Union Ave. News

WAY too long since the last post...

2009-07-08T22:22:00.001-07:00

Well, I will let Jenell post to fill you all in on her news (as if you haven't already heard!), but I can fill you in on my boring life! I thankfully got finished with the school year without quitting, walking out of my classroom full of kids or hitting and students (just kidding!). I am SOOOOOO glad to be on summer break, even though I am directing PCC's Day Camp again. Next year, it looks like I am going to be teaching 7th and 8th grade math...I am going to become my father!!!

The biggest news in the apartment (well, at least MY biggest news) is the arrival of our new kitten Zoey! I have been wanting a kitten for three years now and Jenell finally said I could get one! Of course, I wanted to get two, but she said no, and now she is telling me to get another kitten so Zoey has someone to play with when we are not home! Here is a picture of the little fuzz-ball: she is a wild, hyper, running-into-the-wall and clotheslining-herself-on-cords kitty! Her baby fur makes her look like she got electrocuted! =) But she is also super sweet and a big purr machine! Let's hope the new kitty will calm her down some!

Much Needed Update...

2009-01-26T21:15:00.001-08:00

Update from 1654 Union Ave:
-Nikki is no longer a third roommate, as she moved in with her brother only 2 blocks away. (She has yet to come visit again)
-Jenell's class pet "Hopper" was with us over Christmas break, but unfortunately met an untimely death much too early.
-Our apartment goes from being VERY clean to being VERY messy, sometimes in a matter of only 1 or 2 days. The clean apartment usually has to do with the arrival of...
-...Jenell's new boyfriend!!! Yes, Jenell has a new boyfriend, Dave. He is a cop and Jenell hates when he brings his gun into the house. On the other hand, Chelsea is looking forward to having the opportunity to go shooting again!
-Hot guy from apartment #1 moved out (much to Chelsea's disappointment!) and new neighbors moved in downstairs (who yelled at Chelsea their first day here!)
-Our dryer broke and now we have to (hold your breath)...walk ALL the way downstairs to use the other dryer. (This is actually a huge inconvenience, since it takes twice as long to dry clothes!)
-Chelsea has become a book worm again...so far, the tally of books read since the first of the year: 11!
-Both Chelsea and Jenell have come to dislike "vision boards" and "psycho stalkers" from this season of The Bachelor! Okay, we have come to hate most of the girls on the show because watching it is actually causing us physical pain because of how CRAZY they are!!!
-Chelsea has yet to make a pot of coffee in the apartment. In fact, she still doesn't even know HOW to make a pot of coffee thanks to her wonderful roommate who does it for her!
-Jenell and Chelsea are both excited about the new season of Lost, although Jenell is thinking it is a little too far-fetched. COME ON JENELL!!!

Those are some of the biggest updates from our apartment! More to come soon...well, seeing how we are not very good at blogging, we can only hope that it is sooner than later!

Pray for Westmont College

2008-11-14T23:53:00.000-08:00

So, our college was hit with the fires in Santa Barbara last night and today. There were 4 units in Clark dorm that were lost (about 40-50 students), the physics building, psychology building, and two quonset huts that were being used as storage for the alumni and parent relations office. The most disappointing was that 14 faculty houses were lost including the Tro's who I used to nanny for. Such a sad day. Here are a couple pictures, but there are some good ones on this website: http://homepage.westmont.edu/belliott/Westmont/.

Please keep the Westmont community in your prayers: students, faculty and staff and all their families, as well as the alumni. Thank you!

-Chelsea

The Unpredictable in the Predictable

2008-10-05T19:07:00.001-07:00

As fall has quietly descended upon us, I have been reminded of how predictable certain things are. The changing of seasons are an example. Every year we know summer will change into fall and with it glorious colors of orange, yellow, and red. Pumpkin patches pop up and we put the patio furniture away. I wait all summer for the first rainfall and even snuck out this last Friday night to enjoy it! Today I escaped over to the beach where I currently sit writing.

