Talk Thursday // Chatty Cathy

Out of the blue phone calls from random friends inspire one of two things in me: fear or excitement. My first inclination is to assume that they are calling to tell me that someone died, that they themselves died or are badly injured, that they're in town for one day and I'm busy, etc et etc. Sometimes I will push myself out of the cave of neuroticism where I typically live and just be excited to talk with long-distance friends. (Today's conversation was the latter, in case you were curious.)

Sometimes you can have conversations just for the sake of conversation. And that's ok. It builds relationship and helps give you a common ground on which to stand with someone else. Sometimes you have conversations to accomplish a goal and hopefully the end of the conversation provides the results. And sometimes you have conversations that challenge and convict and illuminate. Many conversations span those three things and then some.

What kind of conversation do you typically enjoy most? Random? Poignant? Short? =)

Do your conversations leave you wanting more, wanting you to challenge yourself and be challenged by others?

How do you feel when you see a random, non-expected name pop up on your phone? (Or am I the only crazy one out there?)

Music 101

It's no secret that music is a big part of my world. I mean, I can't handle silence at all...I need music in the background just to stay focused.

However, it's hard for me to find new music that I enjoy. I attribute this to the fact that I live under a country music rock. And really only get out it to enjoy some Southern Gospel now & then.

Lucky for me I have friends who are more well-rounded in terms of music and are willing to educate me in the ways of great music. And lucky for you, I'm willing to share. =)

So, just for your enjoyment, here are the Top 5 best musicians I've been introduced to this year and that you also should love....(in no particular order):

3. Tyrone Wells: Jason Segel may need to move over as my celebrity BF. Minus the fact that he's married and famous, Tyrone is perfect. =) But this guy's vocals are killer and even his covers are astounding. PLUS, he's a Washington state local. Gotta love 'em homegrown (and bald) =) This is my current fave Tyrone jam:

5. Dierks Bentley isn't necessarily "new" to me, but this new album of his is. And it's seriously awesome x's infinity. This is for lovers of Bluegrass and all things Appalachian.

Watch the YouTube vid here!

(sorry YouTube was dumb and wouldn't let me embed it, but still totally worth it)

2. NeedtoBreathe: if you like Kings of Leon, you'll enjoy this band's sound. Seriously good driving music. Here's my personal fave, "Girl Named Tennessee."

4. Family Force 5: some friends have been trying for 2 years to get me to listen to FF5; however, they are very nearly "scream-o" rock and I said Nyet! But, at a music festival they played at, I was actually digging most of what I heard. I was totally down with them until they had robots on the screen dancing. So I had to bail...BUT! They are still good and worth listening to if you can handle loud and raucous music that isn't country-based. Well, except for this song. =)

(best part of this: the mullet-as-weapon beat-down at the end)

1. JJ Heller: Christian indie folk-esque. Like Ingrid Michaelson with a Jesus slant. =) Her songs move me. Especially this one.

Talk Thursday // Reasons Why Summer Rocks

Today, I was once again ghetto fabulous and grabbed my lawn chair from my car and kicked it in the GHC parking lot for a solid 30 minutes soaking up the rays (since it is 90 degrees here in the PNW!!!!!!!!!!).

As I was reflecting over the awesomeness that is, in fact, sunshine, it hit me that I have not always been a summer girl. Years ago, I was a mild weather person, often cold weather suited me just fine. I loved wearing scarves and hats and mittens and drinking cocoa and bundling/cuddling under layers of blankets. In the last 3 years, a shift has occurred...I am a summer gal. I want to be WARM! Possibly, this happened because warm weather is so infrequent here in the temperate climate of the Northwest. Maybe it's just because I miss Missouri and their abundance of warm. Likely, its a both/and. And granted, Washington hot is no where NEAR Missouri hot (in MO the lakes get warm enough to swim in! Shocking!!)

Whatever the reason for the switch and in the midst of the difference between WA hot and other places hot, I have compiled a list of reasons why summer is awesome. But this is Talk Thursday so add your own:

Why do you love summer too?

