This Journey I Am On

Update from Belgium, Wisconsin

2011-11-25T19:05:00.000-08:00

I'll let the video speak for itself :) Thanks for stopping by!

VBS Week

2011-07-02T19:16:00.000-07:00

This past week was our VBS week at Moses Lake Alliance Church. I have been here for four weeks now doing my internship to fulfill my degree at TFC. When I arrived at MLAC we hit the ground running with preparations for VBS. There was much anticipation from the volunteers and for good reason. We had a blast! I had the privilege of hanging out with half of the kindergarteners this year. This was a new experience for me, as I usually stick with the older groups, but we had so much fun. I love how this age gets so excited about the littlest things. Their big smiles and little giggles each day was such a blessing. Great listeners too! It was so fun listening to one of my little girls hand her craft to her mom telling her, "Mom, this reminds me that Jesus died on the cross because He loves me!" Love it!


Here they are, 17 hyperactive, adorable, pudding faced, sticky-fingered kindergarteners

I was blessed to work with such dedicated and genuine volunteers this week. Many of them look forward to this week all year and their attitudes show it. We had over 200 kids attend VBS with somewhere around 10 accepting Jesus as their forever friend! Our missions project was Burkina Faso, Africa. The goal was $2500 and the kids blew past that number with over $4500!!! Of course some adults pitched in, but the kids still managed to smash the goal all on their own. It was so neat to hear stories from the kids as they brought in change specifically saved up for this event. Praise the Lord for a great week!

FINALLY!!!

2011-05-20T19:09:00.001-07:00

That's right! I finally walked across that stage! Last weekend I graduated from Toccoa Falls College with a degree in Family and Children's Ministry. It was such a blessing to celebrate this accomplishment. I am continually amazed at God's provision, grace, and hand in my life. Enjoy these pictures of the weekend:

Mel took pictures of my friends and I before baccalaureate on Friday night. I am so blessed to have spent my time at TFC with these ladies! I miss them so much already!

So blessed to have the "fam" at my graduation! They have been a huge part of my journey and it was truly a privilege to celebrate with them.
Pre-ceremony...I'm ready!
I did it!!!!

Wasting no time contemplating the future :)

Praise God for His faithfulness!!

Not I, But Him

2011-03-28T19:20:00.000-07:00

What an incredible couple of weeks it has been! Every time I turn around I am reminded how blessed I am to be on this journey that God has me on. When I came to Toccoa Falls College a year and a half ago I had no idea that I would be so blessed. Last week I took my senior comprehensive exam. This exam consists of 2 1/2 hours in front of two of my professors. We were required to be able to speak to everything we have learned in our time here. It was definitely stressful leading up to the interview. I had to write a doctrinal statement, put together a professional portfolio, and study the pages and pages of notes I have taken. Okay, so it was hard, but what I didn't realize was the blessing that it would turn out to be! What an amazing experience it is to be able to sit in front of two of my professors that I adore and talk intelligently with for 2 1/2 hours. In the end of the interview the professors take time to tell you you've passed :), and really spend time blessing you. I don't like to boast, but the things that my professors said were beyond amazing and truly inspiring to continue striving for excellence. I am a different person than I was 18 months ago and my journey here at this school played a big part in that. Among other people, and you know who you are :)

In other news.... I ran my first 5k this weekend!!!
I am totally addicted, it was so much fun! This was an all women's race, which made it even more fun. It was really neat to run beside many women who you know have had their own journeys to get to this point. A year ago I would have laughed in your face if you told me I was going to be able to run 5km without stopping. This whole weight loss journey and training to run a 5k could not have happened if God wasn't in control. I really believe that the process of sanctification must take place in all aspects of our lives, including the physical (1 Thessalonians 5:23). When I surrendered my health to God in September last year I had no idea what I was in for. I am truly grateful for how God has used this process to mature me in ways that I never thought possible. (By the way, if you're wondering I've lost 50 pounds so far :))

And then there are these lovely ladies who made the weekend a great experience.
They were there to cheer me on, hold all my stuff, and park the car so I didn't have to :) I will admit that I was quite nervous, so I am grateful for their support. And if they aren't cute enough in this picture, check out the video they so cleverly made for me while I was showering...

As a senior there has been a ton of reflection going on. My nine years as a christian, my experiences post high school in Colorado and Idaho, my four semesters here, and my weight loss journey all boil down to one common denominator: my Savior. None of this would mean anything if it weren't for His presence and complete control in my life.

Sneak Peek

2011-03-21T20:11:00.000-07:00

Soon and very soon!

I would like to give a shout out for the lame person who came up with the idea of wearing zip-up trash bags on one of the most important days of your life.

:)

2011-03-03T18:41:00.001-08:00

"Your efforts have been so commendable that the Council grants you permission to proceed to graduation this spring 2011."

Yay!

2011-02-03T15:13:00.000-08:00

Our school is getting a much needed cardio room in the gym. It should open sometime this week. I am so excited for this. I do have a gym membership, but there are just some days I don't want to drive into town. I am grateful for this new addition to our school, but also grateful for the leadership (the presidential cabinet starring in this video) on our campus that isn't afraid to show a little humor :)

I LOVE Saturdays

2011-01-29T15:10:00.000-08:00

It was a beautiful day here in the land of Toccoa! Most of us have been waiting all week for this day. The 10 day forecast called 60 degrees and sunny and the weatherman did not disappoint. After a week of rain and cold, today was absolutely perfect! Thank you, Lord.
My roommate and I decided to head to a local park for a little walk. The walk was definitely little as the park really isn't designed for a long walk. It was still beautiful and nice to enjoy the fresh air. Then we hopped in the car and went for a drive to explore this little town we live in. We found some restaurant's we'd really like to try and followed some signs to places we'd never seen before. All in all it was a great day! Now I better finish that paper I started :)

Kids

2011-01-27T17:07:00.000-08:00

I am so grateful I get the opportunity to hang out with these kids on Wednesday nights. They make me laugh and often teach me a lesson or two. Admittedly, is is often hard to forfeit doing school work every Wednesday night, but it never fails that I leave AWANA so glad that I went.
The little girl on the left has stolen my heart this year. She often calls me her best friend and lights up when she sees me. It has been such a joy to watch her grow this year as she has learned to hide God's word in her heart. Last semester I was able to assure her that God loves her no matter what. I wish everyone could have seen her great big smile when she knew that I was telling her the truth. Now that's what it's all about!