I have to be honest, my life has been anything but predictable lately. Yes, school started as planned and BSF has started, running as smoothly as expected. I guess the less than predictable circumstances are those within the predictable ones. Within a well planned school day, I am finding myself in circumstances that I was not prepared for. Yet, I feel that all 20 children have been hand picked for me as well as the circumstances I find myself in. I am more organized than any other year in BSF, yet experiencing situations new to me that were impossible to plan for. As He often does, I know God is teaching me increased dependence on him. Beyond that, I feel as if I am being called to have an attitude of "whatever". I remember using this word with my parents as a 16 year old. Back then it was not used in a way I would characterize as respectful. The whatever I am referring to here is absolute surrender to whatever God wants to do to me, in me, or through me. Any of you who know me know that this type of attitude goes against my want to control situations. How I laugh at how my God calls me to emulate attributes of Him that are so against my human nature. So I will wait. I will wait for "whatever" in the circumstances I find myself in. Why? Because God has done what I thought was impossible in my life and in my heart. He truly has been faithful. I remember just recently being at this same beach and walking through what I thought was a valley. I was wondering when I was going to get back on the mountain top. I was so sick being in the low lands. Looking back, I see now that what appeared to be a valley was actually a truly magnificent hike. Yes, there were moments when the path dipped, much like a valley. What I see now is that there were also moments where the view was indescribable, much like a mountain top. I even wish I could go back to some of those moments and appreciate them more than I did. How I might have done things differently. But, I am learning that God works best when He is able to surprise me, when I am not so focused on what is wrong, but focused on His faithfulness. When simply knowing Him brings such peace. So, back to Fall and back to the current path I am on.

I planted daffodil bulbs yesterday. My truly favorite flower. It is very predictable that they will come up in the early spring. Though it is predictable, I don't know the exact day when such a lovely sight will warm my heart. So may it be with my current life circumstances. I am tempted to try to control how they will all turn out. However, I know I have to wait. Let God open and shut doors, let God carve out the valleys and the mountain tops, let God do "whatever". I hope to appreciate it all much more than I have. For bringing glory to God whatever the future brings has and will bring me peace. Nothing is unpredictable to Him, but He is still the God of surprises. How I thank Him for that! -Jenell-

Good Friends!

2008-09-28T22:40:00.000-07:00

How blessed I was this last weekend to see good friends. With states or busy lives separating us, it is rare that I get genuine face to face time with one of my closest friends. Within 48 hours this weekend, I got to spend this type of time with three of them. Two of the meetings were totally unexpected. I am once again amazed at how God shows his concern for us by providing us with friends at the exact time we need them. I was also reminded me how important it is to involve others in the twists and turns of life. How easy it is to navigate the trails alone. It takes work and vulnerability to ask someone else along for the hike. Seeing my friends this weekend did not straighten out the current path I am on. Claiming Proverbs 3:5-6, I know that is God's job. Ultimately, the time I spent this weekend did cause me to pause and enjoy the view from where I am at.

Kate finally meeting Keira

Jenell, Mel, and Keira

Jenell, Kate, and Mel

Fun pushing Keira in the box

Happy 60th Birthday Dad!

2008-09-21T18:00:00.000-07:00

This blog post is in honor of my Dad who turned 60 on Friday, September 19th. He asked me on Friday on the way to dinner what a blog was and I thought the best way to show him was to send him the link to my own blog. Hopefully he will be honored by this post. I thought in honor of his birthday I would post the top ten reasons why I have been blessed having him as my father!

1. He introduced me to Jesus and was there when I accepted him into my heart as a child outside the Steinhart Aquarium. I remember that I was eating a push pop and could not wait to tell people that Jesus was in my heart.
2. After Mike was born he took me on what he called "special days" once a week until I started kindergarten. These days included trips to the zoo, Santa Cruz, park, and many more places.
3. When dad drove Mike and I to school he would always stop and let us get donut holes for breakfast
4. My father loves my mother and has for 30+ years. This has given me such a great pictures of marriage!
5. My dad introduced me to hymns as a child and I love them to this day. My favorites are "He Lives" and "Trust and Obey".
6. My dad has moved me to multiple apartments and is always available with his truck when I need him.
7. My dad taught me to always look for the best in people. I am not always good at this, but even when people have hurt me, he encourages me to extend forgiveness and grace.
8. When I go to my parent's house to visit, my dad is always offering me food.
9. My dad calls me to just say hello. I know I give him a hard time about this because he calls when I work, but it means a lot to me that he checks in.
10 My dad is a man of prayer. I know he has prayed for me since I was born and I know he still does. This reality gives me such hope and peace when things are hard.