1) Country music can be played at much louder decibles considering the windows will be down and the wind will be whipping through the car
2) There is a perfectly reasonable explanation for why I am eating 2 popsicles for breakfast and will enjoy probably 2 or more throughout the day
3) It necessitates a reason to go to the lake or river
4) Nobody else wants to sit inside so we can all go play
5) I often NEED a reason to shave my legs...summer gives me that reason
6) Two conjunctions: Flip-flop tan-lines
7) Walking away with that "summer glow" (which is funny because it sounds like "Summer Glau"...non-nerds, you won't understand)
8) There is no reason to turn on the heat so I save on electric
9) Warm night driving
10) The smell of sunshine

Let's hear your reasons why you love summer. =)

Caption Please

A Good Day

Saturdays that have no priorities or requirements are few and far between in my life. Thus, the have also become one of my most favorite and enjoyable things in the world.

Today, I have slept in and watched about 75 hours of "Scrubs". Mom, Dad and I hung up my jewelry box eventually, but other than that I have succeeded in doing NOTHING productive. Gloriously glorious. =)

How was your Saturday?

Talk Thursday // All. By. Myself. Don'twannabe....t

Over the last few days, I've had the same conversation with several people: it is hard to make friends and build relationships as a post-college grad. For some reason, finding friends and gaining community gets more and more difficult, it seems.

And it apparently doesn't seem to matter if you're single, married, a cat lady or a Twilight fan - the post-college world is a hard one to live in.

For someone like me, who is EXTREMELY extroverted and needs people ALL. THE. TIME. this little paradigm shift for my life has been hard. Especially living in the Northwest where it is much more difficult to penetrate the thick walls that people put themselves in.

However, we are built for community - we are designed for it. We are created for relationships and friendships, even when they are hard to find.

So, in selfishness AND an act of mercy for those other Hephizbah readers in similar boats, let's talk. It'll be like a reader survey/an advice column. =)

Where are you in life? College, post-college, employed, not-employed, living at home, living on your own?

AND

Where have you found relationships? How have you managed to build community and make friends in whatever stage you are in life? If you've done so successfully, can you give any one of us some advice?

Talk Thursday // Back Where I Come From

I feel like I haven't blogged in a really long time. And that is no bueno (look at me...bein' all bi-lingual =) ).

As you may or may not have heard (for those of you who AREN'T creepy Facebook stalkers...), I just accepted a permanent-full-time job as a patient care representative for GroupHealth's Behavioral Health Access department. You may remember this same department as the one that produced such art as this or this. I've been at this job for a while, but will be stepping into a new role. And I'm pretty stoked (not least stoked for the coming health coverage! Woot woot!).

Part of my job training for this new position requires me to travel to our downtown Seattle office to work in one of the Behavioral Health clinics. I have been training for the last 3 days and through the grapevine, I think I have another week or so to go.

Being down in the Seattle office has opened my eyes to a whole new world: public transit (ooooh!). I catch the train from Auburn to Seattle, then jog over a couple blocks to the Light Link and at its last stop, hop out and walk the remaining 8 blocks or so to my office. I've never ridden public transit, so it was a frightful experience that first day.

However, over the last several days, I have become more confident as I walk the city streets of Seattle. It is definitely a different vibe than walking around the 'burbs of Auburn, Maple Valley or Federal Way. iPod in, music blaring, looking straight ahead - NO EYE CONTACT! This I do not care for. I am a social entity. I need to wave hey to people, to smile and say "good morning"....this no contact thing is not a happy time for me.

Over the last few days, I've pined for the quiet 'burg of Bolivar, where you walk to the square, greeting everyone you pass. Or as you drive down the road, you wave to the cars passing. It's a homey feeling. And I like that.

But I do get along in Seattle. The metropolis is booming and busy and energetic. Quite honestly, I could go either way.

In the spirit of Talk Thursday (which has now become Talk Sunday), which do you prefer? Are you a metropolite or a down-home kind of person? City or country?

