Bend Oregon

The following is something i wrote about 3 months before i moved to Bend. I feel them same about Bend now as i did then. Perhaps this will fill in some blanks for your thoughts as to WHY exactly did she move to little Bend Oregon....

Bend Oregon
Hebrews 11:1
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”

This is the first verse I recorded as a verse that I believe the Lord showed me in regards to Bend Oregon in my life! The second is equally important:

Romans 5:5
“And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”

Vision
“You must allow your mind to wander outside the boundaries of what is and begin to create a mental picture of what could be.” –Andy Stanley Next Generation Leader

I can’t explain why it’s Bend. Why it isn’t Seattle, Lynden, Blaine, San Diego, or Senegal. If I could I would. But I believe that the Lord has something for me to do in Bend. I know it has to do with the Generations and things the Lord has done in my life that will empower those to come in someway. I also believe that the Lord wants to grow faith in this whole experience, not just for me, but also for those who are a witness to what the Lord has done in my life.

John 1:6-8 “God sent a man, John the Baptist, to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light.”

My desire is to be a walking testimony of the Light; What God can do when we surrender what we know and follow the light he has given. I know I won’t always have the “big picture”. I may be holding a flash light and walking in complete darkness, but where the light shines I will see and follow its path as long as it is safe and clear. If the light is shone on a snake, or deep ditch I would hope I would be smart enough not to try and walk through it or leap over it, but shine the light in another direction and prayerfully follow where it leads.

I have to go to Bend. To learn about ministry. To grow in my faith. To believe for more than I have seen God do. To, perhaps walk through a fire…. To be refined into the beauty the Lord has for me.

Zechariah 13:9

“I will bring that group through the fire

and make them pure.

I will refine them like silver

and purify them like gold.

They will call on my name,

and I will answer them.

I will say, ‘These are my people,’

and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’”

only one year?

Are you sure it's only been one year?

I am certain it has been a life time... or at least half of one. 

When i stop and think back over the last year and all the things that have happened i see so much. The most consistent thing is the Faithfulness of God. I am overwhelmed and amazed! So many times this last year i was less than faithful. I was so consumed in my discomfort or pride that i forgot to remember why i am here. Not here as in Bend Oregon, but here on this earth here. I would get so lost in my own world; and forget to change the one around me. 

Psalm 91:4
"He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart."

It's so true. His faithfulness was my shield. I imagine more so than i even know or will ever see. I love that he loves me enough to not give up on me. He keeps teaching me, even when i stumble and fall over the same situation ten times, he knows i am one step closer to seeing my mistake and having stronger character because of it! Incredible.

Next to his faithfulness i see progress in me. Not in a "i'm so clever and i have improved my situation in life" sort of way... more in a progress that i see things in a different way. Let's be real i have walked through some very hard times this last year. I have cried tons of tears, and in the middle of those hard spots where i cried out because of my misunderstanding i did not see the end. I did not see today. I did not see where i would be looking back on the awful situation saying, "i see God's hand and i receive it with God's grace and guiding." These last few months the main thing God has been asking me to do is get his perspective. This sounds really nice and "visionary" but when the only question you have is WHY? and WHEN? his perspective is the last thing you can grasp or understand. A year ago i did not see his perspective or even think about it that much... now it seems that everyday i am wondering what He sees when he looks at the same circumstances i am facing with a clenched jaw and a raging fist. It's not every-time, but sometimes i get a small glimpse of what he sees and then i relax, knowing that He is in control and everything is going to be alright.

yes it's been a year. A long year. So much has changed and i feel like i am just starting this adventure called life.

Everything was New...

This weekend marks a YEAR since i moved to Bend! Can you believe it??? I can =) and so here starts a series of blogs that commemorate this last year~

- - - - - -

Everything was New...

Last April 21st i woke up to the central Oregon sun shining through my window and i realized something... from here on out everything will be New... and so it was...

New Home to organize and make my own.

New Church to love and find my place in.

New Job to provide for my needs.

New Boss(es) to tell me what to do(and what not to do.)

New Friends... slowly but surely i found  some friends!

New enemies to inform me over & over than i loved Jesus just a little too much for their liking.

New streets to Google Earth and find my way around the round-a-bouts.

New coffee shops to taste and find a favorite.

New gas stations, where they pump it for you... weird.. and still not used to it.

New Safeways to learn where the milk and cereal are.

New Parks to explore and watch the ducks.

New favorite photo spots.

New faces around every corner... and why did it seem (at first) that every guy was SO much cuter than the ones in Washington?????

New coffee buddies.

New Buttes to climb.

New songs to sing.

New.

Everything was so new and refreshing...and sometimes scary... but mostly new.

my favorite 6-year-olds

This is Elijah...

This is Rachel...

They are my favorite 6-year-olds.

Beware; i am pretty sure they are going to change the World.

Tim and Jenny VanDyke

Tim and Jenny

March 28th 2008

He saw her.

She saw him.

They said, "hello."

They went on a date.

They Kissed.

They called.

They were an item.

He proposed.

She said, "YES!"

They were married.

Sounds pretty perfect if you ask me!

i'm a movie star!

just kidding... kinda.

So i recently spent a chunk of time in downtown Bend... eating Pizza, walking around, sitting in the library, drinking Starbucks, meeting with friends and enjoying the SUNSHINE!

In my walking i had a thought... i was heading to Pizza Mondo and as i stepped into the cross walk crossing Franklin, a thought came to mind; 

What if i was the star of a movie right now? 

I looked around, stood a little taller, flung my hair over my shoulder, and glanced at my reflection in a car's window.

What if there was a camera crew with the guys on the moving platform with a camera?

I looked up at the stop light and imagined a Camera pointed at me,  hanging from a robotic arm.

What if all the people in these cars and doing life were extras in my show?

My feet hit the sidewalk and i looked both ways... I know a smile had snuck it's way onto my face and i could tell that the guy with the dog was wondering why i was smiling. 

~

Psalms 139:17-18

"How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.

They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them;

they outnumber the grains of sand!

And when I wake up, you are still with me!"

~

As i began to think about my thoughts of stardom, this verse came to mind. I am a star. When i stop and place myself on the HUGE stage of history, future, forever and now; I imagine God as the Award winning director of my show. His thoughts towards me are precious! He wants me to be a star. A shining star, not with the fame and glory that this world holds as important, but shinning with the light of who HE is in me. His eye is on me like the camera hanging from a robotic arm, or on a moving platform. He is there in my movie-star moments and in my "please don't take a picture" ones. 

