Time flies when you're havin' fun...

Ever notice how fast time goes? You probably did... everyone does at some point. But it always seems to be too late. Ya know, when life has seemed to pass you bye. Then you look back and wish you would have taken advantage of the time you were given. I am trying my hardest not to do this with this experience of Entourage. I am traveling all over the place, seeing some of the most beautiful places and meeting the greatest people (all of whom are very different from one another) and somehow I feel like I'm missing some of it. What does it take to really savor a moment? Is it about attitude? A mindset? Or is it simply letting go, being free and just being yourself? Freedom brings a sense of joy and beauty into everything... so take risks, let go, be yourself and most importantly be free! Time will always fly by... might as well make the most of every opportunity!

Already half way done...

I can't believe that already we are half way done with our adventure
on Entourage. This summer has been so amazing and unexpected. Going
into something like this you really have no idea what to expect. Two
weeks of training, months of preparation and many friends telling me
stories of their summers on the team... I am still blown away. There
are certain things you just have to experience for yourself to
understand.
We have the opportunity to impact lives just because of the title we
hold. That has been crazy to me! While at Vanguard making this team is
such a big deal... Then you get to camps and all of that fades away.
The kids are enthralled with us but all we long for is a deep
conversation with them. I love to seek out the students that are
sitting by themselves and find out their story. It seems that kids
wilk tell us anything... They are so open just wanting someone that
really cares. To be that person to someone else is more than I could
ever ask for.
Entourage is known for being funny but that is not our favorite part
of our job by any means... Nor is it the majority of what we do. I am
not sure I have ever been this exhausted in my entire life. We are
doing things from about 8:30am to 1am. Needless to say I hate the
sound of an alarm going off. The worst job yet: cleaning the tab
(where they have service) at midnight. I hated that job... Poor Dale
often has to do it by himself. You should pray him. The best job:
running the zipline in New Mexico. We got to help kids conquer their
fears and when we were done we got to soar down ourselves! So fun!
Some interesting people...
Dale: (already mentioned above) he loves Star trek and always gave
high fives in the spock symbol. Oh Dale!
LeeAnn: a girl from New Mexico camp that started every conversation
with and compared everything to waffles. Wow is all I have to say!
Becca: stayed in my dorm in Colorado and was by my side at every
moment of every day.
We have had an amazing opportunity to be with such incredible people.
That also makes it one of the hardest parts of our job... We meet cool
people, build relationships with them not knowing if we will ever see
them again!
Lives are surely being changed. I have seen kids be completely
transformed in one week. Miracles have happened right before my eyes.
There was a girl in New Mexico that had been deaf her entire life and
now she can hear! One thing I have learned is it does not matter how
the speaker is or how powerful the worship is or how goofy we are...
God is sovereign and he will work regardless of us! I want to praise
him for the rest of my life!
Missing all of you and loving life...

Leaving Soon...

I cannot believe that we are leaving in only two days to go to Arizona. This past week has been wonderful and I am so grateful we had a week off before we leave. Last weekend we went to San Diego to stay at Kristin's house. We just relaxed, went to the beach, got manicures and pedicures and had home cooked food... yum! It was so relaxing- exactly what we needed before we head out. We have been able to go to the store and stock up on things that we need for the trip. It is amazing how much you have to get before you go on a trip: ridiculous!!! :) Oh Well. I have also had the chance to hang out with my wonderful friends before I head out. I will miss them dearly!

Well, we have been able to play a lot of Nertz (card game), make our apartment a disaster, go to disneyland, try cooking some meals, and watch a lot of movies... needless to say I think we are ready to hit the road!

Till next time- God bless!

Ending one adventure and on to the next...

I just wrapped up one of the greatest journeys I have ever traveled. Life as an R.A. was more than I could have ever imagined or expected. Going into the job I really didn't know what to expect. I simply opened my arms and said, "God, work in me. Do whatever you want with me." He definitely rocked my world. Looking over this past year I can honestly say I am not the same person as I was a year ago. I learned so much while being on the Catalina R.A. staff-
1. I learned what true community is. My staff of eight amazing women surrounded me with love and care that was beyond anything I have ever experienced in a church. I was continually saying, "this is what it means to be the church." We knew we could ask each other for something without worrying about repaying one another. We didn't worry about offending one another; we lived in true acceptance of one another and loved each other for our differences. We shared everything- not worrying about what is mine and what is yours. We were a family! Ashley, Ally, Britters, Jessie, Jessica, Alaina, Katie and Bethany- I love you!!!
2. I learned how to feel- My year started with the realization that I had closed myself off from actually feeling any true emotion. Bethany, along with several other people, challenged me to be real with myself so I could in turn be real with others. I learned how to be vulnerable and honest. God took my brokenness and made it into something lovely.
3. I learned a lot about love! I have an amazing God who pursues me daily. He loves me even though I mess up daily. His love has been utterly amazing to me over the last year. There have been sweet sweet moments with him where all I wanted to do was sit in his arms. I also have an incredible boyfriend that daily models Christ's love- not just to me but to everyone around him! He has loved me into a better version of myself. I am still trying to learn from him what it means to sacrifice, to put other people's needs before your own and to love unconditionally. Thank you Chris for teaching me so much! I have a family that pours into me and supports me in all my dreams and aspirations. I am shown so much love from them daily- even when no words are spoken. Thank you for cutting me some slack, taking care of me when I was sprawled across the couch for a week and for sacrificing a lot to come visit me!
4. I learned that love and grace can go a long way!
5. I learned to take risks, do things I would have never done and to savor the moments in life.
6. I learned to walk alongside God in a partnership of ministry allowing him to be my strength and motivation.
7. I learned to find rest in my heart even if I can't find it anywhere else!
8. I learned that among all the things we do on this earth- people are the most important!

