Blessed... Further news

Hi all,

I'm sorry I have not updated this sooner in regards to my previous note (Blessed).  Well, there are two things that happened not this past Friday, but the previous one.  I got a call from a restaurant in VA/DC area asking me to come in to talk to a manager, which is crazy, and I received an email-invite to an Apple hiring event that happened this past Tuesday.   So, this past Monday I talked to the restaurant and am now waiting to talk over the phone with a manager, which is a lot nicer than going to VA and then maybe being told, "Sorry, you have have come all the way up here but we actually don't want to hire you."  This saves that embarrassing possibility.

Then on Tuesday I went to the Apple hiring event, which was cool.   I was asked back for an afternoon interview, after the morning "group interview".  The afternoon interview went fine and I was sent that day a background form to fill out.  Now I am waiting for a final in-store interview to see if I am hired or not!  PTL!

So that's what I wanted to share.  God truly has blessed me so far with these potential jobs.  Thank you all for all your prayers!

Deeper

Listening to this song today.  Great lyrics.
(Here's a video version: Deeper by Hillsong UNITED)

Deeper

Light of men
Love of God
Healing for the wounded heart
Like a child I quiet my soul
Hear Your voice surround me Lord

Jesus, hold me into Your heart
Into Your heart
Lord my soul delights
And I know You hear my prayer
Take me deeper Lord
Glorious Son to You I shall bow
Bow my knee, bow my will
Cherished by the strong and the weak
Humble hearts shall hear You speak

By Your love Lord You opened my heart
Now Your light will shine always
By Your Word Lord Your promise secure
And my soul will live always

Take me deeper Lord

Blessed

I am very blessed.  God has been providing in different ways and really glad to see where He might take me.

More details to come in the next week or so.

Weird day.

It's been a weird day today.

This past Sunday I headed to Tally to see my brother and go to the Passion 2012 University Tour stop at FSU.  I left late afternoon on Sunday and got in that evening.  It was great time with my bro and his friends up there.  He is interning at a ministry (CCF) this year and is living in one of their houses.  It's a cool set-up.  He lives there with two other interns and a resident guy.  So I was there for Monday and Tuesday.  We grabbed coffee on Monday and caught up some, I was able to share more about my processing India with him.  It was good; I always like when people are willing to hear out where I am at and actually want to hear what I have to say.  Then on Monday I got to attend CCF's campus gathering.  This is there weekly night with worship songs and a message from their director, Michael.  It is awesome to see what he is apart of up there and what Stephen has had his hand in.  He truly is an awesome brother and over-flowing with creativity.  CCF marketing, graphics, media, etc. can attest to this.

Then on Tuesday, I slept in, which was nice.  I went to Panera for awhile, around three hours, while he had a meeting that was longer than the time I was at Panera(!).  And that night we went to Passion 2012 University Tour.  Charlie Hall and Kristian Stanfill led everyone in an awesome worship time.  And we had a simulcasted talk from Louie Giglio.  It was a great night.  I also got to see and sit with my friends from Jax that are apart of Campus to City Wesley (CCW).

So I decided because I needed to get back Wed. (today) morning and it was advised that I sleep before I head back to Otown from Tally, I left Stephen's place around 3:45am and made it back to Orlando around 8am.  That is why its been a weird day today.

Goodbye Washington, DC

I headed home today from my brother's and sister-in-laws in Arlington, VA.  It was a great trip to spend taking care of my niece with my mom.  See below post for pictures.

I enjoyed the weather as it started out probably in the 80s when I first arrived and got down to the 60s and 50s.  Great weather.  That is one huge perk of VA/DC.  A possible down side is that it becomes unbearably cold in the winter, for a FL boy anyway.

We had some hard times and some great times.  The hard times include Ella breaking down, screaming, fitful-screaming tantrums.  You know, what 14 month olds do.  But we would got through those times.  Either she would realize we were no longer paying attention to her and that the fits were not getting her anyway or that whatever was bothering her passed.  Than we got back to normal.  In fact, the mood swings were such that one moment she would be screaming like she was dying and the next she would be smiles and laughing.  It was a little bit crazy.

But the fun/good times were well worth the hard ones.  To be able to spend time with this little one who is the daughter of by brother.  Still a weird idea.  But awesome nonetheless.  We played with blocks, old cell phones, push car/things, food, etc.  Mainly I was just glad to be there.  I know for so many people often, especially if they are separated by long distances with family, they do not get to share in the growing up years of their nieces, nephews, and grandchildren.  I want to be there for Ella and be family even with were separated by hundreds of miles.  She really is the cutest kids ever (ok, ok one of the cutest ever).  It's not really worth arguing over ;)

#documentlife: Ella in Sept-Oct '11

Here are some pics of my mom, Ella, and me from my trip to VA/DC.  Ella makes some crazy faces sometimes.

Washington, DC

I have been up in VA/DC since last Monday and have been enjoying my time with my niece.  My mom is also up here right now while said niece's parents, my brother and sister-in-law, are on vacation in Hawaii.  I really love it up here.  The weather is changing and so it is getting cooler (way better than FL weather anyway).  I had the opportunity of getting together with Nelson, a friend attending seminary in DC, and went to a good chili joint, Ben's Chili Bowl.  I recommend the chili cheese fries.  

Like I said, I have been enjoying my time with Ella.  I'm glad for at least a little while to be able to input into my niece's life and see her grow up.  It is often hard to live with a 14-month old because you have to cater to their every needs, you don't always know what they want because they cannot really talk, sometimes they scream uncontrollably making the neighbors think you might be abusing them, and they have this baby smell that never really goes away.

BUT, they are probably one of the best things that could happen to you and your life.  First, it is most amazing to watch how they play and interact with the world around them.  Secondly, they teach you humility.  When raising a child, now don't get me wrong I've never actually done this, you have to be willing to give up time and really all of you in order to meet the needs of the child.  It is a 24/7 job.  It will humble you.  You cannot be selfish and be successful at this I do not think.  And this is what I have been kind of/slowly learning while being up here.

It has been a great time.