Last week i heard someone say that potential is untapped-power waiting to be unlocked. When God picked me for this 'show' He saw my potential. Then he began to give me glimpses of it. He started giving me outrageous dreams of what my life could be if i released it to His directing skills instead of trusting in my own. I realized that He sees the whole stage and so i gave up. I stopped trying to win the awards if this world and the acceptance of the "cool kids".  I am focused on my director. I look to him for affirmation and acceptance. I look to Him for directing. He knows how the picture should look, and even if it's uncomfortable for me at the moment it will be something beautiful when it's complete. Only He knows how to direct people to move at the right time and sing the right note and only He has the angle on my life on one else sees. He's the director. It's His job. He knows how far to push me, He knows my limits and He knows how to comfort me when i feel lost and confused. He is the only one watching me that matters. I don't have to worry about the opinions of the people in the cars watching me cross the street or the guy with the dog wondering why i am smiling. I don't have to place my worth in people who don't encourage me or question why i am so full of life and passion. I don't have to worry about my own opinion of my insecurities. HE picked me for this show! He said, "I believe in you. I know you can do it."

So if you happen upon me and i am standing a little taller, smiling a silly little smile, flinging my hair, and looking at my reflection in a car window, just know that it's not for you. It's for my director.... and most likely i just heard Him whisper, "You can do it. You can change the world. I believe in you." 

the justice of my cause...it's a long one!

I  wrote a short little post the other day saying something about a verse that caught my eye during my devotions and said i would post about it... so here i am posting about it!!! 

Psalms 37:6

"He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, 

the justice of your cause like the noonday sun."

Honestly i was reading, but not taking in the meaning of anything in the first 5 verses of Psalms 37 and then out of the blue, this small sentence jumped off the page and slapped me and said, "pay attention!". So i started over at the beginning of Psalm 37 and these few verses is where i got stuck:

 "Delight yourself in the LORD 

and he will give you the desires of your heart.

 Commit your way to the LORD; 

trust in him and he will do this:

He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, 

the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; 

do not fret when men succeed in their ways, 

when they carry out their wicked schemes."

Let's just admit it, we all LOVE verse 4"...he will give you the desires of your heart."  I remember a few years ago this was the verse that held my attention. I wanted the desires of my heart, but i stuggled with the idea that i could have them and they be what the Lord wanted. The basics of verse 4 and 5 are easy to understand. Delight in the Lord and Trust in Him. living it out is where we get distracted and scatter minded. Back to verse 6. Verse 6 had a flashing light and was calling out for more attention than the others. And for the last few days it has held my attention and snuck into my thoughts and dreams.  

"He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, 

the justice of your cause like the noonday sun."

Have you ever been awake at dawn? Better yet; have you been awake at dawn and seen the sun shine over a mountain hit the lake and seen the ducks fly away? The first light of morning is AMAZING!!! In the house i used to live in i had a window facing dead-east! Last summer was full of amazing sunrises hitting my face and telling me that the new day starts NOW! I enjoyed a lot of those sunrises hidden under my covers, my body begging for more sleep. No matter how tight i closed my eyes and how many blankets or pillows i covered my face with, the sun still snuck in! 

What would the world around me look like if my righteousness shone like the dawn? I don't think of myself as a righteous person. I try to be right. I see Jesus' Righteousness and strive for it. However if i am committing my way to the Lord and trusting him; then i am pursuing righteousness. If the quality of those things were the shining around me i know i would see things differently. I would surely see people in a different way and i would most likely treat them in a different way. My righteousness needs to shine so bright that people around me want the pillow over their head or the shades drawn around me. I want them to look at me and say, "wow she is different." or "what is it that makes her life so different?".

Now the next part of the verse is the kicker. The Justice of My Cause... like the noonday sun! WOW. Here in Central Oregon the noonday sun can be very bright! What is the justice of my cause? What is my cause? If i have a cause is it just? If it is a just cause is it shining like the sun?  How do i find the right cause? Justice? These are just a few of the questions swirling around in my head the past few days. I looked up this verse in a few commentaries and they didn't really help me out at all. I finally realized i do have a cause. It's the cause of Christ. Please don't zone out here and think i am going to be cliché. Not at all. We all are called to the cause of Christ... the trouble we have is mixing up what we want and what He wants for us. Some of us are called to that cause in Politics, some in Business, some in Entertainment, and still some in the church. Now here's where my mind doesn't quite get it all... the Justice of that cause. I know little pieces of why i am here and what God wants for my life. I know even more clearly what i am supposed to focus my cause on right now.... still the JUSTICE of that cause is what trips me up. 

jus·tice [juhs-tis] Pronunciation Key –noun
1. the quality of being just; righteousness, equitableness, or moral rightness: to uphold the justice of a cause.
2. rightfulness or lawfulness, as of a claim or title; justness of ground or reason: to complain with justice.
3. the moral principle determining just conduct.

Wow.... this is from dictionary.com and it says it all. Check it out in the #1 the word righteousness is there... i think that's just neato. Are we taking what Christ has given us as a cause and making sure it is just? Or are we just holding it in our pocket and pulling it out for show? People who believe in a cause(or a new president) hold signs, mail card, buy adds, knock on doors, and make phone calls all for the sake of a "just cause". What are we doing with the cause Christ has trusted us with??? The light of the morning and the noonday sun. This is what it should be like. Both so bright. Justice and Righteousness in me compared to a BRIGHT SUN!!! I love that each of these verses bring us back to each other. They each hinge on the one above... try reading Psalm 37 backwards and you'll see what i mean. Try figuring out your cause... if it is in line... if it is His heart's desire alive in you. It will shine. You won't even know it's shining. It just will.

the Diacogiannis' from the outside in...

hey all,

I just read a great blog post about my family.... and laughed a lot... check it out if you are curious about the d's from a perspective other than the very biased oldest sister!

check out this link

http://vickymarie.blogspot.com/2008/03/diacogiannis-dee-ock-ee-ah-niss-its.html

Hosanna Joy Diacogiannis

I LOVE THIS GIRL!

I just got off the phone with this amazing 11 yr old! If you haven't had the pleasure of having a conversation with this amazing girl, you are missing out!!! She is such a special chic! I can't imagine life without her, and wouldn't trade her for the stars! She is a little firecracker... and i'm so blessed that she is in my life to keep me humble, girly, and goofy! She's even a september baby....which makes her extra special.... when i turned 11 it was the best gift God could give me.... a little sis.... a roomate... a friend. I love her to the birds and back plus million and two. She is so funny. I wish everyone could know her and experiance the Joy of the Lord in this amazing 11 year old! I love how honest she is. She can pretend to be shy when you first meet her, but after 20 minutes she will be joking around, giving you a nickname, changing your age, and career path; for example my friend Heidi is now 35 and going to be president! Hosanna has a servants heart, a worshipers voice and a mind that seeks to know more about God and the big world she lives in. I pray God's protection and blessings on her always. 

