A Laugh to Start Off the Week...

Okay so here's a really funny story that unfolded today and I wanted to share it with you all. But bare with me because I've been told that my stories are never really that great (I think it's my delivery, or maybe it's just because what I see as "funny" or "worth-telling" isn't the same as everyone else's idea of "funny" or "worth-repeating" lol) Regardless, I will try. Here it goes:

A little over a week ago was Weekend 180 (which was SO much fun...and I still have yet to blog about it). I was with my fellow Senior Girls at the Frenz's house in Mount Airy, and it was a blast. Saturday morning we were all sitting around after breakfast, still munching on some of the delicious munchies a community group baked for us! I was sitting in the living room with a few other girls munching on some grapes. Next to the chair I was sitting on was a little table which had a few decorative things on display (note: Mrs Jolene Frenz is a wonderful decorator and has many things around her household that bring a shimmering glow to their already-beautiful house!) There was this one container-like thing that had a few random objects in it. It looked like grass with some rocks and other nature-like objects. It is kind of hard to describe (I wish I had a picture to show you...). As I finished up my grapes, I was holding onto the grape-vine that held them all together. While noticing the decorative container sitting next to me, I turned to Allison Milchling and said, "doesn't this grape-vine look like it belongs in this thing?" She looked at me and laughed as she watched me quietly sneek the grape-vine in with the moss-looking stuff and the rocks. I laughed out loud and turned to Allison again and asked, "do you think Mrs Jolene will notice?" Allison responded, "I doubt it!"

Meanwhile I turn to Mrs Jolene who is diligently working in the kitchen and asked her,
"Hey Mrs Jolene, I really like your little display here, it is very nice..."
She responded, "Why yes, I made it myself. I just pretty much throw whatever I want in there..."
"Me too." I mumbled quietly under my breath. Allison and I laughed uncontrollably together at Mrs Jolene who didn't have a clue as to what was going on.
"Leave it there," Allison said. And so I did...and there it stayed.

The story continues as I came home from school today...I drove up to my mailbox and got the mail, like any other day. The only thing in the mail today was an envelope addressed to me! I love getting mail!! I head inside and ripped open the envelope, not quite sure who it was from or what it was (there was no return address on it...). And if you hadn't guessed by now, this is what I found:



Yep...Mrs Jolene had found it I suppose and decided to send me the vine in the mail! Well, I don't know how funny this may be to you, but it completely made my day! I laughed for a really long time. Thanks for reading...I hope you found a giggle somewhere in there as well! :)

Resting In Him

This week has already begun to exhaust me. Last night I stayed up half the night praying because of the uneasy, and discouraged emotions I was feeling. I've really been wanting to blog, but because of this letter that I read this morning, I know I need to rest first. I don't believe I read this today on accident. So instead of blogging something I wrote, I want to share this because it basically sums up what I need to go do.

...You Need to Rest

I know you often grow weary. I hear your heartfelt cry for more energy to make it through each day. You, my tired one, must trust Me with all your many worries and responsibilities. Rest when I tell you to. I am your heavenly Father, and I know what My girl needs. So listen to the One who loves you the most and knows all about you. I want you to take a step of faith by setting aside a day each week to rest from all your work. If you will obey Me in this, I will multiply your time and supernaturally energize your efforts to get everything done in the following days. Welcome this opportunity to give your mind, body, and spirit a rest. Consider it My love gift to you, and relax in Me!

Love,

Your King and your Resting Place


"Then Jesus said, 'Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.'" -Matthew 11:28

An Encouraging Voice

"I know that He will raise up, He will conquer, but when I read about the cross I want to close my eyes until the in-between is over. Today, as I read each scripture, I was struck by something I have never put too much emphasis on before. Jesus did not return to His followers as a healed man. He had scars that told the story, that brought Thomas to belief. He was alive, fully alive, and yet, not unscathed. God chose to use these wounds to remind the world what He had overcome. It seems like if I were the writer of the story, I would heal them completely. Really show people what kind of power I had. Just make it look like it never happened...complete restoration. This isn't what God chose for Christ, and it isn't what He chooses for any one of us.

If we are called to suffer in the name of Jesus, we bear scars as well. He doesn't hide them when trouble has passed, but rather He allows our paths to cross with those who want to touch them, to believe in them, to fall into the arms of the one who allowed them to be inflicted.

I have prayed many, many times that the eyes that read these words will run their fingers along the wounded hands of Christ, letting His suffering tell you the depth of love He has for you.

This life is not about being healed.

It's about bearing wounds for the sake of the One who bore them for us. For you."

