Thursday, March 25, 2010

Such a random number, but it's about time...

7 Things that I'm thankful for, in no particular order, of course:

1. My sweet and loving Lord- I'm so undeserving, but I'm learning more and more every day how much He loves me and everyone else that I encounter so regularly. He's merciful, gracious, kind, loving, compassionate, gentle and it makes me glad to think of everything that he's done and continues to do in my life every single day.

2. Summer!- In 14 days my freshman year of college will be complete! Although the idea of going back home and not being in my constant routine- class, homework, studying, reading, eating, sleeping- is a little strange to me, I'm so super excited. I've come to terms with the fact that this summer is going to be different from the rest. High school summers were times to be carefree and completely irresponsible. This summer, jobs and summer classes will be calling my name, but I'll be home. And home and all of the people that will be at home with me will make it all worth it.

3. UNC-Greensboro- When I think back to this time last year, I was nearing the end of my senior year of high school and I was devastated that it was all swiftly coming to an end. I'm not one for change, or at least I didn't used to be. High school, living at home, and being around the same people for 10 years was so comfortable and wonderful for me. Going to a new place, 1 hour and 15 minutes away from home, without my friends was the worst idea ever. God knew exactly what He was doing when he made it completely evident to me that UNCG was where I was supposed to be. Looking back now, I couldn't possibly be more thankful for this place, where I'm at, and who I'm with.

4. Jared- Dear Jared and I have be an item for about a year and a half. We met in high school, back in marching band (cute, huh?), started dating a week before the Christmas of our senior year, and have been together ever since. He's pretty great and God sure did bless me with a good one. The thing I love most about Jared is how calm he is. I know that sounds crazy, but let me explain. I'm pretty crazy, spontaneous, free-spirited, excessive, you know. Jared is pretty much the opposite- together, level-headed, clear-thinking, and calm. He balances me out and brings me back to reality almost every day when I'm overreacting and stressing about something that when looked at more closely, doesn't require hardly any worry at all. Jared loves the Lord, and that is made more and more evident to me every day. Being away from each other for weeks and weeks at a time is hard, but it makes the sweet times that we're back together again that much more wonderful.

5. My lovely little sister- Carrie is pretty sweet. She's the one that required me to write this blog, so thanks to her, I'm procrastinating yet again. Carrie is one of the main things that I miss from home. I hate that I feel like I'm missing some of her high school career. She's so much better at being in high school than I was though. Straight A's, no boyfriends, on-time driver's license. I tell you, I totally want to be her when I grow up. Even though we always end up in an argument after I've been home for more than a weekend, we still love each other a whole lot. She's one of my best friends, and even though I tried to slam her in the front door almost breaking her arm when we were little, she still loves me.

6. The little things- Things such as Welch's 100% Grape Juice, letters in the mail, mashed potatoes, dates in the park, smiles from the worker with down syndrome in the cafeteria, deep conversations, flowers... those are the things that I absolutely love. I find the most joy in the smallest things. Some days I'd honestly rather receive a letter in the mail versus a vacation to Hawaii. I know I'm weird, but bring me some grape juice, and I'm sure to love you forever.

7. Camp Joy- I learn more about myself and my love for people there than I do any other place in the world. Camp Joy helped me to realize my true calling in life which is working with God's special children and pursuing a degree in special education. Camp Joy also taught me about the unconditional love of our Father and about having that same love mirrored for others through me. This beautiful place also taught me about my need for the Lord, and how relying on Him every day is only way to make it day by day. I had a particular camper one summer who was wheelchair-bound and was fully dependent on me for everything. This reminds me of my dependence on our Savior and how I'm "wheelchair-bound" by my sin. Camp Joy is my favorite place in the whole world because I can go there, love on God's special children, and gain so much more.

"The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with JOY!" -Ps. 126:3

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Middle schoolers = Love

I had the privilege of hanging out with some awesome middle schoolers from Back Creek's youth group this weekend. They were here, along with some other pretty awesome leader-people, from Friday night into Saturday for an Acquire the Fire conference in Greensboro. I was able to attend and be their only girl advisor. Here are some things that I learned this weekend:

1. Middles Schoolers ask tons of questions. I don't think I've ever been asked so many questions in a 24 hour period than this weekend. "When are we leaving?", "Which band is playing next?", "What time should we get up tomorrow morning if we need to leave at 8:00am?", "Do you have a boyfriend?", "How much longer?", "Why are we still on the bus?"... just to name a few. I really didn't mind it, believe it or not. I just never really knew most of the answers unless they directly applied to me.

