"bike for sale?"

this is not just the title of this post, but seems to be the heading of a good portion of the emails i have been sending out these days. to explain, let me tell you a story...
on Wednesday, i found the perfect bicycle: shiny new-ish, more than one speed for all of these hills in Vancouver, VINTAGE (i refer to this type -the U handle barred cruiser kind- as the "Dutch bike," seeing as this is the kind that i rode in Holland this past summer), and having other very likeable characteristics. i called the guy, he said that i was the first one to call, and we arranged a time and place when/where i could buy and pick it up. i thought i had it made in the shade. now, fast forward to Friday afternoon. just before i left the office to go pick up my new treasure, i called the gentleman to remind him of my coming, and he kindly told me that he had sold it. yes friends, HE had sold MY bike. "not fair," i told myself. "how dare he do this to me?"
now, i wish that i had some nice ending or lesson that i have learned from this, but i don't. yeah, i guess i realize that i don't "deserve" anything, and that any and every blessing is a gift from God. it's true. but, i still find myself bitter at this stranger for selling this bike. it just seems so unfair...and it is. but, who am i to argue for justice when limitless grace/mercy has been sent my way? yet, i still feel gutted when life doesn't go my way. kind of like how i wish people would extend all kinds of grace my way, but i can't find it inside myself to do likewise...
in other news, i feel like my life is kind of a gong show. weekends are meant for sleeping in. yet, here i sit at 2:18 AM, hoping to be awake at 8:45 AM, so that i can make my way to church. not on a bike. [get over it, Rebecca] and all i did today was eat and go to 2 parties. nothing too productive was done, except getting ready for these 2 parties. and tomorrow should be crazy too. eight people will be sleeping in our 3 bedroom house. a big "YAY!" for guests, and small *groan* for nothing getting done. oh well, i guess that's what Monday is for.
so, that's my life, right here, right now. i haven't even read my Bible lately, and i want to. maybe i should be doing that instead of writing blogs, complaining about the lack of two wheels in my life...
ok, well please still enjoy the picture of the girls (i live with all of them besides Krista and Laura) at our party tonight in celebration of the birth of Hillary.
(l to r: me, Hannah, Jacqui, Hillary, Krista, Laura, Jana)

more pictures...

so, these are some more somewhat random pictures of my life, etc.
i truly hope to blog about something that is actually current in my life someday soon...
1. luscious green grass in one of the many parks in Vancouver. this is one of the reasons why i can stay sane in a city. that, and it was like 20 degrees out today. in MAY!!!
2. crazy blue walls for Jessa and Jana's room. i have yellow along with my 2 roomies, and another girl has Pepto pink. you really have to see it to believe it.
3. crazy moving day
4. beautiful streets. i'll never get sick of those flowers. and i have pictures upon pictures to prove this.
5. my pastor Julia's 30th birthday

April/May in pictures...

i'm sorry it has taken me so long to get something new up on here. who knew that my life would be so busy? but when i really think of it, i was just on a fantastic promo tour, i did have a much-needed family visit, i did just make a hectic/emotional move into a new home, and all that goes into all of this during this time, so i do deserve a little grace. that and i have had limited internet access. i know, excuses, excuses. but, i hope you take my apology and these pictures as good enough for now...
(these are of the promotional trip to Oregon from April 12-26:
1. girl pic
2. close up at Multnomah Falls
3. Jessa's 21st birthday and the appropiate party hats to celebrate such a function
4. much-needed quiet time at YWAM Salem
5. downtown Portland)