Moving Day!

Today I sign the lease for my apartment! I'm so excited! Tomorrow is when we move everything. Not looking forward to moving everything, but definitely excited to be in an apartment again. I am so thankful for Kurt and Mary, and their continued support! I have really enjoyed living there, spending time with them and their beautiful children and learning from them. I am so blessed to know them. I hope someday I can be as much of a blessing to them as they are to me! Oh, and want to know the best part of moving into the apartment, Karon and Justin are our neighbors! They aren't right next door or down the hall, but they are in the apartment building next to ours!

Well, I have to go. It's been a long time since I wrote, so I figured I should share the fun news :)

School

So, I start school on January 22nd! I'll also be Full-time Permanent at my job on January 22nd!
God is so faithful! He's really blessed me here! I couldn't ask for anything better than what He's already provided.
I wish you all could see how truly beautiful Nevada is! Growing up in Washington, I never thought I'd live in a more beautiful place, but Nevada could definitely compete with it!
Well, that's all I have time to write! Love ya'll! Leave me comments! I miss ya'll in Washington!

Bad Kenzie!

Ok, so I left a blog saying I would blog soon, and I haven't. I'm a bad, bad blogger lately! Bad me! :) OK, so I promise I'll try and blog soon!

Hope everyone had a great New Year's! Seahawks are still in the playoffs! Woohoo!

No new posts

I'm sorry I haven't updated this recently. I promise I will later! Hope everyone has a great Christmas!

Life, work, etc

I realized I haven't really updated most of you in what's going on here in Sparks. So, here you go......................................
I currently live at Kurt and Mary's house. I love hanging out with them and the kids. I had forgotten how much I love to hold babies! Thanks Mary for letting me hold him! I love it when he falls asleep while I'm holding him! Did I mention I can't wait to be a mom? Obviously, I am waiting until I am married, but ya know! Grace is a delight as well. In Mary's blog she talks about her personality. WOW! I haven't met a child with so much personality in a long time. She almost rivals my niece Stephanie. Kurt and Mary are such a blessing! Last night they had a couple from the church over, and asked me if I would join them, and it was alot of fun!
Karon and Justin have been so great since I've been down here as well. I am working with the College age ministry down here called The Gathering. I am the Admin for it and I really enjoy it! I also am on the Worship team for the Gathering. What a fun team to be a part of! I am really excited for Friday, because as a team we're going to have a Christmas party at Justin and Karon's. It should be alot of fun. (Side note to self: Buy a gift for White Elephant Gift Exchange!)
Let's see, what else? Oh, I'm on the Worship team for "Big" church as well, but I haven't been on the schedule yet. I can't wait!
Work...................... well, I work at Bally Technology. I was hired through an agency called Ultimate Staffing, here out of Reno, as a Temp, but soon to be Temp to Hire. Pray that happens quickly! :) I would love to get rid of the "Temp" title! Bally Tech is in South Reno. I am a "Client Services Coordinator", basically an Administrative Assistant, and then some! :) I've only met the Director that I'm assisting over the phone, so that's why I'm not officially Temp to Hire :) I really like it here though, aside from the drama of everyday office banter and people leaving the company or moving out of state.
I have been accepted to TMCC, taken the placement test, and now I just need to have a meeting with an advisor and register for a class or two. I am really excited to start school.
I am so blessed by God's faithfulness everyday! He surprises me how much He truly loves me, no matter what I do or don't do, whether I'm lazy or busy, sad or glad. I'm so thankful to know such a wonderful friend and Savior.

I'll make sure to try and update more often :)

Thank you Jesus!!

So, pretty much as of Monday, November 27th I have the Admin job. There might be a few hoops I have to jump through, but for now I have it :) It's a temp to hire position, so I'm temp for 90 days, after that they can choose to hire me permanately! Woohoo! Thank you Jesus!

I'll update more later on what's going on down here in Sparks!

God is good!

Friends; old and new

Hey everyone! Hopefully I'll get to update my blog more often then I used to. It's hard to keep up.
John and Jessica are down here right now visiting. It's been fun getting to hang out with them again. It's so funny to see Kurt, Mary, John and Jess interact with each other! They crack me up!
The culture and people here in Sparks amaze me. They are so friendly! There are people here that I met a few times when I came down to visit that have just reached out and have been so great to me. I am excited to see what God has planned down here. I can't wait to help out in the Gathering and Worship team. I went to Worship practice last night with Kurt and Jessica (she's singing this week at Summit! Woohoo!!) and it was great to see it all layed out. At Summit they use wireless mics and wedge monitors. It will be interesting to get used to using a wedge again. I can't wait for the wireless mic though, so much more freedom! Another great thing is that they have a screen with a projector on the back wall, so no more music stands, woohoo!! This week there are 6 singers, plus Kurt. It's cool to see so many people on stage!
Well, I have to go for now. I am online looking for a job. PRAY FOR A JOB! Not just a job, but the right job. The job that will most utilize my abilities, be the right pay, and that the hours will be accommodating to going to school and church. I can't wait to start school!

