Meeting Flipper

I've had yet another great week. Saturday morning, Leah, Luke, Laura, Rusty, and I went to the Daytona Outreach Center for community service fun. The D.O.C. is located in a former crack house and the ministry is geared toward helping people who live in that area. Every Saturday, they get the bread from grocery stores that was supposed to be sold that day and taked it to homes and things like that. So we helped bag the bread, then painted the inside of their building. Of course clumsy me managed to spill a bucket of paint (but it was only a little bit and we cleaned it up so all was well).

After church on Sunday, Aunt Sandy and I took took the kayaks down the Halifax river. The weather was so nice and the water was perfect for kayaking. About 1/4 mile down the river, we saw a dorsal fin coming in and out of the water (we knew it was a dolphin) so I paddled over to the area. Dolphins are naturally curious so he would literally come within paddle distance to my kayak, then swim away and I would chase after him and he'd turn around and come up next to me again. It was so incredible to look directly into his eyes as he was looking at me. And to know that he could so easily get away from me, it was cool to think that he was interested in me. We followed him for about a mile, then decided we better turn back. The journey back wasn't nearly as fun. I wish I had pictures, but clearly my camera doesn't mix well with water. Kayaking is one of my new favorite things.

Leah texted tonight and asked me if I wanted to meet her at Barne's & Noble so I went up there and we browsed books and talked, which was a lot of fun. It's nice to hang out with people, other than my grandmother and aunt (and sometimes my uncle when he's not working). Then on the way home, a racoon narrowly escaped with his life when he ran out in front of my car. I'm glad he made it. It would have ruined my day if he hadn't.

Thought of the day (That has sooo been ringing true in my life. Why don't I just trust God?):

"I think we all have a need to know what we do not need to know." --William Safire

Jen

Wonderful Week!

What an eventful and good week I have had! Saturday morning was the Retro (college/20 somethings of Tomoka Christian) Dodgeball tournament, which was hilarious. My team didn't win, but at the end we played it where there are no teams so everyone starts in the middle and you put half of the balls on either side of the court. Then you run and can get absolutely anyone out. But, if you get out, you can get back in when the person who got you out gets out (get it?) and it was so funny to run back in and nail someone in the back as they're gloating over the person they just got out. Anyway, fun was had by all.

Afterwards, a big group of us went to Denny's for brunch. THEN, a group of us met that night to see Dan in Real Life. I thought that it was such a sweet movie. There were a few innuendoes, but I was pleased to see a heartwarming and tasteful story and Steve Carell is hilarious.

Went to church Sunday morning (Uncle Tommy came YAY!) then we did Retro a bit differently Sunday night. Played a lot of fun/silly games and Leah spoke to us about just what was on her heart about how us (20 somethings and Christian) in America are limited, not by too few options, but too many. And we're just trying to figure out which one God wants us to do and we are so worried about choosing the wrong direction. Perhaps God isn't as concerned about what we do, but that we know Him and glorify Him in what we do. Sometimes we get so impatient waiting on God, "Yet those who wait for (or hope in) the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary."--Isaiah 40:31.

Monday was the best surprise of the week. Katie had to come to Orlando to take some children back to their family so she drove to Ormond Beach to stay for a couple of days! We went back to Orlando Tuesday for her to have a visit with the kids then we went to Disney Village for the rest of the day, ate at the Rainforest Cafe then had dessert at Ghirardelli where I had the best brownie hot fudge sunday in the entire world. Downtown Disney has this glass store with a Swarovski crystal Cinderella's castle and for a mere $37,000, it can be yours!

Katie left Wednesday morning (booh), then I went to the church that evening to help with Neewollah (halloween spelled backwards, how creative!) which was a blast-- tons of blowups and great rides, plus tons of free candy, food, and musical entertainment for the kids. Retro was in charge of the blowup obstacle course which was totally awesome.

Tonight, Aunt Sandy and I went to see Rent at the Peabody Auditorium. I couldn't get over how well they could sing! I love the Theater, but everytime I go there or to see a movie, I am always reminded how I'm waiting on God and it feels like I'll never get to do what I dream about. I'm ready to go!

And to be yourself is all that you can do

To be yourself is all that you can do

--Audioslave

Jen