"here's to looking at you.....(hosanna joy)" 

Verse of the Day!

I hopped on BibleGateway.com to do some research on a verse i found in my devotions(more on that later) today and saw that the verse of the day was this:

Romans 15:13

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

I don't even have much to say about it... partially because it by itself it amazing, and partially because i haven't had more than 5 minutes to think about it beyond WOW! So i guess at a moment other than now, i will write some insightful thoughts about this one.. and the verse from my devos that prompted this blog... 

tears.

It's seems that in the past week i have cried more than i have in the past 3 months combined! When i stop and think about the tears, they fall into a few reasons/ catigories... so here they are nicely lined out:

Happy Tears. I love happy tears, mostly because; they're happy! But also the most common reason i cry happy tears is because God has in that moment whispered in my ear, spun me around, squeezed my hand or just looked at me and smiled. Last weekend was 180 Winter Camp at Wildhorse Canyon. Friday and Saturday night i had at least one of those moments each night.

Sad Tears. Not so fun. they make my contacts move around... they are hard to see through, and mostly the situations that cause them are hard to understand;
-My dad has been in Ghana for 5 weeks battling for a piece of paper! My mom came home to releave us here... but the weight of the situation with her husband and kids a million miles away still ways heavy on us. Then we think they are coming, and then they are not... but others are.
-I work hard and try to be wise, yet money/finaces are hard to handle.
-I drive carefully and take car of my car, yet the Check Engine light still comes on and nearly makes me want to scream!
-I see students love God, feel Him close, hear His voice; and they still get tricked by the enemy. They still trade the Joy of the Lord for the cheap thrills of this world.
-I go the extra mile, and still fall short.
-I wait (sometimes patiently) and still see nothing.
-I go to buy milk, and lock my keys in my car.

Last night it was the keys locked in my car that put me over the edge. I lost it. right there in the Westside Safeway. Tears. Sad Tears. This past month has been so overwhelming. And the silly keys locked in the car were the last straw. Praise the Lord for an amazing friend(and roommate) who found my extra key in my desk and came to my rescue... and sat and prayed with my while i cried.

As i drove back to the house i am sitting(along with 4 kids and a dog). I cried. I turned the music loud and sobbed and cried out to God. I prayed so hard that my parents and new siblings would all come home together; and they didn't. I save and save and save; and still the bills are hard to pay. I pray over my car and thank God for it; and it still costs money. I cry out for students to turn back to God and they only cross their arms and frown. I go the extra mile and i still fall short. I wait and pray, and reach out for wisdom, i run after righteousness and still i feel forgotten. I go to buy milk and i lock my keys in my car.

I cry. i let the tears hit the floor. I sniffle and sob. And then i realize...

I AM. HE IS.
He hears my crys.
He catches my tears.
He provides.
He whispers my name.
He heals their hearts.
He knows my thoughts.
He waited for me.
He loves my heart.
He pours out.
He squeezes my hand.
He unlocked my life.
He IS. i am not.
He is the great I AM.

After tears uncontrolable. He whispers to me;
"Get my perspective. See what i see. Look beyond your small circle and see My heart. I know what's ahead. I know your desires, i see your needs. I AM and I will."

and so i look. I look ahead. I press on. I fall back on my knees i pray one more prayer. and i strain to get God's perspective. His persepective makes weeks feel like days and months feel like weeks. His perspective, makes the reward of waiting sweeter than a popsicle on a hot summer day. His perspective unlockes my life once again.

Tears. This time of happy-aweness. I'm in awe. I stand amazed. and the tears fall.

I Still Believe.

Scattered words and empty thoughts
seem to pour from my heart
I've never felt so torn before
seems I don't know where to start
but it's now that I feel Your grace falls like rain
from every fingertip, washing away my pain

Chorus:
I still believe in Your faithfulness
I still believe in Your truth
I still believe in Your holy word
even when I don't see, I still believe

Though the questions still fog up my mind
with promises I still seem to bear
even when answers slowly unwind
it's my heart I see You prepare
but its now that I feel Your grace fall like rain
from every finger tip, washing away my pain

The only place I can go is into your arms
where I throw to you my feeble prayers
in brokeness I can see that this was your will for me
Help me to know You are near

I feel like there are so many things that these words relate to in my life right now. I'm not even sure if i can write a blog about it, because the words above do such an amazing job expressing my heart.

Lord, help me know (live/believe/hear/see/feel) You are near.

writing a blog...

So here i sit. 11:15pm Thursday February 28th. Happy Leap Year by the way! Writing a blog.

Tonight at emerge the basis of the message was carefully and nicely written/spoken from a comment that a friend made about blogging. So therefore the message not only successfully challenged the way we think as far as life, faith and truth; it also challenged the way we write a blog. I had a lovely conversation with two of my blogging friends(check out Bo and Jessica in my links) after the message and told them about a blog i wrote a while back that i soon deleted after writing, because it was written out of Anger not Love. This of course made them curious... well lucky for them and you; i actually saved the deleted blog on my computer! So after some thought and re-writing. I have decided that the content is actually really great, and not morally wrong... without further ado:

Honesty and Authenticity: the re-write!

"Thank you for choosing Character To-Go what can i get for you today?"
"I would like some Honesty with a side of Authenticity!"

If there was a restaurant type of place that you could go and order Character traits... this is for sure what i would order.... However this would be my order for some people i know.... and for myself i would get some Patience and Wisdom.

Why Honesty? Why Authenticity?

hon·es·ty –noun
1. the quality or fact of being honest; uprightness and fairness.
2. truthfulness, sincerity, or frankness.
3. freedom from deceit or fraud.

au·then·tic·i·ty -noun
1. The quality or condition of being authentic, trustworthy, or genuine.

Honesty is the #1 quality i look for in friends. In light of this i try and be a very honest person. My name means; Speaker of Truth. Way to go Papa and Mama... thanks for the VERY cool name! It really helps me to think about who i am and what i say. Not only in the way i talk and the content of what i say, but how i live. I try so SO SOO stinking hard to be honest and real in every situation. I am Cassie. You get what ya see when you're around me. I am not going to pretend with you. I am not going to pretend i am someone i am not. I am not going to act a certain way so you like me. I am not going to jump through hoops in order to meet some social status quo. NO WAY. I won't. I am me. Cassie. The crazy girl who runs hard after the purpose of God. I am not pretending. I'm not trying to be "super spiritual". I AM WHAT YOU SEE!! I WON"T FAKE IT! i won't.