PS: I WANT SOME COMMENTS! :) j/k

Difficult to do

Saying goodbye is so hard to do. You go through life meeting special people and one day you make a decision that affects everything. The saying "you don't know what you have until it's gone" is so true. Not that my friends and I won't be friends any longer, or that my family and I won't still be close, but the idea of not being able to get in the car and drive somewhere to meet for coffee or lunch or just to hang out, is really starting to hit me. There are some friends that I just started getting to know, and now I'll be far away from them. I hope they know what they mean to me. I'm already starting to learn some of the lessons I think God is wanting to teach me when I go. Sometimes the outcome of the lesson feels like a brick in your stomach. Will I have the courage to stand up for what is coming my way, the next gut wrenching blow. Thank God I know that I don't have to do it on my own, that He is there beside me, holding my hand, or holding me up. When I need Him, He is there. He is there when I think I have it all figured out and fall on my face. Thank God I don't have to know all the answers, that all the pieces don't have to be there for me, that He'll place them there when it's time. He's always with me, even when I think I can do it all on my own.

New Chapter in Life!

This is a very hard blog to write, but I am so excited to let you all know what's going on! Thursday, October 26th will be my last day at the Salish Lodge and Spa, because I am moving to Sparks, Nevada!! Woohooo!! For some of you this isn't a shock, and for some this will seem like it's come way out of left field. I've been thinking and praying about it for quite some time now. When I went for visits there, it just felt like home. Coming back here to Washington was really hard, and once I was back into my normal everyday life, it just never felt right. Know what I mean?
So, I am driving down to Sparks on Tuesday, October 31st with my mom, and she'll be flying home on Thursday. I am so excited to spend this time with her! We don't get to spend very much time already, so this will be a great time together! I'm going to take her to one of the buffets down there in Reno! I am sad to leave my family and friends here, but at the same time I am so excited to meet new people and have so many new opportunities! I will miss you all so much, but hey, that's what MySpace, Blogspot and something called the telephone is for, right?
So, if this is the first time you've heard about this and you think "Hey, why didn't Kenzie tell me herself?!" I'm so sorry! I tried to tell everyone personally, but I lost track.
Be blessed in all you do, and make sure to check back with my blogs and my blogspot to see what else is new and exciting in Sparks, Nevada!!

I know it's not User Error!

Ok, so no matter what I've tried to do on the internet the last few days, it doesn't work! At home our server is messed up, so I can't keep up with my email. MySpace is always acting up, and now even blogspot is telling me I have an error and to try again in 30 seconds! What is up with that?! TECHNOLOGY-SMECKMOLOGY!
Ok, now that I'm done venting! Isn't it funny how we live in such a "Fast Food" world, where when we have to wait 30 seconds for anything we get frustrated. Whereas 10 years ago, it was normal to sit and wait for the computer to do it's thing. WOW, what a world we live in! It's time to sit back and reflect and realize it's ok to wait a little while for something. I've definetly learned that with being single, let me tell you! If you had told me when I was 16 or 17 that I wouldn't be married by my 27th birthday, I would have said YEAH RIGHT! Those that knew me back then would have heard me say a few choice words instead of Yeah right :) (Right Karon?!) They say "Patience is a virtue", I'm so thankful I'm learning patience, I see kids with their parents in the store and I am like "wow, glad that's not me," until I see a sweet baby that is sleeping and think "Why isn't that me?" It's funny how green the lawn is on the other side of the fence. I am so happy to be who I am and who God has made me to be. I'm so thankful to have my trust and my future in Him, and know that timing is in His hands, because if it were in mine, I would have screwed it up along time ago!
Isn't it funny how we can start a blog about one thing and totally go on another tangent about other life things. That's what I think is so cool about these things. I can have a one sided conversation, but I know someone sitting at home or work reading this can either be nodding in agreement or saying "yeah right!"
I am so random sometimes! Yes, that is usually how I think too. I'll start thinking about one thing and then I'll end up on a completely different subject, worry about something, and over-thinking something else. I should write a book. What would I call it though? I would never be able to pick out a name for it, good luck getting me to make a decision about that! I have a hard enough time picking out what clothes I'm going to where/buy. See, RANDOM! Well, hopefully I've at least gotten you to smile! :) That's what I aim for in life, to make others happy. I'm not a pushover though. I stand firm when I need to :)
Ok, enough of my randomness! :) Enjoy your day, leave me a comment, or I might cry! :)

Wish I was there!