Just What I Needed to Hear....uh read

2011-01-22T16:44:00.000-08:00

Today I am grateful for this book. It would take too long to explain why, so just take my word for it. Have you read it? You should

Romans 5:1-5

2011-01-20T19:15:00.000-08:00

1-2By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us—set us right with him, make us fit for him—we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus. And that's not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God's grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise.

3-5There's more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit! (The Message)

Isn't our God amazing?

Friends

2011-01-19T15:02:00.000-08:00

The only thing I hate more about packing up my car for school is unpacking it. After two days of driving it was the last thing I wanted to do. BUT, just as I was pulling on to campus one of my friends called to see where I was. All three of these ladies were there to greet me when I drove up to my dorm and helped me move all of my stuff in! I'm blessed to have such great friends!

Rain

2011-01-17T17:32:00.001-08:00

You probably won't hear me say it very often, but today I am thankful for rain. The number one reason I am thankful for rain is because it isn't snow :) At home, it would be. Secondly, the salted roads did a number on Grace this week. Thanks to the rain, she is nice and clean now :)

Meet Grace

2011-01-15T16:48:00.000-08:00

This is Grace. She is my trusty car. Her name is Grace, because it is really only by the grace of God that she is mine. When I got this car I was going through a rough time in my life and certainly felt like Grace was a gift I did not deserve. I am truly blessed to have this car. As I travel back to school today and tomorrow I am reminded again what a blessing it is to have a reliable car. Grace has literally taken me from coast to coast and more.

Now, since I am traveling alone I had to keep myself occupied. So, I found several other things that I am thankful for on this road trip :) Here they are...My GPS... my friends named her Melissa (coincidence? I think not) I love this thing! Because of her I make great time and don't get lost (something I'm really good at)

My car has an amazing heater. I had my heater on for the first 20 minutes of my 8 hour drive and then never turned it on again! I'd like to think it saves me gas or something
I do love my cruise control!
Jolly Ranchers kept the taste buds happy :)
Every road trip need LOTS of tunes! (I could live without another Miley Cyrus song though)
Staying hydrated

It would be a rough trip without windshield washer fluid and wipers!

Thanks for everything, Grace!

Days 15-21

2011-01-04T13:09:00.001-08:00

For New Year's we had planned to head up to Minnesota to spend time with Alissa and Ryan because they were soon to have a new baby. When a phone call came two days before we were to leave that Alissa could be having the baby sooner than expected, we all packed up and waited for a phone call to let us know when to leave. We ended up leaving a day early because baby was definitely on her way. Shortly after we arrived in Minnesota, unpacked and got settled we were told that baby was making her appearance very soon. So we waited...

and soon she arrived....
Sierra Lucille Wood. 6 lbs 6oz of pure perfectness.I am so grateful she came early so I could enjoy some snuggle time. She is absolutely gorgeous and perfect in every way. I think that's worth 7 days :)

Days 9-14

2010-12-28T15:28:00.000-08:00

Blessings, blessings, blessings! This week I have once again been reminded of the blessings in my life. Christmas was wonderful! I got some really fun things including a (1) Keurig Coffee Maker, a (2) Nike+ Sportkit, a (3) Snuggie, and (4) lots of fun socks! (5) We had a white Christmas again this year and it was beautiful! All this fun and (6) I still have 18 more days at home!!!!!!

Is it bad that I lost count already?

2010-12-22T09:45:00.001-08:00

Today I am grateful for free laundry. After losing 35 pounds this semester I nearly had no clothes that fit anymore. I currently have a little over a week of clothes to wear and then they must be washed for the next week. It gets a little heavy on the budget when living in a college dorm. I'm grateful to be home with free laundry!

Hairspray

2010-12-20T18:38:00.001-08:00

You don't get hair like this without lots of hairspray :) Thank you Tresemme!

Cable

2010-12-19T19:11:00.000-08:00

Today I am thankful for cable. Mel and I are in Grand Island, NE for the next couple of days. We have cable in our hotel room. I am looking forward to doing a little vegging (as if I haven't done enough of that this last week).

Day Five

2010-12-18T19:51:00.000-08:00

According to Google.com it takes like 21 days to form a new habit...I have a feeling it's going to take a little longer for me...

Today we went into Omaha, NE with some good friends. We ate lunch at a favorite restaurant, did a little Christmas shopping and then went to the Christmas pageant at Westside Church. All in all a great day!

Today I am grateful for Chuck because he bought my lunch :) and it was delish!

Day Number Four

2010-12-16T20:14:00.001-08:00

I am grateful for my water bottle. This thing keeps me hydrated at all times, never leaks, is super easy to clean and so far doesn't break (I dropped it on the concrete getting out of my car today and it's still intact :))

Day III

2010-12-16T09:59:00.000-08:00

I am grateful for these bad boys. I got them for Christmas last year and I just love them. They keep my feet warm and cozy.

Day Two...

2010-12-15T07:27:00.000-08:00

No homework...need I say more?
Puppy Kisses from these two

A New Plan

2010-12-13T13:18:00.000-08:00

Yah, yah, I'm a terrible blogger. Sue me. It's okay though, because I've come up with a plan. It's very original. No one has ever thought of this before. I'm convinced that after people see my idea it will spread like wildfire and everyone will be doing it. I give you permission to copy me. There is nothing wrong with copying people. I just don't do it. Ever.

