Quick pic!

Just a quick note to add this pic, courtesy of Mary, of when I was down in Sparks! I'll post more when I get my film developed. Although, I think most of the pics will be of Grace, because she's so photogenic! Sweet Grace!

Thanks Kurt, Mary, Karon and Justin for being such great hosts while I was down there! It was awesome to hang out with ya'll again! And like Mary said it felt like we just left off from when they moved. I miss them all very much, but I know God has His plans :)

Trip

Well, my trip to San Fran and Reno was really great! Too short a time in Reno, but I am already starting to plan my next trip :) I'm so thankful to have friends like Karon, Mary, Justin and Kurt! They are incredible people! I miss them already!
Today I had coffee with an old friend from Elementary school. I hadn't seen him in 16 years! Even though we've lived near each other for the last 15, it took me going to Reno to get to meet up and hang out with him. Good times.
I can't write much right now, long day tomorrow! Pray for me, I was nominated for Employee of the Quarter, and tomorrow I find out if I win!! I hope so!
Lots of decisions ahead of me, I pray that God will open my eyes to see and ears to hear what it is that He would like me to do. So many roads to chose from, so to speak!

Suzy's Engaged!!!!

Suzy and Matt just got engaged on the Today show today!!

topic? title? blank?

Usually when blogging I try to find a topic that will go with what I'm going to or want to talk about, but I can't think of anything. Which leads right into my next sentance. I haven't been able to blog anything fun, witty or otherwise comical for quite sometime now. I find that the more I think about blogging, the more my mind draws a blank lately. I could talk about work, and how my schedule is driving me nuts because last week was one of the first weeks that I had a Sunday off and when I do have to work I haven't been able to stay for the whole service because they have me start at Noon! Ok, enough ranting! :) I'm better now.

I've really felt lately like I'm coming up short with my relationship with the Lord. I want to get back to that spot where I'm praying without ceasing, where I can't get enough of the Bible, where all I can do is worship Him. I really want to get back to that place. I can almost pin point when it all started. I had an argument with God and I didn't realize I was in the wrong. He was basically telling me to do something, which would have been for my own good, but I didn't want anything to do with it. I have since repented of course, but I still feel bad for it. I know He's forgiven me, but I'm such a thinker and sometimes I don't let things go when I should. I feel though, that since I've acknowledged what's going in my head that I CAN move forward, it's just getting the people around me to recognize that I have changed, for the better, and not to treat me as though I'm a back sliding heathen. I wish I could set them down and talk to them, but I hate confrentation, it's definitely not in my nature, and I'm a chicken to do it. I can't believe I'm writing all this out. I think Marcie inspired me when she was writing one day about a few things she was dealing with and said something about at least now someone should hold her accountable for the changes she'd like to make. So, if any of you would like a challenge :) Also, if you have a suggestion of how I can become more disciplined in my walk, please comment.

I love you all! Have a blessed day!

Community College or University?!?

Hey all! I'm sorry it's been so long since I wrote. Life has been busy, as usual! I'm so excited, the beginning of the month marked the new beginning of my 2nd raise!! Woohoo!! Let's just say I love our Managers!
So, it's official! I bought my tickets for California and Nevada, and I have less than a month until I'm there! I'm so excited to go see everyone! I haven't seen Amy in like 3 or 4 years and I am so happy for her! (The pic is of Amy and Nate) Adawna will be down there, she's in the wedding. I'm helping with the Guest book.
This week I work 6 days, next week I work 6 days and I'm housesitting starting next week for the Ostrom's. I'm so excited about that! I think it'll be for like 12 or 13 days! This time I'm bringing Jerome with me, because he gets mad when I'm gone that long.....poor baby!
So, I can't decide if I want to start at a Community College or at Northwest University yet. What do ya'll think? I haven't been in school for 8 years! Crazy, huh! That makes me feel old!
Well, I have to go for now. Hope to have comments from everyone :) Love ya'll!

