Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me and Peter Sagal

So I'm an NPR listener.  It's true.  Does that make me sound old?  Or nerdy?  Or boring?  Or hippy-ish? 

Oh well.

Because I really enjoy listening to it.  Seriously. 

And I know what some people think...that NPR is for liberals.  Meh...that's what I say.  When it comes to politics my opinion is this: I don't care if you're a Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, Tea Party (uhh Tea Partian?), Independent, etc.  All I care about is helping people.  Caring for people.  Doing good.

But I digress...

Back to the point.

I typically listen to NPR before/after work in my car to hear the latest local and world news.  I also really enjoy a few programs they have: "This American Life" with Ira Glass, "Wait, Wait! Don't Tell Me." with Peter Sagal, and "Car Talk" with Click and Clack.  Anyway, I was listening to NPR recently and heard that Peter Sagal was coming to Orlando to talk about his experience with "Wait, Wait! Don't Tell Me."  Immediately I thought that I wanted to go.  So I talked to a friend that I work with who I knew was a huge NPR fan and we made plans to go.

So what did I expect?  I expected to be entertained.  And I was.  Peter Sagal is hilarious and engaging.  He has so many stories to tell that are all very interesting.  So I enjoyed his entire lecture.  At the end of the lecture he answered a few questions.  One woman rambled on for a while and eventually asked something along the lines about raising children and how to teach them about politics.

And this is the part that got me...I mean, I may have teared up a little.

This is when I realized that God is EVERYWHERE.  In EVERY situation.  He uses ALL things for Good.

Peter told this story.  And of course, I'm going to paraphrase.  Peter was on a plane once and was sitting next to an old retired farmer.  The farmer told him that he was going to South America for the 8th time that year to take glasses to impoverished children that didn't have them.  The farmer had told Peter that he watches Fox News exclusively.  Peter could have been quick to jump to the conclusion that the farmer was just "one of those people".  (You know what I mean.  The stereotypically type of person that watches Fox News).  But Peter realized that was unfair.  He realized that as he sat talking to this man, that he was doing more good in the world than he (Peter) was.  Regardless of what the old man's political beliefs were, he was helping those in need.

And that's the point.  We need to quit judging people, writing people off, turning our backs to people that are different from us.  We need to keep the lines of communication open.  When someone begins to judge and condemn we need to stop them.  We get nowhere with hatred.  Nothing gets done when we quit talking.

And the bigger story is this.  We are all capable of good.  Regardless of our political party...regardless of our ethnicity...regardless of our religion...regardless of our nationality....regardless of our economic status.  We are all capable of caring for and loving others.

Oh and the best part about the story.  Peter said that the old man said he was doing the work of God...and Peter said "And you know what, I would agree with him."  And so would I...because the work of God is this...to LOVE.

A Book Review...errr Mention

So, I have a new favorite book.  I recently finished "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years" by Donald Miller (yes the same author who wrote "Blue Like Jazz").  And let's just say, I can't stop thinking about it.  If you haven't read A Million Miles, you need to drop everything you're doing and go get it and start reading it now.  Seriously.

I want to write more about the things that impacted me....and I will, eventually.  But for now, just trust me on this one.  Go. Read.

May you're life be a story that's worth telling, friends.

Oh oh it's MAGIC!

I went to my very first NBA game and...it...was...AWESOME!!  I was skeptical, I'll admit it, but I seriously LOVED IT!  I got tickets to go see the Orlando Magic play at the new Amway Center.  The new arena is so super cool.  I thought maybe the game would be boring because our seats were super high up, but I don't think there's a bad seat in that Arena.  We could see the game great and I really enjoyed watching it.  I can't wait to go again!!

My latest photo session...

Check out the pictures on facebook.  Click here.  :)

Who I long to be...

Life has been happening around here.  That's the easiest way to describe things.  Just life.  Ups and downs, good things and bad things....my journey continues on.  And it's beautiful, really, I promise you it is.  Amidst the messiness and craziness, it's a beautiful life.

But I've realized this lately...the burden I carry is heavy.
And I think heavier than necessary. 

I mean, I honestly believe that life is not intended to be easy breezy all the time.  A life like that allows no challenges to grow, opportunities to learn, chances to experience worlds outside the bubbles we create for ourselves.

But I do think there's a middle ground.  And I don't think I've gotten there yet.

For this reason...

I carry the burden alone...at least most of the time.  I carry both the worries and the joys alone.
And who should I share those burdens with?
I don't know if it's a matter of sharing...
...rather, maybe giving.

Maybe I should be giving them over to Christ.  And maybe that's not even a maybe.  Rather, a definite biblical truth.

I spend so much energy worrying.  Even about the joys, even when I'm on a mountaintop.  Worrying about when the valleys will come.  And rarely do I turn to Christ.  Rarely do I give it to Him.

Why?
Easy, lack of faith. I don't believe that He'll take care of it the way I want Him to. I don't believe that He'll respond to my needs in the timing I want Him to.  So I foolishly believe that if I worry and fret about things enough, they'll get better.  Ha! Right. Instead, I end up emotionally (and sometimes physically) exhausted. I start to lead a crippled life because I spend so much time worrying about my circumstances that I am often unable to respond to the people around me.  To care for those I love. I'm consumed with my own life that I have no energy to reach out to others.

Fail. Utter fail on my part.

So who do I long to be?

I long to be a woman of faith who turns first and foremost to her Savior.  Who finds comfort knowing that Christ is in complete and utter control of my life.  Who is okay being in the valley and feeling disappointed because I am confident that my Jesus will rescue me.  I long for a faith that is strong enough to trust that each and every moment and experience....the good and most definitely the challenging, are refining me and making me the girl that God has called me to be.

I long to love Jesus more than I love myself. To trust that He is good and perfect and more capable than I could ever even imagine.

I'm desperately praying for that...

PHOTOGRAPHY!

Life's been crazy. Like words cannot explain.  But GOOD!  So good!  I don't feel like I have a single second to breathe, but I'd much rather experience life this way than having too much time on my hands.  I'm trying to cram as much as I can into my days and weekends because I want to do SO MUCH.  So basically, I'm thankful.

All that to say, much of what has been occupying my time as of late is...PHOTOGRAPHY!  If you've read any of my past blogs, you know that I was just starting to get back into it.  Welp, I took a big ole leap...jump...DIVE!  And went all in!  (Because really, do I ever do things just half way?  Nope!).  So essentially, I've started my own business.  Kristi Noelle Photography.  It's still a baby business, but a business nonetheless.  And I. AM. STOKED!  I couldn't think of anything more fun than capturing the memories and moments that are important to others.  My hope is that God will bless this venture and it will one day flourish into a strong business.  But for now, I'm just enjoying what comes my way.

So head on over to my site.  Check it out.  Follow my blog.  Like my page on FB.  And book a session with me!! :)  (And then tell all of your friends to do the same!!).

Life is good.  I am thankful.

Flags

Brooke Fraser's new album, "Flags", was released recently. It's incredible...seriously, incredible. Go buy it and you'll immediately love it. In the meantime, listen to the song "Flags". So much Truth in this song.