HONESTLY SPEAKING

DC

I'm in DC for the week attending this conference. I'm not totally sure what to expect, but I'm excited. 

If I get a few more ideas about how to connect those who have, to those who do not...then it'll be worth it.

This summer our Sunday School "theme" is going to be: Rock and Roll Sunday School: World Tour. we'll visit a new country each week. I'm excited...and trying to think creatively about how to make it SUPER fun and meaningful. Backstage pass name tags, guitar hero game, oh the possibilities...

Oh! And of course everyone's in the band...and they all get band T-Shirts. 

I flew on Virgin America airlines which is similar but a different company than Virgin Atlantic. (same owner started it) I have to say...wonderful! I loved it. It was totally luxury and didn't cost it. It felt like the Jetsons had taken over...I had everything I could have wanted. the time passed really quickly. 

I find a few things funny in airports and on planes. Everyone's in such a rush! I think it's funny how the minute the plane lands everyone jumps up...only to stand there for 10 minutes. I'd like to think everyone is just stretching their legs...but they're far to anxious for this to be the case. :) 

I'm heading off to the Eastern Market Flea market (I love going to other states for these!) and then I'll head over to the opening ceremonies. 

Have a great day!

following Jesus

Following Jesus has been and is something I'm still trying to get better at.   I've not had a hard time really ever hearing God's voice, it's just that He is generally asking me to do things I'm uncomfortable with. I suppose this shouldn't surprise me, because all of the things Jesus said during His ministry were pretty uncomfortable. I wrestle with the words He often whispers to me. 

He is usually asking me to do something opposite of what I'd like to do. He's usually turning my reality upside-down. I don't like how that all feels...but obedience is good and disobedience is generally met with so much regret...I'd much rather make a fool of myself.

Tonight I was at Trader Joe's in Woodland Hills. The Malibu/Calabasas crew have to travel a distance for the opportunity to shop at TJ's or Whole Foods. I'm finding that the valley side of things offers better stores and more of the people I'm used to...more diversity and such.

Tonight I was walking into Trader Joe's and I saw Angelyne looking at some strawberries placed next to the entrance. I kind of inwardly smirked and thought "what a character".  I am sort of fascinated and heartbroken over these Hollywood icons who are obscure and unique. 

Angelyne drives a pink corvette and is often seen around Malibu with her assistant(?) who is a young guy about my age. It is said that Angelyne is 46...but I would add 10 or 2o to that number as I have looked at her closely. 

Well, tonight I was walking through Trader Joes and Jesus started talking..."Will you please go invite Angelyne to Church tomorrow."

I pondered how awkward it would be to approach this semi-celebrity and invite her to church. I reasoned that I had a lot to get done and that I was probably making it all up in my head. 

I couldn't shake the feeling. I had no way to really rationalize that Jesus would an alternate opinion other than  that he would like than for Angelyne to come to church on Easter Sunday and get to know Him a bit. 

I thought of how Angelyne is His child...His daughter...and He desparately loves her and even died for her.  If my Father had another daughter that He was desparately trying to communicate His love to...wouldn't you find her no matter what and tell her? So...I started looking for her in the store. 

I saw that she and her assistant were checking out and so I decided to walk outside and "look at the flowers". I felt like a stalker...I didn't know if I should go back in the store...but I just waited by the exit.  She came out of the door and I introduced myself and said that I'd seen her around Malibu a lot and wanted to introduce myself. She asked if I wanted one of her cards, and so she pulled one out of her purse. I took the sexy picture of her...and then proceeded to tell her that I worked at Malibu Pres and that I'd like to invite her to our Easter service at the park.  She thanked me and seemed positive. Her assistant wouldn't make eye contact with me...but that's okay.

So I am praying that she will come. I am praying that as she goes to sleep tonight she will get just a little curious and consider coming...

I'm praying that when she does come, she will hear the good news that she is loved and seen by God. She doesn't need to pay for a billboard for God to see and love her. He already does. Every moment. 

If you're serious about following Jesus, I think you should expect to have to do some kind of embarassing things that aren't totally socially normal. 

I got into my car and kind of laughed about the whole thing. I thought, here I am...in my hoodie and jeans buying orange juice and flowers and God uses me. I'm pretty ordinary...and yet the only reason I think God whispers all of these instructions to me is because He knows how much I love Him and how I'll do nutty things for Him. I figure if He went to the cross for me, the least I can do is invite one of His eccentric kids to church. 

a few new neighborhood friends

I'm getting really used to my new rhythm of life here in Malibu Canyon...I work on one side...and live on the other. Not too shabby. 

I drove home today, and my friend Julie came over to hang out and stuff easter eggs for our church's easter egg hunt. As I drove up and parked in my driveway, I walked to the mailbox to get my mail.

 The clouds were puffy and white, the sky a vibrant blue and the hills bright green with yellow flowers. It's almost so beautiful that I can hardly take it in. 

Four girls rode by on their bikes and I smiled and said hello. They stopped and asked if I was the new owner of the "pretty house". :) I told them that I was. We had a fun exchange when one of the kids said "who's mom are you?" I said, "oh, no one's...but I do love kids. I'm the children's director in Malibu at the Presbyterian Church. Sooo basically I'm so excited to meet you guys!" I learned all of their names and grades...2nd grade, 3rd grade, 7th grade, and 8th grade. 2 pairs of sisters. They were already telling me I should dig a pool in my backyard, have a party for Halloween (which they promised to attend), and that during the summer "we should hang out". I smiled and was so thrilled with this welcome greeting from my new friends. I told them I was going to be stuffing easter eggs for the kids at church and that I'd leave a few on my front lawn tomorrow for them to come find. They were beyond excited. 