Okay, so here it is. I am going to start doing 365 days of thankfulness. (you can stop oohing and awing now, I know it's brilliant). Okay, really, I know it's cliche and tons of people have done it, but I have been increasingly aware of how God has blessed me that I want to share. I am so often guilty of throwing myself a pity party in the midst of God's blessings because I have failed to be thankful. So I want to start today. I was going to start on New Year's, but that really just makes this whole thing even more cliche, not to mention today is one of those days where I am overwhelmed with the big picture. Each day I will post atleast one (we all have rough days) thing that I am thankful for. Today, the list is a little longer, after all, I've been a terrible blogger. Here it is:

Toccoa Falls College: I absolutely love this school. I have learned so much here and have been challenged further than I ever thought possible. I am so grateful that God has me here, equipping me for the future.
Friends: I have to admit it was a rough semester in the friends area. There were times that I felt like I failed as a friend and thought maybe crawling in a whole was a better option. Instead, I am blessed by wonderful friendships who allow me to fail, encourage me to be me and never cease to make me laugh.
My roommate: Melana also falls in the category above, but she deserves her own category. I can't tell you what a blessing she has been this semester. I have to admit, having a roommate was a bit of a fear for me after a bad experience a couple semesters ago. I am so grateful for the friendship Melana and I have built this semester. She is such an encouragement to me. I love our late (late is relative) night chats when both of us would like to be sleeping and covet our prayer time together. I don't deserve her.
Mel: I am who I am today because she allowed God to use her. She saw potential in me that I never thought possible. I am so grateful for her friendship, her persistence, and the example she sets.
Home: I am soooo grateful for this place I call home. After a long semester I love that I can come home and relax. Connie and Pastor are a huge blessing!
The gym: I joined a gym this semester and it has been a life saver. The gym became a place where I could go and not worry about the expectations on me. For an hour each day I could pretend like homework and people didn't exist and just run (or walk).Oh, and helped me lose 35 pounds :)
God's Grace: I should have been given up on long time ago, but He continues to pursue me. Lord, thank you for loving me despite my messiness. Thank you for creating me just the way I am.

There's lots more, but I got 364 more days of this stuff. Thanks for listening.

Two Days of Pure Bliss

2010-05-09T17:04:00.000-07:00

Last week marked the end of classes semester with finals to follow this week. My friend Lindsey's parents own a condo in the mountains at Sky Valley Resort, so Jess, Lindsey, and I headed up the mountain Wednesday after classes. I had no idea just how amazing and needed this getaway would be. As soon as I got there (we left at different times) we headed up the hill to a beautiful waterfall.
It was just beautiful and I think we would all agree that we could have spent hours there just soaking it all in. Thursday morning we woke up and headed further up the mountain to the little town, Highlands. This was such a cute little town with a nice downtown area to walk around in.
Jess had to head back to school that afternoon, but Lindsey and I stayed and enjoyed the nice sunshine. We went back to the waterfall and did a little more exploring. Then we went back to the condo and each got a little studying in. I chose to sit out on the patio :)
The trip ended on a sad note with Lindsey getting into an accident. The man who mapped out the road up the mountain many years ago did a terrible job and unfortunately Lindsey and her car became a victim. The only thing that matters, though, is that she is okay with only a few minor bruises. Praise the Lord!!

Puppies!!

2010-04-25T19:24:00.000-07:00

We had some exciting times a couple weekends ago here at TFC. I was sitting at my desk doing homework, and if you read my blog a couple weeks ago you know my desk sits right in front of my window. There were some ladies laying out on the grass doing homework and all of a sudden they had disappeared. I didn't think anything of it, but soon the were back holding these adorable little creatures. Of course, I couldn't just observe so I went out to check out the fun. Apparently one of the stray dogs on our campus (there are many) had had these puppies on the side of the hill and was keeping them under a large rock. There were five total and they all ended up going to good homes after we played and loved on them, of course.

Just when I thought the story was over, there was more. The mom had been roaming around campus after the puppies were gone and was quite distraught, I'm sure you can imagine. Again, I was sitting at my desk doing homework and looked out my window. There were 5 women in business suits and heals walking up the dirt path on the hill to see the mom. So again, I had to see what was going on. Well, apparently these women had been watching this dog for months, feeding it occasionally, and even putting up twitter updates about it. They were all concerned about it, so when they found out that she had had puppies (one of the girls took a puppy in her purse to class, and, of course, she was caught) they decided it was time to help the dog out. So one of the student's on campus was able to take the mom to an animal rescue shelter and get her cleaned up.

I am told that the puppies and the mom are doing quite well now.

8 Years Ago

2010-04-20T19:38:00.000-07:00

Jesus came into my life and swept me off my feet. I can't believe how fast time has flown by since that night at Crown College. Yet, so much has happened since that day. It is such a humbling experience to look back and see where I was and where God has brought me. The people He has put in my life, the way He has provided, and the love and grace He has poured on me is overwhelming. I love to celebrate this day and look forward to it each year. I have just been in awe today of the blessings He has given me. If you would have told me 10 years ago where I would be today, I would have told you you were crazy. But, I think I would have hoped that you were right. I believe God has taken an awkward teenage girl and is daily turning her into the woman He has created her to be. I wouldn't change this life for the world.

The song below sums up my relationship with Christ in the last 8 years. He has taken me into His arms and shown me what it means to have a Father in Heaven who loves me. Each day I long to sit in His lap and know Him more. I can't wait to see what He has for me this next year and beyond.

Thank you, Father, for taking me into your arms and loving me. I am overwhelmed by your love and grace for me. I look forward to each day with you. I love you.

Good Friends, Good Times!

2010-04-20T19:07:00.000-07:00

I couldn't have asked for a better weekend. Friday,my friend Lindsey and I headed to her home in Augusta, GA. I left homework behind allowing for a very relaxing weekend. Lindsey and her mom showed me around Augusta on Saturday. I now know much of the history in Augusta and think each of you should visit there someday. I am very grateful for Lindsey and her parents hospitality this weekend. I may have regained my sanity in order to finish this semester. Time will tell though.

When we returned on Sunday we went out to dinner with our quad (the girls I live with). We headed down the road about 25 miles to a place called Louie's On The Lake. It was a cute little resteraunt with good food. Every time we all get together we are bound to have a good time and create some fun memories. This time was no different. I love each of these girls and am so grateful for their friendship.

