A house! A house? Oh my, I just bought a house.

So I found a house made an offer and it was accepted today!!!!
I'm sure you wondering how I did meeting my requirements

From list one:
Big Window, check- in the living room, dining room, family room and studio/spare bedroom
Room for a hammock, check- in the little back yard or next to the studio
Dark backyard, check-some big old trees and a neighborhood street
Entrance without stairs, check-the front door you can just walk right in
Master Bedroom window, check-a quiet street that has very little traffic
Trains not close, check-but not to far either, about a mile to the closest station
Storage, triple check-basement garage and attic
place for bike, check-that would be in the garage
Garden, check-there's a small space for flowers, and a good spot for some other things to grow
Dog friendly, check-small back yard easy to enclose
Location, check-4 miles less to work, 3 miles from church, 15 minutes from family
Comfort, check-when looking at the house, it was the first house my mom liked enough to sit down in

On to list two:
Smoke free, check-enough said
Deck, Patio, or Porch, double check-patio out back, porch off of studio
Fireplace, check-one in the living room
Light, check-why do you think I'm making the spare bedroom a studio
Green, OK, room for improvement but lots of light gets in through double pained glass
Widescreen TV, check-most likely will go in the family room when I get one
Three bedrooms, check-Master, guest, and studio
Laundry, check-stackable but right now is just off the kitchen which is kind of weird
Hill, OK, not obviously high, but next street over is definitely downstream
Non shared driveway, check-hedge needs to be trimmed at the edge but it's all mine
Room, check-so much room I'm going to need more furniture
Prayer space, check-I'm thinking by the front window in the dining room

Another bonus I just discovered 4 Starbucks within 3 miles!

Things I Want in a House - Part 2

Alright, now for some practical things:

1. Smoke Free, I refuse to wash nicotine of the walls again.
2. A deck, porch or patio would be lovely.
3. A fireplace, I can feel the warmth already.
4. Good southern light, it an artist thing.
5. Green adaptable, I want to do my part for the environment.
6. The perfect spot for a wide screen tv, even thought I don't have one yet.
7. Three bedrooms, so I can have guests stay over.
8. A washer and dryer, so I can do laundry at midnight.
9. I'd like the house to be on a hill so I don't have to worry about flooding.
10. A non shared driveway.
11. Room for my stuff, no storage place for me.
12. A dedicated prayer space would be really nice.

Things I Want in a House - Part 1

So I'm in the process of looking for a house, ready to expand beoynd my one bedroom 4th floor apartment. The problem is I'm not exactly sure what I want. So I thought I'd bring some ideas here. Sure I could write about
- School district (Don't care I'm single and all taxes are high around here)
- Down Payments (Can you ever save up enough?)
- Real Estate Agents (Who send me lots of e-mails but otherwise ignore me)
- Time deadline (I'm not being kicked out but I'd sure like that tax credit)
- Kitchens (As long as it has appliances from at least 1990 and work, that's good enough for me)
And much more, but I find the things I care about will never show up on any webpage or printout.

So I thought I'd share some of the things that really do matter to me.
1. A big window to watch thunderstorms, yes I love them and it's what got me inspired to write this instead of going back to sleep.
2. A place for a hammock in the yard in the shade, I really find these soothing.
3. A dark backyard to look at the stars from, right now I've got a well lit parking lot.
4. At least one entrance without stairs, why make things difficult on myself.
5. A master bedroom were I can have the window open at night and not be awakened several time because of noisy traffic.
6. The house should at least be three blocks from any train tracks, if you knew where I live currently you'd understand.
7. An attic, garage or basement, it doesn't matter which as long as there is someplace for storage.
8. A place for my bicycle, which is currently still at my parents house.
9. A garden, it doesn't have to be much, but I need someplace to get my hands dirty.
10. Dog friendly, I love dogs and want to have one of my own.
11. A location that's less than my 45 minute commute, but still closer to friends and family.
12. A place where people could come over and feel comfortable, but I guess that part is up to me.