Happy Birthday Dad! I love you!
-Jenell

Outside Macaroni Grill

The 1st Mr. and Mrs. Nunan

The 2nd Mr. and Mrs. Nunan

Summer Vacations

2008-08-24T23:36:00.001-07:00

Alright, so I realized that I never blogged about my trip to San Diego! I spent 5 days at my mom's beach house in Oceanside, just relaxing and reading and laying out to get rid of my uneven tan lines for Sheena's wedding! It was good to finally have some down-time from Day Camp (and thanks to Kelsey for running camp that last week while I was gone). Then, Nikki came down for the weekend and we spent some time with my mom, and then with all my sisters and my dad. Sunday we went to the Padres-Giants game, which (miraculously) the Padres won! Nikki even go to hear Hells Bells when Trevor Hoffman came out!

Mom and I at the beach house

Nikki and I at Petco Park, after the Padres beat the Giants!

Stacy, Taylor, me, Ethan and Dad

My nephew Ethan and I doing our spiderman poses!

Then, after San Diego (and Sheena and Slim's wedding, of course!), I went out to Boston to visit Kassie for 5 days. I spent lots of time with her and her three girls: Thia is 28 months, Sophia is 17 months, and Tirzah is 6 months. Yes, I know they are close in age! Kinda crazy!

Thia and I

Tirzah and I

Kassie with Thia and Sophia

After spending some time with Kassie and my east coast family, I went back into Boston and spent the night with Dawn and her husband Brian and their 5 month old daughter Olivia. Dawn and I went out to Giacomo's, the best restaurant EVER! I always get the pumpkin tortellini and it is to die for! Afterwards, we went to Mike's Pastry for cannolis...I had to get two because it is only once a year that I get them! The next morning, Dawn and Brian's friends helped them pack up the moving van and then that afternoon, the three of us (well, four including Olivia!), left Boston to drive cross-country. We stopped in these places: Albany, New York; Cleveland, Ohio; Bloomington, Indiana; Eudora, Kansas; Littleton, Colorado; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Reno, Nevada. The only sightseeing we did was to stop by and see Niagara Falls, which was AMAZING! It was a long week, but it was great spending time with Dawn and Brian and getting to bond with little Olivia!

Niagara Falls!

Olivia and I...she is such a doll!

Dawn, Olivia and I...finally an In N Out!

This girl has such a great smile!

So, after all my wonderful vacations, it is time to start back to school (yuck!). Jenell starts classes tomorrow, and I start the day after Labor Day. Where did the summer go!?!?
-Chelsea

Here's to Year 29!

2008-08-10T23:30:00.000-07:00

My 29th birthday was on 08-08-08!! According to my friends from China, this should bring me great luck in the year to come. My birthday was spent with good friends and spanned over a weekend. I was able to go to the Giants game on Friday and have a fun day in SF on Sunday. Though the Giants lost, I was reminded how blessed I am to have friends to share this special event with. Highlights from the Giants game include the musical talents of both Chris and Ardy as well as a 9th inning rally which sadly ended in a strike out. :( Sunday in San Francisco was fabulous! Weather was wonderful and warm. Highlights include being at the Exploratorium without lots of students I am responsible for as well as walking by the beach and taking fun pictures. As for year 29? My two goals are as follows:
*Jump of the ledges that may seem scary even when I don't have it all figured out.
*Laugh a lot. Like really, laugh a really whole bunch!

New Car!

2008-08-06T18:29:00.001-07:00

So, I finally traded in my 1994 Mazda for an upgrade...a big upgrade! On Monday, Jenell went with me to a couple dealerships to check on pricing to lease a 2008 Toyota Rav4, and at 8:00pm, I was driving away in my new car! I drove off the lot with only 2 miles on the car! It is so amazing: Rav4 Sport Model, "flint mica" color (dark charcoal but in the sunlight the flecks of blue and green come through), dark charcoal interior with a lighter gray accent, sunroof/moonroof, 6-disc CD changer, LOTS of leg room in the front and back rows, lots of storage in the back...and SO much fun to drive! I absolutely LOVE it!