Talk Thursday // Cereal Killers

It's no secret to anyone that I love cereal. Between cereal and Easy Mac (and my parents) I am able to survive. Cheerios and Rice Chex are my faves, but I don't discriminate. Except for Raisin Bran - that stuff sucks.

So I want to know, if you could be any type of cereal, which would you be? (Your reasoning can be based on anything from flavor to creepiness factor of the cereal's mascot.) I think I would be Fruit Loops. Fruit Loops are tasty, colorful, and they always make the milk taste good at the end. Plus Toucan Sam has a huge schnose - just like me. =)

What about you?

Partial/Nuclear Family Photos

When you have big moments to capture, it's inevitable that you take pictures. Luckily, we Lewis' got lucky with Karen Wang - photographer extraordinaire! Rachael graduated this last Saturday so we took advantage of the time to do some partial/nuclear family* photos.

Some family photos are awkward.

Some are dumb.

Our's were just straight up awesomeness. =)

Check out Karen's blog to view some Lewis' in the sun.
And check out Karen's blog if you need someone to do great photos in the Seattle metro. (She did Rachael's senior pix and I approve.)

Yay for awesome pictures! =)



*referenced as partial/nuclear family photos because we were missing Stephen Cowden - our BIL. He needs to know that the pictures (and good times had during) would have been greatly improved due to his presence. As a consolation, I'll send his wife back to him temporarily. ;)

Random Thoughts w/ Sarah Lewie

I was reading through some Proverbs last night and stumbled across a verse that I've probably read a bajillionty times before, but it struck a nerve last night.

"The wise in heart will be called understanding, and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness." (Prov. 16:21, NASB)

Wisdom has always been something that I've desired - making wise choices with my time, financially, my relationships, food, future plans, etc. And I constantly feel the struggle to make wise, godly choices. HOW do I make those wise, godly choices everytime when it is just so ding-dang hard to do?

In reading this verse, I wonder if what Solomon is saying is that those who are wise [in heart] are those who are understanding. Understanding of what? People? Situations? Maybe those who are empathic? If this is the case, maybe then the struggle needn't be me against myself and my own inability to understand my situation, but that I become capable of understanding others.

And this is love. Out of that love comes sweetness of speech. Then if I'm desiring that others perceive me as wise (or at least capable of making wise choices) my method becomes sweetness of speech, caused by love for the people I'm around because I am choosing to understand them and their situations. This gives me God's wisdom at heart because everything boils down to showing love to others, which is how we also show our love to God. Wisdom caused by the ability to love others as we have been loved???

God just blew my mind.

Granted, I could be totally off my rocker here. Solomon could have been completely talking about something else entirely. But if God's never-ending intention is that we love Him and we love others, seeking His wisdom can't be that far off base. =)

Ok, random thought over. Happy Wednesday. =)

"HEY YOU GUUUUUUUUYYYYYYYYSSSSSSS!"

This weekend I will be headed down to Astoria, OR to engage in a cultural phenomenon:

The Goonies 25th Anniversary Celebration.

Some people from my church are HUGE Goonies fans; I don't even think I've ever even heard one of them say the word "die." So we're headed that way to enjoy reliving the dream of the Goonies madness.

To be honest, I'm headed that way cause I just like roadtrips and eating junk food with my friends, but whatevs. =) It will be an interesting weekend - chock full of people watching. Although, if I got to meet Sean Astin, I would wet myself (SAMWISE GAMGEE!!!).

Are any of you big Goonies? If so, would you be willing to post a picture of you doing the Truffle Shuffle? ;)

(Interesting point to note: the Goonies movie and I are the same age. Fancy that. =) )

Have a great weekend, ya'll! Pictures to come!

Talk Thursday // Gleek

My sister had oft spoken of her deep desire to be in a Broadway musical, despite her current hiatus from public singing. And she could do it; she would rock the Casbah. True story.

