Snapshots of my Life

I jumped on the banwagon...

2012-02-10T14:37:00.000-06:00

As I sit down to write this post, I continue to think about the events of the last few weeks. They have been tough to work through. Causing an aray of emotions, some of which I'm not sure I've ever felt. Sometimes I wonder when health problems will not be in the cards for my family...maybe someday. God doesn't give us more than we can handle...right?
I've started really traveling at work. I love it! I absolutely love it! I've had the opportunity to meet with several coaches in the area, as well as out west. I am really enjoying getting to know them, and figure out how I can best serve them and the huddles at their schools. I've been developing a pretty cool relationship with some girls at a school here locally. They are wanting to start a FCA at their school, but cannot find a teacher who will support them. I feel bad for the students who are super pumped up about it, and I wish I could do something. The girls have not lost heart yet! They are still powering forward with enthusiam and ready to start as soon as they find a teacher. It's been super fun to get to know the girls during this process!

I am realizing how much work goes into friendships. It is really tough to maintain relationships with people when it is pretty one-sided. More on this when I have more thoughts together...this is just something I've been wrestling through lately. One thing I know is for sure though, the work is worth it if the friend is really that important.*note: I am not a master at maintaining friendships, I am preaching to the choir on this, I know that for sure*

Finally, I have caved. I have been reading the Hunger Games. So far it's pretty good. I don't have a whole lot of time to read, but I've enjoyed what I have read so far. I am not a speed reader, so saying I am still on book one after having it for 5 days would be a shock to many I am sure. Most people I know would have them all read in 5 days. Well, I am not most people, and I definately do not have the time to devote to reading books like that. I really have a hard time reading fiction books, but I am really really trying!!

Well, I must go finish preparing for an event tomorrow.

FOR HIS GLORY

hello again...

2012-01-31T14:00:00.002-06:00

Where to begin? It has been a while. I have a desire to blog. I enjoy doing so, but I get so caught up in life that I just don’t do it. A friend asked me about my lack of blogging the other day, I’ve ask her to keep me accountable to blogging at least once a week. I am pretty confident I can keep to that.

The last few months have been pretty full of growth, change, and the Lord speaking. I am much more secure in my job…still have a TON to learn, but I am feeling much better about it all. I am hearing from the Lord more about my life calling and the direction He has me in now. I am dating a wonderful guy. I am starting to find a routine and trying to balance life a bit better.

I am also in the Word much more then I have been thanks to a friend holding me accountable daily. Being in the Word is in turn revealing more of God’s mystery and I feel my relationship with Him growing stronger and stronger. We all walk through mountains and valleys. My valleys generally occur when I am not in the Word. I am so set on how I can run my life better, I know better, I am so so dumb when I begin to believe that! God is so good at revealing truth in the midst of our self-centeredness. How kind of Him.

I am also currently teaching a Sunday School class on being Radical (David Platt). I did an overview of the class last semester, and this semester I, along with Whitney, a friend of mine are teaching a more direct class this semester. We are having so much fun with it. We came to a realization this past weekend. We both recognize that we both received our calling into ministry in high school, but neither of us really knew what to do with it. We both went to college, (Biola/Lindenwood) and because of the training we received in the classroom, and the experiences we each had, we were able to discover what the Lord wanted from our lives. Whitney and I grew up and the same church and same youth group together, and we both agreed that we were not challenged while we were in High School. **This is not to bash the youth pastor at the time or any leadership** No one challenged our actions or thinking. We have been slightly discouraged because we are not sure we are getting through to the students attending our class. We then realized how many more distractions these high schoolers have today that we didn’t have 5-7 years ago. Seriously, it’s outrageous. We’ve come to the conclusion that we can only be a voice. We can teach these students truth, we can give them facts, and open their eyes to what Jesus commands of us, and how we have put Jesus in the American Dream. We can pray for them, that they will someday get experiences like Whitney and I had to open their eyes to what the Lord demands of them. But until then, we will continue to plant seeds.

FOR HIS GLORY

Radical

2011-11-29T15:57:00.000-06:00

(Disclaimer: I am wrestling with all of this stuff in my own life as well... so I am in no way attempting to be "holier than thou." Just expressing thoughts.)

"If we do believe it, really believe it, that belief has radical implications on our lives." -http://withthebigguy.wordpress.com/2010/02/13/david-platts-sermon-radical/
(I found this blog while searching for stuff on David Platt's book, 'Radical')
So I am currently teaching a Summit class (what we call our high school Sunday school class) on David Platt's books: Radical and Radical Together. I am finding this to be way different than I first thought it would be. You see, the more I am reading the books he wrote, reading the Word of God, watching and listening to sermons, and talking with people...the more I am actually realizing and understanding that we (Americans) have actually taken the Gospel, and we've contextualized it be be the American Gospel. Its so much easier to just live the Gospel we want it to be. And we my friends, have made it out to be something so weak and heartless, that I wonder what Jesus would say if he came back today and looked at us, "American Christians." Hear me out, I am not saying that all Americans are wrong and aren't living out what Jesus said to us. I believe there are a lot of believers who do...but I also think it's lived out while we are comfortable. I think we remain in a place where Jesus is kind, and loving, and compassionate, and doesn't show wrath, and wants me to be safe, comfortable, and stay right where He put me to begin with.

Here's the thing- Jesus spoke with strong language...Commanding a whole heck of a lot. He does have wrath, He is kind, loving, and compassionate. But I also think He asks us to be uncomfortable.

I was reading Luke 14 yesterday because our class discussion was directed to the same place two weeks in a row, due to this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hRkOMgohQE
How can Jesus tell us to hate our brothers, sisters, moms, and dads? That doesn't sound like something He would say... Oh but it is!
Luke 14:26-27 says, "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. ²⁷Whoever does notbear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple." (ESV)OUCH!...right? Anybody with me on that? Jesus is saying this as a comparison. Our love for Christ needs to be so terribly sincere and strong that it must look like we hate everyone else. Crazy, huh?!

Or how about this one "So therefore, any one of you whodoes not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple." Luke 14:33 (ESV) Yes... that too is a 'really, do I really have to give up everything I own to follow Christ?' Question in my mind... But that's what Jesus says. It's right there... in the Word of God, written there in red letters (in most Bibles). Now for some that can be a figurative statement, and for some a literal statement. I think it is both. Possibly one more so than the other for some people. I think that really depends on what the Lord has called you to do. But what He says is clear. And we are so good and twisting it, or reading the words the way we want to. I was talking with some friends about how we can make the Bible say whatever we want it to say, how do you think the "prosperity gospel" came about?

So, have you contextualized Jesus' words to say and mean what you want them to say. Are you comfortable where you are and with what you are doing? Are you tithing because you should or because you want to be giving? Are you going to the poor? Homeless? Fatherless? Hungry? Are you boldly preaching the Word of God to those who don't know Him or His Love and Grace?

"If we do believe it, really believe it, that belief has radical implications on our lives."

For HIS Glory

2011-11-23T13:35:00.000-06:00

This has been blowing my mind for the last week or so. It's just under 15 min... but watch it if you have time. It is incredible!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zWKm-LZWm4&feature=related

So Thanksgiving is just about here...I am so excited about this. Spending time with friends and family. Last night I was able to spend the evening with Lane. It was so much fun. We went to dinner, and talked for a long time. Sometimes I forget just how delicious Dewey's pizza is! A whole range of emotion occured throughout the night. Headed to Central West End to go to the Cup. So good!! We got a few cupcakes and some coffee and again just spent time talking about a bunch of stuff. On the way home I definately missed our turn, so we drove around the long way for a while, then relaized a Target run was in order. I am a quality time person... and so last night filled my cup pretty dang full.

This past Saturday night I was able to pick up Jenn Duck at the airport and get to spend some time with her while we drove to meet her mom. I love that I get to randomly see her when she flys home. And today I got to see Krysten and Brent Jenkins. It was completely unexpected, and totally great. They are driving to IL, so they stopped in St. Louis to grab some lunch. Great hugs were given.

The past few days have been really good for my soul. Thanks God, you knew I needed this. Now on to some Thanksgiving festivities. I am more excited about Friday than anything esle. Tomorrow's highlights will include watching Lane race in the morning, and spending some time with Carrie in the car on the way to/from Jeff City. ...that quite possibly is it. Friday's food/family/friends time will be epic!

As for today... Whit, Kayla, and I went to Cheeburger Cheeburger for lunch. It is different than what we normally do. It was a good time of fellowship and food for sure! I really enjoy those two! So greatful that I get to work with people like them.

For HIS Glory

In desprate need of Him

2011-11-21T16:06:00.000-06:00

Have you ever been in a place of desprate need of something. When things just arent going right. Things feels like they are out of your control. The way you thought something would go... just isnt. I'm discovering something about myself. When I begin to feel like that I need to give up and run to Him. I find that this is something that happens when I put my hope in people or things rather than in the Lord. I have expectations for people in my life, and when they aren't met I end up boiling with anger or frustration, and I end up feeling empty. Someday I will learn and begin to see this pattern.

Isaiah 40:26-31

For HIS Glory

Girls Weekend of Champions

2011-11-17T12:02:00.000-06:00

This past weekend was incredible. We had our all-girls retreat. It was awesome. God did some huge things! Lindsay, our area director was the speaker and she my friends, knocked it out of the park! I'm talkin home run, grand slam each time. She spoke with emotion, and conviction, and passion.

I wasn't entirely sure what to expect from GWOC, this was my first ever FCA Camp of any kind, other than being a coach at LAX camp this summer... I didn't get the full effect at all. This was a whole new ball game.

We started the weekend off with a silly food relay. You know, the typical thinks like eating pudding and baby food with no hands, chugging a soda, eating saltines, chewing bubble gum and blowing a bubble, banana pass. Then we started straight in to the GOSPEL! Linds hit them hard right out of the gates, it was awesome. Had some worhip, which was led by my roommates, Gina and Kim. They did a great job! From night one kids were in tears. Now I am not all about the tears, if you know me at all, you know that I am not one who cries, it's something that takes a bit to get out of me. You could see it on the girls' faces that the Lord was working. One of the few kids I knew going into the weekend walked up to me and just fell into me sobbing. I knew the Lord had some good stuff to do in her life, and I could only begin to imagine what He had for the rest of the girls.

After a long day of setting up camp and getting everyone settled, Whit and I did bed checks and making sure there were no real issues going on. We make it back to our room around 1:30 or so. While walking around I was able to talk out some insecurities I've been wrestling through lately, one of which is feeling a lack of accountability. I have it in some areas, but in everyday areas, I don't really. So Whit suggested we keep one another accountable with some everyday things. So that was cool. Wasn't expecting that to come out of last Friday.

Saturday was awesome. Even more so then Friday. Lindsay again kept hitting the girls ~~and staff/volunteers~~ with Truth. We played some dogpatch (our term for sports) and had some time in huddles to talk about the meetings (sessions). During the third talk Lindsay gave we all sensed some serious movement by the Spirit and decided to throw the schedule out the window just a bit and give the girls time after the talk to sit with their huddles or find staff to talk with. The talk was about our relationship with the world. So the Lord was tugging at the heart strings concerning friends and boys... talking about who in your life is an enabler...are you the enabler. It was so good.

The Lord blessed my heart in a way I never expected on Saturday afternoon. I had two really awesome conversations, one kid I knew, one kid I didn't. I was able to talk through some serious struggles with one girl who I think I am going to start meeting with. She is a great kid, but has no idea how to work through issues in her life. The second kid just started asking me all kinds of questions. It was awesome to chat with her as well.

We had a bonfire Saturday night, and there were so many little nuggets of blessings throughout the night. Made some new friends, and overall just really enjoyed little conversations, and watching ministry happen. So refreshing, and something I really needed to get re-vamped for this job. I love it... but I felt like something was missing from it.

Overall we had 71 girls come to GWOC. 41 of them made first time commitments or re-committed their lives to Christ. We had 21 Adult staff/college students who came and all willingly spelt on air matteress' because we ran out of beds due to the amount of girls that attended. 30 different schools were represented at GWOC and many of those huddles are struggling and now have girls ready to go back to do something about it. It's not about numbers... it's about with the Lord did this weekend!

I shall leave you with a few pictures.

Cailyn, myself, and Annie: Love these girls!

Gotta have a silly picture... right!

For HIS Glory

15 days and counting

2011-11-03T16:00:00.000-05:00

My best friend comes home from college in 15 days! It has been 4 months and I am ready to spend some quality time with her again. Not sure how much I will get to see her... but I know one thing is for sure, I will value the time we do get. While she is at school, I enjoy getting texts from her that read something like the one I got today, "I just sawed a cat head open...wow, coolest thing ever. lol" One of many reasons I love her.

During Bible study monday morning Walt said something that struck me. We were talking about Halloween, and how he doesnt like the holiday becuase it is just another day where people dress up and wear masks to cover up who they really are. Wowsa! If you look at it that way, he has a great point. Walt is a very wise man, and I love learning from him. Halloween is a holiday that my parents let us celebrate with restrictions. We were never allowed to be anything satanic, or anything resembling death. My favorite year was when I was the Pink Power Ranger... hello! it was awesome!! Back on topic. If we think about it, we are all always wearing masks. We get up each day and get dressed to cover up who we really are. Not assuming everyone is like that every single day, but I do think it is safe to assume that everyone has done that at some point in time. What would the world be like if we all accepted each other for who we really are, for the trials we are really walking through, and for the faults we all really have. Reality is, we all have crap in our lives. We hate it, but it is there...and we don't like to admit we have it. Even worse, we actually talk about it. I wish we could all learn to love one another through the crap in our lives. Out ward appearence is one thing, but what is happening in the heart is what really matters. Believe me, I should listen to what I am writing too.

I need to chew on my other thoughts a bit more...
For HIS Glory

It's a coffee and the Shanes kind of day....

2011-10-27T15:27:00.000-05:00

Well, my Rally Squirrel shirt is in the mail and should arrive this afternoon... just in time for games 6 and 7. YES there will be a game 7. I have hope. I believe in the Cardinals.

I took a leap yesterday. I bought my very first road bike. It is yellow and Carolina blue. The guy who sold it to me actually works for Trek. He saw it and took it home for his girl friend. She didnt like it becuase of the color. So he put some money into fixing it up, and sold it for the amount he put in it. Not to make money, but for a fair trade. He was a very nice guy... don't think I didn't take my posie with me... cause I did. Jessi and Jacob went with me. Jessi for protection, and Jacob for knowledge ..~~err~~... yep! It is now in my home, patiently waiting the purchase of a helmet, and hopeful for one last beautiful day in St. Louis. I'd like to take it out at least once before the winter kicks in, and snow begins to cover the streets.

The current project here at work is surrounding out Girls Weekend of Champions. Since I am new at all the FCA stuff, I don't know exactly what to expect. We are doing really well with the registration side of it, everyone in the office is thrilled with how it is all coming together. So I guess it'a ll good! We have an awesome theme and I am super stoked to meet some of these kids I hear about all the time. I am itching to put faces with names... and be hands on with some students!

I am doing a Bible Study with my co-workers and some coaches from around the St. Louis/Metro East area. We are going through Crazy Love. I love this book! I went through the book with my small group two summers ago before they left for college. I am excited to see what God shows me this time around.

Last weekend my two best friends (one guy/one girl) got married. It was such a fun day! It was so refreshing to see friends from college again. Many of them I havent seen in a long time. One even flew in from California. It was a blast dancing the night away, playing with sparklers, making sure Amy and Kaleb had everything they needed in the "get-a-way" car, pictures, ceremony bloopers. It all made for a very memorible weekend. It had its stressful moments, but ultimately, it was all worth it!

Well I am going to read through some more of Crazy Love before study tonight.
For HIS Glory

One Month. Two Weeks.

2011-10-14T10:36:00.000-05:00

Well, I've been at this job for a month and two weeks. I am feeling better about it. I am also realizing that I am more of a crier then I ever used to be. Not in a bad way, I am just tired of covering up how I feel about things, and in turn, I am beginning to really feel what is going on, and it's good...just hard.

Had a tough, but good convo with a dear friend last night/this morning. God is teaching me a ton about friendships, and scantification. It's good, but so hard.

Took this picture this morning, sent it to my bestie, but decided to share it with the blogworld too... it makes me really happy to look at this. Fall really is here!
GREAT cup of coffee... fallen leaves to crunch...and shoes that scream fall! It is such a great thing! I love fall... its just about time for scarves and sweaters people, just about time!

"God's gifts put man's best dreams to shame." - Elizabeth Barrett Browning
I read this yesterday when doing my quiet time. How true is this!? But how
often do we forget about the truth that is in that quote. I think I need to write
it down and put it up on the wall next to my bed. ...just a thought.

This is Annie. She was one of my WCA lax girls. She is pretty great. She was at FCA Lax camp this summer... (where the picture was taken). Well I am officially not coaching this spring. It breaks my heart, but it is what it is. I am going to miss this kid, along with the others of course. Annie posted this picture on my fb wall after finding out I'm not coaching. I feel so loved. I am excited to get to know this kid outside of being her coach.

In other news, I am one step closer to buying a bike.... and I joined a gym. I am starting a training schedule to get in shape so that come spring, I can train for a race.

Well, back to work I go.
For HIS Glory

Happy Friday

2011-10-07T16:21:00.000-05:00

Isn't it funny how sometims all you need is a song to get back on track where you want and need to be. I've been struggling a lot lately. Feeling pretty lonely, and just no motivation. I heard this song today, and was taken back to when I felt exactly what is said in the lyrics... And I realized I was back in that place again, and I can't do this alone. Thank you 33Miles.

I had all the pieces put together
I thought it was all under control
But now I am face to face with failure
I'm fighting these fears I've never known
I'm falling to my knees

Would You hold me, would You hold me up?
'Cause I can barely, I can barely stand
The weight I carry is gonna pull me under

God I need You, yeah, I need You now
'Cause all around me my world's crashing down
And You're the only, You're the only One
That can hold me up

Take me away from all the chaos
Give me the strength to live again
There is a truth found in the promise
That You are the hope that never ends
I'm crying out Lord, please

Would You hold me, would You hold me up?
'Cause I can barely, I can barely stand
The weight I carry is gonna pull me under

God I need You, yeah, I need You now
'Cause all around me my world's crashing down
And You're the only, You're the only One, yeah

I'm desperate for Your peace
I'm crying out Lord, please

Would You hold me, would You hold me up?
'Cause I can barely, I can barely stand
The weight I carry is gonna pull me under

God I need You, yeah, I need You now
'Cause all around me my world's crashing down
And You're the only, You're the only One
That can hold me up, that can hold me up

Whew! That feels a little heavy. Sorry folks...

Well... in other news, Cards play tonight... hoping to win tonight to advance!! I'd like to leave you all with a picture or two...being as I am a Cards fan and all!

If you don't understand the "Rally Squirrel"... google it! It's pretty legit!

For HIS Glory

Bleeding Red

2011-10-04T11:37:00.000-05:00

This Maritz building has been bleeding red since the Cards made it to the post-season. It's so fun! Everyone in their Cardinal jersey's and ball caps. It's almost as if no work will actually be done this month because of the "understanding" that people are just preoccupied with baseball right now. I wore yellow today... guess I missed the memo. Don't be alarmed, I do want the Cards to bring home a World Series just as bad as anyone else, just don't own much red.

About to consume my lunch... ham and cheese sandwich, apple sauce, and a granola bar! Looking forward to that.

I am still reading through Tony Dungy's book, Quiet Strength. I am really enjoying it! I reccommiend it!

We are going through Nehemiah in our Staff Bible Study. Something that I am continually knocked over the head with; God's faithfulness. Holy cow...we are such idiots, and that is not a new thing. We (human kind) continue to try and do things our own way... and we forget that God knows best. Yet He never leaves us. he still lead the Israelites by the pillar of fire by night, and a pillar of smoke by day. He is still leading us by His word today. That hasn't changed. I was struck by how many time the Israelites expressed how compassionate the Lord is, and how arrogant they were in chapter 9. It was repeaded several times. I then realized how arrogant I am, and how compassionate the Lord is towards me.

Well I should get back to reading.

For HIS Glory

Soda Sunday's

2011-09-27T14:35:00.000-05:00

I am trying this new thing, I only drink soda on Sunday's. So far it's going well... just don't remind me that it's only tuesday. I drank almost a whole pitcher of juice we made after work last night. It's better then soda in the long run.

I am making dinner for some good friends who just had a baby. I am looking forward to cooking for them. I am making Bacon wrapped stuffed chicken. Yes, it will be great!

Today's reading material is Quiet Strength by Tony Dungy. I am making some great progress, but as you may know, it is a little thick. I have a feeling this will be traveling home with me to continue the process of getting through it.

I've been thinking and praying for my high school small group girls a lot over the last few days. There is a lot going on with them... if you think about it, would you pray for them. Satan is having his way in their lives by feeding them lies, and as 15 and 16 year old girls, they are believing them.

Reading break over,
For HIS Glory

Reading

2011-09-26T15:49:00.000-05:00

Coaching--Servanthood--Teaching--Teamwork--Intergity--Excellence--Devotionals
These are all topics I am reading about in all the books I am reading in my training my FCA. I am enjoying it, there is just a lot to read. I am nearing the end of my 30 day training period. I've been reading over the whole course of it, but I am all alone this week (the rest of staff is at a training in Kansas City, a training you can only attend if you've been on staff for over 90 days) so I have a lot of time to read. I've made some serious progress today. Just have a few other books to get through.

This weekend was fun. Taco night on Friday...totally passed out way early too, which felt great. I think I needed it. Saturday morning I had breakfast with Katie Baker, she is pretty great. Good to hear about how school is going and such. Had coffee with Rachel, well she had coffee, I didnt. But we chatted for a few hours, which was good becuase we don't get much time together. Then Saturday night I had 3 of my small group girls spend the night. We were going to have a GNO, but one by one the girls couldn't come anymore, so we changed it to going to Buffalo Wild Wings, then spending the night at my house. We watched the OU/Mizzou game, which is one more reason I love my girls, and decided to put a movie in by the fourth quarter. I think I have weddings on the brain, the two movies we chose were The Wedding Date, and The Wedding Planner. ha!

I am currently trying to buy a bike. A road/hybrid bike to be exact. If anyone knows of someone selling one, let me know. I've decided to go the route of craigslist, since I don't want to invest a ton of money in it for my first bike, but I am looking forward to getting my new interest and hobby underway!

Until next time.
For HIS Glory

Code Red

2011-09-14T15:48:00.000-05:00

Monday was the first day I ventured up to the cafe in Martiz. We decided to eat up there. I brought my lunch, so I followed them up and decided I'd just grab a drink up there. I discovered something that was incredible! --wait for it-- Code Red Mountain Dew! Yes ladies and gents, Code Red in the work place. It is really a gift from God I believe.

Well looks like Fall has arrived. It is really rainy and gross here today. And with the rain came some cooler weather. I am all about cooler weather becuase that means I get to wear my sweaters... but then I realized I don't really have a lot of "professional" winterish clothes. So I should probably look into that a little bit before winter hits.

Lots of good things come with fall though. Like my favorite warm drinks from Starbucks for example. Or the changing of leaves. And this fall, my two best friends from Lindenwood are getting married. Scarfs. Sweaters. Boots. Cute Jackets. Hot Chocolate. Movie nights curled up in blankets. Football. Yes, some of the best things come with the season of Fall.

For His Glory

Your Hands

2011-09-13T16:06:00.000-05:00

"When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave Your hands"

This was the first song on my Pandora this morning. I love this song. I used to cling to this song when I was at CFA in the mornings when I was there alone and the radio on loud. I just love the lyrics!

So I just got through my first all-staff meeting. Started with Jimmy Johns, and then 2.5 hours of talking about things. Hearing reports from everyone and things of that nature. It was good to hear what everyone is working on. I really appreciate my boss. She always has my back and I feel very encouraged by the rest of the staff. I feel like I am kind of getting the hang of this admin stuff. We are a few days away from our Kickoff event. So stuff is coming in like crazy, payments, emails, phone calls. I will probably feel overwhelmed again come next monday, thats what Linds and I begin traveling to my schools.

Today is full of meetings. Already mentioned the one earlier, after work I am heading up to church for a German Leadership meeting, and then a Sr. High Leader meeting directly following that. I think it will be easy to crash tonight when I get home. Maybe even after a quick run/walk around the neighborhood. ...maybe not though, I've been getting strangely frightned lately... just in time for my roommates to leave me for 5 nights, awesome. *nervous face*

For HIS Glory

Listening

2011-09-09T14:45:00.000-05:00

...It's amazing the things you can hear when you are quiet and actually listen to what God may be trying to say to you...

Haven't heard things like this in a while.

For HIS Glory

New Beginnings

2011-09-08T10:25:00.000-05:00

So, the blog world doesn't know this, but I got a new job. So long Chick-Fil-A...it has been a long, but good 9 years. Hello FCA(Fellowship of Christian Athletes)!

