Deep and Wide

Outfit #25. I went to work at Cook, so I pretended to be Professional. (Apparently I think being professional means wearing a short skirt.)

After work I stopped by to see my friendsies Kim and Bekah, and Kim was sweet enough to take my pictures for me. She made me pose on a slide. She was expressing her Artistic Potential as a photographer.

Then I decided to take a picture with a pack of cute, noisy dogs who were roaming around the neighborhood.

And one tiny puppy.

Skirt and sweater: Gap. Shoes: Steve Madden. Shirt: Forever 21. Belt and bracelet: Target.

So, like I said, I went in to do some work at David C Cook yesterday. I’m in the process of writing two years worth of preteen lessons for their new Rio curriculum. (Rio means “river” in Spanish, and our curriculum hopes to be deep and wide. It is clever, you guys.) It was great to see my old coworkers and to catch up with everyone. And it was really encouraging to hear some of the reports from the churches that are using our lessons. Our goal with this curriculum is to stay God-centered at all times and draw kids into deeper relationship with Jesus. Every lesson focuses on God’s character. For example, instead of focusing on David’s courage against the giant, we focus on what the Lord was doing through David’s situation, and what this event teaches us about who God is. We try to help the kids go deeper by asking thoughtful questions and creating a flow in the lessons that leaves freedom for the Holy Spirit to lead the kids in truth.

I didn’t know much about Sunday school curriculum before I began this project, but after seeing what’s out there, I really do believe in our product. I think it’s going deeper than a lot of other stuff, and our hope is that God is glorified as these kids better understand His Word and His work. I know I may be biased, but I think it’s good stuff. You should definitely recommend Rio to the children’s directors at your church. Like right now. OK, thanks.

You guys, I’m going to a barn dance tonight! I love barn dances! Kristy and I decided we could cheat just a little bit and get cowboy boots. So expect to see us pretending to be cowgirls in blog posts to come.

Did anyone stay up to watch the royal wedding? What did you think? OK, it’s Friday, which means joyous times! Loves and hugs and joys!

Your friend,

Denise Ruth

A Change is Gonna Come

WELL. So many haps, friends! I am sorry for my extended absence, but I’ve been busy trying to not have a nervous breakdown every few seconds — so many things going on! Here, I will tell you about them.

1. I am moving. To Denver. To live there. In Denver. Weird! I got an apartment, and I’m going to be living on my own for awhile in the big city. It’ll be a big change from Colorado Springs, but hopefully it will be good. Denver reminds me a lot of Minneapolis, which I like. Anyway, you should come visit me and be my friend.

2. I am attending Denver Seminary full time this fall. (Hence the moving to Denver bit.) Four classes, one of which is Hebrew. Did you know that Hebrew has a completely different alphabet? And that it reads from right to left? And that its vowels are all dots and dashes? And that it is so very hard? All true. And yet, I love it. It’s very cool. I can read three whole verses in my Hebrew Bible! Baruch Hashem!

Bye, house.

3. I decided to become an independent contractor with David C Cook so that I’d have more flexibility in my schedule for school. This means that I work almost completely from home, writing lessons for Rio. I’m also doing another steady freelance job with Wetpaint, and, at least for tax purposes, I basically have my own business. I am Very Important.

So, those are all super major things going on right now, hence the not ever blogging. But I do so miss the bloggy, and I will try to be much more consistent once I move and get settled.

It is weird to be moving. I’ve lived in Colorado Springs for the last six years, if you count my time as a student at the Focus Leadership Institute, and I’ve made wonderful friends here and have had truly life-changing experiences. This is where I had my first real apartment and job after college. My roommate Sarena and I have lived with each other the entire time we’ve been out here. I was blessed with an amazing job at the Institute, and got to do such fun and cool things with students there. I’ve done some cool things, but most importantly, I’ve made such wonderful friends. Most of us in the Springs have moved here from other places, so, in a way, we really have become like family — and all the good and bad family encompasses. I will miss my friendsies. That is why I will make them come visit me every day in Denver. I’ve started a rotating sign-up sheet.

Anyway, I will soon try to get back to my regular blogging about non-events that you couldn’t care less about. I mean, I know you guys are really desperate for me to talk about my suicidal dog spottings and the decaying arms I see on the side of the road.

So, as I move over the next week or so, and as I adjust in the months to come, I’d so appreciate your prayers! Change is always tough, even if it’s good. Please pray that the Lord guides me to what He wants me to be doing, and that He’d be my strength and shield.

Talk to you again soon — I promise! Joves!

I Got a Job — hey, hey, hey, hey.

It’s Tuesday and I am feeling good! I have finished my major freelance projects, and I have this week to relax a bit. And Katie, my friend from college, is coming out to visit me this weekend. Partay! (And by “partay” I mean that we will probably eat at a restaurant, shop at The Gap and be in bed by nine. That’s our idea of a good time.)

Also, here is something that has happened: I accepted a full-time job! I will be working at David C. Cook, a publisher here in Colorado Springs. They’ve published some great books, and they’re also a leading distributor of Sunday School curriculum. I’ll be helping edit some of their current curriculum and also some new projects they’re working on. And my roommate Jaci works there! I start in a couple weeks, and I’m thinking it will be good times to have insurance again!

I’m also still really enjoying the part-time work I’m doing with the online community over at PurposeDriven.com. You should check it out and consider participating in some of the conversations in their forum.

So, that’s that. Here is another update: I am a horrible runner. I kind of always knew this, but it was confirmed the other day when I actually timed myself on my long run. I am running 73-minute miles. Pretty close, anyway. I’m not sure how to speed myself up, either. Any suggestions? And don’t tell me to “push myself” or I’ll have to push you. Down a mountain. And hope you get hurt.

Who remembers sweet dreadlock-y Jason Castro from last year’s American Idol? I loved him so much with his little smile and shyness and beautiful eyes. Did you also know that he loves Jesus? He does! You should totally watch this video. He talks about his faith and how he thinks life is about “getting to know God and what He likes and what He doesn’t like.” Awesome.

It is simply lovely here in Colorado Springs. It’s like 70 degrees. I think the victory garden is itching to be planted, don’t you?

I’m not quite sure what I think of the new Facebook yet. I’m sure we’ll all get used to it and quit complaining about it soon enough. But I’m still kind of in the complaining mode. Change is bad!

So I wrote this freelance article about Mad Imports, a company that pays artisans in Madagascar a fair wage to make awesome purses. All the products are environmentally responsible and the founder is totally changing the lives of Africans by helping them escape poverty. So I thought I should probably buy one to help out the cause, right? So I got this sassy Isadora clutch and I can’t wait for it to arrive! You should get one — they have some really fun colors, perfect for summer.

OK, those are all of the major haps. Purses, slow running, Jason Castro and new jobs. I hope you all are having an awesome week. I’ve been reading through 1 and 2 Samuel, and I am constantly amazed at how forgiving and gracious God is. I see it in my own life every single day.

Also, Happy St. Patrick’s Day!