You wanna come outside and play?

Confession: I've kind of lost momentum in the last week. Instead of my time alone being inspiring and time to work on things it has become more lonely/boring. I, for some reason, haven't been able to look beyond that. Basically what it comes down to is selfishness. I do believe that spending time with people is necessary to fuel the soul, however being alone shouldn't lead into a downward spiral of a "woe is me" mentality. I feel as though I've fallen into that rut of focusing so much on myself (in a negative way) that it leads to a feeling of depression. I have a difficult time feeling inspired to do constructive things when I don't have people around to bounce that energy off of. So how does one procuce that? I've heard people say to make more friends. Really? Make more friends. How do you do that? I mean that sounds so juvinile, but it seems like in the season of adulthood relationships are almost approached as an interview process. I mean kids have it so easy. Can you imagine a grown man going next door and saying "You wanna come outside and play?" Just doesn't have the same effect anymore. So again I ask, how does one go about making new friend's outside the realm of their current circles? Still haven't found the answer to that one. No one else seems to have the answer either (including the ones encouraging me to do so). Seems like everyone is just so busy or have just settled in for the rest of their lives. I'm not ready for that yet. What happened to the people who actually got together, went over to each other's houses, ate dinner together? Do these people still exsist?

If you're one of those people who still do this and you're reading this I have one question for ya... "So, you wanna come outside and play?"

~J~

10 years of life in 60 seconds.

So I've been reading a lot of updates and blogs that people have posted about the happenings of their life over the past ten years. I thought I would do the same. I'll put it in list format as to not tire you. Here are some significant events that have happened:

Got my drivers liscence

Graduated high school

Worked at a camp for 3 summers that was 4 hours from home

Went on a mission trip to Spain

Moved into my own house

Changed church membership from my church as a youth

Graduated college

The only dog I ever had growing up died

Dad was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor (completely romoved)

Both grandmothers had serious illness

One of them was in and out of the hospital for a year and since has gone to be with the Lord

Started my own business

I know there is so much more than that, but those are just some of the biggies. Here's hoping we all remember some of the milestones in life so we can learn and grow from mistakes and lessons. A lot can happen in a short amount of time.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

So I was thinking yesterday about a question that most of us have all been asked.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Ok, raise your hand if you've hated hearing this question. I mean seriously! EVERYONE asks it. Or now that most of us are older the question is: "So what do you do?" Shoot most of us are still trying to figure out what the heck we want to be when we grow up. Then it started to make me think about, as a child, what I wanted to be when I was older.

Wanna know what it was? ........A singing astronaut veterinarian. Yep! Can't make this stuff up folks. That's what I wanted. You know what? Now that I think about it, no one ever said that I couldn't do that or that it was a stupid idea. Unfortunately not all are so lucky and for those people my heart breaks. However, somewhere along the way we throw away our "childish" dreams and we try to have grown up professions.

When did we lose ourselves? People became so concerned with who we were going to be that by the time most of us get to college we haven't a stinkin clue! We have students that are triple majoring or that change their major multiple times to try to find the perfect fit. Most of us will fall into the category that I fell in which is by the time of graduation you have a moment to stop and think. Crap. I need a job.

So what's the answer. I have no idea. I said I just thought about this yesterday. I wonder though if we should stop asking kids what they want to be though. I don't know. Maybe not. Just a thought though. I didn't need an adult to ask me if I wanted to be a singing astronaut veterinarian. Please! Adults aren't that creative.

Food for thought. Nothing more really.

Raise My Ebenezer

So I know I say this probably every time I write something, but I really haven't done this in a while. I mean like actually write a real post. So here is just a little bit of what I've been learning lately.

Recently I've been thinking about how I would love to...you know the old cliche..."move on to big and better things"

While I am extremely thankful for having a job I just want to start moving towards my dreams. I suppose I am doing that, but at times it just feels like I'm trying to run through molasses. Know the feeling? Perhaps I'm inpatient. I just want it to happen now! I've always been that way a little bit though.....ok a lot bit.

As I was analyzing my work habits, spending habits, etc. I realized that I am not being the best steward of those things. No, not enough that people would take notice. In a lot of cases probably not even enough that people would see anything wrong with them. While I'm not anywhere near going bankrupt I have noticed that I'm much more quick to buy a $5 latte than save it for house repairs. Or go out to dinner with friends rather than stay in and save to possibly buy a coat for someone who is using newspaper as their blanket rather than the plush afghan I nap under. I suppose, as most do, I feel if I have money in the bank then I'm doing something right.

The other day I was talking through some of these things with a friend. Ok I was actually texting it because, you know, texting is totally the new face to face relationship. As I was sharing my thoughts to him he exclaimed to me "Raise your ebenezer!" I wasn't too sure what he was wanting me to do. I'm not sure he knew why he instructed me to do so either. However, it led us in an interesting direction of conversation. We started to talk about the old hymn where that line is sung. The line comes from the bible verse 1 Samuel 7:12

Then Samuel(A) took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen[a] and called its name Ebenezer;[b] for he said, "Till now the LORD has helped us.

Samuel lifted a stone as a mark for what God had done. It was a symbol, a defining point.

Well while I don't have a giant rock to lift up in the air I do have this blog. I hope that in writing this I will think back and remember it and what God has been teaching me when faced with the little decisions. Do I buy a latte and a muffin or an entire bag of coffee that I can make at home that will last a few weeks? Do I go out to the movies or do I rent one for a dollar? Yes they seem like small and meaningless decisions, but I think these are ways to be smart for one and more importantly to honor God in the small things.

After thinking through these thoughts I was reminded of the parable of the talents. We are trusted with time, money, resources, talents and we are most certainly responsible for what we do with them. So:

HERE I RAISE MY EBENEZER!

Desert Song

A friend of mine posted this video. I just wanted to share it as well. How often do we feel overcome yet we are still called to worship a God who is never failing.

Download My Friend's Music!

So I've known one of my closest friends, Nathan Smith, for almost 8 years now. He is insanely talented. He plays guitar like a magician and has an incredible voice. I'm truly blessed to have such a friend as him. His talent truly amazes me. He recently put on his blog a couple songs that you can download. Please go there and support him.

For those of you who don't know I am a photographer so I am often snapping random pictures of my friends. I'm sure it can get annoying. Thankfully no one has kicked me in the teeth or anything yet. Here is a shot that I caught of Nathan. This is the album art that you'll see when you're downloading.

It's here!

After several calls, email, and frustrated breakdowns....IT'S FINALLY HERE!!!!