...just a glimpse....

You know it's funny... how at one moment we can be mad at the WORLD & all of humanity--and then a friend makes you laugh and suddenly, life is beautiful. Those moments that you lay in bed WIDE awake... dreaming of.... I don't know: what SHOULD be? What life COULD be? And you long for a place where you feel you've been... yet you've never reallly been there. Or you see yourself and how you wish you could be.... braver, stronger, more beautiful, fearless.... and then you fall asleep: dream of being that warrior or princess and then wake up to your SCREAMING alarm clock & remember, "Ohhhh, right, this is life...."

I know, i KNOW what you all are saying, "Shauna--come on... a bit "Eldridge-life", don't you think? And i have to TOTALLY agree with you but at the VERY same time... totally saying, "NO!" WE WEREN'T CREATED FOR THIS WORLD... and today--------- today I caught a glimpse of what we WERE created for. Intimacy. Love. Freedom. Worship.

It's funny how I walked thru the first few hours at church with my emotions of "Crap! i hate being single today!" "Crap! i have to go to work today!" --and yet at the very same time--knowing... no, aware? mmm... nope: SENSING that Jesus was there. So was His Father. And so was the Spirit. Something was going to happen......... there's nothing like feeling so inadequate when you know that the Three Most Beautiful Persons in all (and out) of--well-- EXISTENCE is there watching you....... and more than that-- LONGING for you to just.......... just BE. It's alarming and frightening and relaxing and beautiful, all at the same time.

As I look back on this morning, I remembered that the Scripture that was read aloud wasn't Scripture about us humans--but HIM. I guess i've just begun to realize so often that we put OURSELVES in Scripture. "He loves YOU" (yes! He loves MMMEEE!) "He died for you" (yes! He died for MEEEEE!). don't get me wrong--nothing wrong with that whatsoever: and we all know that we all need to remember that from time to time--but what about remembering that... well, it's all about HIM?! HE's the one (that loves us)... HE'S the one (that died...) He's the one who is literally holding our bodies together at this precise moment as we read this note.... HE's the one spoke creation out of N-O-T-H-I-N-G. HE's the one whom we will cast down our crowns at HIS FEET (that HE GAVE US, by the way)....--

Anyways, so I guess that i've just totally gone on about all this ramblingness from my brain: but one thing I remembered today was that ..... I was made for something more than "this".... I was made to exist with Him--to walk and talk with Him (and others).... I was made for a home that isn't in or of this world.....

"Even so, Come..."

Deepest Apologies....

Dearest Readers...

My deepest apologies for not updating soo--
well, at all!

The camp does not allow me access to blogs, hence my lack of updating. I happened to think of it while here at my Aunt's place.

New things: Summer--great summer. ARISE performed at SoulFest ...we're hoping to do that again! I'm leaving MBC as the Lord has called me to leave.... I'm looking for a job/s, apartment AND car, lol.... the car's on it's way, I know of an apartment I can have... now juuust the job/s. :) It's scarey, esp. since what the Lord has called me to do is not what others (or myself, to be honest) would have me to do. Am I not willing to be (and look like) a failure for the cause of Christ? Anyways... feel free to email me (or Facebook me) for more info on that.

Oh--I'm a quarter of a century old now... YIKESABEE! ;)

link for some "recent" pics, lol: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=-3&l=2d0a4&id=501871050

love,
shauna marie

ps... hopefully I can get a laptop and keep up w/ this starting w/in the next few weeks!

More Reflections.

So, I missed California today. Crazy, I know, ;) But i've been missing my friends, church and beach (and Starbucks;) lately... Congratulations to my friend Marla on graduating from College! Man.... I remember those days.

just kidding... I just wanted to say it though.

Here's a couple of more pics. I had a few friends visit me (renee and alisha poorman) and one of my aunts and a few of my cousins (Did i ever mention that my mom is the oldest of 14? so i have QUITE A FEW 1st cousins, lol)... so here's some pics. Enjoy!

Tour Life... kind of.

K, well, here are just a few more. Upper left: joel and nate: joel=amazing electric guitarist: Nate=amazing drummer. Upper right: terry (amazing sound man) pretending to put gappher's tape around B.'s mouth, then some how, B. convinced Terry to pose w/ the fake Terry (the manniquin)... then B. and Jess. w/ "Terry", then there's Alicia: our amazing Violinist.. she's amazing. has her own cd: maybe this should be her next cd cover...