I am working in St. Louis, so there was no location change.. just a TON of other change. If I can be honest with you... I was NOT expecting all this change when I stepped into this job. Today marks my one week anniversary of this job. I got a haircut, this weekend I am getting some new clothes, and I've gotten a lot of new books (all of which I need to read by December 1st...25 of them to be exact), and ultimately I've gotten a new schedule. No more 4:30am wake up calls, no more going to bed at 9pm, and no more of this having no life thing. It's all changing...this is good change.

Prior to yesterday I was having a hard time with all of the other changes. Like things I was able to do in my time off I probably will not be able to do for a while now. The time I have invested in different areas of ministry/serving I will have to take some steps back from and not fully invest anymore. Some things I am really passionate about are having to take the back burner for a while. I was angry and scared because I am used to those things, and I didn't like that I was having to sacrifice those things for the job I have wanted for a long time now. Thanks to some conversations with Lane and Beth, I was able to step away from the ledge and examine what was really happening in my heart and where the real issues were.

Last night was the first Board meeting I ha to attend...attend and speak in front of all these high esteemed men and women in the STL community...yes after only 4 fully days of "being on staff" as they said. The good news is, I heard they were impressed with my ability to do that confidently...and one board member was impressed solely by the fact that I worked for ChickfilA for so long. haha.... It was terribly intimidating, but it was good to get it done and out o the way...until December rolls around.

I am so blessed by the fact that my job is now to visit with coaches, invest in their lives, so they can impact the lives for their athletes for Christ! These athletes have a huge voice on their campuses...the impact they can make is greater then I think any of us can picture. The coach who coaches using biblical principles is the coach who influences their athletes for the Lord, whether the students realize it or not. I could sit here and tell you story after story I have heard from my co-workers about the coaches they have encountered and the way they have desired to impact their teams... but I wont. I will wait until I have some good stories of my own to tell.

I would like to end by sharing a quote I read in one of my many reading materials:
"A coach will impact and influence more people in one year, than the average person will in an entire lifetime."
If you think about that...it may blow your mind just like it did mine...especially when I thought about that and the impact my past coaches have had on me.

For HIS Glory

I'm working my way back

2011-08-15T14:13:00.000-05:00

OK, everyone who reads this... or follows this at all, I will be updating this again. It is a goal I have beginning in September to begin blogging again. Give me a little more time!

Life has been what some would call insane.

I will be back

24

2011-01-23T17:00:00.000-06:00

oh sweet Jack Bauer
why do you make us tremble
Capable of much

you swoop in unseen
Protecting us yes you do
more lives than a cat

Often, use torture
millions of lives for just one
You need a new phone

Swooping in by night
Saving so so many lives
Cant keep a woman

Oh sweet Jack Bauer
You've taken over our lives
Oh what would Jack Bauer do
Written by: Gina Manual

That haiku pretty much sums up the last few weeks at the house. We've become completely consumed with Jack Bauer and all that is 24! I was never really into the show when the rest of the world was watching, but now I cannot get enough of it! Luckily we had a few snow days this week, so that allowed lots of down time that we used ever so wisely...watching 24 of course!

I was totally thrown off and pleasantly surprised when I got a phone call on Thursday morning telling me to not drive into work. Yeah, that was incredibly awesome! Who knew the "real world" got snow days too!?

I am working on a lot of different things for Chick-Fil-A lately. I am part of the GOT...Grand Opening Team for the Des Pres store as well as for the St. Charles store. I will eventually be transfered to the St. Charles store to work, but before that happens in March/April I am working at several different stores learning new skills and helping to train new employees. My "title" if you will is the TDDTM. Training Director/Drive-Thru Manager. I find it all entertaining... but I am up for it. I am realizing more and more that I am not taking this role as seriously as I should be...so that is what I am working on these days.

My Little came home last week... finally after being gone for 3 whole weeks. I better get used to her being gone though, she is going to Liberty University, and that is not very close. We've had some good quality time since she's been home, it's been awesome!

We are currently at Kaldi's ...she is doing Chem homework, and I am "working on" CFA stuff...and playing around online.

On Friday night we had our Girls Formal at church. It was sooo much fun! We put a lot of hard work into the whole night and it paid off. It was such an enjoyable evening. The theme was WWII...1940's. The senior girls did a fabulous job with the performances and the speakers were so well spoken. God gave them such great words. Real life stories and solid biblical teaching. I was so proud of them. Here are a few snap-shots from the evening:

Laura came to help out! She is from my old small group. It was such a joy to spend the evening with her!

Lauren, me, and Gracie. Oh how I love these girls!

My Little! She's so pretty, isn't she!

The majority of my current small group! They are a blast!

After the formal, I had a small group sleep over at my house. It was a lot of fun to have them over. They played a lot of Wii Just Dance2 for about two hours and then I put a movie in. Within about 10 min of the movie, they were all o.u.t. It was pretty awesome!

Well I should be heading out. I gotta get to youth group. I am trying to blog more... I promise blog followers!

For HIS Glory

Afternoon at Kaldi's

2011-01-07T17:19:00.001-06:00

So Katie and I are at Kaldi's working on her Project Impact application this afternoon. You all should know a few things...first of all, Katie and I got very creative in taking this picture. My web cam was being stupid, so we had to get on skype and look into her webcam and take the picture on my computer. It was pretty funny! Secondly, I love Kaldi's. And lastly, I love today...would you like to know why?? Okok I'll tell you! Well today, all I have done is meet with girls. Past students whom I love dearly and have had a semester of school and have all gone through ups and downs at school. I have loved it!! 9:30 am till now, it's been completely refreshing. Like for reals. My heart loves this. Look at this... someone else showed up!!

It's CARA!! :)

OH yeah, and it's been snowing all day....not a lot, and not anything that is sticking, but it is still really pretty to watch it fall from the sky. It has kind of looked like dip-n-dots......except as I turn around and look outside it is like a blizzard outside!...all of the junior high and high school kids that were in here just took off to go run around in it!

I read this quote today:

"Temptations are opportunities to show God how much we love Him. The greater the temptation, the greater the opportunity."

Makes me think a lot....I love it, but it kind of smacks me in the face too.

We had some bad weather on New Years eve....around 9:30am the tornado sirens started going off. They actually woke me up, well long story short, Kim and I ended up in my room with the door closed because we heard something like a train outside. Well nothing really happened in our area, well no damage that is, however, the rest of st.louis, I cannot say the same. There was quite a bit of damage done around the city. Lost homes and churches, buildings and restaurants. Well an area that was badly hit was Sunset Hills. Well the mayor of Sunset Hills contacted JOY FM to be a part of the clean up and such in the area. The mayor is not a believer, which is pretty cool too. So tomorrow I am headed out to Sunset Hills to help collect donations and do some other things to serve the people. I am really looking forward to tomorrow morning!

Ok well, I'm signing out now... we are now getting lots...LOTS of snow...and its not sticking. yuck! Hope MODOT is ready for this!!

For HIS Glory

Goodbye 2010

2011-01-02T01:38:00.000-06:00

As I look back on the last year, I am hit with the awesomeness that it truly was. This would probably be the longest blog known to man if I went through and in detail highlighted all of the things, so instead I decided I would use a handful of pictures to go through the last year.

I moved in with these two one year ago yesterday. Its crazy to think it has only been a year... it feels like I've been here much longer.

I also went on our Senior High mission trip to New City Fellowship downtown to do some inner city work. It was a joy to work along side the students and to watch them grow through the week. In the evenings we usually had a time of worship and reflection and some other stuff, one night though we went to Ted Drewes!

In April I went to a Cardinals game with Kim, Gina, and our friend Renee. This is important because I caught my very first foul ball at that game.

In May, my family received the keys to the vehicle we drive and the thumbs up for our franchise to a company called Games2U. We went down to Austin Texas for training and to put ourselves on the "map"

In June we were asked to be on some of the morning news shows locally. Tim Ezell was pretty fun to work with. We did a week long thing with him and his interns... One morning we did hamster ball relays

A few hours after this picture was taken, we were getting ready for our next event and I ended up fracturing my ankle... that was cool...NOT! It wouldn't have been so bad if I wouldn't have been leaving for Colorado two days later. Mountains and crutches do not go well together. I was able to get to the top though... even got a few pictures. The first is with my brother and two people who are so very special to Tim and I, Walt and Carol.

The next picture is with my new small group, well the ones that were able to come to camp with us that is.

I flew home from camp a few days early to be in a wedding. One of my very good girl friends got married to her high school sweetheart in June. It was well worth the early trip home!! I was so glad to be a part of their special day.

I went to several other weddings this summer...

Josh and Casey:

And Angie's wedding too

In July I went to Germany for 12 days. It was an incredible 12 days...the first 2 were spent in Munich.

I went with some pretty great people...I had no idea what the outcome would be of this team, but I am so beyond thankful for the way God put our team together.

We got lost into the middle of nowhere in Germany on this bus...

We went on a tour of a concentration camp while we were there as well. Dachau.

After the 2 days in Munich, it was time to do what we were there to do...DASS Camp in Dresden, Germany. DASS Camp is an German English Speaking Sports and Bible Camp that is put on by the Golden Lamm, which is a First Free sister church. 64 kids came to camp this year!

While in Dresden, God formed a pretty amazing friendship between a girl named Lydia and I. Lydia was a German leader who loves students and spoke great English because she spent a few years here in the states.

In August I had to say goodbye to some very special girls in my life. My small group girls were all headed to college.

My dad, sister, and I headed down to Oklahoma for a short weekend. I went for a wedding of two friends I cannot say enough good things about. Brent and Krysten...It was extra special because of all the people I got to see at their wedding. Several friends from Project, as well as friends I have made through those friends and so many others. It was such a blessing to be there.

In late August, Lydia came to visit! We went to the typical St. Louis places...Arch, Zoo, Ted Derews, and the City Museum. We had Imos and toasted ravoli, and watched a cards game.

In September, I got to go to Maui for a whole week with these two:

Not only did I get to go with them...but we got dropped in the middle of the ocean together too!

In 2010 I got to spend a good amount of time with my little sister, Carrie. She turned 13, and likes boys...

I also got to know this girl and would definitely claim her as my little sister any day of the week...heck I already do! I am pretty thankful God put this girl in my life.

I've had several jobs this year,I've coached lacrosse, worked for my dad, worked at JOY FM, and now working at Chick-fil-A. The relationships I am building at my work place has been pretty cool. David and Amanda's baby, Jack, went home on December 23rd. It was pretty amazing. He was in the NICU for 4 months. I am excited to see how God uses me in their life from this point on. We've exchanged numbers, and I've invited them to church. It's just pretty awesome.

The months of October, November, and December were consumed with the Christmas musical at church. In the end, it was all worth it!

And this brings us to last night. I was puking, we had a party at the house. The house was full of friends, yet we were still missing several. There were 4 new babies, all the same age. We played the epic game of Word Salad, and celebrated a birthday. All in all, it was a great night full of cake balls and Jack's puke...one of the baby's that is...

Good bye 2010, you treated me well. We had our up's and down's. You threw me some insane challenges, but in the end I would say you were a pretty good year. And now it is on to 2011.

For HIS Glory

Legacy

2010-11-23T14:36:00.000-06:00

So I thought it was about time I update again... Which is probably good so I can try and process a little bit. Life is never just a straight shot. It is filled with decisions and choices, mountains and valleys, twists and turns, joys and sorrows. All of those things tend to being a lot of confusion in my life. Not sure which direction to turn or which passion to follow, which career to pursue--wouldn't things be so much easier if there was a flashing neon sign directly in front of us telling us exactly what to do??...or is there? In the last 2 days, I've had 3 different people tell me, "Jess, sounds like you're gonna need to spend a lot of time in prayer about this." ...Guess that is my first neon sign. I try to be disciplined in prayer, but it is hard for me to trust that talking to a God I know is there, knowing I won't get an immediate, verbal answer will do much good. I sound like such a hypocrite considering all the talking and teaching I've done on prayer in the last three weeks.

This is something I shared with a good friend in an email this past week:

"Man life is a beautiful thing. Its full of interactions with other human beings, tears, smiles, hardships, joys, anger, and pain...on the inside. But on the outside, we are so good at putting on a good face. When asked how we are, we fill our answers with complete fakeness and no one even ever blinks...or calls us out on it for that matter. Maybe we could change the world if people quit pretending they cared about each other, and in turn did something about it."

This was spurred from helping customer after customer one day at work and constantly asking how their day was going, and time and time again, the response was, "fine" or "good". I started getting a little irritated with that response after it was given to me by someone who was clearly having a hard day. This world is so full of broken people, and for some reason we have been taught to not be honest, raw, or real with people and just say we are fine and go about our business and struggle through life alone. I don't think that was Gods design. His design was for community, to walk through life with others, encourage one another, love each other and ask the hard questions, desiring honest answers no matter how raw they may be.

In other news: I was having a really rough day at work yesterday, it was all great until I had to work next to this one coworker of mine who I really struggle with. He is inconsiderate and disrespectful towards the customers as well as the people he works with. I about had it when he laughed in my face when I asked him to help us stock the line...between him and the woman who came to order and was on her cell phone and never once communicated with me beyond holding up fingers telling me which meal she wanted and pointing to the flavor drink she wanted. I couldn't keep a smile on my face on my own power. I stepped back to bag the meals coming through so I wouldn't have face to face contact with anyone, and I told God I was about to flip and I needed something to calm me down. I turn around and guess who I see--David. David is the father of Jack, the baby in the NICU I was writing about last week. Oh man that was so awesome to see him. (Amanda is the mothers name by the way). I asked about Jack and I got good news! He is finally 6lbs 2oz!! The thing they are working on with him now is feeding. Jack needs to be able to take a whole bottle in one feeding in order to be one step closer to going home. He also needs to regulate his own body temperature as well as breath on his own strength before he can go home with mom and dad.

As angry as I was God blessed me with getting to see and talk with David. I also got to work with Erika!! That was so fun. I also started my training on how to train others for the new store. That then brings me back full circle to thinking about life and the twists and turns of it all.

On a totally different topic, last night was play practice for the Dessert Theater at my church. I am the stage manager again which I love for 2 reasons, I get to be behind the scenes and work with my awesome boys, and second, I get to watch the show progress to be the masterpiece it becomes in the end! The practices are long, but I enjoy watching my dear friends and small groups girls while they are practicing.

The chorus of this song has been stuck in my head the last few days: Nicole Norderman Legacy

I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love? Did I point to You enough
To make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace who
blessed your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy

For HIS Glory

Chicken and Waffle Fries

2010-11-12T23:50:00.001-06:00

So I haven't blogged in some time now. I've been bogged down with a lot of highly stressful things and really just wasn't in a blogging mood for a couple months.... alas that mood has been lifted, and while talking with Gina last night I decided how I am going to keep myself motivated to blog. I am going to blog about work.

You see, I have become a woman of many trades. I work for my dad and our family business doing all kinds of things, I am a fill in receptionist at JOY FM while the actual receptionist is on maternity leave, and I also now work at Chick-Fil-A at West County mall...again. I love different parts of each of my jobs...I am working 50-60+ hours a week between the three. It's down right out of control, but a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do! I begged God for anything other then going back to CFA. That was my first job with I was 15. I worked there for four and a half years, and then was able to move on. Welllll God put me in my place ~~as usual~~, humbled me and said, nope you're going back there cause that's my plan for you right now. I pushed back on that a little bit, and then submitted to His call and took the plunge.

I realized the other night that during each shift God has blessed me by being encouraged by a co-worker, or customer...or I've been given the opportunity to serve my co-workers, or customers in a spiritual way. I LOVE it!! I will now be blogging about my "God Sightings" at CFA. Some are bigger then others, but they are all important, and that alone has been the thing that gets me excited to go to work.

Wednesday Night:
I was working till close, and my first customers were Lane and her mom! It was so refreshing to see them (as I had come from working all day at JOY) and it helped me put a smile on my face for the remainder of the night. Shortly after they had their food, a man and his wife walked up to the counter. While he was waiting for their food he asked me, "are you in High school?" I chuckled and replied with a "no, but thank you!" He proceeded to ask how old I was and then finding out I had a college degree, he asked what I had it in and what I wanted to do with it. We got to talking about missions, and I told him I spent some time in Kazakhstan, Germany, as well as some inner city stuff here in town. His wife told me about work she had done with some lepers in Africa somewhere, and next thing I know, a different man in line who overheard me say I spent some time in KZ started speaking Russian to me. I quickly spout out "Я не понимаю русский" meaning "I don't understand Russian." It was humorous. But the fact that someone in my line was interested in what God was doing in my life and I was able to share it with them was worth it for me!

And then, this happened!

it was around 8pm and this lady I have served before walked up to the counter. I recognized her because of the name tag she was wearing that simply said "mom" on it. It was a name tag for St. John's Mercy NICU. She remembered me as well and we carried on a conversation. I asked her how old her baby was and told her about some friends of mine who had a baby in the NICU at St. Johns for a little while but he got to go home earlier then expected, which was a huge praise! She looked at me with tears in her eyes and all she said was, "thank you, I need to hear those things." We continued talking while she was waiting and she proceeded to tell me the reason she keeps coming to CFA is because we are so kind and happy when we serve others. As she was leaving I called her back and asked the name of her child, and told her I'd be praying for her and her little boy. Again, with tears in her eyes she said, "thank you, I'll be back to see you next week."

Seriously, two awesome stories like that in one night, It was so awesome!! I was so encouraged by it. God has placed me there for a reason, for this season in my life to teach me new things, test me and grow me to become more like Him, even by doing things I don't like or understand the reason behind it.

For HIS Glory

A bit overwhelmed.

2010-09-24T23:55:00.000-05:00

First, a few pictures:

This doesn't need much explanation...does it?? This was taken on the Road to Hana. --this is the summary of that 8 hour long road trip. It was like driving to Oklahoma, except all we did was drive around an Island, and miss everything. Ha, well worth the trip though because of what follows........

Thats all for today, I'll add more from a different day another day. ....lets see, what else. Well a lot happened while I was away. One of my new small group girls was hit by a car on Sulpher Springs last Saturday night. She was basically within an inch of her life--it was scary for a while actually. This girl is not a believer yet. I thank God she is still here. It was pretty eye opening for me and gave me a good outlook on how I approach ministry. It was good to get that wake up call.

Everything else--well I'm pretty overwhelmed right now. Business is good, but its a lot of work and I haven't seen much payback and so it's hard to stay motivated to keep moving forward. I have been slammed with 6 great mission opportunities over the last week. I think I've narrowed it down to 3 actual possibilities, but it's all so overwhelming to think about. Just when I thought I had some stuff figured out, more gets thrown in my face. ...ok maybe thats a bit of an exaggeration, but thats how I'm feeling about it.

For HIS Glory

Vaca to Maui

2010-09-19T03:01:00.000-05:00

So I've spent a few days here in Maui, Hawaii. It is beyond beautiful! I love it here. This trip concludes my visit to all the live-able islands. Man I have been so blessed with the places I've gotten the chance to travel to. I am totally sunburnt....yeah, totally. It's a bit obnoxious actually........ I put on sunscreen and everything, alas I am red. Red like a lobster actually. Ugh! I try so hard to protect my fare skin, but I fail time and time again. Good thing we were only out for a few hours yesterday. We decided to do some snorkeling.

The beach that is connected with our resort thing is the Black Rock beach. One of the best places on the island for snorkeling. I saw some totally awesome and weird looking fish. I had a few minor panic attacks though...I freak out at the beginning cause I don't believe that I can still breath. After I got over that, all was well! Did some wave riding and then called it a day. We then went to a place called Cilantro's for dinner. We think Qudoba and Chipolte have big burritos...oh man, this thing was massive! (Picture on facebook) We got some ice cream, then walked around this awesome town called Lahina. So cute, and totally hoppin!

This morning was the big morning!!!....It was the morning of the Maui 5K. Kim, Gina, and I all decided to do it. I was pretty stoked, but got super nervous, much like I did before a lacrosse game. We met a nice lady from Indiana, Anne. She is in training for a full marathon, and was using this race as a trainer while she was here on vacation. She was going to run in 4-1 intervals. I decided I could keep up with her, so she became my running buddy. It was cool to run/walk and talk with her about a lot of different stuff. Gina's dad did a great job getting pictures of us while we were walking and running. We all had a great time. I finished 2 minuets faster then my goal, and Kim and Gina finished in under an hour. It was a great accomplishment all around! ...did I mention I totally puked at the end...... yeahhhhh

Today was spent shopping. Woo! So many shops, but it was so much fun. Well until I got a migraine that is. I got a super cute dress too!! I am very excited about it. We came home, I was able to get a short nap in, and bam! I was ready to go! We went to a luau tonight. It was fun. I think my favorite part was the sunset on the beach though. On our walk home, we went to Yogurtland. A different version of Froyo. While we were sitting outside eating it, a free show began. It was at Whalers Village and it was a bunch of children who all do historic dance and such. It was so so cool to see!!

Well i must go now... Gina's dad is running the Marathon in the morning and we have to be up to cheer him on at a few different mile markers! I'm looking forward to it... I've never been to a marathon before. Did I mention I am super sore from today.... well I just did.

For HIS Glory

Backstreets Back Alright!

2010-09-01T12:30:00.000-05:00

Yup ladies and gents... you heard it... the Backstreet Boys are back. My roomie, Rachel told me that they are touring with New Kids on the Block! --Now that will be a sight to see!

In two weeks i'll be in Hawaii with Kim and Gina and her family! Holy cow. That is actually happening!! It all happened pretty fast, and now we are here...I'm so ready for a nice vacation of nothing but the beach and the ocean, roommates, and relaxation!
......Then as soon as I get back its back to work... lots of parties scheduled, lots of traveling with my lil bro to do some parties. Should be a good time...I'll keep you posted on that!

This weekend was a bit interesting. As you may know, my mom hasn't been living at home for the better part of 2 months. Things are getting better...it's much like a 1 step forward, 2 steps back kind of thing these days. But the steps backwards seem to be a little smaller then they have been in the past. We went out to my aunts house where my mom is living to celebrate my grandpa's birthday. My grandpa turns 85 today. He had a quadruple bypass surgery done 29 years ago... the doctors told him he wouldn't make it more the 6 years max...well... it's been 29, and he is still working, driving, and walking no problem. He is definitely slowing down a bit, but he is doing pretty good for living 23 years longer then expected. Well we went down to Centertown Missouri on Saturday. It's near Jeff City. The drive there and back was pretty terrible. I got unbearably car sick, which is weird because that is not normal. We got out there, and my cousin took Timmy and I out on the ATV to show us their property. The only other time we'd been out there was in a blizzard, so we couldn't see it. However this time...we saw it. Well Alex just about killed us. I don't think it was intentional, but still! It was a bit scary. We were drive and all the sudden we hit a patch with no ground, and suddenly we began to tip and head towards the pond, and I quickly began reaching for anything to hold onto. Well in the end we didn't tip, but it was one of the most terrifying things I think I've done... let alone entrust my life to my 17 year old cousin who can't seem to keep 4 wheels on a car or keep it in one piece. We didn't die, we took family photo's, my uncle barbequed, and spoke more then I've ever heard him speak in my entire 23 years of living, we had dessert, talked a bit as a family, and then dad, Tim, Carrie and I drove home --again I got super car sick.

Sunday was a good day. I have to say I love my Quest family. Kevin knows just what to say to hit the heart, but not to the point of shredding it to pieces. This week's sermon was all about the Wisdom in Family. Just kind of hit the heart and made me realize some faults in my thinking as of late. I'm excited to take the journey though.

When I drive around, I generally listen to my iPod...well at least lately that has been the case. Well a song came on yesterday and it really got my wheels turning. You know the Pepsi refresh commercials on tv? Well the back song of that is Black Eyed Peas "One Tribe." Well I kind of forgot that song was on their most recent album (yes I have their most recent album) and so while my iPod was on shuffle, One Tribe began to play. Here are some of the lyrics, and maybe it will spark similar thoughts for you:
One Tribe, one time, one planet, one race
Its all one blood, don't care about your face
The color of your eye or the tone of your skin
...
One tribe, one time, one planet, one [race]
Race, one love, one people, one [and]
Too many things that's causing one [to]
To forget about the main cause
Connecting, uniting
But the evil is seen and alive in us
So our hopes are colliding
And our peace is sinking like Poseidon
But, we know that the one [one]
The evil one is threatened by the sum [sum]
So he'll come and try and separate the sum
But he dumb, he didn't know we had a way to overcome
Rejuvenated by the beating of the drum
Come together by the cycle of the hum
Freedom when all become one [one]
Forever
...
And I don't wanna sound like a preacher
But we need to be one

One world, one love, one passion
One tribe, one understanding
Cause you and me can become one.
....
There are a lot of other words to the song actually... But right there, one of the biggest hip hop groups in the country, and probably the world (They are pretty popular with the students in Germany) is basically laying out huge issues with the World today. Talking about "evil" referring to it as "he"... and then at the end admitting that we need a preacher. Man, I don't know what all is happening in our World, but for a secular group like the Black Eyed Peas to be talking about those things and ultimately demanding that we are ONE Tribe and we need to act like it and lean on each other... I think the world is a little more open to the Gospel then we as believers think it is.

