JOYFULLY...

One Year Anniversary

2011-10-03T10:50:00.006-05:00

Has it seriously been an entire year since I said 'I do' to my best friend? This year has been an incredible blessing sharing every moment with Curtis. As we talked last night about the past year, we have been through a lot together in one years time.

I lost both my grandparents, new jobs, surgery, sickness, marriage retreats, birthdays, vacations, new family members :) (sweet sweet Titus Malaki).

What a roller coaster of events! Curtis has made every sad moment, easier, and every happy moment, better! Everyday I am reminded of God being the giver of all good gifts, marriage being one of the sweetest gifts he has given! It comes with responsibility, difficulty, but more then anything, it comes with the biggest blessings of my life! I get to see Christ everyday with the way Curtis loves, forgives, and serves me! What a blessing this man is in my life! Words cannot say how much I love him! Thank you, Jesus for him :)

Dad

2011-06-17T17:52:00.002-05:00

Sunday is Father's Day... Well I hate to brag, but I got the best. Words are simply insufficient when it comes to how much this one man means to me. The heavenly Father sure showed His love to me by blessing me with this earthly Father. I am blessed to call him dad. And to call him literally at any moment and he is there. His love for me has given my confidence to do things I didn't think I could do. His love has given me security in who I am as a woman. His love brings me to tears. We have been through a lot together and he has been a blessing the whole way. He sounds a lot like someone else I know, named Jesus. (My dad is not Jesus) But he has shown me what it looks like to be like HIM... and for that I am forever grateful!
Thank you for the blessing you are to me everyday dad! I love you more then words.
Happy Father's Day!

pure excitement!

2010-12-30T01:13:00.006-06:00

Wow! I am terrible at blogging... Good at reading others, but bad about keeping mine up... Oh well :)
So I can't sleep, so I thought I would do a quick catch up...
October 2...(I may have mentioned this once before:) best day of my life thus far... I got to marry this incredibly handsome man, who loves Jesus and loves me :)
Fast forward.... We spent Thanksgiving in Cortez, Colorado with his family... It was good, but hard being away from mine! Words cannot suffice for how thankful I am for my new family that God has blessed me with! I absolutely could not ask for better in-laws or a better bro and sis in-law... They are such a blast! I LOVE THEM!!! Curtis and I got home and put up Christmas decorations, and thanks to mom, we had a full house of them :) It was so cozy!

Fast forward....We spent Christmas Eve at our house with my brother, mom, and mike. I made Curtis' fav, chicken pot pie! We played games and enjoyed time together! My mom and I made cookies and home made cinnamon rolls... They turned out fabulous if you were wondering! :)

Rich, Cristie, and my bro stayed the night with us on Christmas Eve... and we all spend Christmas morning together! It was so nice to be home for our first Christmas together... the morning was the only time it felt like Christmas all season! Then RJ and Rach hosted Christmas day! We ate yummy food and played basketball because it was a good 50 degrees outside :) It didn't feel like Christmas, but I wasn't sad! Because Jesus is bigger then my feelings! Thank goodness!

So then on Sunday after church, Curtis and I rode up to Powderhorn with his parents! Powderhorn is the closest ski resort to us! We stayed up there until today! We had a blast skiing, eating, and playing games! We laughed so much!

We drove home today in a blizzard... I mean, of course there was no snow when we got home, but coming off the mountain was a white out!

Curtis and I put up all the Christmas decorations tonight and got everything cleaned up! Let me just brag on my incredible husband real quick... He is the biggest help ever... He did more then I could have asked of him! I am sooooo thankful for a man who does above and beyond!

Ok so, yes, it is almost one in the morning... but I CAN'T SLEEP... GUESS WHAT?!?!

JOHNNY, BROOKE, AND KINSLEY get here tomorrow afternoon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They are staying with us til Saturday and then we are all driving over to Denver to go to the last Bronco game of the season and staying with Brooke's parents! YAY!!!!!!!

And on that note... I am going to try to sleep again... wish me luck! God is soooo GOOD! Thank you Lord for your incredible blessings!!

2010-10-14T14:29:00.003-05:00

Things are craaaazy right now!

It has been a whirlwind couple of weeks. We got married 12 days ago. It already seems like so long ago. Maybe because a lot has happened in the past couple weeks. Besides embarking on an incredible journey that the Lord has blessed me with, there have been a few other big things happen.

For our honeymoon, we went to Telluride, CO/ Mountain Village, CO. It was absolutely perfect. Everything about October 1-7 was indescribable. We had a about 190 guests at our stunning outdoor wedding. White tents, twinkle lights, in 75 degree weather, yummy food, dancing, with all (almost all) of my loved ones. Seriously, I do not know what more could a girl ask for? It was a perfect day.

We came back to reality, late Tuesday evening, to house full of presents and all of my things, still in boxes. Slightly overwhelming. :) Curtis and I, with the help of my sweet mom, are finally settled in to our great little condo. We are not completely done with things, but for now, it is perfect.

I got a very bitter sweet phone call last Thursday night. My Papa, who is very dear to me and my entire family, passed away. He went peacefully, but it was an incredibly emotional night. My mom and I drove as quickly as we could to say goodbye to him. His five children were there, along with me and a couple of my cousins. This may sound very strange, but there is something so precious about seeing grown children weep over their father, who is with the Father.