Camp's coming up soon. That's pretty weird to think. Still sort of feel's like Fall to me. Maybe my body will sometime catch up to Life.... who knows. :) I'm trying to get a car by the Fall... perhaps I will see you all soon...............

It is Finished........ well, for the Spring.

Hmm.. alrighty: here we go... some pics of the band.... from our Spring 2007 tour... you've already seen the "performing ones", lol... so here are some goofy ones. The first one is of those that are actually on the stage--minus one--our Cello chica is missing... the 2nd one is just about everyone--our amazing sound tech Terry, Bethany, our "resource distribution" lady (aka, my best friend).. mike, our "monadnock guy" and who else... jess--our "go to" girl... and oh--Tommy--our media guy, and peter, well, andy's bro-- the "go to" guy, lol. I miss everyone already... and hey--just in case you didn't know--"Blogger saves your dreafts automatically!", LOL. byeeeeeeeeeeee.

pics # 2...

Here are a few more... from last weekend, actually. GREAT time... have I mentioned that I really love being in Arise? 'cause I don't think I've mentioned it enough... bye now. :)

Pics #1....

Here's a couple of snapshots (yikers! ;) from our soundcheck/practice at our first event in Waterbury, CT. it was one of my favorite nights of Worship!! GREAT people! :) More pics to come....

How about just being Thankful?

So, I read the following today on Foxnews.com:


Briton Misdiagnosed With Terminal Cancer Sues After Spending Life Savings

LONDON — A man who spent his life savings after being told he had months to live is seeking compensation after doctors in Britain conceded they had got the diagnosis wrong.

John Brandrick, 62, was told two years ago that he had terminal pancreatic cancer. He decided to spend his remaining time in style, quitting his job and spending his savings on hotels, restaurants and holidays.

A year later, doctors at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in southwest England revised their diagnosis: Brandrick was suffering from pancreatitis, a nonfatal ailment.

"My life has been turned upside down by this," Brandrick said. "I was told certainly, by the doctor, that I had cancer, and from that day I lived life in full.

I was told I had limited time to live. I got rid of everything — my car, my clothes, everything."
Brandrick said he did not want to take the hospital to court, "but if they have made the wrong decision they should pay me something back."

The hospital said there was "no clear evidence of negligence" on its part."Whilst we do sympathize with Mr. Brandrick's position, clinical review of his case has not revealed that any different diagnosis would have been made at the time based on the same evidence," a spokesman said on customary condition of anonymity.



I'd really like to know what ya'll think--and maybe even what you would do. I'd like to think that if I was told what he had just been told--that I would just say "thank you!!!" and be thankful for the air that I can continue breathing! (Although, i'm sure Heaven's got some GREAT air. ;)

... and more randomness...

Hello all... here's a few more cowgirl pics. This is my bestest friend--Bethany: the mother of the gorgeous kids that I always have pictures of on here. :)

That's it for now really: first ladies conference went really well. Now it's on to the Teen Girls conference! Woo Woo! :)

Square Dancing...

...so I just remembered... that i posted last year (in SoCal) that i was going to go line dancing... well... that still never happened: but i did Square Dance a few days ago!! Our couples retreat had a square dance: and I can't lie--it was fun! Except... i had to "be the man", which was weird: 'cause all other dances i know (i.e., the waltz, swing): they're always the female dance. anyways... not very good pics: but here's Bethany and I....

.. So yesterday, my co-worker came up to me and sue and asked, "this week is Secretary Appreciation week--we want to take you out to lunch on Wednesday..."-and I wasn't thinking she was talking to me along with Sue... and Mary's like, "Shauna, where would you like to go?"... and it dawned on me just then--that...

I'm a secretary. lol.

Well, the proper name is "Administrator", but i just find that stupid. It's like, you can't call Stewardesses Stewardesses anymore (unless they're male: don't call them stewardesses)... you have to call them "Flight Attendants". Our society is silly.

By the way: a really good book, "The Emotionally Healthy Church"--the author's name escapes me... but we (full-time staff) are reading thru that... and going thru it once a week: phenomenal. I highly recommend it: Be it for a staff or a group--or just for self. It's very eye-opening.... and i've read some eye-opening stuff: so you know when I say that then it's true... Wow. I just sounded very prideful right there: i didn't mean it in a cocky way!

k, done now. Bye all.