Just some thoughts...

I'd like also announce that i shopped at Trader Joe's for the first time ever today! I am a fan!

For HIS Glory

long time no write

2010-08-25T22:16:00.000-05:00

Hello blog world, Katie Baker, Krystal Krug, and anyone else who follows me on this thing. I apologize for taking so long to post. It's been a bit crazy lately.

I have experienced something I've never experienced before. I sent off 10 girls who I have spent the last 4 years getting to know and walking through life and going through the ins and outs of a relationship with Christ with... I sent them off to college. 10 girls, 8 different universities, 4 different starts. I didn't know that was going to be so hard. I was pretty upset about it to be honest. I am still working on my heart attitude. I've just really struggled with my new group and how different they are from the group I just graduated. But it's something I need to get over and I know it will be alright, it's just something I'm not a fan of right now.

I have been pretty busy with Games2U lately too. we had a 19 hour work day the other day... that was insane. I was totally beat and by the end of it, but it was a good day in the end. 2,500 girl scouts starting at 8am...then random college kids...and we were home by 4:45am Sunday morning. Yeah, looooong day.

Well I had more for this blog, buuuuut my computer is going to die soon, so it's not going to work out. I shall update again in the next few days... KB-I promise!

For HIS Glory

Dresden, Germany

2010-07-31T19:17:00.000-05:00

Well I am here in Oklahoma, and I have some free time right now, so I will at least start blogging about our time in Dresden.

We flew into Dresden and Tim, the guy who was in charge of the camp picked us up and we headed to EFree Dresden. He gave us a tour of the church, and his wife made us lunch, oh it was so yummy... we had potato salad and sausage (typical German meal eh?) and a few of the students and German leaders were there so we all ate together and prayed for the camp. After lunch, Tim took us to the city. They call it "Old City." It was amazing and so beautiful!

This is a church. You can see how some of the stones are white, and some black. Well the white are new sand-stones... and the black are all stones that survived the bombing during WWII. Not only did they survive, but they are placed in the original place. Simply amazing!

There is so much history here! It was so awesome to see it all and hear the different stories about St. August and his palace (shown below)... as well as see a few buildings that did survive the bombing completely. After walking through the city, we took a boat tour and got to see some really good castles and vineyards.

This is part of St. August's Palace

A different view of the city

This is the Opera house. As you can see, all the stones are black, which means they all survived the bombings.

After touring we headed back to the church and our host families were there to take us to their homes for the night. I was really nervous about this because I was going alone and it was just me and Karin. Karin is very tall, and wears glasses, and comes off as a very timid woman. I was a bit nervous about how we would click, but when we got to her home we cooked dinner together, and that helped my anxiety go away! The rest of the evening was spent just chatting about a bunch of different things, a few awkward silences, but it was good. I then was hit with the tired stick, so I went to my room and fell asleep almost immediately. Fearful of my alarm not going off the next morning.
...it did!

We headed to church where we met with the rest of the team again and it was great to hear the stories of our nights. I loved sitting through the German church service. It was so cool. In the middle of the service they open up with prayer then ask for any testimonies from the week, sharing anything that happened, good or bad, and how God moved through it. Very very cool! Uli (the senior pastor, he has also been to EFree to visit and share about EFree Dresden) gave a sermon, and we worshiped a bit, then they had a social time at the end of the service.

We got lunch after church with some of the German leaders. This was the beginning of our week at DASS Camp. ...We had the best meal I had the whole time we were there in my opinion... we had Doner... it is pronounced "du-na" ...like tuna. Holy cow it was awesome! It was like a gyro... only way better!

"What kind of meat is it" - Amis (Americans)
"uh... uh..." - German man
"It's uh... moo" - German man
"ooo It's beef!" - Amis

Therefore, Doner contains, beef, lettuce, tomato, onions, purple cabbage, red pepper flakes, some yummy sauces... all in a pocket of warm bread. It was great!

After lunch we headed down the Autobahn and went really really fast for an hour to get to camp. We arrived all in one piece, got to our apartment, unpacked a bit, and then went down to help set everything up. My task was to figure out how to put together the lacrosse goals. Not a problem.. I can do that in my sleep... if the goals are actually lacrosse goals. Well these goals are actually soccer goals that have had a few things added to them and turned into lacrosse goals. So it took a while to figure that out, but no fear, we got it!

The students were arriving quickly to get the best spot for their tents as we were setting up. They were to register at 6pm, and dinner was at 6:30...German time. German time means exactly when they say, not 2 min late. After dinner we had our sports test. Basically we had 3 groups of 21 students. Each group had 45 min at each sport to see who could do what. We were coaching football, baseball, and lacrosse. 45 min is not a lot of time, but it wasn't so bad. After the sports test the kids went back to the tent area and we had a camp fire. After the camp fire we Ami's had a lot to do. **I keep saying "Amis"...thats what the German's called us** Our task was to take the rating of each student, compare it to the other sports and then form 6 teams with all 64 students and choose team captains. Needless to say, we were up till about 2 making those teams.

The rest of the week went by this schedule... until it rained, then we had to switch things up:
7:15-Ami leader meeting
8-9- Breakfast
9-10 - Mental Time (this was their bible study/speaker time)
10:40-12:15- English (ESL) Half of our time was secular, and half was Bible
12:30-1- Lunch
1-3 - Free Time (Sand Volleyball opened at 2)
3-5:30- Sports
5:30-6- Snack
6-9- Sports
9:30-10- Dinner
10-11- Camp Fire
12- Lights out.
Repeat.

It was a pretty packed week. When it rains, it pours there. Therefore, it P.O.U.R.E.D. for 3 days. We had to cancel sports for the last 2 days, which was sad, but none of the students complained at all about it. They actually had great attitudes about it all. The first day it rained, we had a Mud Bowl. Basically everyone played except Bill and I. It was so awesome! Because of all the rain, it was muddy, so why not play some football!? I opted not to play (even though I really wanted to) but since my ankle is like one slip away from being broken and in a cast, I decided it was not wise. The kids loved it and so did all the leaders!

We were not able to do everything we planned because of all the rain, but it ended up being an incredible week at camp. God did some awesome things and He taught me so so much. I've been telling people that I think God did more...or I let Him actually work in my life more in the last 15 days then in the last 2 years in my life. I hate saying that, but it's true. God used this trip to really solidify some things in my life. I've recognized a lot in my life, and how I cannot keep putting Him in a little box but I need to let Him open and close doors so I can best serve Him. I cannot just assume I know what He wants. I HAVE to be in communion with the Lord on a regular daily basis. I cannot keep living in my "west county" mind set. It kills me that the earthly things in my life can get me through my day. I need Him... not things. I need a Savior...not things. God slapped me in my face several times during the course of the week... but it was so good and refreshing. I have never felt so close and confident in my relationship with the Lord. Some people have said, "well its just a high, that feeling will leave." And they are right... if I go back to the way of living that is comfortable and not spiritually challenging, and is a walk in the park like it was. But if I continue to communion and rely solely on Him to sustain me... I don't think it will leave like it has in the past.

Ok so this blog ended up being much longer then I expected it to be. I'd love to talk more with anyone who wants to talk about my trip. For now I will leave you with some pictures from the week with the kids.

Me, Timo, and Lane at dinner one night

Coaching

Lauren, Julie, Beneja, Lane, Me, Luke, Rehni before the Mud Bowl

Bill and Valid arm wrestling at lunch

Human Knot during ESL
(they had to figure it out only speaking in English)

Julie teaching our English class... I love these kids! They did so well!!

Me and Timi. He was one of the German leaders. He was awesome and should probably be a youth pastor! He has such a gift with students!! He was my brother all week... it started because my real brother is Timmy... but by the end we loved each other! I miss this kid!

Finally, a picture of the German's and the Ami's... minus Tobi and Bill.
We had a massive sand volleyball game. Very intense... good thing we were still friends after the game! I love everyone in this picture dearly! I can't wait to see them again someday!

For HIS Glory

Munich, Germany

2010-07-30T11:50:00.000-05:00

It has been quite a while since I update this blog. A whole lot has happened since summer camp and Beth's wedding. I think I will skip all that craziness and just skip to my life now.
**You should know I've been trying to write this blog for 3 days now**

I left for Germany on the 14th of July. We left St. Louis at 8am, and headed to Washington DC where we had a 7 hour lay over. We got Wendy's...i'm a sucker for Wendy's...and I had a great conversation with Julie, and Sandy. Poor Luke, he was there too... but we were talking about boys and girls and relationships and such. Anyways... then we all made some last phone calls to people we wanted to talk to. Then we played a game that altered the rest of our trip. We played Farkel! Do you know this dice game? It's a new favorite of mine. "Farkel" became a theme of the trip. We even took the word to Germany and taught it to the students. We spent time as a team defining the word and everything so we could actually use it as a term. We decided it was a good word to describe messing up. For example, "Dang I farkled."...you get it? Ok good! We left DC around 6 then flew to Munich, Germany.

We arrived in Munich around 8:30 am. We took our things to the hotel and got directions to the train station. We walked 10 min to the train and got there just in time to catch the train we needed to get to the city center. We didn't know it was a 55 min train ride though. We got to Merianplotz(city center) and figured out when our tour was meeting then went to have our first meal in Germany.

I had potato soup. It was pretty good. Very different than our potato soup, but still pretty good.

We walked around a bit and explored the city while waiting for our tour group. I found Timmy's Deutschland Soccer Jersey at a little specialized shop which was really neat to look through a bit. We then decided to sit down a while and wait for the tour, and everyone ended up falling asleep... it was actually pretty funny. Our tour guide said it was time to go and we got on a train and rode for 45 min (another opportunity to sleep... we were going on 23 hours of no sleep by this time) and got to a place where we transfered to a bus that we were on for another 15 min (yes... i fell asleep during this ride) and then we arrived at Dachau.

"Work sets you free"

That is what the front gate of the Dachau Concentration Camp says. Being there was very surreal. I am very glad I got to opportunity to see this place, but the things I learned while I was there were things our history books don't teach us. It was very eye-opening and shocking that people could hold so much hate towards another person. It really put some things into perspective for me.

My facebook has more pictures from the camp.

After the tour we needed to find some dinner... well we didn't travel back with the rest of the tour group because we were going to a different place. I was sorta in charge of getting us around Munich and everything that we did there... I've never been there, it was all new, and all the trains look alike... well I ended up having our group on the wrong train, and when we traveled out to the middle of no where I then knew I was wrong and we needed to get off asap! Bill found a girl who was able to help us and we had to wait 30 min for the next train to come for us. **Please note we've now been up and traveling for 30ish hours**

The best thing I could do to try to make up for getting us lost and having to wait for a train was say, "I have two decks of cards."

We played a mean game of Egyptian Rat Race!

**not staged, just a candid**

We finally made it to where we needed to be to get some pizza before heading back to the hotel. Man this pizza was so good! Julie was really excited about how big it was too! Can't you tell!

We finally made it back to the hotel after being awake for something like 33 hours...thank you time changes! We took showers and hit the hay pretty fast. The next morning we got up and headed back to Merianplotz to figure out how we needed to participate in the Hop-On-Hop-Off bus tour. We split up and grabbed some sandwiches from some street carts and enjoyed a quick lunch and got on the bus and started our afternoon tour. Our first stop was at a huge Palace. ...here are some pics:

Me in front of the Palace.

This is the back yard of the Palace. I tried to get artsy.

Our first team picture.

Bill, Luke, and Sandy

Julie, Lane, me, Lauren

We found this awesome little stream and quiet place behind the Palace. I think this place is where we really bonded as a team. We realized we could have fun and enjoy spending time with one another.

From the Palace we headed to the Olympic Park. That was totally cool! I wish more of the history behind what happened at the Munich Olympics would have been displayed, but I guess considering Germany sees that as a failure, they wouldn't show much of that. Also at Olympic Park there is the BMW factory and museum. Here are a few pictures:

This is the center of Olympic Park. We went to the top of it to see everything. It was really cool!!

This is the BMW plant and museum.

It was pretty cool, there was a concert or something going on in the stadium while we were there... also notice that the seats are all grass... not stadium seats like we have.

Our next stop was supposed to be the English Gartens... which is where we were going to have dinner at a Beir Garten. Well... we got lost again, however this time it was not my fault! The bus we were on did not stop like it was supposed to... not one time, but twice! It was a bit out of control, but it was alright in the end. We did finally make it to the English Gartens ~~after walking for an hour and fifteen minutes~~ and we had dinner and it was really good! We then navigated our way through the city to get ice cream then get back to the hotel. We got on the correct train and everything... but suddenly the train stopped at a stop 2 stops away from our stop, and we were told we had to get off because it was going back into the city... what the heck! So we made the most of our 33 min wait, and made some memories...take a look:

YUMMY

Just being silly... we stole Julie's camera and gave her some wonderful pictures!

Again... beautiful pictures!

That dang bus S2.... It got is where we needed to be... but also where we didn't want to be. It was clearly a love/hate relationship.

We finally made it home and needed to get in bed because we were flying to Dresden at 11 the next morning, our taxi was supposed to be at the hotel by 9. We the four of us girls all shared a room and we encountered quite a bit of not able to sleep syndrome. I don't think we fell asleep until 2 am...and to make things better, our alarm didn't go off the next morning, so we were almost late getting down to our taxi. Almost being the key word, we made it!

I promise you we did ministry while we were there... this was only the first two days... I will blog about the rest of the trip later...but for now, I have some small group girls to meet with!

For HIS Glory

It's been too long

2010-07-03T01:49:00.000-05:00

SO much has happened lately, it's insane.

2 weeks ago, almost 3 actually I was in Colorado. We hold our High School youth group summer camp at Silver Cliff Ranch. It is at the base of Mt. Princeton. It was an amazing week. God worked in some really really awesome ways.... as usual. Unfortunately I fractured my ankle the day before I was leaving. I was totally bummed because I knew that meant I wouldn't be doing much. No hiking, no rafting, no running, no ropes course, no nothing. Crutches and mountains do not mix so well. Nonetheless... God blew me away with how He spoke to me, and how He used me. Totally great! Here are a few pictures from the week... I can't relay all the awesomeness about the week, but it was!

This is my new small group (missing 2). They are freshmen...they are crazy... and several of them need some stability in their lives. I am nervous, but oh so very excited about this!!

Kim and I at the top of Monarch Pass at the Continental Divide. I rode the Gondola up, but several people decided to hike up the mountain. Oh how I love that view!!

OF course I got a picture with new old small group girls... I love them. It was an incredible week with these three girls. I'm sad more of my group didnt end up going to camp, but I am SO glad these three went!

And last but not least...a picture with my brother! I am so excited because he is going to start serving in Sr. High! He's got his own group of freshmen boys and everything. We actually got to lead a discussion group together. Those groups are called brother/sister groups... how convenient huh? haha.

I had to come home from camp early because I was in a wedding! Two great friends of mine got hitched! They were high school sweethearts. I've known Andrew since 6th grade...and Beth since 9th grade. It was totally awesome to be a part of it all. The whole weekend was so great. I hated having to leave camp early, but the wedding was completely worth it. Here are just a few of many many pictures that were taken.

Bridesmaids with Beth(in white) and the flower girls at the rehearsal. Our plane literary landed an hour and a half before the rehearsal began...Thus I look tired, but I am showered and in a dress!

Doing hair for each other before the wedding. We decided we would do our own hair and we had a great time doing so. This was a fun picture because we were all in the bathroom at once, too bad you cant see all of us, but it's still pretty fun!

And there we are... all lined up in our dresses, hair done, make up done, and ceremony in session! It was a great wedding! There are no reception pictures, but that was a great time as well!! Each set of groomsmen and bridesmaids had to come up with an entrance dance into the reception hall...so fun!

All in all...so so great!

Since then I've attended one other wedding. My dear friend Angie got married. She was my little sister through high school in marching band and lacrosse. It was fun, so many of our friends were there, and our high school lacrosse coach was there.

We've had some parties since as well. My favorite was yesterday. We went over to East St. Louis to where JOYFM had their mission trip. What a total blessing it was to be there and be a part of it... a very small part, but a part nonetheless. All the kids had so much fun. Just to be there and see the joy on the kids faces, oh man totally worth it! I haven't felt so fulfilled while running a party.

I had a meeting with John Burroughs High School today. I won't say much cause I am not sure what all will come of it, but there is some awesome potential there when it comes to coaching lacrosse there. I'm excited to see what happens!

I am currently walking through some tough stuff. It's some stuff I did not expect to have to walk through again. Which is more annoying because it is some old issues coming up again in my family. So if you have talked with me sometime in the last week or so and I am a bit off or not fully engaged in the conversation, I apologize. I've got a lot on my mind and saying I am scatter-brained is possibly an understatement.

I am looking forward to the holiday weekend!! I hope you enjoy yours as well!!

For HIS Glory

Sunday...on Monday

2010-06-07T23:58:00.000-05:00

So yesterday was Sunday. It was a great Sunday for that matter! I did wake up really late though...oops! I met up with some of my girls for our Crazy Love discussion. Of course I was ZERO slack for being a few minutes late...ehem...oh well. Then I headed to Quest for what turned out to be an amazing service. You know how sometimes the church service is just extra good? Well that was this week for me. God was there(as usual) and it became very easy for me to focus on the sermon and connect in worship. That was really exciting for me because it has been difficult for me to connect for a little while now.

If that wasn't good enough Kevin, our pastor, gave us a challenge. We started a series on Wiseology. We will be studying the book of Proverbs for the summer. Kevin challenged us to read one chapter of Proverbs a day throughout the entire summer. That means I would read through the book three times. I've been looking for something that is structured, but that wasn't from a "bible study" format. I know that sounds a bit odd, but I'm really looking forward to this challenge. I can't wait to see how God is going to use this summer.

I had a great lunch with the people I truly love at Red Robin. The more time I spend with these people, the more I love them and the more thankful I become for them. I am just so thankful for how welcome I feel around them and how comfortable I am around them. It's just nice to have a place I know I belong.

I went to the Cardinal's game last night with Lauren, Jeremy, and Lauren's sister, Jessica. It was super fun...would have been a bit better if we would have won, but it was still worth it! The drive home was totally entertaining. St. Louis is the easiest city to get into, but the most difficult to get out of...in my opinion that is!

Thats about all for now... I gots to get in bed!

For HIS Glory

Summer so far, has been awesome!

2010-06-05T00:01:00.000-05:00

Well I've been pretty busy. Lots of stuff going on during the last week, and lots of people to catch up with. Here are some examples:

Like breakfast business meetings. Don't worry we do actually do work, but I had to take a picture of this when Tim got his breakfast. I mean look at it! He ordered the Strawberry Pancakes.. I'm not sure he got past the strawberries!

Or going to TroMo with Amy! Can you tell what color our snow cones were? It was a perfect day for it

Went to Josh and Casey's wedding with this girl. Her hubby was the best man, so Lauren and I went together. It was a lot of fun. The wedding was awesome, the gap before the reception was so fun, and we had a good time at the reception.

Did you know that today was free doughnut day? Well today began at midnight...and Gina and I were up watching So You Think You Can Dance until like 1:30 or so, she mentioned free doughnuts, and I said lets go! So we left the house at 2am and headed to Kirkwood for our free doughnuts (with the purchase of a drink)...they were out of chocolate milk so I tried something new...Iced Coconut Coffee...It was not bad! I was impressed! We then proceeded to stay up talking until 4:30am.
Doughnuts are really the best at 2am...in case you were wondering!

Totally had lunch today with this guy. It was so awesome to sit and catch up with Garrison. We haven't talked in awhile... we anything past facebook chat that is. So yeah, it was really refreshing to spend some time with a good friend and share what God has been doing in our lives and such.

I hope we get to create our coffee shops someday!

And finally, this girl. Rachel. She and I ventured down to the loop and spent the evening together. I've only known her for 3 or 4 months if that even, and it's so awesome to see how God has folded our lives into each others. He has completely opened up some doors for us to get to know each other and really share our lives with one another. I really appreciate this girl and I am so thankful for her! I met her while volunteering at JOY a little while back. Since that day we clicked. Very cool to see what God is doing.

This weekend is full of more graduation parties of course. and here is a new one, a bridal shower! I have a feeling I've missed a few parties already...eek I hope not! No g2u stuff cause our trailer is in Texas for a discovery day. Carrie leaves for Jr. High camp on Sunday. I can't believe she is in Jr. High now. It's so crazy cause I am kind of understanding what parents mean when they say their kids grow up so fast... I'm seeing that in Carrie for sure.

I've had some really solid time with people this week. I think it's been very needed right now. One thing however I haven't gotten a lot of however is sleep. With that being said, I am off to bed. Good night moon.

For HIS Glory

Memorial Day 2010

2010-05-31T00:20:00.000-05:00

Today included a lot of thinking...like thinking that leads to wrestling through some stuff.

In other news: It's Grilling Week on the Food Network!

I am so appreciative of the men and women who have served in the military and who are currently serving to protect our Nation and keep us safe and allow us to have freedom. Both of my grandpa's were in the Marines. They were actually located on the same base during WWII...which is kind of funny because their future children ended up marrying each other. Anyways, tomorrow morning, "Taps" is going to be played at 9am at the top of our street by a WWII veteran. Other Veteran's will also be represented tomorrow morning, I think it will be pretty cool!

This was short and sweet, but to the point.

For HIS Glory

Wedding season begins...

2010-05-30T01:01:00.000-05:00

I went to a wedding today. It was a beautiful wedding, and the ceremony was really great! Fun music was played, and Josh (the groom) totally cried all through the ceremony. It was great! The pastor did an amazing job with the sermon part and 1 Corinthians 13 was never read or talked about. I was slightly surprised by that, but it was nice because I feel like I've heard it at all the weddings I've been to in the last year or so. The way Titus (the pastor) did a really great job of expressing the commitment and work and time that goes into a marriage. It was a great word picture.

I've known Josh for 3ish years now. He is Jeremy Underhill's best friend. We've spent a fair amount of time hanging out, playing volleyball, going to the Muny...things like that. He met Casey a few years ago and they started dating about a year ago or so. They met at a summer camp they worked at a few years ago. They are really a great couple. Really good for one another. I'm excited for them!

After the wedding we had 3 hours before the reception...yeah, long gap! But Lauren and I made the best of it! First we went to Moe's with Ryan Pott. We had some chips and salsa and a great conversation. I love conversations that are raw and honest. In turn we were all able to be encouraged too! It was really neat. After Moe's Lauren and I went to Oberwise (since we still had an hour and a half to kill) and we played chess and ate ice cream! It was delicious! It was finally time to head to the reception. We clapped, we ate, we drank (nothing too crazy), we danced, we sent Josh and Casey off to Mexico, and we left.

Overall it was a good day. The wedding season has begun for sure. I am excited for all the weddings that are coming up. I almost forgot to mention having coffee with the beloved Anna Baker this morning! I love it when she comes into town! I love how encouraged I feel when we talk. I appreciate her friendship!

For HIS Glory

Eye-Opening Day

2010-05-27T22:47:00.000-05:00

So today has been a good day. An extremely eye-opening day to be real.

I had coffee with my friend Krista this morning and she is hoping to go into the Peace Corps. She's applied, its just a matter of time before she gets the official word. Anyways, we were talking about how in every instance God goes before us and is preparing the hearts of those we will encounter.

I tend to put God in a box. This box that I put Him in only allows Him to work when I want Him to work. Truth is, God is always at work. In my life. In your life. In everyone's life. As believers it is our job to listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit to encounter and talk to others. God is working in the lives of those we will encounter. "We" means everyone... like e.v.e.r.y.o.n.e. Thats massivly crazy to me.

That began to put things in prospective for me today...which in turn caused me to become convicted about the times I ignore the Holy Spirit, as well as began to excite me even more for my trip to Germany this summer. (For those of you who don't know, I am going to Germany this July. My team and I are going to be teaching English as well as teaching american sports. I am super stoked to be coaching lacrosse! Not to mention it is a camp for high school students. All of my passions in one...Missions, Youth, and Lacrosse. Im stoked)

Today was a somewhat heavy hearted day as well. An amazing man of God passed away. He was sick with cancer for a bit over a year now. It recently entered his liver and it became very aggressive. Mark was such an awesome man. He was super smart. People joke about being a rocket scientist...but he really was. He studied the Word so closely he knew it better then many people I know. I remember sitting in the Bigg House one year listening to him talk about Moses and the Red Sea. He was a great teacher. He was so humble, and so concerned about others. Last year when he was suffering with some treatments and my dad was in the hospital with heart issues, Mark was con concerned with how my dad was doing and how I was doing rather then the pain he was feeling. He visited my dad a number of times during his hospitalizations. Mark was also a leader in the high school youth group. It was so great to serve with him for a number of years. A few months ago he stepped down from serving in the high school youth group to begin serving in the junior high youth group to be with his youngest son, who is now an 8th grader. He was a dad who loved his kids. He was a husband who loved his wife. He was a servant and a man who wanted to only do the Lord's will.He is no longer in pain, and he isn't sick anymore. He will be missed greatly; however, he is with the Lord now.

