Hello! It is a beautiful day here in Knoxville. It's probably in the 70's, no clouds, the birds are singing. Its just great. But the weatherman said don't get to far from your umbrella, cause we are suppose to have sever storms tonight. I don't know. It's hard to believe that the way it looks outside today. Oh well. Lets see what new things have happened since my last post. I've pretty much decided to take the job in Montana. I haven't heard from the people in Daytona Beach yet, so I am not sure if that is going to even be an option anyhow. But I am excited about the chance to go to Montana. The man at the ranch sent me some papers about the ranch and about Big Sky and let me tell you it is beautiful. And they do a lot of fly fishing. I've always wanted to learn how to do that. So maybe this will be my chance. And I am going to South Africa! For almost 2 weeks with my church at the end of May. We are going to be doing some AIDS awareness teaching and some sports ministry. I am way excited about it. We get back on June 2nd which is something that I just now realized. I thought that we were going to get back on the 1st. What's one day matter, I bet you are thinking. Well, I have to be in MT on the 6th, so that only leaves me 4 days to get over jet lag, say bye to my family, and get out there. I may have to say bye to the family before going to Africa and then leave that same day we get back. Cause we get back at 8:20 in the morning. Maybe I can drive to Nashville that day and stay with some friends that night, just to get some time behind me and still rest. Oh well, I'll work that out later. So basically I got a full plate coming up here soon. Im still working at the exhibit. It's suppose to be here till April 17th, but they are trying to extend it for a week or two more. Which would be great for me since that short amount of time between when Id be done working there and leaving for Africa is so small I couldn't find another job, then I'd still be able to work for 2 more weeks! I hope they do extend it. Also I'm doing some other stuff to make some extra money. Have you all seen the people who stand in store and give out free samples for people? Samples for stuff like soap, lotion, cookies? Well I am going to be doing that for Jergens lotion next Sunday. It pays really good and is only for 6 hours. So hopefully that will be a great way to earn some extra $$. So I got all that going on. Plus my mom and dad are having a 25th wedding anniversary party on April 30th and I am helping my sister plan some of that which is fun, but I've just got to find a day to get up to JC to help her with some stuff. I'm coming sis, I promise! So I am pretty booked up over here. But love it. And if the blog starts getting skimpy on posts that will probably explain it all.

Correction

It was brought to my attention that "Finding Neverland" did not win for best picture this year at the Oscars, but that honor went to "Million Dollar Baby." I was mistaken. It was however nominated for the honor, but didn't win. But it is still a good movie that you all got to see. It did win a differnt Oscar though, Best Original Score. So it's got some good music. :-)
Sorry for the misleading info. Thanks Kat.

Never Grow Up

Watch "Finding Neverland" a movie based on true facts about how J.M. Barrie wrote Peter Pan. It was really great, but hey, it did win an oscar for Best Picture this year. So be sure to check it out if you get a chance.

Lazy Sunday

I am a bum. Last night I slept almost 11 hours! How do I do that? I think it is cause I have a sinus infection. Yep, the last time I had one I found out because I went to the doctor cause all I was doing was sleeping and he said that was a side affect of a sinus infection. Weird isn't it? Oh and I have pain in my sinus' too. So that's another good sign. :-)
So today I slept instead of going to church, then I went to work for about 2 and a half hours. There were a lot of people there, working, so I wasn't really needed, so I left. So now I am just chilling at my apt for a few mins before I leave for church tonight.
Here's so interesting news. I've decided not to take the tour guide job. I was a little sad, but it was starting to sound a little sketchy. 1st, they said the training was going to be paid training, but then I found out its not really. And the lady told me that it was possible that I would not start working for 3-5 weeks after the training was over. So that was really what made me change my mind about it. But I am waiting to hear about a job in Daytona Beach, FL that would be really great and also I have a job in Montana that I could do, so right now its just a wait and see deal. I'll keep you up to date.

I've been trying for 10 mins now to upload some photos to the blog, but seem to be having some difficulties. I will try again later.

What A Week

How many times have I said this on the blog: God is so cool. But its always worth saying again, cause He is! This past week in Panama City was indescribable. God showed Himself faithful and powerful over and over again. For those who don't know what we did, I'll fill you in. There were about 175 people that came together from mostly TN, Michigan, Indiana, and Kentucky. At night we would give free van rides to Spring Breakers when they'd had to much to drink, or just needed a ride, and also there would be groups of people out on the streets at night just talking to people and letting them know about the van rides and also the other thing that we did there, a pancake breakfast in the mornings. I think I can honestly say that I have not witnessed God work as He did this week. And it was through prayer. Every night groups would take turns in the prayer room praying for the van and street teams and for the people who got on the van and other various prayer requests that came about. It was really neat. For example, when Joe called to say that he needed a ride from one spot in town to another, the person who answered would call a van and tell us to go get Joe and then that person would go to the prayer room and give them joe's name and what van he was on and we would pray for Joe and whoever else that had called in. So it was so cool, while these people were on the van there were 30+ people praying for them back at the base plus an unknown amout praying from the internet. What they would do is take the same prayer request that we were praying for and put them on the internet so that other people would be praying for them too. (Check out the link from 9pm to 2am) And we saw God answer these prayers. Many people who had never heard the name of Jesus did hear it on one of these vans. We saw people who were broken inside and wanted to hear what we believed so bad that they would get on the van to go to another club or bar and stay on the bus for hours talking to us. God put so many people in our paths who wanted to find out what they believe. We saw people decide to follow Jesus for the first time and we saw people who decided that they didn't want to live this lifestyle anymore and they returned to Jesus. We also saw spiritual warfare in a way that I have never saw it. Satan was mad that his stronghold on Panama City is being broken and many times this week we saw things that he tried to do to scare us or to makes us give up turned into nights where we all got together and praised God.
I think that the neatest thing for me to hear would be when people would talk to us and when they left say things like. "I want what you have." or "There is something different about you all." "You're glowing." "We see a light in your eyes." Comments like remind me that it's not me they see, but Jesus living in me.

Adios for about a week. I am about to leave in the morning, or madruga (which is the spanish word for early in the morning, not just morning) for Panama City for a week. Keep our team in prayer as we go. It's going to be a great time! I hope it doesn't rain!

25

Hello all my faithful blog checkers! Sorry that I have been quiet this past week. I've been busy with stuff. Friday and Saturday I went skiing in WV at Winterplace. It was pretty fun. There were only about 20 of us who went, which is a small number for our group. But the skiing was good, the day sunny, and trip fun. So it was good. I've been working a lot besides that and I think I am starting to get to much sleep. It this possible? I'd been getting about 10 hours and was just feeling exhausted, so last night I only got about 9 and feel so much better today.
I heard from Lindsey Crider the other day; her, Caleb, and Jonas are going to have to move to Barcelona this spring. So that is pretty exciting for them I guess. I guess that just gives me an excuse to have to go to Barcelona one day! Well, this is why I haven't wrote in a while, I've not got a lot to say. Yesterday was my parents 25th wedding anniversary, yea for them! Not may people see their marriage to 2.5 years, so that's something to be proud of. I love you mom and dad.