Through the deep sorrow with the loss of our grandpa, I just want to share what the Lord revealed to me the night before my Papa's funeral. He revealed it to me through a dream. The dream is vague, except for one part that is clear as clear can be; the part where I was watching my Papa run and jump with the biggest smile imaginable. He was free, free indeed. Thank You JESUS. Praise You Lord!!

On a completely different note, I am officially FULL time at work. So starting next week, I will have a solid 40 hour work week. Insane. It is a first for me. I feel incredibly blessed with this job and am so thankful that the Lord has me in this place.

It is the season to be thankful and that I am.

IM A FIANCE!!!!!!!

2010-06-26T20:06:00.002-05:00

Hopefully all of you have heard by now but I AM ENGAGED to a wonderful, caring, sweet, man named Curtis, that loves me and loves the Lord! He cherishes me and treats me better then I could have imagined! He is a blessing from the Lord and I am so thankful for him! We are now a week into planning the wedding and I am already for it to be over because really all that matters to me is that I am marrying him :) But we are so excited to start life together and for all of you to be a part of this exciting new journey we are on! Thank you for all your love and support! I can't wait for you all to meet this awesome man!

exactly a year ago...

2010-05-30T18:10:00.004-05:00

A year ago today I landed in Vienna to start the amazing race with about 70 other interns. We raced through 4 different countries in 3 days. It was absolutely incredibly. Little did I know that the next 7 months of my life would be a priceless journey. It is really emotional for me to think about those 7 months of my life in Slovenia. The blessings that came and are continuing to come from that journey are impossible to explain other then the fact that I have a Savior that loves me dearly. I am in tears thinking about the love that Jesus has for me. It is actually really hard for me to accept because I know more then anyone that I am unworthy of His love. And that is why it is called GRACE. Trying to think about how to put into words everything that Jesus did for me while I was in Slovenia is quite impossible, but I will name a few because I want Him to have all the glory!

The biggest most tangible blessing is Johnny and Brooke. I kinda absolutely hate not doing everyday life with them. They have been the the most influential people in my life in more ways then I can count. For me, they have set the bar for what marriage should look like, for standards to live by, and for loving people. We got the opportunity to be completely vulnerable with each other, and through their vulnerability, it allowed my eyes to be opened to things Christ needed me to see. This is all in addition to, the many hours of prayer, provision, love, and sacrifice, they made for me to spend 7 months in their home. And its just a blessing that they will forever be a huge part of my life. I could go on and on, but won't :) Only God knows how much He used them. I don't even know it all yet!

Second, would be probably be just the desire that God stirred in me. I can honestly say that my desire to do ministry was really a result of being in Slovenia. I love that I get to serve Christ and do ministry as my job! There is nothing I would rather do!

Another thing that is not quite as tangible, but just as real, is my security. And really I am probably the only one who can tell a real difference but I am way more secure and open about who I am. And being able to freely communicate in my relationships about who Christ is and what He has done in me, is changing me! I have a different kind of confidence then I have in the past.

So there a few significant blessing, but I don't know if that's even scratching the surface. I have tools now to fight the enemy that I didn't know before. And I have truth that continues to shape me today!

Wow... I am incredibly thankful for the Lord's goodness and grace!

good news!

2010-04-26T16:23:00.002-05:00

I had a conversation with one of the most influential mentors in my life (misty jaggers) before I moved to Colorado in faith. (That was a lot of prepositions in one sentence and is probably a run-on sentence. I probably should have paid more attention in 6th grade when we learned about them... oh well)

Anyway, I remember saying to her, I am not sure what Colorado holds for me, but I am SURE God's plan is bigger and better then I can imagine! Well, to be completely honest, I haven't really felt that the past few months I have been here.... Until last Monday... The church offered me another day of work and free housing! Which is huge! It is a pay raise, but more then that, it means privacy, no more commuting, being able to get more of a consistent community and schedule, and being able to do so much more!!

So on top of all of these huge blessings, there is something more. A huge desire of my heart lately, about the past year or so, has been to be a part of resident life again. I miss college, dorm life, and just that dynamic kind of living. Ok I don't really miss the sharing a room in a dorm, but there is something that is so dynamic about it all. I have this desire to be a resident director one day. And that could be because my RD was and is one of the biggest blessings in my life. She has no idea how much the Lord has used her in my life over and over again!

Ok so all that to say that I will be in charge of 5 summer interns starting in May! I will have two girl interns and 3 guy interns living in the intern house with me. Don't worry, girls and guys are separated!! I AM SO EXCITED! When the position was offered to me, my heart immediately just jumped at the idea! So I told them I wanted to pray about it first, and I did, and accepted on Wednesday! I will be moving to Grand Junction around May 20th! YAY!!!

God is faithful, even when I am not. THANK YOU LORD! AMEN!

Roller coaster!

2010-04-05T18:42:00.002-05:00

I am daily reminded of what a roller coaster ride I am! My emotions are so inconsistent and its a daily walk of ups and downs.

Yesterday, being Easter and my favorite holiday and the busiest Sunday of the year at church, I was a bit up and down! I woke up to a text from my dad saying, He is risen and Happy Easter. It immediately started my day out right. Then I walked into the bathroom, bright and early (6:30am), to find an Easter basket from my mom. AND NOOOO!! IM NOT TOO OLD TO GET AN EASTER BASKET! It seriously put the biggest smile on my face! Followed by tears. She thinks it's just something small, but it means more then she'll ever know. I was flooded with the best memories from my childhood. Maybe that's some of why its my favorite holiday!