I, on the other hand, while loving the spotlight and belting out a rockin' karaoke jam, am not made for the stage. Put me working the lights or sound or props and I'll be fine.


That's why GLEE works for people like Heather. And for people like me. It's chock full of power ballads done by relatively decent vocalists with a story-line that have to matter because everyone knows we're all just watching it for the music.

If you love Journey (and who doesn't?!), you should watch GLEE.

If you want to watch Idina Menzel absolutely DESTROY a Lady GaGa song, you should watch GLEE.

If you were ever in or desirous of being in a vocal group, you should watch GLEE.

If you ever felt like a loser/outcast in high school, especially when pitted against the cheerleaders and jocks, you should watch GLEE.

If you want to find a plethora of songs to belt out to in the car so that as you're driving down the road people look at you a little funny because though it's quite obvious you're not black, you are certainly attempting to sound like Whitney Houston, you should watch GLEE. (Wow...that one got personal...)

And if you are able to find expression to who you are through music, you should watch GLEE.





So, have I convinced you? Are you a GLEE(k)? And where do you belt out your power ballads? =)

Talk Thursday // 5 Questions You've Never Been Asked

Like a car runs on gasoline, this blog runs on thievery. I'm not so creative, but I know how to read and listen. And I've been reading and listening over at Tyler Stanton's freaking hilarious blog. He makes me laugh; I want to make you laugh; so I thereby give you....

5 QUESTIONS YOU'VE NEVER BEEN ASKED, Talk Thursday ed. (done also in part by a ridiculous conversation between Jenna S & myself)

1. If you had to trade your face with any kitchen appliance, which one would it be?
(Things to consider: the noises your face would make, the fact that you'd have no eyes, and how often people would use your face in the process of making themselves something to eat that they couldn't share with you because you would also have no mouth)

2. What song would you choose to sing if you were required to sing it every time someone asked you how your day was going?
(Things to consider: your pastor asks you this question, your vocal range, the frequency of this question being asked in a day)

3. How often would you like to see Michael Bolton do the worm?
(Things to consider: really, there is nothing to consider. The only appropriate answer to this is "all the time!")

4. Which would you rather have stapled on your forehead: your thumb or my gym sock?
(Things to consider: swimming, first dates, the chance of being tickled)

5. If you had to lick some item in your room every time you passed by it, what would you choose to lick?
(Things to consider: the chances of you having to touch it, the chance that someone else will touch it, the looks you'll get from people who see this happen)




This has been 5 questions you've never been asked.....and probably never will again. =)
(Thanks to Tyler Stanton and Jenna S!!!)

Talk Friday // Passion

I like the beach.

I like ministry.

I like people who like the beach and ministry.

These things put together made for an excellent last few days. Our administrative coordinator/collegiate student minister invited me to accompany her to Cannon Beach for the Northwest Baptist Collegiate Ministry Conference. I'll be real: I was skeptical. I'm not a collegiate minister; I've never done collegiate ministry (SBU does not count); and I don't know anyone.

However, it was fabulous. The people were kind, they accepted me without any collegiate background and I made some wonderful connections, not just for myself, but also for our church and the community we serve.

And it got me to thinking: what was it that made these people come together? Why would they take three days out of their schedules to come to the beach and hang out? Ok, ok...that question just answered itself. =)

The answer to the first question, though, is PASSION. Those collegiate ministers had passion. Passion for their work, passion for their collegues, passion for their Lord, and a passion to do what they know they were called to do. Their passion for growing closer together as collegues, gleaning ideas for how to do their ministry better, and passion for how to help college students get to know Jesus better was evident the whole time.

So, what's your passion? Is there something in your life that you are deeply passionate about? That you would give up three days for? That you would change your life for? If there's not, there should be. I can't imagine living life without a purpose. And passions enable us to have purpose.

What's yours?

Summer Goals: UPDATE!

It has officially been summer in the Lewis/Halpin house for 2 full weeks. And I have added and completed several goals for myself and my summer.

So without further ado:

Sarah's Super Spectacular Summer Schema!

