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Up-to-Date

Wow! It's only been a bit over a month since I've blogged, but so much has happened during that time!

Update 1: Because some of your have asked... Sean (the DJ) took a job in Dayton, OH. He's already moved and everything. We had a pretty full week of farewell parties before he left. Now he's in the process of getting plugged in to Dayton. (We in Tulsa are still hoping God may have plans to bring him back to us again.)

Update 2: Um... I'm not sure how I haven't blogged about it yet, but I changed jobs!! I've gone to work for The Gathering full-time! My title is "Director of Operations and Connection Ministries." I'm basically the Church Administrator but also help with our small group ministry, following up with visitors, membership, etc. I had been looking into the possibility of going part-time, but that didn't seem feasible. So, I took the plunge. It really is quite a crazy deal... a faith adventure, for sure! I'm really enjoying it so far, though I'm learning all of the nuances of working for a non-profit organization. It struck me that it's my friends who are now paying my salary, so that's kind of strange. And, it's really easy for me to take criticism of The Gathering very personally. So... more to come on all of that. :)

Update 3: I've now been to Guatemala and back. It was a very nice trip, and I'm so glad I got to go. I'm still recovering a bit. I had some allergy problems... most likely from the vast amounts of mold in our hotel room. But, we got the (metal-framed) building put up in about 2.5 days. It was really amazing to see the variety of different people helping on the project - construction workers, college students, friends and families, people from the Mayan community, etc... different ages, different ethnic groups, different socio-economic groups. It was really cool. The Mayan community (called "Chuisajcup") threw a big celebration to dedicate the building. It was so much fun to be involved in that. It included fireworks, native dancing, a meal and much more. They had decorated the building with palm branches, pine needles and balloons. It was very festive! I'll try to write more about it later... maybe post a few pics from the trip.

That pretty much brings things up to date. I'm sure there's more to write about, but I'll save that for another day!

Blog Updates...

I've posted the mp3's from my two recent radio broadcasts. Check them out directly below and in my Brain Freeze blog.

On a sad note, my friend Sean was let go last week from that radio station (through no fault of his own). So... my days in the limelight are over. :( But seriously... please do be in prayer for Sean. I trust God is in control (as does he), but he just recently moved to Tulsa for this job. And, we're hoping to keep him here!!!

Purse Parties

Well... I'm just a radio star, and I got a bit more air time this go-round. Check it out!

God's Blogs

I was recently given and have been reading a delightful little book called, "God's Blogs" by Lanny Donoho. It takes a stab at the question, "what might God say on His blogsite?" Too many people in our world feel that God is no longer relevant. (How sad.) It's been neat to read through "God's blog" and be reminded why God created me in the first place, how much He loves me and what He truly desires for my life. I AM is the God of yesterday, TODAY and tomorrow!

I give it two thumbs up... especially if you're a blogger like me!! :)

Straight from my desktop...

Psalm 63
A psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah.

O God, you are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land
where there is no water.
I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.
Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.
I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
On my bed I remember you;
I think of you through the watches of the night.
Because you are my help,
I sing in the shadow of your wings.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.
They who seek my life will be destroyed;
they will go down to the depths of the earth.
They will be given over to the sword
and become food for jackals.
But the king will rejoice in God;
all who swear by God's name will praise him,
while the mouths of liars will be silenced.

Black Coffee

Um... right... they OBVIOUSLY don't know how I DRINK my coffee. :)

You are a Black Coffee

At your best, you are: low maintenance, friendly, and adaptable At your worst, you are: cheap and angsty You drink coffee when: you can get your hands on it Your caffeine addiction level: high

What Kind of Coffee Are You?

Can anyone tell me...

Why did all of my fonts suddenly become large? Did I hit something? I'm very frustrated right now. :(

iTunes Game

Instructions: Put your music player on shuffle. Press forward for each question. Use the song title as the answer to the question. No cheating!

How am I feeling today? "Joyful, Joyful" by Lauryn Hill

Will I get far in life? "Play that Funky Music" by Wild Cherry

How do my friends see me? "March to the Scaffold" from Symphonie Fantastique by Berlioz

Where will I get Married? "Come Away with Me" by Norah Jones

What is my best friend's theme song? "The Past is Another Land" from Aida

What is the story of my life? "Green Eyes" by Coldplay

What is/was high school like? "O Fortuna" from Carmina Burana by Carl Orff

How can I get ahead in life? "Where the Streets have no Name" by U2

What is the best thing about me? "Mighty is the Power of the Cross" by Chris Tomlin

How is today going to be? "The Secret Circle" by Kevin Max

What is in store for this weekend? "Allelujah" from the Exultate Jubilate by Mozart

What song describes my parents? "Who am I?" by Casting Crowns

To describe my grandparents? "All by Myself" by Celine Dion

How is my life going? "Hide Away" by Rock Kills Kid (where'd that come from?)

What song will they play at my funeral? "Peel me a Grape" by Diana Krall

How does the world see me? "La Luna" by Sarah Brightman

Will I have a Happy Life? "Clumsy" by Chris Rice

What do my friends really think of me? "All for You" by Sister Hazel

Do people secretly lust after me? "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" sung by Michael Buble

How can I make myself happy? "The Way you Look Tonight" sung by Michael Buble

What should I do with my life? "Queen of Hollywood" by the Corrs

Will I ever have children? "Sugar" by Imperial Teen (again... what?)

