"...and my friends, I've returned to wish you all the best..."

My friend Leslie and I were talking it up tonight and it reminded me in many fashions that I have been neglecting this blog. Specifically, the purpose of this blog, which is a chronicle of my life out of California.

I can trace my absence back to several things. Because it's me, of course we do this in list form.

1) I feel like I've backtracked so far with God. I have tried to repair and renew my shortcomings in my faith lately, but that apathy that Satan always uses has been hard to overcome. Everytime I feel like God is speaking to me, I feel like it's been muddled and I had lost that guiding voice.

2) I flat out forgot about this blog for days at a time. Again, as much of a blessing at this has been, that's all the more reason why I shouldn't write in it. That which helps me is only something that can hurt me if taken away. Renewed commitment is in order here.

3) Writer's block. The times that I felt I did have something to write, it seemed like I was hitting my head against a wall trying to get it into words. I've had to make a decision to say "the heck with you block", and move on. Otherwise, this shindig never gets back on the road.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

So where were we?

Ah yes.

Last night I had an incredibly uplifiting and spiritual conversation with a friend from Washington that spoke some serious truth to me in response to truth I felt like sharing with her. God has seemed 10,000 miles away and I was feeling like it was my fault, and it is. But I have seriously underestimated God's ability to forgive and to redeem, if I just ask. I have been making excuses for everything in all walks of life. In my study of the Word, in my exercise, in my behavior with my friends, I've done my own thing (it usually sucks) at the expense of God's thing because I always allow excuses to pop up. I swear I have to be the least creative person I know when it comes to excuses.

Since this is, you know, still Christmas, I felt like sharing a line from a song that we have heard a thousand times at this time of year. The song "O Holy Night" is a favorite of many (including me), but rarely do we hear this verses after the first one on almost all the carols. One line in the second verse stood out as almost evangelical even in a time of celebration.

"He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger..."

What powerful encouragement, especially for Christmas. Usually in this time of year, we forget to worry about ourselves because we are so busy rushing around everywhere trying to get tasks done. But to know that God is there, and no matter what the problem, he gets it, is a wonderful gift.

Merry Christmas, and I promise to see you soon.

"...talk to me, like lovers do..."

Definite articles, and why they make English smell nice...

This was prompted by not one, not two, but three people in the past 24 hours teasing me over speaking correct English.

Apparently in my great state of Washington (see, possessive now... it means it's becoming home), it's apparently a tell-tale sign that you're from California if you refer to freeways with the word "the" in front of them. So if I were to say, "then I get on the 5 and take it south", that means I must be from California.

If you ask a "native" Washingtonian, they will tell you that they simply omit the "the" in the sentence. So it would read "then I get on 5 and take it south." Then they laugh and make some comment about how I definitely am not a Washingtonian...yeah. Sure it kind of works, but let's take that to the rest of English.

Boy: "Stephanie, I think you are one."
Girl: "One what?"
Boy: "You know, one."
Girl: "One what?"
California person: "He's saying you're THE one."
Girl: "Ohhhhhh that's dumb, why didn't he say that?"
California person: "I don't know, it's what they do up here."
Boy: "You are hottest looking girl in world."
Girl: "Ok, now that just sounds like a caveman. We're breaking up."

It would be one thing if I were butchering the language, but I actually get snickered at just for speaking it right. And friends, that is a crime.

Washington friends, embrace "a", "an" and "the". They are waiting just for you, and they need you to use them with freeways and highways, and lots of other things. Come home, to good English.

Hugs and a firm slap on the back,

Britton

"...it's the end of the world as we know it..."

The Dennis family + Ben recently lost power because of 70+ mph winds that hit our house and knocked a neighbors pine tree into our lines, collapsing every utility in the home. For 98 hours and 55 minutes, there was a power blackout in weather hovering near the 40-degree mark. This is an attempt to chronicle this adventure in list form.

