Remembering

Some say that today I officially entered my mid-twenties. 8:33pm tonight marked the 24 years I've been in this world. I've been reading through the Old Testament over the last few months and have continually been reminded of God's command to the Israelites--to remember what He has done for them. This morning I tried to reflect and remember what during the past year God has done for me. As I began to write, I realized what an amazing year it has been. Blessings abound...healing from Crohn's Disease from surgery, incredible financial provision, a new amazing community and emotional healing at Cursillo... These are only a few things on my list. Praise be to God! I can only imagine what the next year will bring..

It was a year worth celebrating--so celebrating we did. Friends took me out for a lovely lunch and we continued on to have a day filled with laughs and goofiness as we shopped at Paseo. My friends then tricked me tonight in coming over for a small surprise birthday celebration at Sophie's. We will keep celebrating this summer by going to see Wicked June 19th.

At CPK for lunch...I got a free birthday ice cream sunday

Late night celebration at Sophie's

And I have to rejoice that I now am the same number as my favorite television show...24. By the way--check out that artistic cake.

$30,000 later...

Today I experienced a very different church fundraiser than I had ever been a part of. Growing up in youth group I helped with many a spaghetti dinner, bake sale, yard sale, or auction to raise money to go on our mission trips. Yet this church wide auction at San Marino took fund raising to the next level! For approximately the last 3 months I have been on the auction committee--a group that worked tirelessly to a create a fiesta themed live and silent auction and catered dinner. I was amazed at the talents and knowledge of the people on the committee--San Marino definitely knows how to throw a party! Here are some pictures of the event...

These are some of our youth helping to decorate the fellowship hall and tables by folding napkins.
This is Cami--one of the youth I know best, before the auction started. Many of the youth were our servers for the night--they were dressed up in a uniform of black pants, white shirts, and brightly colored sashes.

Don and Karen Berns (our new associate pastor) are on the church patio for the silent auction. Items included theme park tickets, dinner with Baby Oh (which made $100's!), and a spa package among other things. It was hard to win anything--people kept being out bid.
One of my favorite auction committee members--Bob--went all out in dressing festively for the occasion! I'm not sure I'll recognize him on Sunday mornings in his suit.
And one of the biggest items of the night was a live auction item--a ride with Jeff O'Grady (our senior pastor) on his motorcycle. Jeff surprised everyone by riding his motorcycle to kick off the live auction part. Here he is clad in his leather. The item that was most popular was having dinner with Jeff and his wife Lynn in the church manse. That went for $1500--and another couple wanted it so badly that they volunteerily gave another $1500. $3000 to eat with the pastor--wow...

The night was super successful. The auction raised $30,000 to benefit the youth! How exciting!!!

April 16, 2007

Watching the news channels Monday afternoon in the Houston airport was very surreal as I listened the shocking news of the VA Tech shooting. I pray right now for healing of the victims in the hospital, for peace and comfort for friends and families of the victims as well as the for the students, faculty, and staff at VA Tech.

I'm not sure what else to say--but thought I'd share this link to a cartoon "Together We Are All Hokies":

www.lansingcartoons.com

A restful weekend in TX

This weekend I traveled to Houston, TX for what I can only describe as a vacation. I went to Houston last November for a Houston Presbyterian Cursillo weekend. The experience in November was absolutely life changing as I learned and was shown at how much God loves me. Not only did I come away with that new understanding but I also came away with new friends. Robin and I were matched up as prayer partners and despite not spending a lot of time together during the weekend I left the weekend knowing that we had a powerful connection. We've stayed in touch since November and she has become an amazing friend, mentor, and family to me. This weekend I got to spend time with her family--her husband, Rusty, and their 3 daughters, Alyssa, Sarah, and Bethany. After the past few stressful weeks I needed these two days of rest, laughes, and catching up. Here's a picture of Robin and I:I also had the chance to see another friend from my November Cursillo weekend--Bob Williamson and his wife Louise. Bob has taken special care of us Fuller folks that have been to Houston Cursillos--he even told Becca and I that he considers us his grandkids! Bob has a heart of gold and I love spending time with him.
Finally I had to post the next picture. We were in a tiny local restaurant in Texas and I was amazed to see crosses on the wall! At this point--I knew I wasn't in LA anymore!