So Please stop. Stop trying. Stop pretending with me! Stop trying so hard. Stop being so fake. Be who God created you to be. If you have to stop for too long and think about what that means... than get off your butt and go figure it out; BY YOURSELF! Stop letting the people you "hang out with" define who you are. Stop letting the way you dress and do your hair be who you are. Stop pretending you like me to my face and 2 minutes later ignore the fact that i am standing RIGHT THERE while you are planning your "hangout" and obviously are trying to not not invite me, but let's be real; you didn't want to invite me so talking in hushed tones will for sure make up for the fact that i can hear every word. Seriously people! I don't care that much if i am in your social circle! I don't! Please stop pretending. Be real. I would rather you ignore me all together out in the open. it would HONESTLY feel better.

------
Lord of Lords by Hillsongs Australia

Beholding your beauty is all I long for
To worship You Jesus is my soul's desire
For this very heart you've shaped for your pleasure
The purpose to lift your name high

Hear and surrender in pure adoration
I enter your courts with an offering of praise
I am Your servant come to bring you glory
As is fit for the work of your hands

Chorus:
Now unto the lamb who sits on the throne
Be glory and honor and praise
All of creation resounds with the song
Worship and praise him the Lord of Lords

Verse 2:
The spirit now living and dwelling within me
Keep my eyes fixed ever upon Jesus' face
Let not the things of this world ever sway me
I'll run 'till I finish the race

This song perfectly states how i feel. "i'll run till i finish the race." I will. I will run it in Honesty. I will seek out Wisdom I will walk in Patience (look it up in the dictionary and try it on for size).

I hope i didn't step on toes.... it really is WAY nicer than when i first wrote it.

I have come to the conclusion though that it is better to say some things in honesty and with real heart than to leave lots of real things un-said. Risky? oh yes. Hard? you bet. But something i also learned tonight at emerge was to not let the history of my life put conclusions on who i am... for example; in 7th grade i was at a Young Life Summer camp and one of my leaders looked at me straight in the eye and said, "Sometime you should just learn to shut up and not talk." This has stuck with me since then... what is that like 10 years? CRAZY! I can't even believe it, but in this situation i can't just shut up. I won't anymore.

Now please hear me out. I WILL choose my words and i will try VERY hard to make sure i sift what i write and say through the Jesus filter(hence the re-written blog); but i won't stay silent. I WON'T let things that need to be said go un-said. So after you have processed this blog. and re-read the re-written part one or two times... this is my challenge to you; PRAY. See how and where you might fit in this story. Are you living an honest life? Are you jumping through hoops to meet a social statue quo? Are you letting the people decide who you are and where you go?
just a thought.

Pilot Butte; the adventure

Today we had an adventure.... to the Top of Pilot Butte!

We decided to be very "Tom and Huck" and instead of taking the trail we just blazed a trail up the side of the Butte. We had no idea how much snow... that's right sNOW was left over from the last few "snows".... there was a lot! After a few slips and falls, mud on the fingers, shoes to tie (again) we made it to the TOP! here are some pics from the Adventure;

Before the climb started...


Hosanna and I are post people...


so are the boys...


And of course the classic jumping shots!

UNO!

We are a game playing family. From Hand and Foot, Killer Bunnys, Warrior Knight to UNO we love games. On my latest adventure to Lynden me and 4 of my amazing brothers decided UNO was the game for the week. We played it a lot!!! We decided to document it with pictures! Best part about playing with siblings who love you...they let you win...well at least sometimes!



This is what happens to Elijah after to much Uno...

i don't hate Lynden...

It seems the last post has caused some confusion... Please allow me to say a few things...

Let's review a few things from my post.
The part where i say, "I MISS THIS SILLY TOWN" ... "I LOVE WHO IT SHAPED ME TO BE." ...
I feel like some people may missed the whole point. I love this town. I don't understand a lot of the "cultural musts" of it and the way people treat people, and the questions i get as a person who moved away. I don't like that people turn their head sideways when i talk about my new siblings or my big family. I love the small town feel Lynden has. I love NCCTK. I love the earnestness of it as a church. I love our big BLUE house on the corner. I love that i can drive for 5 minutes and be in a different country. I love that my neighbors have a "dinner schedule" and you can guarantee when they leave and come back from the dinner date. I love that no matter who you are you get the same amazing service at Safeway and Woods. I love that when you come home you feel like a hero... if only because people miss you lots. I love that God is moving in the VERY religious town. I love that everyone takes pride in the state of the front yard. I love the tree lined streets, the lights that twinkle on the Fairway Center ALL YEAR ROUND. I LOVE LYNDEN!

I think if i did not love this town and the people in it...I would not have come back EVERY MONTH for the last 10!!!! I miss my family a heck of a lot when i am gone. I did not leave to try and get away from them. I did not leave to try and get away from my church. I did not leave because of a bad relationship. I did not leave to try to find the "perfect"; church/town/relationship. FYI- they don't exist. I love Lynden and could see myself moving back someday... not any day SOON, so don't hire me yet! But i had to move away. I had to get a perspective on life that was not confined to Lynden. I KNOW THAT I KNOW THAT I KNOW THAT God's best for me was to move to Bend. I cannot say when i will be back for good. I cannot say if i will work at NCCTK again. I cannot promise you that i will live on Front street. But i will promise you this;

I will do my VERY BEST to pursue God, Pursue Righteousness, and Trust that even when i don't see the Big Picture HE DOES! And knowing that i when i listen to his voice, follow in his leading i may indeed find myself strolling down Depot Rd on the way to Lynden City Park with little kids of my own.

shall i make a t-shirt?

Lynden

How odd it is to be a stranger in a place i once called home.

Lynden is a quaint town of 10,000 situated nicely on the Canadian border. Full of Dutch heritage and shops, there is no doubt that this town is full of culture. Supported mostly by the Agriculture of Dairy farms and Berry fields; there is a certain smell to the air. Boasting 2 records in the Guinness Book of World Records (most churches per capita and also Most people attending church in Lynden without living in the town) Lynden is a unique town to be sure.

I am closing in on a year of not living in this nicely situated, Agriculture rich, record holding town. This is the first time being back to visit that i feel like a stranger here... and i like it!!! I like not knowing every 3rd person at Woods Coffee (the baristas having NO IDEA THAT i used to work there!). I like going to church at NCCTK and being "just another person". I like having to process how to get somewhere and what the quickest way is. It's fun one someones says, "oh you're a Diacogiannis?"

