Keeping up...

I have been horrible at posting updates on what's been going on in my life! If you were really curious...my apologies! Not much extraordinary has been going on, though. I just finished up my first year at UIUC...only one more to go (crazy!). I am scrapbooking and just enjoying the gorgeous weather we have been having for these in between weeks... not to mention trying to catch up with friends and family. I head out on June 2 for Camp on the Boulder...another summer of cooking :). I am so excited to be serving God and others in this capacity again! I am going to try to make a greater effort to keep my blog updated as I head out for another summer in Montana. Since internet is the easiest form of communication, (with cell phone service non-existent in the mountains) I will so my best to document my adventures and have some pictures posted also! God Bless y'all in whatever the summer holds for you!!!

It's been a while...

WOW....so, it has been an incredibly long time since I have written on here! With homework and projects, I can't say I have a whole lot of time to blog...not that I kept up on it much before ;). Well, here's what's been going on with me...
-Spring semester has been going quite well. I don't have any tests this semester, but have some major projects that count for around 90% of each class' grade. So, I have bee projecting a lot lately to try to keep on top of them all. Most are pretty interesting, but definitely a lot of work! I am also a TA this semester, which is a lot of fun and a challenge also at times.
-I am heading back to Montana and Camp on the Boulder for one more summer out there! I am very excited to go back to the mountains and have another busy, but peaceful summer in God's amazing creation! Not to mention spending time with another amazing crew!
- I am patiently, or more so unpatiently waiting word back from internship applications and interviews I have gone through in the past couple of weeks. They are great opportunities for next year to work on campus and really grow professionally.
- Stratford has been amazing... the girls are so awesome. As of the moment, I will be moving over to 312 for next year, though...a bit more independence for my senior year.
- I am starting to look at Grad schools...so many to choose from and also at different programs that I could go into...the specialization continues and praying about which avenue to take.
- I still haven't really found a church that I call home while here on campus...I guess I go home too much :). Although, I have an amazing small group that I really love through one church in Urbana!
- No man in my life (other than God, my dad, and brother). And, quite frankly, am not really looking for one at this point...I'd prefer to get through undergrad without that distraction. But, we'll see what God has in store in that department when it come that time...
I think that brings my life up to date for the blog... I can't guarantee when the next time I'll be on again :). I am SO excited for spring break , though... a few more days!!!!

God Bless all!!!!

Christmastime...

It is incredibly hard to believe that this semester is already done, but it is also a great feeling to have all of my finals turned in and feel good about all of my classes. It has been quite the semester...a transition to UIUC, finally getting to move in to Stratford House with all of its new house quirks, and learning a lot from being on a huge campus with a lot of people. It has, overall, been a great semester.

Over break, I don't have much planned other than catching up with friends and getting a start on my research project for next semester and my leadership certificate portfolio. I am looking forward to many visits, and just enjoying some time free from worry.

Next semester is looking good as well...still no classes on Fridays :)! I am going to TA an intro to leadership studies course... yay! And, a a fair load of classes also.

Starting to look ahead to summer...looking at a few internships out in DC, but also am considering going back out to MT (which I said I wasn't going to do).

So, that's me in a nutshell at the moment...guess I am going to head up to be bed now...
g'night!

Simple Satisfaction

This is an amazingly beautiful poem that was a wakes note this week, and I just looked it up. It really hit home for me...

Everyone longs to give themselves completely to someone. To have a deep soul relationship with another, to be loved thoroughly and exclusively. But God to the Christian says, "No, not until you're satisified and fulfilled and content with living, loved by Me alone and giving yourself totally and unreservedly to Me, to have an intensely personal and unique relationship with Me alone.

"I love you, My child, and until you discover that only in Me is your satisfaction to be found, you will not be capable of the perfect human relationship that I have planned for you. You will never be united with another until you are united with Me -- exclusive of anyone or anything else, exclusive of any other desires or belongings.

"I want you to stop planning, stop wishing, and allow Me to bring it to you. You just keep watching Me, expecting the greatest things. Keep learning and listening to the things I tell you. You must wait.

"Don't be anxious and don't worry. Don't look around at the things you think you want. Just keep looking off and away up to Me, or you'll miss what I have to show you.

"And then, when you're ready, I'll surprise you with a love far more wonderful than any you would ever dream. You see, until you are ready and until the one I have for you is ready, I am working this minute to have both of you ready at the same time, and until you are both satisfied exclusively with Me and the life I've prepared for you, you won't be able to experience the love that exemplifies your relationship with Me, and this is perfect love.

"And dear one, I want you to have this most wonderful love. I want you to see in the flesh a picture of your relationship with Me, and to enjoy materially and concretely the everlasting union of beauty and perfection and love that I offer you with Myself. Know I love you. I am God Almighty, believe and be satisfied."

So beautiful... I am amazed by His love and excited for the future...the 'perfect relationship He has planned for me' ...
It both encourages me and challenges me to go deeper...to seek Him passionately with everything I have, which is really something I have been struggling with lately. I find myself being so focused on homework and my seemingly endless to-do list that I push aside quite time.. thinking I will get to it later and the paper that is due in 3 hours really needs a final read through first. Then, I never get back to spending that quality time with God. This summer I was amazed at the things He was showing me simply because I was investing that time into seeking Him and His will...and I have lost touch with that lately. It has really been on my heart that I truly need to put Him first in my day again...I would appreciate your prayers in this, as I know it will not be an easy task to change a habit created in the past few months being here at school.

Procrastinating...

Well, I have two papers to do, plus a quiz to study for and an outline for a website...but, what am I doing??? Posting :)! OK, but not for long, because I really do need to get back to work. I am super excited about this week...I am heading to Indi for a short trip to National FFA Convention! It will be a good time of seeing lots of people I haven't seen in a long time - yay! The only down side is that I have to miss classes, which I really do not like doing. Oh, well. Then, I will have a bit of time Friday morning to do some homework before leaving for the i-program insight. I am excited to meet some more people at UIUC at see how they run their leadership programs. The rest of the weekend will be focused on what I do best...homework! Which, speaking of, it is calling my name! Hope y'all are having an amazing week!!!

Back in Action...No Promises

Alrighty...it is always a good thing to remember your log in and password. But, when in doubt and have absolutely no clue...create a new blog :). So, here it is and I actually wrote down the info this time around. I give no promise as to how much I will actually keep this updated, but it is here and it has allowed me to officially procrastinate anything that I had hoped to get accomplished tonight...there's always the morning! Have a great night! .