On another note, there are many things to be blogged about and I hope to get to them soon. For now though, my time will be consumed with papers due on Monday :)

Anatomy of a College Student's Desk

2010-04-10T20:18:00.000-07:00

So, I've been writing papers this weekend and pretty much going crazy because of it. I decided to take a picture of my desk and break down some of the elements for you, so that you can get a glimpse of my life as a college student.

1. My computer, this is where all the action goes down (with a little Facebook checking here and there)
2. This is Dotty, she is my house plant. I feel like she brings life to my room.
3. Open windows. The weather has been beautiful here and I feel almost like I am able to enjoy it if I sit in front of the windows.
4. Excedrin, headache relief. With this beautiful weather comes pollen season and headaches. Plus the Excedrin has caffeine in it so I feel like I'm killing two birds with one stone.
5. Cheez-It's and carrots = brain food
6. Picture with good friends of good times. Memories always help pass the time.
7. Dark chocolate from Europe, nuff said.
8. Books, books, and more books. Couldn't write this paper without them.
9. MLA handbook, because the only thing I learned in my English Comp class is about sex, drugs, and rock & roll
10. Gum. this pack is actually empty...it was a sad day.

What you don't see in this picture are the awesome friends that keep me sane. Melissa, who edits my papers over skype from Austria. How great is that?! And then the wonderful ladies of Bell Terrace whom I can enjoy pizza and movies with to unwind. Being a college student definitely has its perks :)

Happy Easter!

2010-04-01T18:55:00.000-07:00

My dear friend Lindsey made this Easter basket for me after a sad conversation about how I can't remember the last time I got an Easter basket. It was a wonderful surprise :) For some reason I have never had a Cadburry Egg, and let me tell you, these things are legit! YUM!

We are on Easter break now which consists of a 3-day weekend and I am ever so grateful! The only thing better than leaving campus is staying on campus when most have left. Don't get me wrong, I love my fellow classmates, but there is something about a quiet campus that is very rejuvenating. I have already gotten a lot of homework done and plan on getting much more accomplished. Tomorrow I plan on doing a little shopping for some summer clothes. It'll be a tight budget, but after pulling out the summer clothes I realized just how little I have.

Sunday will consist of sunrise service and Easter dinner with some peeps (ha! get it? peeps!) who have stayed on campus for the break. The weather has been GORGEOUS here and I look forward to enjoying that as well.

Ultimately, I thank God for the beautiful gift of His Son and the sacrifice He made on the cross. The last couple of weeks God has made me more and more aware of the grace that He gives to His people (I'll post more on this later). God is so good and I am so grateful! Happy Easter to you, may you be blessed by His mercy and grace.

shoes

2010-03-04T19:58:00.000-08:00

I have this never ending battle with my shoes.
This is what it looks like under my desk just about every day. I wear a pair of shoes, come into my room, sit down to do school work, or let's be honest, check facebook and then take my shoes off. When I leave the room again, I put on a different pair of shoes and then the process starts over. Yes, I did wear every single one of these today.
Do you care? Probably not, but I just thought I would share. Now I better go put them away, so that I can start this process over in the morning :)

Refreshed

2010-03-02T13:34:00.001-08:00

Spring has sprung in my room! This is dotty, she is a Zinnia plant. Spring is my favorite time of year because it is so refreshing to see new growth. Not sure how Dotty will make it through spring break, but shhhhh, I haven't told her I'm leaving yet.

Even though Spring is in my room, it is not outside. Today we are having a snow day at school. I woke up to beautiful snow falling and soon after logging in to facebook it was obvious that school was canceled. Have no fear, there really isn't that much snow and it will all be gone tomorrow, but this is the south, so we panic when white stuff hits the ground. This picture is taken from inside my room, because I chose not to go out in it. But many students enjoyed playing in it, so that makes me happy. I, on the other hand, have gotten a ton of work done in my warm room.

This last weekend I attended a ladies prayer retreat put on by our school. About 35 of us packed up and headed down the road about 20 miles to Camp Hawkins. I attended this retreat last semester and had such a great time! This time was no different, with lots of laughs , good food and fellowship. On Saturday each of us go out on our own for 4 hours of solitude. It was a beautiful day so I packed up my sleeping bag and headed out into the woods. This was such a refreshing time sitting in my Father's lap, enjoying His creation, and hearing from Him.

Two more weeks left before Spring Break when I will head home for 9 days. There is lots to get done between now and then, but I am so grateful for the times of refreshment God has given me this week.

God as My Hiding Place

2010-02-14T12:39:00.000-08:00

It's been a rather uneventful week, yet exhausting at the same time. I was kind of at a loss for words all week, while trying to connect some dots in my head. I've never been one to enjoy pondering the great questions of life and really get quite annoyed with the people that do. But, for some reason, that was what was on my mind. The questions like "who am I, really?" "What exactly is my purpose?" "Why do I wake up in the morning?" Yep, even writing this makes me sound hokey and weird. Anywho, all that to say, I really found my rest in Christ this week as I wrestled with some of those questions.
Here is where I found rest:
For you are my hiding place;
you protect me from trouble.
You surround me with songs of victory. Psalm 32:7
I really, really wanted to turn my room into a fort this week and hide in it until next week, but fought the urge. The Message translation puts the verse this way:

God's my island hideaway,
keeps danger far from the shore,
throws garlands of hosannas around my neck. Psalm 32:7

Toccoa Falls College looks nothing like this, but for my sanity's sake, this week I chose to pretend :)

My Life Be Like...

2010-02-05T18:18:00.000-08:00

I've been seeing this on other people's blogs and thought I would jump on the band wagon

Lately I've been...
Buying: a plane ticket home for Spring Break in March

Considering: my new computer purchase coming up soon
Cooking: spaghetti with alfredo sauce (and other easy recipes)
Eating: chocolate...it gets me through these long weeks
Googleing : Macbook reviews
Learning: What am I not learning? Learning more and more about me, my purpose and what it all means
Listening: to Piano Tribute Players while studying
Loving: life
Planning: my days wisely in order to get everything accomplished and getting pretty good at it
Reading: some good books on family/child ministry
Watching: fail blog videos
Wearing: layers... you never know what this Georgia weather will bring

Wishing: it would stop raining

Thankful: for where God has me and his amazing grace in my life

Writing: papers

Knock-Knock Jokes, Prayer, and BINGO

2010-01-31T09:45:00.000-08:00

This past week was very long and by the middle of the week I was convinced that somebody was playing a sick joke by saying it was only Wednesday. But alas, the week did come to an end, I survived, and have enjoyed a rather lazy weekend.