However somethings never change; The Dutch are still out-numbering everyone else 100/1. They are all still Blond, Blue-eyed and TALL! If you are "unfortunate" enough to not be Dutch in Lynden, people still try as hard as they can to be Dutch, they dye their hair, play basketball and wear blue contacts in the vain hope that they will be accepted. I will never understand High Schoolers in Lynden. They LOVE high school so much that after they graduate they hang out "pretending" it hasn't ended. They still go to every game. They still go to Dairy Queen after "the game". They wear the "LHS" or "LCHS" sweatshirts and colors. They like high school so much that people volunteer at plays and games;FOUR YEARS LATER! If you are fortunate enough to "get out" of Lynden your choices of acceptable things to do are as follows:

Go to one of the following colleges; Dordt College; Northwestern in Iowa; SPU; Trinity Western University in B.C.

If you don't got to College you might;
- Get Married a month after you graduate and have a kid 1 year later
- Go to Bellingham Beauty School and work at one of the 50 Salons in Lynden's City Limits
- Work Construction
- Go to YWAM IN HAWAII... cause it's Hawaii and YWAM "sounds cool"

Oh Lynden. Oh the silly things that define who you are. I will admit that when i am in Bend Oregon I miss the AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL scenery here. The endless amount of Red Barns and Silos in every green field, Mt. Baker and The Twin Sisters creating the most amazing Backdrop... and the Bald Eagles that flock to Whatcom county every year for about 2 months. I miss walking anywhere i want without fear of being mugged. I miss smell of the cows... as weird as that sounds. I miss the "lame" and silly festivals that grace Lynden every few months. I miss the buzz around High School sports. I miss Woods Coffee. I miss the Trackers. And yet now, i am a stranger. A tourist; silently observing life in Lynden. I love this silly town. I love who it shaped me to be. I always stand out with my dark hair and GREEK last name. I love that although it made me who i am it doesn't define where i will go, who i can be.

Ghana Adventure

This is a picture from the Safari my family went on in Ghana.....


So amazing.... check out my Mama's Blog over there ---> for stories and more pictures!

Elijah Joel Diacogiannis

Elijah, E, Monkey, 'lij.. These are just a few of the nick names we have for our youngest family member! and i'm sure more that i am forgetting. When i think about Elijah I think of a lot of great stories. The time when i lost him for over half an hour and was in hysterics; We found him hiding under the futon. Not funny. I think of his 2 missing teeth that give him the cutest little lisp. I remember all the fun times we have at Lynden City Park. I hear his little voice in the sea of people at my track meets.

The biggest memory is one that anyone who knows it will never soon forget....

It was August 2005. Hot, sweaty August. E was 3 years old and the spunkiest, most energetic 3 year old there ever was. He had a normal saturday, playing outside with his partner in crime and big brother Josiah. That night however was no normal night. I remember waking up at 2am to blood-curling screams. I awoke with a start, and was FREEZING cold. It's august people.... cold doesn't happen, even at night. I could hear Elijah crying. I thought it was probably a bad dream. I grabbed my covers and tried to sleep... about half an hour later i woke again... this time i was having the bad dream! I was in a pool of my own sweat and tears. All i could do to calm down was pray. Sunday morning finally came and life seemed fairly normal. Elijah, however had a fever and was complaining of a stomach ache. As the day went on he was either awake and crying or asleep and moaning. The next 10 days flew by... the details are clear in my head; Seattle. Children's Hospital. Bacterial Menengitas. Doctors. Nurses. Kidney Dialysis. Tubes. Medications. It was Elijah's body, but where was our little guy? Where was the laugh? Sometimes we wished we could hear a cry. After 10 days in ICU. He came through it all.

2 months later, my mom and the kiddos were driving through Seattle and my mom mentioned that the hospital was down "that way". Elijah piped up from his car seat and said, "yeah, i was at the Hospital with Jesus." And though we always knew that we felt the presence of God those crazy 3 weeks at Children's we now wondered what Elijah could mean.

Over a year later Josiah and Elijah were discussing death... Yes we have very deep thinkers for a 7 and 5 year old =) Elijah mentioned "casually" that he had died twice, gone to Heaven, Talked to Jesus, and Jesus had told him that it was ok and that it was time for him to "go home to Dad and Mom". when we asked Elijah what Jesus looked like he very plainly told us, "He was bright and shiney."

I have no idea what God has planned for this little Treasure, but i know it's big. Elijah is our miracle brother. He has seen Jesus. He faced death. Today he is back to our very energetic 6 year old who loves GI Joes, Lego.com, and anything related to computers! He loves to play outside, ride his bike... play football. His laugh is amazing. His smile melts everyones heart. The scars from the Menengitas are the only things remaining from that hot August sickness. The stories of how God moved go on and on. The stories of his healing will never be forgotten.

Elijah Joel, God's plan for you are so huge. I'm excited to see them unfold.

Gregory James Diacogiannis

So for the next little while... i am going to write posts dedicated to some of my favorite people in the world. Let's get started with my #1 real life Superhero....

Gregory James Diacogiannis

Romans 8:35-39
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
This is Gregg. Greggy-pooh, Greekkid31, my brother. I am so blessed. When i was little i didn't have any idea how blessed i am to have such a guy in my life. He has been my protector and hero for as long as i can remember. He has never been afraid of what people think. He is one of the most passionate people i know. He puts his whole heart into everything he does. When he joined the ARMY i was so scared for him. I had know idea that 4 years later he would be where he is. Doing all the amazing things he is doing. He has recently started a blog(see link over there -->) and it has been so wonderful to hear his heart. One of my favorite things ever is seeing someone surrender to God and see where He takes them. Gregg has gone so many places and done so many things but i believe this is only the beginning of what God has planned for him. He is "more than a conqueror" He has overcome everything the Enemy has thrown at him and will continue to battle life out... on his knees and with the amazing perseverance and strength God has given him.

So here's to real life heros. Here's to Gregg. My brother, My hero, My friend.

First Meeting!

There are few words to describe how this video makes me feel... so i will let it do the talking!

This is the first meeting of my Dad and Mom and my 3 new siblings from Ghana; J., Sarah and Rachel!



it's ok to cry... i did.

Super Bowl 42-New York Giants

Can i just say i am really really happy that the Giants Won!!!!

Anyone who knows me knows i LOVE football!!! Even more than that i love a GREAT game!!! This years Super Bowl was packed with amazing plays, heart stopping moments, and guts! I have this thing with Underdogs coming in and playing their hearts out!!! Hooray for Eli Manning and the hole team!!!!! Eli sure proved he can play with the big boys!! I'm sorry Tom Brady, but you got worked! The Giants defense was incredible. Major props to the linemen who pushed the limit when it came to attacking the Quarterback! Woot-woot! I will say that Welker sure had sticking power when it came to catching that ball, but sure enough right there were the Giants to push, pull, drag, knock him to the ground! Amazing.

oh and props to the Refs for calling a fair came!

