Life Picks Up

Happy Valentine's Day!

Today I am thinking about God's amazing love for me and how much he has blessed me.

Last week was the All Ladies Retreat, of which I was privileged to be on the leadership team! There was so much work lading up to it, but it was exactly what I needed to feel purpose my first month here in Oregon. It went so well and I was able to connect with so many other women. I feel that it was just the start of something bigger for me. I am excited to see all that God does from all the relationships built over the past month or so!

The afternoon we got back from the retreat I crashed (not my car). After A few hour nap I was in my car on my way to meet some friends visiting from California. We met for dinner then went to a magical place called Kennedy School. It's a renovated school building originally built in 1915 which is now a hotel, restaurant, movie theater, bar, brewery, pub, cigar lounge and pool. Seriously. You have to see it to believe it! The three or so hours we spent there were filled with cigar smoking and good drinks... But most importantly, encouraging conversation and prayer. I came home that night so encouraged and excited that God had brought me thus far in my life and amazed that as we align our life to the will of God... He gives us the desires of our hearts. Sometimes not in any way we could have guessed or imagined... But trusting Him is always an adventure!

This week I am going to a few different parties in Portland including a glass fusing class with some of the ladies from the retreat, a 90's throwback party and a co-workers birthday party! Life seems to be picking up... Slowly but surely!

God is faithful!

Insomnia

One month ago today I drove into my new home in Oregon. It's hard to believe that it has been one month already! I got an Oregon phone number this week, which makes this feel more like home! Today was my first official shift at Insomnia Coffee Company. After a few days of training I felt ready to jump into work! I love this coffee shop... The two owners are best friends and amazing men of God. The way they run the shop is so amazing. Everyone is expected to work excellently yet the vibe is so chill, it's a perfect job! Plus I get to be around coffee all day. God is so good!

Last Sunday I went to Door of Hope Church for the second time. I really like this church and think I'm going to start going there. They have two evening services, which is cool! The first Sunday I walked in and saw a wall covered floor to ceiling in random eclectic coffee mugs hanging on hooks. I chose one that I liked and filled it with steaming Stumptown coffee. Hmmm.... I liked this place already! But honestly, the way the pastors teach God's Word is so exciting and keeps me on the edge of my seat! Quoting C.S. Lewis, smoking a pipe as a visual aid and singing a prayer in Hebrew to close the service are just some of the little things that make me love this church.

As I settle into work, and into a church... Life will unfold before me, it's exciting!

New.

It's been one week since my parents drove off in the cold morning air and left me standing on the porch of my new home. Those next four days were tough, I'm not gonna lie. In the months and weeks leading up to leaving California I was surprised by how easy it all felt. I knew it would hit me once I actually moved. And it did. I think it was Saturday when the reality of finding a job, finding a church, finding an apartment, making a new life and new friends really hit me. And on top of that my good friend Ryan was in the hospital recovering from a major heart attack back in California. My parents were gone. And I felt bored around the house. So yeah... It was a rough few days.

I realized that I was so worried about finding a job and starting life that I was missing the reality that I now live in one of the coolest and most beautiful cities! So on Sunday I spent the whole day enjoying Portland. I went to church at The Well with Mallory then got lunch at this little place called Gravy. Aaron and I spent the afternoon browsing the religion and philosophy sections at Powell's. We hit up Horse Brass Pub before heading home in the evening. I was driving across the river, looking out over the city lights of Portland that twinkled through the rain drops on my windows, listening to my new favorite band: Blackbird Blackbird... And for the first time I felt relaxed and content. This was my city!

Today I met my possible future boss. He's the guy that owns the coffee shop down the road, and he recognized me and introduced himself! He said he needed to call me. Then I saw the manager later and she asked if I had gotten the call yet and to answer 'cause it was good news! I don't want to be to presumptuous, but I'm kinda excited! God is good!

Tonight I'm spending the night at my friends place in Portland. After a fun dinner party, good wine and new friends I'm ready for sleep...

'Night.

Times, They Are A Changin'

Change is a funny thing. Usually you don't feel it so much as you wake up one day and just realize it. You look at a picture of yourself or family and you don't recognize the people in it. Then you ask yourself: when did things change!? I'm not really talking about a grown-up looking at their baby pictures... Though that's crazy too. I'm talking about the picture on my iPhone wallpaper. It's the one of me and my brother the night he left for Australia. It was only three months ago. But for some reason, tonight I caught my breath when I saw it, 'cause so much has changed in three months. He's not the same and I'm not the same. Just three months.