Top 10 Moments (Doesn't Mean Best) From the Washington Storm of the Decade

10) Ben and I cleaning out rotten food from the refrigerator. At 11:30 PM on Day 3 of the blackout, my mom decided that this had to be done right then. Lord knows this could have waited, but what can you do? Well you can do what I did and constantly dry heave from the smell for a half-hour.

9) Seeing raised hands at church when the pastor asked to see who did not have power. As much as I was whining and thinking our lives sucked, this was a great comfort to see we weren't alone and it was time to man up.

8) Our first night blacked out was made worse by a 100 foot tree laying directly across our driveway, blocking us from even leaving our house by car. When it seemed that we would have to wait days for someone to cut it, a neighbor's landscaping crew came out and did it for free and without fanfare, and a very tough time became that much easier.

7) Our neighbor coming over to offer us a warm house and hot food and drink. My mom has never liked him and my dad has never trusted him, yet during the whole blackout, he always made sure we were ok, despite his MASSIVE damages. It was refreshing to see.

6) Being able to finally read a large chunk of the Chronicles of Narnia like I had wanted to for months. My room was 40 degrees and I could see my breath, but I had Aslan, and I had a flashlight. I felt like I was 12 again and that felt good.

5) On the first night of the blackout, Sarah was an absolute rock star and took Ben and I home (Mandie was there too). Even though she had to endure winds that blew her into other lanes and a mother that was not at all pleased that she drove, she took two stranded guys home anyways.

4) The amazing outpouring of support from friends and strangers who offered their homes, their showers, their food and their hospitality. There is nothing like these moments to allow God to show me just how much He has blessed me.

3) Our friend Dan had most of his major possessions taken from him because of robbery. It was a very sad moment, but we showed en masse at his house to offer support and rallied together funds to aid his need. It was so awesome to see a body come together to support a brother in need. Giving is truly better than receiving.

2) When our power went out, we were stranded. Not by the power loss itself, but a massive pine blocking our driveway. Within moments of telling her we wouldn't be able to go to her "Office" party, Mandie called us back and told us she was on her way. Her and Kelley showed up 20 minutes later. Nothing feels better than a friend making sure I am included, even if it takes sacrifice.

1) The Puget Sound Energy Company. When the power went off because of the fallen tree, we made sure to call the power company quickly so as to get on a list sooner. I call the Puget Sound Energy company and was quickly patched through to a lady named Stephanie. Stephanie seemed ok until the first sentence I spoke left my lips, and she yelled, "SIR, I CAN'T NOT UNDERSTAND YOU WHEN YOU SPEAK THIS FAST! PLEASE SLOW DOWN SIR!" After slowing my speech WAY down, she asked my problem and when I told her the power lines were down, this was a sampling of her responses: "SIR, I NEED TO STAY 20 FEET AWAY FROM THOSE LINES!" "SIR, BELIEVE ME, IF THE WIRES ARE JUICED, THAT TREE IS JUICED. IT WILL KILL YOU." "PLEASE HANG UP THE PHONE RIGHT NOW AND CALL 911. WE NEED TO CORDONE OFF THE STREET AND GET RESCUE TEAMS IN THERE TO HELP ANY POTENTIAL VICTIMS." "SIR, I NEED YOU TO CALM DOWN AND SPEAK TO ME SLOWLY, YOU ARE TOO EXCITED AND I CANNOT UNDERSTAND YOU." "SIR, I HAVE TO HELP OTHER CUSTOMERS NOW BUT PLEASE BE SAFE. REMEMBER, THOSE LINES WILL HURT OR EVEN KILL YOU."

Now contrast that with the next day, when we called for a power update, and a different woman's reaction to the lines on the ground. The call lasted two minutes only because she took down our information again, and then yawned, and told us that the lines wouldn't shock us and we'd be fine. Seriously. But then why did a crew come five hours later and do nothing but guard the lines for 26 straight hours?

Crazy PSE, that's why.

Thank you Washington, this has been great.