bouncy houses and new rooms

i've been up since 6 this morning, even though we got yards done yesterday. but waking up early today was more than joyful for me. you see, today, a friend from the community and i set up and will take down 3 bouncy houses to earn a little extra cash--cash that the community has decided will go towards building my new room in the basement of the yellow house. in late august, the carlson's so graciously moved around their upstairs so that i could move in with them and had the idea to actually build me a room in their basement, which has been down to studs since Katrina. little by little, things have been getting done. first, my bed got moved into the temporary room upstairs. then, the space where my room will be downstairs got cleared. and next week...well...the building begins!

i feel so incredibly blessed to have people down here that really want me here...enough that they'll build me a room. not that it took that for me to know they loved me :) but every time i think about it, it just feels more and more shocking. i'm so grateful for the carlson's, and the community as a whole for their eagerness, willingness, and longing to do this project.

so with saturday half gone, and a few hours before we go to take down the bouncy houses, i'm still finding myself reveling in the fact that these people...communitas...are so tangible with their love...even for one of their own.

seasons and such

if you know me well at all, you might know that forest gump is one of my favorite movies. mostly because of the music. you know that song, turn! turn! turn! by the byrds? well...its in forest gump. i mention this because the song talks about seasons...how to everything their is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven. lately...the idea of seasons has really resonated with me...the changes that come with them and all. they've inspired me enough to make them part of me and portray them in my art...

in my life...there are a few changes going on. my time at starbucks has ended because i came upon a better opportunity. starting this week, i'll be nannying for one of our neighbors. i'm SO incredibly excited to be able to hang out with kids as a job again. i've really missed that. i've also started tutoring one night a week...which kind of takes me back to my days at Youth Outreach in Newberg. I think of all the things (besides friends of course) that i miss from the norhtwest, YO is one of the things i miss the most. but these new opportunities are allowing me to act on things that make me me...who i am at the very core of my being.