The Land of Perpetual Summer

As Chloe and I prepare to move to VA, I find myself more and more thinking about the things in FL I will miss when I leave.

Here is a small list:

Daily SUNSHINE
Beautiful cool evenings

The white billowy clouds

The acessibility to everything within a 20 minute range

Spring and Fall and Winter...NOT SUMMER

Ybor Market

Relevant Church

My friends at work

My daughter's school and teachers

My daughter's dance lessons

That is just the beginning of a list really. Moving to FL was a tough thing for me. At times I have wished we were not here. But I will have to admit, FL does grow on you. My Dad calls me sometimes and asks me what the weather is like down here. Usually it is easy to predict. 80's every day, 60's every night, sunny and beautiful!!!

When we were home to SC for Christmas I found myself feeling sad and grumpy at times. This is not really that unusual, but it is when I am home for Christmas! LOL. So I thought about it a little more. What was different? Why was I so grumpy? I figured it out... there was no SUN!!!

Really...that was it. It was rainy and cloudy for 5 days!!!!! It is amazing what the coulds can do to your mood!!!!! No, let me rephrase that, it is amazing what the SUN can do to your mood.

So I am getting ready to move back to the normal world. Cloudy days, sunny days, rainy days, dry days...back to reality...goodbye land of perpetual summer, I will miss you dearly and you will always hold a special place in my heart.

Faith or Crazy...What it means to live outside of your comfort zone.

We all long for something. We all want to be loved, to be needed, to belong to something, to live a life with a purpose. These are basic wants in life. The need for these things drive us to be who we are, to act the way we do, to respond the way we do. Inside this need, buried deep in some, is the need for a higher power. The need for meaning in this crazy thing we call life. We may not know what we are searching for, but somehow it all leads to God. Can He provide us with what we want? Is He who He says He is? Can He fulfill my deepest needs? Can he fulfill my deepest longings? For many these questions go unanswered all their lives.

I struggle with all these questions. Daily. Still. I know God, I love Him deeply, yet I still search, still long for the answers to the questions. Ultimately I know that the answers to these questions and the ultimate fullfillment of all my needs is in this awesome God that I am able to have a real relationship with. That He would love me so much, no matter my countless flaws. That He would accept me as I am. That He loves me even though I am far from perfect and never will be. What kind of God is this? An Amazing one.

Brandon and I have been given a HUGE burden to bring this message to those in Winchester, VA that have these same longings, these same questions. We want to show His radical, crazy love to those that don't know who He is, or don't even believe that He exists. Just like everyone else! It has been a long journey towards accepting that this is what we should do, but that is a story for another time. It still amazes us that God would choose such utterly flawed people to bring His message of love, hope, and acceptance to Winchester. Why us God? But you know, sometimes I think He says, "Why you? Because you are just like the people I want to bring to myself. Only those that are like them can reach them."

Brandon and I currently live in Tampa, FL and have been struggling for months with a date to move to VA. We have been waiting for so many things to fall into place, we've almost made it impossible to let God be who He is. This week we were challenged to step out on faith. The actual essence of faith is believing in something even though you cannot see it. Faith almost always, requires stepping out of your comfort zone and sacrificing.

We are in the process of moving Winchester, VA ASAP! To do this we are going to need your help as our friends and partners on this journey. We need the funds to move and support ourselves for at least a month while I find a job. The total cost for this would be $8,000. We are also raigin funds for Brandon's salary for 36 months. The total salary need equals about $625 a week. We ask that you would consider investing in this journey. By choosing to give to us you are stepping out in faith as well, believing that God has an amazing plan for the people of Winchester, VA.

Would you be willing to give $100, $1000 or $5000? Would you be willing to join us as partners in this journey?

You guys are our dear friends and family and we love each of you. We know what we are asking, and we know the economy, but we believe that God will provide this money for us to move to VA within the month!

If you would like to donate please contact me or Brandon at 813-777-0118 or just inbox us here. We are so thankful for each of you. God is ready to do amazing things in WINCHESTER!!!!!

Believe with us, pray with us, invest in others.

We love you all.

Shelley

Weight Loss Update

Hi Everyone! Just a quick note that I have lost 25lbs to date!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!! I am feeling great! :)

Tolerance

Tolerance.

As Brandon and I get closer and closer to starting Renovate I find God challenging me more and more. Moving me out of my comfortable, warm box. I am challenged daily to rethink my personal beliefs. To rethink the way that I interact with others. The way that I REACT to others.

I firmly believe that God is going to use Renovate Church to reach a lost generation in Winchester. Winchester is staunchly conservative and modern while located on the cusp of liberal, post-modern DC.

The biggest thing I am challenged by is the idea of tolerance. Let me explain.

