favorite february fads

THE WHALES
I spotted my first one back in December, but it seems like lately they are jumping outta the water EVERYWHERE! The drive to Lahaina is full to the brim with whale sightings. At the beach today, we saw one in the distance breaching. When you go underwater, you can hear them talking to each other! I got to go on a whale watch and the ocean was bustling with whale activity. Check out the back drop behind this whale, it's no wonder they love coming to warm Maui this time of year :)

MORNING JOE COFFEE
On a whim, and in dire need of coffee for my impending morning, I grabbed this bag of coffee from Safeway. Drank it via french press, with vanilla creamer and it is AMAZING!! You can get a free tall drink at Starbucks with the bag :) Word on the street is that it is just a trial run, so it needs to be popular to stick around. This is my first choice to be my companion in the morning during my 24 day bible challenge. Alyssa says, "Ohh, a good cup of coffee draws me closer to the Lord when I'm reading my Bible in the morning!" A definite February favorite!!


MEN'S VOLLEYBALL
This past weekend, I attended my first ever men's college volleyball match. University of Hawaii Rainbow Warriors traveled to Maui to play the California Baptist University Lancers. War Memorial's open air gym was packed out. I got to enjoy the game with other volleyball lovers. I have always loved volleyball and appreciated what an epic sport it is, but I was really reminded of my die hard love for it. I really hope that my future involves either coaching or playing volleyball. The past two times I thought I was giving up volleyball for good, God totally brought it back into my life. Also, men can seriously dominate at this game. Love it.



DISCERNING THE VOICE OF GOD STUDY
This study is solid. It is convicting, truthful, and exactly what I need right now. I am blessed to be in a bible study with wonderful women in all walks of life. I'm the youngest in the group, so I've been soaking up all sorts of wisdom from the women in the group. I'm used to Beth Moore studies, and this is similar, but I love Priscilla! I have so many questions for God during this season. This study encourages me to press into God's Word, but also gives practical tips to better hear God's voice. And when God speaks, I want nothing more than to hear Him!

24 day challenge

Whales. Sunshine. House sitting a wonderful home. Playing the guitar. French press coffee every morning. Windows open at night. Eating tako (octopus fresh from the ocean). Stand up paddle surfing for the first time. Salty skin. Observing my favorite worship leaders to soak up their skills. Closing my eyes and reciting God's promises over and over. Starry night. Convertible top down. Launiupoko drive. Long talks with wonderful women that I admire and love so much. Getting stretched to lead worship by myself. Leadership Summit at Kumalani on the West Side. McDonalds brought back the $1 drinks!!! Movie nights at the boy's place. Helping Jake cut the cable of his own moped lock. Eating leftover dinner for breakfast. Always on call for ministry opportunities. Never knowing what the next day holds.

I think if we were to make a reality tv show about this internship, it would win awards.

Something I have grown a lot in over the past 4 years is having a quiet time each morning. I grind up my coffee, I crack open the window, I put on some mellow tunes and I meet with the Lord. I usually pick a passage of scripture to go through and write it out, pray it, and then pick out what I want to dwell on the rest of the day.

A couple weeks ago, 12 days to be exact, I felt a tug to read the whole Bible. I have done year plans before and loved it. But I want the bigger picture. And I want it soon. I looked up a chronological plan, because I had never done that before--did you know that the story of Job happens after Genesis 11? I split the chronological year plan up into 24 days.

It's a lot. I'm in the Word a ton every day. So far I'm on Day 12, and I feel like God is shaking my heart up. I'm having to give things up to spend time with Him. Besides sleep, I haven't usually had to give anything up for time with Him. I'm so blessed with a few friends who embarked on this journey with me. We are each getting something different from it, which makes me ULTRA aware of how God's Word is alive and active. I could probably fill 32847 blog entries with scripture that has been rocking my world. It's amazing.
Risa

be excellent

In the past two weeks I have....