That's enough for one night, but I promise to write more soon.
KC

GLB

Here's a video I created for the one and only Ginny.

Brazil Video

Here a video I captured while in Brazil. That's my friend Sharon spinning.
The words being sung are: Let Your fire fall, let the wind blow, let Your glory come down.

Happy Thanksgiving

I know I haven't said it elsewhere, but I thought I'd at least say it here; HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

Things I'm thankful for are:
Family
Good Friends
A job in the field I love
A few days off from work
A Savior who loves me
Crazy older neighbors
Cheaper gas prices
A car that gets me where I need to be
Talents and abilities
A place to call home
Internet access
A life changing trip to Brazil
A time to worship

God Dreams and the Narrow Road

So after talking about the narrow road in Bible study tonight, God just gave me a follow up on some questions I had.
Here's my dream.

I had gotten in the car, and was listening to the radio. I knew my friend from Bible study were in the house behind me, and we weren't at our normal meeting place, but on a retreat or something. I'd like to think were were down the shore, or at least by some body of water. Anyway, I'm sitting in the car, and one of my friends sits down in the car next to me and squeezes beside me. A song comes on the radio, I think it was an Avalon song, but I thought at first it was a different song, and I asked my friend what they thought of the song. As I was waiting for an answer, I realized it wasn't the song I expected it to be, when my friend asked, "Why do you want to know?" Knowing now that it was not the song I thought, but at least a good song, I replied, "Because what you think matters to me." So she started to talk, and I started to drive. And I listened and was absorbed by what they were saying, not just about the song but on many other things as well. As I'm driving down this road with turns, hills, stop signs, traffic lights and scenery, I realize I only have control over the wheel, my friend has control of the gas and break. As we start to drive on after mostly stopping at a stop sign, and not instantly hitting the gas, I realized it was not my friend I thought sitting next to me, but Jesus in the car with me. Then I woke up.

You can take your own meaning from this, but here's what I've got. 1. It's our job to follow the road. We aren't in control of the pace of this life, God is. So sometimes we slow down and don't know why, God's got a plan. He also has a plan to get us moving again, but it's in his timing. 2. God is craving that relationship with us, more than we can comprehend. He just wants to sit with us, talk with us, and share His love with us. All He asks in return is that we seek Him. Seek His guidance, and opinion.

One of my friends at the Bible study commented that to be Christian is to never be lonely. I struggle with this. I get spiritialy attacked on this issue often. It usually comes from when I leave the people I'd just been with and head off alone home, without feeling like I contributed, or connected with people. And I'll admit, I got hit with this again tonight. So part of this dream was just saying, I know your struggling, but I'm in the car with you.

Gold Tooth Video

This YouTube video was posted by one of our leaders from my trip from Brazil.

Photos from Brazil

I've got so many stories from Brazil, that it's going to take me a while to figure out how much to write. In the mean time, here's the link to all my photos.

Now I just have to figure out how to label them.

http://picasaweb.google.com/kjade78

Freedom -a work in progress

A friend asked me to create an anagram for the word freedom, with the following words.
Fetters, Rejected, Evermore, Eternity, Death, Overcome, Majesty.

Here's what I've come up with so far, but this is just one of several ideas bouncing around inside my head.



I figured I'd share it here because the printout I made crushed the colors.

Me, Emotional?

I know I've said it in my head hundreds of times, but I'm finally putting words to my thoughts. Why is it so much easier for me to show emotion through tears than any other? Some of it is healthy and normal, like in pain or when I'm lonely, but others just don't make sense, like when I'm hungry or tired. I can't just tell myself I'm those things, I just break down. As I'm writing this God brings to mind a baby begging for attention, to be fed, to be rocked to sleep, to have someone come and take care of their needs. I am a child of the Most High God, held in His arms, fed on His Word, who finds rest in His presence. Ok, so if I'm gonna stick with the baby theme, then I want to laugh like them, and giggle and be entertained by the littlest of things. That's the child of God I'd like to be.

I am not a runner, and I don't have to be.