My favorite parts of the week were the opportunities that I get to serve. Wednesday nights I serve at the local CMA church as a boys Sparky leader. Although the night is usually filled with chaos due to various reasons, the boys always make it worth my time. This week as they arrived the craft was to make a book. The boys at my table decided to make joke books. The boys were hilarious as they made up their own jokes, told the same joke over and over again, and cracked up at jokes that absolutely made no sense. (Mel, if you are reading this, the Duane joke totally failed. It was tragic)

On Thursday nights I host prayer meetings in our dorm. This semester I took on the role as the prayer coordinator for Bell Houston Terrace, the dorm I live in. This is something that is completely out of my comfort zone, but I'm excited for the opportunity. I am committed to praying for each girl in this dorm and look forward to serving them.

And last, but certainly not least, I am now the official BINGO caller on Saturday afternoons at the local nursing home. I had no idea just how much joy I would get from doing this. I am in a class called Ministry to Adults this semester that requires me to spend at least 10 hours with an adult over 70 and write a paper on it. I went to the nursing home early last week to see if there was someone they could hook me up with. The manager told me that there was a lady who played Bingo on Saturday afternoons and if I wanted to I could call Bingo and then hang out with her afterward (pretty sligh if you ask me). BINGO sounded exciting so I said sure. The lady showed me around, pointed to the cupboard where everything is, and told me not to worry because the residents would tell me exactly what to do. I laughed at her, but Saturday I realized just how serious she was.

When a friend and I arrived, 10 minutes early mind you, we walk into the room and the residents are all sitting around the table with their cards in place, chips on the free space, and everything laid out for me to begin. They were all so welcoming and excited to see me. As we began it became clear that Ed was the man in charge. He gently let me know when to speak louder, how to call the numbers correctly, what kind of BINGO we were calling, and gave me a cough drop to help with my voice . The ladies would drop their chips on the floor every once in a while and he would tell "just leave them for the end, you don't need them now." Finally a few ladies chimed in saying, "Ed, I wish you would stop telling us what to do." "Ed, stop bossing me around." It took everything I had not to laugh at them, and move on to the next number. This is definitely my new favorite Saturday afternoon activity and can't wait to go back next week!

What I am Reading...

2010-01-26T11:55:00.000-08:00

and enjoying! These are just a few of the books I am reading, and since they consume most of my time, I thought I would share them with you. There are quite a few others, but too boring and not worth mentioning.

This book asks the question "Why do I get up in the morning?"

A great devotional on Psalm 119. One I would never pick up unless it was required for class, but glad to be reading it.

Every parent in America should be reading this book. Gets me excited for children's ministry!

This encouraged me today...

2010-01-15T09:07:00.000-08:00

A Little More Optimism

2010-01-13T16:06:00.000-08:00

My last post seemed to have quite a bit of negative-ness in it. It may seem like I am not enjoying being back on campus, but I really am! Let me give you some reasons why:

My first full day back I was able to move to another dorm with girls that I know and enjoy being around. In a few days I will have this room to myself and look forward to decorating it as mine
Friends that I enjoy hanging around and feel my pain. My friends are also transfer students and have to sit through this class with me. They, too, know what it is like to be lumped together with freshman for the second or third time.
A beautiful campus that I get to be on every day.
Quite possibly finding a church that I enjoy. Last semester I never really felt at home at the church I was attending. It was a CMA church, but has had no pastor for over a year and a half and is evident on Sunday mornings. For a person who needs consistency, different faces at the pulpit each Sunday wasn't working for me. Last Sunday I attended a Baptist church in town with some friends and came away refreshed and look forward to hearing from the same pastor this Sunday.
Thinking. One thing that Bible school does for me is makes me think. I am daily challenged in my walk with Christ and grateful for that.
Faster internet. Last semester my internet was soooo slow. For some reason, this semester it's better. I watched a whole football game in my own bed the other day...how amazing is that!!
A job on campus. These are hard to come by and I am blessed to have one of the good ones.

Life is good and I am grateful to be back at Toccoa Falls College

2010-01-11T14:09:00.000-08:00

So I am pausing from writing a paper on the question of whether or not I would denounce my faith in order to get off of a stranded island to write this blog. Yes, this is how my week has gone. Ugh.
So, I am back at school for a winterim class called Western Thought and Culture. This class is two weeks long where we go to class for 4 1/2 hours a day, Monday through Friday. Nobody really knows the real reason why we are taking this class, besides the fact that the administration finds joy in torturing us.
We are reading Francis Schaeffer's book, "How Should We Then Live". Each day a different professor gets their chance at speaking on western thought through the lens of their department (art, science, communications, etc). Half of the professors are in love with Schaeffer's theory, and the other half loathes the man. Then after a 2 1/2 hour lecture we have lunch (in order to keep our sanity), and then we go to our assigned professor for two more hours. Depending on who spoke in the morning and who your professor is in the afternoon, those two hours could be spent reiterating what was said in the morning, or completely ripping apart what was said and giving a different opinion. What's the point? Nobody knows.
One thing we did learn the other day, and I completely agree is this:
"Just because you can, doesn't mean you should." I thought this was a profound statement and it reminded me of an experience I had recently...

Riding a large ferris wheel just because it is there and "looks" fun.

Now I must return to contemplating the question, "Would I denounce my faith in order to be released from a stranded island?" What grade am I in?