Trip To Texas

2008-08-02T10:45:00.000-07:00

I was so fortunate to spend about a week and a half in Texas. I had stopped over last February for a weekend but was very pleased to be able to spend more time there this summer. I spent 8 days in Dallas with one of my close friends from college. We did some sightseeing, but spent most of our time chatting and catching up on what has been happening in our lives over the past year. What a blessing close friends are!

Some of the things I did do while I was there was visit the Dallas Arboretum. If you get a chance to go there I would highly recommend it. It had some of the most beautiful gardens I have ever seen. They also had a section of the garden that was just Zinia flowers. These have become my second favorite flower behind daffodils. In Dallas, I also had a chance to visit the 6th Floor Museum across from Dealy Plaza. The 6th floor has become a museum in honor of president Kennedy and his life. It also tracked the events that happened the day he was assassinated. It was very eye opening for me as I was not alive when this life changing event took place.

Finally, I ended my trip by heading down to San Antonio. While I was there I was able to visit BSF Headquarters. I had the privilege of volunteering there for a day as well as taking a tour. This visit gave me a new appreciation for the work that goes into creating, packing, and shipping the supplies necessary to make our class run smoothly. I don't think I can bring myself to gripe again about all the materials that are sent to me as I have seen how they have been packed and sent with care. This visit really renewed my desire to serve in this really wonderful ministry and got me excited about the Life of Moses study getting ready to start in September.

In closing, I will list the top 5 things that surprised me about Texas.

#1 Many establishments end in the words "star" "barrel" "corral" "pit" "etc"....
#2 Texas does not establish two different speed limits for big rig trucks vs cars. However, Texas does have two different speed limits for night vs. day
#3 All common stores I visited had a sign posted reminding you that it was illegal to carry an unauthorized weapon into the establishment
#4 Many roadways in Texas are in the form of a loop. This means that the freeway makes one big circle around the city. The loop 1604 in San Antonio spans 94 miles!
#5 Lightning storms in California are pitiful compared to the ones in Texas. Driving to San Antonio I got caught in a lightning storm and had to pull over. This was because big rig trucks were barreling past me.

Mike and Sommer get married!

2008-07-29T22:46:00.000-07:00

On July 19th my little brother got married! It was a special day full of joy and laughter. It was so fun to have my whole family dressed up and in one place. God was honored that day as Michael and Sommer dedicated their marriage to Christ. I feel so blessed because I can truly say there is no one better suited for my brother than his lovely wife. The love they have found and developed has truly been inspiring to so many. As I said in a small toast at the rehearsal dinner (I made it like 10 second before I cried) the love they have shown one another has really caused me to set a higher standard for a love I someday hope to experience. This blog post is in honor of my little brother and Sommer as I wrote the poem below for them!

Love

Love so real and so very true
A gift from God and presented to you
Not based on wealth, fortune, or fame
Not seen in perfection or being the same
Not found in having it all figured out
Surely this is not what love is about
Love is adventure in good times and bad
A joke or a hug when the other is sad
Welcoming weakness and even the rain
Knowing that life apart would not be the same
Fighting to protect, honor, and care
For the bond you created and forever will share
Honesty, humility, being completely real
You each getting the better end of the deal
Flying a kite together, cute notes you share
Abundance of laughter, making a teddy bear
This leap of faith while walking side by side
The choice to love as groom and bride
Love so real and so very true
Inspires all and is seen in both of you

More Pictures can be seen at:

http://www.drdano.com/Album20.htm
http://s336.photobucket.com/albums/n340/nells79/Mike%20and%20Sommer%20Get%20Married/

Playing Catch Up

2008-05-07T06:09:00.000-07:00

I was once told that the thoughts you have immediately after waking up are some of the most genuine and real thoughts you can have. I guess the reasoning behind this is that before your ability to reason and justify, persuade and convince, subdue and rationalize kicks in, your heart has the ability to, for one brief moment, speak to what is really going on inside. I am not 100% sure I agree with this, but as I sit here early in the morning, I have to wonder if there is a little bit of truth hidden in this. Coming from someone who loves sleep and has invested in the most comfortable bed set known to man, I was awoken this morning and given a sort of heart check. I can’t say I was thrilled at what I found. Lately, I have come to feel like my heart is playing catch up to my attitude. Thinking about this, I have been challenged by Philippians 2: 6-8

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature[b] of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!