I love taking a different route to get home from work on Fridays, kinda as a reward for making it through the week. These roads take me along the Schuylkill River, and then through some wooded twists and turns, until I end up on Ridge, making a left onto Bells Mill Rd. This is one of the few roads through Fairmont Park, and intersects Forbidden Drive, which follows the Wissahickon Creek. I enjoy stopping here and following the wide path down to Valley Green Inn, which is about two miles from Bells Mill Rd.

I love walking through the woods, looking at all the wildlife, smelling the wildflowers, hearing the creek rumble by, and seeing people from all walks of live getting outside and enjoying themselves. On more adventuresome days I'll cross over the creek at one of the bridges and hike back to the starting point.

Today I had planned on the hike, but the main trail still had large puddles and mud, so I didn't think it would be wise to attempt the less traveled trails. With a bottle of water in hand I briskly walked the two miles down to the open area around Valley Green, and found a larger rock on the edge of the creek to sit for a while and watch the ducks and geese swimming in the water and begging for food. On the way back I stopped again and climbed over a few rocks to get a better look at the dam in the creek. It was after this stopped that I decided to run for a bit.

I've seen lots of people run along this path, some do it very well, and look good doing so. I admire these people, and I thought that if I ran too, then maybe I would start to look more fit. I think I ran for two minutes at most, which is better than the last time I went running here. I had my steps well placed and my breathing under control for the first minute, and then I had to stop. I could hear my heart pounding in my ears, and I needed to catch my breath. I kept walking still recovering from those two minutes, and tried to run again when I reached the next half mile marker. This time I don't think I lasted even a minute. But I kept walking even though my one leg was starting to bother me.

I got to the covered bridge when I heard the Lord say, Be still, sit for a while. I didn't want to be disobedient but the creek is compressed as it runs under the bridge, and is quite noisy. So I said Lord, let me go to a bench just a few more down, where I can sit and be at peace. As I sat and started to feel the strain that I had been placing on my body, that I hadn't realized was there. The longer I sat, the more the woods came alive again, and I hadn't realized I was missing it. My breathing slowed down, and I could smell the flowers again. Sitting there, I could feel the breeze running along the creek, when I had been so over-heated before.

God stirred in my heart, that I had lost focus on why I go to the park to begin with, because I was so focused on trying to be the runner I am not. Just like when I get so focused on a project at work that I loose site of why I love what I do in the first place. God loves me just the way I am, runner or not, and walking is fine by Him. Seeking His will comes first, and that's what I should be focused on. I don't have to be a runner, and I'm really OK with that.

Saturday Night Adventures

I did a crazy thing this past Saturday night that I feel like sharing.

I decided to go see the second Chronicles of Narnia movie, Prince Caspian, which was being digitally projected only at the Warrington Regal 22.

Me going to see a movie that starts at 9:40 at night is not so crazy for those that know me and my night owl tendencies, if you didn't just look at what time this was posted.

Nope, the crazy part was that when I got there at 8:55, the theater had just been evacuated because of smoke or someone pulled the fire alarm. I never did get the full story. Anyway instead of leaving like most rational people would do, I decided to hang out by the main entrance in the parking lot, until the theater opened back up.

I felt a bit odd standing by myself, as much as one can surrounded by hundreds of people. But it was a lot of fun watching people sit in the middle of the street, and seeing some girls jump when they were posing for a picture in front of a fire truck when one of the fireman revved the engine. The doors opened back up around 9:40(perfect timing) and I was second in line for tickets. 10 bucks later and I was able to easily buy a bottle of water, before heading into what would have been a packed theater, but only had 10 people in it. The previews started by 10, and I can come back sometime soon and see it again for free because of the inconvenience.

The only real problem was that in a theater that empty, jokes just fall flat.
The movie was very well done, and had some amazing special effects that make me want to pursue something greater with my career. Someday. My excuse for going back and seeing the same movie again will be that I kinda know someone who works for Weta and has his name it the credits. Perhaps I'll take someone along with me this time.

