oh where, oh where has our friend, Ellen gone?

...oh where, oh where could she be?!


I have no idea!?!? 

Well, I do have some idea, albeit a bit hazy and uncertain. Nevertheless, I thought I would check in with those of you who anxiously wait to hear what’s going on in Ellen’s World and put your minds at ease. I also need to record my whereabouts for my own sake. 10 years from now, I predict that I will have little-to-no short-term memory and am taking all of the necessary precautions. I wish I were joking.

But I am still here, alive and very rarely am I not kicking. Between working, apartment/house shopping with a realtor, and studying for my first of seven exams I have had little time for anything else much less the desire to do anything else.

So, I thought I would take an eight-minute break and share some thoughts…please note that these have not been predetermined nor do I have an outline for this post [not that I ever do!]. I’m just going to share the next 8 minutes of my mental ticker board. Proceed with caution.

• The weather has been absolutely amazing for the past three days. It has been the kind of weather that would make any Saturday jealous.

• On the other hand, allergens must go away. NOW!?!? Please, thank you. According to the National Allergen Board that updates me daily, there is a HIGH CONCENTRATION of TREES, WEEDS, & GRASSES as well as a LOW CONCENTRATION of MOLD. I temporarily entertained the idea of seasonally relocating to Phoenix or Portland [at my coworker’s suggestion] but after weighing the job/paycheck/benefits that took me 2.5 years to get against the annoying 3.5+ months/year of sleepless nights due to stuffy nose, itchy eyes, burning & itchy throat, & overall tiredness I decided it best I stay. I just need to get my BENEFITS to cover my ALLERGY MEDICINE and then I’ll be set.

• I’m still loving my job! Even though I spent the greater part of the day today wrapped up in a fleece blanket, pashmina scarf, and our HR Manager’s jacket I am happy to go to work [most days]. 

• Like I said, I’ve been studying for the first of seven exams that I have to take in order to become a licensed architect. I’m here to tell you that it’s no fun, no fun at all. But, it has to be done. If I had known what I was getting myself into 5 years ago I might have reconsidered. But then again, what would I be doing?! Nothing else really sounds like fun. I’ve been studying like crazy and have reached the point of being so-ho over it that I cannot wait to take the thing. My plans are to do so this Saturday. Prayers and caffeine are welcomed and appreciated. 

And with that, my eight minutes is up! And, to be honest, that string of thoughts wasn’t as exciting as is normal. Maybe next time.  Next time might not happen tomorrow, but it will real soon.  And when real soon does come, get ready.  That's all I can say.  I have a lot to catch up on...

I do want to add the lyrics to two of the praise and worship songs that are hot on the radio and in church right now. We sang them both at church this weekend and it has kept me going all week. Read and enjoy ☺

Waiting Here For You CHRISTY NOCKELS

Writers: Chris Tomlin , Jesse Reeves , Martin Smith

Verse 1
If faith can move the mountains
Let the mountains move
We come with expectation
Waiting here for You, waiting here for You

Verse 2
You're the Lord of all creation
And still You know my heart
The Author of Salvation
You've loved us from the start

Chorus
Waiting here for You 
With our hands lifted high in praise
And it's You we adore
Singing Alleluia

Verse 3
You are everything You've promised
Your faithfulness is true
And we're desperate for Your presence
All we need is You

Bridge
Singing Alleluia
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Our God Chris tomlin

Writers: Jonas Myrin, Matt Redman, Jesse Reeves, Chris Tomlin

Verse 1

Water, You turned into wine
Opened the eyes of the blind
There's no one like You
None like You

Verse 2

Into the darkness, You shine
Out of the ashes we rise
There's no one like You
None like You

Chorus

Our God is greater
Our God is stronger
God, You are higher than any other
Our God is healer
Awesome in power
Our God, our God

Verse

Into the darkness, You shine
Out of the ashes, we rise
There's no one like You
None like You

Bridge

And if our God is for us
Then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us
Then what could stand against

And if our God is for us
Then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us
Then what could stand against
Then what could stand against

Our God is greater
Our God is stronger
God, You are higher than any other
Our God is healer
Awesome in power
Our God, our God

memory verse 5. James 1:2-6

I have been so busy lately; not in the running-around-like-a-chicken-with-her-head-cut-off kind of busy but in a study-for-exams-while-looking-for-housing-and-continuing-on-with-daily-life kind of busy.  I reach a point of information-overload everyday around 7:00 p.m. but with the boost of energy that only food-both physical and spiritual-can bring to a person I am usually able to push through for a few more hours of Super Study Power Hour.  That being said, I couldn't think of a better passage than James 1:2-6 to dwell on and memorize this week:

James 1:2-6

New International Version (NIV)

Trials and Temptations

² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,^[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ⁶ But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

memory verse 4. Matthew 28:2-6

In honor of the season I decided to take a break from the Roman Road and complete some memory work from the story of Jesus' resurrection.  If you are unfamiliar with the life of Christ and how He was crucified, buried, and raised again for your sins and mine, please, please take time in reading these verses and click on the link below for further reading & teachings.  You'll be so glad you did; this I know.

Matthew 28:2-6

New International Version (NIV) 

 ² There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. ³ His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. ⁴ The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

 ^{5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.}