Tincaps

Well, I did it. I went to a Tincaps game here in Fort Wayne. I guess they are a big deal.... everybody loves going to the stadium whether or not they love baseball.  I ate a hot dog, sang along to take me out to the ballgame.... and didn't watch any of the game... well, maybe one hit....

The stadium is neat, with the buildings of downtown Fort Wayne creating the backdrop for one of America's favorite past times.  Probably my favorite part? Getting to spend some time with my good friend Rachel, and watching the kiss cam.

I didn't know the Tincaps had lost the game until we were on our way out of the stadium...

Two Years Ago

Two years ago today, I walked into New Life Church for my first of many Sunday morning gatherings.  I sat among thousands of people, listened to unfamiliar songs, and watched in awe as this church body openly and freely moved, danced, and sang.  I felt the Spirit's confirmation, as the pastor preached on the armor of God, a passage of scripture I had spent the summer reflecting on.

Two years ago today, was the day before classes started.  I had lunch with my new, soon to be, host mom...the invitation to stay with them had not come yet.  We ate mexican food and shared more of our stories.

Two years ago today, I curled up in a Panera booth in the evening, with a bowl of cheddar broccoli soup and facebook pulled up on my laptop.  I felt the excitement of this new beginning while trying to suppress the feelings of homesickness and fear of facing this completely new journey.

It's amazing how those first few days in Colorado are impressed upon my heart and memories.  I don't have that day written down anywhere, but when I realized the date and thought back to where I was, the pictures and conversations flooded back in.  Tomorrow will be two years since I met some of the most awesome worship leaders who made the journey of that year with me.  Darci, Ryan, Charlie, Adam, John, Kia......and so many more imprinted on my heart.

Two years later and I feel I am still at the beginning of this adventure that is worship leading.  I am learning new things everyday about God, His love and goodness, who He is making me to be, and the people He has called me to serve.  It is beautiful and hard. I am still often homesick, and certainly have many times of forced bravado....but I trust Him.  He has brought me this far...He will not abandon me yet. Not ever.

Open Mic Fun!

I am impulsive.  It's both a strength and weakness.  Sometimes I don't really think before speaking....but sometimes I find myself in places that turn out pretty cool.  Last Monday, I caught wind of a monthly open mic down at C2G, a music venue/ministry in downtown Fort Wayne.

I didn't make it early by any stretch so I fell into the 16th spot out of 17 performers for the night.  But I quickly made friends with a couple and their precious baby Charlotte, who had driven down from Goshen, IN for the evening. Amber and Nate were fantastic company, jovial, supportive, and welcoming.

It's been awhile since I've been to an open mic.  I forget they are such "open" venues where the acts can range from the solo singer/songwriter, to the girl singing along to her favorite CD.... and let's not forget the full bands, and the smooth rapper who had to be reminded it was a family friendly venue and to keep it "G" rated.

By the time I was up, there was only an intimate crowd left, but enthusiastic nonetheless.  The host earlier in the night had encouraged all the artists to share where we could find their next gig, or their music.  So jokingly as I got up I said, "Well, you can see me in my weekly gig at Saint Joseph UMC, Sunday mornings at 9 and 11:15."  After my song was done and I stepped off stage, an older gentleman approached and asked, "What time are your services again?" :o)

Quite delightful to find myself surrounded by other music lovers on what otherwise would have been a quiet Monday night...oh, I guess there was that softball game most of my friends went to....but we all know how I feel about ball games currently....

And I may or may not have plans to travel up to Goshen soon and visit my new friends!

St Joe Pickle Festival

Yesterday was cloudy, drizzly, cool, and the perfect day to go galavant around the small town of St Joe, Indiana.  And when I say small...I mean, some four hundred current residents small.... lovely nonetheless.

It was the 16th annual Pickle Festival, complete with a pickle decorating contest, food vendors, musical acts, a tractor pulled train, and various bounce houses and artisan booths.  I had the distinct pleasure of spending the day with little Tessa and Tucker (and their parents), and Kevin.....Although Tessa is the only one I carried through parts of the day....:o)

Tucker and Tessa

I have missed small town festivals.  Fort Wayne has its fair share of "festivals", but that mostly describes the type of food and musical entertainment that will be available at Headwaters Park on any given weekend.  These small town festivals are guaranteed to bring a certain amount of oddities like a golf cart ride over to a hundred year old church where a rummage/bake sale is being held in the basement.  Or a pickle factory tour on the outskirts of town complete with hairnet and pickle samples.  And it can't hurt to have a cemetery to peruse some hundred yards away from the main festival area. Yep, that is what makes my heart incredibly happy.

Miss Priss....Tessa and I's most delightful pickle.

 Heart Attack lunch......

 I slipped away to the cemetery for a few minutes and found this sweet civil war memorial... Inscription read: One country, One flag.

 Pickle Factory Tour led to our donning of some pretty awesome hairnets!

 Seriously....how cute is this face?!?!?!?!

Tess and I didn't win the pickle decorating contest, Tucker actually won for the 0-4 year old category....funny thing is....a lot of his ideas he took from us.... I feel the need to brush up on my vegetable decorating skills and head back next year for a win!

Life Update

Hey all! It has been a crazy summer, filled with challenges and adventure....as we head into the glorious month of August, I can finally take a step back......and breathe!

Maybe these should all have been separate posts, but regardless here's a wrap up of the last month or so:

I surprised the family back in Virginia by showing up for the fourth of July. I spent 3 full, jam packed days enjoying the new family golf cart, watching fireworks, visiting with a few friends, and checking off a long list of things to do and see.  I made it out to the berry farm for ice cream, to Sheetz for a late night snack (made to order!), to the state park to see the Civil War Mobile, and beautiful time spent with family.

Back from Virginia, and it was deep into the trenches of planning and implementing for our Praise Park Fair!!! A few months ago, I posted pictures from Praise Park, the land Saint Joseph has opened as a community park.  It looks vastly different from the days of complete and endless dirt! I spent the day in the amphitheater where we ran our sound equipment off of THREE generators!  In addition to a couple of our praise teams playing, another local worship team joined in on the fun as well as my dear friends of elle/The Remnant. And I was even brave enough (gasp) to play a few of my originals.  The only damper on the day was a quick thunderstorm that blew in, causing us to shut down and cover up for a few minutes before we could start up again.

And Praise Park Fair was so much more than just the music. We had food vendors, sports activities, and a tent full of artisans and local community organizations.  Final estimates put us at around 750 attendees! I cannot think of another time when I've helped with something so big and intricately planned.


This summer has brought deeper and new friendships.  I once heard a wise man remark, "to become old friends, you have to be friends for a long time."  Maybe I had unrealistic expectations of what it meant to really settle in a place.  Since college, I moved and wandered with the expectation that each new place was "temporary".  While I don't know that I can call the midwest my forever home, it's also not a quick step to fling me in another direction.  I'm starting to improve on my quick response to the question, "How do you like Indiana?" Indiana and I aren't old friends yet.... we are still in the discovery stage.....

It's still really hard to be so far from family, but I'm excited for what fall will bring.  There has been this continual theme of "goals" (which the current olympic craze does not help!), where are we headed, what are we shooting for.  It has caused a stirring in my soul, of how to step into this place of leadership I find myself, and how to expand the gifts I'm uncovering and exploring... stay tuned, there is way more to come.