Just stuff

Well, nothing really new to talk about. Oh, except I did buy my plane tickets to San Francisco and Nevada! I'm so excited to go down there! See Justin, I am coming to visit! I get to see a bit of California too, because I land in Oakland at like 12:30 and the wedding isn't until 7:00pm, so I'll be going to my hotel in San Francisco and go from there to whatever, that will be interesting!
On the College front, I just got my SAT Prep book, OOOHHHH MY! It's so big! I'm a bit intimidated by the SAT's! But I know that I'll do great! :) (I hope!) I applied for FAFSA and of course they say I make too much to get the Pell Grant, but luckily God has blessed me with incredible Grandparents who have offered to pay for College. I still need to talk over specifics with them though, because I need to figure out if I'm going to attend fulltime or part time. My dad asked me tonight if I was ready to go to a University or if I should start at a Community College. I'm not sure, I've asked myself the same thing. What do ya'll think? Community College or University?
Anyways, I gotta go for now, I just got home from my niece's 4th Birthday Party! Yup, Stephanie is already 4!!

School, work, trips, etc

Lately I've been getting things together so that I can go to school next fall. I'm so thankful to see even just a glimpse of what God has planned for my life. I'm such a thinker that most of the time I think that I have to have it all figured out before I can take a step or make a move, but God's really challenged me asking me if I really trust Him and I've come to realize that in the last 7 years that I've been saved I heard of His faithfulness and I saw His faithfulness in action, but I never trully believed His faithfulness until this last month or so. That still small voice wasn't loud enough most of the time to break through the thoughts that normally run a muck in my head. Until finally it happened! As I was at the GU conference in Portland during worship God said, Stop arguing with me, stop fighting what I have for you, stop thinking so much! I am faithful, I am here, Don't you know ME by now? What makes you think you have to have it all figured out! Don't you think I know what I'm doing?
It's amazing how much clarity you receive when God speaks! I went from living life, going to work, hanging out with friends to having a real purpose, a real meaning, I finally understood why it is that I'm different from the rest, why I always end up in the secular world. He's placed me there to touch my generation, to show those that have walked away from Him that He's faithful.
I'm so excited to go to school this fall! I think that it's the beginning of a great career, not for a career's sake, but for Ministry sake! He needs more Christians in the Business world. Christians that will not be afraid to stand up for what is right, not be afraid to love someone for who God sees them to be and not their actions.
That reminds me! I'm so tired of Christians that say "love the person and not the sin", yet the second Friend #1 has a problem and doesn't know how to get out of it, Friend #2 leaves them behind only to say that they have "back-slidden". I'm tired of people going to their friends and saying "we see this thing that you're doing wrong, that you are obviously not where you should be," yet instead of helping to find the solution, they become part of what the problem was in the first place by treating them as if they're a horrible person, taking things away that they once loved.
Ok, I'm done ranting! Sorry, I started out all excited and happy, only to have that thought take over my post (see I think too much!). It's true though, there are so many Christians out there like that.
Well, it's been a busy few months with work. I still love my job! 4 out of the 5 months that I've worked there I've had the highest revenue out of the whole team. God is good!! Oh, so one of the things that I'm going to school for is Business Administration with an emphasis in Management. I was talking to the McAlpine's after I got back from Portland and I came to the realization that I'm, as Ed put it, Management material! The things that I enjoy, the things that drive me at work, yeah, pretty much fall under the management area. My boss, who is the Revenue manager, always calls me the future Revenue Manager of the Salish :)
Nothing in the man department. People are always saying that they have someone in mind for me, but they never step up and take the effort of introducing us. That's ok though. I have more of myself to work on first, God wants me completely, and that's what I want right now too!
Hope everyone is doing well! So excited to go see Kurt, Mary, Karon and Justin in April! Yup, I've found dates that work for my schedule, their's and the airfares are rockin' right now!! California and Nevada here I come! Watch out!

Carson Kitty!

