I walked out of work last night with mixed feelings knowing that I just finished my last night working in retail for a while. It was kind of that feeling, I am so glad to be done, but what the frick am I going to do now. Two years doesn't seem like much, but it was long enough for me. Most of the associates I worked with completely understood. I worked with a group that didn't always know how to make work enjoyable. How do you teach a 19-21 year old to take a part time job in retail seriously?

I am excited to be done. It will become more and more refreshing everyday. I gained a lot from what I did and a few lasting friendships will only continue to grow. The thing I will miss most is are those people that came in to shop. Over two years you learn and see how people live and change, that is what I will miss.

I know I did the right thing at the right time. I honestly don't know what I am going to do next. I start my third year of seminary next week. I am also coaching soccer for the time being and hope to substitute teach when possible. I am also going to enjoy not working nights and having weekends to do what I want.

Another chapter in my life done with.....kind of wonder what is next....

Here we go again.....after running in the Indy Mini-marathon this past weekend. I am now going to do the chicago marathon all over again. Should be a great few months of training. Makes a difference when you have others that you know running it with you. See you in Chicago Oct. 22!!!!!!

Well it finally happened....my olders sister got married. It was a great weekend in Chicago. Everything went so well and she looked so beautiful. Here are so pictures from the weekend.


Rehearsal Dinner


My dad seeing Nicole for the first time in her dress. Notice her reaction of excitement.


Cole peeking from the balcony to see who is there.


The Happy Couple: Greg and Nicole

Best line of the trip in Florida.....

"I AM DISGUSTED!!!!"

my moms thoughts after seeing my tattoo....

I missed the tornados by a few hours.

Spent a week in 85-90 degree weather down in Florida.

Missed the clean-up and everything at home.

Got home and now staring at about 5 inchese of snow.

Plus school got cancelled today and no class tomorrow.

I should have stayed in Florida......

Thank God for Grandmothers. Mine turned 87 today.

I am and always will be a full-blooded University of Kentucky basketball fan. I live BLUE, even when times are tough like this year.

I believe that JJ is one of the best ever on this team i love to hate

JJ is good, really good.......

I got bored and tagged myself........

Four jobs I have had

1. Retail - J Crew & Express
2. Graphic Designer for Advertising Co.
3. Graphic Designer for Lieutenant Governor of IL
4. Sports Store Retail

Four movies I can watch over and over

1. Wedding Crashers
2. Top Gun
3. Anchorman
4. Braveheart

Four places I have lived

1. Ghana, Africa....for a few months
2. Chicago, IL
3. Lexington, KY
4. Rochester, IL

Four TV shows I love

1. SportsCenter
2. Prison Break
3. Alias - when it is on
4. Grey's Anatomy

Four places I've vacationed

1. Sanibel, Florida
2. Maine
3. California
4. Europe three times

Four of my favorite dishes

1. Pizza
2. Any Italian Dishes
3. Popcorn for Dinner
4. Homemade Mac and Cheese

Four sites I visit daily

1. AOL
2. ESPN
3. YAHOO MOVIES
4. BLOGS

Four places I would rather be right now

1. Anywhere with a beach
2. Back in Africa
3. Going on an Expedition with the dogs from 8 Below
4. Living in Chicago again

I want to be found.

The other night I was over at my cousin's playing hide and seek with Drew and Lydia. They are two of the most beautiful children that I know. It was so much fun playing. As kids we always got a thrill of hiding and even being found. As I played with them it was never hard to find them, they made noises, because who likes to be in a dark place for a long time, not these kids. So I would start looking and not even two minutes in, giggles or some kind of noise would be heard and to see the faces of Drew and Lydia was so much fun.

This weekend was ICTC(Illinois Christian Teen Convention) for those that don't know. It was a great weekend. We had the privilege to hear Mark Moore from Ozark speak. The theme this year was Hide and Seek. I didn't know what the theme was going to be about, but if you think of the hide and seek as a game, it made sense. Growing up hide and seek was one of my favorite games, still is. It seems we are good at playing hide and seek with God. When we hide so does God. When we want to be found, he finds us or better yet we find him.

Like I said, I want to be found.

Your Career Type: Artistic

You are expressive, original, and independent. Your talents lie in your artistic abilities: creative writing, drama, crafts, music, or art. You would make an excellent: Actor - Art Teacher - Book Editor Clothes Designer - Comedian - Composer Dancer - DJ - Graphic Designer Illustrator - Musician - Sculptor The worst career options for your are conventional careers, like bank teller or secretary.

What's Your Ideal Career?