Me again!!

Hello all!!

Well, so far: life is still great!!! IT IS SUUUUUUUUUUUUNNY HERE TODAY! oh my word: seriously: my insides hurt from smiling on the inside (and the out) 'cause it's sooooooooooo beautiful!! like, sunny days in SoCal... but different... 'cause it's a New England spring day... which are better. :)

Next weekend I lead my first of two Conferences... Worship Leading, that is. Pretty terrified: 'can't lie. But God is in control: and there must be something Andy sees in me as a Worship Leader to ask me to do two conferences, so there's that. My name is even in the Authentic Beauty brochure! it's Insanity!! (www.monadnockbible.org) I think when i saw that: that's when I actually started getting really scared... kind of solidified it for me...

anyways, so that's about it... i got an international cell plan: so I may be calling some of you soon! so... if your #'s have changed... let me know, lol.

The pics are just me and Bethany's kids. :) Enjoy! (Oh, the kids are Mercy and Josiah.)

just some randomness... I figured it was time again.

just thought I'd post a couple of SoCal pics: the first one--just a pic from my cameraphone of the beach just after sunset... I reeeeeeally miss the beach. It was probably my 2nd favorite part of California... the 2nd: is a bunch of us girls from Ventura that all met a C&C retreat at Big Bear back in November. That was a FABulous weekend...

as for me now: doing pretty well. Crazy that it's Easter all ready... blessings everyone!

Pretty much... just lovin' life!

Alrighty, so... I'm a FACEBOOK addICT! i'm sorry! can't help it!! but since MOST OF YOU NEVER comment.. i keep forgetting to update this for all u that don't do facebook!! So, here are just a few band pics. There just from the weekend retreats... so not everyone in the band is on stage. but I hope you get a bit of an inkling of how much I love my life, lol. :)

And yes.. that's just the weekends that i sing: and now that TEEN RETREATS are over... i won't be singing every weekend. Now it's onto Adult Family Retreats.. I'll actually be leading worship for one ladies Conference and our teen girl, Authentic Beauty Conference: i'm scared out of my mind... but it's a good thing i'm just doing the singing, lol: andy and the band will be right behind me! ;)

and the job: absolutely loving it so far. Basically: one of the coolest aspects of my job is that I make other people's lives easier... which is always neat. Putting stamps on envelopes (for example) may not be the most amazing thing: but when it frees up other people, to do other--more important things.. then how can i not love it? And camp ministry: obviously: changes lives! So it's cool to be a part of that: and camp life, well... if you don't like teens: just wait 3 months, and it'll be family retreat time. Sick of adults: just wait a few months: it'll be the summer, and it will be kids/teens again!! Get my drift?! it's AWESOME for people like me... i'm lovin' it!

and next week: i'll be gone for about 3 days, at a CCCA (christian camping Conference)--and I'll be seeing some Living Waters people!! I'm SO STOLKED!!

alrighty. love ya'll. hope you're doing well.

It's Official!

I am now the new (first, actually) Youth Ministries Administrator, at Monadnock Bible Conference, in Jaffrey, NH! I am VERY excited about this job.... and very nervous at the same time... as it's a big job, and it means working with people that I love: which, can be hard. 'Cause you ... I don't know. Know what I mean though? Anyways...

and I move into my apartment today! I'm so excited! It's a tiny lil' apartment off of my friend's house... you actually enter thru my bedroom, but it's cute anyways. and I's got's me my own washer and dryer... which I'm EXTATIC for! anyways...

well, I just wanted to let ya'll know that. Arise is doing really well. Our Regional Events begin in April... and then in May, and then we perform at SoulFest in August... and then we have Regional Events in the fall... and alllllllllllllll that good stuff...

I will be getting my own lap top... so the updates will be happening more and more frequently. :)

I know... I know ... I know...

sorry all! I know it's been awhile! but I am here in NH, and lovin' it. Minus the cold weather: that'll take 'til like, Spring, to get used to... oh well. AriseWorship is going well! I'll be w/ the team singing every weekend thru march.. so that's exciting.

see? that's all. my bad. I have no energy for computers anymore, lol. I'll update soon again though!

....and I'm off!!

Hey all:

next post will be from New Hampshire!! I leave for LAX in about 40 minutes and fly out in 6 hours!!

bye now!!

1/5/07... um, best day of my life?