Veritas:
* Write training materials for the Orchard
(outline accomplished)
* Pre-write one month's worth of lessons for Orchard
(accomplished with 3 months to go because of her super awesome BFF Adina and the generosity of Central Baptist Church!)
* Inventory Orchard materials
* Create Orchard budget

Multnomah:
* Start Comprehensive Written Report for internship class
* Review Hebrew & Greek (likely closer to August)
* Read Genesis-Song of Solomon
* Translate Galatians
* Read ahead in textbooks (if possible)

Personal:
* Reorganize bookshelves (they are not in alpha order and it's driving me NUTS) (accomplished)* Finish The Coffeehouse Gospel, All-Star Missions Churches, Crazy Love and all the Dean Koontz books that have been sitting on my bookshelf for the last 3 months
* Go on a road trip (or several)
- Cannon Beach #1!!: 5/18-5/20
- Cannon Beach #2!!: 6/4-6/7
- Wyoming!!!: 7/21-7/25
* Go to the drive-in movie (accomplished: Iron Man 2)
* Go on a date (but not like the two blind dates from last summer...those were BAD!))
* Ride bike to Flaming Geyser & back (14 miles)
- Ride bike to SR-18/Auburn-Black Diamond by end of May (4 miles)
(accomplished 5/15)
- Ride bike to Mosby farms by end of May (6 miles)
* Get a tan
* Upload all pictures to Facebook
* Make Rachael’s graduation present
* Lose weight (it's an every summer ordeal)



You guys are keeping me accountable. And I appreciate that. =)

Homepage

I have two computers: my work computer (Jack) and my laptop (Alex). The default homepage for Jack is the GroupHealth Cooperative intranet page. I can't change it (try as I like) and I don't need the intranet for much. So when I want to get online I usually opt for opening the shortcut link to my iGoogle.

For those of you who don't know the gloriousness that is iGoogle, it contains the Gmail inbox, the weather, chat, news clips, the Google function and I even have a Tetrus game on mine. I love iGoogle. And I would love if Jack's homepage would be iGoogle instead of GHC.

*Segue!!*

Our church is going through a sermon series on the Fruits of the Spirit. We spent last night at our community group kind of recapping the last couple: kindness, goodness and faithfulness. After discussing the nuances of each of those, the main point became that all of these things boil down to love. You can't be kind without love; you can't be good without love; do you really want to have faith in something (or Someone) that you don't love?

The illustration was made that love should be our homepage. It should be what we default to. Once we're in the love 'homepage', we'll be able to "link" to anyone of those other fruits: joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

However, for many of us, love doesn't seem to be our go-to; it's typically something else. We discussed Ephesians 4.31 that says, "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice." One of these is more than likely what we default to.

I have to admit that mine is slander. When I'm frustrated, when I've lost control over something, when something doesn't go my way or I can't get what I want or I'm hurt, I default to slander. Whatever the situation, it's never my fault, something else made me drop the ball or caused me to be late or hurt my feelings or made me feel little. I want to deflect any responsibility and throw someone under the bus.

But what if rather than opening my homepage to slander, I opened it to love? How would that even look?

When I can't complete something on time, what if rather than complain, I worked to get it done more quickly?

When I lose control over some situation, what if rather than assume the other person has it out for me, I find something else to do?

When I get my feelings hurt, what if rather than talk bad about them to others, I stop right then and pray for them?

I think it might look like love. Like the love of Christ coming out in my life. And helping others to see Him more clearly in me.

I can't change the default setting on my work computer. It's always going to be GHC. However, I've gone straight to my shortcut enough that I rarely open the Internet Explorer icon. It's muscle memory. And I think if we do it enough, if we practice it enough, we can make our default settings remember love, rather than what we'd rather go to, be it anger or malice or bitterness or self-pity or judgmentalism or whatever.

iGoogle is awesome.

Love is awesomer.