People Watching

2010-01-08T19:28:00.000-08:00

My favorite part of traveling is watching people. I could literally sit for hours and watch people go about their business. And this is exactly what I did last week on my way back to school. I flew into Atlanta airport around 3:00pm and then headed to the Amtrak station to catch a train later that night. When I say later, I mean 4 HOURS later!
I was stuck with all of my baggage, so I couldn't go anywhere, even though there was a Borders book store right across the street. Very depressing. The first two hours were quite horrible as I was one of two people in the train station. Soon people started to arrive, though, and oh boy was I in for a treat! The first sign of weirdness was an old man who came in, checked in and then laid on the floor to do his leg lifts. Not quite sure why he couldn't have done them anywhere else, but whatever floats your boat I guess.
The next man, who couldn't have been much older than me, walked in wearing all white with two ties around his neck. It must be difficult choosing just one tie to go with your white outfit. Not soon after this man checked in, he was doing the moonwalk up and down the train station. I really wanted to take a picture, but chose life instead.
And the third man whom I found entertainment from was the man who continually walked around the station straightening all of the pictures hanging on the wall. They were crooked, but by the third time he straightened each one, it became a little obsessive if you ask me. This same man also chose to do lunges down the isle of the train whilst it was moving. The girl next to me leaned over and said "He's not normal." yah think?
Thank you Amtrak for taking people watching to the next level.

2010-01-08T12:35:00.000-08:00

Instead of go on and on about what a loser of a blogger I am, I will just jump right into what I have been thinking lately...

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines knowledge like this: The fact or condition of knowing something with familiarity gained through experience or association.
The Bible also has much to say about knowledge, but the Apostle Peter really drives home the issue in 2 Peter:

²Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of
God and of Jesus our Lord. ³His divine power has given us everything we need for life and
godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own
glory and goodness. (Chapter 1)

Peter also ends his letter to the Christians stressing the importance of knowledge in Jesus Christ (3:18).

So why do I care? Looking back on this last semester at Toccoa Falls College, God has really been laying on my heart the importance of knowledge in Him. Yes, I know Christ, I know that He died for my sins on the cross and conquered sin when He rose again on the third day. But, this last semester I have learned that it goes far beyond that. Knowledge is more than just facts that can be regurgitated when asked. Knowledge of something should be so intimate that it's like staring into the face of someone and you can see your reflection in their eyes (cheesy, yes I know, but it gets my point across)

So, with the new year here, (blah blah blah), I want to be a person of knowledge. Again, not because I want to know a lot of facts, but because God calls us to grow in knowledge. I want to know God so intimately, that I reflect Him to others around me. A goal for myself this year is to intentionally learn at least one new thing every day. I look forward to sharing them with you. Some may be more profound than others, for instance, this is what I have learned this week:

God is a God of grace. I am attempting to read through the Bible in a year, and, consequently, that puts me in Genesis this month. Reading the account of Abram and Sarai, reminded me again of all that God gives us, even though we don't deserve it. Right after (or so it appears in the Bible) God tells Abraham that he will have a son to be his heir, and his offspring will be as numerous as the stars, he allows his wife, Sarai, to give him Hagar to bear him a child. God told this to Abram and he still followed Sarai's plan! To make a long story short, God still gives Sarai a son despite her lack of faith. Thank God for His grace upon me! I can think of numerous times I failed to have faith that God would provide, yet He did anyway. What an awesome God we serve

"Bad" weather is relative. Yesterday, as I was talking to family at home who are driving on snow covered roads, FEET of snow continue to accumulate, large gusts of wind, and below zero temperatures, the beautiful dusting of snow is falling here. There were many rumors of school being canceled the next day, so I figured we had to be getting at least an inch or two. Last night at about 10:30pm it was announced that classes would be pushed back one hour because of the weather. Sweet, an extra hour of sleep, I'll take it! When I woke up this morning and looked out the window all I could see was a small dusting of snow on the ground and rooftops. My first thought was "Ha! Suckers, I got an extra hour of sleep for no reason!" But to my surprise, when I got to class, I had learned that they actually canceled public school for the day! Bad weather is relative...enough said.

Updates in the Life of Liz

2009-02-08T16:26:00.000-08:00

Well my life has been really boring lately. I really don't have a life right now besides school and work, but here are some updates for anyone who cares:

I will be heading to Timberline Bible School in the middle of May to work there for the summer. This is the same place that I went to school for a year after I graduated. I am looking forward to working out there, enjoying Colorado in the summer, and spending some time with some old friends.
I have been applying to colleges. Well, actually just one college right now. I am pursuing Toccoa Falls College in Toccoa Falls, Georgia. This is a Christian Missionary Alliance college that has a Child and Family Ministries program. So, we will see how that all works out. If I get there, I will just have 1 1/2 to 2 years to finish my degree. It's expensive, but I've decided if God wants me in ministry, he will keep His wallet open.
I am currently taking classes at Lewis Clark State College for the sole purpose of being in school and not going crazy (plus amazing health insurance through Dad). It is all online and includes a lot of reading, but I am actually enjoying and suprised at how much I am learning.
I've been working my rear off at my "part-time" job trying to pay off my car and save some money so I can afford to work for nothing and go to school in my near future. It's a boring job, but it pays the bills.

That's really all I got. My life is boring, but I'm learning a lot through it as well. God has been good in the last couple of months. He is helping me heal and reminding me that it will be a process. I am continually reminded each day just how blessed I am. I look forward to the next step.

Remaining Teachable in 2009

2009-01-04T12:20:00.000-08:00

Psalm 139

1-6 God, investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand.
I'm an open book to you;
even from a distance, you know what I'm thinking.
You know when I leave and when I get back;
I'm never out of your sight.
You know everything I'm going to say
before I start the first sentence.
I look behind me and you're there,
then up ahead and you're there, too—
your reassuring presence, coming and going.
This is too much, too wonderful—
I can't take it all in!
7-12 Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit?
to be out of your sight?
If I climb to the sky, you're there!
If I go underground, you're there!
If I flew on morning's wings
to the far western horizon,
You'd find me in a minute—
you're already there waiting!
Then I said to myself, "Oh, he even sees me in the dark!
At night I'm immersed in the light!"
It's a fact: darkness isn't dark to you;
night and day, darkness and light, they're all the same to you.
13-16 Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;
you formed me in my mother's womb.
I thank you, High God—you're breathtaking!
Body and soul, I am marvelously made!
I worship in adoration—what a creation!
You know me inside and out,
you know every bone in my body;
You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,
how I was sculpted from nothing into something.
Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;
all the stages of my life were spread out before you,
The days of my life all prepared
before I'd even lived one day.
17-22 Your thoughts—how rare, how beautiful!
God, I'll never comprehend them!
I couldn't even begin to count them—
any more than I could count the sand of the sea.
Oh, let me rise in the morning and live always with you!
And please, God, do away with wickedness for good!
And you murderers—out of here!—
all the men and women who belittle you, God,
infatuated with cheap god-imitations.
See how I hate those who hate you, God,
see how I loathe all this godless arrogance;
I hate it with pure, unadulterated hatred.
Your enemies are my enemies!
23-24 Investigate my life, O God,
find out everything about me;
Cross-examine and test me,
get a clear picture of what I'm about;
See for yourself whether I've done anything wrong—
then guide me on the road to eternal life.

