Labor Day Weekend

This weekend was a great weekend and not just because it was a 3-day weekend, although that helped it's rating. Friday night, I knew that if I didn't dig in, I would be sitting here tonight...right about now, going...I don't wanna grade all those papers tonight so I just sat down with my fun pens, my water, a little HGTV in the background and got to work. I was able to grade all but one stack of large packets...tomorrow night's project. I need to record the scores but that's easy. That started my weekend off great! [You are probably thinking..."She's nuts...who wants to grade on Friday night?"] If I had been in your place, I might have said the same but feeling so productive and knowing it freed me up mentally and physically for the weekend was indescribable made it the best thing to do. I love my job and since grading is my least favorite part...I just gotta do it.

On Saturday, I was able to just sleep in and have a lazy day. I got to talk on the phone with a friend for about an hour and then went with a bunch of friends from my "old church" to see Lincoln Brewster lead worship at Willow Creek. It was a really fun night and I love getting to worship with thousands of people...just makes the hairs stand up on my arms! God does amazing things...ALL THE TIME! You just have to look for it. I had a friend comment on one of my FB posts and said, "Danielle, you just find joy in the little things, don't you?" Yes, I do. It's what life is made of. If we expect God to only do big things, we are going to be sorely disappointly because He works in the little things...and in the big things.

Sunday was a great time of leading worship with and for my FCCC peeps. After church I got to eat lunch on the go, in the car, with my one of my best friends...Katie and her two girls...sometimes easier to talk that way. Much needed girl time for sure! I used the afternoon to take a little snooze with the cool breeze blowing in the window. My brother, Austin, and I then met up and were able to take a long bike ride around Herrick Lake. I was able to shoot this amazing picture there with my new phone!

Then I went to my family's house and ate dinner then topped my day off with my sister sleeping over!

Today, I dragged my sister out of bed early...like 8:30am...which for me is now "late" and her it's still "early". I knew once I got her going, we'd be fine. We set out to Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve for a short walk/run. Well, that's where the short part ended. We decided to head out on the trail and once we got going, we'd gone so far, we decided to finish the 9.6 mile loop...which including our little detours took us to the 10 mile mark. We didn't run the whole thing but we sure did some serious walking/running. It was a great time where we both had our MP3 players and were enjoying the scenery. Next time, we probably won't do the whole trail but we know how it goes so we know what to expect and where to turn around! Then we grabbed Qdoba...last day for double points and came home. We were pooped to say the least. So this afternoon, I finally gave into another wonderful nap in the breeze. After I got up, my friend had posted that she had peaches and wanted some things to make with them...I had already had a craving for peach cobbler earlier in the week so I went ahead and found a recipe using ingredients I had on hand and made it...turned out quite yummy...you just have to ask my mom and my grandma...although my mom and I had eaten almost 1/2 the pan by the time grandma got any! :)

It was a great weekend to de-stress and get moving...the fall-like weather certainly helped a ton too! :)

KICK-OFF Launch of FCCC

WOW! That's all I could say after kick-off launch Sunday at FCCC 2 weeks ago already! God brought a lot of new people to our church and we also had a lot of family and friends that joined us. It was a special day as we started a new part of the journey called "church planting". (I've also been able to explain what church planting is and about FCCC to many new families that have interviewed me for babysitting recently!) Each week we've had tons of new visitors..I barely recgonize half of the congregation. I'm fortunate enough to be on stage so I get to see everyone and how each week, there are fewer and fewer empty chairs. God is doing amazing things and I'm excited to see how the next couple of months go. I can't imagine all that God will be doing in the church! Tonight will be my first night with the youth of FCCC! I'm excited and nervous. I know that my SUMMIT family will always be in my heart and I'm grateful for them and the amazing love and support they have shown me as I have been led by God on this new journey.

A little about how I started this journey for those that don't know:
Three years ago, I had a decision to make as I finished college/my Masters program. I could either stay in Nashville and most likely have a job or move home to watch my brothers and sister grow up through the end of high school and have to find a job. I am very close to my siblings and really felt as though that is really where God was calling me. As I came home, I decided to join in with the youth at my home church GEBC. I found a new passion for high school students and ended up staying with the ministry for 2 years until just recently leaving to pursue the youth of FCCC. I remember hearing about the church plant when I would come home to visit and decided to check out one of the meetings. As the discussion grew and we finally had decided on a location, it was clear to me that God was calling me there...as it was going to be planted in the town I was living in at the time...and still am!!!!  I continued attending the meetings and just felt like it was part of God's plan for me. I can see part of why God has called me here but I know there is much more to be seen!

The Skit Guys

Tonight was our launch weekend kick-off event! We hosted The Skit Guys, find out more here. We had probably 200+ people which was awesome! I couldn't stop laughing most of the night. It was cool to see how they were able to touch on some significant issues, some that I have even been facing recently, and bring them forth in the light and speak truth through the comedy. I know that God was moving in that place tonight. I'm very excited to see what God does on Sunday as we officially LAUNCH Four Corners!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1st day of School 2010-2011 and GOD

As I waited for the students to arrive today, I was excited about who was coming, wondering what would happen, who I would see from previous years and how the day would go. When I started to write this, it struck me that God must feel the same thing as He waits for us to come to Him every single day. He waits expectantly, hoping that we will come to Him with a smile on our face and an open heart to what He wants to share. I often find myself going to God saying, I pray for so-n-so or for this situation or please give me ______________ (insert character trait, etc...) or God, WHY???? I pray that as I grow in Him that I would be letting Him speak to me more. I hear Him better than I ever have before but I long to hear and know Him better still.

Looking ahead in the school year, I'm sensing great things happening and praying for opportunities to share my faith with my students (within my legal bounds...gggrrrr), parents and colleagues.

An Exciting Week Ahead

This week is going to be full of new and exciting things. I am starting my job as an instructional assistant again at the same school and am grateful to have a job. Still praying about the classroom!


It's also a big week because we will officially launch our church....We will start the weekend on Friday night with a comedy group, The Skit Guys! Then on Sunday we will have our launch service and a picnic to celebrate! I can't wait to see what God does. I have a feeling it is more than any of us can even imagine!

http://www.fourcornerscommunity.org/