Monday, January 24, 2011

Hello

     As way of introductions, my name is Bri Lynaugh.  Don't worry, it's a lot easier to pronounce than you think.  I actually just moved down here to go to school at UC Irvine to study Anthropology and Religious Studies.  I moved from Folsom which is in Sacramento County and I'm definitely still adjusting to life in southern California.  I don't need any of my winter jackets and I have to take at least three highways to get anywhere...But despite all the adjustments, I've really liked it down here so far.  I love being close to Disneyland and I'm really enjoying all of my classes.  Except Stats.  I hate stats.  So I guess it goes without saying that I am also very new to Rock Harbor as well.  I attended one of the Sunday night services the first week I moved down here and I've been hooked ever since.  I feel so fortunate to have gotten lucky and found a good church home on my first try. 
     I grew up going to a smaller church in Folsom, called Oak Hills.  I was very involved, both as a participant and as a leader.  I've been teaching Sunday school for the last four years or so and helping out in the classroom for five years prior to that.  I would most definitely say that Oak Hills provided a strong foundation for my faith.  I've always considered myself a Christian because I accepted Jesus into my heart when I was very young and because I would heavily involve myself in leadership roles in my church.  But it wasn't until about seven months ago that I realized I had become almost too comfortable or lukewarm in my faith.  I felt as though I was at a standstill--neither moving forward nor taking steps backward.  For a long time I had been burying myself in my teaching, but I was doing nothing to enrich myself.  I attended a college group with a friend back in June at a large church in Granite Bay callled Bayside.  I was overwhelmed by the staggering amount of people my own age in one room all worshipping God.  The message was refreshing and encouraging to me.  For so long I had become too conditioned by what I was used to.  For the first time in recent times I could feel God stirring in my heart.  I guess that night was like a wake-up call to me to get back on track in my spiritual life.  It was like be welcomed home after a long out of town visit to an unfamiliar place.  I cannot even express how glad I am to be back.  The months throughout the summer I reveled in the fulfilling relationships I found I could have with fellow believers.  To be perfectly frank I was absolutely terrified to be leaving all of that behind when I moved down here for school.  At first it was very difficult.  I can honestly say that my first month down here--made complicated by other personal losses--was among the worst of my life.  But, ever the eternal optimist, I have come to love this new start I have been given.  I am so excited to begin building a community in the fellowship of Christ here in my new home.  I have a lot of uncertainties about my future, but I am becoming more convicted everyday to rely on the peace of the Lord. 
     I guess that was a lot of information for an "about me" post, but I think it's important to explain where I am spiritually.  I am so ready for Circles!  I'm probably not alone when I say that I'm not one hundred percent sure that I know what it has in store for each of us, but I am excited nonetheless!  I would like to end this lengthy introduction with a few random facts about me that may or may not spark a conversation later.  So thank you for reading and I can't wait to get to know all of you in the coming months!

-I was born in Dallas, Texas.
-I have never been outside the United States.
-I have a startling amount of owl jewelry and knick-nacks.
-I play air guitar with my left hand...I am right handed.  
-I brought home two ducklings one day after school and raised them in a kiddie pool in our backyard.  I live in a residential neighborhood.  My parents were less than thrilled.
-I don't eat any kind of melon. 
-My right shoulder is slightly higher than my left shoulder.

12 comments:

  1. I can relate to the ever eternal optimist. I am the same way =) Nice to get to know a little about you!

    ReplyDelete
  2. lol... That is so cute how you brought home ducklings... I had to stop in the middle of the road once because a line of ducklings were crossing the road, and although they caught me off guard and almost made me smoke my tires, I couldn't help just say "awwwww......"

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks for sharing! I live about 3 minutes away from Disneyland but I haven't been there for years.

    ReplyDelete
  4. boooo to Stats, worst class I took in college!
    & I grew up in Redding! And have family near Folsom :) Such a different scene then SoCal, right? I love having the best of both worlds. Hopefully you will come to love it too.
    Amen to recognizing the lukewarm & doing something to change it! Praise Him!
    "eternal optimist" :)
    I live three minutes from Disneyland too David.... weird.

    Thank Bri!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'm so glad someone actually knows where Folsom is! People either associate it with the prison or have no idea what I'm talking about. Maybe we should all go to Disneyland sometime....just a thought. I bought the really expensive season pass so I feel obligated to go--and I got quite often!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I have a season pass too!!! We definitely should all take a trip!! =)

    ReplyDelete
  7. WE also have passes, and it has been a life long dream of mine to have ducks and chickens, yet still no dice. although i would settle for a parakeet.


    so excited you are in circles, can't wait to learn more.

    ReplyDelete
  8. A few things:
    1) I actually noticed your owl earrings today and thought to myself, "My wife would love those."
    2) Leaving behind a community that refreshed and challenged you must have sucked.
    3) Hopefully through Circles (or wherever but, selfishly, I hope it has to do with all of us) God has something even better in store

    ReplyDelete
  9. I am a huge fan of disneyland and air guitar. Right on. This post was great and I'm sorry for all the freeways just to get to the grocery store. Looking forward to learning and hearing more!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I can completely relate to the whole lukewarm relationship with God. I realized that I was getting involved for the wrong reasons and felt that I didn't really have a true genuine relationship like I thought, so I'm back at square one again :/ I would love to see some of this owl jewelery that you speak of though! :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. welcome to southern california!! I was born and raised here and still love it! oh, and I have a d-land pass too... in case we'd all like to go together! :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. great intro...it's cool to see that you've been in a position for awhile now of stepping out of your comfort and trusting God to give you what you need to thrive. I like the depth, and the quirky facts. Excited to hear more!

    ReplyDelete