Today was a good day. My parents and I spent the afternoon at Insomnia Coffee Company, a local coffee shop. We met the manager and had a great heart-to-heart with her. The coffee shop is owned by Christians who's philosophy of ministry is completely in sync with mine. It was so encouraging to talk with like minded believers and open up the connection for a possible job and future ministry. They display and sell artist's work (I'll be in charge of setting up my mom's jewelry display for the month of May). Every weekend they get local musicians to come play for open mic night. They are focused on building relationships and community! This is just one coffee shop 5 minutes down the road from my new home. And I'm not even in Portland yet! I am starting to see glimpses of the reason I moved come to fruition!

Portland is at my fingertips. The holiday season is just about over. My life here in Oregon is about to begin. Things keep changing... Moving forward... God is faithful.

New Home

Well... After three days of driving I am finally in my new home! My parents and I had planned to take the I-5 north, but because of weather conditions, ended up back tracking and adding an extra 400 miles to our trip! It was truly an adventure getting here. Driving into Hillsboro this afternoon brought a sense of excitement... wondering what the next weeks and months will bring!? I am writing this as I'm curled up in my new bed, in my new room, in my new house, in my new city, in my new state, in my new life! Honestly, I'm too tired to process it all. I kinda feel like it's just Christmas vacation and life will go back to normal next week. But no, this IS the new normal.

Tonight we had a progressive dinner with the family. Appetizers at my cousins D'Auna and Chris', then dinner at my cousins Donovan and Lynnea's, then back to my Aunt and Uncle's house for dessert. It was fun to see everyone's homes and know that I'm a part of life here now...

I am very tired and need to go to sleep now...

Goodbyes...

What a whirlwind of a week! My head is spinning with goodbye coffee, lunch and dinner dates! Right now I feel overwhelmingly blessed and loved by my friends (who are more like family) that God has placed in my life over the past six years here in Southern California. I remember the day my dad called and said we were moving to CA; my responds was basically, "bring it on". I mean, what's one more move!? But the last six years here have proved to bring the most growth in my life. Spiritually and emotionally.

Visiting my friends in Cypress last week was so good. I was reminded of who I was six years ago and how much God has brought me though and matured me. Yet the relationships I made back then are still strong today! And it was good to laugh at old memories.

I have been filling my days with heart-to-hearts with amazing friends. God has been so present in every conversation. I am truly blessed!

Thank you to all who have laughed with me, cried with me, walked with me... Over the last six years. Your friendship means so much to me. I love you all!

Goodbye Brother

This was written on September 26, 2012...

Tonight I said goodbye to my brother. He is currently sitting at LAX international airport waiting to board his one way flight to the Down Under. This is the third time I have driven with my family to LAX, pulled up to the departure gates, popped the trunk and watched as Taylor swung his backpack on is back. Each time feels different. The first time, I felt kinda afraid for him. The second time I felt excited for him. But this time... its hard for me to explain. It feels surreal... at least that's how my mom described it. I stood there on the curb and watched the sliding glass doors invite him in, then I watched his silhouette disappear behind the frosted glass... and he was gone. Just like that. The past 10 months since Taylor has been back from his last travels, it has been like watching a fish swimming around in a small bowl, fully aware of the outside world but unable to get out and experience it. It wasn't right. He didn't belong here, in Simi Valley, living with mom and dad. He needed to get back out into the world. So in one sense watching him leave this time feels so right. But it also feels more permanent. Like I literally don't know when I will see him again. "Growing up" and "moving out" in the Hay family seems so intense. We do everything big! With Taylor off now, I feel ready to pursue what my next move will be! I have lived in Simi Valley longer than I have lived in any one city since I was 12 (it has been four years). Needless to say I'm feeling the itch to move on. I may not be taking a one way flight to Australia, but I have a feeling I'm in for an adventure all my one very soon. My brother has inspired me more than he knows... probably more than I know. His wanderlust and fearlessness give me an energy and desire to explore the world in my own way. I want to move on with my life and follow where God leads me... I want to hang on for this journey we call life... I want to make my brother proud.