So with all of that being said, I cannot express what a relief it is that no matter my inconsistency, the Lord is still faithful. Despite my failures and ups and downs and insecurities, HE IS FAITHFUL. He knows what I need before I ask and before I even know that I need something from Him. I have seen that so much lately. Especially in my job. I have been getting lots of compliments on the work I am doing, but I can say without a question, that it is FULLY 100% the Lord and He knows that more then anyone else. He knows where my heart is right now, even though I am not even sure where it is.

So today I am thankful that even though I am a complete and utter mess, He is faithful. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He loves me no matter what.

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' "
- 2 Corinthians 12:9

get real.

2010-04-01T23:33:00.002-05:00

so im getting terrible at blogging... of course, i am still reading them, but just not participating in them...

im exhausted... but i dont think its because a lack of sleep. that could totally be part of it but i think its more just an emotional exhaustion. i dont even want to talk about it bc ill probably start crying but basically i just miss home. and im not even sure where that is anymore. its another one of those times where i remember that this place is not my home.

Easter is my favorite season and holiday of all, but i havent taken the time to enjoy it. ive been lazy and selfish. hate admitting that but truth hurts. i have so many things to be thankful. why am i not focusing on them? why did Jesus make the biggest, most costly, sacrifice anyone could ask for, and i am sitting here in self pity?

Jesus. I confess that I have been selfish. I confess my doubt and unbelief. I confess my messed up priorities. Did I confess my selfishness? Lord, forgive me.

I cannot say thank you enough for your sacrifice of giving your life for ME. You didnt have to, but You chose to. its mind boggling. I am thankful even though I know I haven't been living in a way that would show my deepest gratitude. i will start now. Jesus you are good. Your love abounds. Your grace is sufficient. Forgive me.

2010-02-23T18:03:00.002-06:00

So I am loving my job as the Nursery and Pre-k Coordinator. I work Sat- Mon and so far I like and I think I will like more as time goes on and I really am doing everything the job requires! It is stretching and challenging and will hopefully eventually be rewarding! :)
I am trying to stay positive and praise God through the tough times but if I can be completely honest right now I am just discouraged. And doing a lot of questioning.

Did I make the right decision in moving to Colorado?
Was it a mistake?
Is this just the enemy attacking me?
Am I doing something wrong?
Am I ever going to fit in here?
Should I fit in here?
Should I move back to Oklahoma in May where all my friends and community exists already?
Am I doing something wrong?
Am I not doing enough?

I miss my community more then ever right now. Probably because I don't have one here. I don't have anyone pouring into me or am I getting to pour into anyone else! Someone that I respect sooo much said to me, 'its not necessarily what you are doing but WHO you are doing it with'! Well did I make a mistake because I have no community here. Maybe I need to be patient and it will come but I freaking miss my friends! I even had a dream last night that they all surprised me and I was like screaming and crying and so happy at the same time. And then I woke up. Needless to say it hasn't been the greatest day. Besides missing everyone, I need a job and a vehicle. Am I not trusting God? Should I not be here? Am I not listening? Or did I not listen?

Work!!

2010-02-05T14:56:00.004-06:00

I start my new job on Monday! I will be working part time at Fellowship Church. I will be in the 0-5 department working the volunteers, making sure parents know where to take their kids, making sure the classrooms have everything they need, etc. They have 3 services, one Saturday night and two on Sunday morning, that I will be in charge of! I am really really excited! It's only going to be on Sat-Mon, so I am looking for another part time job in Delta. Right now I do not have any leads, but maybe some possibilities. I am completely trusting the Lord to provide. His providence in my life has blown me away the past few months and I know He is not going to leave me hanging! He knows my desires and what I need, so I am trusting Him! He is continuing to be faithful even when I fail to be! What a great God we serve! So there is a little update for ya! Hope all is well for you!!!!

"Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD." - Psalm 27:14

"The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace." -Psalm 29:11

another adventure!

2010-01-25T21:05:00.004-06:00

I am currently at Denver International Airport, which is one of my favorite airports because it feels like home, or at least that I am close to home :) I can't believe I am really moving to Colorado... I am saying it is temporary right now... My plan is to stay in Delta until May and then see from there. I am saying May because I will be going back to OKC for my little sis's COLLEGE GRADUATION! Holy crappy!! I am so proud of that girl! She is a rockstar if you ask me! But that is a whole other story... SO if it doesn't work out then I will move back and if it does work then I will be moving all of my stuff to Co then... So we will see!

I said all my goodbyes to my incredible community in Oklahoma, AGAIN. I couldn't feel more loved or supported by a group of people. People who support me despite what they want :) Who pray for me and love me no matter how crazy I may be :)

Today I said bye to my sweet nephew and rockstar sister. Then to Amanda and Addie :( We went to Mimi's Cafe (our favorite place to say goodbye apparently :) And we definitely had to play a last game of nertz before I left. And yes we sure did just play in the restaurant :) And we thought of Becca the whole time!!! I am trying to upload pics and its not working :(

I keep saying that I am sad to leave but excited to go :) It totally makes sense even if it doesn't sound like it at first thought :) It's kind of exciting not really knowing what the future holds... It would be boring if I knew what the rest of my life held :) And I KNOW that I know God has incredible things in store for me!! I can't wait to watch Him work out all the details, details that haven't even crossed my mind! God is sooo good and I am stepping out in faith, completely trusting Him! You should try it sometime if you haven't before. Its awesome!!!

"We live by faith, not by sight." - 2 Cor 5:7

colorado!