For HIS Glory

Red like Lobsters

2010-05-22T22:14:00.000-05:00

I look like a lobster right now.

We've had 6 parties in the last 2 days. Yesterday was great... this morning was great, and tonight's party was not so great. Lets just say the woman I was working with was not very happy and had a much different idea of what my job was and why I was there. It was pretty annoying.

We had a live interview on Fox2 this morning too. It was pretty fun. Extremely stressful, but we totally made it through and it was actually awesome to get that exposure. My dad has been receiving phone calls all day!

Tomorrow morning I am starting a book study with my small group girls...who I guess aren't actually my small group girls anymore :( but we are starting something none the less! We are going to read through Crazy Love together before they leave for college. I am really looking forward to my Sunday mornings with my girls. Tomorrow evening the 8th graders are coming to youth group because they are now, the freshmen! Oh man! Crazy! I am looking forward to my new small group, but I'm a little worried because I haven't had a young group in a while. It will be good though, I know it!

Most recent meal I made: Teriyaki Pork with Edemame/ scallion brown rice. It was delicious! I went grocery shopping the other day and it was the highlight of that day! Some may call that sad, buuuut I really enjoyed myself! That may be one of my favorite things to do, I sure hope that remains the case. Well Iron Chef America is on, so I think I'm gonna watch this and hit the hay!

For HIS Glory

laughing

2010-05-17T23:03:00.000-05:00

I really enjoy smiling and laughing. I've been doing a lot of laughing lately. A lot of the weekend was spent laughing with friends. The parts that weren't spent laughing were spent outside in the rain...but I guess thats what I signed up for when I became invested in this business.

Tonight, Courtney, Gina, Emily and I went to Applebee's. I had not been there in forever, I was kind of craving it! One of my small group girls is going to Honduras this summer for 8 days and the group she is going with was holding a fundraiser tonight so we went and it was yummy...and totally fun. I had several word mess up's...meaning I just could not speak tonight. I couldn't breath a lot of the time as well... not a good combo while trying to drive. All in all it was a good day, a long day...but a good day!

Now to bed... busy day tomorrow!

For HIS Glory

Pink Lemonade...yumm!

2010-05-14T20:24:00.000-05:00

Side note to begin.... I'm trying to get my hair to go curly tonight... its not working out so well.

On to the blog:
So I am totally looking forward to tonight. I am going to see S Five at The In Spot. S Five is my friends band. They are a jazz band and I am totally stoked about some good jazz music with a few friends and a few drinks. It will be a very relaxing enjoyable night! ...now if I could find something to wear...gotta pull some warm clothes out again... its so stinking cold out!

Anyways, I've been working pretty hard at getting Games2u going. We have a lot on the books for May, but nothing for June...so I've got more work to do. So if you want a party... talk to me so we can work something out!

Last Friday was my last day at Anthoninos for a while...It was a good day...minus slicing my leg open on a beer bottle... oops! Its not too pretty now a week later, but luckily Gina is a nurse! She's been really helpful with how to take care of it. You know... I've had my fair share of injuries, but none of which were open wounds...a few concussions, tore up my ankle, broken foot/toes...but thats all. I did have stitches once, however I was 3 or 4 months old.

You know whats totally weird... 5 years ago today I graduated from High School... and 1 year ago tomorrow I graduated from Lindenwood. Thats so crazy to me!

For HIS Glory

The longest road trip of my life...

2010-05-04T10:49:00.000-05:00

This past weekend I went to Texas, and then Oklahoma...and finally made it back home.

...short side note...I'm currently eating applesauce. I love applesauce, and sometimes I forget how much I really love it!... Ok thanks, back to my story.

So after work on Wednesday last week I came home and Gina took me to the airport, I hopped on a plane and flew down to Dallas Texas. Upon landing, I realized I hadn't eaten all day, so at 6:30 I was really ready to eat something. I got my bag and my dad, mom, and brother were waiting out side in the truck to pick me up. Before really leaving the city we stopped at Wendy's (of course) to get me some food, I inhaled it and then took over driving down to Austin for business meetings and training.

Mom, Dad, and Timmy left Tuesday afternoon and drove down to a small town in Oklahoma and stayed the night before getting up and continuing the drive to meet me in Dallas. So, while driving to Austin we drove past Baylor University... oh my goodness, it is beautiful! We even stopped in Waco for a bit to meet one of the guys with Games2u. He was totally awesome and gave us a lot to be excited about....as if we weren't already excited enough...

We made it to Austin and then couldn't find the freaking hotel...you see there are these highways that are all called the same thing, very obnoxious if you ask me. So we drove for a lot longer then we were expecting to but made it to the hotel, and I passed out immediately.

Our training began at 8am at the Games2u headquarters. I was up at 7, went to the lobby to get some coffee... didn't think I'd see anyone important...well I get in the elevator and who do I see, a guy wearing Games2u stuff from head to toe. Well I decided to say something to him since I'd very likely see in within the next hour...well turns out it was Scott, the guy who would doing our training. Awesome....Sure glad I decided to get coffee before getting ready for the day. oh well! We got to headquarters and met everyone, man they are all so nice!! They fed us these amazing breakfast burritos from a local joint...oh man, they were awesome!

We then started playing with everything! OH MY GOODNESS... our stuff is SO COOL!!!!! If you've heard me explain Games2u before, you need to hear it again, because now that I've experienced it all, I can tell you how cool it all is! We went through our first day of meetings and training on all the equipment and at 6:30 that night we had our first party. I know... crazy! We got lost on our way to the party too...annoying... and when we got there, it began. We set it all up, we let the kids play, we let the adults play, and then it was time to tear it all down and go home. Running the party was so fun!!

Got back to the hotel around 9:30 or 10 that night and asked my Dad if he and Tim had done the presentation that was to be given to the entire board the next day and he said no. Nothing like waiting until the last minute to do important things right...luckily I have a lot of experience in that department... so I opened up a PowerPoint and started building the presentation. I think we finally got it finished around 12:45 or 1am. So needless to say I was ready for bed.

The next day was a lot of meetings. We had a marketing meeting, procedures meeting, and general business meeting. After lunch I took a cab to the airport to catch a plane to Houston where I sat in the airport for a while and drew up some designs for the U:bot and other stuff. I began looking for my boarding pass to get to Oklahoma City... and well... I left it on my last plane. So I had to go get a new one. Got on my plane, was talked to by a very attractive guy and then landed in Oklahoma City where my dear friend Susie picked me up and we headed to Krysten's house for a personal shower. It was so fun and a much needed blessing to be there and just hang out and chill for what I thought was only going to be a few hours...

Long story short, my parents got stuck in Texas, so rather then driving through and picking me up Friday night, they were going to get me Saturday morning... So I got stuck in Oklahoma, which ended up being really awesome because the time I had with my friends wasn't as limited and it was much more relaxed and so very needed. Not to mention I got to see a few other people I wasn't expecting to see. Like Steps and Michelle. As Michelle put it, it's amazing how a 20 min conversation in person can remind me of how thankful I am for a person and their friendship. My parents finally got to me around 1:30 Saturday afternoon...and quite frankly it all kind of went down hill from there.

We decided I would drive from Tulsa all the way home and that I could rest until we got to Tulsa. Well while resting... we missed Highway 44... how I'm not sure, but we did...my parents decided to take a Big 12 school tour...they saw UT, Baylor, OU, and OSU...if Kim hadn't saved the day we may have even gotten to KU as well...after drive 90 min out of the way we got to Tulsa where we got gas and switched drivers...then the thunderstorm began. However, we kept driving cause we had to get home.

I needed a break from driving in the wind and rain with a 20 ft trailer so dad took over again and we stopped for dinner... and well something very bad happened...I'll leave it at that. Things got sorted out and we were on the road again...still in the storm. By 10pm, we were still 2 hours away from home and I was so totally fed up and pretty much wanted to cry the rest of the way home. I didn't, but thanks to Amy and my roommates I stayed sane. Less then an hour from home... we needed to take a bathroom break, that stop almost sent me over the edge...we finally got home around 12:15...my parents home. I then took the truck/trailer to my house cause it would fit in the driveway and be fine over night. I got home and in bed around 1am.

What happened to Timmy you might ask? Well he got to fly home. Sarah's senior prom was Saturday night, so he got home to take her. Which needed to happen, so I'm glad he got to get home in time!

All in All, that was the longest road trip of my life! I am all for road trips, but not this one...it was rough, testing, and just not too fun. But we are home now and have an awesome business and I'm totally excited to see what happens with it!!

For HIS Glory

I'm baaaaack

2010-04-26T22:58:00.000-05:00

So I've been away from blogging for 20 days now... I apologize. I've been in a rut lately. I didn't know where I was in my relationship with the Lord, and I was kind of just going day to day without getting too into what's going on around me. I've had a lot on my mind, and every time I opened my computer to blog... I couldn't find the words to say what I wanted to share with the world. But I do think I am on my way up and out of this rut I've been in.

Since my last post I had a birthday. I am now 23. I was so blessed by everyone I got to spend the day with. I had to work, but it wasn't too bad of a day, so that was nice. I had some time to myself when I got off work so I went by my parents house... I though it may be good to see them on the day they gave birth to me and all. After all of that, Gina, Amy and I went to Pujlos5 to meet up with Kim to have dinner. It was very yummy! We came back and some friends from Lindenwood came over and we all hung out and played lots of Band Hero. So fun! I was taken back by the gifts that were given to me this year! Everyone was so thoughtful!! I got a cookbook...( my very first one for that matter)...a subscription to Food Network Magazine, a hand painted painting, Hillsong tickets, several gift cards, and some very useful things for my business meetings this weekend! It was great!!

...lets see... what else happened?? Oh right! We celebrated the 30th wedding anniversary of my parental units. We (Timmy and I) planned a little surprise dinner for them at the place I work; Anthoninos Taverna on the Hill. It was successful, they had no idea!...and yes, my dad is a goof ball!

I got to go to a baseball game too!! Remember that 20-inning Cards game?...the one that lasted 6 minutes shy of 7 hours long...the one where Lopez(3rd basemen) and Mather(out-fielder) pitched and Lohse(pitcher) was playing left field...I got to go to that game! We stayed the whole time too!! So long in fact that we were the last 4 in our entire section!

(Renee, me, Kim, Gina)
Far away...Closer... note Gina's stellar socks!

By the 13th inning we decided to move down to the lower level to watch the rest of the game... little did we know what would happen next...

Thats right ladies and gents... I caught a foul ball! It was so exciting!! The ball was coming at us very quickly, Kim went running away, and Gina pushed me in front of her to block her from what could have happened, I put my hand out and next thing I knew... the ball was in my hand. It was so cool! My thumb and hand hurt pretty bad for the rest of the game... which was another 6 and a half innings, but it was so worth it!!

Timmy got me tickets to the Hillsong United concert for my birthday, so on Tuesday night we headed down to the Fox Theater. It was an amazing show! I did struggle with worship vs. concert... but all in all... it was awesome!! I do love Hillsong! I even got to drive the truck!! We... ok more so my dad... bought a truck for Games2u. It is huge... I love it. My dad let me borrow it for the night. I had so much fun driving it. It really helped me with my confidence with driving it too. So it was all around a great night!!

Last night was the last time my WHOLE small group will be at youth group at the same time.

So needless to say, we took pictures. Man, if I could express to you all of my feelings about these girls and how they've grown and changed, and how God has worked through them we would be here for a while... so I will leave it with this: I love them oh so very much...I cannot wait to see what God does with them in college!

For HIS Glory

construction construction everywhere!

2010-04-06T23:31:00.000-05:00

Yeah, not the best picture of us, but its the best of the 3 that were taken... Easter 2010

So I am trying this thing again... its called working out. You see, I really enjoy it...when I am in shape to do so. I think Jillian really burnt me out. I enjoyed it sometimes, but then I just gave up completely. So now I am running...a little bit each day until I can run for a good amount of time. I have a nice route that I am working on right now. When I conqure that I will move on to the next route. I am kind of excited about my goal now!

Construction...the entire city of Maryland Heights is under construction...well at least thats what it seems like. 7:30 am Monday morning it began... right in front of the house. They have decided to redo our street... which is pretty sweet but very annoying. That means they have to close down the street and completely rip up the current street to lay the new concrete. That is all fine and dandy except for when the workers block the road so no one can pass. This morning I sat in the street with my car in park for at least 10 min... I decided to peel and eat some clemintines while I was waiting. Yesterday I was blocked in as well... and I know I will be tomorrow too. Oh well... things could be worse! There is a whole lot of construction happening at the exit of the highway now too...it's a bit out of control if you ask me. Traffic is a nightmare now trying to get home from work...it's all pretty inconveient... but in reality this is all temporary, so it will be over...someday.

Bed time!

For HIS Glory

Glorious days!

2010-04-04T00:27:00.000-05:00

So the last few days have really been great! I was not looking forward to working yesterday. For the most part everyone I knew that was in town still was off work and I was what we call jealous. It all ended up ok though. Work wasnt too terrible, in fact it was actually pretty good. When I left I felt like I had just completed a super long heavy lifting workout. It was super hot in the place too, which added to that feeling...or maybe it was just the 12 cases of beer I carried upstairs, along with all the other random heavy things I was asked to bring up. It's kind of annoying having to do that stuff, but sometimes I don't mind... as long as I get to take a water break at some point.

The best part of work though was having my wonderful friends come eat for lunch. Kim, Gina, Luke, Beth, and lil Isaac, came to have lunch and hang out. It was a bummer I was not serving, but it was such a blessing to have them there for the last 2ish hours of my shift! :)

After work I headed home and showered real quick to get ready to spend some quality time with the ever lovely Anna Baker! We visited our old stompin grounds... good Ol' St. Charles Main Street! Had some coffee at our favorite coffee shop, Picasso's and went on a little walk along the river. Man I love having that girl home! She is able to encourage me in a way that not many people do, and says things to make me look at a situation in ways I don't tend to look at them.

I also had the opportunity to join Kim and one of her small group girls at the Casting Crowns concert last night. Oh my... it was amazing! The whole thing was like a 3 hr long worship service!! It started out with Caleb. ...Stephan Curtis Chapman's son(s). Then continued with Tenth Avenue North...completely amazing, and I love them even more then I did before the concert. Finally Casting Crowns. Man was an amazing gift God has given each one of the musicians on stage last night. Mark Hall is the youth pastor at his church, and the rest of Casting are all in youth ministry as well in one way or another. I mean talk about living what you are preaching... or singing in their case. I was truely blessed by last night!

Tenth Avenue North

Casting Crowns

Today was also a glorious day! It started with Crepes with Kim, Gina, and Emily! ....hello, can it get much better then that!?... it did! We ran a few errands, and then went to Shaw Park in Clayton and went on a walk. It was such a beautiful day! I talked to my mom on the phone and was told to go buy an easter dress... so I went to the mills and got one! I love it! Gina helped me which was needed due to my lack of sense of style and such. Got home and started the cooking.

You see things got really crazy around my family this year and in the end it was decided that I was going to make everything except the ham and we were not going to order out for easter lunch/dinner. I am totally and completely ok with that decision...however the phone calls from my aunt and grandma today asking what im making and such have me pretty confident that I will not be able to win with them tomorrow... but I think I'll take my chances! I'd rather eat my food then take out italian anyways! Anybody with me??

Gina and I went to the Jive and Wail tonight with some friends. It was pretty chill. I enjoyed myself completely. We totally got called out from one the guys at the piano though for looking bored. Quite frankly, we wernt dancing when they told us to because it was, for lack of a better word, inapproiate! So finally before leaving some dancing did occur by 3 of the 5 of us...lets just leave it at that! So fun!

It is now time for bed, I cannot wait for church tomorrow! CHRIST IS RISEN!

For HIS Glory

Cherry Limeaid

2010-04-01T22:50:00.000-05:00

Oh how I love cherry limeaids! When they are made correctly, they are not too sweet and not too sour, they are perfect!!

I was off work today, and I was so glad about it! I got up and read for over an hour. I am reading a book called "Strong Women, Soft Hearts." I am not too far in yet, but so far I am really enjoying it. Paula Reinart has a lot of really good things to say.

I totally broke out the summer clothes today! It was totally awesome. Im not sure where spring went, but I am ok with the warmer weather.

I went home and went to get some lunch with Timmy, that was fun and random becuase he and I don't get a chance to do that too often. It was pretty fun. We ran into one of my friends from High School, Devin. We didnt really stay close, but I've seen him a lot recently and he ended up sitting with Tim and I. Ended up being very delightful! Going home is getting to be kind of hard. I'm not really enjoying it lately.
...did I mention that I got to drive the truck around today? No, I don't think I did. My dad bought a truck yesterday. Not out of the blue or anything like that. We've been looking for about 2 months. We need one to pull the trailor for Games2U. That was so fun! I am totally a truck girl... I just can't afford one, so I'm excited we need one for the company! Its a Toyota Tundra 2007. Its big and red. It wont be red for long though, we will get it wrapped in our company logo in a week or so.

Went up to the church office with Timmy and talked to Don for a little while. That was good. Sometimes it is really necessary to have a good conversation with the leader of the ministry you are serving in. Even when there is nothing wrong, it is just really good and refreshing. oh yeah, Timmy is going to start serving in Sr. High too! He is going to camp with us too! I'm excited about this, if you couldn't tell.

Went by Carol's house to chat for a split second and then had to return the truck before moving on for the day. I then made my way to Kirkwood High School for my girls lacrosse game. They were playing Hazelwood West... Kirkwood won!!

Sometimes I forget about how much I really love lacrosse. I have been kindly reminded over the last few weeks of my love for the game. I have been watching a lot more then usual and there are some amazing LU games coming up next weekend too, so it's gonna be awesome!! I am really proud to be a part of the lax alumi at LU. They are currently ranked #2 in the Nation!! I am proud of them for sure!!

After the game I headed over to 54th Street Grill to have dinner with one of my bff's Lauren! It was considered my birthday dinner. It was so yummy, and so good to talk to her. We haven't had much quality time together out side of church in quite a while. While we were there, a girl was opening a birthday present for her 21st birthday. She opened it and she received an iPod touch...thats totally awesome for her, but then she asked, "whats an iPod touch?" ...I wondered if she has been removed from the world...?

For HIS Glory

2010-03-29T00:06:00.000-05:00

So as you may have read, I spent the last week on a mission trip with 13 High School students from our youth group. We went to a place that is very broken and full of darkness. A place where lots of people don't know where their next meal is coming from. A place where gangs are very present and violence is a regular occurance. We went to St. Louis....so really we drove 20 mins away from church.

We left on Saturday night. We drove to New City Fellowship church and got our stuff to our rroms then met together and had a devo and introduced ourselves to Paul. Paul was our leader this week. He is one of the guys in charge of work day projects through New City and Restore St. Louis. Some of the kids had not eaten dinner like we asked, so we took a little trip to McDonald's down the street. It was like 9, and I was kind of hungry, so I got a snack wrap...the funny thing it, they gave me a huge bag for it. The picture below is my bag. Apparently every bite is pure joy.

On Sunday we went to church at New City. Oh my goodness, I loved it! The pastor was so passionate about the Word. The congragation was so alive. It was different from First Free. During worship we sang some old school stuff, and even a song in swahili. That was so awesome. After church, some of the families in the church took groups of us to their homes and fed us lunch. I went to a home that was owned by a very nice large famimly. They have 4 kids. Three of their own and one little boy from Congo. They told stories about the drug busts that have happened next door, the swat team running through their yard, random gun fire on a regular basis...I can't imagine living like that. They were completely comfortable and felt safe even through that. Their kids attend Wesminister Christian Acamedy. It totally made me think about how in my mind those two things dont add up in my mind. I have a hard time wrapping my head around that.

On Monday, I took a group of 4 kids to Ms. Phillips house. She is a single mom of 5 kids. 3 little girls and 2 boys. I took Mallory, Cara, Gracie and Tim with me, and they totally rocked it out! We were asked to paint the kids rooms. We had a blue color to paint in the boys room and two different pink colors for the girls room. Ms. Phillips was only home during her lunch break, so we didn't get to much interaction with her. I was a little disappointed with that, but we as a little group had a blast! Ms. Phillips did inform me while she was home that the light pink was the wrong colors... after it was already on the wall... oops! We just painted the color we were given. We had lots of laughs and learned a bit about painting too! Below is a picture of the girls room when 3 of the 4 walls were finished. Its a little dark, sorry about that!

Monday night after dinner, we had a devo time and some worship, and we watched a documentary/movie about the Lost Boys of Africa. Oh man, it was so eye opening and informative. A few parts made me really proud to be an American, but other parts just made me really angry at America. Yes the government is doing a good thing in theory, but what happens when refuges are placed in American cities. Most know no english, most know no one, lots have never used electricity or running water. It was almost annoying to see how people looked at the boys, and even how the boys were treated by some people.

Tuesday Morning we were up and after breakfast, we had a devo time with the worship pastor from New City. We then got split into groups and headed out for day two of work projects. I went to Old North St. Louis City with Mallory, Gracie, Cameron, and Cara. We went to a womans house, Mrs. Carole Gates. Carole was amazing! I love this woman. She was so encouraging. She is in the Restore St. Louis committee and is in charge of the street she lives on as well as the White Castle Triangle. She taught me how to shape a bush and a tree! She asked us to rake out all the leaves and trash and stuff from the planter boxes that lined the street she lives on. The kids did an amazing job!! I was so proud of them! I was helping Carole with the plants in the street when I looked over my shoulder to check on the kids when I saw a man sitting on a step watching them work. He looked like he hadn't showered in a very long time, and his clothes had not been washed in probably the same amount of time. I took note of the man and continued working with Carole. The next time I turned around the man was helping Cameron bagging all the leaves he was raking up. Then the man walked over to where Carole and I were working and offered his help to us. Carole was so sweet and began a long conversation with him. We ended up sharing our favorite scripture with each other and turns out the man has a name. His name is Harry. We finished up with Carole and she sent us around the corner to help in a different part of the area. We went to this road that had been blocked off by a gate and lots of trees and shrubbs....well as well as the trees and such, there was trash. So.Much.Trash! I was shocked at the amount of trash that was there. I looked around and saw the Harry has followed us to this work site as well. It was pretty neat. This man wanted to do anything he could to help us out. I kind of had a bad attitude when we started cleaning up the trash. I walked around the corner to throw away some bags we were finished with and I looked up and saw the city from an angle I've never seen. It was beautiful! I kind of forgot we were in St.Louis still. That sort of turned my mood around and below is a picture of the almost finished product. We were working right around the corner from Crown Candy, so before heading back to the dorms we made a pit stop and had some ice cream.

Tuesday night we watched Akeela and the Bee. Dan and Jamie Hartke stopped by before we started the movie and brought us some pop corn! That was a great surprise!! Finally bed time came and it was great!!

On Wednesday I was sent back to Old North St.Louis with Mallory, Gracie, Belle, Dominik, Joe, and Michael. Who all did an amazing job!! We went back to help Carole. We went to the alley behind her house which is part of the White Castle Triangle. We were asked to clean it all up. I did a lot of sawing...not sure if thats a word actually. Someone had put a bunch of large tree branches behind a dumpster. The city wouldn't take them unless they were in 3ft pieces. So, Carole handed me a saw and said go. While I was doing that, the other kids were picking up trash, raking leaves, a doing a bunch of random things to just clean it all up. Carole's neighbor was out with his little sister and she asked him to help us clean up, he got his stuff and began cleaning up his yard. I met him then thought it'd be a good idea to send one of the boys over to help him out. Well I asked Dom to go over and they totally hit it off.... as well as guys do I guess. Turns out Jason (the neighbor) is a Blood (the gang) and he is a junior in high school. Crazy! He totally poured his life story out on Dom and Dom took it all back to Christ. It is a totally awesome story and Dom did a crazy awesome job of building a relationship with this kid! Remember Harry from the day before? He showed up again. He fixed our broken shovel, he taught me the correct way to saw, he carried heavy bags to the yard waste dumpster, he did anything he could to help us. It was really a cool thing. We were talking about him and how helpful and kind he was after he left and someone piped up and suggested that he was an angel. It's possible. I'd believe it. Carole has lived in her house for 30 years and had never seen Harry before. He completely disappeared after he finished helping us. It was pretty cool! After the back alley was all clean, we headed over to a different part of the area and cleaned up a park and garden. We raked out the dead stuff and made room for new stuff. Then we headed over to a nearby street and alley to pick up all the trash that had just been thrown there. It's really said to see how disrespectful some people are. Gracie made the comment one day that she feels bad when she throws trash on the ground, and now even more so knowing that someone else will come and pick it up...hmm. Below is a picture of a tree growing in another tree....random, but kind of cool!

Wednesday night we had a time of worship and and talk about race reconciliation with the college group that was there as well. It was very interesting. The college group was 98% Asian. I guess I never really thought about how Asians from different countries have a predjuice aganist one another...but that was a huge topic of conversation. We did mostly talk about black/white reconciliation though. Then we went on an adventure through the city to get some Ted Drewe's! heck yes!!