I totally forgot to add this picture to my Blog! How could I forget such a cute cat!? So everyone, this is Carson Kitty! He's my new cat! I got him back in October, but he's lived with my parents since Thanksgiving since I live with the McAlpines. There's a funny story about him! I originally thought he was a she! So, for a long time he was known as "Missy" because "she" had such an attitude and was so crazy, it just totally fit! Until one day, my mom called me and said "we have bad news...... your cat............ is.......... a boy!!!!" I was so mad! It's easy to come up with girl names! Boy names are so hard for cats! (Hello...Jerome! Who does that anyway??) So, he finally has a name! He didn't for a long time! I didn't know what to call him, then finally one day I was looking at Babynames.com and came across the name Carson and thought, Carson Kitty, it's a play on words for Carson City! Anyways, just wanted to show off my new man! :)

Portland!

I say this every year, but man, the conference was incredible! God showed up in such a major way! Life as I once knew it is completely different for me now! God is so good, faithful, strong, awesome, incredible............gosh, I could go on and on! He's really challenged my thinking and the way I perceive myself! I'm so thankful that I went down there, the speakers and Pastor's were so on! Words can't even begin to describe how awesome it was! I'm finally starting to understand part of the vision God has for my life and getting it in my head that it's a process and it's not my timing but His!

Here's a word that Jessica emailed the worship team today and it encouraged me so much! She sent this after I wrote what I did in the top part of this blog message, God is so good!! I wanted to share it because it's awesome! So, here ya go:

"In the same way I was with Moses, I'll be with you. I won't give up on you. I won't leave you. Strength! Courage! You are going to lead this people to inherit the land. Give it everything you have, heart and soul! Don't get off track, either left or right, so as to make sure you get to where you are going. Don't for a minute let the Word of God be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you'll get where you're going, then you'll succeed. Haven't I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don't be timid, don't get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take!" Joshua 1:6-9 ish (The Message)

It's the 7th of 9 Days!

Well, today was my 7th of 9 days straight at work. Man!! It's been a long week! Tomorrow morning I work at 7am! Yup, that means I'm up by 5, woohoo! Not so thrilled, and as most of you know, I'm not such a morning person! But, I got myself into this mess, because I asked for Friday and Saturday off, and the only way that they could do it was with this crazy schedule!
On a happier work note, so far this month I've booked $92,000! Can you stinkin' believe it!! I wish it was commissionable! Like 10% even!
Ok, now that I've stopped drooling over the money that I wish I was making! The reason I asked for Friday and Saturday is so that I can go down to Portland on Thursday night for the Conference at City Bible Church! Yup, you guessed it! I get to visit Taylor, Josh and Noelle!! Woohoo, pretty excited about that! (Shut up Justin!)
I've been checking airline tickets for Reno so that I can go visit my long lost friends, but the price isn't right just yet. I added a pic of them.

Well, make sure you watch the Seahawks win the Superbowl on February 5th!

Kenzie's new Pic!

Sorry, I know it's kind of dark, but here is a recent picture that I took with my cool new Motorola Razr phone!!

All in a name

I found my name spelled like this today: Mykenzie Isn't that weird? Just thought I'd share that with everyone :)

MySpace

As you can see in my links, I have a MySpace now. Yes, I am now a sell-out. I am on myspace because I am able to keep in touch with alot of old friends. It's quite cool :) Everyone's doin' it! Make sure you check it out!

4 months at the Salish! Can you believe it?

I have been at the Salish now for 4 months! Can you believe it? 2 out of those 4 months I have brought in the highest revenue (should have been 3 though!)! Can you believe it? Work is awesome! I am having a lot of fun there!

So, I just got over having Strep throat two times in a row and then the stomach flu over New Year's! Horrible! I need some serious prayer covering ya'll! I am going to start taking vitamins too! I think that will help, plus I'm not getting any younger, and it's good to do that when you're young.

I missed seeing Karon and Justin when they were here :( I was at work when they were at the Christmas Eve service. I was so looking forward to it too! I think I'm going to see if I can get some time in April to go down to Nevada. Nora was saying that there's someone they want me to meet down there! ;)

Well, not too much else going on here. I love living with the McAlpines! They are an awesome family and I'm learning alot about positive family inneraction, not something I had too much of growing up. Plus we've had some fun late night talks about boys and dating!

