spring has sprung and summer is in full bloom

Well It has definately been awhile since my last post, there are no really good reasons as to why, except for the fact that I have been traveling like a mad woman. Busy Busy Busy. I finished classes at seminary about three weeks ago, I just got my grades back and I got 3 B's and 2 S's (those are for my internship!!!) but it is still a 3.0... its crazy I am doing better in GRAD school then I did in college... its crazy, I dont know why that is, I am still being the wonderful procrastinator that I was then?? Who knows.. but Im not complaining. After finals I headed to California for the Urban Youth Workers Institute Convention at Azuza Pacific University... it was a wonderful time... the campus is gorgeous and the seminars that I attended were amazing, it was very helpful for me and it was a great time to get to know my new co-workers better. I was grateful for the opportunity to go, the center covered everything, it was a great conference. We also got to go to the Santa Monica Beach and Pier, along with Hollywood... Ill add some pictures at the end! After that I traveled back home to visit before I start at the youth center. It was a short trip, but boy was it good to be home with family. We had a cookout and I was able to see family and friends and just have a wonderful time of fun and fellowship.... That is a quick overview of whats been going on in the last three weeks, I start work at the Youth Center on Monday and am super excited for the summer and whats to come with working there! Continue to keep me in your prayers and thoughts, its rough being so far away from friends and family that care so much... thanks for all you do for me! I love you all and miss you... but like I said I would attach some pictures from the last few weeks so here ya go....

Pic. 1. - Me with Bing's Star!!!!

Pic 2. - Montague and Ciara representing on the beach (Montague is on staff at the center)

Pic 3.- Sarah and I at the beach in Santa Monica (sarah is the office person at the center)

Pic 4.- At the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, thats Hermione Granger's Hands from Harry Potter

Pic 5- Me and Ciara , one of the students at the center, at Santa Monica Pier

Its Raining Its Pouring

.... there is no old man or woman snoring in this apartment... I am wide eyed and bushy tailed , pulling my first official all-nighter as a masters student! I honestly did not think I was going to have to do this at all, but I have been the world's worst procrastinator this semester. My professor has missed most of the classes due to traveling, and it has made it very hard for me to be determined and productive when I know he isnt going to be at class. At 9 this morning will be my final exam and I still need to review for it. I just finished writing my last paper and submitting it, so I guess I am on the home stretch now! If im lucky I may get an hour or so of sleep! But who knows the rain is starting and you never know what this crazy weather has in store for us in MO!

For those of you who didnt hear, last Thursday night was the scariest night ive had since being in KC. I was at a volunteer appreciation dinner for the youth center when one of the guys got a text saying Tornadoes? I of course was a little concerned and knew that there was to be bad weather coming our way, but had not heard of the tornadoes. I left the dinner around 8 at took one of the other volunteers home, so that he didnt have to wait for the metro in the lightening and rain, and no sooner than i dropped him off.. the massive down pour started. A drive from downtown KC to my apt usually takes 10-15 minutes, but that night it was about 39 minutes.. I could not see the cars in front of me, the wind was blowing like crazy, and the lightening and thunder were like something from a movie. I got home and my roomie and I were watching TV.... and thats when we heard that there were funnels sighted less than 15 miles from our house... then they were only 3 miles from our house and according to the news, they were gaining speed and didnt know which direction they were headed. My roommate and I went downstairs with our landlords for about 45 minutes until the warnings had expired. That night i only slept a total of 2 hours, i tossed and turned all night, there were storms all night long, and when i woke up the next morning i found out that the tornadoes touched down about 15-20 minutes away from where we live. I am so relieved that God kept his hand of protection around our house, I was definately scared outta my mind that night, not something i ever want to go through again....

Other than that, for those of you who dont know I will be attending a conference next week in LA with the youth center and then the following week I will be coming HOME!!!!! I am so ready , i feel like i havent been home in years, when its only been a few months. I am counting down the days until i start at the center, i am super excited for the opportunities and the doors that God is and will be opening.

This past weekend I got my second tattoo, its the icthus (or Jesus FISH as I have been told from people) It was actually not that incredibly painful... and i wont lie, i kinda wanna get another one! I also threw a baby shower for a co-worker and i have added a few pictures from the fun filled weekend!

Second Pic: Lynne, the momma to be, is having a little boy named Rayden Alexander, we saw this onesie at the motherhood store and we had to get it for her, Marvin and Rayden... its only appropriate

Third Pic: The new TAT2

Fourth Pic: Payless Crew at Baby Shower

Bottom Pic: the Momma to be Lynne

This is me and Bethany @ the shower