2. Middle School boys can consume more food in one meal than I would consume in a whole week. I met the group at a local Wendy's, about 5 minutes away from campus. When I arrived, I noticed that a majority of the boys had at least 3 junior bacon cheeseburgers, with an enormous amount of fries. I then proceeded to apply everything that I've learned this far in the semester in my nutrition class and realized that these poor children are on their way to a heart attack or two. Good thing they're only 13 and have very quick metabolisms. I'm sure they'll figure it out eventually. Eat away, boys.

3. I still am not a huge Biscuitville fan. As a youth group, we used to frequent Biscuitvilles. They're still just as gross as I remember. Enough said.

4. Middle school is right where my heart is. I've known for a while that once I get my K-12 Special Education licensure that I most definitely want to work in a middle school, but this weekend completely confirmed it. I love that even though middle schoolers are more self-sufficient than elementary schoolers, they're still fairly dependent on someone to tell them what to do, where to be, etc. They just have so much innocence left in them, while they're always learning all about themselves and making their own opinions. That allows for some shaping. I love that about them.

5. Drinking coffee while on middle school youth trips is the cool thing to do. One dear 8th grader told me: "We always drink decaf coffee on youth trips. Our parents won't let us drink it otherwise." I'm not sure what the fun in drinking coffee is when it's decaf, but apparently it's the cool thing to do. I never had any desire to drink it "just for fun". It's totally disgusting unless you need caffeine so severely that you finally acquire the taste. But that's just my opinion.

6. Middle schoolers, at least the ones from Back Creek, are great kids. They love the Lord, and that's really evident in most of their lives.

"...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." -Philippians 1:6

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Here we go...

I've always wanted to start a blog. I've followed blogs of people that I know, and even ones of people that I don't know for a long time. I feel like every blog has a purpose. I remember watching the movie Julie and Julia and realizing that I definitely wanted to be a blogger. Now that my roommate has a new Julie & Julia movie poster hanging on her side of the room, I'm constantly reminded of my love for blogs, so here we go. Although I'm not completely sure what the purpose of this blog will be, I'm sure I'll figure that out eventually.

Currently, I'm at UNCG and loving it. I love being here, and I love the feeling that I'm right where I need to be, doing what I need to be doing. I'm majoring in Special Education. There's not a doubt in my mind that I've been called to be a teacher to some of God's most precious children. Having that certainty blesses me and gives me peace every single day. I am constantly hearing of people who have no idea what they want to do in their life. Being labeled as 'undecided' is a struggle that I hear about even with some of my closest friends, and I've been so blessed know without a doubt exactly my purpose in life.

I've been blessed with the gift of patience. I'm patient with others (especially those considered disabled), but I'm not always so patient with myself and with the plan that God has set out for me. Being in school is a long process, and even though freshman year has already almost completely flown by, I'm still so impatient as to where I see myself in 5 years. I'm restless. In 5 years, I plan on being graduated, married, working, traveling; all of these things. I realize that going to school and studying all of the time is all a part of the plan right here and now, but that's no fun compared to what's to come.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." -Jeremiah 29:11

I begin to feel restless and impatient and then I'm quickly reminded of this verse. God has plans for me right now. Right now, at 18 years old, living in Greensboro, going to school, God has a plan. Although I sometimes wish to fast forward right to graduation, I remember that I've got a lot of growing up and changing to do before I'm ready to be at that point. The verse doesn't say that God has plans for your future 5 years from now only. He has plans for my life today. Yesterday, today was the future. He has plans for me to prosper. He has plans not to harm me, to give me a hope and a future. But to get to that future, I have to do my best to do everything for His glory right now. I remember all of these things, and I'm suddenly content with where He has me. I'm thankful for that. My plan doesn't even matter when I think of all of the things He already has planned, even just for today.

"The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with JOY." -Psalm 126:3