2010-01-12T22:01:00.002-06:00

SOOOO.... its been a crazy few weeks back in the states! I just got home from Colorado! It was a great time spending time with and catching up with my family! I got to spend New Years with a lot of my family and we just had a great weekend together! Then I got to be there with my cousin Nicole who had a baby boy on the 5th. That was fun! And I just spent the week hanging out with the family!

So the question is... WHAT NOW? Well I finally have a little bit of an idea. I made a decision to move to Colorado. I kind of feel like its another step of faith because there is some unknown that comes along with moving. I will be living with my cousin Nicole who has two kids and needs a little bit of help. I will be substitute teaching as soon as I get my license. There is also a possible job at a church. I am praying about what God has for me! And would appreciate your prayers as well!

Just wanted to give a quick update :)

A White Merry Christmas!!

2009-12-25T09:28:00.004-06:00

Merry Christmas from Oklahoma!

This is the worst winter storm we have had in 10 years apparently! It is seriously insane but kinda fun! My brother and I spent most of Christmas Eve with my 13 month old cousin, Braxton, while his mom and dad we stuck at work all day! Melissa got home around 5:30 pm and Justin FINALLY, after about 4 hours of trying to get home, got home around 9:30 pm. Dad got stuck at home, so we weren't with him at all on Christmas Eve and don't know if we will get to be with him on Christmas Day because the roads are so bad. It doesn't feel like Christmas this year at all but its been pretty fun and I have laughed a lot :) Last night Justin, Melissa, Jake, and I made snow ice cream and played scattergories! I am terrible at the game but still love it!

Right now everyone is still asleep, so I decided to take advantage of the little bit of alone time I have! Its quiet and peaceful! And I don't feel like that is how my life has been the past couple weeks... or really just week and a half since I have been home! I have been crazy busy catching up with family and friends!! Its been great seeing people, but weird too. Nothing has changed really. Everything is exactly as I left it. I hate feeling like this, but sometimes I tend to feel like I didn't even leave. It's only in my quiet time that I GET to stop and think about it. So I really probably just need to take a day alone and process. My sweet friend Becca, who is a missionary in Mexico, keeps yelling at me to take time to process. No excuses.

Also, I went to Amarillo, TX on tuesday and wednesday with a group from Cashion, Ok, led by Mitch and Krista Houston, who have some of the biggest hearts for people I have ever known. We worked with an organization called Faith City Ministries. It was really really cool! We got to hear testimony after testimony of how the Lord is so faithful, even to those of us who are not faithful to Him. We went basically just to put on a Christmas party for the students at FCM and it was successful! While the party was going on, I was helping watch about 15 kids, 4 of which were infants, and if you know me at all, you know I was holding a baby the whole time! She was 2 months old and was about the size of a new born. She was tiny. She had 2 older brothers, around 2 and 5 years old, and their mom was about a year younger then me. Check out what FCM is doing for people and how its changing lives everyday.

Wow... I am not very good at transitioning... How am I supposed to go from that to Merry Christmas?

Merry Christmas! I am so thankful that God sent His son Jesus, to take on flesh and save me from a life condemned to hell. We serve an AWESOME God.

God Bless You this Christmas day!

⁸And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ^a]" the Lord. ¹²This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Luke 2: 8-12

Happy Thanksgiving!!

2009-11-30T05:55:00.004-06:00

This is some of the JV team on our boat ride after Thanksgiving!!

This is our 2nd turkey dinner at our church on Saturday!

I hope you had a very Happy Thanksgiving! I did! It was really hard being away from all my family, but I couldn't help but to be thankful for where the Lord has placed me!! And I got to have two turkey dinners... One with the JVSlo team on Thanksgiving Day and another with people from church on Saturday! I am so thankful this year! Especially for the past 6 months!! And all of my family, friends, and supporters who have made it possible! Words will never be able to express how thankful I am to and for all of you!!

Tomorrow I am taking an 8 hour train ride to Prague. I am really excited! I have wanted to see Prague for a long time now and I am finally going to get to! I am a little nervous about the train ride alone, but trust that I am in the Lord's hands! I will be going into schools wed- friday helping with English and promoting a concert put on by a band called Dizmas... this link will tell you more... they put on a concert at the end of the week and share the Gospel! I'll be helping them out this week. Then I'll come home on Saturday! Right in time for the last youth group that I will get to be a part of...

Then next tuesday-thursday, we are going up to the castle that we had English camp for a prayer retreat! I cannot tell how excited I am for this!! The founder and leader of JV, will be putting this on for us! It is going to be a very powerful time!! A great way to spend my last couple days in Slovenia. Then the next Tuesday, I get on a flight to come home... I cannot believe I am leaving in two weeks! I have so many mixed emotions! So if you think about it, keep me in your prayers! It will be a difficult transition!

The clock is ticking!

2009-11-22T07:31:00.004-06:00

Last week I went to Vatja, Hungary for a conference called Speakers Week at a bible college. A couple people I know from church went there for school and it was cool to get to see part of their world. We had a great time of fellowship together... Unfortunately, when I took so many awesome pics of the place, I didn't have my memory card in my camera! Boo... So I won't be able to get the pics off my camera until I get home... I think the main thing that I took away from the week was to pray with OUTRAGEOUS EXPECTATION!! I am excited to see what God has for me when I come to Him with outrageous expectation! Can't wait :)

This week will be filled with lots of Thanksgiving festivities! Thursday and Friday is our Thanksgiving retreat with our team in Slovenia! It's going to be awesome! And then Saturday we are doing another Thanksgiving in at our church! So I need to not eat for the next 3 days :) I am so excited to cook and bake with Johnny and Brooke for the meals! I think half the fun is the preparation with family :) I will be thinking of my Grandma this week because its always our job to make all the cookies for our family's Thanksgiving and its one of my favorite things in the world! I will miss cooking with her this year!