Thursday morning I ended up at a place I was honestly not very excited about. I was asked to go back to Ms. Phillips house to continue and finish painting her house. With me I took , Mallory, Gracie, Cara, Dom, Machael, and Joe. Large group for a small house with lots of painting to do. We also needed to repair some holes in the walls and the corners that were basically nonexistant. So after feeling convicted for not wanting to go there, I changed my attitude and we headed to Home Depo and got all of our supplies and headed over to the house. We ended up getting everything painted that needed to be painted... remember the wrong color in the girls room from Monday? Well, we repainted the girls room the light pink wall the correct color. It was going super well and we were being really productive, then Cara stepped on a piece of glass. Well I got to play nurse for a bit then back to work to finish out the day. We got everything painted that we needed to paint and all I could imagine was the look on Ms. Phillips face when she got home from work that day seeing her house a whole new color.

Thursday evening we went out for Indian food! YUMMM! oh man it was so good. It was really funny to watch some of the picky eaters eat though. We went to a place on Olive rd across from the smoothie king and next to the Mcalisters. So yummy!! I didn't eat my rice pudding though, I ate way too much of the pakora and other food they put in front of us. We then went back to the dorms and had a time of worship and debriefing of the week, and of course we played Mofia for like 2 hours. Finally it was bed time... it did not come soon enough!

Friday morning we woke up as usual, had breakfast, packed up, cleaned everything, and headed out. We were back to church by 9:20 Friday morning.

All in all, it was a great week! I am still emotionally, physically, and spiritually drained from it all. It really opened my eyes to a lot of things I tend to really just gloss over. I am so glad I got the opportunity to go on this trip. Now I gotta figure out how to change things a bit and continue life with everything I've seen and experienced. Tomorrow is back to work for me, and I need to make sure I get enough sleep to hopefully sleep off this illness I've been carrying around for 3 days now.

For HIS Glory

New City Fellowship

2010-03-21T22:12:00.001-05:00

I left yesterday for a week long mission trip with our high school youth group. I will give many more details later but today was great!

We went to church at New City Fellowship. Incredible! Not to mention the sermon was on Romans 9-11. So much good stuff! Communion was cool too. The entire church stands in a circle and sings together while taking the Lords Supper. So cool.

Well I've got myself a migrain... So its bed time for me. Goodnight all.

If you think about it, prayers for our group would be cool! :)

For HIS Glory

Cars and Adventure

2010-03-18T10:49:00.001-05:00

So this week, I had a little car trouble. If you've known me for a long time you are probably laughing right now. You see, my history with the car I own has been terrible. Not really cause of my driving, but because of something not working right. My old car had so many issues. I would be driving down the highway and all of the sudden the gears would switch, then just stop working. It was always in the shop for something, that or my friend Kaleb was working on something to repair it. I loved that car though! Sky. That was her name. That car was a gift from God first of all. And it got me all over the place. The day she died was a sad day.

I bought my first car in October. I totally feel like an adult, having to make payments and all :) well this car is much newer then Sky was. It took its first trip to Oklahoma last month and did great! However, we ran into a small problem this week. I was getting ready to go to the park with Courtney, and my car didn't start. Well we jumped my car and I assumed it was a fluke or something like that. Well it was not. My dad had to come jump my car the next day and we went to AutoZone to test my battery and such. Turns out the battery was 98% dead. So I had to get a new battery. At least I won't need a new one for several years!

I've been house sitting this week. I do love it, but I've experienced a serious lack of human contact this week, which I've realized is not that great but I've been finding things to do. For example, I went to the station and hung out with Kim for a bit yesterday. And last night I headed home to hang out with Gina for a bit. It was very needed.

I got back to the house around 1130 or so, I pulled up to the gate and it was closed. Awesome... What to do what to do. I left the gate opener in the house. So I waited for someone to come to the gate... No one came. I locked my car and squeezed my way through the gate and walked to the house. Grabbed the gate opener and called Jenn. The street was really dark, I decided it would be a good idea to be on the phone with someone just in case. On my way back to my car, a car pulled into the neighborhood.. Awesome! Oh well, it all worked out, and I got to talk to Jenn! :)

Well I've got stuff to do today, so I really need to end this post.

For HIS Glory

House Sitting

2010-03-14T23:33:00.001-05:00

So as of tonight I am house sitting for a family from church. I do a lot of house sitting. I love it! This is a new house for me though...and I definately do not mind.

I may or may not be laying in bed switching the tv from the food network and the Disney channel.

This weekend was jam packed with stuff. Friday night I went out to Lindenwood for the biggest lacrosse game in the history of girls lacrosse. LU was playing Colorado Univeristy. You see the history between these two team is cra cra! I remember one practice we had before heading out there to play them and well... Have you ever seen the movie Miracle? Remember the part where the coach yells "on the line" and blows his whistle until all hours of the night? That's EXACTLY how that practice was like. Well the game was amazing. LU won 15-10. I've never seen an intense game.

I made my way home from the rainy game and several of Gina's friends were over. We hang out and had Fondu! Everyone was gone... Except Shanti by 1130 or so. I even got to bed at a decent time!

Saturday I was able to sleep in a bit then went and ran several errands with Kim. We got some lunch, we were tempted by girl scouts to buy their cookies, and then we bought shoes! :)

Got home and cleaned a bit and then... Game night began! So many people were at the house, it was so fun! We played a game called Word Salad. Oh my goodness... If you have not played this, I'd love to teach you how! It was so great to just sit and chat and laugh with people. Got to know people better and laughed a lot... But that was to be expected! Everyone was gone by 1am...which was really 2 since we lost an hour last night. Game night was a success!

Today was rough, yet relaxing. Church was good this morning. We are talking about living a dangerous life and going through 1peter. Today we began chapter 5 and talked about leadership, or spiritual leadership really. I really enjoyed the sermon this morning. Gina and I picked up some California Pizza Kitchen for lunch and brought it home to eat with Kim. We watched last weeks Biggest Loser. Man that show is great! It was so good to just be relaxed and just slow down and chill.

I was able to unload a bit on Gina today. It was definately a good thing. You know I'm going through this process of dealing with some tough stuff, and so when something comes up that pushes a button, it really makes things dificult because I want to put on a front of me being ok, but I know I shouldn't. *sigh*

Song of the Day:
Come to My Rescue by Hillsong

For HIS Glory

A few things on my mind...

2010-03-11T23:39:00.000-06:00

Why did God create people with disabilities and mental illness'? Or are the disabilities and illness' due to the fall of man?

I am sitting in Bread co.... yes I do spend a lot of time here these days, but a) lots of people enjoy meeting at bread co. b) it has free internet. c) its very centrally located so it makes it conveient.
...anyways, I'm sitting here thinking through my thoughts and these ladies walked in one of which was pushing a wheelchair. In the wheel chair is a girl named Abby. She graduated from Parkway South in 2004.

I've "known" Abby for years. She went to Wren Hollow, and Southwest Middle school as well. For as long as I've known who she is, she's been in a wheel chair. I don't exactly know what her disability is, but she doesnt talk, or write. Watching her today was interesting. Her mom was feeding her, and then put some head phones on and Abby was dancing and "singing". It really got me thinking. Why did God make Abby that way?

For as long as I can remember my mom has struggled with depression. Her depression is not seasonal, and its not situational, it's clinical. There is a chemical inbalance in her brain that throws everything off. This is something I have just accepted as a part of my life. I never asked questions. It is what it is. This mental illness has cause lots of memory loss, and has really been just plain destructive.

Lately mom's illness has become pretty bad. Some of you know what happens to her and how she responds to everything, but some of you don't. Without lots of detail, I will say she becomes very distant and self-destructive. I don't understand mental illness'. But lately I've been thinking a lot about them and wondering why God made my mom this way.

I can't believe this was God's orignial plan for mankind. Genesis 1:26-27 says,
"26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, [b] and over all the creatures that move along the ground." 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."

God's image is perfection. Therefore, man's first image was perfection. No imperfections...nothing at all. No disabilities. No illness'; terminal or mental. God created man to walk with Him and be with Him. Nothing seperated man from God. That was God's intent.
...then something entered this perfect world that was created by God. Sin. uck!

Genesis 3 talks all about the fall of man. Verses 6-7 say,
"6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves."
Shame, anger, blame, courrption, malice, sickness, pain, and pure evil then at that very moment entered the world. God continues in the chapter to tell Adam and Eve their punishment, which has also become our punishment for sin being a part of the world. Mankind is now seperated from God.

God's creation is no longer perfect. I'm not saying that disabilities and illness' are evil. But I do think they are due to the fall of man. What do you think?

I cannot explain why God gives the people with disabilities and llness' to the familes He chooses to. He has His reasons. I will never know until I stand before Him one day and ask Him myself why.

Mankind is seperated for God, but I am so thankful for His Son. Jesus' sacrifice on the cross makes it possible to communicate with God. Asking or forgivness from our sins, and entering into a relationship with Him brings mankind back to a place of a process of being made Holy. A process which will not be finished until the day we meet our Maker. Thank you Jesus!

For HIS Glory

Encouragement can go a long way

2010-03-09T23:48:00.000-06:00

Today began better then most days. I actually got up with my alarm, and was out of the shower before 9! I normally don't eat breakfast but I had so much time before I had to leave for work this morning I decided to go ahead and have some breakfast. I poured myself some juice, put a cinammon roll in the microwave to heat it up and I ran downstairs to change clothes. Well when I reentered the kitchen... it was full of smoke.

Yes you read that right. I immedidately opened the back door in hopes of airing out the room... well I hadn't realized how bad it really was. Well, I quickly ran over to the smoke dector and started fanning it in hopes of it not going off... that failed. It did indeed begin going off. Then the house alarm began going off. ...lots of beeping by this point.

The alarm company then called and I stepped outside the house to take the call...weird. And after answering all of the woman's questions, I was asked for a password... that I did not know. (I do now... no worries) Well then I told Gina about it and let my coworker know I was going to be late. I opened all the doors and windows I could think of to open to try and cross ventilate the house to get the air flowing and the smoke out. The beeping all stopped by this time and then I heard something that I didn't want to hear...

Fire trucks. Yes 1 firetruck and 2 cop cars. I was really hoping the sirens I heard wern't coming to the house, and I was wrong. Well I talked to the fireman and told him everything was ok, of course he wanted to do his joba dn just check things out, wich was fine. He did tell me I was doing the right thing by cross ventilating the house though! They then left.

Kim called to check on me and make sure I was ok and nothing was wrong. I guess the alarm company called Kim and Gina since I didnt have a password to give them or something like that. I then realized how scary it all was and started crying which was fairly significant for where I am right now. I kept running through the house to different doors trying to just keep the air flowing in order to remove the somke odor.

I was finally on the road to work at 10:10...I was supposed to be at work at 10. oops. When I got to work, Gina called and asked basically the same thing Kim told me and reassured me that everything was all good.
....at least work wasn't terrible today...
Kim then texted me some encouraging stuff that I really needed to hear. It was so helpful to lean on that and just think through it and pray about everything that I have been feeling lately.

I made it home for work and the hosue still smelled like smoke...and all those feelings of immaturity, fear, and just feeling terrible all came rushing back. So I opened all the doors and windows again to get air flowing. I talked to Amy for a bit and then Gina came home. The stuff she said to me tonight was so unbelievably helpful in the sense that I am pretty much over it all now.

The encouragement I received today was so needed and I didnt realize how needed it was. It really calmed me down too, so that was great also.

Kim reminded me today that the enemy is trying to rob me of my joy right now. I am trying to figure out who I am living on my own. I have a feeling that God is beginning to strip down everything I am in order to build me back up stronger then who I was. I was praying about desiring to completely rely on God to get me through my days...and that is totally what this process is doing.

Song of the Day:
Meteor Shower by Owl City
.....same as yesterday yes.. but I did some research and discovered that Adam, the guy from Owl City is indeed a believer and boldly claims it too. If you didnt look up the lyrics yesterday... do it today. It's been on repeat all day.

For HIS Glory

2010-03-08T22:45:00.000-06:00

Music is so dramatic. While watching last weeks The Biggest Loser, it sounds like Braveheart should be on the TV... not the Biggest Loser. ...just sayin.

I thought I would share a picture with you all...whoever you are...

This picture is of some very special people in my life.

I spent a summer overseas with these girls.

I spent a summer in Chicago with 2 of these girls.

Together we have shared hard things with each other.

We have laughed till we peed our pants.

I would like to introduce you to Stephanie, Susie, and Anissa.

This was taken right after a mad dance party at Anissa's last weekend while I was in Oklahoma. I love getting to spend time with dear friends like these girls. I got to see so many friends that are so very dear to me while I was there last weekend. I was so blessed.

God is doing some work in me. I'm not even sure what all is going on though. I've been feeling slightly immature lately too. hmm.. more thought needs to go into that one, but I've had that feeling for the last few days, and I'm not sure if it's Satan totally attacking me, or if I really am picking up on my immaturity.

I haven't really felt like myself the last several weeks if I'm totally honest. He is in the process of making me totally depend on Him soley and completely. It's hard, but it's good.

Tonight Kim, Gina, and I went on a walk around the neighborhood. It was pretty relaxing. Great to be active, and the weather was great! We also had a disturbance this lovely evening. We were sitting here sipping on some wine and all of the sudden...weheard screaming... from an animal...it was Cat vs. Raccoon. Yikes! It was pretty intesne. You can check out Kim's blog for pictures and her side of it all.

Well I have to work tomorrow, so I should probably head to bed.

Song of the Day:
Meteor Shower by Owl City

For HIS Glory

FCA women's breakfast

2010-03-07T10:10:00.000-06:00

So yesterday was a great day!

I began my day at 6:40 when my alarm went off... let me just assure you that I have not seen the 6oclock hour on a weekend in almost a year... Spring retreat for Jr. High last year unfourtionately I did see the clock at that time... but it was worth it for a crying kid.
...but thats besides the point...
So I laid in bed for a bit kind of fighting myself between "do I go?" or "do I not go?" ...this was definately an out of my comfort zone kind of thing for me. Well I decided to go. (Thankfully!!) I quickly showered because by this time it was just after 7 and I had to be out the door by 7:40, to be at Westminster by 8.
...Success...

I walked through the door and was immedidately greeted with friendly faces and smiles. Dee was there (Lafayette lax coach) and she intorduced me to a few of her coaches I've been emailing with and can now finally put a face with! The breakfast was geared towards socializing and community building which at times was uncomfortable, but was very needed. I even saw my 10th grade English teacher there! There was a woman who spoke as well. It was such a good talk. Short and sweet, but very to the point. She talked about 1 main thing everyone struggles with at one time or another, Idols. She talked about how her children are an idol for her. She used GoogleEarth as an example when it comes to the big picture little picture stuff, I thought that was a great illistration! And then came something I've heard before, but never thought about in the way she explained it. A.C.T.S. prayer. Adoration. Confession. Thanksgiving. Supplication. I tend to get too caught up in the actual word of the section I am on rather then caught up in the words I am expressuing to God. She talked about how adoration just leads right into confession and so on. It was just totally a different way to look at it for me. I really apprecaited her talk!

There is a women's caoches huddle that meets weekly, and I'm hoping to get started with it soon. I am just really totally excited to see what God is going to do through FCA.

Gina and I went to see Dear John on Friday night. I totally reccommiend it... but take your tissues with you! Guys would probably like the movie as well... it's not a total chick flick.

For HIS Glory

I want a cookie!

2010-03-05T20:43:00.000-06:00

I want a cookie... but we don't have any in the house right now... the whole lent thing and people giving things up has aluded to no cookies in the house.

The Office is simply hilarious!...just sayin.

Well I made it home from Oklahoma safely... quick recap of my time in Norman:
-Drove to Norman with Jenn (side note: I love that girl... I am so thinkful for her)
-Had some CFA for lunch with a few girls and we had some great laughs about old crushes...
-Went to an amazing coffee shop with Steps called Gray Owl. Amazing latte...lemme tell ya!
-Had dinner with Courtney... so fun! We havent laughed that hard together in so long, it was much needed.
-Went to Cafe Plaid alone to get some alone time and to read a bit.
-Michelle picked me up and we went shopping and then went to Anissa's
-Had a mad dance party at Anissa's.... so fun!! never experienced a dance party like this one!!
-Made it back to Michelle's and went to sleep!
-Breakfast with Caleb and his wife Becky...lots of good conversation
-Lunch with Rita, Steps, and Michelle from Braums... Great Milk Shake if I do say so myself!
-Got all fancy for the wedding... even curled my hair... I loved it!
-Derek and Beca got married!!! YAY!!! Such a beautiful cermony!
-Partied it up a bit, ate some great cake!...Red Velvet...yummm!!
-Went back to Gray Owl with Jay, Lanny, Steps, Jenny, and Anissa. SO F.U.N. ...we played lots of Scrabble! And shared lots of stories. Jay and Lanny were in Kazakhstan with us, I love those boys!
-Went to Raising Cane's for dinner... so not better then CFA.
-Had some yummy Passionberry...again, a lot like FroYo...yummy!
-Finally changed out of our dresses around 9 and then went to Anissa's to play Nertz!
-Drove home the next morning and finally arrived back home just in time for youth group Sunday Night.

Since I've been home, I've decided that Anthoninos would be an amazing place for a reality show.... I mean really... You cannot write the drama that happens at my work place.... I mean really, it is so out of control.

I have been struggling a lot this week and wrestling with myself over some stuff that has been revealed in my heart. Its been interesting. Im looking forward to seeing where God takes me from here.

Today Kim and I went to the park and walked 6 miles. It felt so great to be outside and walking around outside. Tonight Gina and I are going to see Dear John. I'm looking forward to it! Tomorrow morning I have to be up early to go to a women's breakfast... Ill recap that tomorrow!

Song of the Day:
Hello Lord by: Sara Groves

For HIS Glory

A long overdue post!

2010-02-26T09:10:00.001-06:00

Hello world, I'm back. Sorry I was gone for so long, I didn't really know what to write about. I was in what some would call a funk. But I think the funk is slowly leaving.

Well I'm here in Oklahoma. I left St. Louis yesterday around 730am and drove to Springfield where I had lunch with the lovely Sarah Johnston at MSU. It was a good time of conversation and it was great to break up the drive! Its so fun to sit down with past high school students and hear about what God is doing in their life!

After lunch I continued on down highway 44 for another 4ish hours. During that stretch I saw lots of cows, some horses, and a bull. Yes just one. I was awkwardly honked at by a semi trucker, I pretended to race a pick up truck to the gas station... I won in case you were wondering! I missed my exit for gas as my gas light went on and the entered a work zone with one lane of traffic and signs saying "expect long delays." ...awesome! Well luckily I was at this point around 245pm and the delay wasn't too long. I got gas, don't worry!

I continued my journey to find that the highway I needed to take was closed. Can you say detour... Through Tulsa! I was a little bit nervous at this point though because I didn't exactly know where I was supposed to be going, so I just kept following the signs, I made it through alive! I realized I was in the Bible belt when all the billbords on the highway were all for different churches in the area. I made it to OSU around 4. Earliest ever! Normally I drive here at night, I enjoyed this drive much more.

I was greeted with the biggest hug from Krysten. It was much needed. I saw Krystal real quick before she met with one of her girls.

For dinner I had some really good chili made by a church around Stillwater, I'm not the biggest fan of chili, but it was so good! I then went to Impact with Jenn and Krysten. I most definately needed to be there. Mike Story is the BCM director here and he is one amazing guy. He was a speaker one weekend when I was at Project Impact. I highly respect the man and love the opportunity to hear him speak.
He spoke about the thing we as believers are Promised. I kind of laughed a bit when he started this talk because this is something I've been working through on my own a bit, but this really pushed me to dig a bit deeper into it all.

After Impact Jenn, Krysten, and I had some time to spend just the three of us. This also was much needed and I am so blessed to have them in my life. We went to the Orange Leaf... Exactly like Fro Yo. This place had a lot more toppings though, I was pretty impressed with the selection to be honest!

We came back to the dorm and shared music, stories, summer plans, andstuff about what God's been doin in our lives. We were up till 2 or so... So needless to say I was ready to crash!

Today I'm driving to Norman. Jenn is riding with me and we are having lunch with some other very dear friends.

Its gonna be a long weekend, but totally needed and worth it!

For HIS Glory

Someday I want to be a Chef

2010-02-17T23:27:00.000-06:00

Ok so have you seen the commercial with all the little kids and the tounge depressers? I really like that commercial.

Shawn White is a "freak of nature"...he's got some mad skill for real! If you missed his second run tonight, youtube it or something, it was insane!! I know Kelli agrees with me!

I ate fish today. You see it's Ash Wednesday and at work we had a fish and chips special. I do not like fish all that much. I don't like how flaky it is and I don't like the, for lack of a better word, fishyness. All that background to say, that today, I ate fish. Roe (my boss) wanted me to try it, I told him I'd try it if I could make some chicken as well just in case. He agrees so we made lunch and I ate fish. It was Grouper. And I enjoyed it. I didnt even need to eat the chicken, I would have been fine with just the fish. So therefore, I am moving forward in my desire to enjoy fish.

I say desire to enjoy fish becuase I want to go to culinary school someday, however if I am going to do that, I am going to need to enjoy fish becuase chef's cook a lot of fish...and even if I don't become a chef one day, in order to pass classes in culinary school... Ill need to learn how to cook it well at least!

Gina and I hit up the Mills tonight...a little retail threapy if you will. I would definately consider tonight a successful shopping night! I bought jeans, on sale; bermuda shorts, on sale; and flip flops, on sale. I love items on sale! Now if only the weather would straighten up so that I can wear those shorts and flip flops.

I cannot wait for nice weather! I enjoy the snow... but I was kind of over it like around christmas time this year. All it seems to be doing this year is messing a lot up. Im a little worried that the weather will be messy next weekend... which will not be cool because I am heading down to Oklahoma for a wedding and see spend some time with some very important people in my life.

The song that I've posted today is a song that I've really been able to cling to in time of need and not really knowing the outcome of something. Well I'm kind of back to that place of unknown, but this time it comes with a sense of peace, knowing that God is with me and is holding me tightly.

Song of the Day:
He is With You by Mandisa

There's a time to live

And a time to die
There's a time to laugh
And a time to cry
There's a time for war
And a time for peace
There's a hand to hold
In the worst of things
In the worst of things
He is with you when your faith is dead
And you can't even get out of bed
Or your husband doesn't kiss you anymore
He is with you when your baby's gone
And your house is still
And your hearts are stone
Crying "God what'd you do that for?"
He is with you
There's a time for yes
And a time for no
There's a time to be angry
And a time to let it go
There's a time to run
And a time to face it
There's love to seek
In all of this
Through all of this
He is with you in the conference room
When the world is coming down on you
And your wife and kids don't know you anymore
And He is with you in the ICU when the doctors don't know what to do
And it scares you to the core
He is with you

We may weep for a time but joy will come in the morning
The morning light

He is with you when your kids are grown
When there's too much space and you feel alone
And your worried if you got it right or wrong
Yes He is with you when you've given up on ever finding your true love
Someone who feels like home
He is with you
When nothing else is left and you take your final breath

He is with you

I'm totally over shred...for now

2010-02-16T22:40:00.000-06:00

I'm watching Once with my roomies right now... its pretty good so far.

A hidden secret only a few people know... I love love love writing music... like composing and lyrics... all of the above. I also enjoy singing and playing it as well.... I am kinda itching to do a bit of that... hmmm

I went to the Switchfoot concert last night... one word. AMAZING! I've seen them 4 times, and this was by far the best. Hope and redemption seemed to be a central theme in it all as well, which was totally awesome! I could really see the passion they had while playing this time around. They wernt just playing a concert, they were doing what they loved and were using the gifts they were given. I went with my good friend Rachel from high school. We ended up sitting with Levi which was fun. I havent hung out with him much at all so that was a fun little surprise.

I have a lot going on right now and to put it simply... I am so unbelievibly blessed by my two roommates. I have yet again been reminded of Gods goodness and perfect timing as well. I was really nervous sharing some stuff with them last night and to see how they responded to it was extremely comforting.

Song of the Day:
Falling Slowly by The Frames

I don't know you

But I want you
All the more for that
Words fall through me
And always fool me
And I can't react
And games that never amount
To more than they're meant
Will play themselves out
Take this sinking boat and point it home
We've still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you have a choice
You've made it now
Falling slowly, eyes that know me
And I can't go back
Moods that take me and erase me
And I'm painted black
You have suffered enough
And warred with yourself
It's time that you won
Take this sinking boat and point it home
We've still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you have a choice
You've made it now

Take this sinking boat and point it home
We've still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you have a choice
You've made it now
Falling slowly sing your melody
I'll sing along

oye vey!

2010-02-13T23:47:00.000-06:00

Oh man! This has already been a great weekend. I worked yesterday and then headed to my parents house to see my grandparents for a few minuets before heading to the Olive Garden with mom, dad, and Carrie for our Valentines Day dinner. Timmy was working so we missed him, but we had a good dinner nonetheless. We did something totally new this time too... we got a bottle of wine and enjoyed that with our salad and pasta. You see, I've never been one to enjoy a glass of wine, but oh man, this stuff was great! Moscato was the gloriousness that was consumed last night!

