JACKPOT!

On my lunch break the other day I went to the beach and stuck my feet in the ocean while I talked to Marmie. I came across the largest most beautiful piece of Sea Glass. It was such a beautiful shade of blue and so well rounded! I was ecstatic and played show and tell to my neighbors! Thank you Lord for little joys like this!

It's the blue triangle piece..This doesn't do it justice! 

My Second Pair of TOMS!

Ok, I'm addicted. We just got these Toms wedges in the store the other day, and I fell in LOVE with them. I never just buy something like this! It was love at first sight!

In my non-existant hope-cheast!

So the other day, I was at Hale Zen originally to get an item for the house ie napkin holder, tooth pick holder, salt & pepper shaker, napkins, place mats or a tablecloth etc. Narrowing it down to the floral cloth napkins or the place mats I ran into the most precious, most dainty and darling dress for a baby girl. I know Chris always says to keep something for myself If I fall in love with it other than giving it away. So here it is. No longer was an item for the house a priority. This is something for a future Evans baby. So fun!

Here and Now.

Kacie and I on My Wedding Day.

Kacie, Me, Ava and Mo on Avas Wedding Day. The Original 4.

Kacie, Hayley, Andrea, Me, Sheridon on our Afternoon off at WHC

When I was in High School I had an awful experience with my youth group. Needless to say, I had to leave and find something genuine. My parents stood behind me and supported me. I hunted for church after church, alone. It was hard, and I found nothing. Ava, my current sister-in-law, brought me to Young Life.

Thier Vision

Every adolescent will have the opportunity to meet Jesus Christ and follow Him.

Their Mission

Introducing adolescents to Jesus Christ and helping them grow in their faith. We accomplish our mission by ...

• Praying for young people.
• Going where kids are.
• Building personal relationships with them.
• Winning the right to be heard.
• Providing experiences that are fun, adventurous and life-changing.
• Sharing our lives and the Good News of Jesus Christ with adolescents.
• Inviting them to personally respond to this Good News.
• Loving them regardless of their response.
• Nurturing kids so they might grow in their love for Christ and the knowledge of God's Word and become people who can share their faith with others.
• Helping young people develop the skills, assets and attitudes to reach their full God-given potential.
• Encouraging kids to live connected to the Body of Christ by being an active member of a local congregation.
• Working with a team of like-minded individuals -- volunteer leaders, committee members, donors and staff.

This is what they are all about, this is what the leaders were for me and others like and unlike me. This organization was the most incredible thing I have ever come across. In our young life group would be the popular kids, the geeks, the loners, the invisibles and the goths. All kids coming together, to have fun, and to learn about Jesus. I couldn't believe how they would take in people who didn't even know Jesus. I couldn't believe they wouldn't try and chastise those who had other beliefs. They Loved. They loved, and had compassion and a PASSION for ALL children. Just like Jesus does. For those who had Christ as their savior, and needed more, they had small groups called campaigners. This was literally a Godsend for me. Kacie was my Leader. She is one of my top people. I love her to death. She was there to offer encouragement and instruction of the Lord when my Moms words would just go in one ear and out the other (sad, but true.) I grew a passion for this ministry. I grew to LOVE it in every form. So I became more involved as a "Student Leader". After I graduated high school - I applied to be a leader. I went through the entire process and discovered it wasn't the right time for me. That I wanted to be more grounded before I led. In 2006 I applied to be a "Summer Staff Leader" at WildHorse Canyon in Antelope Oregon. The summer of 2006 I was "The Bead Cart Girl". I was teaching and helping kids make gifts for themselves or for others. We did hemp jewelry, and jewelry with wire and beads. At this particular job, I learned soo much. I was most often with the rejects. I was able to talk with them - one-on-one and encourage and lift up. I was able to listen to their hurts. I was able to laugh and be silly with them. We had bible studies, we had worship nights. It was the most amazing spiritual month in my life so far. It was hard to go home after but I felt soo refreshed. Winter of 2008 my husband and I moved to Maui to be selfish and enjoy each-other. Our landlords we found out are believers and go to Kumalani Chapel - (a Christ the King of sorts). They also hosted the local Young Life Club! One night, during club, I went over and introduced myself and helped with the food. Another week I went over and joined in a game and listened to the short sermon (more of a personal life talk by an individual of their experience and then verses or a story in the bible to go with it.) I was beginning to long to be a leader again, although It still didn't feel like the right time. Chris and I just got away from everything, it was poor timing. Now, reading "A Woman and Her God" I am in the chapter called "Ministering Like Jesus." I totally got my craving to get involved in YL Ministry. Beth Moore quotes John 4:35: "Open your eyes and look at the Fields! They are ripe for harvest. ....How can you think of food at a time like this?" She says "If you have a vision for the lost, you tend to loose your appetite, because your vision leads to passion." She asks when the last time you ached over a lost soul was? AH! I thought this was SUCH a good question. I have a massive list. I cannot tell you how I hurt for people out here. There are SOO many people that are just unsatisfied with life and empty. So Chris  and I are not able to go to church that much because of our conflicting schedules. I have never felt convicted for not going to church. I always WANT to go, but it just doesn't always happen. Beth wrote something that expressed how I feel about this. "It isn't where you worship and it isn't how you worship; it's who you worship that matters. And you must worship in spirit and in truth." She finishes by saying "Now it's your turn. Your a woman who Jesus loves and calls to minister to the lost. Start your ministry. Just start right where you are. The mission field is literally right between your own two feet at any given time." This is the reminder I needed. Since now is not the right time to be in Young life, and I know so many that are lost, I can just be all that I can in Christ and try to minister as I go about my day. Thank you Lord for showing me this through Beth. So excited to get going and see what opportunities you have for me!