We have a tradition, to go around the table after our Thanksgiving meal, and each one of us say what we are thankful for that year... There are always lots of laughs and lots of tears... it seems like most years I don't make it through without crying...

So what are you thankful for this year? I know what I am thankful for, but that's a whole other blog in and of its self... I will share later :)

5 weeks :(

2009-11-10T05:22:00.004-06:00

Not a ton to update! Im doing swell!! My aunt and uncle came to visit about a week ago and it was a blast having my family here and getting to show them my world and why I love it and show them my family here :) J and B were so gracious to let them stay with us for 3 days! I took them hiking, went to the castle, gave them slovenian food, and introduced them to Lara and Maja, and the church crew! We also played cards and they made delicious davetos alfredo sauce for us!! It was soooo awesome! It was sad to see them go :( But I was really excited at the same time because they are getting to see and experience Europe for the first time!! Parts that I haven't!!

We had such a fun youth group on saturday! We played star wars mafia and Johnny shared a little bit about what God is teaching him and it was really good! It was a great night together!
my time here is unfortunately ticking away very quickly! I dont want to think about leaving... so I wont! :) OHHHH andddddd I made my FAVORITE oatmeal raisin cookies, it is my Grandma's delicious recipe. And took them to youth group!!! SOOOO GOOD!!

Tonight, Mateja and Tanja are coming over and I am excited to see them!! Hopefully J, B, and I will get to play our new favorite card game called pitch that Dave and Tamma taught us! We love it but you can only play with five people and there are only three of us! However, last night I tried to show them another fun game that Dave and Tam taught, but I couldn't remember all the rules so we kinda made them up and it was so fun! Even though Brooke and I got schooled by Johnny! Of course! It was still fun though!!

Ok sorry no pics today! But lots of love! :)

snow!!!!!

2009-11-03T09:13:00.003-06:00

Harvest Party!

2009-10-27T06:49:00.004-05:00

HARVEST PARTY TIME!!

Carving pumpkins!

My sweet Maja!!

Our scarecrow and decorations!

Last Saturday night we had a harvest party with the youth and it was so much! We played pictionary, roasted chestnuts, carved pumpkins, and ate lots of yummy food!! We had a blast!

October 25, 2009

2009-10-27T06:13:00.004-05:00

"This is the day the Lord has made, let us will rejoice and be glad in it."
-Psalm 118:24

Pokey, Greg, Johnny, and me
Right before the race started and so excited!!

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." - 2 Cor. 12:9

"...let us run with perserverance the race marked out for us." -Hebrews 12:1
Johnny and I sprinting to cross the finish line!

"Run in such a way as to get the prize." - 1 Cor. 9:24
Johnny and I feeling so happy that we finished in 2 hours and 10 minutes!! 5 minutes faster then what I hoped for!

"Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom." - Psalm 145:3

"...let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds." -Hebrew 10:24
Couldn't have done it without this incredible encourager for the past 10 weeks of training!

One of the best days of my life. Right now I don't have a ton of words except how thankful I am and that I give the Lord all the praise and glory for this accomplishment! It was not by my own strength that I did this :) He is so good and so faithful to provide my every need.

Tomorrow!

2009-10-24T03:10:00.002-05:00

Holy smokes! Well tomorrow we are getting up early to drive to Ljubljana for the 14th Ljubljana Marathon!! Race startes at 10:30 am! Brooke and Polona are going to be Johnny and I's encouragers throughout the race! There are also a few people that came down from Czech that are staying with us and will be running the race as well! However, one of them is running the whole marathon and the other is running the half like Johnny and I. I am getting very excited but really nervous for some reason :) You know like that nervous/excited feeling in your stomach!! Because in exactly 24 hours the race will begin!! Right now its raining here but the forecast says that tomorrow is supposed to be a nice day! So I am praying for great weather!!

Also, I just need to say thank you to my sweet sweet friend Amanda, who sent me the most encouraging email last week, with so many verses with the analogy of running, that I will be quoting to myself the whole time :) I have my playlist on my ipod all ready to go! I have been drinking lots of water and peeing like crazy to keep my self hydrated! I don't want to be passing out or anything! I have been trying to get my carbs in this week andddd yea... I think that's all!! Oh and I have my new running shoes!! Thank you Asics! So thank you everyone that have been encouraging me up to this point and who have encouraged me not to quit! (Brooke, Johnny, Kel, Amanda, Elizabeth) I will be thinking of you while I am running! While at the same time totally focusing on the Lord who is giving the ability, and body, and strength, and lungs, and heart, etc to do this!! I am so thankful :)

K... I am going for a short little run to keep the muscles loose or something :) I will update asap!! Thank you for your prayers and support!!!!!!!!!!!

¹Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. ²Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. -Hebrews 12:1-3

just cause!

2009-10-21T15:49:00.002-05:00

Here's a fun little survey I found on someone else's blog. You are only supposed to use one word or a short phrase for your answer-- to kind of keep everyone guessing! :) Pass it on if you are the survey type!