After dinner, Kim, Gina, and I began our adventure to see Fundemental Elements. We had directions.. but apparently that was just not enough. Thankfully Kim has an iphone, we could look at the street while we were driving. Anyways, we found it, and ohmygoodness (yes one word) they ROCK! I loved every minute of it! Joe, a member on the band, goes to efree and it was so fun to see him playing his guitar and rockin out in a different element then I usually see. Check them out! Seriously, they are so talented and they support Mocha Club. I was super stoked to hear that because I've been supporting Mocha Club for about a year. Read more about it here. I really believe it is worth the $7 a month.

After the concert, we went to Denny's. That was a great choice! I hadn't been to Denny's in forever. Lots of laughs for sure. Saw a 7ft tall man, ate a basket of puppies...you know the usual. Finally got to bed around 2, which wasn't as bad as I was expecting to be perfectly honest.

Went to work this morning... yes I worked on Saturday. I was expecting a terribly awful day. a) It's Mardi Gras. b) It's the day before Valentines Day. c) There was a Pub Crawl on the Hill today.... all those things combined = a rough day. Guess what... It wasn't!! Thank God! Seriously! I was really stressing out the whole drive to work this morning. But at the end of my shift, I was so glad I picked up the shift. It was such a great day! Not too out of control at all, a few moments of cray cray, but it was good.

Tomorrow is the holiday we in America call, Valentines Day. A holiday that Hallmark makes a lot of money from. A holiday that guys tend to freak out about. A holiday that one can choose to be in self pity, or one can embrace it and enjoy it. SO tomorrow I am going to lunch after church and getting a pedicure with the girls! I am so looking forward to it.

Song of the Day:
It's Beautiful by Eleventyseven

I wish that You would tell me how

You know me well and want to be together
Fallen short and faded out
But You keep making gardens in this desert

Despite the grace that I dismissed
Forgiveness was the catalyst
To penetrate my heart with what is true

It's beautiful
You can turn mistakes to miracles
The way that You still love me after all
It's beautiful

Redeem the years I've thrown away
I'm ready to make good on what I've wasted

I'm asking You to shape my heart
I want to be Your work of art
'Cause when You change me
And make me more like You
So help me God forbid
I never take for granted
This endless gift You give

For HIS Glory

Tonight we played softball in the house!

2010-02-12T00:01:00.000-06:00

Well today was a roller coaster of a day...but in the end, it was a great day! I am in the midst of dealing with andallowing myself to feel a lot of feelings and emotions from my past. I don't like this process, but I am glad it is happening because I am doing something I should have done years ago. I think this will be a good time of growth.

I met with Dee again today to talk more about the 8th grade lacrosse stuff I am going to do. I am looking forward to it, I think my excitement was boosted by the one response I got from an 8th graders parental unit tonight about the email I sent out 3 hours prior.

When I got to It's A Grind (a new favorite place of mine) today, I saw another girl with Dee, well I come o find out its the girl I was emailing about FCA stuff...more to come on this in the future! For now I will leave you with this, I am job shadowing this girl next week to discover a bit more about this minstry...!! Prayers would be wonderful! (thanks in advance!)

In the last few days I have really seen the complete providence God has had in my life. I never would have lived in Chicago without God placing my friend Dan and I together in marching band in high school. I never would have gone to Kazakhstan under the circumstance I did or with FOCUS if I had not gone to project. I would not have the china-plate friendships I have without that either. I would not have done a lot of things I have done with out His providence!...more recently though I have recognized God's hand in how He pieced together Kim and I, and now Gina and I, which has also led to Courtney and I. I have some really precious friends in those girls. God has totally taken care of me through every step I've taken, small or large, easy or hard. So this brings me to...yes the song of the day. I mean really, God's Faithfulness has totally blown me away the last few days. It's been an amazing reminder of who He is and that He loves me.

Song of the Day:
He's Always Been Faithful to Me by Sara Groves
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me

Morning by morning I wake up to find
The power and comfort of God’s hand in mine
Season by season I watch Him, amazed
In awe of the mystery of His perfect ways
All I have need of, His hand will provide
He’s always been faithful to me.

I can’t remember a trial or a pain
He did not recycle to bring me gain
I can’t remember one single regret
In serving God only, and trusting His hand
All I have need of, His hand will provide
He’s always been faithful to me.

This is my anthem, this is my song
The theme of the stories I’ve heard for so long
God has been faithful, He will be again
His loving compassion, it knows no end
All I have need of, His hand will provide
He’s always been faithful, He’s always been faithful
He’s always been faithful to me.

I would just like you all to know that before bed tonight, we thought through and acted out all the different sports that can be played with a folded up pair of socks. There are quiet a few...dangit! I just realized we left out basketball....

For HIS Glory

A little something new...

2010-02-11T00:32:00.000-06:00

So I think I am oing to start something new on here called: Song of the Day. I love music, and lots of times lyrics say some much of how I am feeling in words I can't express. So I will post a new song every post and will give a brief explination of the song if needed.

Song of the Day:
Everyone Needs A Little by Kari Jobe.

Come all ye weary and ye broken

Come to the table of the Lord
Come sing the song of the forgiven
Come lay your burden on the Word

Come and find
Peace everyone needs a little
Rest everyone needs a little
Joy and a song to sing in the darkest night

Life even when it gets you down
Hope will turn it all around
But love is the greatest of these
Everyone needs a little

Sing all ye saints and ye sinners
Call upon the mercy of the Lord
Come sing the song of redemption
Sing about the hope that is to come

He will lift you up
He will lift you up higher than sorrow
He will lift you up
And cover your soul with healing

...I had a rough day at work. I've had rough days before but this one was just different. I got home and listened to my itunes for a while, and this song played and so I hit repeat and listened for a while. It comforted me, but also got me thinking about the darkness that I work in. The title says, everyone needs a little...not everyone by my co-workers, or everyone but the Italians. It means e v e r y o n e. So I've decided that I am going to be more proactive in my prayer life while I'm at work.

I tend to forget the power of prayer. I think I forget that becuase the big things I've prayed for haven't happened, but then I realize that it's because the situation is completely within God's will and it is not for me to change. ...that being said, I really need to commit my coworkers to prayer. I was looking at one of the girls pictures on facebook and saw pictures from Dare2Share two years ago... my heart began to break because this girl is so far from God right now, but we often talk about how she wants to help people and enjoyed the mission trips she's been on.

I need to take advantage of the opportunies God has given me in my work place.

Ok..off to sleep, but I had a great night tonight, so maybe I'll post again in the morning! I'm off work tomorrow, so I'll be regrouping then.

For HIS Glory

Working out

2010-02-09T23:31:00.000-06:00

So, as I menioned last night we moved to level 2 last night on the Shred. I've heard the jump from 1 to 2 is really hard, and the jump from 2 to 3 is not as bad. I'm interested to see what level 3 is like. Level 2 is all about the core. Lots of arms as well. It's just rather dificult.

I played lacrosse for 7 years and loved almost every minute of it. I saw almost cause there were a few moments that were really tough, a pretty bad injury, and a serious bust at my pride. All in all however, I loved it all, the 6 am practices, all the 2:30 death sentences..ehem..i mean sprints, all the running, all the weights, all the bruises (I was the goalie... that means my team abused me daily with 5oz solid rubber balls... its all good though!), all the practices, all the road trips, all the games, and all the memories made with teammates.

The 6 am practices were mainly all running and agilities. In a round about way, they sucked. I threw up many times during these practices. Stadiums, track work, randomness with weird jumping routines and doing odd things with our legs and arms. Lots of ab work too. I would sing Step by Step by Rich Mullins in my head over and over while doing planks because it comtrolled my breathing.

All of those random memories to say, those awful practices were nothing compared to these 20 min work outs Jillian is running. I mean she is a tough cookie, and by the end of it all, if I really push through it all I am dripping by the end....tmi? maybe, but oh well! I enjoy working out... rather, I enjoy the feeling after I work out. I've been so unmotivated lately. I think tonight was a good turning point though. I enjoyed it. We like to listen to music rather then Jillians voice. Tonight we listened to the new Toby Mac cd! So sweet!

We are getting a bit of a tuesday night routine going. I make dinner...which I absolutely love doing... and we work out, then we eat dinner while watching the Biggest Loser. Courtney comes over and spends the evening with us as well. Tonight included so much laughing. A good second ab work out if you ask me! It was an all around great night!!! Good food, Great friends, lots of laughing!

For HIS Glory

I love new music!

2010-02-08T23:48:00.000-06:00

Everyone likes to pick on the little kid... well I felt that last night. You see I came home to a house full of women I love, and who appreantly all wanted the Saints to win. Wellll that resulted in lots of arguing and loud noises...and in the end, the Colts lost, I won $20, and I was still picked on.
...good thing I still love them.

This weekend was a good one. Spent some time with Amy out at Lindenwood....Spent a lot of time with my family on Sunday...Aquired a painting I've loved since I was a little girl...Spent time at home and made some new friends...Had Fondue for the first time (this was awesome)...Had some good conversations with some awesome high schoolers...Got to see God work in some amazing ways in this city to support JoyFM...Moved up a level on Band Hero!

Yeah ok some of those were kind of lame, but I'm just letting you know whats new in my life. Here's the big one though... Yes ladies and gents... tonight, we moved up to level 2 on Shred... and Jillian Michaels kicked.our.butts! Man, she was killing us. I do like the fact that it is a DVD and we can turn it off at any time, but we don't. I felt kind of lazy tonight though, I need to be better about that next time. Not totally sure I'm motivated right now. All I know is that I am so completely sore right now... I can only imagine hat the next two days will hold.

For all of you who are as consumed in the Bachelor as we are...was tonight stressfl or what!? Comon now! We are pretty convinced that Jake loves Tenley....thats what we are hoping for anyways.

Church is kind of bothering me lately. I know I belong becuase I am growing and I have community there. But at the same time...I don't know where I belong right now. It's kinda hard to explain I guess. Just need to pray about it more.

I really appreciate it when people share scripture with me! Either through text, email, or verbally. It helps me process things and it allows me to think through it. Daniel 4:34-35; Psalm 116; 1John 1:5-10; Mark 7. I love taking someone has shared with me and really digging into it. I need to do this more often then I do, but when I do it, it gets me totally pumped and stoked about God all over again.

...for all you wondering, I'm totally over the Colts loss...

For HIS Glory

J-E-LL-O ... it's alive!!

2010-02-04T22:49:00.000-06:00

Please please please not again!... I am having pain on my left side... around my kidney area. I'm kinda worried about it just becuase that was so painful I do not want to experience that again. I really am hoping this is all in my head, unfourtionately the pain is real, so I don't think it is. Gina says it's possible that it is a small stone, but without xrays we don't know. She's gonna look for any notes in my chart tomorrow. This is a very very very small reason why I love living with her.
I haven't felt very good today. I did however have a semi-productive day. Lots of emails were sent today, which ended up being really good.

I've been emotionally drained this week. Lots of thinking and trying to process my thoughts, some of which has been unseccussful. But, it's been good nonetheless. Too much to unload here really...but maybe someday I'll go more in depth.

On Sunday night I challenged my small group with living life with someone who is not a believer and being real about it. It's a bit more complicated then that, but I feel like they are too comfortable and need to be stretched a bit. I'm looking forward to hearing from them during this time. The challenge began on Monday and will "end" the day they graduate.
.....graduation... oh man!

In counseling today, I was asked, 'what do you hope your girls take from you?' (we were talking about contentment)... honestly I want my girls to take a lot from me. Mostly, learn from the mistakes I've made, and not repeate them. My girls got a cool experience really...they got to see me go through college, go on long trips, watch me grow up, graduate, and now move out. It's not something every group gets. I've been fairly open with them when it comes to the mistakes I've made or the obstacles I've had to jump. I just hope they have seen that and learn from it. I also hope they see my contentment and don't desire things that are not promised to them.

I think our society has really put a pressure on people to live the normality... whats normal though? I think we hope for things that are not promised to us. A job...not promised. A spouse...not promised. A healthy life...not promised. A family... not promised. The only thing that is promised to us is an eternal life and a God who will love us unconditionally...and everything that comes with that. Thats for believers. I think society has put such an emphesis on living the "normal" life, people go out and get married, and get divorced becuase "it didnt work out", or "we fell out of love." Thats just one example I can think of right now, but this is something I've been thinking about a lot lately.

Well I have a lot going on tomorrow...so I should probably head to bed.

For HIS Glory

Painting Pictures of Egypt

2010-02-02T23:43:00.001-06:00

Sometimes I am amazed at how much I have influenced someone. It’s a cool reminder though. In the last few days I’ve received several encouraging texts from a few different friends that have thanked me for helping them with something. Krista now journals, and Katie admires my friendship with Amy. It blows me away. Especially because of what God has been doing over the last 6 months. It’s pretty cool.

In other news… I’ve been praying for contentment. I am where I am because this is where God has me. I’m not missing out on His plan for me. I haven’t missed any open doors, and when it’s time for something new, God will show me. I know all of that, but i need to believe all of that too. I want to be ok with where I am and what I’m doing. I’m not unhappy, by any means, but I feel slightly incomplete. I’m not sure where this feeling is coming from, but it’s there. I got this quote below from a friends blog. She is living in Africa right now and I was reading her post today and I really appreciated the quote.

“Contentment is a state of the soul, God’s shalom, an interior peace which doesn’t depend on circumstances, but is rooted in God’s love and grace.”

Tonight was roommate workout and dinner night. We are back to shredding…yeah, it sucks, but it’s worth it. 20 min of pushing hard isn’t so bad at all. Tonight I was reminded of several things that Lacrosse practice consisted of. I am amazed that a)I used to be able to do all that stuff; b) I allowed myself to get this out of shape. Change begins now my friends.

A wise woman whom I greatly respect reminded me today that David had to wait to be King. He was anointed King then he returned to the sheep. Then became an errand boy, and then after several years of doing all this random stuff he was finally King. I’m thankful to have so many people looking out for me and who are praying for me. It’s actually very humbling to me.

For HIS Glory

The Bird and the Worm (Owl City)

2010-01-31T23:58:00.000-06:00

Great Sunday!
-Woke up
-Coffee and Eleventyseven to begin
-Church
-Great sermon (1 Peter 3:1-7)
-Spent a short car ride with the lil sis
-Lunch which included Chicken Nacho's with friends
-Home for a chill afternoon
----worst part of the day, I couldn't fall asleep for a nap
-Off to Youth Group
-Great Worship time
-Great small group time
-Encouragement from my bff's husband
-Leeland on the ride home
-Dairy Queen Blizzards
-Gina's home from a weekend away in KC
-Courtney is staying over for a few nights
-Watched the Grammy's....fast forward through the boring parts <3 DVR
-Picked up my room

Thats my day in bullets! A few other things that happened were:
-Recognizing the blessings God's poured into my life by just observing some things going on around me
-Conviction setting in about a few things...more to come later

and now... sleep. goodnight.

For HIS Glory

Vanilla Carmel Latte Morning

2010-01-30T11:48:00.000-06:00

I love me some coffee in the morning. I feel like it starts my day out differently then days I don't have coffee. I think it has a way of making the day calm. If I have coffee in the morning, it means I had time to make the coffee and I wasn't running around in a hurry...as most mornings usually are.

You know what else I love...The Food Network. it could possibly be my favorite channel on TV actually. Some may say that's silly... but I don't mind. I l o v e cooking! It is so relaxing and allows me to clear my mind. If I'm ever totally stressed out or nervous about something, I cook. Chicken Enchiladas is a favorite dish of mine to make...just sayin. I like making new things, and being adventurous with old dishes and new ingredients. I've considered culinary school...but I don't know if going would kill my joy of cooking, or if I would really enjoy it. I learn so much from watching those like Rachel Ray, Bobby Flay, Paula Dean, Giada, The Neelys, Tyler Florence, Sunny Anderson, and Guy Fieri...just to name a few. I also really enjoy watching Chopped, Top Chef (on Bravo), Chef Academy (on Bravo), and any challenge like show because I learn so much about different foods that I am not used to using. I never liked watching Giada that much, but since I've been working at a family owned Italian restaurant, I've learned to appreciate her styles and ingredients more. Carol Steiner and Susan Wahlman are amazing cooks as well...good thing they are my friends, they can teach me a thing or two! I already look up to them, why not in my cooking as well?!

Ok enough about cooking already!...

I was on facebook today. I was looking at some pictures of some people I know from High School... the people I was looking at are people I was friends with back in the days of my 8 year basketball career. Most of those girls went to Mizzou or Missouri State and something I've noticed is that they all stayed friends with each other. Thats not a bad thing... but they didn't really become friends with other people... or at least according to the pictures. They were all in Frats and Sororities...and they all rushed the same ones. Maybe I'm being extremely judgemental right now, thats not the intention. I guess I am just comparing my relationship with friends from high school. I have a hand full of friends from high school, but all of those relationships have lasted through going to different schools, some in different states, and other friends. Most of the friendships I have now with those people from high school are better then they were in high school too actually. I don't know where I am going with this thought anymore...so I think I'll end it with saying that I am super thankful for all of my friendships. Most of which have been created over the last 5 years to be rich, and very "china-plate" like. Several of those friendships have been created over the last 4 months even. God does some amazing work!

...maybe I should go back to talking about cooking.... .......I'll spare you.....

High School friends... Colorado Summer 09
Middle School friends...Summer 09Project friends in Colorado January 08 College Friends! Camping Fall 07Newer friends...Astana Team Summer 08...picture taken in Norman September 09Project friends...Chicago 07 --don't go without pepper spray!New great friends/Roommates-- At the Zoo... December 09
...those are just a few snapshots of my friendships... there are just too many to show here.

For HIS Glory

From Manna to Martini's

2010-01-29T23:47:00.000-06:00

Blogging... it's this thing I have wanted to be committed to... well I'm trying, it's just not been so great lately.

Let's see. I've had a good week. nothing too exciting or life changing happen this week. I had an awesome conversation with a woman from church on Tuesday though. Dee is so wise. She made me think about things I hadn't thought about. One thing she asked me was, "How are you using your missions degree?"...yeah I'm not. Coffee with Dee was very eye opening, and it opened up a few doors I hadn't seen open as opportunities for work. So we will see how this all plays out, but needless to say, I'm looking forward to the possibilities! ...more details to come :)

On Tuesday night I went to a new place. I went to the Chocolate Bar!! Yummy!! I got an amazing brownie with bailey's ice cream on top. It was delightful! Gina got some different cheeses and they were served to her on a wooden platter...Beth and I agreed that it looked like she was eating something out of the Old Testament. It was awesome!! Pomegranate Martini's are delightful as well...."its like candy"-Gina. Because of the Bible reference and the cheese platter, we decided it would be amazing if we one day find out that the Manna refered to in the Bible was actually Pomegranate martini's. ...only time will tell I guess :) That was a fun night with the girls. I got to chat with some girls I don't get to spend a lot of time with, so it was good to get to know them better!

Oh yeah! I got my bridesmaid dress and had a steak dinner with Beth for $8!

I don't really remember to much else other then tonight. Tonight Kim and I went to see Hamlet. It was put on by a local Classical Style school. The school does something called Shakespeare in a Week. Build the set, run the lines as a cast, make up, costumes, the whole nine yards in a week, then preform Friday and Saturday night. Several of our high school students were a part of the whole thing, so it was fun to watch them. Hamlet is a tragedy, but it had a fair amount of humor in it! Tonight was a great chill night and I got to spend it with my wonderful roommate whom I am so thankful for.

Snow... yes, it snowed... only West of 40 though.... it's so weird! I hear it's gonna snow more, but at this rate, I'll believe it when I see it! goodnight.

For HIS Glory

Just Another Monday

2010-01-25T17:34:00.000-06:00

Yesterday I bought a planner. I've been so lost without one. It's actually been driving me pretty nuts, so I'm glad I finally got one. I feel like I am kind of in a rut lately. Im slightly emotionless. It could be the lack of sleep weighing on me...or maybe it really is just a rut. I'm sure I'll snap out of it soon. I don't like being like this. It's like when I sit down with someone or someone asks me a question I can't reflect enough to really say how I feel. It's kind of an odd spot to be in.

My schedule has been covered at work for me to venture down to Oklahoma in a month! Now I should probably begin the planning process for the trip. Not to mention let people know I'm coming!

Tonight I went and saw To Save A Life with Rachel. wow... Im not totally sure how else to describe it. It was so good, but very intense. It helped that the main character is very attractive... ok im kidding, or am I? .....but really if you do or have ever worked with teenagers, or you are a teenager, you have got to see this movie. It's a Christian movie, however it does not come across as one. It really displays the world as we live in it, thus why it is PG-13 rather then G as most christian movies are. It sets in a High School and as I've said, it's intense. I had a hard time with some of it, but its sad because the movie is lots of kids reality. If only we recognized how our lives and how we live effect other people, maybe the world would be changed. Thats the desire of the ministry that developed the movie. They want High School students to see the movie and then inturn change the world. You say that's crazy, I say it's bold, but possible. I highly recommiend seeing the movie.

Now I will leave you with some pictures from the Girls Formal.

Me and Grace

Me and Sarah (My bros gf)

The congregation

The boys who served the girls

The Activity Center/ Arc De Triomphe My bff Lauren doing Emma's hair

The Activity Center. Note the Effile Tower

The big picture of the girls

For HIS Glory

Was this really only one week????

2010-01-23T23:18:00.000-06:00

I feel like this week lasted forever. Like really... it lasted so long. So much happened that I'm not sure if a)can remember it all; or b)I was able to keep up with it all.

I apologize to those who have become avid readers cough*Krystal*cough of my blog. I have been slacking a bit. So for the sake of actually getting to bed earlier then I have in almost 3 weeks, I am going to just recap the things I can remember and then I'll elaborate on the things that need it. bullet points!...(not in order)

-Work schedule changed... excpet mine didnt. So I still have my three shifts which I like, except I'm bussing on Fridays rather then serving which is a bummer, but I'll take it.
-Games2u sent us a launch date finally! March 1st is what we are shooting for! I am so excited for this! It's going to be a lot of hard work, but I am so ready!
-Girls Formal was yesterday. I'd love to post a picture from last night... but facebook is down, so alas, I cannot. Last night was so awesome! Girls Formal is one of my favorite nights of ministry all year. For those of you with questions.... a brief rundown. All the girls of the youth group are invited and they bring their friends. This year we had 198 attend. We as the leaders pick a theme. This year was "Springtime in Paris". We decorate our meeting room, (the Activity Center) however we please to get the feel of the theme. This year we had a huge Eiffel Tower, and a huge Arc De Triomphe. It was awesome! (Pictures will come!) We decorate each table and just make it fun and festive. Each year we do something different as a surprise for the girls, the first year we had the older women of the church write encouraging letters to each girl. The second year we had each father write a letter to his daughter. The third year, each small group leader wrote a letter to each of her girls. This year, no letters were written, however, we wanted to involve the congregation. We asked the adults to come and have a time of worship and prayer together as well as communion before the girls entered the sanctuary. The adtuls were all lined up along the aisles of the sanctuary with candles singing "Yes You Have" as each of the girls were escorted through them. The girls reactions to this were awesome! Some were in tears, some saying "wow, I feel so special", others saying "that was weird, but so cool." The adults were also given the option of having a girl to pray for throughout the year. I know that meant a lot to my group of seniors. Last night was just so special, as it is every year.

I look so short compared to them! seesh! This is my small group minus Lerryn at Girls Formal.

-Small group sleepover... yes that also happened last night. My girls, 10 of the 12, came over last night and spent the night. Within the first 3 min something was broken...which was funny, but I still feel bad. (Kim! It will be replaced, promise!)...I'm just glad it was something that can be replaced to be honest! We played a few rounds of "word salad", that was a lot of fun. Provided a whole lot of laughs for sure. They were pretty tired, so we chatted for a bit, but we were all out by 1:30...to my knowledge anyways. However, the first three needed to be up by 6:30. yeah... I haven't been up that early in quite awhile. I got to spend some time talking with Levi cause he was up then too, so that was a pleasant surprise.
-Youth Encounter... Courtney leads or helps lead these youth events from time to time. She used to do this full time, but moved home to go back to school and stuff like that. Anyways, it was in St. Louis this weekend, and she asked me to lead a trek...basically a Bible Study for 40 students, 50 min long, on whatever I wanted. I wasn't entirely sure what I was getting myself into when I said yes, but I thought i'd give it a whirl! I am so glad I did. I taught on Galatians 5:22-25. Yes all you Bible scholars, that is indeed the Fruit of the Spirit. It was challenging for a few minuets, but it ended up being so awesome. I had two different groups with a 10 min re-grouping time inbetween. After they were over I stayed the majority of the night with Court. It was so cool to see her at work doing something she loves to do. We got to spend some good time together, it was great!
-Choas went down this week. It's been hard to keep everything with my emotions at a low level about it all. I feel removed from everything, but know a tiny bit of the feelings that are going around...and I do mean tiny bit. Its hard to see something you love so much fail and be consumed in something it is teaching. I know I'm being vague, but this is a huge thing this week, so you will have to be fine with this.