So I am called to have the attitude of a servant and to be obedient to what God asks of me. This remains a daily process in all areas of my life. Whether it be at work, in relationships, among friends, or simply in the quiet conversations with myself, God seems clear in his command regarding my attitude and actions. I guess the question then remains, what happens when your heart does not eagerly come along for the ride? What do you do with the quiet thoughts that find you at the wee hours in the morning? Being human I struggle with having desires, dreams, ambitions, and anxieties that are not always of God. I find myself praying that my heart be aligned to the desires God has for me. I see now that a lot of this depends on God’s grace in changing my heart. For He knows me better than I know myself and more importantly sees exactly what is going on in my heart even when it appears to be a mystery to me. So I can rest in knowing that even though my heart might be lagging behind a little bit, God is faithful and will mold my heart to be more like His Son if I am obedient with my attitude and actions. When I do this, I have to allow time for Him to work. In the meantime, I will continue to enjoy the early morning change of sky from the patio, the sound of birds, and the gentle breeze when my heart chooses to wake me up.

-Jenell

April birthdays

2008-04-28T21:12:00.000-07:00

So April is the best month. Wanna know why? My birthday, of course! My 28th celebration started the weekend before my birthday when a bunch of my closest friends got together and took me out to dinner. It was tons of fun! Then, a couple weekends after that, 9 of us surprised Jen and got a limo and took her to Half Moon Bay Brewery! She was so cute because she was totally shocked at the limo rental! It was another great birthday celebration with my best friends!

Mexico 2008!!!

2008-03-24T20:52:00.000-07:00

Both of us spent our spring break as leaders on the high school missions trip to Ensenada, Mexico. We spent our week sleeping on the hard ground, surviving a rain storm and very cold weather, working with VBS and construction, and hanging out with the high schoolers. Here is each of our accounts of our week:

This year, I was a construction leader and spent the entire week with the 15 students assigned to work on the church site. I was truly blessed to be working alongside these amazing students. Their enthusiasm for the work they were doing was apparent from the minute they stepped out of the vans. They were such hard workers that they even weeded out part of a field that didn't even belong to the church! When asked to dig the dirt out of a 9' by 17' area so we could fill it with concrete, they did so with such gusto that they dug too much and ended up having to fill it back in with some of the dirt! Then, they mixed endless bags on concrete to fill the area, running out of cement three times! But all of these minor set-backs (which I am convinced was Satan trying to ruin our ministry) did not dissuade these students. They never got upset or disgruntled, and never gave up! Not only did they lay the concrete, but they took on the task of finishing the upstairs youth common room: insulating, sheet rocking, setting up electricity, and adding a railing to the balcony outside the room. Pretty amazing for only having 3 1/2 days to work!
The construction site was not the only thing that amazed me this week: these high school students inspired and challenged me in ways I never imagined! Just watching them and talking to them caused me to grow in my faith and reliance on God. I am so proud of these students and excited to see their light shine to others around them.
The one song that was sung this week that really hit home for me was "From the Inside Out" by Hillsong. If you have never listened to it, please do so and pay close attention to the words. That was my prayer for the week and my continued prayer now that I am home and back to my "normal routine."
-Chelsea

What a great week we had in Mexico! I think the best part for me was watching the high school students interact with the community. They were fabulous and God used them in such great ways. It is true that we all were "free" for a week. What I mean is that we were free from the cell phone, computer, and pressures of home and able to give all we had to serve whoever God placed in our path. I will never forgot one little boy who came our first day of VBS. He was running down the street with a piece of string tied around the two ends of a plastic bag. He was using it as a kite and was such a happy little guy. The first day we only had about 20 kids or so but quickly grew the remaining days. The students told various stories about the Apostle Paul and the faith he had to have during the various situations God placed him in starting with his conversion. The children enjoyed the crafts that we had for them and even the parents would come in and work on them in the afternoon. The song I will remember from the week is a song we sang with the children in Spanish. It was a song about having faith as small as a mustard seed and being able to move mountains. I have come to know though that the mountain that sometimes needs the most moving is the mountain of doubt when the way is not clear or when we don't see the immediate results of obedience to God. I was inspired by the faith of the students this week as they poured their lives into children who they may or may not see again. They have to have faith that God began a work in the small hearts of all who heard the good news. I pray that the decisions and promises that were made this week by members of our team will continue far beyond Mexico because they are not tied to a feeling, but tied to faith that God will finish the work He started in all our hearts and the hearts of the ones we served.
-Jenell

Baseball season is here!!!