This is pretty darn close to who i am. Let me list off what I have done:

Consider myself an actor sometimes
Taught some art
Done some editing for a advertising company
Still working in retail
I find myself to be pretty stinkin funny
have tried to compose some music i have written - no luck so far
I got some sweet dance moves also.....
Whicky-whicky on the turn-table
Graduated with a degree in graphic design
Illustrated for a few advertising companies
still learning how to play guitar, want to pick up piano again
haven't sculpted for a long time now....

Not to shabby on who I be.

Sometimes it takes the smallest push from someone to get a fire lit within your heart and mind. I thank my friend for that. The life of Doug continues to push along. School continues to make me think differently. I just spent a week in a class about worship in today's culture. The big question that still lingers within my thoughts is, what is worship? Wish I had a great answer for it, but right now I don't. One of those thoughts that will be around till I can come to a conclusion someday. Just add that to the many, many other questions that I continue to get at school. Good questions though.

I spent about two months assistant coaching soccer up at Lincoln, though it was frustrating at times. I had a great time playing and coaching this group that knew very little about the game when we started, but throughout the season got so much better. I was proud of the girls. I am now getting ready to play and coach indoor. Should be good also.

On a different note and subject here are a few pics from my trip to Africa. I know it has been a while, but I finally figured out how to upload pics. I hope you enjoy the few I put up. I hope to continue putting more and more up to show the beauty of Ghana and the surrounding countries of Africa.

The scenic view of Africa:

I miss this the most!!!


The beautiful children of Africa:

Aren't they amazing!!!

I have been home for almost a month from Africa now. So much of who I am already feels that I have allowed myself to get back to the "American" way of life. Which frustrates me. But so much of me has completely seen the lifestyle that I know and admit like has changed. To put Africa in one word, I think I would go with passionate. I use that word, because of the people, the places and how God truly is working through the nationals and other leaders of the countries I got to visit. As I sit here and continue to reflect on everything, so much of me is still in Africa, which is good, because I believe someday I will be back there doing more work. I say that with confidence knowing God has some really cool things planned for me and everyone around me. Not that Africa is for everyone, but I know that I can find a place for anyone to serve, whether in a church, clinic, or business. God is doing great things all around the world.

One of the best things about the trip was that God was taken out of the box of America that I put him in. Seeing what is going on around the world was the best thing for me to see and understand.

This whole process of reflection of this summer has been encouraging, tough, exciting, and exhausting. I have had some great days reliving things and some extremely tough days where I want nothing more than to be there again. I hope those that have heard me share see and hear the excitement that I am feeling on the inside.

I don't want to lose this passion and pray that I never do. I ask those that read this continue to pray that God continues to direct me back to Africa someday. I want to take that step and rely on God to get me back to the community and life I have fallen in love with. Until then I will continue to serve around home and just started the second year of Seminary in Lincoln.

Always wanting to be In His Grip!!!!!

Greetings from Africa!!!! What an amazing trip it has been. I wish I could share everything with you in this blog. Africa is an amazing country, not only for the need of God, but the beauty and the people in general. The need for servants is big, especially in the country of Burkina Faso and Niger, which I will be visiting hopefully on Tuesday. We have seen God work in the people we have come in contact with and also dealt with spiritual warefare, which for me is something new. I have a new family of friends and been blessed to do so much and see so much growth in us all. God has been good in protecting us and leading us. I hope everyone that reads this is doing well. I ask for continued prayer and support. Thank you for all that you have done for me to getting to this point. Peace and love from Africa.

I have almost said all my good-bye's. I have just about hugged everyone that I have needed to hug. Tuesday begins what is going to be a life changing time for me and eleven other students as we set out for Africa. The anticipation is killing me, I want to leave now. The saddness of missing everyone and a summer at home also will take me a while to truly get, but what lies ahead is something that I have been preparing for and wanting for so long. This is me getting out of the boat and trusting God more than I have or can remember. I know it will be great and life changing. I want it to be life changing for the people I come in contact with. I feel I have already changed through this process of preparing. For the next two months, my blog will go unused and probably untouched by me. I have one thing to ask of those who read this. Please pray for Africa and the this trip. Pray for the twelve students and the leaders. Pray that God shows me things and breaks from a harden heart that I have had for over a year. I thank those who have been able to keep in contact throughout the process of preparing for the trip. God has humbled me in ways of seeing how many people believe in me and have supported me financially and through prayer. Thank you to all of you. I appreciate you more than you know. I finish this with the verse that I wrote right after I sent out my first letters for support:

Because you know that the testing of your faith develops perserverance. Perserverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:3-4.

Peace out y'all. Have a great summer and see you in August.