Better luck next time all you Patriot Fans....

Just a few thoughts....

Yesterday was a day filled with all sorts of thoughts. Some very Happy. and some that just made me mad!.... here are a few i thought i could share with the blogging world.

"Head over Heels in Love"
So in thinking about this statement i began to realize that it is a VERY interesting statement. If i were wearing heels(it's rare, but been done)my head would already be "over my heels"... so what does this mean? If it was "crazy" love you would think it would be "Heels over Head" as if someone were doing a backflip in heels. I have come to the conclusion that it must mean you have your senses about you. You know what this Love is. You are standing (in heels) and you know which way is up and where you want to be and go. I for sure think it has it's moments of backflips, but then you land and you are back to the beginging. HEAD OVER HEELS! I can say for sure i am only head over heels for Jesus. I know what my love means. I know what his cost, and i'm willing to go forward with this relationship. No Matter what! sometimes however... i wish i could do a backflip in heels for him! He sure is AMAZING!

"Did you ever Die?"
This is my shout out to Corey Parnell. Last night at emerge he was talking about endurance and Hoopamonie (it's greek) and was giving an example about someone who can pole vault. He asked if anyone had ever done it.. and i have so up went my hand. Evedently i was the only one in the room who had. Corey turns and looks at me and says, "Cassie you pole vaulted? Did you ever die?" I was laughing so hard! By the fact that i am sittig here writing this blog and was at emerge...Pole Vaulting did NOT steal my life!

"Make sure it's Eberhards 2%"
This was a startling moment for sure. I am house sitting and hanging out with 2 high school girls. Last night as i headedout the door to Safeway for Milk, one of the girls hollered out the door after me, "Make sure it's Eberhards 2%" Upon getting to the Dairy Dept. I was hit with a choice; spend $1.26 more on a gallon of milk just so it's got a green cap and a cartton cow on it, or just save the $1.26 and buy the "general brand". Seriously does it matter? So what did i do? grabbed one gallon of Eberhards and one of "Dairy Glen" and compared the Table of Contents with my dear friend Heidi. GUESS WHAT? THEY have THE EXACT EXACT same thing inside; MILK. All the grams of Fat, Sodiem, Colesteral, Carbs.... exactly the same... all the words i can't spell or pronouse that make up the process it goes throug between udder and Safeway.... exaclty the same! SO WHAT THE HECK IS THE DEAL?????? I bought the "Dairy Glen" Milk and head for home, knowing a volcano would for sure erupt when the girs saw that i had not bought the name brand. Bummer. Sure enough i was right. So here's what i did. Poured milk from the Dairy Glen into one glass and some from the Eberhards into another; time for a taste test. Unfortunatly they wouldn't even taste it. SOOOO it was time for Babysitter Gone Wild; I emptied the last of the Eberhards from the container and poured the whole gallon of Dairy Glen into the empty Eberhards containter!!! Yes. Yes i did. You should have seen the look on "Sally's" Face (name changed)!! Horror. I then returned to the taste testing. I had just taken a sip of milk and 'Sally' asks "Did you stop for Margerita's on your way home? What are you snortting." of course i busted up laughing. Milk went everywhere. Out my nose. Out my mouth. And EVERYWHERE on the floor. In conclusion; Milk is Milk. It does the body good. However it does hurt coming out the nose.

have a GREAT day.

OH and Happy Birthday Carissa and Lindsey; My Best Friends and AMAZING SISTERS!

Backporch, Oh Backporch

I wish i could paint a picture of this morning in Backporch. Perhaps brown would be the color for the coffee, blue for the sky i see out the window, white for the snow on the ground and the 4* weather outside. Yellow and red would help discribe the conversations i am overhearing and purple could be the color of laughter. There are about 25 people in here this morning; all of whom are sitting in little groups, drinking coffee and chatting about this and that. There is a gentleman and lady sitting directly behind me.They are not talking. He is reading the newspaper, evedant by the "krinkle-krinkle" of the pages turning... and i think she is reading a book. Towards the counter there is a group of 5 "older" ladies probably in their50s and 60s but then again i am not good at guessing ages; They discuss Disneyland(one has never been), skiing, churches, and dogs. The 2 young ladies to my right are friends from church.They are talking about the reality of life, changes and struggles. There are 2 guys sitting at one of the tall tables discussing real estate.

Lauhing. Someone keeps laughing.

I hear the quiet "hmmmmmm" of the coffee machine, the "pshhhhh" of the steam wand and the "WAAAAAANNNNN" of the esspresso grinder. The random clinking of cups and sausers. Oh and the music. Ever so often the music comes into focus and i hear the jazz/indie/ "backporch" music. Right now it's more like a fading noise.

Noise. When i stop listening to the specifics it all becomes Noise. ssshhh pppsss ttsshsssmm hmmm wannna krinkle swish muus ha ha ha ha kolk hmmmm. Just Noise.I love Backporch in the morning. I love the noise and craziness. The frantic seach for a table for 2.

Oh Bachporch.......

An hour later;

The newspaper man and lady have been replaced by 2 ladies drinking the uncommon and small 8oz drinks and talking about "carma". They "older" ladies have been replaced by a younger man in a business suit and his friend in jeans and a North Face jacket... they speak to hushed to hear. My 2 friends have been replaced by a young mother, her baby and possible the grandma. They are talking about life as moms. The guys discussing real estate at the tall table have been replaced by 2 other friends. I can't hear what they are talking about, but they are smiling. The music is more in the background than it has been all morning.

Another hour later;

A friend has joined me. All other conversations and noise is now a backdrop to an amazing conversation. We talk about so much! Single living and the pluses and minuses. Dreams and desires. Churches and "un-churches". Brothers and Sisters. Moms and Dads. Tears. We share our crying stories. Movies. JUNO and PS I LOVE YOU. REality. We talk about real things. deep things. The working of God in our lives and how far we have each come since moving to Bend. We laugh out loud at a very funny video she recieved in an email.

Before either of us realize another hour has passed. I look around and realize that there are now more emtpy tables than taken ones. The "WANNNNN" of the espresso grinder is the loudest noise by far. And the music is... funny? Hard to discribe the music, but i laugh when i hear the song that is playing. Not because of the words, but because of the sound. As i gather up my things to leave i sigh... oh Backporch.

Backporch Oh Backporch; Oh Lavendar lattes.

