face book is killing my blog- i am so sorry....i have seem to lost time to blog.

but- here i sit at work on a Friday with NOTHING to do (yeah- that never happens) and thought i'd blog a little. not sure about what...but i think i can come up with something.

since my last blog life hasn't really changed that much; well except that i am busier! basketball season is here (and has been for the past 5 weeks). Every time I resume coaching I get excited about it. I really do enjoy it. but this year i've felt 'pressed down' hard with some things. I've realized (and not just cuz of ball stuff) that life is really tough! And i dont think that realization has come because of my own struggles. I've been a witness to lots of 'tough' stuff that young peeps (and not just my ball players either) have to endure. I remember growing up; i remember being a college kid....and i dont EVER remember struggling with 'life' like some are. It's hard!!! i know from teaching junior highers and seeing their lives daily...that struggling is only going to get worse for the up coming generation. (just found out a 12 year old in my building is prego...yeah- thats what i call tough stuff) I've spent many hours the past couple of months (again- i am NOT just referencing that ball team here) counseling... and i feel very inadequate. I am not a counselor! I am reminded how important it is to be centered....and not just in dealing with life, but being centered in God. Most of the struggles that i have been a witness to has taken me to my knees!!! I am sooooo glad that I have the throne of God to turn to. yeah- it's hard....and emotionally draining! and it does 'press me down', but i am glad that i am in 'this' place of life. I am glad that the young people i am around have someone to turn to. it's hard. and i do feel inadequate, but it also makes me feel like i am worth something and that maybe, just maybe, i am making a difference. so that is where life has been for me the past couple of months.

I am sorry to say that i have zero updates on 'men'. anonymous reader... i did have coffee with Lance Dalbey last weekend and it was nice! still just really good friends, sorry to disappoint you! I've been hit on a couple times by some very random guys (one of which was 5'2). i've been told by many peeps that they cant believe i am still single. and i have about 3 girls on the ball team that are arranging blind-dates...or so they say they are! so....maybe next time i'll have some juicy updates. but for now-.... life is what life is.

I've totally been ignoring my blog as of late....sorry blog readers! anonymous reader- i am sure you are annoyed at me. maybe you should become my face book friend...you can really keep tabs on me than.

lots going on in my life- but nothing to crazy; or for that matter, blog worthy!

so instead, i will share my challenge for the day with you.

Hebrews 13:15 "Let us always offer to God our sacrifice of praise"

You are a great God. Your character is holy. Your truth is absolute. Your strength is unending. Your discipline is fair...Your provisions are abundant for our needs. Your light is adequate for our path. Your grace is sufficient for our sins...You are never early, or never late. You sent your Son in the fullness of time and will return at the consummation of time. You plan is perfect. Bewildering. Puzzling. Troubling. But perfect!

I love that about my God. my challenge is to truly remember that Gods plan for my life is perfect...and perfect doesn't mean easy, and it doesn't always mean its the same plan i have for myself! I also need to remember to praise Him regardless if understand his plan, for it at the time it seems puzzling! His character is HOLY, ABSOLUTE AND UNENDING. what more can a girl want?

The Applause of Heaven

Create in me a pure heart, God, and make my spirit right again.

Psalm 51:10

We are thirsty. Not thirsty for fame, possessions, passion, or romance. We've drunk from those pools. They are salt water in a desert. They don't quench- they kill. 'Blessed are those who hunger and thrust for righteousness..." Righteousness....That's what we are thirsty for. We're thirsty for a clean conscience. We crave a clean slate.... We pray for a hand that will enter the dark cavern of our world and do for us the one thing we can't do for ourselves- make us right again!

This was my September 1 verse and thought for the day (it's a little calendar i have sitting by my desk at school)...and it's been in my head all day! I am thirsty for a clean slate. I am thirsty for something the world can't give me. I can't wait for the 'hand' of Christ to come and do His thing in me. I can't do it alone. Create in me oh God....

This year at school I've vowed to keep the drama away. Of course, you can't work in a junior high school and not have drama. i expect drama from my students. But...i hate drama driven by adults. I've vowed I will NOT HAVE IT THIS YEAR. so...God is going to create in me a clean heart, a pure heart...a new slate. I can feel it! I am taking NO DRAMA from the past with me into this year. I am THIRSTY for something different, that is for sure!

Last Summer Fling

Summer has come and gone...and it never got hot! Whats that all about? My last major summer adventure started last Friday morning at 4:45 a.m. I woke up and hit the club for a quick run to prepare (wake up in other words) myself for the drive to Newburg North Dakota. You ask....why Newburg ND? Well; my good friends Jay and Jen Tonneson live there and I decided I missed them enough to make a trip for a couple of days! They actually live 50 minutes farther north of Newburg at Lake Metaigoshe. The drive there wasnt to bad. I actually enjoy mornings so driving wasnt a big deal for me, plus mornings mean you can drink as much coffee as needed. I made 2 stops at caribou and than another stop at a random coffee shop. PERFECT> And there was about a 45 minute portion on the interstate where a pick-up truck full of guys and i were flirting. They actually honked their horn and scared the crap out of my at first....it was funny! I arrived in Newburg around 2:00. That afternoon Jen took me on the 'farm' tour and we watched Jay and his dad fix some thing on the combine. We drank more coffee...and than had dinner and pie. Joanie ( Jay's mom) got a crazy idea that she wanted to go on a bike ride so the girls laced up and hit the road. We planned on biking 5 miles to a near river and than back...but found out it was more like 8 miles to the river. So it ended up being a bike ride where we eat a lot of bugs cuz the sun set. It was nice to get the legs movin after a long drive. After that we hit the road again and headed to the Lake. Once there I crashed hard.