Ok, so I got back from Sparks on Thursday afternoon! I want to go back and hold the baby again! He is such a cutie! It was awesome to see Karon, Justin, Kurt and Mary, and Grace & Judah too. Or as Grace calls him, Juwah :) It's so cute! She has so much energy! It was fun to play with her. I had a great time in Reno and I can't wait to go back there! I met a few new people while I was there. Karon and I went to the Mall and shopped at Babys R Us. I love that store, I could spend a ton of money there, right Karon?! :) All in all it was a great trip, oh, and on my way home I won some money that pretty much paid for my trip so it was great! :)

PS...... I better get some comments this time! :)

Clarifying Statement!! :)
Ok, so due to Justin's comment, I realized I should probably clarify that, no, they didn't take me gambling :) I was in the airport on the way to the security check point when I realized I had $4 in my pocket that someone told me to play a slot machine with. So, I went over to a quarter machine and won about $35 in about 5 minutes. I got bored at that machine, so I walked over to a $1 machine, which happened to be Wheel of Fortune. I've wanted to play that before so I decided to play it. I bet the max, which was $3, and got nothing. Second spin, I bet max again and won $200! So, I decided I needed to get to my plane and cashed out. It was great! I figure it was $4 of entertainment money, better than spending $10 on a movie, because I actually walked away with something :)

It's been awhile!

Wow, didn't realize it's been so long since I wrote on here! Well, just wanted to fill everyone in on what's going on! I'm going to Reno/Sparks tomorrow for vacation! Woohoo! I am so excited to see Karon, Justin, Kurt and Mary. Hopefully while I'm down there Mary will have Judah, not just because I want to see him, but I know she's ready to have him! :)

Hope you all have a very blessed week! If you need to, call me on my cell! I am so ready for some much needed rest and relaxation!

Love ya'll!

Night Vision 2K6

This last week at camp was AWESOME! I had such a good time worshiping, praying, hanging out with young people, hanging out with my friends, getting water ballooned, hearing from God............. the list could go on and on. I didn't really have a specific job responsibility this year, which I am so thankful for because it gave me a lot of room to do the things that no one saw to do and hang out with the young people and just to be with God. It was such a great week! I didn't want to leave!
Worship was a whole new level this week! I can't even begin to tell you all what was happening, and how much we were used in worship. Not just singing but really praying and stepping in the gap for the young people that weren't willing to give things up. It was heart breaking to see the ones that wouldn't let go and give their problems up, they just wanted to hang on and be stubborn. It broke my heart to see a couple leaders the first few nights who seemed to be off in their own world not really connecting, but by the last night God had a hold of them too! It's such an awesome feeling to have discernment and ask a leader to go pray for someone and then see that person receiving something from the Lord. It's like, "wow, it wasn't really me at all, I heard the Lord."
There were a few things that really stuck out to me this week, lot's of memories, but precious moments that really stuck out. One was when we prayed for siblings and I saw 2 brothers that don't get along very well praying for each other and talking through the stuff. Another time was on Wednesday night during worship. We had just about finished our set list and during one of the slower songs Josh heard a word from the Lord and started singing it out. It was awesome! There was so much peace in the room, God's presence was so thick! I can't begin to describe what it was, it was such a sweet spirit. Talk about being proud of your friends. I was so proud to see him surrender and let himself be used. Taylor did an awesome job too. He was so faithful to pray for the young people. I can't tell you how many times I saw him praying with his brothers! It was awesome to have all 3 of them there this year. Noelle taught during one of the day sessions. It was great! She really ministered to the girls! She taught on society's impact on us and that we were to be set apart from the world.
God really showed me His faithfulness. No matter how many times we fall short or fall away from Him, He loves us just the same. No matter what tries to hold us back from Him, He is faithful to stay at our sides, or in some of our cases, holding us up so that we don't fall down. When we would pray for things at camp most of the things that came to mind to pray for was faithfulness, that the kids would understand just how faithful God is in their lives. And to keep pressing in, just when you think you can't go any further, keep going! Another one was to wait on Him. So often we get something special from God, His plan for us, and we're so eager to make it happen ourselves that we don't think about the fact that it's in God's time. He's really worked on me in this area alot lately. Lot's of awesome things are happening and will be happening in the next year. Someone told me on Sunday just before I left for camp that there will be lots of great changes in the next year. He said "Just wait, by this time next year lot's of changes, August 1st of next year." I don't know exactly what he had in mind, but I trust him and I don't want to read into it. I know God has alot to change in me, habits, discipline, etc etc...
I'm so excited for this next year and where God is taking me! I pray you are touched by God like I was at camp. Just think your everday life can be a camp experience if you have a real relationship with God and let Him speak to you! Love ya'll!