--Angie Smith

Heartbreaking, yet Humbling

I walked into school this morning, expecting the worst. The very first thing I noticed as I walked through the doors was...the silence. It's amazing to me how silence is ever-so present at a time like this. No one really knows what to say, or how to respond. Today was...hard, to say the least. As I walked through the quiet halls this morning I watched as her friends hung posters up with tears in their eyes. I saw unison among her softball team as they all wore wrist bands with Emily's #1 on them. It's so beautiful to see the togetherness and friendship because it's not cherished enough, but so hard to see the brokenness and pain that caused the bond. Today was one of those days where I felt completely helpless and upset that I never got the chance to be a peer-facilitator for our school. But I know that hugs can facilitate much better than words, and you don't need training for that. I was heartbroken for so many people today. I don't know what to say. I just know it's going to be a hard week for a lot of people. As overwhelming as it was, somehow it was completely humbling to sit at lunch today next to the spot where Emily used to sit. Another reminder that life is short, but in Jesus we have eternal life in heaven. It's hard for me to understand and imagine how a lot of people are going through this without Jesus. I can't imagine their feelings.

Keep the Burke family in your prayers. Pray for peace and a connection that they may have with God through this whole thing. Pray for God's love and peace over the Calderone family as well. Lift up the precious and broken hearts of Emily's friends in my school. Please pray for Aly Hird too, who is in serious condition now. And lift up Paul Burke as he deals with this pain and guilt he must be feeling and will continue to feel for a long time.

I am planning on going to the prayer service they're holding tonight at St. Joe's Catholic Church. I know this will be a time when a lot of people need comforting, and I want to be there. I'm praying that God would be evidently present there tonight.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." -Romans 8:28

A Worthwhile Trip

Last night I got home from a big adventure after about 12 hours of driving! Thursday afternoon, after my dad got home from work, we headed out for the big state of NY! "Why?" you may ask. Well, it is now April 5 and I have less than a month to make a decision about where I'm heading off to college. Needless to say, I still hadn't visited one of the two college's I'm still deciding from, until yesterday. My dad and I spent the night in a hotel (which was interesting nonetheless because I can't sleep when people snore, and lets just say my dad was in the bed right next to me, snoring away), and then we got up early and headed out for another hour (give and take a few half hours :) until we FINALLY found Houghton College. I guess I didn't take people seriously when they said this place was out in the middle of NOWHERE! When we had finally reached Houghton, I was officially in no-man's land. Although it had rained the whole day (which was okay, because it could have been snowing...), I had a really good day. We spent the morning talking to this younger, extremely funny and informative professor about their Pre-Physical Therapy program. It was interesting, and I learned a lot. Then there was their chapel. Which was very different from some of the things I've attended before, however it wasn't as different as I had expected (that's a good thing). After our tour, we ate some lunch, and then headed out for an info session for Psychology with Professor Stegen who has his PhD in Psychology. Let's just say that this guy was extremely passionate about what he was doing...and it was awesome. You could definitely tell that he was a professor, nonetheless. This parent that attended the same info session with us asked the professor a simple question and Stegen responded with "well that is your thesis..." haha...I found it humorous the way he talked with us, yet extremely inspiring. I talked to him one on one afterwards and I told him about my new-found glory and passion in possibly becoming a counselor. I told him about Camp Barnabas and how I'm going again this year. He was so encouraging. He told me how my experience is fantastic especially for getting into that field. And I'll never forget what he said next... "it's not about learning the facts in a classroom, because anyone can do that. It's about applying it to your life and using those facts to understand and relate to other people. And you seem like you've already gotten that."

After that session I became more confident and passionate about counseling and helping other people as a career, possibly. The very last session of the day confirmed something else I wish to study. Communications. The word, in general, gets me excited and makes me happy. Life is all about communication, and without it, we would have a lot of problems. The professor who was telling me all about this field of study, told me that it's definitely a great thing to get into, especially if I love writing. He even told me that there is a class that I can "take", however there is no lecture or classroom setting, you are just required to create a blog, and write freely about whatever. I turned to him and said, "I would SO pass that class!" He just laughed at me.

Anyway, it was a good day to say the least. I loved everything about Houghton. The campus, the people, the education, and most of all--the intimacy. It really opened my eyes to a lot of things. Even though I have less than a month to decide whether I'll be going to Houghton or Messiah in the fall, I still haven't made a final decision yet. I like Messiah a lot too. The only thing I didn't like about Houghton is the distance. It's going to be hard making this decision, but regardless of where I go, I am really excited about getting into Counseling Psychology and Communications...it's like two programs made just for me! :) I've never really been so certain about anything regarding what I want to do when I get to college, until now. So, I guess you could say, this is definitely a God thing.

Thanks for reading you guys!