Saturday- Jen and I laid around the lake for most the afternoon. We went into Bottineau in the morning and got some food, a I-trip (for my trip home), and a movie. We than went to pick some Raspberries. Jen was covered in raspberry juice from walking 'through' the vines instead of around them! Once back we laid out on the grass to tan... half the time I had to cover myself with the blanket...it was a little cold! Jay came home and did fantasy football all evening. Jen cooked, I read. We played guitar hero ( i suck big time) and watched that movie we got.

Sunday- Church...old school. Very different from Open Door, but still good and uplifting! We went out to eat church with a bunch of the church goers. Hit the Lake...Jay had more fantasy football to do, so Jen and I hit the dock and laid out again. We hit the lake and took a long pontoon boat ride. It was great. Monday- went to Minot (50 minute drive) so Jen could get her tooth fixed. While there we did the following: shopped ( i got a new pair of tennis shoes), got some peaches to die for, ate lunch, (and not at 10 on Main- which is co-owned by Josh Duhmal), did some bike shopping for Jay and Jen's bikes (got hit on by the old dude there...he told me there is nothing hotter than a chic using a tire pump....ummm - how do you respond to that?), went to a super fun coffee shop/old book store, and than played the longest session of bingo ever...and lost! got home pretty late. Tuesday- spend the morning reading out on the patio (it was 50 degrees at 6:30 that morning, and by the time Jay and Jen got up it was a blistering 61). Jen and I hit the bike trial for a ride, and than hit the dock for some sun that afternoon. Since it was my last day we decided to hit the farm so i could get the whole ND experience. i rode with Jon (Jay's dad) in the combine for a solid hour- i know there all is to know about them now) and than took a long walk with Joanie. Jay and Jen were at the farm and had some problems....no need to go into detail there!
Went back to the lake and had a fire...and some smores...and chatted! I love fired at the lake..nothing better!
Wednesday- got up at 6:30 and went for a brisk run to wake myself up again for the drive home. yuck! said our goodbye and Jay and Jen left for the farm. I stayed for another hour or so. did some reading - and enjoyed the sight and sounds of the lake before i had to jet. I took a short little stop at albertville at the Nike out let store and....yes, of course i got ANOTHER pair of tennis shoes. man- i am addicted! got home around 6 and headed straight to the Andersons house for dinner with friends. A great way to spend the week. And no matter what Jay and Jen say...I had a riot in ND!

Man of the Month - August!

I was perusing the web this evening while watching TV and came across another women's blog. She does some sort of 'Monday pick' and talks about some person she thinks deserves being recognized. I've decided to do something along those lines, but less often and of course will be limited to 'men'.

This past weekend was girls weekend and of course Sarah asked me who my top 5 celebrity picks were. They have changed a lot as of late (but paul walker will never lose his #1 position) and I've been stuck at finding a #5. No worries, I've found him. Thus, he wins the 'man of the month- August' award.

For those of you that watch TV he was on ABC tonight doing a tid-bit on how to help control and teach lions to get use to humans. This was filmed in Africa on a park reserve that is meant to give tours. I guess the lions are to dangers and the tours will no longer happen unless the lions can become a little be more tolerable of humans! it was insanely interesting! And...as the hour rolled on; i fell in love! Ok- not really, but.....

Dave Salmoni is a 33 year old, 6'3" Canadian (he might actually resort my hatred for Canadians- thats a whole different story), who majored in zoology and biology. He trains animals in all sort of areas, but has a passion for tigers and lions. This show was about helping a reserve in Africa calm the lions down so tours can be given to see all the wild life! Dave does life for 3 months with these lions and it was awesome. There will be a animal planet show on his adventure, what he learner about the lions, and how he helped them. All I know is that the dirtier and hairier he got, the hotter he got! Anyways...Sarah- here is my #5 and the Man of the Month- August!

i do have to say though...this surfer dude (the one on the far left looking at the camera) might make the list some day, only if i knew who he was! i randomly came across this picture when i was looking up a beach in Australia that i visited 3 summers ago and i couldn't remember the name. This dude came up on my screen! crazy cool.

I need the facts first!

This blog is for my favorite anonymous commentor. So, if you ARE NOT this person, you dont need to read this. Bye the way- YOU MAKE ME GIGGLE.

I am making sure I have my facts straight.
1. you went to Mora High School (what years?)
2. I know you, and talk to you some at church (not sure if I am right on this one). how often do i see you, and or talk to you?
3. you were a cheerleader

Are those all the hints you've given me? Am i missing any? I am almost postive that i need more information on YOU before I spill all the updates and possibilites that I have had with this 'gym guy'. Until you confirm if the above 3 hints are correct (and if they are not, correct them for me). And give me one more really good hint. Than, and only than, will i update you and all my other readers about the 'gym dude'. So....not only are you keeping yourself from hearing all the gossip, but you are keeping other jojo's journey readers from hearing as well. The pressure is all on you , my funny anonymous commentor. YOU ROCK>

this is just a random picture of me at a wedding i went to. one of my basketball girls took this picture of me holding up our glass of apple juice to toast the bride and groom. just thought i'd share it with the world.

A couple weekends ago, I went to the Basilica Block Party. Had myself a great time! Mat Kearney is my new all time favorite right now. I cant seem to take his CD out of my car.

Thanks Nicki for inviting me to come. Had a rock star of a time.

I ran into Lance Dalbey and a couple of other friends....so that was also fun. Enjoy the pics, sorry this is so short but I am late for my workout at the club and a chance to see this dude that I have a massive crush on there...so off I go.