2008-03-11T22:29:00.001-07:00

This past weekend I went to Peoria, Arizona for one of my favorite things: spring training! This is my 5th or 6th year going, and our group has grown. This year, I went with my dad, my sister Stacy, my brother-in-law Isaac, Stacy's boyfriend Jason and Stacy's cousin Jim. I flew in on Friday evening, was picked up from the airport by my two favorite men: my daddy and my bro! We checked in to the hotel and walked to dinner at the Cheesecake Factory, where my brother proceeded to embarrass me by trying to find me a guy ("Are you single...my sister is looking for a guy")!
Saturday morning was a slow start, but we got to practice in time to see a couple of the players finish batting practice. On the way out, we noticed there was a huge crowd around one of the players. Isaac and I couldn't tell who he was, but I noticed how incredibly good-looking he was! We walked a little closer and realized it was Jake Peavy, our star pitcher and starting pitcher for the National League at the 2007 All-Star Game. We decided against waiting for the autograph since there were about 50 people in line! We headed over to the game at the Texas Rangers stadium, where we proceeded to kill them! Awesome seats along the first base line, 3rd row.
Our second game was on Sunday. Our seats were right next to the Padres dugout, 3rd row again. My favorite player (Kevin Kouzmanoff) was playing, and as he walked out of the dugout to go warm up, Isaac yells "Hey Kouz...she wants to marry YOU!" Kouz looked around and I raised my arm and waved a bit. He smiled and gave me a thumbs up! After a bit, I went a couple sections to the right to where the players were warming up and waited for them to finish. When Kouz was walking back towards the dugout, I shouted out to him and when he looked, I motioned him over. He signed the baseball that I have and then took a picture with me. Good thing my dad didn't say what he wanted to when he took the picture ("Great engagement photo!"). The second game against the Chicago White Sox was a little more close, but they pulled WAY ahead at the end to win 12-3. And of course, my man Kevin Kouzmanoff got a home run!
Is anyone else excited that opening day of baseball is right around the corner!?!?

-Chelsea

2008-03-04T07:41:00.000-08:00

When I am down and blue, I always like to sing the "Lion Sleeps Tonight" Maybe if I start to play this around the apartment, I can help Chelsea to smile and new song lyrics will come to her mind. :)

-Jenell

song lyrics

2008-03-03T22:48:00.000-08:00

All day today this song has been running through my head. I hate that the lyrics apply to my life right now, but they do...

If I had just one tear running down your cheek
Maybe I could cope maybe I'd get some sleep
If I had just one moment at your expense
Maybe all my misery would be well spent

Could you cry a little
Lie just a little
Pretend that you're feeling a little more pain
I gave now I'm wanting
Something in return
So cry just a little for me

If your love could be caged, honey I would hold the key
And conceal it underneath the pile of lies you handed me
And you'd hunt those lies
They'd be all you'd ever find
And that'd be all you'd have to know
For me to be fine

And you'd cry a little
Die just a little
and baby I would feel just a little less pain
I gave now I'm wanting
Something in return
So cry just a little for me

Give it up baby
I hear your goodbye
Nothings gonna save me
I can see it it your eyes
Some kind of heartache
Give it a try
I don't want pity
I just want what is mine

Could you cry a little
Lie just a little
Pretend that you're feeling a little more pain
I gave now I'm wanting
Something in return
So cry just a little for me