...huddled around a tiny table at a crowded Kihei Starbucks with my girlfriends, drinking our various forms of legal caffeinated addictions. We prayed and asked God for BIG things.
......laid in bed listening to the gentle rain tip tap on our tin carport outside our condo.
....sat in a moist car seat due to the windows accidentally being left down.
.......eaten spiral mac and cheese.
...bought 3 bottles of high spf sunscreen.
....admitted my biggest and best dream out loud to a friend.
......had a condo alone to myself for a weekend.
...deep cleaned a silverware drawer.
....hung out with new people.
........lived freely, animated and motivated by God's Spirit. Galatians 5:16
...written out all of the questions I want answered right now. 22 of them.
......did yoga.
....cut and prepared 49 roses in vases for Sanctity of Life Sunday.
...blow dried my hair in front of our air conditioner.
....learned that "concussed" is actually a word!
.....ate a cake ball. And quickly ate another one :)
...ditched Kihei and got slurpees with Lisa.
.....learned what it looks like to be bold in Christ.
...conquered a fear.
......gave a friend a gift that meant something.
....dabbled in the ocean.
.....played sand volleyball.
...watched a sunset at Bigs while bagpipes played in the distance.
........sat in a jacuzzi and looked up at the stars.
"That clinches it- help's coming,
an answer's on the way,
everything's going to work out....

....Make the king a winner, GOD;
the day we call, give us your answer."

--Psalm 20:6, 9

dreaming big

There is something nostalgic about flying. It gives you time to process where you are going and where you are coming from. Being above everything makes me feel like I can think more clearly.

I learned a few things, while I was high up in the air.

Home is more than just a feeling. Kansas, whether it's my first pick or not, is my home. It makes up who I am. I climbed off the plane in Wichita and braced myself for a winter I hadn't experienced in over a year. Bits of hay gathered in the corners of the staircase I climbed to walk past the fifteen gates that make up the tiny ICT airport. Yep. This is home :)

Cooper and I stayed up late and talked. We giggled under the 4 blankets I insisted on sleeping with in order to feel warm enough. I love having a younger sister. I met my best friends' babies for the first time. Overjoyed to see so much love. Visiting with friends. Playing guitar and singing with my talented friend Adam. Best Chinese food of your life. North face. Puzzles with Papa. Chipotle. Super Target. Music. Visiting the grandparents and aunt and uncle. Driving in my jeep. New Years Eve Day with family. Movies. Showing Rendall around my Wichita life. Double Lattes. Hanging with my broski and Collins. My office ladies. More friends. Laughter. Kissing the parents goodnight every night.

Memories.

Short. Adjustments. Transition. Suddenly I'm already back on a plane, headed back to Maui. Maui. Warm Maui. It's a completely different life. A life that I love so much. Both places are familiar and homey. I can have more than one home, right?

"God is bedrock under my feet,
the castle in which I live,
my rescuing knight.
My God-the high crag
where I run for dear life,
hiding behind the boulders
safe in the granite hideout;
My mountaintop refuge...."
--2nd Sammy 22:1-4

Already in the new year, I have started dreaming BIG dreams. Impossible dreams. I've been a witness to so many things I knew, absolutely knew, were impossible, and seen God turn them into possibilities. Excitement.

Risa

depth perception

When did it suddenly become December? Christmas lights are up. Hawaiian Santas are popping up in store windows. Garland is hanging in doorways. It's insanely trippy to be wearing shorts every day and blasting the AC at night. But I will not so secretly admit.....I LOVE IT! :)

I had to buy new sunglasses this week. I've always felt like my face was not meant for sunglasses. And I begrudgingly wear my normal glasses (even though I am probably a hazard to others around me without them. Yikes). When I was out paddling the other day, I was looking down into the water, and it was a pretty clear day, gazing at all the coral and fish swimming around. A lot of the time, I feel like my paddle or board is going to brush up against the reef, when in reality, it's way deeper than I think! My depth perception is whack. So over the course of the last week, I felt like a theme of perception, and vision, and keeping my eyes on the King kept sticking with me. How can I step back and see a situation for what it truly is? How can I step back and see God for who He truly is? Who I truly am? A child of God. Beloved. We get so intricately involved in our lives, which is natural, that it takes some intense untangling to get a clear perception of the bigger picture. I want to see things the way God sees them. I want to see people the way God sees them.

"When Christ is openly revealed, we'll see him-and in seeing him, become more like him." -1st John 3:2

Okay. Fun photos now :)This is my favorite laying out/relaxing spot on Maui. I typically SUP here too.Alyssa and I at Jeff's Birthday party. Alyssa is so great--we have some rockin' memories together. Mere moments after this photo was taken, we ventured to the bathroom, where I proceeded to flood the entire stall with a single, and unassuming flush. Magical.I love these two women so much. There is nothing better than chugging 2 liters of diet pepsi, cruising in a convertible with the top down, stretching out on towels, and laughing with these gems.
This is Jeff (the birthday boy, and also Alyssa's boyfriend). I learned that playing sand volleyball in a floor length dress is tricky, but not impossible. In the spirit of team unity, Jeff rolled his shirt up to support. He's a ballerrrrr.This is my life. Thank you, LORD.