In the church you currently attend, would your church openly accept someone that is gay, goth, homeless, hindu, muslim, african-american, new age, lesbian, divorced, living with their partner, etc? Would they take them in? Would they engage them in conversation? Would they let go of all their prejudices? Would they let them serve others? What is your immediate, gut reaction to this?

I admit, very shamefully, that mine went something like this, "Sure I would talk to them, treat them nicely, but then I would want them to change. I would want to try to change them. As soon as possible. They obviously aren't "clean" enough for church."

But then God challenged me. There's a book I am reading right now, No Perfect People Allowed, and it talks about creating a culture in the church so that people feel accepted and comfortable so that God can work in them. I suggest that anyone who is in church leadership read this.

For so many reasons my generation is getting lost...lost from God. There are multiple reasons for this, and I will not go into them now, but my heart cries out to those people. Although I have been blessed to have grown up in the church and had amazing parents that never pushed God on me, I have felt a "holy discontent" with church as usual. I saw my generation leaving the church, I saw them "playing church" on Sunday and "living like hell" throughout the week. I saw the disconnect that they have with God and all that He is. With the state of the world and the idea of a loving God. I see now the struggles of my generation to find hope and meaning in this life.

I have felt this nagging undercurrent in my soul. I have felt the facade and lived the facade of the modern church. I CAN'T LIVE THIS WAY ANYMORE. MY GENERATION CANNOT LIVE THIS WAY ANYMORE! We want a genuine church, a church that is not afraid to show how imperfect they are. I do not think that Jesus' ultimate goal for His church was to put a "happy" face on Christianity and blow up Abortion clincs in His name, or even somemthing as innocent as shoving His gospel down your friends throat just because they are "unsaved."

Do not misinterpret what I am saying here. I am not saying that we should accept that others are just going to believe whatever they want and make it. I believe that Christ is the only way. But I also believe that Christ will reveal Himself to others. IT IS NOT OUR JOB TO CHANGE PEOPLE. IT IS GOD's. God just requires that we love them.

It is time for the church to wake up! Let's just love people. We are all created in His image. Let's see past all the labels and just love them as Christ would have. I mean He says so Himself. He did not come to save the well, he came to save the sick. Let's be Christ to others. Let's show Jesus to others. Let's be His love. Remeber the prostitue. They religous leaders wanted her stoned. That was their gut reaction. How many times do we want to "stone" people just for their sin.

LET GOD CHANGE THEM. IT IS NOT UP TO US.

You have officially been challenged.

It's Christmas in the Smokies! And Christmas in the Smokies is where I belong!

My parents lived in TN for 7 years. Brandon and I went to College in TN. We lived there for 7 years. My brother goes to College at University of Tennessee. He has lived in TN for 9 years.

TN in the fall is BEAUTIFUL!!!!! The leaves are so gorgeous. It is truly Fall nestled there at the base of the Smoky Mountains. My whole family lived in the Knoville area for a few years. It was so wonderful to wake up and look right outside your door and see the beautiful mountains that you feel like you can reach out and touch. They are all the colors of fall, orange, yellow, brown, green, purple. It is like a postcard.

Cades Cove is an old mountain settlement in the Smoky Mountains. Anyone who has ever been to the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area HAS to go there. Especially in Fall and Winter. IT IS PERFECT!!!!! This is a picture of a mill at Cades Cove in the Winter, provided by my good frined Allen. See what I mean about postcard?

I say all of this to tell you how much I miss the seasons. For those of you that live anywhere other than FL you have normal season changes. Turning leaves, a slight drop in temperature that continues until it is perfect, dormant grass, apple dumplings, pumpkin patches, hay rides, chestnuts roasting on an open fire, jack frost nipping at your nose...

In FL we know its Fall because it stops being in the 90's everyday and starts to be in the 80's. Then in November it might get to 78 or 77 as a high. To some this sounds great, but it is horrible. I mean really, who can get in the Holiday spirit while wearing shorts and a t-shirt? It's not natural!!!! Here is a picture of FL in the Fall.

Here is a picture of FL in the Winter

See the difference? It's very subtle. Please do not be decived by these beautiful pictures of the beach. It is not that great!!!! Try putting up your christmas tree in shorts. It's not fun. It's weird. It's eery. It's not right.

So this year we are going to visit my brother in Knoxville and our friends Allen and Rebecca, and my Dad is coming too, for Thanksgiving!!!! I am so excited to see the beautiful leaves and feel the fall air. We may even go to Cades Cove!!!!!! My brother told me it was really cold up there! I was sooooooooo excited!!!!!!!!

For Christmas we are going to SC. We are gauranteed cold air and maybe even SNOW!!!!!

Can I just tell you how happy I am that I do not have to be in HOT FL for either holiday!!!!!