What is some good advice for me? "Rock the Boat" sung by the Hues Corporation

How Will I be remembered? "The Boy Next Door/You Made Me Love You" by Linda Eder

What is my signature dancing song? "Hold My Hand" by Hootie & the Blowfish

What do I think my current theme song is? "More Than Words" by Extreme

What does everyone else think my current theme song is? "La Strada del Bosco" Pavarotti

What type of men/women do you like? "If We Are the Body" by Casting Crowns

Ecclesiastes 7:10 & 14a

"Do not say, 'Why were the old days better than these?'
For it is not wise to aks such questions."

"When times are good, be happy;
but when times are bad, consider:
God has made the one as well as the other."

Well, it's official...

1) I'm immune to brain freeze
2) I'm a minor celebrity.

So, I have a friend who is a DJ at a local radio station. He found out that I and another friend of mine have never had a brain freeze. So... he invited us to come into the studio this morning to experience our first brain freeze. They bought two Freezonis from QT (I had the blue raspberry) and had us slurp them down as fast as possible. We did that, and neither one of us got brain freeze. We did have watery eyes, frozen esophagi and stomach aches... but NO brain freeze!! So... there you have it. I'm a genetically engineered slurpee-sucking fool. :)

Check out the broadcast here.

(I'll be available for signing autographs from 9-11 AM tomorrow morning!)

~Krista

A Question for my Brother...

David,

Now that you're all grown-up, now that you have two little girls of your own, I'm wondering... wondering if you still dislike that picture... the one I have hanging in my bathroom... the one of the little girl who is half-naked... leaning over to inspect her belly button.

Just curious.

Krista

Se Magnifique!

I cooked dinner for some friends last night (Jim, Babs and Matt... who all have birthdays within the next ten days). On the menu? Parmesan crusted chicken with sage-butter sauce, roasted potatoes with garlic and rosemary and baked asparagus. And there's only one dessert fitting for the April birthdays... Italian Cream Cake with vanilla ice cream. It's probably the most difficult meal I've ever attempted, and if I may say so, it's probably the tastiest, too! It was a day-long event, because I left for the grocery store around noon and work pretty much straight through until the meal was served at 7:30 PM. I really enjoyed it, too... though I guess I appeared "stressed" once my guests arrived. (I attribute that to the specific point in the cooking process... where everything was happening at once and required close and immediate attention.) But, I suprised myself. I shant cook like that every day, but it makes me think I could be a bit more creative in my meals (for myself and for entertaining).

Mom... you'd be so proud!! You, too, Sis!!

Me and the girls! 

Natalie (approx 8 mo) 

A Dose of Encouragement

To be honest, I wasn't looking forward to this weekend. I mean... I was, but I wasn't. The Gathering had a weekend retreat for Founding Members. Although I was looking forward to the retreat... it's been a long and fairly awful week... and last week was spent on the road (to KC and back). So, in many ways, I would have preferred to stay home this weekend. However, once I got to the retreat and had a chance to dream big with some of our other Founding Members, I was encouraged. We took time to eat together and play together. (I rather enjoyed a two hour break we had this afternoon. I took the time to just wander around the retreat property and visit with friends.) But, I REALLY enjoyed our brainstorming sessions and goal-setting. I truly appreciate the encouragement I get from being reminded I'm not alone in this great adventure God has set out for us. This weekend reminded me that we're all united in our vision to reach people for Christ here in Tulsa and abroad. It's so exciting to hear the passion of others for their ministry areas. I also feel encouraged by people who are looking to play an even greater role in the ministry.

Besides this weekend, I've been encouarged by two other people recently... one who has just recently come to know Christ and one who is still seeking. It's so exciting to have a front row seat to watch God move in the hearts of people. Isn't THAT what it's all about?

But, I suppose it's natural that all this excitement would be followed by exhaustion. I'm pooped!

G'night. (Don't forget to turn your clocks forward tonight!)

What is it about crying...

... that gets your nose all stuffed up?

This is Teo... kinda. (Remember this one, Teo? Serves you right.) 

Teo, Teo, Teo

Well, I was scorned yesterday by my friend, Teo, who complained that he was not mentioned very often on my blog-site... something about being "un-blog-worthy." I quickly pointed out that, though he was not always mentioned by name, he was often referred to as "my friend" and in the pronoun, "we." But, to make him feel better, I thought I'd mention his name here...

Teo, Teo, Teo, Teo, Teo, Teo, Teo, Teo, Teo, Teo, Teo, Teo, Teo, Teo, Teo, Teo, Teo, Teo, Teo, Teo, Teo, Teo, Teo, Teo, Teo, Teo, Teo, Teo, Teo, Teo, Teo, Teo, Teo, Teo, Teo, Teo, Teo, Teo.

Teo's name by the way is Matt, but that would be easily confused with my other friend, Matt, who I also occasionally mention. I'm not sure where "Teo" came from, although the Spanish name for Matt is "Mateo." I remember "Teo" first being popularized on a certain canoe trip... which is where my corresponding nickname, "Keo" was born.

Here are some other uses for the name "Teo"...

Go On, Get Your Teo Out!

A Different Kind Of Company. A Different Kind Of Teo.

Welcome To Teo Country.

I Was a Teo Weakling. (Ha! I'm not making this stuff up, folks!!)

Teo Really Satisfies. (Mm-hmm.)

Cleans Right Round The Teo.

Only Teo Has The Answer.

(Slogans compliments of The Advertising Slogan Generator.)

So, all I have to say now is... Teo... are you happy?