Countdown...

21 days
3 performances
1 recruiting night
1 massive field trip

Friends through the funk

Okay so this post has a lame title. Deal with it!

This last week has been a really rough one. It seems like the more I gear up for the end of the year, upcoming retreats, camps and mission trips the more Satan attacks. Big surprise there!

I decided I would take some time to get away and relax with my parents for a couple days. It was a great time. I listened to some great podcasts on my way back to Mishawaka. I felt like I was ready to face the month of May head on.

I don’t know what happened between that drive and this morning but all of that momentum came to a screeching halt. Some how I ended up in a funk today that I just can’t kick.

I contacted some girls and asked them to start praying. Then a few of us went to IHOP after Lifeline. Seriously these girls are amazing. They were encouraging and honest. Huff even busted out her journal and Bible and started preaching. It was awesome. I am so blessed to have people like this in my life.

Thank you so much ladies for making me smile tonight. It is so great to know I'm not alone in this funk. You rock!!!!

Coffee Date

I had another wonderful coffee date with Allison tonight. We both had a list of things we needed to work on but once again it didn't happen. It was a great evening of stories, discussion and laughter.

I love that girl! She is so awesome. I love hearing about the journey God has been leading her on the last few months. She is constantly challenging me with her desire to follow Christ with her whole heart. All I have to say is this girl is going to do amazing things for Christ. She already is!

On a completely different note, I recently discovered more people visit my blog from Allison's than any other individual site. Thanks for the "link love" Allison.

Here's a quick shout out to all of you who came from her blog. Welcome!

Nostalgic Drive

Tonight a group of us got together in Jeff Yoderville for some fine dinning. It was so great to be able to laugh and relax with friends. Tonight the drive was a little nostalgic. I’ve driven between Niles and Mishawaka too many times to count. There are so many memories…good and not so good.

As I was driving the thing I kept coming back to were a handful of names, the names of friends who have been a constant support no matter what. The last four years have been by far the hardest I’ve ever faced. It has been a very long road and most times very painful. There have been so many times I’ve been ready to throw in the towel and call it quits. If it were for these individuals I probably would have given up a long time ago.

The last few months I have been wrestling with some very difficult choices regarding my next steps. In this process there have been times I’ve been ready to accept defeat but it is some of these same people who call or e-mail at just the right time. They stop me to make some comments they think is completely random, but are really just the encouragement I need.

My mind is blown away when I think about how God has used these friends to pull me out of the mud over and over again. It took me awhile to accept the fact that I needed people like this but now I look back and fear where I would be without them. I’m going to call them all over the next few days for no other reason than to say thanks.

We all have people like this in our lives. Go give them a call just to say thanks.

Life of Impact

I received a call from my parents yesterday after Lifeline. Usually Mom tells me why she is calling in the message, even if it just a “you haven’t called me in a while” message. This time she didn’t so I knew something was up. I racked my brain trying to figure out what I forgot to do but couldn’t come up with anything. So I just called her back. She had called to inform me that a very close friend of our family (a distant relative as well I think) had past away.

Phil Frisbie was a phenomenal man of God and I’ve been thinking a lot about all the things he taught my siblings and me. He is the kind of guy who you can sit and listen to for hours because he has such amazing stories. His life on this earth may have come to an end but his lessons have not.

I can’t stop thinking about the mark he left in our community. His selfless love and generosity is still challenging me. I keep asking myself what kind of impact am I making in the lives of those around me. Am the kind of life I’m living going to be the type of life that reflect Christ so much people can see the impact after I’m gone? That is a tough calling but it is life I’ve been called do. Am I living it?

Seriously...

Let's just say Rob's message was very convicting this weekend. Seriously, summer can't come soon enough!

26.5 days...

This week at Oasis...

I had a blast at Oasis this week. I had a great discussion with my Eagle's Nest girls and Seth brought it in his message. We talked about how much our thoughts control our lives. The more we think negative thoughts the quicker they become our reality. Often people talk about replacing negative thoughts with positive ones. But what happen if they weren't just positive thoughts? What if they were the truths we find in Scripture about how views us?

I gave my girls a tough challenge this week. I'm praying that they begin to see how beautiful and wonderful they are. Most of all I praying they discover more about how real God's love for them is. I'm excited to hear about how the challenges went next week.

I love GCC! I love student ministry! I love the guys that lead our team!

real quick...

I hope I get some time to write and blog this week. There is a lot in the head that needs to become words or notes on paper.

Just had a wonderful late night breakfast with Huff and Katie. LOVE THEM!!!!

Shout Out

Here is a quick shout out to some awesome students from the good old HPCOC!

I ran into Kaitlyn, Erin and Natalie at Target today. It was an exciting surprise. Let's just say my "quick" stop ended up with lots of laughs with my friends.

Look out world we will be getting together again soon!

Spring Break Review

You can sum my spring break up with one word...FAMILY! I was able to see everyone in my family so this post is going to be a little long. Sorry but my family is just that cool.

I spent the first part of my trip with Lois and Adam at their home. We visited Ha Ha Tonka State Park and hiked for miles. They are house parents for a Show-me Christian Youth Home and had the chance to hang out with their children. I did some quick music lessons during their study time and played dominoes with the boys after dinner.

