Spirit West Coast Del Mar '08

This weekend was incredible! I volunteered at SWC this year for the first time...helping out at the chiropractic and massage ministries. This ministry was a true blessing to be a part of...to be able to help others who are doing God's work either as performers or as behind the scene personnel. To see multiple ministry worship avenues not constrained to a church setting, permeating the entire grounds was an awesome experience to be involved in! I can't wait to do it again next year!!

Performers like Jars Of Clay, Toby Mac, and BarlowGirl were so uplifting and God-honoring, there were times my body shivered feeling God's presence consume me in the moment, blocking out any sort daily worries that typically consume my thoughts and I felt His light surround my body like a force of energy that was unstoppable! Oh...to be able to live like that 24/7...I know it will take actions on my part to do so. God is here with me and I must make choices to be there with Him at all times, giving all of myself...always!

This is my prayer: Lord allow me to never lose sight of who You are. Don't let me get caught up in my daily routines and exclude you from any aspect of my life! You are my hope! Your light shines bright on me erasing the darkness that is past. Forever do I put my hope and trust in You. You, alone, are God and I praise You...

B-day Dinner (one week later...)

My birthday dinner finally came to fruition....I think I savored it all the more because I had to wait even longer for it? As you may or may not know...I have two favorite restaurants each with their own favorite meal: 1st - Ocean Thai (that pineapple curry I mentioned in "Favorite Foodstuffs") and 2nd - Outback Steakhouse (also mentioned...the Outback Special with cheesecake for dessert)! The food was awesome, it always is...but more importantly it was the company that I had dinner with! I don't spend the same quality time (or even quantity) with Sean & Courtney as I once did...but it was great to catch up, share, and reconnect. They've even secured a second meal with me as part of my birthday present (and this time at Ocean Thai)! I can't wait!

"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." Proverbs 17:17

and work continues on....

Many of you know my work "situation"....extension and after extension with no true definitive answers about how long Office Depot will remain on Camp Pendleton. Well, we received another extension (30 days with 3 'option' months)....surprise, surprise! Don't get me wrong I feel and know that I am truly blessed. God's working this situation out, learning me during this time and hopefully I am growing in His presence. Something worth mentioning...back east Office Depot received the award from GSA (a government entity that will eventually be running all USMC supply stores) for both the Camp LeJeune and Albany stores. So....when GSA is ready to come into Camp Pendleton and take over, it is highly likely that Office Depot (me!) will still be working there...unless God has another direction for me? That is comforting news, not only for myself but my current staff as well (which is too small...so I humbly ask for prayers that God brings me more employees to run the store)! We are a tight-knit crew and I love them all!