Spark Ministry Trip

I've been back from this trip for a week now, and I still don't know what to say about it.  Spark Ministry is one of the coolest, most well-executed ministry concepts I've seen in a very long time.  A group of women come travel together to bring a retreat weekend to the residents and staff of various shelters across the country.  Words that come to mind for this experience include: Humbling. Inspiring. Challenging. Blessing.  Awe-ful.

On Saturday morning, as we gathered in the lobby of our hotel for prayer, a man in the breakfast room walked by and said, "I don't know what y'all are up to today, but I have a feeling the devil's got his hands full!"  We didn't look like much of an army, but we were definitely there to do battle, tell women the truth about who God is and who they are in Him, and proclaim victory in Jesus name.

Singer/Songwriter Holly Newton leads all of us in worship.  

I had the privilege of leading a small group through discussions after each teaching time.  We were "divalicious!"  Each of the women had a story.  They were all so receptive, sweet, and appreciative that weekend, but when we'd sit down to discussion, it always hit me like a ton of bricks to be reminded that each of them was there because something horrific had happened in her life.  Their determination to move past it and see God deliver them through it was challenging and inspiring.

Spark in the Dark is an all out blast for the residents, staff, and children as we turn out the lights and get serious about having fun!  That night, an emergency light nearly ruined our plans, until someone had the genius idea to have several of us stand on tables, holding a black cloth over the light fixture so that the fun could go on.  As I stood there, taking my turn, arm stretched over my head, aching, watching the silliness swirl around me for five full songs, I felt ridiculous.  And, then I thought, what if one of these women gets this?  What if she sees us standing up here, in pain, determined to let them have this moment with their children?  What if by some crazy supernatural miracle, God is able to let her understand this very small sacrifice for her in a way that translates the message of His Gigantic sacrifice for her?  I don't know.  Maybe.  It's how I could shrug off the soreness in my arms the next morning, at least.  ;-)

Spark does nothing halfway.  Even when we took the women offsite on Saturday, our decorations came with us to ensure the girliest, happiest, funnest retreat atmosphere possible.  This was the break table, before we covered it with every snack food imaginable!

If your name starts with the letter "K" get up and dance!  This weekend really stretched me!  I'm way more self-conscious than I generally let on, and standing up to "dance" in a room full of women is WAY beyond my comfort zone.  But, over and over again, I was called to get over myself.  It was never easy, but those women were so worth it.

Molly and Patti insisted I not miss out on the opportunity to take my first horseback ride!  I'll let you guess what the V's stand for!

I didn't even squeal!  Bud and I had a great time together!

Being the keeper of the marshmallows made me a very popular lady at the campfire that night! 

The whole gang!

Birthday Baby Shower

Some of you may remember that last year, I celebrated my 30th birthday by collecting shoes for the Christian Women's Job Corps Career Boutique.  This year, I decided on a baby shower for the Fort Worth Pregnancy Center. And, once again, I was not disappointed but blown away by the generosity of my friends!

Suzanne did a fabulous job on the cake, making sure it was a real party!

Gabi bought these baby booties with her own money and wrapped them herself!

I did not anticipate everyone wrapping their gifts, so I'd have so many pictures of me holding up baby things.  They threatened to write "Congratulations" instead of "Happy Birthday" on my facebook wall that week.  :-)

A pretty impressive stash, I thought!

My Beloved G2 group was well represented that night!

Cornerstone Grand Opening

Cornerstone Assistance Network relocated in May, but we really kicked things off earlier this month with a series of celebrations!  It was a week full of hard work and lots of fun.

Jesse and I preparing for our presentations during tours for the Board and their guests.

I'm very proud of my mediocre bulletin board skills, considering I had even less talent when I started here.

On Saturday, volunteers helped us provide a fun, carnival atmosphere to introduce ourselves to the community.

We had a live band!

And door prizes!  Gate prizes? (There was no "door" that day.)

Beautiful Lengths

Ashley challenged her readers a while back to grow their hair out for Pantene's Beautiful Lengths program.  It took me longer than I'd hoped to grow my hair out because I kept getting it trimmed, but by the first of October, I had enough!

So, I went to see my favorite hair stylist, Young ...

She made the cut for me, then gave me a short new style I am thoroughly enjoying!

Suzanne came along to be moral support and photographer, and she ended up getting a new cut for herself as well!  Young's just that good!

Wrecked and Ruined

Earlier this year, I wrote a rather dark and twisty (shout out to all my fellow Grey's watchers) post called "owned" in which I talked about feeling owned by sin that was strangling the light and life out of my days.  I talked about getting to the end of myself and meeting "the One who is able to keep you from stumbling" there. 

Today, more than six months past that place, I can remember that dark night of my soul, but I can't feel it.  I no longer feel choked by the darkness that held me then.  Praise God on high!

However, today, two words came to mind over and over again.  Wrecked and Ruined.  The further I walk away from that dark place, the more blinding the light of God's love in my life grows.  It wrecks every false notion I've ever held about who He is or how His love for me works, and it ruins every plan I've ever made for myself apart from Him. 

