Random...

So I got a letter from my student loan company yesterday and get this: my interest rate is going DOWN over the next year! By over 3%!!!! I couldn't believe it...it has done nothing but increase about 2% each year so I was extremely excited and had to do like a triple take on the numbers. This is such a blessing because my car is almost paid off and then I will be hitting the student loan amount with a bigger bat and this lower rate will definitely help me out. Yay!

Huntsville, AL

So this past week I traveled to Hunstville, AL and to the Marshall Space Flight Center for Backup Control Center (BCC) testing. This is where we go if we ever have to evacuate due to a hurricane and JSC is damaged. Anyway, this is also the place where the NASA Great Moon Buggy Race is held every year- something that I participated in as a driver/racer for two years, and a co-team lead for one year. Some of my best college memories, and memories in general are centered around this race and the awesome friends I made while doing it. I took one of my co-workers and friends, Josh, on a wild-goose chase through the woods outside the space center to show him the random rockets, capsules, and separation rings, that dot the woods- probably leftovers from testing. It seems they have cleared out a lot of the debris, so Josh couldn't see the camo-capsule we all posed by oh...6 or 7 years ago, but I have PROOF that there used to be more stuff out there:

Wall Art Project

"Koi-noi-nia"

So, well over a month ago, one of our Pastors-In-Training, Darrel, gave a message on Acts 2:42-47 and asked three questions:

1) What are you devoted to?
2) What do you live for?
3) What is your purpose?

In 1 John 1:3 the word "fellowship" is mentioned twice. When Christians think about "fellowship" we usually think of the time of hanging out with other believers, catching up on each others lives, eating good food together, and just enjoying being with one another. But, as Darrel pointed out, fellowship isn't limited to those descriptions. Fellowship involves worshiping and studying God's Word together with other believers. This definition challenges me a bit more. Am I devoted to studying God's Word? Am I living for God? Is my purpose of glorifying God and enjoying Him forever being lived each day? If I can fellowship with my Christian friends, enjoy spending time with them and getting to know them better, shouldn't I also be fellowshipping with God- whom I claim to live for? Hmm, some hefty pondering. Well, how does one know God better? By reading His Word, by studying His Word, by meditating on His Word.

"For all Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work" 2Tim 3:16-17 (ESV).

The Greek word for fellowship is "koi-noi-nia" phonetically spelled of course :). I finally found some Greek wood letters on line, and made this wall art.

Every time I look at it, I will be reminded of "am I fellowshipping with God?". And I hope that it will become a description of my home, for both my Christian friends- for us to become better friends, to study and converse about God's Word, and to glorify and honor him with our speech- and for my non-Christian friends- that my hospitality and true desire for and enjoyment of their friendship will be an outward reflection of Christ's work in my heart.

Patio project

So I really did most of this two weeks ago, but I decided to use the Home Depot gift cards I got a birthday and a half ago (that were supposed to be for building some more bookshelves) but since that isn't going to happen for awhile, I figured I would spruce up my plants already thriving on my little balcony garden and replace the ones that died uh...months ago :). I finally got the small table for my patio (had to order it online), so I figured I would post some pictures...I still need to find an outdoor rug and I bought some paint (orange, red and yellow- of course!) to spray some metal chairs I have. Those will get done at some point :)

My new patio furniture! It's simple I know. But its bright...that's what matters :)

Our video!!!!

Yay! Our video is posted on YouTube! My friend Shelly was the creative and technical genius behind it, here is a video of our experience at the Na conference in May. Enjoy!

And now for a triathlon...

I just signed up for my first triathlon...the Ironbabe Sprint Triathlon. It's in August.

300yd swim
11 mile bike
3 mile run

Sounds like fun to me.

4th of July

Yeah I know it's been awhile since I've posted...

I spent my 4th of July evening at the Parris home. We did our own fireworks! That was so cool! In Arizona, its illegal, and our 4th of July firework shows sometimes get canceled if things are too dry. So it was a real treat to wave a sparkler and fire off a Roman candle! Fun!