Snuffleupagus

Snuffleupagus. yup that's what it says. Snuffles, Snuffy, Snuffleupagus. this is my newly dubbed nickname, and i am quite fond of it. Mostly because it's hard to say with out smiling! Oh wait did i just say "hard to say"? weird cause that's how i got the nickname... so here's the story;

I love my last name and over the years i have defiantly enjoyed some funny spellings and pronunciations of it. At track meets, baseball games, college classes, and other random events the was guaranteed to be a laugh from the D family when the announcer got ready to say it! It's a great name. It's quite a name. D-I-A-C-O-G-I-A-N-N-I-S. It's pronounced more like this Dee-yakie-anis, but not so harsh. Well most people have a hard time saying it until they practice. Spelling it is the real test. Diacogiannis. It's easy to me. I've spelled it at least 1,000,000 times in my life and I'm sure there will be many many more; D- as in dog, i- as in ice, a- as in apple moments in my life. When i stepped in to 180 HS ministry Casey(youth Pastor) was determined to not only say it right but spell it as well. After only a little while he had it down, spelling and all. Props to Casey. However for some reason he and a few other staff member continued to call me things like, Asodofolous, Hippopotamus, Deahwhatever etc. It was consistently a different name until one day; i was walking down the YLD staff hallway and someone said, "Hey Snuffleupagus!" and not a few moments later someone else said the same thing!!!! I thought, "hmm thats interesting, the same nickname in a matter of moments." Coincidence? oh no. Casey had found the BEST substitute for Diacogiannis and was determined to make sure it stuck... and it has! I am even linked on a friends blog as "Snuffleupagus".

If you would like to hear more about my amazing name sake and his Sesame Street days.. check out this link(thanks Joann);
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloysius_Snuffleupagus

It's awesome. Joyness.

bless you in your day,
~Snuffleupagus

Excitement...

ex·cite·ment[ik-sahyt-muhnt]–noun
1.an excited state or condition.
2.something that excites.
3.the feeling of lively and cheerful joy; "he could hardly conceal his excitement when she agreed" [syn: exhilaration]

this is me in a moment of excitment:


i'm not sure why this is the word that fascinates me tonight, but it is. I assume some think I can be a fairly overexcited person; however, I love to laugh, to see others laugh, to be HONESTLY surprised and see the amazing, often unexpected blessings God gives us.

So come on people, lets get Excited. God is good. His mercies are NEW every morning and He hasn't forgotten about us!!! His timing is PERFECT, His love is NEVER-Ending, He DANCES over us and meets ALL our needs! What a GREAT God we have, what's NOT to get EXCITED ABOUT?!?!?

Yes i know you are all wondering what i am opening in the picture... but let's have some fun; leave a comment and GUESS!!!

***Mom, Dad, Carissa, Lindsey and other family members who were there... please don't give it away!***

Christmas Love!

I love my little; J., Sarah and Rachel and i have yet to meet them.... check it out... don't you just want to hang out with these amazing people?!??!?!??



i am so eager to meet them.

Please Jesus, let things go smooth and sail quickly from here on out! Amen.

Good-bye 2007

Goodbye 2007
Let's start this post by reviewing 2007 and all the great things that happened!

January:
-Confirmation that i was indeed going to move to Bend Oregon
-The Edge had over 100 students on a Wednesday night!!! woot-woot!
-North County Christ the King Annual Kid's Ministry All nighter= 194 kids!
-I gave my notice at NCCTk; i'm moving! So many tears at the staff meeting and with all The Edge students!
February:
-Happy Valentines Day to me; I spent a lot of money on myself, and got a new Car!!!! Oh how i love my 1999 Honda Passport in top-notch condition with only 88,000 miles on it!!!!
-lots of prayer about moving to Bend; main question= timing?
March:
-Visit Bend to find a job and place to live!!!! Red Robin hired me without so much as an interview!
-Came home from Bend and told everyone the news; I'm Moving in A MONTH!
April:
-packing, shopping, packing
-goodbye parties at Church, the Edge and a surprise from Lindsey at home!!!!
-April 20th; the cars loaded(to the max) and we are off to Bend!!!!
-April 21st first weekend at Westside!
-April 23rd Start work at Red Robin
May:
-Emerge Spring retreat!
-Summer at red Robin in full swing!!! crazy business
June:
- Jeremiah, Tim, Matt and Jared come for a visit!
July:
-Adventures with Hood River begin!
Happy Fourth of July!
-CRC with my family!
August:
lots more Hood River Adventures, including but not limited too: falling off a cliff, breaking my foot, being "stuck" in HR for 8 days!
- Coure d' Alene Lake in Idaho with my family!
-home to Lynden for 2days
- my car hits the 100,000 mile mark!
- Gregg comes home for a visit!
September:
-Happy Birthday too me! 22 years young!!!!
-searching for a new place to live!
-loving Bend Oregon all the more
-my first Above the Noise Concert!
October:
-New Roommates and life in apartments!
-Jump into 180 high school ministry
-Start serving at Red Robin
November:
-Happy Thanksgiving! CRC with my family!
-LOVE LOVE LOVING 180!!!!!
December:
-Merry Christmas... home to see the family a week before!

Seeing Triple in Bend Oregon!

This weekend my dear-sweet-amazing sisters visited from Lynden for the first time!!! Carissa and Lindsey are two of the most precious people i know! They have these hearts... that are HUGE!!!!

Carissa. Is the older of the 2 by 7 minutes. She speaks Spanish almost fluently and when she returns from Argentina i'm sure she won't remember English =) Her heart has been moved in Compassion for the Latin American culture for years. And when i say moved... i am pretty sure her heart sits in her stomach and aches to see Hope and Freedom come to a people locked up in hopelessness and fear. She came to Red Robin and pretty much just chatted it up with all "the guys". . . i have on idea what they talked about other than the fact that i DON"T speak spanish... but it sure was fun watching her love people through language

Lindsey. Lou- Lou = Soft Heart. She is so sensitive to the things that move the heart of God. This last year has been a whirlwind of growth and challenge for Lindsey, but through it all she Stands firm in Jesus... pressing into what He wants to teach her. Even though she is not going to Argentina for 6 months. Linds also has a HUGE love for the Latino culture... all those years of working in the berry fields have given her an eye for those who seem "hidden" from America, yet help us stand. She also was so fun to watch speaking Spanish with my buddies at the Bird.

Even though it was a SHORT FAST weekend, i am SO glad that they got to be here to experience my life in Bend. They came to Westside, Red Robin, Backporch, Safeway, Jonny Carino's... all my favorite places! And everywhere we went people asked if we were related... "no we just look alike."
it was a lot of fun.

Thanks for visiting sistas... come again soon!

Some Thoughts about the Year.