Tonight, I'll be teaching from Romans 8:28-39.  For I am absolutely convinced that absolutely nothing in this life or the life to come, neither my past nor my present nor my future, neither the best of this life or the very worst, neither angels nor demons shall ever be able to separate me from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus my Lord. (paraphrase)

As I look at those words and contemplate how to communicate the way they fall on me with a fresh awareness of the magnitude of my Father's love, I am once again wrecked and ruined.  Tears of joy and sweet freedom fall from my eyes as this reality sinks in yet again.  Nothing I've done.  Nothing I've thought about doing.  Nothing I've failed to do.  God's love is more stubborn than I ever thought of being.  Hallelujah!

Work and Play!

One of the best things about my job is that work and play often look very similar!  

The first ever Cornerstone Olympics began with the passing of the flame through the office, complete with "I Saw the Flame" stickers!

As Czarista of the event, I felt that the blinking tiara was an appropriate touch.

Everyone was so great to jump in and participate in a variety of olympic events!

Winners of the 2009 Cornerstone Synchronized Swimming Competition

And, we ended the day by crowning the Cornerstone Thumb-Wrestling Champion 2009!  No pressure like thumb-wrestling the big boss, is there?  ;-)

Labor Day Weekend Extravaganza

Just a week after returning from Costa Rica, the Horton side of the family planned a weekend extravaganza around Steven's first home football game with PCA, Big Dave's 55th birthday, and the 2nd annual Blackland Sprint Triathlon.  These people know how to party!

Nana was a surprise guest for the weekend.  She really caught my dad off-guard.  She had so much fun surprising us that weekend, she kept offering to reenact it!  This photo is completely unstaged, though.

How often does the coach have the biggest cheering section in the stands!  Go Greek!

So, I really just included this one cause it shows you how long my hair was, and in my next post, I'm going to show you how long it isn't.  ;-)

We had a "Super Old Man" theme for Big Dave's 55th!

Aunt Susan really outdid herself providing cookies all the way from Corpus Christi for the festivities!

On Sunday, we were all able to worship together at Prestonwood, then take over one giant table for lunch.

You'd think we'd know when to call it quits, but the 2nd Annual Blackland Triathlon was Monday morning, and there was no backing out!

I kept my eye out for Aunt Debbie on the sidelines -- I was determined to smile and wave and show her how much fun I was having. :-D

This photo my dad calls, "Kristen chooses life."  I will spare you the excuses, but I gave up after the first 7.5 mile loop of the bike ride because I truly thought my choices on that day were to quit or to die.  Finishing was not in the cards!

Cooling cousin Gina off after she finished the race!  She took a lot of ribbing for that bib-number all day long!

Worn out but smiling.  :-)

Full Hearts Do Not Blog Well

It's been over two months since I last posted here. It's time we got caught up. Thinking about where to start almost makes me stop right here. But, one step at a time right? Let's see, we left off mid-August ... so, I haven't told you about my week in Costa Rica with Dodie and Jake and Hannah, yet. What a treat that was!

Since I was delivering a suitcase full of things for the Dodie and baby Abigail, I figured I'd better hide a few things in my suitcase for Hannah, too. I only had six days to win her affection!

Dodie knew that I really am not a very good tourist, and I was truly there to just let my spirit soak up some wonderful, refreshing time with my dear friends, but she couldn't resist booking a trip for us to the Butterfly Gardens!

Along with a whole greenhouse full of "mariposas" we also got to see some pretty cool monkeys.  The Glover Family monkeys led the way ...

And, we visited some breathtaking waterfalls.  I know I've said it before, but perhaps it deserves to be repeated.  When I prayed for a freshman roommate who would love Jesus and be a good friend to me, God really outdid Himself by providing Dodidra!

The Labor of Prayer

When my friend Lauren was teaching first grade, she would frequently tell me stories about a child named Wesley who was forever responding to her instructions with a scrunched up little face, barely pushing the words passed his pursed lips, beneath a tightly furrowed brow, "But, Miss Ahveckio (not exactly her name, but close), that's too haaaaard!" This was particularly hilarious when I was able to spot him the very first time I walked into her classroom, no introductions necessary. I was standing in the doorway, waiting while she lined the kids up for lunch. She looked at Wesley and asked him to tie his shoes before getting in line, and he scrunched that face up just like she'd imitated for me previously, and got about as far as, "But, Miss Ah-" before she cut him off and told him to just do it. Amazingly, he bent down and tied his shoes. I was so amused!

Today, I was thinking about prayer. I was noticing that several of my facebook friends have status lines today that request prayer for one endeavor or another. And, I was thinking about some of the things I'd like some prayer about right now. And, I was thinking about how fun it is when you pray for something and God works it out as only He can do. And, then I was thinking about how it's been a while since I experienced that. But, it's also been a while, since I really labored over something in prayer. So, then I was thinking about why that is. If I know prayer works. I believe prayer works. I've seen prayer work. Why am I not more quick to get busy with it rather than trying so many other less effective things first?

And my next thought stunned me.

Too often, I don't jump to serious prayer over a matter more quickly because it's hard. It's labor. It takes time and concentration and effort. Much like Wesley, I am called to prayer, and my first response is, "But, God, it's too haaaard!" in my whiniest voice. And, much like Lauren, the Lord says, "Do it. Just do it. Call to me and I will answer and I will show you great and mighty things which you do not know. I am He who is able to keep you from stumbling and present you blameless with great joy before His glorious majesty. I am He who is able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all that you could ask or imagine."

Well, when you put it THAT way ...