Alrighty, so: here we go: the above: (if this comes out right)... me, Terah and and Kim! Some good friends I've acquired thru my home group from Reality Carp... three of us chillaxin' on Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills.

Um... there's a sign on the building that says, "rodeo drive"... for real! I swear.. you just can't really see it. that day was COLD too. I definitely should've worn my Ugs....(and NOT have worn my toque)

And here he is: Mr. Josh Groban himself. (aka: jonathan barrett's twin) I know: HORRENDOUS pic of me: but what do you expect when one takes a shot when one is talking to two people: one of them being INCREDIBLY famous and one of the best singers this world has ever seen?! yup... so that's it: 1/5/07.. pretty much just the best day of my life. And I know... he's human. a sinner that needs Jesus: too bad I couldn't breath or make eye contact or had a tract! LOL!

bye now!

ps... Josh Groban: if you ever read this: i'm really NOT a stalker: i don't know everything about you... I don't really LOVE you... I just: really want to sing with you someday. that's all.

JOSH GROBAN!

I MET JOSH GROBAN! AND IF YOU KNOW ME AT ALL: YOU KNOW I'VE LOOOOOOOOVED HIM SINCE 2001! ANYWAYS... looooooooong story short: he was eating lunch at the same diner ("disguised" though: hat, scrubby face, facing the back of the restaurant...;) as my friends and I, in Beverly Hills.... and I was TOTALLY nervous and was like, heart beating 100mph and sweaty palms and EVERYTHING: and that was BEFORE it was suggested I go meet him. anyways... so, my friend Terah and I went. got a couple of pictures (this one was taken before we went up to him)... he was REALLY nice, intruduced us to his brother, lol.... it was great. minus the fact that my friend didn't store the photo of him and i on my camera phone... and I could barely look at him because I was SOOOOOOOOOOOO NERVOUS. anyways: there's a picture of him and i: but it's on my friend's phone.... so you'll have to wait a couple of days. anyways,... yeah. so there's that. bye now!! (oh yeah, he's the one in the red hat)

19 days...

... I think. I THINK that's how many days left... numbers aren't my thing though.

so, Christmas was good: not gonna' lie though: it was sad. Have any of you awoken on Christmas morning by yourself? Not looking for pity here: truly, I'm not. But it was a really weird, overwhelming feeling: that I don't wish for anyone. anyways: but it turned out to be a good day!! that afternoon, I went to my friend's house and ate AMAZING food and watched movies allllllllllllll afternoon and evening: it was good!! (and one learns all that they're truly thankful for....)

So... we have these winds here, called the Santa Anna's: and yeah: they TOTALLY remind me of PEI winds... gotta' be at least 30-40 mph.. and with those winds come warm weather: so it's TOTALLY beautiful here. Usually will rain during the night: so you wake up and it's all crisp and clear and windy and nothing but BEAUTIFULness and the ocean is ABSOLUTELY spectactular.

yup: no lie. the #1 thing I will miss the most is:

the OCEAN.

I'll Be Home for Christmas... If Only In My Dreams...

Hello all!!

So, I have about an hour and a half of work left (no worries: I'm on lunch break:)!!! SO excited for some time off... and just chillaxin' in my apartment for the last few weeks that I'm here... watching WAY too many movies and WAY too many episodes of Gilmore Girls. :) and probably even going to be eating WAY too many carbohydrates, lol... as macaroni and cheese is always the easiest thing to make, lol. :)

Anyways: so thanks for the prayers regarding a place to be for Christmas! I'm going over to my favorite family's place... so I'm STOLKED: Christmas Eve may be a bit lonely, but it's all good. I have 4 Christmas movies to watch: So Christmas Eve it is! LOL!!

The Talent Department has reached some pretty hott goals: One of them having the reward of a VERY nice STEAK dinner in Beverly Hills (check it out: http://www.lawrysonline.com/theprimerib_beverlyhills_gen_info.asp ) on the 15th: So that's where I'll be on my last night in California!!

Can't believe I leave so soon!! Just 7 days of work left... I have a women's retreat that I am STOLKED to attend in Murietta Hot Springs, CA from the 5-7th, and what else: I don't know. that's it I think. Anyways, it's JUST CRAZY. I'm soooooo excited to go see Bethany! and HOPEFULLY: see you ALL (PEI'RS) in just a few months!

If you're ever droppin' thru NH... give me a call!