As we get closer to 2008 I feel i must post some notes pondering all the things that have happened in my life in 2007... so on Christmas Eve at 1:39 am ... here is my first post in such regard. Here is my little "article" i wrote for our family New Years Letter!!!

I sat down to write this years part of the Diacogiannis Dispatch and started by reading over my journals from the last year or so. I love looking back at 1 year and seeing all the things God has brought me through. It is overwhelming at times; His Grace, Faithfulness and Love.

As most of you know I am living and breathing different air then the rest of my family. I moved down to Bend Oregon on April 20th full of excitement and anticipation of the plans God had for me in this new place. Little did I know or imagine the adventure that lay ahead of me. The story that brought me to Bend is far to long to be held within the pages of this New Years letter. I will do my best to condense this adventure I have been on in a few short paragraphs.

I was hired at Red Robin a month before the move, so I started work 2 days after moving here. Going from full-time ministry at North County Christ the King to Red Robin was so strange. I was not at all prepared for the people, lifestyles and lack of God in that place. On the flipside I was not prepared for the boldness and kindness of the Christians in the very same place! Red Robin soon became a big part of my life. Over the summer I worked 40+ hours a week and loved every minute of it.

Westside Church is my second or third home depending how you look at it. There is my house… the place I sleep and am writing this, there is The Bird were I spend lots of hours a week serving people Smiling Burgers and Bottomless Fries, and then there is my Church. The move to Westside has been the hardest, most rewarded thing I have ever done. After 6 months of tears, prayers, walks with Jesus asking and searching for the reason why I was brought to this place; I felt His releasing into a new ministry and passion. I am now the Lead of Connections for Oneighty. Oneighty is the High School Ministry at Westside and if I didn’t have bills to pay I would spend so much more time there with the amazing team of leaders and Pastors. My goal in Oneighty is to be the bridge between being a “newbie” and “in the family”. I LOVE High Schoolers. They are on such a different planet than most of us, but what they need most is the Love of Christ poured into their lives in a tangible way. This is the goal of Oneighty. I could go on and on… just ask me in person sometime… and be prepared to see the fireworks in my eyes and the spring in my step increase as I talk about the things God is doing in the young lives of Central Oregon!

Grace. Faithfulness and overwhelming love. These are the things that sum up my last year. Grace from all of those who watched me do the craziest thing of my life. Faithfulness that only comes from my Father in Heaven and overwhelming Love from both. I am so blessed. I know where I’m at. I have a piece of the future in mind and I know that my Jesus will be with me every step of the way. He hasn’t let go of my hand yet, but keeps encouraging me to trust Him, and so here I sit; Trusting in the One I can’t see but I know is real. Believing for a destiny and living a life that was not in my plans, but my greatest joy is knowing that I AM right where God wants me. May each one of you find this joy in your life. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Bend Oregon.

Weekend Joyness!

This weekend I went to Lynden... and if you are reading this and didn't get to see me while i was there... it's cause it was a super quick trip. Sorry.

I took my "adopted" little sis from Bend home to meet the family! Paige and i had quite the adventures. We jumped into Canada... literally. Check out the slide show!

While we were in Lynden North County Christ the King(my old stomping grounds) opened it's NEW Worship Center. It was so amazing to be back not only at my old church, but old job... life... and seeing a HUGE DREAM fulfilled. It was so amazing to be standing in a Miracle. I walked in the door to the new Commons (foyer) and just took a moment and praised the Lord. When i moved, i had no idea i would be able to be at the opening weekend for such an amazing moment!

WE also celebrated Christmas a little bit early. Since i won't be going home for Christmas this year, we opened presents to and from me and Papa and Mama gave us our new ornaments. I'll post those pics soon... my camera battery died... But I got a ton of AWESOME stuff. My kitchen is all tooled up for baking/cooking!!! hooray!

On the way home Paige and i had one last adventure... sliding into a Snow Drift!!!! I have never "spun out" before... so i kinda had a WOW moment... but no tears, screams or anything... we just looked at each other and said, "chains?" We hadn't put them on yet =) Much to our joy a very kind man stopped... and he had a shovel. Who carries a shovel in there truck?? He dug us out, showed me how to work my four wheel drive and then gave us a shove out of the snow!!! We got back on the road and praised the Lord for protection and Safety.... no one was behind us or coming towards us!!!! it was totally amazing!




Christmas is just 7 days away. I hope you have your focus on JESUS, and the JOY of his birth! What an amazing time of year this is!
Joy+lots of it= Joyness!

Hooray!

Hooray for Family.

Hooray for Jesus.

Hooray for Friends...new ones and long time ones.

Hooray for dreams come true.

Hooray.

Hooray for Christmas.

Hooray for Lights.

Hooray for guitars... i wish i could play them.

Hooray for Worship.

Hooray.

Hooray for Miracles.

Hooray for children....someday.

Hooray.

Hooray for Blessings.

Hooray for Blenders.

Hooray for towels....especailly red and black ones for my kitchen.

Hooray.

Hooray for Dad and Mom....they love each other lots.

Hooray for Little Brothers.... who are so grown up.

Hooray for little Sisters... the ones who are taller than me.

Hooray for Heroes....my big brother is my very own.

Hooray.

Hooray for love.

Hooray for life.

Hooray for beauty.

Hooray for pain....even though it hurts... healing is good.

Hooray for emotions.

Hooray for holidays.

Hooray for road trips.

Hooray.

Hooray for Canada.

Hooray for 10-19's.... whatever they are!

Hooray.

Hooray.

Horray.

Life with Internet!

Today is a very Happy day for me... yes it's true; I am sitting at my desk, typing on my computer, uploading my photos... with MY INTERNET CONNECTION!!!!!!!! Merry Christmas to me... that's all i'm giving myself... internet.... the connection to the world around me...

i'm not sure i have been missed though... due to the lack of comments... i'm not even sure people read this silly thing....oh welll.... I still love blogging... Funny thoght; my mom is a professional Blogger... she blogs WAY more than me and is always updating pictures, adding slideshows, and linking more blogging friends to her blog. WAY TO GO MOM!!!

Life in Bend Oregon has been AMAZING since i last wrote. God is so so so so faithful. I am LOVING ministry in Oneighty High School. It rocks my tuesdays and sundays!!!! I am super involved in the Connections area... making sure students are not left out on the fringe. It is totally amazing and i am so excited to see 180 grow and be a place High schoolers from around Bend can call family. Last week we had a staff VS Varsity girls Volleyball match/game it was incredible.






Thanksgiving was AMAZING as usual. CRC is defiantly one of my most favorite places ever.




and here are some random fall/winter pics....