"Cry" by Faith Hill

Turbulence

2008-02-28T17:56:00.000-08:00

I am in a plane and my fear is increased. Every bump, every small rattle gives me a pinch of fear. Just when I start to feel like I am falling asleep, the wind decides to shake our plane and therefore catapult me into a sense of panic. I have never liked flying. Funny thing is that my father works for an airline and I have been flying places since I was a small child. Though we took a few car trips, we mainly used the air as our source of travel. As an adult, I love to travel too much not to fly. So, I yearly bring myself to the airport and board the plane. I sit in the seat and I just wait. I somewhat know what to expect. Never have I been on a plane when there hasn’t been a few bumps along the way. This flight today seems to be extra full of bumps. The interesting thing is that when the plane levels out and we are once again gliding peacefully among the clouds, I have a sense of peace unlike the day to day peace I have safely on the ground. I am contemplating why this reality exists. Maybe it is because I am not in control and cannot make the bumps go away regardless of what I do. Therefore, when they do, it sends a stream of relief through my body. Though I know this to be true, I also know that I have relief because for a moment the peace gives me a reference point in how to deal with future bumps and future flights. When the bumps come again, I am convinced I will remember how the plane did eventually level off. I have to be honest though, in most cases I have a hard time looking back and applying past peace realizations to current fears. I am convinced that this pocket of bad air will be the pocket that will bring my greatest fears to reality. Though this is a possibility, it is very unlikely and I am constantly disappointed with myself for giving into such fear and anxiety. So, there is the seatbelt sign and we are rocking like no tomorrow. Yet again, I cannot apply the fact that 1 hour ago we were in a similar spot and came out just fine. I am filled with fear and just waiting for it all to be over. The simple truth is I see life being like a plane ride. How many times has God come through and delivered me from terrifying events only to have me forget them next time I hit an unexpected patch of turbulence. God is too powerful and too great to let the fears of this world distract me from the perfect road he has laid for me. So going into this week, this plane ride will remind me that though there may be painful moments and periods of unrest, my heart will level out. In fact, at the moment the flight attendants are walking through the cabin and we will be landing soon. I hope I don’t soon forget my thoughts today. How sweet the peace is when it comes after a storm. I just hope I can apply it tomorrow and in the days to come.

And The Forecast Is.....

2008-02-25T13:41:00.000-08:00

God truly met me this last week while I was away in the Bahamas. The last few months at home I had been fascinated by the weather. It seemed the only thing I could view as consistent was that each week the weather would bring a change. I hadn’t seen anything yet. While the weather at home would change from day to day, down in the Islands it would change from hour to hour. One minute it was sunny and the next minute it is pouring rain. From overcast skies to dark clouds to the sudden burst of sun, it is physical evidence that nothing here on earth stays the same for too long. I have to say the unpredictability of the weather offered me a strange sense of hope. Maybe I was seeing myself in the weather, one minute full of peace and the next grasping for clarity. As a child I used to hate change. I remember raising my hand in class and informing my teacher when our class day was not going exactly as she had planned it on the board. I always wanted to know what to expect; I needed consistent clarity. I have to admit, part of me still hates change. I am a creature of habit and love when something or someone becomes a staple in life, simply as common as reaching for flour in the cabinet. You assume it will always be there. However, I have come to learn that even with the consistent presence of the things we love, things change. Allowing for change opens up the door for hurt, but also has the potential to bring great joy. For, to find joy in the midst of pain is a comforting mystery. It is comforting to know that every valley only has so many chasms. However, to accept the limits of every valley forces me also to accept the limits of every peak. People use the phrase “mountain top experience” quite often. Things are so wonderful and clear at a given moment only to fade with passing time. Those peaks are limited because they seem to be solely identified with increased purpose and understanding. How great it would be to practice peak living in the midst of every valley and when faced with the unknown. How great it would be to find the joy in the pouring rain alongside the radiant sunlight. Both circumstances are filled with new chances to practice increased obedience and faith. I guess the joy simply comes in anticipating what God might do next and expectantly waiting on His call to action. I do believe that God could at any given moment orchestrate my life to make complete sense, but instead he calls me to take steps of obedience. I believe he wants me to take partial ownership for my story. I wonder if he ever just wanted to make the food appear when he fed the 5,000. Instead, he instructed his disciples in how to do it, allowing them to be part of his service and love to others. This no doubt deepened their understanding of who He was and His deep love for humanity. Or, how easy would it have been to create a tabernacle in Exodus. Instead he gives specific instructions to His people on how to build it. This no doubt increased their reverence and awe of who He truly was. So maybe my prayers will have to change. Maybe instead of pleading for peace and clarity, I will pray for specific calls for obedience and trust that God’s best is simply knowing Him more and allowing change to bring me closer to Him. He knows when I need the sun and when I need the rain even when I don’t see why. So, the forecast seems to be rain with sun beyond the clouds, pain with the promise of joy, and obedience with the hope for greater intimacy with my Savior.

