...per Jana's request...

I'm sorry, I had started to report yesterday, but I honestly don't know what happened. Got distracted doing something. So, here you go, for all of you who have been checking daily for a report - here's your report from Spark 2007.

I know I probably say this every time I am a part of something like this, but this truly was an amazing weekend. And really for so many different reasons.

I was at the Lindley's house (to most of you that means nothing) with 7th grade girls. Let me begin by explaining the amazingness of this house!!! They live out in the outskirts of Houston and have acreage. It is beautiful and peaceful out there. You truly do get away from it all. This family has a game room (with 2 arcade video games), 5 horses, a heated pool/hot tub, trampoline, pond, 4 wheelers, and even a pit for bonfires! And the best part is that they truly view it as a gift from God and they just want to fill their house with people and love and minister to them. During free time we did it all, it was a blast!

So, about my group, well, 4 out of the 7 girls in my group this year were in my group last year. That was cool. Having previous relationships with them was cool. I wasn't sure what they would think about that, but they seemed excited!

The curriculum was awesome. We did Loui Giglio's Wired study. It's based on the idea of living a life of worship and learning about how we are all wired to worship! Seriously, it spoke truths into my life. That's the thing, I always feel like I sometimes take more away than the girls do. But I think they got it. We had good sessions and I hope they took something away from it. Often times it's hard to tell, but hopefully it invoked change in their lives. That is my prayer.

Also, the Sunday night service was focused on the cross, man it was awesome. Reminded me some of the service that we had when I was a Jr in High school and out D-Now was focused on The Wonderful Cross - to this day I still LOVE that song! Anywho, both services were awesome, man, the cross speaks volumes!

It was a great weekend with some very memorable moments: 5 girls hiding in the dad's closet during a game of sardines, jumping in the 55 degree pool (the heater wasn't working), riding their horses, an 8 yr old driving us in the golf cart on a real street, getting to know the host moms (there was a co-host mom that also spent the weekend with us), and the hilarious game of "Scary Daddy" where the host dad chased the girls and they screeched through the house!!!

All in all, a great and exhausting weekend! Sorry it got so long winded, but you asked for it. Props to those of you who read the whole thing.

Oh, and Jana, I don't think Katy was ever my leader. I'm pretty sure she was a leader at your house one year and then you had my age group at your house the next year...

Here are some pics from the weekend:

Some of the girls and I before we jumped in the 55 degree pool!!!

Jumping in the pool!

Me, riding Jr, the horse.

Driving around the subdivision, collecting can goods.

Super Duper: going to see Katy, Blake & Brady on Thursday!

Super Pooper: a lady turned down Hannah Montana tickets that I could have had to take Ashlyn to the rodeo to see them in concert!!!

...SPARK...

This is just a short notice to solicite your prayers. I'm leading a group of 7th grade girls for Disciple Now (at Tallowood we call it Spark) this weekend!!! I'm super excited and can't wait to see what the Lord does! The curriculum that we are going through is going to be awesome! I just hope they get it! It could literally be life changing! It has already hit me pretty hard! Thanks for your prayers and you can expect an update next week!

Super Duper: Great start to the weekend tonight when meeting all the leaders, host homes and kids!!!
Super Pooper: Allergies are making my nose run, I'm congested and sneezing all the time!! I hope I have energy this weekend!

...my Valentine's Card is a post-it note...

Have you heard that song? It's hilarious. I hope you get a chance to hear it on the radio this Valentine's season!

I wanted to address the issue of Valentine's Day. I don't want anyone feeling sorry for me because I'm "alone" on V-day! Seriously, I'm not worried about it. I love Valentine's Day. I love telling people I love them and even just sending an unexpected card to someone I haven't talked to in a while. In fact, I prefer to not have to stress out about what to get a certain guy that you've only been dating for a few weeks or even a few months. I mean let's face it. Guys don't like V-day. They don't really want anything and they don't have a clue about what to get you. It's so much unnecessary pressure.

So please, stop pitying all the single girls out there. We are big girls and can take care of ourselves. Don't worry, I feel plenty loved on V-day, even without a "boyfriend."

Oh and another thing, I HATE it when people refer to Valentine's Day as "Single's Awareness Day" (SAD). There is nothing sad about it, and I'm very aware of my singleness!!!

Super Duper: A great weekend with relaxing and hanging out with friends.
Super Pooper: laundry, laundry, laundry

...when did i become a woman???

I still don't refer to myself as a woman. But people keep telling me I qualify for the title. But what I want to know is, when did I "earn" this title and what did I do to deserve it?

I mean, when I was at Baylor I know I wasn't a woman, no one referred to me as a woman. The average female in college (age 18-22) wouldn't be referred to as a woman. So that narrows it down. It must have happened some time in the past 2 years, since I graduated.

But you see, it seems to me that there should be a specific event that deems you a woman. You know, some people may say getting married makes you a woman. But I think of many girls that get married young, and don't necessarily qualify as a "woman." So then does it have to do anything with having sex? You know, how guys say having sex makes them a "man." Well is the same true for girls? If so, then I don't qualify by that standard.

So far there isn't any one event/date/action that makes someone suddenly a woman, as far as I can see. People tell me that it has something to do with the fact that I have a job, salary, stability. That I support myself, have an apartment, make a car payment, etc, these are the types of things that make me a "woman."

Who knows? Is it the stroke of turning 24? Is that a magical age that makes a girl into a woman? I sure didn't feel anything significantly different just by starting my 24th year of life.

All I know is that I'm going on the Women's Ministry Retreat this weekend, and it kind of freaks me out that I qualify as a woman. It's just weird how I subtly moved into this category and still have not clue when or how it happened. And may I add that if I could keep it from happening, I just might. Just like their isn't anything that makes me a woman, so far I haven't found any benefits to being one either. Let me know if there is some benefit that I'm missing out on!

Super Duper: Having Friday off!!!
Super Pooper: lots of cleaning to do at my apt!