Those flashing baby blues......

So my experience with the law began early at the ripe age of sixteen. It was the summer after tenth grade, an innocent Wednesday evening around 10:30pm. Sandra, Katie, Marie, and I were headed to Wendy's to grab a late night snack, when we passed by the "there is no need for cops in this area" precinct. As we passed by, a cop pulls out, follows behind, and turns on the lights-- "but it can't be me, I'm going the speed limit," I think in my naive little brain. So, I keep going for a bit, until we realize he is indeed after me. So I pull the slightly beaten, gold-circa 1986- Chevrolet Corsica I proudly drove back in the day, into the Kroger parking lot only to find out that "we looked suspicious" and we were out past curfew. Didn't even know there was a curfew but that didn't stop this rent a cop from terrifying us and hauling us into the precinct to do paperwork and calling our parents. We were the first of many young teens harassed by cops for this. I remember thinking I wouldn't be able to hold a job because of my record....

Then enter into college where I had a few minor run-ins with the fire department at Rice Hall, leading toward an exciting afternoon spent in fire safety school. But for the sake of time, let's keep fast forwarding to last year when I rented a car to drive to Statesboro, Georgia. In my defense the pedals were really different, but I did go close to 75 in a 55, which my little dressed in navy friend pointed out to me, when he pulled me over. That is still the largest ticket I have heard of- totaling $400. Just in time for the holidays, thanks.

Then last week, on the road to Tennessee, I see a school zone, with lights flashing, and a cop behind me. What do I do when memories of this $400 ticket come flooding back? Oh, I slow down and actually go the speed limit, maybe a little under 35. I am looking but I don't see indication that the zone has ended, so I continue going around 30 until others behind me start to pass me. I then cautiously speed up to 55mph. I think things are going well until I see the flashing blue lights. I pull over utterly confused and frustrated. The mustached angry man in blue approaches and asks me if everything is okay. I ramble about being out of town and the school zone, and wanting to be a good speed-abiding citizen, all while I'm breaking out in red hives. He then proceeds to belittle me by making fun of me for going so slow. "Mam, when people go as slow as YOU ARE, I get concerned." Then he takes my license and registration to try to find a way to give me a ticket. Defeated, he returns to my car with a warning that only people over the age of 8o receive. Yes, I'm officially a grandma.

Now I just received a notice about unpaid parking tickets. I really cannot win. Big brother is everywhere.......

Concrete Jungle where dreams are made of.........

So in case some of you haven't heard, I am moving to New York City, New York. It's kind of crazy how this has all happened. I have been working for Campus Crusade for Christ for 5 years now at the University of Georgia. I have absolutely loved my time and the girls there I have had the privilege to work with. However, this summer I attended our national conference out in Ft. Collins, Colorado where I heard leaders within our ministry speak about the needs in ten major cities of the world. I went to the seminar to support my friend Hannah talk about Miami, not at all thinking about how it would impact me. When I heard how many students were in New York, (over 1 million!) and thought about how influential this city was to our country, I knew I needed to begin praying for it. Over the next couple of months as I prayed for this city, I really felt the Lord leading to not only pray for it, but to go.

So here I am a few months later, preparing to move across the country to a city I've only visited once, selling my house in exchange for living in a tiny apartment, selling my beloved Snowball (jeep cherokee) and embracing public transportation, and becoming a freshmen again in a way since I will have no friends. In some ways it sounds completely crazy and painful, but I know it is what I am supposed to do, and therefore I know the Lord will give me the strength to do it. And, come on, it is New York, it's going to be a blast! Currently I am in the preparation stage, where I have taken time off at UGA to travel and meet with people who are interested in hearing more about my ministry and how they could be a part of it. So..........lots of driving. I hope this blog will be a great way to share stories of girls in the ministry in NYC and life upstate, but until then, this will probably contain random travel stories.