Hilary Duff

Argh! Hilary Duff is apparently engaged and I can't read about it. Dang you lent!

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This is my text conversation with Josh about it... (please pass over the misspellings. I chalk it up to excitement)

me: OMGOSH hilary Duff is engaged nd I can't read about it!!

Josh: Haha. Who cares. 

Josh: It's Hillary duff.

Josh: Haha

me: Josh!! I care!!

Josh: Haha

Yes, my name is Julianna. Yes, I'm an avid people.com reader. Yes, I gave it up for lent. Yes, it's killing me. blah blah blah, don't judge me people. 

Happy [belated] Valentines

Seeing the Fruit

149 of us from the PCJC were up at Oak Glen for our 4th Annual Midwinter Youth Retreat this past weekend. A used the perfect word to describe the weekend, solid. The staff, the teaching, the growth, the heart of the kids, the weather... everything. Just solid.

1. David Gaulton leading worship with the new youth band. Watching them learn, grow, lead, and love it just makes the process of getting it to that point so worth it.
2. Brandon, Phil, and David for making gooning so entertaining.
3. The Lord for blessing us with no extra snow. =)
4. GymAttic Wifi
5. Cory for leading our first MS/HS split and getting down to it with the MHers.
6. Ryan, for his heart and the way he expresses that.
7. Kimi, for having such a great attitude about the "sickness aura".
8. Kats bringing the Word in a new way that makes its understandable, interesting, challenging, and applicable all at the same time.
9. For the 5 who stood to accept Christ on Saturday night.
10. For the tons who stood to see Christ as more than what He gives to us.
11. Michelle for mobilizing Anaheim. Bless her.
12. My 180 team - Lauren, Lindsey, Arin, and Sydney.
13. Shawn and Pat - wowza, anxious to see what God has in store for them.
14. Brandon for organizing Sunday morning deportation. Perfectly executed.

Not Consumed

Recently I have been reading through Lamentations. The people are crying out for help. Their city has been torn apart by war and the horrors they experienced were unfathomable - massive slaughtering of all generations, starvation, cannibalism, rape, exile, and everything else that comes with war. Through it all I am always overcome by these words, spoken from the very one who experienced the terror and who could still not yet see an end in sight:

Because of the Lord's great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." Lam 3:22-24

Let our faith and hope be so grounded that weathering the worst storm would still have us whispering these same words... "we are not consumed, your compassions never fail, you are our portion, we will wait on you."

Welcome to the World Kiddo

Luke Yoshi Dohrmann

Happy Rainy Joyous Day

Happy 2nd Birthday to the littlest love of my life.

Grace and I trying to hold up two fingers today.

In the beginning...

Bonding time with Uncle Kevin

Sitting up with Auntie Mel

Celebrating our Disney 1/2 marathon with us.

Somehow she had gotten up there, but she
couldn't figure out how to get off. :)

We love you little one, yesterday, today, and forever. May you grow up to know and love Jesus.

Linda and Richard - Wedding Day

This is one of those times that I wish I was an eloquent writer. I just have so much in my heart to express, but just feel like I don't know how to do it.

I have been to many, many weddings - this by far was the best one I have ever been to. From the very start you could just feel the love, joy, and excitement from everyone. When my mom walked down the aisle she pumped her fist as to say, "yes!" and everyone laughed and hooted. And when Linda walked in the entire chapel stood and cheered her on as she walked towards Richard.

A few memories to highlight:
1. The Worship - Never have I felt so privileged to be able to witness such a state of worship among God's people. We sang three songs, Come Thou Fount, Everlasting God, and In Christ Alone. The singing was so loud I couldn't even hear Steph and I. People were so joyous and Linda and Richard were singing at the top of their lungs from the stage. It was something I'll never forget.

2. Dad affirming Richard and then Linda.

3. Dad's calling to accept Christ. And Richard's Son-In-Law did! Someone said they felt like they had already been to church for the week and I wholeheartably agreed. You just felt so full when it was over.

4. The dancing at the reception! Man, I have never seen so many Free Methodists get down! =)

5. The open sharing at the reception from people who have been blessed by Linda and Richard.

6. The "R + L = LOVE" rhinestone tie Jason had made. By the end of the night Richard had it on and was dancing around. That guy is so young at heart!

7. John and Matt Mills and the Band. They were just incredible.

8. Linda, she was so radiant, there are no words to describe her. She was so joyous. In fact, she stayed till the very end - dancing with Richard, raising her hands, and singing along with the songs.

It really is amazing how God has truly answered Linda's one hope, to be married to a Godly man. This whole schebang is a testimony to God. He is faithful in his time - and when He does something, it is always way beyond anything you could ever have hoped for. He was glorified yesterday. May he continue to be glorified until his return.

Linda and us girls

I now pronounce you...

Reflections of 2009 and Hopes for 2010

A few highlights of last year...

1. The frequent flyer miles - Nor Cal, Florida, Kauai, Colorado, Seattle... not to mention the normal; camp, Shuyokai, fishing in Mammoth, Midwinter, Catalyst, and Vegas with Josh's friends, to name a few.
2. Linda's story - proposed to, fell in love, experienced her first, kiss, bridal shower, dress shopping, cake tasting, hand holding, canoodling, splitting a meal with a loved one, and on and on.
3. Graduating from school, and bringing to a close the end of a three year journey.
4. Working with Gary and the conference, seeing vision come to reality, DropIn, church visits, and every other amazing thing God has done here.
5. Babysitting Grace - watching her grow up has been so rewarding...we love her so much.
6. Aimee's 30th birthday. A monumental occasion for more than one reason.
7. Bringing a salad to the Uyeda family Thanksgiving.
8. My family doing so so well. God is truly faithful.
9. Mr. and Mrs. Uyeda accepting Christ and being babtized...and everyone else who accepted Christ!

Hurts of 2010:
1. Loosing those we love, like Marion
2. Linda, and cancer
3. Blankey

Things to look forward to in 2010:
1. Moving Out
2. Josh graduating
3. Momentum

Resolutions for 2010:
1. Ordering a Tall instead of a Grande
2. Passing gas in front of Josh

But the best hope I heard for this year came from a wise young someone we all know and love, Miss. Lauren Tang:
A Prayer: "Shake the foundations of my heart...I will not burn out this year, I will burn bright...No more empty resolutions. No more frail intentions. This year, I want to do something brave and beautiful. From the deepest corners of my trembling heart, I'm wispering the same words Isaiah did: Here I am. Send Me. Because my days don't mean anything if they don't belong to you." -Natalie Lloyd

Happy New Year everyone.