1. Where is your cell phone? dunno

2. Your hair? down

3. Your mother? miss her :(

4. Your father? miss him

5. Your favorite food? bananas

6. Your dream last night? no thanks

7. Your favorite drink? pear juice

8. Your dream/goal? ....

9. What room are you in? Mine

10. Your hobby? reading blogs???

11. Your fear? others

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? haha!

13. Where were you last night? a musical

14. Something that you aren’t? confrontational

15. Muffins? yum

16. Wish list item? im content

17. Where did you grow up? everywhere! :)

18. Last thing you did? talked to becca

19. What are you wearing? Comfy's

20. Your TV? what tv?

21. Your pets? eww no pets

22. Friends? far away

23. Your life? Jesus

24. Your mood? thankful

25. Missing someone? troy

26. Vehicle? wish i had one

27. Something you’re not wearing? socks

28. Your favorite store? bla bla....

29. Your favorite color? gray

30. When was the last time you laughed? a few minutes ago

31. Last time you cried? dont remember :(

32. Your best friend? so blessed

33. One place that I go to over and over? bathroom

34. One person who emails me regularly? fb

35. Favorite place to eat? maggie moo's

happy birthdays!

2009-10-20T04:42:00.005-05:00

Kel and me at Kendi's wedding!

So this week, or really from Thursday until today, I have celebrated FIVE, yes count them FIVE birthdays!! Thursday was Kelly and Luka's Birthday, Friday was Brooke's birthday and Saturday was Naomi's birthday and today is my Mom's birthday. So I have been to 3 birthday parties in the past 4 days. One thursday night, one friday night, and one sunday night!! Oh And in two weeks from today is my sister's birthday! Insane!! All these birthdays! So fun!

But I really wanted to just send a little love from one friend to another, from one side of the world to the other!! Kelly has been one of my best friends for about 3 years now! We were R.A's together our junior year of college! Kel is seriously one of the most loyal friends I have and someone that I can tell anything and everything to... but I have already done a whole blog just about how great she is so if you want to know more about how incredible of a friend she is to me, you can read my blog about her :) Hope you had a great birthday kel! I love you so so so much!! Thank you for who you are in my life! You are a huge blessing and gift to me!!

Me and Brooke out for her birthday lunch at Čajna Hiša!

Well, I don't know how long you want me to talk about Brooke and the impact she has made on my life in the past year... bc it could take me all day and I am not kidding! She immediately felt like family to me! It's not very often that I feel that with someone and so quickly! Really she is one of the biggest blessings the Lord has given me in my life! Her friendship and mentorship has changed me and my life! I am different and better person because of Brooke. I really mean that! The Lord has spoken significant truth through her countless times in the past year of knowing her! I am so blessed by her and so thankful for her investment in my life! She will never know :) For her birthday I gave her a thank you card instead of a birthday card bc I found it more appropriate and maybe thats weird but I was just so thankful for her birthday... haha! I thank the Lord everyday for her!! Brooke, I words cant express what you mean to me! Thank you for everything! I love you more then words!!

It's been another great week! I feel like I have said this a lot lately but this is and has been the best FALL season of my life for so many reasons!! Last night, I couldn't sleep because I was just thinking and my brain wouldn't shut up, but while I had all that time to think, I just thought about how joyful I am and how happy I am and how great this season in my life has been! Its been and continues to be an invaluable season in my life!! I feel so at peace and its a glorious blessing from the Lord Himself!!

Oh and another reason I couldn't sleep is because I am so excited that tamma and dave (my aunt and uncle) are coming NEXT WEEK!!!!!!! I will get to spend just a few days with them but I am thrilled for the time that we will get!! Time is flying by! I only have 8 weeks left! I have so many mixed emotions! But no worries!! :) Life is good!! God is good!!!!!

"The Lord is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your Lord." -Psalm 45:11

Ales, Polona, Whitney, Erin, and Justin
Brooke, Me, and Amy
Johnny, Marko, and Matej

Celebrating Brooke's 29th birthday!!

The group here in Celje that I go to church with and hang out with most Friday nights for our shows, So You Think You Can Dance and Flash Forward!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMMA!!

2009-10-20T04:28:00.003-05:00

This is my beautiful Mom! Do we look alike?? :) Today is her birthday! And I kind of think that she did a great job raising my sister, brother, and I and I hope she knows that! I will never understand how she did it all and with a smile on her face! I wouldn't be who I am today without her, obviously!! She has taught me so many things! So many things that she probably doesn't even know! She is one of the most selfless, giving people I know! She is incredibly generous and I just miss her so much! I wish I could be with her this day! I love her so much! And I am so thankful for my mom! So I thought she needed and deserved and is worthy of a blog just for her :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMMA!!! I LOVE YOUUUU!!!

prayer requests...

2009-10-13T14:36:00.002-05:00

1. My cousin Angie and her husband Bobby. About a week ago their house burned to the ground. The only thing they got out in time were their dogs and themselves. They are my age and I haven't gotten to talk to her yet and I am just grieving with them over the loss of their home... Yes, its just stuff, however, its also memories of a life. Ya know... Ang is a pretty avid journaler and her journals from the time she was 8, were in her house and pictures, etc... you can imagine. Things that you cant get back.

2. Also my cousin Nicole and her family. Nicole is getting ready to have baby #2 in a couple months, which is sooo exciting, but she is going through a lot of stress with different things so just pray for peace and guidance!

3. I have a friend here, who will remain nameless, who is searching. :) Its exciting, but if you could pray for a soft and open heart! God is so good!

