Haha that is fantastic! Nice hair...both of you. ;)

So like I said, most of the REALLY embarrassing pics have been disposed of. Not a whole lot phases me. I tried to find embarrassing pics...LOTS of drunk pics that definitely qualify....but those won't be posted...here. ;) Instead... This photo is pretty embarrassing...I HATED that stupid dress and bonnet I was forced to wear for our towns Bicentennial square dance. Awful. http://db.tt/bnDW9eTn And then here is a random sample of "me" moments...enjoy... http://db.tt/FFKTZs56

Thank you very much, Josh!! That does help. I'm sorting a lot of this out. I guess I'm still a relatively new Christian. I jumped in without any thought that I needed quiet time. I found places where I got to love people and serve, and be part of a team that felt like the perfect fit for my life. Many friends told me I couldn't keep going at the pace that I was, and without knowing how to say no, or when, I got to a place of feeling trapped. After giving up a lot of serving projects, I've slowly integrated some quiet time. But now trying to get back into serving without it feeling like an obligation is a battle.

I have a REALLY hard time, especially lately, with figuring out if taking time away for myself is being selfish, or if it's just the healthy option. Thoughts?? How do you balance this? I've found myself in a "servant burnout" area of my life where I truly love and want to love others, but I have no clue where that line is drawn to make sure that I'm staying emotionally and physically healthy. I feel so guilty when I don't serve or contemplate bailing on something.

Thank you for this honest post, Mark. It was very recent that I came to a place of not being able to go about my depression on my own anymore. I spoke to a friend who is in ministry and he shared that he also struggles with depression and not only sees a counselor, but takes medication and believed that sometimes you have to have both to see results. I've started the counseling, and haven't gotten to the point of deciding if I actually need medication. I think a lot of mine is situational, but going back to a therapist who is a Christian, has probably been one of the best decisions I've made in my Christian life. I've blogged a little on it, but it's still weird to put it out there that this is a struggle of mine when so many of my friends SEEM to have it all together.
http://reflectinghearts.com/2011/11/24/with-thank...

Happy Birthday, Tam!! :-) Love you!

I'm 29 3/5 years old today...yes, I did the math...I'm currently in the frustrating process of figuring out the answer to all that. I feel like God has been calling me to ministry with missions...buuuuuut....yeaaah....that's about all I've got. Lots of praying and trying not to let fear and disappointment be what guides my steps. Overall, 29 has been a little rough and wouldn't mind going back to 28. That turned out ok.

Thank you for the reminder that we have a choice, and that it may take countless times of reaching out, but you never know when it will finally pay off. So happy you and your brother were able to have this talk, Wes.

OMGOSH!!!! No joke I just had to contain a yell of excitement in my office!! Congrats!! Welcome back to CP! :-) I LOVE everything that has and is happening in your life! Praying for you as you embark on this next chapter. SO excited! :-)
My recent post A Culture Of Kindness…

Love this, Wes! Possibly more entertaining than your Twitter commandments. ;-) Hope you & Amy are well!!
My recent post Self Examination…

Excellent post--I can't begin to imagine what it was like to lead all of us in the DR. No one died, so that is a plus! :-) I fall into this trap with my relationships. Dangerous expectations come from things being the same day in & day out. To prevent this I HAVE to rely on God & let Him guide my decisions & actions. Prayer, being intentional, having accountability partners & the convictions of the Holy Spirit--refocus & refresh with the Word, worship & very important community. Grant recently told me that alienation can lead to stagnation.

It's good to acknowledge shortcomings so we can grow in the future. But to solely focus on the negative, it will only serve to divide the future. I'm sure the DR trip could've had a variety of different outcomes. But at the end of the day you *did* lead us so that we might love on the Dominican & Haitian people & do work that will glorify God. While everyone on this earth has something they can grow from--know that love is something you don't need to worry about--which I see as a big leadership strength of yours. Chin up, girl! The journey is never over.

Love your insight, Hilary! I did not have that class.. ;-) but I find my daily walk is done with a beat. I rarely stand or sit still. I love to lose myself in worship...the music, the words, the feeling is so very raw when it comes to God and I.