Talk Thursday // Love Languages

Unless you've spent the last 8 years living under a rock in the Mojave, you've likely heard of Gary Chapman's book The 5 Love Languages. I personally have never read it, but more times than I care to count, I have been asked to take quizzes, answer questionnaires, and engage in EXTRAORDINARILY long conversations to determine my love language and how those love languages interact with other peoples. It's like signs of the zodiac for Christian love.

And while, yes, I feel like it's a little cheesy, knowing other people's love languages has really helped.

When my BFF and I were living together in college, we struggled for a long time to understand each other because she didn't want to cuddle and I was never home. She was (and I'm fairly sure still is (you can clarify if I'm wrong, 'Dino)) quality time and acts of service. Once we finally vocalized those things, it enabled us to figure out a way to satisfy one another's "love tanks" as it were (hey, I didn't make it up, I just took it from Gary). We didn't always work towards loving one another in the way that we should have, but at least we couldn't say we were ignorant about them.

So anyway, this week's Talk Thursday is pretty simple:

What's your love language? Is how you receive love also the same way as you give love?

PS, the options are:
* Gifts
* Quality Time
* Physical Touch
* Acts of Service
* Words of Affirmation

Alrighty Sports Fans!

Well, I bought my first set of Discs yesterday. No no...not compact discs or clay discs...Disc Golfing Discs. I've officially joined the ranks of those who would rather spend their sunny afternoon tramping through a forest so laced with the scent of marijuana you get a contact high from a tree rather than those who would rather spend their sunny afternoons getting a tan in the backyard. I'm not sure yet how I feel about that...contact highs or melanoma....


Anyway, I bought 3 discs - a Fairway Driver (Leopard), a Mid-Range (Shark!!!), and a Putter. I'll be real with you fine folks: I'm not good, but I'm FAR from terrible. So there's hope yet.


Jon Acuff says that Disc Golf (or Frisbee Golf) is God's favorite sport. Which would make a lot of sense since it was played all over our small Southern Baptist college campus. Or not a lot of sense....? But everyone in our church plays. And we're only Southern Baptist by affiliation, not practice. Maybe Frisbee Golf isn't God's favorite sport, but rather it was Dwight L Moody's? (I know I get those two confused sometimes too.) =)





So let me ask: do ya'll play disc golf? Do you even care about disc golf? Are you going to slap me in the face for interchanging the words Frisbee and Disc?





Happy Spring, kids!

Talk Thursday // Summer Planning

Since Monday I've been contemplating what my summer will look like and how I will try and spend almost four months of not being in class (wooooohooooooo!)

Well, I've devised myself a little "to-do" list for the summer and I'm going to share it with you. =)

1. Ride bike to Flaming Geyser & back (this will require building up stamina)

2. Reorganize bookshelves (they are not in alpha order and it's driving me NUTS)

3. Finish The Coffeehouse Gospel & All-Star Missions Churches

4. Go on a road trip (or several)

5. Start Comprehensive Written Report for internship class

6. Write training materials for the Orchard

7. Pre-write one month's worth of lessons for Orchard

8. Go to the drive-in movie

9. Review Hebrew & Greek (likely closer to August)

10. Get a tan

(Bonus #11: Go on a date (but not like the two blind dates from last summer...those were BAD!))

I'm excited about this summer.

So I'm asking: what are your plans for the summer? What do you normally do? What do you want to do? And when are you going to come visit me? =)

Cinco de Mayo

¡Hola amigos! ¡Cinco feliz de Mayo! Espero que sea todo bien y disfrutar de este el miércoles encantador. Celebraré este Día mexicano de Independencia trabajando. Sin embargo, cuando el reloj golpea cinco, disfrutaré de pastillas, salsa y un chimichanga. Porque cocina mexicana es ya mi favorito, yo utilizaré simplemente este día como un día para comerlo y beber un Strongbow. Si tengo suerte, yo también miraré "El Tres Amigos".

¿Qué es sus planes para este Cinco de Mayo?

(If you can translate this, you get a Cinco de Mayo prize!)