4. I only have 2 more months here in this incredible country and there are lots of mixed emotions that come with being overseas! So... if could just continue praying through this journey with me, I would greatly appreciate it!

And just so you know, if you cant tell by other blogs, I am doing really well! Really loving this season of life! I am so blessed! Today was another great day here in Slovenia... the first cold day... like the for real, its getting cold kind of day. I am a little sad that my mom is oklahoma with the sis and nephew and bro without me... BUT I am happy that she is getting that time!

Ok time for skype with my favorite little brother :)

i cant decide what to title this!

2009-10-12T09:35:00.005-05:00

Crystal was right! Its time for an update!

This is a picture of when we went go cart-ing... I am not sure how to say that :) This is me, Giva, and Lara. It was fun! I got fourth place out of all the girls! Ha... I think there were only 7 girls total. I didn't really know anyone except Lara, but I met a couple people. I am still hanging out with Lara and Maja!! I got to have a really interesting conversation with Lara about what she believes and then I got to share what I believe. I am really excited to continue talking through some of these things with her! I got to meet some significant people in their lives :) So thats fun! I really enjoy those sisters!

Johnny, Brooke, and Me :)

This was last Monday on our day off! It was seriously one of the best days ever! We walked around town with our mint hot chocolate and ate roasted chestnuts! I now like them after trying them 3 times!! It has been and incredible fall here!! Best ever!!

Wednesday, we had our monthly team meeting in Ljubljana! It was a productive, informative meeting! It is always so good to see everyone! I love the structure of our team here in Slovenia! They feel more like a family, then just team members!! What a blessing!!

This week we had youth group! 5 students showed up and we had printed out some current event articles and talked about them! It was cool to get our minds thinking about things going on around the world and how it does or doesn't affect us. I was reminded of how small I am, but how thankful that I serve a God that still loves little, tiny, me :) Then we came back to Johnny and Brooke's to watch the soccer game and play mexican train! FUN!

Yesterday in church, I had the kids! Well the toddlers! They are so cute and fun! THEN, Johnny and I ran 10 MILES!! It was seriously the most perfect weather and day to run! It was probably the fastest, best, long run I have ever had. We both felt like we were going at a faster pace then normal, but it felt so good! We ran for about an hour and 45 minutes! Brooke was so kind to bring us water about an hour into our run! Why was it the best feeling to see her, I don't know, but it was so encouraging! She is the best encourager EVER!!! So then Johnny and I finished our run! I am so thankful that she will be there to encourage us October 25th, at the marathon! Oh and I don't know if I mentioned but Johnny just started running with me a week ago... Insane that he just busted out 10 miles! And did a great job!

Today is Monday! And can I just say, thank the Lord for days of rest! Again, Mondays are our days off so really enjoy them to the fullest! I woke up today to rain! Ahhh, its the best feeling ever when its raining outside and you know you get to stay inside all day and chill! So Johnny made home-made butter milk biscuits and then we watched the BRONCO game with our hot chocolate! Can I just say, GO BRONCOSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSAHHH!!! I mean what a GREAT day!! Haha! We all three keep saying what a great day this is!

Brooke is making BBQ chicken for dinner and my stomach is growling because it smells soooo good!! I am seriously so blessed to live with J and B! I really haven't craved any food because I eat SOOO GOOD here!! They are awesome and most of the time when I think about the impact they have and continue to make in my life, I get choked up! I am sure that I will blog about that later... like a thanksgiving blog or something BUT I am a strong believer in not waiting til a season or event or holiday to tell someone how much they mean to you and how much you love them! Every thanksgiving, its a family tradition to go around the dinner table and say what we are thankful for that year and I already know what I am thankful for this year and its Johnny and Brooke! :) I wish everyone had a Johnny and Brooke in their life. I DON'T take them for granted! Ok... well I wasn't planning on going on going off about how incredible they are, but I went there!

I pray that you enjoy your Monday as much as I am! There is a little update for ya! Much love from Slovenia!

"The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you, Do not be afraid; don not be discouraged." -Deut 31:8

OCTOBER!!!!

2009-10-03T04:55:00.005-05:00

Nothing super significant to mention today but just a quick update! First... I CANNOT BELIEVE ITS ALREADY OCTOBER 3! Crazy!! I love fall and this may just be my first year to recognize my love for it! Anyway!

Last Saturday we had youth group! Only 4 showed up but we still had fun! Playing forks (yes forks, not spoons, but they were plastic so it wasn't that bad. I think I was the only one with an injury:) not really just a little slice, no big) and rock band!

Petra, me, and Maja at youth group!

Sunday night we had a birthday party for Erin, our pastor's wife. She turned 30!!! That was fun! We ate lots of yummy food! (My fav was Brooke's incredible bean dip, there are no words) Then watched the new show Flash Forward! Really good! I think we are going to enjoy it!

Justin, Erin, Johnny, and Brooke
(My pastor and his wife)

This week... I have been hanging out with Maja and Lara a lot! It has been really nice and fun! One night we got ice cream and roasted chestnuts! Chestnuts are a huge thing here in the fall!! I dont know if I love them, but I still eat them :) We grabbed coffee one rainy day at this new 50's cafe! Its just like "Grease". I loved it! Then we got lunch at a Mexican Restaurant, if you can call it that! It was yummy though, but not really Mexican like in the states!
So Lara teaches an aerobic class on Tuesday and Friday nights... She invited me to come last night! (I was there for 2 hours because she teaches one at 6 and 7, so I just stayed for both) Needless to say, I am a little sore today, but I love it!