As I went back out to my car to retrieve something else, they drove by on their bikes again (making the full loop of the cul-de-sac) I recited their names and then the 3rd grader told me where she thought I should hide the eggs so that no one would take them. As they left they shouted "Bye Kristie! See you soon!" I keep finding myself excited and surprised by the things God has in store for me here. Who knew He might even have some Children's ministry in my own neighborhood in mind. 

Yesterday I had 2 of my 5 year olds at the preschool come by to discuss their questions with what I'd told them about Easter.  I think it was their first time that anyone had ever told them about the cross...because they don't attend Sunday School yet. "If God is spirit and he is dead, then how did he have a baby son named Jesus" Wow. Smart kids! I love to get to hear their questions!

We had fun talking about the gospel together on my couch with their mom. Later the other brother asked "so if heaven made God, then who made heaven?" 

I'm painting my home office right now, meeting with my photographer to set up our photo shoot for Life to the Full curriculum, and getting ready to hopefully sell the curriculum come June. The other day I was walking through my house feeling like it's really much bigger than I need. I've struggled with this sense of "do I deserve this?" The Lord kind of straightened out my thinking...which was very nice of Him...because otherwise I just keep spinning. 

He spoke into my thoughts "I have given you this space so that I can do what I want to do through you" I thought "ohhh I see. Cool. Well that's fine then...this is really lovely!!" 

I just feel so different about life now that it doesn't include a 2 hour commute. It's refreshing to find space to live. I made some chicken tacos for Julie and I tonight, opened a bottle of wine, played my favorite tunes on my iPod, and had some friends stop by. Stuffed eggs, watched LOST. What a beautiful way to spend the evening...and I'm not all stressed out from driving a million miles in traffic. Whew! 

I hope you have a beautiful day and that you are able to enjoy those who live around you...and the space you live in. These places we live are a gift. They are a precious gift which are rare and unlikely gifts to so many in the world. I give thanks for it all...for the water that comes out of my faucet, for the people that live around me, and for the peaceful feeling I have right now as I end the day and go to sleep. zzzzz

cleaning, painting, and the feelings in between.

I guess my friends associate me with coffee shops. It's Monday and the texts messages came from Natalia and Monica saying they were at our spots...the coffee shops near my old house...and they were sad I wasn't there to easily stop by. I felt a little like I'd abandoned these dear friends...not Natalia and Monica...but Starbucks at Oak and Pass and Aroma Cafe in Studio City.

One of the main reasons I feared moving from my little neighborhood was the lack of interesting coffee shops and restaurnants in suburbia. Thankfully, I've only moved to the edge of suburbia...and I'm only 20 minutes from my beloved little haunts. I do know that 2o minutes is optimistic...as the 101 is rarely this kind. 

There's been these pangs of homesickness mixed in with deep and lovely exitement. I love my new house. It's really amazing. I keep thinking I'm housesitting or something. It's finally feeling like home...today. I went to Trader Joe's in Westlake a few weeks ago on a Sunday evening and I felt like a 3rd grader dropped off for her first night away at camp. I kept people watching and I couldn't put my finger on what I didn't like...I figured it out today though. I don't like how white suburbia is. I have been very accustomed to diversity. Diversity in: age, style, socio-economic status, race, personality...

Let's face it: I'm used to people watching in the midst of Hollywood and well it's just a heck of a lot more interesting than white flight suburbia has to offer. Sometimes I feel like I don't fit in. I'm single. I'm young. I'm shopping at their Trader Joe's and I live here...but I don't fit the mold. I feel a pang of "join us. What's wrong with you...why don't you join us!?"

So today I drove to the other side of things...to the West Hills/Topanga side of my life and I felt much more at home. I think I'll have to do my shopping on this side of things sometimes. Especially on homesick afternoons (which I hope will be fewer and fewer). 

It's kind of embarassing to admit that I feel homesick still. I'm 29 years old and every time I start a new job, move to a new place...I am homesick. At least this is what it feels very much like. I was a homesick kiddo when I went to camp for the first time, left for college, and moved out for the first time. I really want to be fearless and easier at transitions...but I'm just not.

I put it together this time around that I create a deep sense of "home" in the places I spend a lot of time (my office and my home) so it follows that as I leave a home and create a new one this comes with a certain adjustment period. 

Anyway, a few of you have asked me to update you on my moving process...where I'm at with it all...and I'm pretty moved in. My bedroom, living room, kitchen, and dining room are all set. I painted my home office today. It's a great color of green which is olive but not muddy...spring but not bright. It's actually a color match of an envelope from the Paper Source called "Moss".   It's the green in the Life to the Full logo.  I figured I may as well coordinate. :) 

I'm really missing writing. I haven't made time to do much of it. I feel like I need to make that time even if there is painting and organizing and purchasing to do. It sort of keeps me alive inside to process the world around me or the thoughts within me in this way. 

I know this is probably a scatter of thoughts and facts...but this is the case of now. I hope you find it moderately interesting...if not...hey no one made you read this.