This now brings us to 1:20am. Yes I started this at 11:20. No it does not take me 2 hours to post usually. I went upstairs to fill my waterbottle and my amazing roommates were home, so I went to say hey, and debriefing happened! I guess thats what happens when we dont see eachother all day. Tonight while Gina was talking about stuff, I realized that I wouldn't be where I am right now without her. I really love my roommates. I know I've said this in the past, but I am so thankful for them. Seeing how they love each other and watching them build one another up is amazing. Friendships like this don't just happen. They are created by God.

In other news... I've found some spiders in my room. It's expected since I live in the basement... but I do not like it!

For HIS Glory

Palm Trees on the wall

2010-01-18T08:05:00.000-06:00

I've been somewhat lacking in my posts lately, its been busy lately. I've been tired lately, and I haven't made it much of a priority, but I am back now...I think :)

I am currently at the Johnsons house. Bill was in a terrible skiing accident on Friday, broke his femer and knee cap. Mary sent the girls home on a jet plane, and she and Evan (the son) are slowly but surely driving back from Colorado. Bill is doin alright, could be better, but could definately be much worse. I've had the privilage of staying with Mallory and Kelsey until the rest of the family returns. I'm sleeping in Evan's bed... Its huge and soooo comfortable. There is a very large poster on one of the walls too, it has palm trees, beachn and ocean on it. It looks a lot like my daily view last spring break. Oh man I wish I could go back this year. That was by far the most amazing and relaxing vacation I've ever taken. Oh to be back there on the Island, sittin in a camping chair, watching the dolphins play in the water, my best friend sitting next to me, drinkin a lil somethin somethin, sun beating down on us, with no to-do lists and no agenda of what we are doing...man that would be amazing right now!

I got to spend some time with the beautiful and pregnant Lauren Underhill last night. It was beyond overdue and so refreshing. Our schedules have been so opposite lately. However, if I had to pick the worst part about moving, it would most likely be the fact that I'm now 30min away from them rather then 10. But its ok becuase if that's the worst part about moving so far, I think I am in good shape.

God has been working on my heart, breaking it, and working on it some more. So much is on my mind, I am not even sure how to write much of it down. My heart is breaking over and over again for Haiti. I really want to go down there and help with some of the relief efforts. I know of two teams that are being put together right now, but I bet if I searched for groups going I'd find more. EFree has a relationship with one of the islands in Haiti, La Gonave. We were able to get word that they are all ok, however that is only physically. Realistically, every Haitian on earth has been effected by this disaster. Last night during worship at youth group Dan challenged the students to really mean what they were singing. "I see a new revival, stiring as we pray and seek" he explained that VooDoo is basically the Haitian religion. He told a story of one of the trips he took there and conversations with believing children in relation to this. But then he had us pray. Praying for Haiti, and all their needs. Haitian hearts are open right now, they need healing and Christ is the ultimate healing in the midst of this. It is pretty amazing to see how the World is responding to this though.

That's about all for now. I gotta get ready for work. I may not like my job all that much, but the fact that I have a job is a blessing!

Jillian Michales is still kicking my butt! Yesterday was a little too close to lunch, and I kinda wanted to puke afterwards. And Kim helped force portion control at dinner. :)

For HIS Glory

Psalm 71

2010-01-16T12:03:00.001-06:00

¹In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame.

² Rescue me and deliver me in your righteousness;
turn your ear to me and save me.

³ Be my rock of refuge,
       to which I can always go;
       give the command to save me,
       for you are my rock and my fortress.

⁴ Deliver me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,
from the grasp of evil and cruel men.

⁵ For you have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD,
my confidence since my youth.

⁶ From birth I have relied on you;
you brought me forth from my mother's womb.
I will ever praise you.

⁷ I have become like a portent to many,
but you are my strong refuge.

⁸ My mouth is filled with your praise,
declaring your splendor all day long.

⁹ Do not cast me away when I am old;
do not forsake me when my strength is gone.

¹⁰ For my enemies speak against me;
those who wait to kill me conspire together.

¹¹ They say, "God has forsaken him;
pursue him and seize him,
for no one will rescue him."

¹² Be not far from me, O God;
come quickly, O my God, to help me.

¹³ May my accusers perish in shame;
may those who want to harm me
be covered with scorn and disgrace.

¹⁴ But as for me, I will always have hope;
I will praise you more and more.

¹⁵ My mouth will tell of your righteousness,
of your salvation all day long,
though I know not its measure.

¹⁶ I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign LORD;
I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone.

¹⁷ Since my youth, O God, you have taught me,
and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.

¹⁸ Even when I am old and gray,
       do not forsake me, O God,
       till I declare your power to the next generation,
       your might to all who are to come.

¹⁹ Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God,
you who have done great things.
Who, O God, is like you?

²⁰ Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter,
       you will restore my life again;
       from the depths of the earth
       you will again bring me up.

²¹ You will increase my honor
and comfort me once again.

²² I will praise you with the harp
       for your faithfulness, O my God;
       I will sing praise to you with the lyre,
       O Holy One of Israel.

²³ My lips will shout for joy
when I sing praise to you—
I, whom you have redeemed.

²⁴ My tongue will tell of your righteous acts
       all day long,
       for those who wanted to harm me
       have been put to shame and confusion.

For HIS Glory

Slight Confusion

2010-01-14T22:44:00.000-06:00

My goal is to be asleep before midnight tonight... so I'll have to make sure my thoughts are in order tonight.

Recap of yesterday... um, I'm not entirely sure too much happened to be honest with ya... I went to work. Oh yeah... it's coming back to me now. ha. I ventured home, it took me twice as long yesterday though becuase traffic was horrid! There were stalled cars and accidents galore! I work on The Hill, it is near the city...some might say it is in the city, but all that to say I have to take two different hihghways in order to get home. It is not a bad drive at all, but it took me an hour rather then just 30 min. I got home and made some phone calls to take care of some student loan stuff (bleh!). Watched some CNN with Gina and talked about Haiti for awhile. My heart totally breaks for what has happened and what is happening there. I started asking God where He was in all of this. It's not His fault this happened, He allowed this to happen. There is a difference in my thinking with those phrases. So now I am trying to wrap my head around what I can do to help, what is God calling me to do. The poorest of the poor is in great need. Jesus says to help the poor.

"I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me"

That being said, one thing I am Boldly praying about is what my role is in this disaster. I know what I would like to do, but I can't make big decisions like this without prayer. As I've been learning, my way is not always God's way.

I've been challenged to rediscover who I believe God is. As well as what His role is in my life. ...time to turn off the radio in the car and just talk it out with the Creator of the Universe.

Jillian Michaels workout day 4: today wasnt so bad really. I think my body is getting used to it. Doesn't mean I'm not sore, or feel like I wanna fall over, but it does mean it's getting easier for me, and thats all part of getting into shape!

For HIS Glory

Pound for Pound

2010-01-12T23:59:00.001-06:00

Courtney came over last night. We had a great time, we heard about her weekend in Phoenix, we ate cookies, we laughed, we even played Band Hero. Great evening if I do say so myself!

While she was here she talked about how how she and Emily signed up to do The Biggest Loser’s Pound for Pound challenge… I’ve thought about entering, but never got around to it. Mean while, Kim, Gina and I are doing the Jillian Michael’s Shred DVD and well… it all kind of adds up in the end, so tonight, I signed up. Goal is 15lbs. That’d sure be awesome… so we will see. I’d like to look great in my dress for Beth’s wedding in June…so that will take lots of discipline on my part, but I think I can do it!

Let me be totally honest with you all for a second. Today was a hard day…it got better as it went on, but all in all, it was hard. I was so stinking excited about today too, but that was shot at about 9:20 when I received an email from Marquette saying I did not get the coaching job. Boy did my pride take a beating today. Knowing I had to tell people who were so excited for me and this opportunity that its not actually happening…and I actually haven't told a lot of people cause I don’t want to. It was only one interview, but I was totally stoked about that possibility. I was already brainstorming ideas. I guess I just got my hopes up too soon. I did some other stuff today, I’ll write about it below, but I’ll keep the tough stuff together. My dad got the results from his sleep test back and it was concluded that he said serious life threatening sleep apnea. I don’t mind it all that much though because it is the first straight answer any doctor has given us in almost a year about anything. However, on the other side, it’s somewhat scary because that’s not something to mess around with.

Unfortunately I was somewhat bummed the rest of the day, so the fun stuff I did was slightly altered due to my mood, which I wish hadn’t been the case, but it was and I can’t change it. I had breakfast this morning with Carol Steiner and Carrie Shirkey. These two women have played a very important part in my life. I have written countless essays and papers on Carrie, and Carol has pretty much mentored me though life’s challenges since junior year of high school. Carol and I are now very good friends. Carrie was my youth leader when I was in jr.high at efree and then part of my high school years as well. I blame Carrie for part of the reason I am so passionate about working with students. If she hadn’t loved me the way she did, I doubt I’d be where I am now. Carrie lives in El Paso with her family at Ft. Bliss; however, she has been in STL for 2 months for the holidays. Her husband, Matt, left for Afghanistan a short while ago. He is a Chaplin in the ARMY. We went to First Watch…all you Oklahoma kids, remind me to take you there for breakfast when you come here sometime :)

After breakfast which lasted a good two and a half hours, I headed to the JOY FM radio station to help with a mailing that had to go out. A place for joy fm has really grown in my heart. I love hearing about and seeing their passion for God and the city of St. Louis. I am honored to be a very very very small part of the ministry. I really appreciate the friendly faces that greet me when I walk into the station too…and no I’m not just talking about Kim… however, its a bonus getting to see her there too!

Cooking is the best way for me to release pain and feelings. On my way home I stopped by the grocery store and got some stuff to make pasta salad. yum! I listened to a sermon and some music while I cooked, it was relaxing. Chatted with Gina a bit, and Amy came over to make some goodness for game night tomorrow. Had a somewhat healing conversation with her and now it’s time for bed.

Jillian Michaels workout update: Day 3… couldn’t move too well today…but it’s all worth it. My arms didnt burn too badly, mostly my claves are killing me. 3 down, 27 to go. yikes!

For HIS Glory

Buddies

2010-01-11T22:25:00.000-06:00

You know, I'm not totally sure how to go about this blog tonight. I mean, I have some "deep" thought I'd like to express...but I don't know that I can successfully do so because I haven't mapped it all out in my own mind yet.

Last week I wrote about how things were too good...and something bad had to be close. Well nothing bad has happened, but I kind of feel scattered. I'm not totally sure how else to express it really. Not in a bad way though. Just a lot on my mind that would really be word vomit...messy at that because it wouldnt come out in a clear state either.

One thing I do know is that God has truely blessed me. He knew exactly where I needed to be living, and who I needed to be surrounding myself with. He knows the outcome of my interview from last week. He just knows, and He's got it all under control.

A silly thing I'll post about though, "buddies." I've always been so angry about "buddies," but I've been able to laugh about them the past few days... its been good. If you're confused, just ask, I'll explain.

Tomorrow I'll have more time to think and to be still. So hopefully I'll be better at processing my mind.

Jillian Michaels workout update: day 2 - can't move too quickly, legs and abs are quivering a lot. Tomorrow will be interesting.

For HIS Glory

And so it began…

2010-01-09T11:57:00.001-06:00

Gina warned me of this happening…

You see, I’ve always been the oldest in my living situations. I’m the oldest child, I’m one of the oldest in my friend groups from Lindenwood. But now, now I am the youngest here at the house. I’m also the youngest in most of my friend groups that I spend the most time with. All that being said, the baby jokes came out last night. The, “you weren’t even born yet” jokes… the, “do you even remember…” jokes. But you know what… I’m ok! I survived them all! I however am the oldest member of our church! ha! suckers!! The jokesters claimed they were only spewing the jokes at me because they like me… whatever that’s about. …Good thing I love them… or it might be a different story :)

Yesterday was a good day. I had to work, and when I looked at my car in the driveway before leaving, I was not excited about having to drive it…or drive on the roads either. I made really good time, which was surprising to me. Such good time that I was there waiting for Bob to get there with a key. I work the day shift which is 10-4…I was off by 2. We were super slow. It totally worked out in my favor though. I went to Starbucks and read part of Mark. I saw Paula, one of my small group girls and I got to meet her mom, so that was awesome. Jess was working so I chatted with her on her break. Then the Sartin gals walked in. I love those three so much. It feels like they’ve been here for years, when really its only been about a year! From Starbucks I headed over to Anna’s house. She left for school today, so I wanted to make seeing her a priority. God has totally reformed that friendship, its so awesome. Then I got to have dinner with the amazing Kim Seegers! We hadn’t been able to meet up since right after she got back from Kanakkuk. So catching up was in order. Oh man, our time was so sweet and encouraging. We shared our hearts, passions, fears of the unknown, and of course random stuff. God has really broken each of us differently but its awesome to see the fruit from it.

Kim picked me up and Bread Co. and we headed to get Renee and the three of us headed over to Kelli's for some “grown-up” time. Two snow days and Lee outta town, she is like superwoman! If I haven’t said this in the past, her children are adorable. If the show, “kids say the darnedest things” was still around, I’m pretty positive Sloan would be on there! Well within the first hour I was already on the floor laughing…no really, I was. Kelli makes a mean cup of hot coco…incase anyone was wondering. Some really great conversation was had too! I really appreciate that they have welcomed me in as a youngen. It has really helped with my “transition” from school to adult world.

Well, the roommates are upstairs doing stuff…so I will go be social.

For HIS Glory

Untitled

2010-01-07T17:42:00.000-06:00

I'm not totally sure what to title this entry...

I am so blown away by the Faithfulness, Goodness, Kindness, Gentleness, Lovingkindness, Soverginty, and Love God has for me...and not just me but each person in this world, who has ever lived and will ever live. completely mind blowing. I really don't know how else to describe it.

Today was a pure blessing. The whole thing! First, I slept in! woo! It was amazing! (So... I use a lot of explanation marks...) I went to Target with Amy, got some necessities. Got Wendy's for lunch... Yummmy! Headed down to Picasso's (well kelli, to answer your question, no... after cleaning my car off, I decided it was too cold, so we drove, but others walked and I am more then ok that I didnt!) It was such a sweet time. Amy and I talked with Ande (our old roommate) and were able to catch up on life, and share about what God is doing in our lives. Ande said I look happy again. I'm taking that as a good thing. I got to spend some time with Kaleb and David as well. Today was an all around fantastic day. I got to spend a little bit of quality time with my friend Irene too! She is from Zimbabwe. I love watching the Lord work in her life. She is a believer. She also got to attend Urbana, so in our short time together we talked about how God used that to speak to her and, ugh! It's just so stinkin cool!

I'm in a good season right now, and I can't discount that.... however, if I am completely honest with you, I'm just waiting for something bad to happen, or for something to go horribly wrong. God is working in some mighty ways right now, I'm looking forward to what is next, but worried as well. I need to remember this verse though, Matthew 6:34, "Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." I've seen God's character and and God's pursuit in my life. Each trial allows me to see Him more and to become more like Him. So even though i'm worried about whats around the corner cause I know nothing is easy, i'm excited to see what it will be to see how God will use it to shape me.

As promised, pictures from today. First... Kings in the Corners. A wonderful card game. If you've never played, ask me how to and I'd love to play!

Next up: Speed! Oh man, another great card game!! I won this round... totally exciting cause Angela beat me prior to this picture being taken!!

And lastly.....A picture of Amy and I. To me, this picture means more then a picture...some of you may recall a post from before, "restoration" This picture has a lot to do with that. So it makes me smile a lot!

All in all... today was one of those days that I was speechless becuase of what God is doing, and full of smiles becuase of the joy He is bringing to my life!!! I am completely in awe of God's awesomeness.

By the way, I love my roommates! We are So Happy Together... Outside of me almost burning the house down... ok maybe not quite, but let's just say I'll do better cooking next time around... tonight was so fun. Lots of Band Hero. We pretty much are allstars. However, the band will be broken this weekend as Gina is leaving us. It's like the Jonas Brothers without Joe Jonas. I don't know how we will manage! Guess that just means Kim and I will have to practice a lot while she is gone.

For HIS Glory

and that snow storm begins....

2010-01-06T18:04:00.000-06:00

I love that all the High School students that I know are totally expecting a snow day. I remember that feeling. Wanting a snow day so badly...making plans with friends to hang out in the event of a snow day. Even going so far as to plan a sleep over, go to the sleep over, and then waking up to go to school...LAME! I do hope that is not the case for anyone tomorrow. I remember one time, it took me 2 and a half hours to get to school! My parents live 2 mintues from Parkway South, one stop sign, one down hill, one up hill, a left turn...then the school parking lot. weeeellll 2 and a half hours later, after passing several accidents, and several attempts to make it up the hill (did I mention the girl who took me to school drove a mustang)...we finally made it! No one was on time, classes went on, if the teachers were there, then school was let out at noon... pretty silly if you ask me, should'a called it a snow day! Don't worry though, the next day, when the roads were clear, we had a snow day. Sill Parkway!

There are a lot of good movies out right now, or are coming out. Actually, I can't say they are good, except for Avatar, that was soooo good! But I want to see so many movie right now... too bad I'm not made of money!

A snow plow just drove down the street. oh my goodness.... Big Top Cupcake... there is an infomercial on about them. have you seen them? They are 25% larger then regular sized cupcakes... I love me some cupcakes, but that seems a bit intense!!

Tomorrow is the anual walk to main street! I'm looking forward to it. What is that you may ask, well two years ago, Amy and I got a group of our friends together to walk to Picasso's on Main Street. Picasso's is a coffee shop, so yummy! This always occurs the first big snow of j-term. (3 weeks long, one class, 4 hrs a day) Well it looks like that day will fall tomorrow. First big snow. I'm looking forward to it. Hopefully I'll have some pictures to show you...whoever "you" are that read my blog.

Ok I must depart now...Gina got Band Hero yesterday, so playing is in order....not to mention Kim should be home soon... and there is talk of forming a band.

For HIS Glory

Snuggies are so conveient...maybe I should invest in one...

2010-01-03T23:55:00.000-06:00

"look, I need a snuggie, I cant type like this." - Kim

So living here leads to lots of laughs. I like it.

I worked last night, I don't normally work nights, but I didn't mind. It was super busy, but not too bad really... I might even go as far as saying I had fun. I saw a girl I played lacrosse with at South too... she was a senior year when I was a freshman...but anyway, we exchanged hello's and moved on. A woman set one of our tables on fire... yeah it was interesting! The woman was putting paper in one of the tea lights we have on the tables, and she was "warming her hands"...comon lady! you cant make a huge flame with a tea light. Well things got out of control, the holder broke, flames on the table, pitcher of water then went flying towards the table, and as soon as the flame went out... the woman and her friends left. It was crazy!

Today, there was church...wonderful might I add! We just started a new series about living a dangerous life. We are therefore going through 1 Peter. I love this book and I am so excited we are going through it. Im looking forward to what God is going to show me through this.

Well, tomorrow is monday... back to work and normal life... this break has been so nice! Just had a good laugh with kim... now its time for a good nights rest...didn't sleep so well last night, hopefully tonight is more successful!

For HIS Glory

New Year, New Chapter

2010-01-02T00:13:00.000-06:00

So yesterday a new year began. 2010. Holy cow, where did 2009 go?

2009 was a hard year. Lots of unexpected trails, and hard transitions. However, at the same time... there were tons of great memories made and there are lots of pictures to prove it!

On the last day of the year 2009, I moved out of my parents house and into Kim and Gina's house. I was going to wait a bit longer, but I couldnt exactly tell you why. Not to mention, it is kind of symbolic... moving out begins a new chapter in my life. I have no idea what this chapter includes... but if the last 36 hours have any inndication of what holds, I am ok with that. It's been pretty great thus far. But I am no fool... I know trials will come.

Kim and Gina had people over last night. The last person didn't leave until 2am...not a problem, but it lead to another 2 hours of chatting, legistics (the ins and outs of the house...at 3am! it was awesome), and laughter! ...we finally headed to bed at 4... I was up by 10, then went to my parents to pick up the few things I forgot. I had a phone date with Susie... long overdue!....we've been trying to connect for like 3 months or so. Im pretty stoked that tomorrow is only saturday! ...its sorta weird, but I'm not complaining! I do have to work tomorrow night. I'm not looking forward to that, but I'll get over it.

I am excited to continue this blog and see how God works in over this new year in this new chapter of my life.

For HIS Glory

Restoration

2009-12-30T01:18:00.001-06:00

You know, it’s pretty cool to see God begin to restore something that was once lost or broken. I’ve been learning about listening and looking for God. Well, He is pretty much right in front of me… all the time, I just don’t look for Him.

I got a new lap top today! With the mix of Christmas money and other various gifts, I was able to replace my old laptop. My last one died during finals week my last semester of school. It was tragic really… I cried… lots. I don’t know if the tears were due to losing my computer, or the fact that I had not backed up my final 12 pg paper for my class. One of two classes I was taking that I actually needed to graduate. Well thankfully, my prof showed mercy on me and passed me anyways! Thanks Dr. House! The new laptop is Jet Black in color, a Dell, I cant afford a Mac, are you kidding me!… and it can do all the things I’d like it to do! …I haven’t named it yet. I need to spend a little more time with it in order to give it the proper name.

Today was a fantastic day to be completely honest!
-phone date with Michelle
-packing/cleaning
-errands with Rachel
-got my computer
-dinner with Kim, Kelli, Courtney, Emily, and Gina
-drinks with Krista
-more packing/cleaning
-playing with my lappy

and now… its time for bed. Tomorrow begins move in day(s)

For HIS Glory

friends!

2009-12-27T14:27:00.000-06:00

You know, God has blessed me with knowing a lot of people. Many of those people I have built relationships with, some stronger then others, but a relationship none the less. Having relationships with people is really important to me. I've gotten to spend some time recently with some friends I don't get to see each week or each month...even gotten to see God begin to restore a broken relationship!

Yesterday I went to Imos with Rachel and Stephanie. I went to high school with them. They are twins and they graduated in 03. Rachel went to Truman, then the Kanakkuk Institute and is now back in STL so I get to see her once every few weeks. Stephanie went to SBU, then headed to Georgia where she does mission work with women who have been in tough situations.

I then headed to the mall...worst decision I made yesterday! I will never again go to the mall the day after christmas!

I spent the evening at the Williams household! Roy made smoked pork! Sooo good! I grew up with Jessi! She and I cause her brothers Matt and Drew a lot of trouble when we were younger. Jess and I have a good realtionship! We try to get together whenever she comes home. I chat with Cindy at church when I see her, I love them! Jessi and I then headed to the Wahlman's. Ben is home so he had people over to hang out! So fun. Its so refreshing to see those boys...I say boys cause its always boys that are over there! Its fun getting together with people I graduated with! JTodd, Estes, Garrison, Robby Jones, Ben, Brandon...then Anna and AJ came over too! Mike shared his pictures from Israel with me too! That was sooo cool! Susan was welcoming as usual! :)

Then I went to Lauren and Jere's. Gave lauren her gift... I was excited to do that! I am so appreciative of these two. They have opened their house for me to whenever I need it. They are a great example of a marriage to follow one day. They encouage me, offer their wisdom and assistance. They are great!

Church this morning was incredible! Psalm 100...amen! "Let's raise the rafters in this place!" Oh Bill Jones! Man the sermon was great, the worship was so alive! The Holy Spirit was so present! I love seeing community and fellowship happen. It really is a beautiful thing. I am so thankful for the community I have at church! Like really, it all just kinda happened... And I wouldn't change it at all!

I went to lunch with Gina, Courtney, and Emily at the mall, did a little shopping then went home. Went to see Avatar with Wes! Good movie! Now I'm hanging out with Lauren and Kelsey Johnson! Good times. Gonna get some food! Yeeessss!!!

For HIS Glory

On this day, the 25th of December...

2009-12-26T01:14:00.001-06:00

I should have been in bed hours ago...but my family was introduced to the nintendo Wii today. Of course Tim and I had played it with friends and such, but Dad surprised us with a wii for the family gift this year. I haven't seen a childs reaction to a gift like the one I saw from Carrie this morning. She asked for a snuggie, and a wii for christmas. She told me time and time again, "Jessi, a wii would be so much fun, but I know we won't get it, its too expensive." Luckily dad got an awesome deal! I got her a snuggie, it was the first gift she opened this morning after stockings. The last gift that was opened was the Wii. While wearing her snuggie already, tears or amazment and joy began streaming down her face. It was priceless!

After yesterdays post, I laid in bed praying, asking God to do something special today. Well, funny thing, God totally answers prayers..although it took me way too long to see it, He did some cool stuff today. First off..the white christmas did happen! :) that was so great! Secondly, tonight we had some awesome family time, mom didn't sleep at all, she was interacting with us and just having an all around great time!