Have a blessed week ya'll!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year too!!

Wow! It's been so long since I actually posted! I'm so sorry! Life is crazy busy! I wish I could write more but the phone is ringing off the hook!

Sorry!!

I've been so busy lately! I promise I'll post more on Wednesday when I actually have somewhat of a day off :)

Happy Birthday to me!!

Today is my 26th Birthday! Woohoo!! I stayed overnight at the Salish last night for free!! Woohoo!! my mom and sister stayed too, and a few friends joined us for pizza and cake! It was great! I'm off work now, so I'm going home!

Just blah!

Not too much going on here. Just getting really excited about moving. I can't wait to start saving money! It will be so great to live with a family again. I didn't realize how much I miss my family until I visited them a few weeks ago. You know when you're younger and you just can't wait to move out and live on your own, well, now that I've been there and done that, I'm just happy to be going back to a family environment again. Don't get me wrong, living by myself has been great, but at the same time there's no one to come home to, no one to share my day with, ya know!?

Church was great today. Worship was really good. I walked to the back during worship today and saw teenagers just standing there, not really worshipping, kind of zoning out. I miss the days where they were so into worship. The days when Kurt led and the kids just adored him! Or the days when Josh or Noelle would lead and there was so much energy in the room. Don't get me wrong, there's definintely energy when the other leaders lead, and it's a great time of worship, but there just seems to be something missing lately. Maybe it's just me and I need to change my frame of mind. Jessica is an incredible worship leader

I'm at work right now, and man! It's just dead here! I've been fighting off this cold for about 3 weeks now, and it was finally going away, but today I woke up with a sore throat! COME ON! I'm so tired of feeling yucky like this! Ok, no more complaining! I'm healed in Jesus' name!!

Work is so slow tonight! I just can't believe it! Getting so sleepy that I'm starting to slurr the words, which isn't good! Cause I'm still taking reservations!

Ok, well, I'm off in 30mins and I can't wait to go to bed, longest day ever! (Ok, not really!)

I'm moving!

Yup, you heard it here first! I'm moving out of my cute little house, into the McAlpine's lovely house! I just want to be able to save some money for once, and so they have agreed to let me rent a room from them. I am so excited! I know it means moving ALL of my stuff again, but it will be so worth it! I will totally miss my house, but it's going to be great living there and paying less rent than I have been for awhile. It'll be a huge blessing for me and the McAlpine's.
Please pray that the transition is smooth! When I move my new kitten will go live with my parents for awhile.
So, my dad just had a shoulder replacement surgery. It went so well for him. It brought him closer to God, because the other day he accidently took two doses of meds within a half hour or hour, and he said he finally understood that God wanted him to have a better life and that he wants to live for Him completely instead of part way. I'm so proud of my dad! He's come so far. The last time I was over there he and I had a great conversation about his relationship with God. I hadn't realized the things he'd been through w/God when he was younger. Or the things he had said against Him. My dad has so much knowledge! I am so excited to see what God has for him.

Slacker!

I realized I haven't written in this for awhile! What a slacker I am!
Speaking of slacker, today I had the hardest time getting out of bed for church. I have been fighting this cold since last Saturday! Evil cold!! I missed church last week because of it and the week before I missed it because of work. The main reason it was hard to get out of bed though is because of this work schedule I'm on, starting at 2:30 and getting off at 11:00 means I don't usually go to bed until 1 or 2 am and getting up at 9 or 10am. It was weird to be back there at church this week. It was great to see everyone!
I actually got to hang out with friends last night for like the 3rd time since I started this job a month ago. It's crazy working nights, I love it though! We watched The Rundown. I love that movie! The Rock is hilarious in that movie. After they left I watched Crash. Wow, talk about a heavy movie! You should watch it. It's a great thinking movie!
I have next Sunday off, I'm so glad! OH, and I'M GETTING A KITTEN!! Woohoo! Actually, I haven't completely decided yet, but if the kitten is a girl I'll name her Hannah :)