On the way to and from Lois and Adam's I had the chance to spend a couple hours with Uncle Tarry (Daddy's twin) and Aunt Poppy both at their house and at CCCB where they both teach. I absolutely love these two. When I was in high school I spent two weeks with them every summer for music camp. They have been so encouraging in my music career, whether it is in education or ministry.

Then I headed to Anna and Ryan's house and enjoyed shopping and relaxing. Yes, I actually had fun shopping. (Anna finds good deals without wasting time.) We played chess, cards and introduced Ryan to Mouse Trap. He loves it because he beat us. Anna is a sports journalist for a local paper but all of her games I was going to go to with her were rained out, so we watched lots of movies.

The plan was to head back to Mishawaka from there, which I did...for about an hour. While I was talking to my mom I told her I was going to meet her half-way to drop some things off to her and spend time with my older sister, Elizabeth. After I finished that conversation I felt bad I was going to see everyone except Matthew's (my brother) family. So I threw a change of clothes in a bag, jumped in the car and headed north.

My parents were going to Matthew and Nicole's to help him do some painting around the house. About 45 minutes from their house I called and told my brother to keep our parents there because I was on my way. I wish I would have had my camera ready to capture the look on Nicole's face when she opened the door. Everyone was surprised and I was able to hang out there for a few hours before heading to my parent's house. Matthew even went into work late so he could see me!!!!

This morning my parent's and I drove to Elizabeth and Anthony's house. Well, really we always meet at Burger King and then go back to their house. They had no idea I was coming either. My niece's showed me the latest things in their rooms and told me all about school. Heather now has a corner of instruments in her room. Where would she get an idea like that?

This break ranks number two on the "Best Spring Break Ever" list, second only to the trip to France. I'm so thankful I got to see my whole family. If only break were two weeks long...

(If you click on the pictures, it will take you to the album that has the captions.)

Spring Break Update No. 2

I am in denial that Monday is only a few days away. I'm back in Mishawaka but only for a little bit before I make my surprise stop. Where I go...no one knows!!!!

Pictures coming soon of the whole trip! Good times for all.

Spring Break Update

Just a brief post to tell everyone how much I love spring break.  

I am at Panera in Osage Beach, MO to grab a quick cup of coffee.  I'm heading to Anna's through Moberly to see my Aunt and Uncle again and check out some new things that are happening at CCCB.  

More exciting pictures and stories to come.

SPRING BREAK!!!!

The car is loaded and the tank is full.
The field guides are packed and the iPod synced.
Starbucks has been consumed and the camera loaded with a new roll of film.
One more stop for wheat-free bread and I'm off on my road trip.

Look out Illinois and Missouri here I come!!!!!

Road Trip Itinerary:
Sunday - Hull, IL - Anna and Ryan's
Monday - Moberly, MO - lunch with Uncle Tarry and Aunt Poppy AND Camdenton, MO - Lois and Adam's
Wednesday - Hull, IL - Anna and Ryan's
Friday - ??? a couple possibilities but will eventually end up in Mishawaka

Random Thoughts

Just a few random thoughts for the night...

My new iPod arrived today. Thank you Johnny and Angie for letting me ship it to their house. Thanks to Kristin for being willing to let me do the same. It is now synchronizing, which might take awhile I'm afraid.

At school today, Mr. Kurtis told me he found my blog. He now knows more than he wanted to about me I'm sure. So here is a shout out to Mr. Kurtis!

I have some thoughts about this week's stand-alone message on purity but I'll wait to post them when I'm not so tired.

I cannot explain how anxious I am for summer to get here. I talked with another possible leader for the Chicago trip. He was hanging out with Kutless and brought some of the guys to the church. It was pretty entertaining to watch some of our students reactions.

Now I'm going to bed. I am exhausted and still have two more days of school this week. Ugh!

Girlz Only Spring Retreat

We just finished first planning meeting for our upcoming Girlz Only Retreat. It is going to be awesome!!! The ideas were pouring out tonight. I love how God has taken a rough idea and given us a clear vision.

My favorite part was the fact that we had four high school girls there to through around ideas. They are awesome. They have faithfully attended our Girlz Only events and came tonight with energy and ides. It was great to have them on board tonight...including their ninja skills.

Oasis girls you have got to join us May 9-12. Mark your calenders ladies. Sign up information will be coming soon.

Shat, Part 2

2 1/2 hours and $330 later, I have a car that is running smoothly and keeps the inside of the car dry. Not exactly how I intended on spending my afternoon. But that is how most of the week has gone.

It is the week before spring break, so our students are out of control. I don't even know how many fights and arguments we've already had this week. It's only Tuesday.

My sub showed up a little late today so I didn't have time to take care of some insurance papers before my appointment. The doctor didn't have any huge answers. He is guessing I'm still fighting off a virus. The ear looks okay for the most part. There was some tissue (or something like that) he had to take off the edge of the tube. Hopefully that will help with the hearing issue. The good news is that the hearing levels are basically normal.

I found the biggest centipede I've ever seen in my apartment today. What?! Where did that come from?

I'm pooped and it is only Tuesday!

Shat

Some of you know all about the issues I've had with Shat, my car. Once again today Shat decides to have a mind of its own. I was not impressed. The driver's side window broke today as I was driving back from the ear specialist. Now I'm sitting at Sufficient Grounds waiting for it to get fixed. It will cost me around $350. So much for that spring break trip.