Summer Camp 2K6

Off to Summer Camp we go tomorrow! Keep us all in your prayers! God has alot for the young people, pray they have open hearts to receive!

Love ya'll! I'll make sure to post pics and blog about it when I get back :)

Happy Birthday to You! And other exciting things too!

Ok, so I know that Mary, Jessica and Olivia's Birthdays aren't until Tuesday the 11th, but I figured I should probably blog it now! (Ya'll know how I am about blogging on time!) :)
So HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARY! HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESSICA! HAPPY BIRTHDAY OLIVIA! I love you guys! I am so proud of all three of you and know that God has some great things in store for you in the next year! I'm happy to be your friend!
So, if you haven't already heard or read about it, you need to visit Derrick and Emily's blog to find out how awesome out God is! Derrick was HEALED on Friday afternoon! Make sure you read it! I have a link on the side of the blog, GO READ IT! It will encourage you! God is AWESOME!
This weekend has been alot of fun. Karon, Justin, Kurt and Mary are visiting, and I got to spend sometime with them. Jessica's birthday party on Friday was alot of fun! Today was Karon's baby shower! I still can't believe she's having a baby! I can't wait to see little Isabella Sophia Carpenter! Can't wait to see little Judah John Von Eschen either though!
Well, I have to go for now! I'll try and write more in the next day or so. I saw a few of you fellow bloggers today and you were anxious for me to tell what's been on my heart lately, so I'll make sure to fill you in soon! Love ya'll!!

Crazy!

No, I'm not going crazy, but that's how life has been lately! So much going on, but not much to talk about. Work has been busy, I've been working the morning shifts alot lately, so it's been nice to have the evenings available to do stuff with friends. But as most of you now, I'm not so much of a morning person, so it's hard for me to go to bed in time to get 8 hours of sleep. But, such is life, and it's worth it right now.
Karon & Justin and Kurt & Mary will all be here this coming week and I am so excited to see them! I can't wait to see their pregnant bellies! I can't wait to see Grace either! When I was down there I got to spend time with her and really appreciate just how sweet she is. I also got to Daddy's girl that she is!
I have tomorrow off!! Woohoo! So exited to have a Sunday off! And I just found out I have the 4th of July off! So excited! And I get to go to Jess' party and Karon's baby shower! God is sooooo good! I've had alot of favor lately with my schedule, so can I just say how cool my boss is!
Yeah, so I was hoping to blog more, but I'm at work, so I can't :) Love ya'll!

Worship!

I found this picture of Kurt on the Gathering's website and just wanted to share it with everyone! You can tell he is in his element there! I'm so proud of Kurt and Mary for stepping out and doing God's will! We could all learn a lesson in trusting in God from them both!

Love you guys!

Memorial Day Family BBQ- 5/28

Just wanted to post up some family pictures that we took today. Plus, I realized as I was talking to someone at church today, alot of people don't know that I have 2 brothers and 2 sisters. The first two pics are of me and Stephanie, my niece. Isn't she cute!! She's getting so big! The third is my mom, me, Tammy, Lacey, Renea and Stephanie. Lacey is the younger girl with pink on, she's Tammy's daughter. Tammy is the oldest of us sisters, actually of all the siblings. The fourth picture is Renea, Tommy (her fiancee') and Dylan, Renea's middle child. He's my Dyl-Pickle. I've called him that since he was a baby! The last picture, from left to right, is Tammy, me, and Renea. People always think I'm older than Renea, but she's 5 years older than me. It just so happens that it was her Birthday yesterday too. Oh, by the way, I am taller than both of them, but the way the ground is there at my parents I was at their level. YES! I did it on purpose :) I wanted to get the whole family on here, but the computer at my parents was being slow and not everyone got their picture taken. I'll have to take more next time.
So, now you've seen my family and my naked teeth- as Andrew is calling them!

Woohoo!!

My braces are off now! Woohoo!! I'll make sure to post a picture soon, I promise!

15 HOURS!!!

Ok, so I know that I am lame, but only 15 more hours until my braces come off!!! Woohoo!!