The finished picture.

Since I haven't posted anything in ages, I figured this would be a good thing to add, and maybe get me started on blogging again.

Fruit for thought

This is a work in progress, let me know what you think.

:)

Let's test out an audio player for LF UMC's podcast.

I know there's lots of stuff showing up that shouldn't but this is to test the audio. When I tried this earlier all I heard were chipmunks.

Praise Him with harp and lyre

This morning, Sunday, I was able to play along with the worship team on electric guitar.

Two weeks ago at practice, (I run the soundboard)I was asked if I could play three "simple" chords, Ab Bb & Eb. If anyone knows guitar they know this is not something a beginner like myself can easily do. So I asked a friend to play on Sunday instead.

As much as I wanted to play, I couldn't, didn't know how, and was really disappointed with myself. I got so upset my stomach became nauseous. I held onto that grief for that night into the next day.
Later that night, I found some other sheet music with two of the same notes with a capo1 chord change. With the capo on the first fret, the chords became G, A, and D, which are easy to play. All of the sudden this impossible task of playing music with the worship team became possible. However since I had already asked someone to play, and I still had to run the sound. Since I learned the song, I play it every time I pick up a guitar. By the way, the name of the song is "The River is Here"

Last week I actually asked someone else run the soundboard, (this happens once a month, maybe) because I wasn't able to attend practice. Instead I went to see the David Crowder Band who were totally awesome, and awesomely praising God. So when I showed up early this morning, well at least early for not having something to be there until the service, I got to listen to the worship team practice. The last song they played, was the song I learned. So I casually asked, want someone on guitar, and they said yes. And in my head I said YES!!!!!!!!!!

I didn't tell anyone else what I was doing, so my mom was a little shocked when I got up with the worship team to play the last song of the service. I made sure the volume wasn't too loud just in case I messed up a lot. I was so nervous I couldn't look up until the closing prayer.

Yea I messed up a little, but I got to PLAY!!!! The reason I wanted to learn guitar in the first place was so that I could praise God, and now I have in view of my whole church family. I don't know when I'll get to play again, but I'm thankful for the opportunity I had. Thank you Lord for another answered prayer.

Too Peaceful?

I went for a walk after work on Friday, not one of my marathonish walks, but just down to the park by my home, so I could sit by the creek and be at peace for a bit. There's this one section, where there is a large rock to sit on by the water, that was the spot in my head that seemed the best place to stop. So I walked around to this "perfect" spot and sat down and listened. All I could hear was my own thoughts, but even through them God was speaking to me. The water was relatively deep here, maybe a foot and a half feet deep, and I could see little fish swimming. My problem was it was too peaceful, things were quietly moving by without drawing attention to themselves. I forced myself to sit there for 5 minutes miserably, before moving on to another spot.

The second spot is what my soul needed, a bit rockier, but the creek was alive and speaking out. This is where I found my peace, and The Spirit spoke to my heart. He said, that the first spot is where I have been, quiet, too quiet, floating by without notice. This new spot is where I'm headed. It's noisy, rocky, and there are places that are very slippery, but I will be with you, and I will not be silent anymore. Soon it will be time to move, and to be seen moving.

Thanks God!

Behind the Times

Since I've been an active person online since '96, it is now 2007 and I've only recently started a facebook page, refusing to do myspace, and now I'm blogging.

I've been thinking about blogging for awhile now, but as I was writing a friend a long e-mail and pouring out my heart, I became convinced I needed a blog.

I've titled this blog, Joy in the Morning, because that's what I'm seeking. I am not a morning person, which makes it incredibly difficult to find joy there, but with God I'm praying this can be achieved.

The domain name comes from where I'm at now. Psalm 59:16 say, "But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love..." I was reading this verse the other day in my daily scripture reading, and the words leaped off the page at me. I said to God, I want his Joy in the Morning, but this is what I can do right now. So I make it a point to sing of God's Love, Peace, Strenth, and JOY every morning.

I think this is plenty for my first post, more to come soon.