Congrats Shelly on getting married!!!! Sorry I can't be there. I will be praying for you and Tony

U2

I was fortunate enough to spend Monday night with a few close friends of mine. Bono, The Edge, Larry, and Adam. It is hard to put into words how amazing the U2 show really was. Unless you were there, I can't really describe it. I walked out of the concert, wondering if I was just at a religous event, a political event(positive one), or just a concert. I think it was all three. Everything about the night was positive and flowed.

To see a band stick together for almost 30 years is amazing. The even more amazing thing about them is they know there is a whole new generation that needs to hear there music and Bono even talked about it at the concert. Bono gave it up to the old-school fans, but really wanted to let the next generation know what he was about. Amazingly enough, this was a first time show for about half the crowd. The show was about 2 and a half hours long, could have gone a lot longer. It was freakin cool to see his passion for the people of Africa also. I will argue with anyone that U2 IS THE BEST BAND EVER, hands down. Elevation was the best concert I ever went to, Vertigo was the most moving rock concert I have been to. It will be really cool if I can see them again in St. Louis when they come back through the states in December. The other cool thing was they taped the show for a live dvd that will come out later this year. To end with "40" was beautiful to hear from the band and the crowd..

I have about a month till I leave for Africa. ONE MONTH. I think up until this week, I have had so much pride about what I am doing and where I am going. Reality hit me hard and understanding what this summer is about has changed my heart. It is so easy for me to think this summer is about me and going to Africa. Its not. I hate to think that I am sacrificing a summer away from home. I don't want to think of this trip in that way. I am scared, but I am re-assured in this decision.

Because you know that the testing of your faith develops perserverance. Perserverance must finish its workd so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:3-4

Here I am, lacking so much of late that it scares me to know that leaving I will be one way and when I come back knowing that I will be someone else. I don't expect anything. How can I. I have no idea what I am getting into. I know this is going to be a journey of life that God has written out for me to experience. I am tired of distractions of life and ready to take a hold of God's hand and allow him to take me.

Here I am, ready.

There is no reason to watch the NCAA tournament anymore......KENTUCKY lost. It was a great game. The whole weekend was amazing, but in the end the loss ends another great year of college basketball. Is it go 'HEELS or ILLINI?!?!

Why is being authentic to each other so difficult at times. I am at fault as anyone else, but there is something about being around certain people that you can be truly authentic. Maybe it is something about being comfortable or trustworthy of that person, but I miss being around some authentic friends. As I sit in a Starbucks in downtown Chicago, all I can think about is a community of friends that I constantly desire to have in my life, where we can be true to each other and not deal with the small crap that sometimes as not only society, but Christians let hinder true relationships. There is always some kind of drama, but to tear apart relationships and keep from moving in the direction that God calls us to is beginning take its toll on me. My heart desires a passion like never before to be truly authentic all the time. Is it possible, probably...still learning....baby steps right? I think it is hard to be authentic always, when not everyone else around me is that way. I am just as guilty as everyone else. There are real people in my life right now and I don't surround myself enough when opportunities arise. My prayer is to find a community that not only accepts me for who I am, but helps me become better and see the good in me more than the faults that I constantly feel hinder me from a life that I want to live and have been called to live.

I miss the city a lot right now. I miss the running on the lakefront. Seeing old friends, picking up right where we left of last time. I miss opportunities that I do not see where I am living at home. I miss the freedom of being on my own. I am fortunate to be where I am at. I know that where I am right now is where I am suppose to be.

God give me peace and comfort for the place I am in my life. I pray for true authenticity from not only myself but those around me. Be constant, be direct, and help us be content in the life you have provided for us.

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?”  

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!” John 21:15-19


Sitting in the quietness of tonight. This passage ran through my mind and heart. How lucky and fortunate we are to be taken AS-IS. We have been bought already. I wait for true love and find it only in the Maker of my life. How many times has Jesus asked me if I love him? How many times have I hesitated? How many times have I jumped into his arms? I seek love, I seek you....

I feel sick to my stomach tonight, kind of like I got kicked a few times, but not enough to really hurt me. I just saw Hotel Rwanda. I know that when this went on I was just a teen, but my heart and stomach are in pain from how the society I live in turned their backs on a whole country, a group of people, trying to live a normal life. It is times like these I hate the lifestyle and luxury that I have been given. I am grateful for it all, but it still hurts. I will have a rude awakening when I get to Africa this summer. It scares me, but not in a horrifying way.

Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 19:21-23

I wish I felt no honor in the wealth of this world all the time. I wish I found honor and humility in the wealth of God more......