"If for some reason, that's what he has to go do, I just don't want to know. As long as things are good in our house, just please, don't get caught."

These are Kate Hudson's words in reference to the fact that it's okay for her husband to have affairs as long as she doesn't know about it.  She also adds that monogomy isn't "realistic."  How disturbing!  No wonder the sanctity of marriage is going to crap so much these days. 

A couple years ago, I was challenged with an assignment.  The goal was to come up with a personal mission statement.  This statement would be my life ambition, my mission in the midst of the Great ComMISSION.  It would serve to give me direction, and keep me on track with what I wanted my life to exhibit at all times.  For two years I have struggled to put my life's desires into words, thus to date I have not had my own, personal mission statement...until now. 

"Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions, give it all you've got, be resolute, and love without stopping." (1 Cor. 16:13, Msg)

I read over these words and they just fell upon my heart and made me cry out, "That's what I yearn to be about!"  These words give direction internally (keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions), and serve to guide externally (give it all you've got, be resolute, love without stopping).  I pray that as I now lay the foundation of what I want my life to about, that I would hold fast to these truths and allow them to deeply penetrate my heart.  Can you imagine a world full of believers that exibited this verse on a moment-by-moment basis?  We would acknowledge the presence of Satan in EVERYTHING (falling on our knees in prayer), we would walk righteously before the throne, we would spend and be spent, we would never give up knowing we serve a God who desires the salvation of every human being on earth, and the unconditional love demonstrated by Jesus would flow from Him, to us, and on to others.  If we all strived to live that way, this world would be full of light, exposing the darkness of this world (that's a pretty sweet thought!).

If you have a mission statement, post it as a comment.  I think it's cool to know what other people are clinging to as they seek to serve the King of Kings, and we all need to be kicked in the butt every once in a while and have truth spoken deeply to our hearts.  If you don't have a mission statement, I would challenge you with the same assignment I received two years ago.  Search the scriptures or just jot down some things that resonate with your heart, and allow them to lay the foundation for your role in the Great Commission!!!  

Andrew's back, God is faithful, life is good 

PS: Rita, I had a good time hangin' with you at Coffee Bean.  I'm always game for convos filled with Myers Briggs references (gotta love the crazy world known as Cru)!!!  We'll miss ya at NAU (again!!!), but I know Davis will blow you away (Sam, cause I know you'll read this, treat her well!!!). 

I know nobody reads these, but it helps me pass the time at work!!!

FIRSTS.
First best friend: Josh Tomita (my next-door neighbor)
First car: ’89 white Toyota Camry – she’s in car heaven now
First screen name: goal1424
First self purchased CD: TLC
First pets: Cocoa (the cutest dog around!)
 
LASTS.

Last car ride: driving to work this morning
Last good cry: yesterday after work (I’m becoming so emo)
Last library book checked out: dang, I have no idea...it’s a rare day when I make it to the library
Last kiss: my trip to SLO (blush)
Last crush: okay, slight crush on ty pennington and shane barnard, but I love only one man!!!
Last phone call: my mommy
Last time showered: last night
Last shoes worn: Rainbows of course! 

Last song played: Trick Daddy “Sugar (Gimme Some)”
Last item bought: an oil change at Jiffy Lube
Last annoyance: the smoky air from the fires…not allergy-friendly
Last shirt worn: blue sunset shirt from AE
Last website visited: cnn.com
Last word/s you said: “No thanks, I’d rather chow down on my apple than on ice cream.”  In response to my boss asking me if I wanted an ice cream sandwich (am I crazy?!?!) 
What color socks are you wearing?: none, I only wear socks in the summer if I'm wearing tennis shoes
What's under your bed?: winter clothes in some storage cases
What time did you wake up today?: 7:20am

FUTURE.
Where do you want to go?: Give me an island baby!!!, but I’d like to see Europe too
What is your career going to be?: who knows…but I’m leaning in the direction of counseling (deep down I want to be Rhonda on Starting Over)
Where are you going to live?: again, who knows…after college I’ll probably make my way over to SLO and then it’s pretty much up in the air after that
How many kids do you want?: two or three sounds good for now

What kind of car:  well, my dream would be an escalade, but do I really need an escalade??? My hope is to never succumb to a van (but I know the word “never” shouldn’t exist)

CURRENT.
Current mood: pretty upbeat minus missing someone special
Current music: “You and Me” by Lifehouse (I love that song!)

Current taste: water
Current hair: brown w/ some highlights
Current clothes: shirt and jean shorts
Current annoyance(s): it’s hot – I hate it when your legs stick to the chair because it’s so hot!
Current desktop picture : a picture Andrew sent me from his trip up a mountain at sunset time
Current book: A Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers
Current hate: web classes!

(X) - you've done
(_) - you haven't done
 
(X) crashed a friend's car – in my defense it was just a minor scrape!  
(_) been to Japan
(_) ridden in a taxi
(_) been dumped
(_) been in a fist fight
(_) snuck out of my parent's house
(_) ever had a crush on someone of the same sex
(_) ever dated someone of the same sex
(X) had feelings for someone who didn’t have them back  - everyone’s been there
(\) been arrested – I’ll give that one a half of an X, I had the handcuffs on and everything until my dad came and saved the day
(_) made out with a stranger
(_) stole something from my job
(_) celebrated new years in time square
(_) gone on a blind date
(X) had a crush on a teacher – Mr. Henton (he was voted the hottest male teacher)
(_) celebrated mardi-gras in new orleans
(_) been to Europe
(X) skipped school  - welcome to my freshman and sophomore years of college
(_) cut myself on purpose
(_) had children
(X) seen someone die
(_) been to Africa.
(X) Punched a friend when playing around
(_) Been to Canada
(X) Been to Mexico
(X) Been on a plane
(_) Thrown up in a bar
(X) Eaten Sushi – (LOVE IT!!!)
(_) Been Snowboarding
(_) Met someone in person from the internet
(_) lost a child
(X) gone to college
(X) taken painkillers – sometimes it’s the only thing that helps!
(XXXXXXXX) love someone or miss someone right now (that’s an understatement)  

UNIQUE.
1. Nervous Habits? biting my lower lip, fidgeting
2. Are you double jointed? nope
3. Can you roll your tongue? nope
4. Can you raise one eyebrow at a time? yah
5 Can you blow spit bubble? Yah…practice makes perfect!
6. Can you cross your eyes? yep
7. Piercings and where? Double on my earlobes, one on my upper cartilage, and one on the middle cartilage
8. Do you make your bed daily? No, and I was doing so well for awhile

CLOTHES.
9. Which shoe goes on first? right
10. Speaking of shoes, have you ever thrown one at anyone? I’m sure I have
11. On the average, how much money do you carry in your wallet? Depends on if Mary reimburses me with her tip money or not
12. What jewelry do you wear 24/7?  my upper and middle cartilage earings
13. Favorite piece of clothing? Right now, it’s my blue, NAU gym shorts

FOOD.
14. Do you twirl your spaghetti or cut it? A little bit of both
15. Have you ever eaten Spam? Like once or twice
16. Favorite ice cream flavor? Oreo Cookie
17. How many cereals in your cabinet? Special K w/ Strawberries and something else