It has been a long time since my last post. A lot has happened in my life since my last post, which I think is the reason why it's been so long. It is so hard for me to put into words the emotions and events that I have experienced the last several weeks. It has been devastating to watch my friend Melissa go through the heartache of being fired from a children's ministry that she has loved and cared for so much. With my decision that followed to leave Warner, even more sadness came.
When I moved to Lewiston I never thought that I would fall in love with a ministry and so many young people. I am so grateful for all that God has taught me in the last 2 1/2 years through the kids at Warner. It's Melissa's passion for children's ministry and the wonderful kids that God put in my life that has given me such a strong desire to be in ministry.
So what's next? Who knows, but one thing I do know for sure, God knows. Psalm 139 has been such an encouragement to me this last week. Much of the time when I read this Psalm, I get through the first four verses and stop there. The fact that God knows all of me, in and out, is scary to me. But what a blessing it is! I have no clue what is next for me, but He does. Not only does He know what is next for me, but He know what is BEST for me!
My prayer this year is that I let God know me, that I allow Him to search me, and know me. When I stop allowing God to teach me, that's when trouble comes.
Lord, keep me teachable in 2009.

2008-10-14T21:16:00.000-07:00

For the latest: Check out Melissa's blog:
www.melmacnotmc.blogspot.com

gOoFy KiDs

2008-09-28T19:42:00.000-07:00

Our church is in the midst of purchasing land to build a new church. It is a really exciting time and God has been so faithful to provide beyond our wildest dreams. Tonight we went out to the land as a church to pray. We took the kids on their own track and prayed for some of the fun things like the Sunday school rooms and the playing field.
They made me laugh several times tonight. Each one of them prayed that the building would be built in one day. After I told them that probably wouldn't happen, they changed their minds to 10 days. I'll let them dream a little.
It amazes me how sometimes it can be so difficult for me to pray. Yet these kids could go on and on about the things that need prayer and wanted to pray for each of them tonight. Now, this cuteness only lasted for about 30 minutes, but God loves that 30 minutes.
Be encouraged by these little faces!

Fear in the Midst of His Presence

2008-09-17T21:15:00.000-07:00

Today marks the first day of fall. I have to be honest, nothing about fall excites me. It just means that winter is that much closer. This is the time of year that fear and doubt and many other things tend to creep their way into my life. I hate it...A LOT. But I am learning that sitting back and dreading it will do nothing for me. This verse encouraged me tonight:

"But as for you, Isreal my servant,

Jacob my chosen one,

descended from Abraham my friend,

I have called you back from the ends of the earth,

saying, 'You are my servant.'

For I have chosen you

and will not throw you away.

Don't be afraid, for I am with you.

Don't be discouraged, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you.

I will hold you up with my victorious right hand." Isaiah 41:8-10

Despite my fears, I can rest in the fact that HE is the one who created me, HE is the one who chose me, HE is the one holding my hand, and HE is the one who gives me strength.

**sigh of relief**

Reasons why this addiction is good for me...

2008-09-02T20:27:00.001-07:00

Okay, so I hate to admit this, but I am officially addicted a dumb show called "Grey's Anatomy". I have watched 26 1/2 episodes (currently on the 27th) in the last 4 days. This is all my sisters and my grandma's (who is wonderful in so many ways :)) fault. It makes me feel better if I blame them. So to justify this addiction I have come up with some reasons (which you may call excuses) why this is good for me.

1. I finished my homework in record time tonight in order to watch the show. I did it well too, because I don't like guilt.
2. I have not gone to bed any earlier than I should in 4 days.
3. All of those people that told me I should watch this show can now shut up.
4. I am learning a lot about the medical field. For example, when you swallow 4 razor blades, it's really bad.
5. I have laughed out loud a lot in the last 4 days. Laughing makes your life longer, so I've heard.

Okay, so that's all I can think of. But 5 is good, right? If I come up with more I will let you know, but for now it's getting really good. Meridith is holding a bomb inside of someone's body!

Let The Madness Begin

2008-08-25T18:53:00.001-07:00

Remember the good old days when starting school meant wearing your favorite new outfit, brand new shoes, and that sweet backpack with all of your cool new school supplies?
Well, apparently those days are gone. After spending $500 dollars on text books today I thinking that those "good ol' days" are gone. Don't get me wrong I'm excited to start school, afterall I have been pretty bored the last couple of weeks. It's just not the same when your checking account takes a large hit.
Anyway, enough ranting. The first day of school went well. I'm looking forward to getting started again. The kids in the valley start school tomorrow and Wednesday which means our ministries at church will start up again soon. They keep my life busy, but I wouldn't change it for the world. It's not often that I walk away from a Tuesday night with our kids and not learn something from them. Can't wait to see what this year holds.

