Lynse Leanne

Heading into 2011 i was freaked out. 5 minutes before midnight i didnt want 2011 to come. It was unexplained. 2010 was not incredibly enjoyable but moving across the country is an adventure. But for some reason 2011 scared the crap out of me.

I know this is small in the grand scheme of things but i turn 25 this year. (hold back the snickering because of my fetus age). It scares me. I will officially be an “adult.” And my life is no where that i thought it would be when i was in High School. Do i regret the way my life has turned out?

Yes, a bit….but overall…no.

In the passing from 2010 to 2011 i decided that i have already made some decisions to put my life back on the course i thought i would be on when i was in high school and dreaming without a cheque book.

So instead of making many New Years Resolutions I am going to make my goals very simple.

Try and spend this coming year re-aligning my 25 year old life to the dreams i have had since i was young and back-burner because of my people pleasing nature and lack of money in the bank account. Because i know if i continue to go along with life and continue to back-burner these dreams in another 25 years i will regret where my life has landed.

With that said, my new year will be spent trying to figure out how to go back to school in the spring to start an associates (transfer degree) in Psychology. For what i want to do with my life i have a long road of school ahead, but i feel like it is so worth it. And other people have affirmed me in my desire.

so there it is. my 2011 will be spent reconciling my life to my dreams and learning to dream again. learning to dream without the costs running through my mind. Without boundaries that keep my tied down (within reason). And surrounding myself with people who dream and encourage my dreams….or as Chad calls them, “dream catchers”.

What are your goals or thoughts for 2011?

Chads parents, my in-laws sent us a care package in it were some bubbles. This is what Jett thought about them.

This is a movie that we have seen…twice.  it is called Lord, Save Us From Your Followers.

Each time i see it, it reminds me that we are to be LOVE to the world. How else will people around us know that we have the LOVE of God? If we repel people by offending them instead of loving them where they are what will make them want to come to God, who is LOVE.

I think about my story and how i got into church…i was a rebel, i was angry. I smoked, drank and cussed like a sailor. I had no reference for what was wrong or right in church or as a “christian.” No one had told me. It was a make it up as you go situation. But there were people, to whom i am so grateful for, who came alongside me and LOVED me where i was…and for who i was then. They knew that if they could encourage me to get closer to the God of LOVE that the different things in my life would begin to line up with scripture.

Had they have sat me down and attacked me i would have been so turned off…and to be honest i would still be turned off. I sent this tweet on Friday and i stand by it

“Don’t get me wrong I love Gods truth but if you say it in a judging manner and not in love I don’t want to hear it.”

There is a difference in speaking the truth in love and speaking it with judgement. LOVE compels you to improve while judgment causes you to back off and turn away.

So, i have a two part question….and would love your thoughts….

1.  Is it christians that are turning people away from God with their actions, words and judgement?

2.  As a christian, what could you/we do better?

We were watching the news last night and this story came on. I was dumbfounded. I couldn’t believe this happened.

Here is the whole article but you can read it here too.

SEATTLE — The mother of a Ballard High School student is fuming after the health center on campus helped facilitate her daughter’s abortion during school hours.

The mother, whom KOMO News has chosen to identify only as “Jill,” says the clinic kept the information “confidential.”

When she signed a consent form, Jill figured it meant her 15 year old could go to the Ballard Teen Health Center located inside the high school for an earache, a sports physical, even birth control, but not for help terminating a pregnancy.

“She took a pregnancy test at school at the teen health center,” she said. “Nowhere in this paperwork does it mention abortion or facilitating abortion.”

Jill says her daughter, a pro-life advocate, was given a pass, put in a taxi and sent off to have an abortion during school hours all without her family knowing.

“We had no idea this was being facilitated on campus,” said Jill. “They just told her that if she concealed it from her family, that it would be free of charge and no financial responsibility.”

The Seattle School District says it doesn’t run the health clinics at high schools. Swedish Medical Center runs the clinic at Ballard High and protects the students’ privacy.

T.J. Cosgrove of the King County Health Department, which administers the school-based programs for the health department, says it’s always best if parents are involved in their children’s health care, but don’t always have a say.

“At any age in the state of Washington, an individual can consent to a termination of pregnancy,” he said.

But Jill says she not only didn’t have a say in her daughter’s abortion, but also didn’t know about it.

“Makes me feel like my rights were completely stripped away.”

what are your thoughts?

Today, as i sit at Starbucks. Just off of a 5 hour shift i feel so content.

I dont know that i have felt this full on the inside in a very long time. it is like a beautiful collision of the music in my ears, the smells and people around me but i am totally satisfied in life at this point in time.

I have a best friend that i get to live with and spend the rest of my life with. i have an incredible manager and fellow partners alongside me at Starbucks. I have a dog that loves me no matter if i had a good or bad day…he is happy to see me. my best friend and i are about to embark on the biggest journey of our lives together…and we are together.

It took a huge step to resign from my other job….one that was hard…but one that i dont think i will ever regret.

You may think i am “just serving coffee” or “working in food service” but for me it makes me happy. my legs on the other hand arent as “happy.”

i am satisfied and content. right now.

Are you? if not what would it take?