february...

...was when life turned upside down! we had been praying about joining the new Whittier Hills Uptown Campus that was going to begin having services at the YMCA on February 13th. we had actually both felt a pull toward it, and toward the uptown area in general, for over a year. but being where we were spiritually, not sure we had a place there, we didn't really think THAT much about it. then the week before the first service, we were praying for them, and decided that we would join! and then decided that there was a need for me to fill already - they had been trying to work on "decor" for the Y - getting to look more like a worship center and less like a zumba room - but didn't have anyone "in charge" of that area... i knew this because i had been helping a little bit with ideas, without really being a part of it (because i'm friends with Jessica and it had sort of unofficially fallen to her to "decor"ate for the first "preview service"). so that same day that we decided to join the new church plant (i mean, "campus plant" - one church - 2 locations ;) i also volunteered to take over on decor!! huge leaps for both of us! and an answer to prayer, according to the director of the new plant :) we have now spent a TON of time up at the Y, trying to figure out ways to cover up 46-foot walls of mirrors, or multiple mauve accordion carpeted folding walls... jason has been a huge contributor, getting things in place, transporting - and a good sport about all the changes this has made for our life. not the comfortable little family-centered existence we had developed the last 7+ years of being married... a lot more "external" focus going on... and it's awesome... and overwhelming...! i am so excited about the possibilities of what my role could look like, and i wake up in the middle of the night with ideas rushing through my head! lots of little logistical details that are taking precedence of the artsy design stuff i'd prefer to be doing... but the background stuff (& lighting & electrical stuff) has to happen first... but truly, deeply, this is something my soul delights in. i totally have a desire to incorporate worship and my creativity into one. to worship God as i create, bearing His image as creator, and even connecting with him during those times of creating & processing. AND i am so hopeful that in all this, i'll be able to create a space that facilitates others' worship. a space that is beautiful, but not distracting. words and nature and artistic focus that reflect God and draw hearts to Him. totally my passion in life right now.

me & my "aesthetics team" troubleshooting a big yellow ladder in the middle of the room :)

...and I thought the way i was going to be "stepping out" was in another area that i had been praying about: starting a Captivating group! this book had impacted me so much that i longed to share that healing with others... so i decided to start with some close friends, inviting them to join me in a 10-part DVD series & discussion time... i have never facilitated something like this before, and it was a gi-normous step for me to even invite people to this! but we're doing it! started the friday before the first Uptown service (2 days after we'd decided to join ;) - what was i thinking??! it has been such a crazy whirlwind ever since. still trying to get our feet back on the ground. so excited. :)

just a pretty flower from one of our walks around the neighborhood - an attempt at trying to "be present" and record daily life, to truly experience each of its moments :)