The list could go on forever... that will do for now!

Wrapping up that journey and saying goodbye to a job that allowed me to practice a lot of my gifts, talents and things I love to do was difficult! I hated saying goodbye to everyone, knowing that I will never again experience anything like that again! Now, I am on to another adventure: Entourage!

We are in training week right now, learning all of the ins and outs of our job. We leave on June 8th to travel around the Western United States to Youth Camps. We have the opportunity to impact lives, serve students and promote Vanguard. It is an honor to be a part of this team. I don't know quite what to expect... it is scary, exciting and nerve racking all at the same time. We'll see what God has in store this time...

Best Friends in the World...

God has blessed me more than I could have ever asked him to. Since being back at Vanguard for the semester I have been sick. (It is amazing what God can teach you through sickness). My friends have taken such great care of me! Here is a shout out to Ally, Jessica, Kristin, Chris, and Katie for taking care of me!

This school year has been so amazing and as I think about its coming to a close I get extremely sad. I have been surrounded with a family here at school. The Catalina R.A. staff has taught me what true community looks like. We have such a good time together. In fact we can't seem to get enough of each other. My whole life I have longed for friendships where there is love, period. No expectations, ladders to climb or anything to prove and I finally have that in this group of girls. We love each other. That is it! We will do anything for one another... without expecting something in return.

I have been learning how to appreciate people for their differences. Though we love each other very much we are also very different. The great part about working on a team is you have to work around those differences. Many people see them as hindrances but I think each of us bring something so unique to the team... I wouldn't want it any other way! I simply have the greatest job in the world!

I just applied to be on the drama ministry team- Entourage. If you don't know what that is ask me... we'll talk. If I make it I will be traveling all summer with three other women to youth camps to minister to students and recruit for Vanguard. I have always wanted to be a part of this team and feel called to this this summer. Please pray with me... I find out this week.

Chris and I are doing great! God sure does teach you a lot in relationships. He has loved me into a better version of myself and I know I want to spend the rest of my life with him. Don't get too excited. There is no ring on my finger yet... we just know that is where we are headed! I thank God for him daily and have learned so much from him!

Jesus has a way of rocking your world...

Sorry it has been so long since I have blogged! The past month seems to have been a whirlwind! My days and weeks all seem to run together. I write this today to give you an update on my life. It won't be me telling you everything is amazing cause that simply is not real. God has turned my life upside down! Luckily as he breaks us he also holds us and molds us. Where should I start?
First of all, I came into this year wanting so much to balance Chris, my friends and the girls on my floor. I was extremely purposeful with my time with them and honestly did a pretty good job balancing the three. However, a couple weeks into school realized that I had left out one extremely huge part... SCHOOL!!! Now that I went through some extremely stressful and tough weeks I finally feel like I have a handle on things again. It is difficult because I am used to being able to get ahead in all of my work and as an R.A. that just simply isn't realistic. I just did my Bible Study today for my Preaching and Teaching class which went very well (glad that is over). I love my major because not only am I getting an education, I am getting challenged spiritually. I really could not ask for more.
My relationship with Chirs is going great! He is a constant in my life and I could not thank him enough. We challenge each other constantly, urging one another to grow and to gravitate towards Christ. He is truly a blessing and some days I don't feel that I would be able to get out of bed if it were not for him.
Things at Vanguard are incredibly difficult right now. Because of financial trouble that has been building up for almost ten years our school has had to lay off a number of people. We just found out yesterday that three of our beloved staff members in Student Life are being let go. This may not seem like a big deal but one of them is our Dean of Students, Linda Hartzell. She is the most amazing people I have ever met. When you look at her you see Christ and she has a love for people that can only flow out of her love for Christ. The impact that she has has on this community cannot be summed up in words. Our department (student life), our Catalina R.A. staff, and our community are all taking a very hard hit with her leaving. Needless to say, we are all heartbroken. We feel as though a piece of the heart of Vanguard is being taken out. We know God still is holding us in his hands and I am trying to rest in that but we are broken as a school right now.
Life has been extremely challenging but I came into this year knowing that it would be. I have prayed for growth and to become more like Christ and that is never an easy experience. In order to be more like him, he has to break us! Please continue to pray for me, my friends, my school, and the girls on my floor. May God be glorified in all that we do! Blessings!

My world has been turned upside down...

It has been over a month since I have blogged anything with good reason! I am back in Cali with a whole new life. All my preparation for R.A. has brought me to this floor of 36 beautiful women who I have the great privelege of pouring into this next year. When I first came back I left the next day for a retreat with all of the leadership of Vanguard (about 100 students). It was awesome! The weather was a little... or a lot too hot, there were flies EVERYWHERE but other than that it was amazing! We really got to bond with our staff and learn a lot about one another. I am an R.A. in Catalina, which is the sophomore girls dorm. I work alongside 7 other amazing women who already have taught me so much. My boss Bethany is incredible and I cannot wait to be mentored by her!

When we got back from leadership retreat my parents were here with all of my stuff!! God bless them! They are seriously just amazing! How blessed I am! They helped me get my room situated and my floor put together. I could not have done it without them! Thanks Mom and Dad:) That following Monday was my birthday along with the beginning of a pretty intense week of R.A. training. My birthday was great and my friends really blessed me! (My internet isn't working in my room right now so I can't put pictures on... sorry... they will be coming soon!)

My floor is all set up and I absolutely love it! The theme is The Gallery: Beauty Defined. God really placed this theme on my heart and I know it is what these girls need this year. Please join me in praying that we will learn to define our beauty in Christ. My girls arrived this past monday and it has been so fun getting to know them. I know I am where I am supposed to be. God has placed me in this position of leadership and I look forward to seeing what He has in store.

Hope life is treating you all well! Pictures will come soon!