Long Overdue...

But you're gonna have to keep waiting. I had an incredible time in Greece including the time I was invited to a Greek wedding, the time I saw lots of cool old stuff, the time I woke up to an incredible sunrise over the sea, the time I got eight bug bites on my face and when they healed, the time I had an allergic reaction to face paint. I want to tell you all of those stories and so many more but for now all I am going to say about Greece is that God is good (as always). Camp went off without a hitch and I have no doubt that lives were changed.

However, for now I thought it would be good to give a small update on my life and maybe write about Greece when I am a little more awake. When I got back from my extended trip to Greece (extended because of a volcano :-)) I only had a week left of classes and I was fretfully behind. I made it through and graduated with my Associates Degree in Christian Ministry on May 7th. It was a stressful couple of weeks but it ended in a super fun celebration.

The night of my graduation I found out that Multnomah discontinued my major and my fall plans were out the window. Since that night I have been waiting for summer and answers. It is exciting not having any set plans for the fall and knowing that the world is open to me. I intend to continue my education, I just have to figure out where. Super fun!

In these weeks between school and summer I have been working odd jobs around camp and spending lots of time with my family and friends. It has been really relaxing and rejuvenating. I needed these weeks before the summer craziness begins. Life is so good and God is faithful. I can't wait to tell you more about Greece and what God has for me next.

Greece!

I'm leaving for Greece tomorrow morning. I get to help Hume put on a camp for military kids. I'm very excited and would love to keep you updated on our trip while I'm gone but I probably won't be able to so instead you can follow our progress here. Please be praying for us and the kids while we are gone. God is great and this trip is going to be fantastic!

Random Facts About Me

- I always write in cursive because I think it is more acceptable for cursive to be illegible than it is for print

-I ache to travel, truly, physically ache

-I write papers on the day they are due about 90% of the time

-I feel like a wish on 11:11 should take a whole minute to make so I babble about the details of the wish in my head until 11:12

-I didn't know what to wish for on my birthday candles this year because my mom isn't so sick anymore and I don't remember ever wishing for anything other than her healing

-I tell people my favorite novel is Pride and Prejudice but it isn't

-I loved the color green before I found out it looks good on me

-I finally got tired of listening to Michael Buble all the time

-One of my favorite things about my favorite kind of cereal is that it looks healthy

-I have ear infections more often than not

-I'm allergic to strawberries

-I don't mean to smile all the time, it's just what my face naturally does

-I prefer driving alone over driving with others

-I draw, paint, write, and play piano but I don't show anybody because I don't think I'm very good at any of it

-I haven't owned more than two pairs of pants at a time for several years now

-I would choose a pen over a pencil any day

-My hair is actually curly, I straighten it almost every day

Month-In-Review

I think I am going to start doing this every month in order to recap what has been going on without feeling like every event needs its own post. I would do it weekly but I don't think my life is interesting or eventful enough for that nor do I think I would be disciplined enough to keep it up. Anyway... this month...

Has been busy. I went to Bakersfield to have a meeting with the Greece team. I rode down with Janelle and it was really fun to meet everyone and see the team God has brought together. I got accepted to Multnomah which means I am moving to Oregon in the fall. I was hired to work Hume SD this summer as a lead. I'm a little nervous because I have no idea what I am doing but I am mostly excited for the new experience. I attended the Unite conference at Hume. It was such a huge blessing to see some of my dear friends and hear some really good teaching and worship. I went to SLO with my family (minus Evan) and we went to Hearst Castle, the Melodrama (where we saw "Lumberjacks in Love"), and went out on a glass bottom boat in Morro Bay. My brother got engaged! I love Bailey and I am super excited for them! I wrote 2 papers, 3 sermon outlines, gave 2 speeches, and did lots of math. I worked a little bit when I could. I started attending a Bible study with a 5 other ladies. We are going through the Beth Moore study "Why Godly People Do Ungodly Things" and I am quite enjoying it. I filled a whole journal for the first time in my life. I can't think of anything else but I think that is quite enough for one month.

My (very limited and inexperianced) Thoughts on Parenting

Yesturday, as I was walking through Wal Mart, there was a young family walking in front of me. A girl who looked about four was not being a good listener. After being reprimanded by her mom the little girl asked for a hug. Her mother said "No. I don't want to hug you. You don't obey." For a moment I thought nothing of this and then as I pondered what this mother had told her child I saw a problem that plagues our world.

This little girl will forever believe that her mothers love must be earned through her obedience. This, I think, is a great tragedy because this little girl is being taught at this young age that love must be earned. As a child of God I know that this is not the case. God will never withhold His love from me because I am disobedient. In Romans 5:8 Paul says, "God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." While we were still sinners! Sin, anything that deviates from God's standard of perfection. I am so glad to serve a God who truly loves me unconditionally.

It broke my heart to have to acknowledge that in this world children are being brought up to understand that they will only be loved when they are good. I long to be the kind of parent who can correct my children when they are wrong while still displaying God's unconditional love. I want to be the kind of mom who can reprimand my four year old in Wal Mart and then turn around and reassure her of my love with a hug.

Now, I am nowhere near parenthood but I pray that when I get there I can remember this lesson. My parents have been an almost unflinching example of this correction in love philosophy and I pray that I may be too. The best way to explain how God loves us is to show it. I hope to always show God's love and when I fail I know He will still love me.

I read some blogs and the authors truly share their hearts. Other blogs are simply an overview of life. I can't decide what I want my blog to be. I feel like I would rather write the latter because it is easier but the truth is that the more honest a blogger is, the more I desire to read their thoughts. I want to be someone who others want to listen to. In order to be that person I have to say something worth listening to. The only thing in my life that is worth listening to is the truth of God's work in me. I am nothing and he is everything. I am a prideful and selfish person who takes so much for granted but the truth is that I am nothing without Christ in my life. I am a wretch who deserves to be eternally separated from God and yet he embraces me in the middle of my failings and makes me holy. These are just some random ideas I thought I would share on this drizzly night.

Life

The last 12 months have been the making of a huge year of change. I feel like I have not settled into most of these changes and maybe I never will. Not all has been bad but, of course, not all has been good (in my opinion).

God is in control. He knows what's best. He loves me.

I am probably the most blessed person in the whole wide world.
I have the best God.
I have the best home.
I have the best parents.
I have the best siblings.
I have the best friends.
I am surrounded by a huge community of love.
I have health and everything I need (and so much more).

I'm taking six classes this semester but I have more free time than I have any other semester. Weird, but perfectly timed.

I have a large handful of things that I am looking forward to.
Unite conference.
Family trip to SLO, Sac, or Magic Mountain (we still have to decide).
Greece.
Graduation (AA).
Summer in SD?
Multnomah in the fall.

Life is so good and God is so good. He has not only provided for me at all times but He has gone above and beyond in every facet of my life. Last year was a year of change and God got me through. He is so faithful and I am so thankful.

Life is good.