oh come, oh come

well, here I am back involved in real life and the technological world. I'm trying hard to catch up on life, friendships, relationships, hobbies...everything!

I just helped with mid-winter training. the concept of anticipation and Christmas joy is often the focus! I think one of my most fond memories will be singing "oh come oh come Emmanuel" the catch was that we sang the verses in a mixed up backwards order. "oh come oh come Emmanuel" didn't come until last. and the "rejoice" chorus didn't appear between verses...it only came at the end. as we neared the end of the song and the much anticipated verse and chorus, I could feel the anticipation and excitement rising in the room. and then the rejoice let loose! it was so good! God is so good! so excited about this Christmas season!!

kindred.

today i am exhausted from a crazy kayak trip on lake wapo.
however, i wanted to add a blog since i have some time off. i promise the next post will be the more detailed story of this post, but i wanted to inform everyone that i'm going on kindred. kindred is a youth encounter team that goes to peru and bolivia...i'll finally be using my college degree. i can't believe the ways in which the Lord has spoken to me this year, and i'm so excited for the year of ministry that lies ahead.
God's peace.

a quick one.

so i've been horrible at writing blogs.
but...greetings from canada! we have a day off here...but today i'm slightly disappointed. after a round about of coincidences, i had to change host homes. it's actually a sad story about our hosts, but i am in a different (and also wonderful) place.
the thing is...the other host home had an incredible craft room!!! my most mom was a stamper and had closets and shelves and drawers FULL of stamps, idea books, stamp pads, and thousands of kinds of fun paper...i was going to spend my day in solitude, praying for people and making cards to send them.
i guess ill just have to pray for them and communicate with them in other ways. know that i'm praying God's blessings over everyone this day.
love from canada.

india update

i realized that i haven't written a blog since i've been in india...so for those of you who aren't following my team and i at www.youthencounter.org/rainbowofpromise here is an update...greetings from kodaikanal, india!
maybe i'm already considering moving back here...but don't tell anyone yet. haha.
today is our day off and i couldn't be more delighted. although i've missed out on the waterfall hike trip, one of my teammates and i have had a wonderful time sleeping in, then walked to the city. we got to experience the market area of india at a different time of day, which was quite exciting...despite the beggars and people trying to sell us things...we managed to find a "tibs," a tibeten restaurant some kids had told us about and had a wonderful meal of "momos," something we wouldn't have tried if the kids hadn't recommended it. we walked the shops and viewed many cashmere scarves and hand bags...i really want some of both! after our shopping (without purchasing) we found our way to a coffee shop that the kids had also recommended...though it was pricy for india, it was totally worth it to have an icy coffee beverage and a great piece of chocolate cake! after shopping some more, we are back catching up on emails. it's a cold day outside, so i don't mind being inside (and not swimming at the waterfalls. ha.). when tea time came, allison and i went downstairs for a warm cup of chai...and THEN came one of the most exciting parts...there was POPCORN AND COOKIES for the snack! popcorn was a staple for us during fall tour, and we really missed it! all in all, things are well.
india isn't all about food either...the Lord has been revealing His grace to us and we've seen many barriers broken down between the ROP and the kids we're working with. we owe it all to the Lord! so excited for all that He has in store for us!
you are all in my prayers!

thanksgiving in december

as usual, the holidays were crazy. as i look back on the last two weeks, (my break from team) i realize that so much has happened, so much was crazy, and i truly have so much to be thankful for.
i've learned to recognize that every single minute is precious, and that perhaps my time management still isn't perfected...there were so many people i wanted to simply sit and talk with, but the time simply flew by...
i was reminded that sometimes family are friends, and friends really are family.
i realized that amidst struggles, i still have so much to be thankful for...and not to recognize that is a foolish act. i realized more and more that behind every thing that happens, there is often a blessing in disguise.
to those who helped me get ready for india: thank you.
for those who took the time to ask how i was doing: thank you.
to those who graciously forgave me when wasn't able to devote as much time to you as i wanted to: thank you
for those who went out of their personal way just so they could stop in and say hi: thank you
to those of you who read this: i'm thankful for YOU.
may our Lord and Friend guide and protect each of you. may He draw you closer to Him today and always. may He present you with an abundance of things to be thankful for!
blessings.

things i miss

just in case you're wondering, my adventures are spectacular.
i can't help but be in awe of all that is happening. as much as i LOVE what i'm doing, i can't help but compile a list of things i miss...and it's not often i get to confess it...so here goes:

• i missed fall. the closest thing i got to fall leaves was the envelope of leaves that bob's mom sent us in a mail packet-they were brown by the time they got there
• dakota-my other washburn. i love that guitar
• having the time to watch a sunset
• silence
• my computer-it's only purpose right now is a weight in my backpack-it's broke. i'm sad
• uploading pictures to faceook (?)...i like to tell stories in pictures. that's not happening.
  
• college football-got to watch the first alabama game of the season the other day-that's too many missed games.
  
• star gazing...big time.
• phone dates...
• i miss being able to encourage my friends all the time-via sending them notes/cards, lots of mail, or just calling/texting them often. so if you read this, know that i miss you.
• oh...last one. i miss not having to make decisions and schedules-what ever happened to spontaneous decision making and living by the seat of your pants?
  

that's a long enough list. know that in light of it all, i feel a much higher calling to be here living for Christ and doing His work. i'm already starting to wonder about next year...and i'm just hoping for the Lord's perfect plan to be revealed. i'm also getting more and more pumped for india. i know it'll be incredible. love from nebraska.

thanksgiving in april?

so im sitting here on the couch in april sort of thinking what happened today? no really!?
-awaken by texts for office party pizza
-time spent in the office
-pizza party picnic puppet show planned para picnictables with peggy extravaganza. yep, all of that happened in an afternoon (and felt completely normal)
-steaks on the grill (last night was steaks over the fire pit---heaven!)
and a turkey. yes, a turkey. on camp. in the schroeder's yard. for a long time. celine got super close and took pictures. and we all laughed and took videos.
the jank boys probably spent 15 minutes chasing it in my yard-trying to get me to let it go inside the house
and i ended up looking on as the schroeders fed it.
as celine and i were walking back to the office she said something to the extent of "see, this is why when people ask 'so, what did you do today?' i have a hard time answering them."
i couldn't agree more. camp life is beautiful, special, unique and unlike anything else. it's perfect. so happy thanksgiving in april from camp lutherhaven. it's true-i've got so much (x13) to be thankful for!