lifestyle of thankfulness

Grande Americano. Dash of cinnamon. Biking up Welakahao to work. Video Editing. Thanksgiving Eve service prepping. Decorating. Service Formats. Memos. Communication. Mind melting to UH volleyball. Paddleboarding with Lyss and getting WORKED out on the water. Balance. Focus. Rebel. 808 Deli for lunch. Recording choir parts for Christmas. Oprah's Ultimate Favorite Things. Really? Women were sobbing. Incredible. CDs. Choir packets. Sunset. Overworked voice. Slept in Saturday. Complete bliss. Mama Joy chat. Bought 3 dollar rafts. Best 3 dollars spent on Maui :) HARRY POTTER. Friends. Early morning. Sunday. Lighting. Colors. The intern girls all wore cute blue and white dresses. Jake's pool. Floating. Music. Thanksgiving Eve Service. BUSY. Mary and Martha. How can I be both? Luke 10:38-40. Sick Steven. Stays home. Candles lit. Wheelchair ramp works. Fix graphics. Hula dancers ready? Yes. Manned the camera. Thankful. I'm thankful for so much. Too much to even fathom. Seriously. Crashed into bed.

Wake up. Gulp down copious amounts of coffee. Truck. Kayaks. Paddle Boards. Charley Young Beach. Friends. Sun soakage. My board connects me to the water. Salty water tickles my toes. Effortless. Turtles. Inhale fresh sea breeze. Exhale stress and worry. Kayak flipping. Giggle. Inviting towels in the sand. Sigh. Lisa and Ryan whisk me away to Jake's pool. Diet Coke. Floaty pros. Hawaiian Tropic sunscreen. Laughter. "We're just obscure laborers in the Pacific"-Jason Spence. Cowboys football. Thanksgiving with Rise. Mingling. Apple Cider. 4 TURKEYS! Dessert. Cranium. Windows down on the drive home. Breathing in Maui night air. Heart to heart with Lisa. Twinkling Christmas lights. Sleepy eyes.

"Thank God! Call out his Name! Tell the whole world who he is and what he's done! Sing to him! Play songs for him! Broadcast all his wonders! Revel in his holy Name, God-seekers, be jubilant! Study God and his strength, seek his presence day and night; Remember all the wonders he performed, the miracles and judgments that came out of his mouth. Seed of Israel his servant! Children of Jacob, his first choice! He is God, our God; wherever you go you come on his judgments and decisions. He keeps his commitments across thousands of generations..."-1 Chronicles 16:8

"fall-ing"

Lately, I have been spending most of my work hours in our auditorium decorating for fall. The theme we were aiming for is like a cathedral arch look....and I think we accomplished it! Here are a few photos! I took this Friday, during our service called The Gathering. In the next photo you can see that they are more tree-like, since it is fall! :)



Lighting makes such a difference in what the trees look like! They make me think of a person with their hands high, worshiping Jesus. I love that the image of that sticks in your mind when you close your eyes after looking at them on the stage. I took this photo on Sunday.We also printed off hundreds of leaves on brown contact paper and put them in arch like formations on the walls above the doors lining the auditorium (I forgot to take pictures of that part!).



My newest intern educational experience has been learning to run the lighting system. As you can see from the photo, it is extremely intimidating! I have loved getting to run it though! With the help of other knowledgeable people close by to make sure I don't blind everybody in the audi accidentally, I think I've managed fairly well! Once you get an eye for what looks good and what doesn't, it's really fun to play with colors and match them to the graphics. Lighting the arches is pretty cool too. We are so blessed to have such a high tech system! I've learned that lights can control a situation. Even if a video starts playing, people tend to pay attention when the lights go down. It's interesting. I love it!Yesterday after church, I got to go Upcountry and play indoor volleyball with a bunch of guys. I just love volleyball. I think I managed to hold my own :) On the way home, I snapped this shot of what I still can't believe I can call home for this season of my life. The next month and a half is going to be out of control busy. But this view truly can ease the most stressed out of hearts. Eyes fixed on the King. Deep breath. Sigh of relief. "But whoever catches a glimpse of the revealed course of God-the free life!- even out of the corner of his eye, and sticks with it, is no distracted scatterbrain but a man or woman of action. That person will find delight and affirmation in the action." -James 1:26-27