Ok. Now I think I will go turn my air on 60, put on my winter coat, my scarf, some ear muffs, make Hot chocolate and turn on 'White Christmas," and try to get in the holiday spirit!!!!!!

Shelley

Christmas? I didn't realize it came two days AFTER Halloween.

On Sunday, NOVEMBER 2, my family and I were leisurely driving home from a nice dinner after church. When what to my wondering eyes did appear? Candy cane and Christmas tree decorations hanging from the light poles of the Publix grocery store by our house. I thought to myself... "What month am I in? Did I skip ahead a month to December 1 and not know it?" But, no, my husband confirmed the date and I then launched into my yearly internal tirade about Christmas becoming too commercialized.

Then, LATER THE SAME DAY, I went to Wal-mart. I was assulted by a slew of Christmas themed t-shirts in the ladies clothing section, as soon as I entered the store. One that really struck me was a shirt that had "Animal" from the "Muppets" shouting "Gimme, Gimme, Gimme." I was appalled. I mean this attitude has become assumed over the years of increased commercialization, but to put it out there, blatantly on a t-shirt... In the words of Seth and Amy on SNL Weekend Update... Really? Really, Wal-mart, Really? Desensitized...totally.

So I pass all these items, and I am grateful when I walk a little further and see all the Halloween

items 50% off. All seemed right in the world again. Wal-mart had not gone nuts. Walk a little further... all the Chirstams decorations for sale are still hidden in a remote section of the store... all is right...all is well, until... I am shopping in the shoe section and notice that I am humming "The Little Drummer Boy," a classic Christmas song, that I detest, by the way. I hum ALL THE TIME, so this is not unusual to me, but the song is. I stop and listen to the nice music that is playing over the speakers in Wal-mart. It is very soothing, and soft...WAIT! It's "The Little Drummer Boy!" Really, Wal-mart, Really?!?!?! Come on!

For all of you Christmas lovers that listen to Christmas songs in July, becasue you just can't wait until the day after Thanksgiving... PLEASE do not misunderstand what I am saying. I LOVE the Christmas season. I too will listen to an occasional Christmas song in July, just for fun. Heck, a few weeks ago I rented a Christmas movie for my daughter and now she goes around singing "Jingle Bells." I am NO SCROOGE! I love celebrating the birth of my Savior, I do this daily, but enough is enough.

To all the monopolizing money-makers out there. Please respect Christmas. Please don't make it out to be all about greed. Haven't we learned what greed will do to us, with this economy? I understand that you are scared. I understand that you think the economy is so bad that you are going to lose millions this Chistmas season because people just cannot afford to buy as much as they usually do. But, please, please don't cheapen the birth of the Saviour, just so you can make a buck...

OK. Off the soap-box. Well, at least one foot. :)

Shelley

Deflated...

This has been a really hard past two weeks for me. It all started three weeks ago when my boss asked me to come into his office... Short Story: the Career Services Director position (the position I was promised last year, by a different Campus Director, and had already been surpassed once) was coming open again. I told him I wanted the position, he asked me if we were moving, I said we were "eventually," he asked me to promise to train my replacement and give him 2 months notice when we move, then he told me that he was going to give me the position if the director did not come back off medical leave.

Fast forward to this week. Monday the current director came to the campus. My boss let her go becasue she could only come back PT. Her FMLA was up, etc. On Monday I patiently wait for my boss to tell me I can go ahead and start transitioning to the Career services department. He doesn't talk to me about it Monday, he actually sits down with me and plans upcoming events for the future...I am really confused at this point and feeling like I am getting mixed messages. Yesterday he goes the whole day without mentioning it. By this time I am convinced he has forgotten that he told me I had the job two weeks earlier. I decided to go in and talk to him before I left last night. Short Story: He had forgotten! He told me I wasn't going to get the job, argued with me about actually ever telling me I had had it. Needless to say I was really disappointed and angry. I really wanted that promotion. Really.

Anyway, the silver lining is that he did promise to change my title to Coordinator of Student Affairs and give me a raise. I do think this will help my career in the long run. I am still bummed that I did not get the director's job. This is the second time I have been surpassed by the same boss for the position... (I think I will get this change in writing, signed and notarized just to be sure he remembers)

I am certain that God has a plan. I am confident that there is a reason I didn't get it. Maybe we will move sooner than we thought. Who knows the reasons. Now I have to remember how to be passionate about my current job again... that is going to be hard...

On a more positive note: I have lost a total of 8lbs and I haven't even been doing this for a month!!! YAY!!!!! Small goal: 15lbs by Thanksgiving, 25 by Christmas, 40 by Jason and Dana's wedding. Keep me in your prayers!!!!!!