This morning was very stressful. We were trying to get all of our family traditions ready and done before timmy had to go to work this afternoon. It was hard, but then after remembering something my friend Krysten told me, it all setteled down. And surprisingly enough, all the traditions were experienced and enjoyed, just in a different order.

Tomorrow is the day when I actually really start packing up my room, I'm kinda looking forward to it! I'm also excited to hang out with the one and only Jessica Lee Williams! And I'm having lunch with Rachel and Stephaniemmmat Imos! :) tomorrow is going to be a great day...now, I must sleep!

For HIS Glory

2009-12-25T00:10:00.000-06:00

I'd like to start by saying that my room smells weird...and I don't know why.

Anyways, today was a hard day. I don't vent a lot about my mom, on here...or to many people at all really. But I'm going to a bit tonight. For those of you that don't know me well enough to have heard my testimony or are not aware of who my family is, ill start by just telling you that my mom suffers from serious depression. She has for as long as I can remember really. Its getting much harder to watch her live like this as time is going by. Well around the holidays she gets really bad, and it doesn't help that she had a treatment yeaterday (she has gotten electric shock therapy every other week for the last 6 years or so). We decided to hae the family to our house today to celebrate this joyous occasion. My parents knew I wouldn't be around after 4 today. They were fine with that, and I completed everything I needed to get done before their I left for church, as well as a few other random things that needed to get done. Mom was moving very slowly, and was falling asleep all afternoon. As I left, everything was done excpet the food dad was preparing and the table to be set. I got home between services...the food was ready and mom was asleep upstairs, table still not set and the whole family had arrived. Yikes! Dad was having a minor melt down, I felt guilty for leaving him there to get everything done and if that wasn't bad enough...I didn't open the wine bottles correctly then got red wine everywhere...awesome! Finally got mom up again, then we ate, quickly! Then had presents and chatting, I left again and they had dessert. Timmy, Carrie, and my parents then made their way to the 9pm service. I just feel so bad for my dad. He does so much and has loads of patience for mom, and a 12 year old for that matter. I'm hoping and praying tomorrow will be a good day, pleasant family time.

On the flip side of things, the services tonight were so amazing! And I'm not just saying that! I haven't been excited about Christmas eve services the last several years, but this year was different, I can't totally put my finger on it, maybe its the series we just finished up, or the strong message of Hope, or maybe I just paid more attention. All I know is tonight was refreshing after a hard day.

Merry Christmas everyone! I will leave you with a few lyrics to a song written by the everso talented, Joe McGill.

Hope has a name
Given for us so that we can be changed
Filled up with love
The fear in our hearts
Has melted away
We will never be the same
Cause Hope has a Name.

Wonderful Counselor
Prince of Peace
Everlasting Father
Mighty God is He

For HIS Glory

traffic, zoo lights, mexican food, FroYo

2009-12-23T08:39:00.000-06:00

So my previous almost completed post was erased. Arg! Therefore this post will be bullet points with some explinations.
-got a second interview lined up at Marquette! Very excited about this!
-planned on going to see Drummer Boy with Kim, Gina, and Courtney, but due to outrageous traffic, that was a bust. We were all pretty bummed.
-plans changed, we went to the Zoo Lights! So fun! Lots of pictures, and laughing. We saw sea lions, penguines, puffins, and a huge bear.
-headed to the loop to eat, had el maguey's...yumm!!
-went next door to FroYo! For those of you not from stl, FroYo is short for, frozen yougart. You pick your bowl, you pick your ice cream flavor(s), you pick your topping(s), you weigh your bowl and pay. It was delightful!
-headed back to Gina and Kim's house, watched some seriously funny videos online, then I went home.

All in all, it was a great night! I am so thankful for theese three (soon to be pictured)

For HIS Glory

2009-12-21T22:53:00.000-06:00

Well today was quite the day. I had to go to work. And I say had becuase I'm having a dificult time going to work lately. However, Lauren pointed out that I get to go to work, and no everyine can say that. I do need to be greatful for the ability to go to work, and just the fact that I have a job. We were slammed packed today, I wonder why we only have 2 waitress' sometimes, and today was one of them. 4top, 6top, 3 2tops, and a guy at the bar all at the same time...I don't even know what Jamie had going on. I know I make more money when we are slammed like that, but I prefer talking with my tables, not forgetting about them! My one boss is kind of a jerk too. So when he is in a bad mood, its hard to enjoy being there. Ok...rant over.

After work I got to have coffee with Aj! I love that girl. I'm glad we are "real friends" again. The time was short, but oh so sweet! Something we both have in common...we both love scarves!

On my drive home I remembered that I needed to take something to the cast/crew party that we were having tonight...ahhh slight panic, I forgot all about that part of it! So I get home, search high and low for wantons (everyone keeps a package of those around, right?) But alas, we had none. So I search for cresent rolls, we had none! What to do?? In the midst of panic, my dad came to the rescue, lil smokies in his secret sauce! Muahahaha! Sooo then I went to the party, and had a wonderful time!! Quick recap:
-was given an AWESOME gift by Kelli! (Its currently glowing on my desk as I write this)
-saw Kim, said hi. Said bye.
-had a wonderful conversation with Katie ending with her calling me shrimp.
-lots of laughter with Gina, Courtney, Kelli, and Pam.
-a lovely version of The 12 days of Christmas remix...acustom to the 12weeks of rehursal. We only forgot the rock once people!!!
-tickled Tia and Jessica a lot
-watched how Landon enjoyed showing off for us girls
-sat and had a short chat with Kim and Gina bout movin in.
...I'd say tonight was a great night!

Tomorrows goal: finish shopping without the crowds and get in a really good work out! Aka: Lauren kicking my butt!

For HIS Glory

God answers prayers

2009-12-20T23:46:00.000-06:00

First of all, I'd like to give a shout out to one of my dearest friends...Jenn! I love ya girl! Ill see you sometime...until then, keep makin disciples girl!

I got to have a phone date with Jenn last night. God really spoke through her a few times, hard to swallow, but good to hear. I have an amazing community of believers down in Oklahoma. God really blessed me with amazing women to pick me up and spur me on and some really great godly guys who encourage me and are really great brothers! I don't get to see them much, but when I do it is a sweet time of laughter, randomness, coffee, challenging conversations, and beautiful fellowship.

Ok...new tangent. I've bEen praying lately that Gods heart be my heart, what breaks His heart break mine also. Man, I'm getting a good glimpse of that answered prayer I think. Its hard, but I love it! I've also been praying that I not miss Christmas...the truth in Christmas. I hate getting caught up in the shopping and the to-do lists of it all. I really enjoy the relaxing sipping hot coco with the family while baking cookies aspect of it all. But there is so much more to it then that. Jesus Christ. HE is the reason for celebrating this beloved holiday. That baby boy we read about in the story came to save US. We are so unworthy of being saved, but He showed His compassion and mercy on us and gave us, the screwed up human race, the abilty to be saved and live a life serving a Great God!

Tonight was the Christmas party/ worship station night at youth group. This is one of my favorite nights all year, I really look forward to the different stations Susan puts together and seeing all the ways the students worship our God without their voices. One of the stations was set aside for students who needed prayer about something, anything. Before the night began, Don asked me to sit in there to pray with any girls that needed prayer. I wasn't expecting to do that, but I am so glad he asked. Sometimes I forget the power and importance of prayer...I know, I shouldn't, cause its really important...but anyways, it was awesome! I got to pray with some girls, some I knew, some I didn't.awesome experience!

God is working. I love it.

I got to hear my god-parents talk this morning about adoption and their story. It was really cool cause I've never heard the whole story, I've known parts of it, but hearing it all as one was really cool!

Kim...did you hear someone honking on manchester rd tonight?? It was me :)

For HIS Glory

rough start...

2009-12-19T15:47:00.001-06:00

This is the picture I was working on a few posts ago. Carrie is the blond ...the only one looking and smiling at the camera :) ...I know, shes pretty cute! I hadn't been in that school since I was in High School... it was a little strange. I did see my principle, he is pretty cool. He and my dad are buddies; therefore, the flashbacks of my middle school/high school days began. oooo joy!

Today's been a rough day... probably mostly because I waited until the last minute to get a few things done, but that's only a small part of it all. Carrie and I decided to run some errands, a few that cannot be specified due to some of my girls reading my blog and that would take away the surprise element for their Christmas gifts...aaaaanyways, we were driving and well, the road rage began. I am usually able to keep my cool, but it really bothers me when people go around me, then get back in front of me, and DON'T DRIVE! so annoying. Manchester Rd was completely backed up in both directions because of... wait for it... WAL MART! The line to even enter the parking lot was INSANE! I mean it was worse passing wal mart then it was passing the mall...

Well upon returning home, I drive up to the house to see a Penske moving truck across the street... my neighbors...ehemm... I mean the dad who lives across the street is moving out. Long sad story to be honest. Well, I pull into the driveway to see our mailbox no longer on the mailbox post. aaaawesoomeeee. Good thing we just replaced the old one. I know I sounds bitter, but if you knew the history of this family.. more so this guy you may understand my attitude. I just pray someone comes into his life to tell him about Christ.

Well Carrie and I are doing some baking, so off I go to help her. Timmy is here too... playing video games... such a guy thing to be doing eh?

For HIS Glory

snickers cheesecake...yumm!

2009-12-19T11:49:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was a good day! I took the day off work, it was actually a wise choice on my part, I needed a day to myself. My parents left yesterday morning to go to Branson for the weekend. I ran some errands, got a super cute dress for Christmas Eve...on sale might I add! Then had lunch with Lauren, just hung out...very needed. Came home and started laundry, cleaning, and even a little bit of packing. Sat and talked with Carrie a bit before heading to the Cheesecake Factory for celebration of Kims birth! Good conversations were had, great food was consumed, and of course cheesecake was brought home! Oh yeah...and snow! :) I'm not the biggest fan of bad weather, but the first few times it snows, I find it had to complain.

Today Carrie and I will be doing some shopping, for parental units, as well as for my girls :) putting together some gifts and the going to A MAJOR AWARD tonight, then since I cannot attend one Christmas party ( :( ) I think I'm gonna have a few people over, but who knows. So now I gotta make lunch so we can get going.

For HIS Glory

All I want for Christmas...

2009-12-17T22:19:00.000-06:00

A hippopotimus?
My two front teeth?
You?
...Just kidding, just been listening to lots of Christmas music.

Today was a crazy busy day. I did however take my sweet time getting ready for the day this morning, it was nice to not be rushing around.

I met one of my roommates from college and a girl we played lacrosse with at Bread Co for lunch...YUMMMM!!! Then headed home to get some stuff to make a wal*mart run, but my cousin was over, so I sat and talked with hom for a bit instead. Then I headed to counseling. Today was great by the way! We had a quick dinner then went to Carrie's concert. She plays the viola. She loves it. (I'm trying to figure out how to add a picture...bear with me) After the concert we got ice cream, because after every band or choir concert Timmy and I ever had, we got ice cream afterwards, so the same occured tonight for Carrie.

My parents are going to Branson this weekend, a Christmas gift for them. So Carrie gets to spend the weekend with her big brother and sister...I'm sure she is excited, I hope so anyways! I am totally looking forward to tomorrow night, going out for Kim's birthday! Tomorrow afternoon will be spent with the lovely Lauren Underhill, seeing that girl is a bit overdue this week!

I guess I will get back to watching a movie with Timmy now.

For HIS Glory

Hardships and Blessings

2009-12-16T23:01:00.000-06:00

I've had a lot of hardships in my life.
I've had a lot of blessings in my life.

God has proven himself time and time again, and His faithfulness blows my mind.

I've had one of the hardest years of my whole life. Its been full of rough stuff really.
Lots of transitions had to be made, which were not easy for me to do...they really kinda
messed with me.(many more that will not be discussed tonight) My dads been really sick
with lots of heart issues which have included a few different surgeries and several
lengthy hospital stays. Mom has been her usual self...but things have just been
different. I got a phone call on my way to work this morning about a friends mom who
passed away from breast cancer on monday. I played lacrosse with this friend through
high school at Parkway South, and we also played together at Lindenwood. I had no idea
her mom was sick. Last week a mother of 6 kids passed away from church. The kids range
in age from 18 to 5. I have other friends who have lost their parents at a young age.
There was a time earlier this year I was preparing myself to lose my dad. But yet God
blessed me with a continued relationship with him. I just don't understand why that
has to happen. I know I'll never have an answer.

Tonight a couple from church came over to give our family a gift for Christmas. We have a
ministry called Holly Hearts at church. Several families are chosen by people in the church
who have had a rough year and are really struggling. Well this couple felt led to come
and bless my family with some gifts for us and some gift cards for groceries. How totally
incredible is the body of Christ? That this ministry would come to my house and spend the
evening with my family and show how they care for us. I know it was a huge blessing for my
mom and dad, not to mention an awesome picture of what the body of Christ does for each
other.

Hardships and blessings, you cant have one without the other in my opinion. You have to go
through the fire to be refined. I was given the opportunity to speak in Sr. High one sunday
night this past summer. I still flip to the notes I took while preparing my talk and this
verse pops out every time.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of
many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking
anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all
without finding fault, and it will be given to him." James 1:2-5.

Finding JOY in my trials is so hard to do... until its over and I am able to look back
at what happened and have seen the outcome.

This blog has been very scattered, but I have lots on my mind right now. So I will end
by listing the blessings I've seen in my life over the last year of my life.
BLESSINGS:
Good Health (minus the stones... but thats all over :)
A little brother and sister
Both my parents, though not very healthy, they are still alive and love me...a lot!
Graduating college
Friends who love me and want the best for me...new friends and old friends :)
Senior High...and all of my girls
Jr. High AND Sr. High summer camps
A job
A new car
Christmas Musical
The community of believers I have surrounding me... in STL and OK
2 women of God who will soon be my roommates
The ability to move out of my parents house
God continuing to provide for me
Finally, though this year's been tough, God has never let go of me.

For HIS Glory

I actually got sleep today!

2009-12-15T23:45:00.000-06:00

So I didn't have to work today, so I actually got to sleep in!! Well after waking up, I then stayed in bed for another 30min because my room was so stinkin cold! Tonight I met with KGB...didn't go through Mark as usual, tonight we just talked about what things will look like when she heads off to college. It really got me thinking about what I want for my girls as they leave on their seperate ways for a little something we call college. I want them to leave our youth group with the desire to continue to grow on their own and the confidence that they can and will succeed in life and trust that the Lord has a plan for them. Those are a few of the many things I desire for them.

You know, I have been thinking a lot about what God made me to do. I know that without a doubt I am wired to do youth ministry. End. Of. Story. However, I am now struggling with what that looks like. Its no doubt to anyone that I love my high school girls, and could spend all day everyday investing in them and the rest of the girls in our group. But, that is not possible right now. I am currently a waitress. I love the people I work with, but I am just not content while I'm there. Maybe that's poor thinking on my part, but its the truth. I do hae an interview at Marquette High Schooln, right after the Christmas break to be the head lacrosse coach, so that would be totally awesome! And the family business is beginning to roll too. We should be receiving marketing resources soon! So lots is happening...not to mention I am moving out of my parents house in like...3 weeks or so. I'm totally stoked, but kinda nervous. I realized when I woke up that I'm not just moving out for the semester...its like for real. I'm pretty excited to live with Kim and Gina though! I think I am going to learn a lot from them. And they are a LOT of fun! And courtney and emily live a few min away, so I have a good feeling that my community and fellowship is about to change a bit, and I'm ok with that!

This was somewhat random, and fairly jubmled with thoughts that are possibly not fully thought out. Hopefully it makes enough sense!

For HIS Glory

I once ate a hundred year old egg...

2009-12-14T21:38:00.000-06:00

So today...after not a whole lot of sleep, I had to go to work. I honestly wasn't looking forward to it at all. But while driving to work I was listening to some Needtobreath and trying to get ready for the day ahead. WELL my coworker was 30 min late, so we were super behind in cleaning up the restaurant from Saturday night and trying to get ready to open for today. We did get it done, but it was more stressful then I would have liked. So my day started rough, and as it went on, it just kept getting worse. I ended my day with a 12top birthday party...granted I made good money today, I dont think it was worth the terrible mood everyone seemed to be in today. Well around 4:30 I made my way through traffic home to my family. It was nice, but somewhat stressful too. Apparently today was clean everything and finish decorating for Christmas day. So... we cleaned and decorated. I was just talking with my dad about some of the things he found when he cleaned out the fridge. I told him that whatever it was he found made me wanna throw up (sorry if that is too graphic for anyone) but then he said i couldnt talk about things making me wanna throw up becuase heck, I've eaten a year old egg. Now you may be asking yourself, why in the world did she eat a year old egg!?! ....Well, let me tell you. Before I went to Kazakhstan I had to go to a week long trining in Kansas called OWeek. (oh my... what a week that was. I'd love to tell you about it if your interested in hearing about it, but a public blog is not the place for that information, and if you ask about it, you will then know why! :) ) anywoo... during that week one thing that I, and everyone else there had to do was eat a century egg. and yup you guessed it, it gets its name due to the egg being burried in compost for 100 years.

Well thats really all I have for you all today. My dad got me some Peppermint Bark ice cream, and so I think I am going to end my day by consuming some of that right about now.

For HIS Glory

aaaand...

2009-12-14T01:13:00.000-06:00

...Its over. the crazy week is now over, and guess what!? A new week begins tomorrow, which I guess is today since its after midnight now, but I haven't fallen asleep yet, therefor it is still today not tomorrow yet. Anyways, all the shows are over. The activity center is now cleaned, and everything has been torn down and put away. I feel like I haven't seen my family at all this week, but in a way I think that has been a good thing. That sounds so weird, it being good to not see family...I dunno how I feel about that.but on the flip side, I spent a whole heck of a lot of time with my church family this past week. It was so wonderful and totally worth it. It was so awesome to hear some random stories about how the play impacted different people who came. It was definately something God used in a powerful way this week. It is pretty humbling to know that God choose me to be a part of it.

Church has been pretty cool lately too! We've been going through Isaiah 7 and breaking down the names used to describe God. Wonderful Counselor. Mighty God. Everlasting Father. And next week...well you'll just have to wait, or look it up yourself :) I'm actually glad we are breaking these qualities of God because it allows for more depth in my opinion. I really love efree. A lot of people my age don't, so they've left the church or are debating on where to go when school is over. That's all good and gravy for them, ill support and encourage them as long as they are being prayerful about it. But honestly, I cannot let others opinion on the church become my opinion. I am growing and learning there, I have a strong community of men and women who love me, support me, and care about me. Sure there are thing that drive me nuts sometimes, but frankly, you'll have that anywhere. All this to say, I don't think I'm going anywhere anytime soon.

I feel as though I'm rambling a bit tonight. It could be that I am running on fumes, or it could be that I have a whole heck of a lot on my mind and I'm trying to sort them out in a way. Who knows, but either way...I think going to bed now is a wonderful idea!

For HIS Glory

2 down...4 to go

2009-12-12T01:30:00.001-06:00

The Christmas musical at my church has been such a blessing in my life. I knew from the get go that I wanted to be involved somehow...I just didn't know how. I enjoy signing, but wasn't confident in that at the time, and I've never been in a real musical/ play before, so I didn't know what role I was going to play in it all. I had the desire to get involved because I wanted to expand my community at church beyond the walls of the youth ministry. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the people I sere with in sr.high, but I longed for something more. Well, heather approached me about possibly being the stage manager for the musical, I thought it over, the agreed with excitment...and fear, what in the world was I getting myself into!? Turns out, this was an amazing opportunity God placed in my life. Not only has my community become larger, I have a new soon to be home, with two amazing Godly women whom I am going to learn a lot from, I've gained several new friends as well as learning more about leadership and orginazation...among many other things I'm sure I don't recognize yet.

I've just been so blessed and I'm ashamed to say that I don't appreciate the blessings I have nearly as much as I should. Gods faithfulness is so awesome to me. "Great is thy faithfulness, morning by morning his mercies are new" ...how true is that! Man it just totally blows me away.
I was reading through Mark 4 today and just looking at the different soils are described by Mark. That is one of those passages (mark 4:1-25) that is clearly timeless...meaning it is always prevelent to our everyday lives, the thorns will always choke out the possible fruit because of worldly distractions, and the seeds on the path will always be clueless becuase there is nothing to help them to begin to get it and grow.

Just some of my thoughts about my day.

For HIS Glory

faithful...you are always faithful to us God

2009-11-26T01:04:00.000-06:00

I like the lyrics to that song.

Today has been an eventful day, I had a procedure done to blast the stone in my kidney. It was somewhat nerve racking, espically cause of what I heard from someone who had it done. Well I got to the place and Carol, Don, and Ryan Pott were there to pray with me before I went in. It was awesome to have them there. I waited for what seemed like forever, I passed out due to the iv in my hand, I was given oxygen, and then I was rolled away and things are foggy from there...until the nurse was handing me a bag of cheese-its! I eventually was on my way home with pain pills in hand ready for the rest of the day. It feels like I was kicked in the side, so that's cool.

More about life other then that later...its time for bed.

For HIS Glory

Bedtime?

2009-11-22T00:27:00.000-06:00

Well, the God of the City project with JOY FM went great! I had a whole lot of fun being a part of it. Prayer is still needed though to reach the $2 million goal.

Tonight was a weird night. For the first time I saw first hand how D I F F E R E N T my family is from my grandparents, aunt, uncle, and cousins... more on this later.

Tomorrow is going to be a SUPER long day... so I should probably get some sleep tonight since I didnt get much last night.

For HIS Glory

God of This City

2009-11-19T10:31:00.000-06:00

Today I am going to the JOY FM studio to help answer phones and take donations for the new stronger signal. I am really excited for this signal change to happen...Christian music is a huge deal and I really appreciate it being in St.Louis, and now with the stronger signal, it's going to reach over 2million people.... thats crazy awesome!

I love Chris Tomlin's song, "God of this City." I first heard it while in Astana two summers ago, and it became the prayer of my team. Knowing that the city of Astana was completely God's, even though the Muslim culture and tradition was there, the city and everything in it was still God's. I believe that to be true for St.Louis as well. "Worldliness" is sooo apparent here as it is in most places I've traveled to, but knowing Christian music can spread across St.Louis with a strong signal could change so much about the "worldliness" here. We can never underestimate what our God can do.

Go to www.joyfmonline.org to learn more about the signal as well as hear from worship artists like Chris Tomlin, Jeremy Camp, David Crowder, and many more who are supporting JOY FM and their new stronger signal.

In other news: I have a large stone in my right kidney...so fun let me tell ya! But honestly it hasnt caused much pain until yesterday. Working a 12 hour shift probably didnt help anything, but whatever. I've had the stone for about 2+ weeks now, and for it to be causing little pain till now... i'll take it! I am having a procedure done Wednesday the 25th. The doctor is going to send shock waves through my kidney to try to blast the stone making it like sand... much less painful to pass. The stone is too large to pass currently. ... I just hope I'm able to eat normally on Thanksgiving, cause I'm gonna be pretty upset if I have to miss all the yummy food!

For HIS Glory

8 months later...

2009-11-03T11:09:00.000-06:00

Wow... it's been 8 months since I've blogged... I guess I got busy? Terrible excuse if you ask me. Man so much has happened in these 8 months, I don't know that I could even recap it all really.
Spring Break -- Graduation -- Summer Camps (2) -- Got job -- Trip to Oklahoma -- Work -- Buy a car yeah that's about all the recap will be.

Living at home has been really hard, but also good in a lot of ways too. I've been developing some really good friendships away from school as well which I think has been very good for me. I've also been doing a lot of people watching and observing how people interact with one another. Its been very interesting. I've learned a lot from it as well.

God has been doing some crazy stuff with me lately too. It hasn't been too fun, but no one said it was going to be. the rewards from it though are pretty sweet. This whole growing up and becoming an adult thing has been quite an adjustment.

That's all for now, more later I'm sure.

For HIS Glory

...it's been awhile

2009-03-25T23:56:00.000-05:00

God is doing something really big in my life right now. I don't know what it is yet... but something is happening. I am being molded much like a piece of clay. I am being refined through the fire... the fire that seems to have lasted 6 months, but i am being refined nonetheless.

Something was different about work today, I loved it! -- how many people go to work and say they love it... several, but frankly i wish everyone could say that about their jobs!

Conviction tends to hit me like a ton of bricks. I have discovered this to be very true over the last few days into tonight and as hard as it is to take in, it is so necessary! I tend to see things much more clearly after all is said and done, it's just a little foggy in the midst of it all.

For HIS Glory

I have experienced...

2009-01-27T11:41:00.000-06:00

... The true-ness of the story our parents used to tell us to make us feel bad for them.

today my roommate Amy and I walked to school... in the snow... up hill both ways!!!

Ironic... i think not. It's too dangerous to drive so we walked, and it was pleasant going to class, but walking home was not the case, walking home ice was falling from the sky and it was hitting us in the face! Not an ideal situation. But oh well...

speaking of walking... I must suit up to take on the adventure once again!

...too bad we didn't get a snow day...

For HIS Glory