2008-08-14T20:35:00.002-07:00

Pepper The Cat: 10 Things I Hate About You

1. You are not mine, so I can not get rid of you.

2. You leave hair balls on my carpet.

3. You wake me up at 6:00 am every morning by scratching and meowing at my window.

4. You poop in the house. I know, all cats do this, but it's still gross.

5. You meow REALLY loud.

6. You're always around.

7. I caught you licking a dirty dish on my counter...NOT ACCEPTABLE!

8. Somehow, you always seem to find your way into my bedroom.

9. Even though I've never let you on my lap, you seem to still try...dumb cat!

10. Did I mention you're not mine so I can't get rid of you!

2008-08-14T20:35:00.001-07:00

Some photos for you to enjoy (in no specific order)

Sunset in Lewiston. Yes, I do love it here

Melissa and I on our little vacay to Whidbey Island

I could possibly be becoming a golfer

Sunset on Whidbey
The girls of cabin 3
I love being a camp counselor

aaaand that's me. Saying hello

2008-08-14T20:35:00.000-07:00

Updates in the life of Liz:

First of all, I've decided to try this blog thing...my attempt to keep my family and friends updated...we'll see
I had a great summer...Vacation Bible School was a success not to mention a blast ending in a whole lot of green slime on my head. I didn't take any classes this summer, not planned, but ended up being a very nice bonus. I was a counselor at our summer camp and had a great time. I had no idea what I was missing out on! I "ended" my summer with a short and sweet vacation with Melissa to Whidbey Island.
I am officially ready to start school. I am taking two science classes, an algebra class, and an online Survey of Art class...yikes! Not really looking forward to these hard, not to mention BORING, classes but you gotta do what you gotta do.
I am living in the basement of an elderly woman's home. It has been very nice to have a space to call my own, yet still has some challenges.
And lastly...I am realizing more and more each day just how blessed I am and am truly thankful for where God has me.

2007-12-08T17:33:00.000-08:00

On that note, here are some sites for reviews on the movie.

The official website is a great place to get unbiased information on the story behind the movie.

I encourage you to look around on this site. It honestly scared me. It made me realize just how much potential this movie has to influence the younger generation.

http://www.goldencompassmovie.com/

********************

Entertainment weekly critics gave the movie a C average

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20164193,00.html

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20155516_20155530_20164514,00.html

This is a comment left by a someone on the Entertainment Weekly site. I think it sums up the whole motive behind this movie.

A+ Why oh why

Fri, Dec 07, 07 at 09:37 PM
Anything going against the failed christian God concept is good in my book; America needs more atheism, less bigotry and more talking polar bears

2007-12-08T17:21:00.000-08:00

Last Tuesday the kids reminded me, once again, exactly why I do what I do. We have had a running discussion on the new movie, The Golden Compass. Melissa, the Children's Pastor and leader of our youth group had recently been informed about the movie and its motives. She decided that she would have a chat with the kids about the movie, informing them, not telling them what decision to make about the movie.
I must say, this discussion was one of the most intelligent discussions I've had in a long time. Many of the kids had already heard about the movie and what it was about and gave constructive insight on the movie. Some of the kids hadn't heard about the movie and you could tell they were all soaking in the information.
Last Tuesday, when they came back after having a week to think about it, you could tell it had been on their minds all week. When Melissa mentioned the words "Golden Compass" the kids went off. They all had comments and even more questions about God, atheism, and sin. You could tell that they were all very excited that they could make the decision to go or not to go to this movie. For most of them, it was their own decision and they knew that they had made the right one.
I am very proud of my kids. Why, because they made a good decision? No, I am proud of them because they are learning to think for themselves and ask important questions. At their age I was doing whatever my friends were doing or what the media told me was cool. A lot of their friends will go and see this movie, but they are determined to stand their ground.

Another lesson learned from "young minds, with big hearts".

2007-11-30T14:06:00.000-08:00

When going around the Sunday School room to ask the kids what they were thankful for this Thanksgiving I got a lot of "friends and family". I started to get frustrated with the kids because I assumed that they were just saying that, not knowing what else to say. I finally told them that they should be a little more creative. When I came to the last kid in the room, he said "I really am thankful for my friends and family. If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't have much else to be thankful for. Because of them, I have a lot more to be thankful for." This came from the mouth of a 6th grader!
Those words have stuck in my mind this week as I was having car trouble. I am a young, single woman who doesn't know the first thing about cars. All I know is that it makes funny noises and leakes out red liquid. I have been so blessed this week to have people there to help me take care of my car. It amazes me how God puts people into your life to care for you.
This week, I am truly thankful for friends and friends that I call family.

Ahh to be young again...

2007-11-13T18:25:00.000-08:00

Okay, so after a lot of thinking, pondering, and wasting time I finally decided what to post. I'm not a big fan of this blogging thing. I actually said I would never do it, but, well, when you are recieving a grade for it, I guess you have no choice. So I've decided to post about what I love, and that is working with kids. I get the opportunity to work with kids atleast twice a week. I love it. I love it because they always make me laugh, encourage me, or suprise me at just how smart they are. Tonight they made me laugh...

So tonight at our youth group called "WyldRide" for 4th-6th graders we had them do this activity where they had to choose two items to take with them while stranded on a desserted island for a year. I must say that I was pretty impressed at some of the things that they came up with (and not so impressed with others). My favorite, and I think most clever, was the one who chose to bring mom and dad with them. Smart! We had some who thought of matches, a knife, a fishing pole, or a boat. But there always has to be the ONE, the one who just doesn't get it, no matter how hard you try. Her name is Brooke. Now Brooke is a sweet little girl, has the cutest smile, and honestly, reminds me of me when I was her age. But there are times that you just have to turn the other way or you may due harm. Now she did not understand this assignment. Her first two choices were a bottle of pop and a can of food. When I told her that would not work, she sighed and went back to brainstorming. A little later she approached me with her new choices, a hot dog and clothes (or cloes in her world). Now this is where patience comes in. I kindly said, "Brooke, think a little harder." Okay, so back to work. The next time she approached me it was a BIG bag of chips and a set of clothes. Her rational was that the bag of chips would last her longer and it was still one thing! Even though Brooke never really got it, she felt that she made a clever choice.

Working with Brooke tonight reminded me just how simple life can be. The only thing that Brooke needed to survive was a hot dog and a bag of chips. Now its not true, but it makes me wonder just how much of my "stuff" do I really need to survive? I could survive on that island without my iPod, my laptop, my tv with cable, that coffee I drink each morning, but if I were to try and go a week without that stuff, would I survive here in Lewiston?