going in life. Don't bank on the fact that when you set out to do something that it will turn out just as you had imagined it to. Having that mind set will lead to unfulfilled expectations. Having an open mind and heart is essential to this crazy journey called life. Let me quote from a book that I've been reading called "Wild at Heart" written by John Eldridge, to explain what I mean. When I read this, my life (physical and spiritual) made so much sense!!


"The spiritual life cannot be made suburban," said Howard Macey. "It is always frontier and we who live in it must accept and even rejoice that it remains untamed." The greatest obstacle to realizing our dreams is the false self's hatred of mystery. That's a problem, you see, because mystery is essential to adventure. More than that, mystery is the heart of the universe and the God who made it. The most important aspects of any man's world - his relationship with his God and with the people in his life, his calling, the spiritual battles he'll face - every one of them is fraught with mystery. But that is not a bad thing; it is a joyful, rich part of reality and essential to our soul's thirst for adventure. As Oswald Chambers says,

Naturally, we are inclined to be so mathmatical and calculating that we look upon uncertainty as a bad thing . . . Certainty is the mark of the common-sense life; gracious uncertainty is the mark of the spiritual life. To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, we do not know what a day may bring forth. This is generally said with a sigh of sadness; it should rather be an expression of breathless expectation.
(My Utmost for His Highest)

Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive. - Gil Bailie

I now know that I needn't worry about all of the different paths that my life has followed. Each one of them has lead me to a greater understanding about myself and about who God is, and how gracious and deep His love runs for me; that He would cause me to adventure on all of these rough, exciting and unknown journeys in life. At the end of every path I have gained at least one valuable thing . . . Character. - Nikki Caldon

Will u go 4 God?!

While we were visiting my parents over the Labor Day weekend, we watched the news every morning as it reported about the devastation left from hurricane Katrina, and flooding in the south. As we all tearfully watched, I felt completely helpless and wanted to do something. I cried every time I saw another victim hurting, lonely and fearful of their future. I just wanted to reach through the tv and hold them in my arms, give them a big hug and wipe all of their tears away. But what could I possibly do?! Afterall, I'm a mother of three and can't readily take off down south to minister to these people.

When I got home, I checked my e - mail and read about a friend of mine that was actually going to the south with a relief team from his church!! His website directed me to a ministry called UGO4GOD. UGO4GOD, along with Hope Chapel in Santa Rosa, California, and a few other ministries, have joined together to raise donations and send relief effort teams out to help the people of these devastated areas. They have been collecting donated food, clothes and medical supplies. They have sent the donated items by truckloads along with ministry teams to help distribute the items donated, and in conjunction have been there to minister to the hurting and broken people of these areas. Chris and I decided to get our youth group involved, so we made a picture slide show of the devastation along with a powerful song to stir up the youth and get them motivated to help.

What an impacting video clip; we all bitterly wept as we realized our selfish ways as spoiled Americans. It opened our eyes to be thankful for all that we DO have. Interesting that our topic of the night was, "Where do your priorities/passions in life lie?" The pictures spoke volumes about what is truly at stake here. The possesions that these people once owned, are now meaningless, compared to the things they now need just to survive. (note: NEED - We as Americans are just beginning to know what that word truly means)

That is the beauty of helping others in need. It makes us take the focus off of ourselves and redirects our attention to the needs of another. It also changes our way of thinking about the definition of what our REAL needs are.

We decided to set up a donation drive in front of our local Wal-mart. I needed to find out what items that UGO4GOD needed the most, so I got into contact with them. When I called, one of the team leaders' wives, Lori Gonzales, answered the phone. She let me know that they would certainly not turn away donated items, but the dilemma that they have been facing is the incredible cost of driving all of the donated items to the south. It has been costing them over $2,000.00 PER LOAD to go and come back.

So they are now asking people who want to get involved to donate Wal-mart gift cards at any amount. They are then going to send volunteer teams from Santa Rosa over to the affected areas in Mississippi and Louisiana with these gift cards, so they can purchase the supplies needed at a local Wal - mart when they get there. This will alleviate the cost of trying to ship donated items from afar. Chris and I are contacting all of the churches in Lake County and asking for their support in buying Wal-mart gift cards. Wal-mart is completely booked until October 8th to set up a donation booth, so in the meantime we are asking the churches to help raise money for these gift cards. Lori from UGO4GOD ministries, was so thankful and supportive over the phone - I haven't met her in person yet, but what an incredible, sweet and genuine woman of God she is!! I look forward to meeting her soon!

If you would like to get involved with what we are doing here in Lake County or Santa Rosa, please feel free to call me at:

(707) 889-0629.

Thank you to all of those who have helped us so far;

~ Lord, thank you for compelling your children to reach out with a heart of love and compassion to the battered, broken and poor in Spirit . . . ~

Will u go for God?

To find out more about how you can help, get up and go to:

ugo4God.com

To keep up with the current and ongoing Katrina Relief efforts go to: ugo4God.blogspot.com

Oasis in Eygpt - AKA Visalia, California

It's been a long time since my last post, but I've been busy!! Chris and I headed off for Labor Day weekend to visit my parents at their new KOA campground business in Visalia, California. They actually live in a house on the property. It's pretty much in the middle of nowwhere. Timbucktwo, Egypt, I tell ya. To give you a little bearing, Visalia is about forty - five minutes past Fresno. Yep, I told you, IN THE MIDDLE OF NOW WHERE!! The whole time we were getting closer to my parents' campground, I'm thinking to myself; Mom, Dad - What were you EVEN Thinking?!?! The campground is actually in the outskirts of Visalia.

Their campground is really cool though - They have log cabins, campground sites, RV sites, a swimming pool, general store, a playground and a recreation room with a game center, complete with video games and pool tables. My parents each own a golf cart in which they toole around the campground with, so Chris and I had to check these babies out!! We had a blast! As we were driving around the campground, we stumbled upon a tether ball playground!! So for sure, we hopped out of the golf cart and did a little Napolean Dynamite action!! I almost beat Chris, but he threw the tether ball over my head and CHEATED and won!! "You idiot, gosh!" Anyway we had a great time with my parents and grandparents.

Could this be tether ball heaven?! Flippin' sweet!!!!

In the actual city of Visalia, however, they have 2 malls, (bonus) and every stinking restaurant that you can think of!! (including my personal fav's, Mimi's Cafe and Krispy Kreme Doughnuts!!) My parents royally spoiled us the whole time and I thoroughly enjoyed every waking moment!! (especially the day trip to the mall with the "get what ever you like" ticket for the kids AND chris and I!! Let's just say my parent's dropped a pretty penny in American Eagle Outfitters and Old Navy!! Oh, the kids would like to also thank Stride Rite shoes for the killer light up tennies) Anyway, we had a great time - unfortunately, we don't have any pictures because my lovely boys decided that it would be fun to take the memory card out of my digital camera and rip the micro chip off of it!!! Oh well, once I can save up for a new memory card, (I don't even know how much they cost) I will post more pics of the family. I googled the pics of my parents' campground in Visalia; yes those are actual pics of their campground and amenities, uh, minus the tether ball heaven - oh and, actually, I think I saw Napolean walking around the campground, for sure! (At least he looked like Napolean Dynamite; I think he was from Idaho too! ;) ) FYI: My dad built those cabins with his own bare hands - and the help of my sometimes good and kinda trusty bro', bubba. Bubbs, ya know I love ya eventhough you act like a schmoe!! (You KNOW what I mean!)