Family of 11, Success!

Oh my goodness, what a shoot I had the other day! This was the first family via word of mouth in Maui that I have had! Didn't know them from adam. Three beautiful families from the south, darling as ever and hysterical as well! I truly enjoyed working with them! The dads were a hoot! They both lifted me on their shoulders to help make a pose work, at first I thought they were kidding and was timid about it, but they insisted and It was so helpful! As I was shooting this family of 11, an elderly gentleman came up to me and asked me for my card after I was done! I'm praying that something will come of this possible future shoot, sounds like another great photo opportunity. Here is a sneak peak of this beautiful sunset filled with beautiful people.  

Ennie, Meenie, Miney, ...WHAaa???

(Home is where the heart is..ok heart...where are you?)

Trying to plan life can be soo complicated when you have technically 3 homes...Currently we are living in Maui with Craigslist furniture and Walmart accessories. In Washington we have a home (Storage Unit) full of Macys wedding gifts and a beautiful yellow and white stripe down couch, and then there is Colorado. Even though none of our things reside there, other than my north face jacket, it's the home of my in-laws. We have family and friends in all three of these states. Seriously, we have talked our selves silly about options for the future. As far as my feelings go..I am not sure about any of them. So for now, I believe that is Gods way of saying, stay put.

Foods I have come to LOVE. Nanny always said....

....try everything once, you might be surprised how much you like it!!! She was SO wise. 

Li hing mui is salty dried plum. It can be found in Hawaiian and Asian markets. It has a strong, distinctive flavor, and is often said to be an acquired taste, as it has a combination of sweet, sour, and salty taste. It has also been described as tart, and even tangy. ..It's used as a powder as well - for rims of martini glasses and on top of Shave Ice, and used as a flavor also for Shave Ice (Which is where I fell in love with it!!!)

Mochi (Japanese: ) is a Japanese rice cake made of glutinous rice pounded into paste and molded into shape. In Japan it is traditionally made in a ceremony called mochitsuki. I get this on top of my Shave Ice. It is wonderful! They make it several different ways too but I like it plain. Crazy chewy texture. 

Ahi - These tuna reach about 300 pounds in weight. They feature a pale pink flesh that is relatively mild. Also called "Yellowfin tuna." I never used to be able to eat fish raw. I LOVE it now. Ahi Poke is such a yummy meal.

Caviar is the processed, salted roe of certain species of fish, most notably the sturgeon (black caviar) and the salmon (red caviar). It is commercially marketed worldwide as a delicacy and is eaten as a garnish or a spread; for example, with hors d'œuvres. The California roll is a maki-zushi (roll), a kind of sushi roll, usually made inside-out, containing cucumber, crab meat or imitation crab stick ...I never liked sushi or caviar before - EVER. Now I could eat it every day. I only like caviar on California Rolls and on Calamari, crazy chewy texture but I like it!