Better week

2008-02-13T21:57:00.001-08:00

So, I realized that my last blog was about how horrible some on my students are. This week has been so much better! I was really sick yesterday and today, and my students knew how sick I was and surprisingly enough, they were as close to angels as they could get! AND, since it is the end of the trimester, everyone wants to work extra hard to get those grades up!
-Chelsea

The Sun

2008-02-03T09:45:00.000-08:00

So I have been sitting down to blog and feeling like I could not finish any of my thoughts. Then, I found this that I wrote about a year and a half ago. It says how I am feeling perfectly. :) More recent thoughts to come soon.... :)

Jenell

My friend wrote a song about my post!

The Sun

The clouds overlap, the sky is gray and empty. It's hard to imagine what lies beyond them, what is past the seen. Then it appears, a small patch of blue, a glimpse. Suddenly it is easier to hope, to dream, for there is a clue. A clue to what lies beyond. So, we change our perspective, we allow our hearts to feel, to dream. We aren't sure exactly what the complete picture is. But, we take risks, we ask questions, we wait. Then it comes, the rays! So warm! So calm! The sun shines down and makes the gray a distant memory. How sweet! How pleasant! All seems clear! Why was there ever any doubt? We can leap. We can jump. We now have a green light. But, here on earth, the sun only lasts for awhile. Soon the clouds pour back in and we are left to have faith. Faith that the glimpse we saw was not a dream, was not a joke. We saw you God, we saw your plan, your best. The challenge is to let that guide our steps for the rest of our time here. Soak up the rays and wait out the clouds. That is walking wih You until, one day, we bask in the sun for all eternity.

New haircut!

2008-02-02T10:23:00.000-08:00

Yep...I chopped my hair! Ten inches cut off so I can donate it to Locks of Love. Check out the website http://www.locksoflove.org/mission.html. I was a bit nervous going into the salon, but I absolutely love the new look!

-Chelsea

Apartment #1 and rude students

2008-01-30T22:10:00.001-08:00

So, we think that cute guy in apartment #1 works at night. Probably just going to have to meet him in the afternoons when we get home from work.

My day today was crazy horrible. My students were so incredibly rude that I came home and was on the verge of tears when I was venting to Nikki. I hope none of you were ever rude or disrespectful to a middle school teacher because it is just not cool! It shocks me that these kids think it is okay to treat an adult how they do; don't know what they are learning from their parents, but I can't teach respect all by myself!

On another note, can it be any colder here!?!? I might as well be living back in Boston and there be snow on the ground. Now, those of you who actually do live on the east coast where there IS snow on the ground are probably thinking "she is crazy...I would LOVE to live where it is above freezing," but living back in Cali has made me unaccustomed to the cold once again!

Jenell's exciting news of the day: fingerpainting with her students! "Anything out of the ordinary with fingerpainting Jenell?"

That's all from Union Ave!

-Chelsea

Good News

2008-01-29T21:24:00.001-08:00

So, Jenell and I decided that since blogging is such a huge fad right now, we would jump on the bandwagon and join! Don't know how often we will update this, but it is worth a shot!

Some things we like to do at our apartment:
-Watch American Idol (currently doing that)
-Play the Wii that was actually a gift for Jenell's parents (we are getting REALLY good at Super Mario Brothers 3!)
-Sit on the couch while we are looking at other blogs and comment on the lives of our friends
-Bake snickerdoodles and 7-layer bean dip
-Laugh about the ridiculous stories from our days in the classroom
-Watch seasons of Lost (Jenell is trying to catch up on ALL 3 seasons!)
-Keep an eye on apartment #1 (REALLY cute guy just moved in!)...this is the highlight at our apartment lately!!!

Some things we do NOT like to do at our apartment:
-Clean
-Do laundry (or fold our clothes after we have done laundry)
-Cook dinner (neither of us really cook)
-Go grocery shopping (even though there is a Safeway directly across the street!)
-Pay bills (speaking of, we should send rent out tomorrow....)
-Water our plants
-Talk about how I want a kitty and Jenell does not

Our lives really are more exciting than just what goes on in our apartment...Jenell is a 1st/2nd grade teacher in San Carlos and I am an 8th grade math and science teacher in Redwood City. We both keep REALLY busy with other things: BSF, nanny jobs, middle school youth group, bible studies, and just hanging out with our wonderful friends. More info to come, along with those hilarious stories from the classroom!!!