Crashing California

So this blog may be a bit of a surprise for some, but the time is now to share. Jay and I had decided a while back (actually, officially after we finished our taxes and lamented paying the govt. thousands, again) that we wanted to start our elusive house hunt again.  It had been almost 2 years (!) since we last had tried and gotten burnt and given up. But I felt it in my bones that I really wanted to try again. (sounds a bit like trying for a baby, lol) So we started again, using a different realtor this time. Looking through many, many houses online, in our price range, left quite a bit to be desired.  We decided after viewing a house in Oceanside (which in my mind, I had thought was perfect, till we found out that less than 75 days ago the neighborhood had experienced a homicide, multiple assaults and theft,) that maybe trying to find a Condo in Carlsbad, closer to work and what we know, would be better. We went out on Sunday looking with our realtor at 4 different pro...

And so closes the Easter Weekend for us.  It's been a crazy busy one really. And it's strange because here in the states, Easter really isn't that big of a deal. It's recognized as a "religious holiday" and nothing more. There are no extra days' off. No big deal about family or meals really ... lots of talk of chocolate, bunnies and the like, but it's def. different.  Sometimes it's hard to feel and remember the meaning that it holds for me, since everything really feels very "the same". @ the Doll Hut, setting up, John snapped this pic. On Good Friday I worked, and then sang at an "all church' worship night for our church plant. (So, parent church, our church and another, inner city church from Oceanside gathered, worshiped, had communion and that was Friday).  It was cool for me, I got to play piano for one song (scary!!) but I did it, and Jay came. Usually he is right up there with me, but this I did w/ one of the other...

rain . my heart is dry but I'm still singing. finally! I know it's been a long while since I've written anything here ... and please know (always) it's not on purpose ~ work has been a tornado of busy for me the last three weeks ... I tallied on Friday I had sent a cool 100 files to print the last 7 days, and had a stack of proofs on my desk that afternoon to prove it. Life has been busy. Let's recap quickly ... I finished the Daniel Fast almost three weeks ago now.  The second time through the fast was quite a bit different than the first.  I experienced a closeness with God that I haven't felt in a long while (maybe ever).  The aftermath of the fast though, was also totally different than the last.  Last time through I battled my flesh during the fast.  This time, I battled it after . I spent the last two weeks and almost three days into this week, really struggling with emotions ... with anger (which, if you know me, is strange in itself, I'm...

Digging at hearts Do I believe these happen? in one word, yes. I don't know that there is any specific way to for sure, for sure TELL that you've heard from the God ... some pastors or teachers have a list that you can pull from to measure against scriptures, align with the words of Jesus, etc, etc.  And God can speak in a variety of ways, some miraculous and others, not so much, but just as divine.  Sometimes, when I think I hear God, it's in the form of a self-conversation. Let me explain.  I'll be praying and thinking and wondering what God might actually tell me in a certain situation and sometimes I'll hear an answer.  My (very, very unofficial gauge) as to whether it's from God, is; is the statement really, so superly smart that there is no way I could have come up with it ... and also, it's usually very short, like two to three words or one quick sentence.  I know, I know, that sounds a bit fruity, and I guess it is, but they don't call...

Sometimes you find God in the strangest places ... actually, I think you find Him more in the strange places than the ordinary. Yesterday night I found Him in the Doll Hut, a classic tiny-as-a-tart rockabilly/punk/alternative club just one exit North of Disneyland. We were playing a Thursday night show at this place, we had never heard of, but it's pretty well known, a little bar (I'm not exaggerating about the little, it's small) right off the freeway but down this weird service road that looks like it goes no where.  Some huge names have played the Doll Hut in history; Tool, Green Day, Brian Setzer and No Doubt have apparently all graced the stage. We arrived a bit too early (my fault) and just hung out, set up and chatted with our regular 5 people who come to our shows (Kristin, John's beautiful wife and our ever lovely photographer, Mike's girl at the time, and a couple freinds) and we were seriously preparing to play to the usual cameras and couple peeps ...

from my Saturday walk on the beach, a buried treasure I've decided to do the Daniel Fast again -- after pondering and realizing that I want to get close to God, seek His face and really just sort of "reset" my physical, mental and spiritual life. Last time I started the fast I also started the rigorous exercise program called P90X ... so, in traditional Amy fashion, I'm up for the challenge, so have also started another round of P90 with the fast. When thinking about this fast, a bunch of things went through my mind, including, do I really want to do this again, haha. It's hard! My mind will be at war with my body AND my spirit for a bit, but I think the rewards ,what I will gain through this will be worth it. So here I am, again =)  Day One of the Daniel Fast and P90x, it's only 10 a.m. and I am already feeling a bit of pressure ... mostly cause one of the things I missed most last time (and this time) and struggled with is the drinking ONLY water p...

I  have a confession.  And this confession will really either educate you all on my personality and being, or make you think I am right crazy (or a bit of both, lol) but I know that those who read here can be trusted =) I ran into a particular "issue" of the variety that requires antibiotics this week. No biggie right.  Here is the something that you might not have known about me. I have a complete phobia of taking pills.  It's not the swallowing them deal that scares me, it's the list of side-effects a mile long that come with whatever said drug I am needing to consume.  I don't know what it is but my mind runs rampant with ever ache, pain, tingle, and tinge that is not normal and thinks that I must be having an adverse reaction to whatever I am taking and I get incredibly (unusually) anxious about taking further pills, until about 3 or 4 pills in, till I really do realize that they are NOT infact killing me, and I can relax. I literally have to psyche ...