Sorry I don't have any pics of us! But today I am going to ride go carts (or something) with her and her boyfriend, so I will take some pics!!

Wednesday for church, Justin split us into groups and we did a prayer walk around the city in the shape of a cross! It was pretty cool! I was in a group with Marko and Amy and we walked by the schools and stopped and prayed for students that attend! We are praying for soft soil in the city of Celje! There are so many that need the love of Christ!!

This week, I have also been doing a lot of reading! Its becoming a hobby of mine :) I think I mentioned this, but Brooke and I are trying to read through the Bible by the time I leave here December 15th! It's called a Bible read through! Right now I am in Numbers! I have a long way to go :)

Ok well, there is a little bit for now! Hope all is well with your soul! If not, let me know how I can pray for you :)

"But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." Exodus 9:16

I love the smell of clean laundry!

2009-09-25T05:15:00.006-05:00

Just needed a change! You like it??

Warning: this could be a pretty random blog!

One... I rolled my ankle last tuesday when i was running on a trail that really wasn't meant for running probably, but more like hiking... normally this wouldn't be that big of a deal, except for the fact that I am training for a 1/2 marathon and its in exactly one month from today! I have been a little discouraged with running this race. I feel like so many things keep tripping me up, literally :) So, I originally started training with a partner and she can't run it anymore. I decided I wouldn't quit. I continued my training and got up to 8 miles into training and then the next day, I rolled my ankle... I let the swelling go down before I was going to try to run on it! (It was pretty huge, I promise I wasn't just being a baby) The morning I was going to go run, I woke up feeling sick, like sinus crap! The Lord answered my prayers by healing that sickness quickly! So yesterday I got up feeling better and went running... UGH... I only ran for like 15 minutes and had to stop... I had an ankle brace on and it was bothering my foot and it was kind of cool outside and my lungs were just hurting... Needless to say, I came home pretty discouraged and my motivation for running is dying!! But last night I talked to kel and she said she had to take 2 weeks off because of shin splints 3 weeks before she did a 1/2, so she gave me some encouragement! I CAN'T GIVE UP!!

on to the next order of business!
I L.O.V.E reading blogs... I think it may be my favorite past time :) so thank you for those consistent blog writers!! and i guess thats all I have to say about that!

next... I thank God for technology every day of my life. Skype is genius! My cousin Danny just got a new computer and getting to see him and my aunt Michelle made my day yesterday! I couldn't stop smiling! They were at my aunt's cabin and it made my heart warm slash sad to feel like I got to be there for a few minutes! Then later on, I was doing my usual skype-ing with my sis (who I miss more then words can say) and when she answered, to my surprise, it was not troy sitting on her lap, but my sweet cousin Braxton! I haven't seen him since May and he is HUGE and has so many teeth and just kept smiling, like the happiest baby ever! It was such a great day! It is kind of like I get to be in two places at once! And I had a great day with a few girls here, clear across the ocean! I grabbed coffee with a couple girls in the morning and then spent some time walking around the city checking out cafe's. Then had pizza with a different couple girls and had a great time with them!! Incredible!! Ohhhh ANDDDD, Sharon, who I nannied for all last year sent me a few video's of the kiddos from her Iphone and they are getting huge and it seriously made me sooo happy!! Uhhh! Loved it!

Ingrid Michaelson (who is my favorite), Regina Spektor, and Colbie Caillat= ALL have great new music out! You should check it out! And a new girl that I listen to is Priscilla Ahn. Just if you want some good new music! I promise I like male vocals too! But it just happens that right now these artists have new music out! But right now my favorite song is not from any of these people... its I Have Found by Kim Walker!

Ok well... I know I had more to talk about but I can't remember anymore... I think tonight we are having people over to watch a movie and hang out! Life is GOOD! Really... I serve the most loving, gracious God! It seriously brings me to tears sometimes! He wants good things for us, He wants to bless us, why do I ever doubt that?

I wanted to put a picture up because Kelly said that blogs are boring without pics but I cant seem to find one... Ohhh here is a random pic to go with my random blog of the day!

This is Delaney, who I babysat last year! And she makes me laugh :)

a day of firsts!

2009-09-22T15:43:00.000-05:00

FIRST...
day of fall
day for me to ride the bus
day for me to drive a standard :)
day for me to go to the Slovene coast
day for me to eat nashi

Me and Tanja, who i rode the bus to meet, to drive her car to meet Mateja, to eat nashi at the Slovene coast, on the first day of fall :)

Me and Mateja!
What a great day!!!!

Full of meat and potatoes!!!

2009-09-19T05:34:00.000-05:00

I'm just going to jump right in... We left for JV's Fall Conference in Czech on Monday and I was expecting good things. However, I was not expecting GREAT things and that is just what I received from the Lord! The Lord spoke in some powerful ways through several people this week!

The theme was Passing the Baton! Which is really JV's mission, making disciples, who make disciples! And just to state the obvious... I am not making disciples, the Holy Spirit does that! We are not called to make disciples of ourselves but of Jesus. So how do we do that? We point them to HIM always and never ourselves!! So they used the analogy of running all week, which is pretty ironic since I am trying to train for a half marathon and was a littly unsure if I would really do it because I am training by myself! Needless to say, I am doing it, so long as my ROLLED ANKLE will heal quickly :) (Thats a story for later)

I won't be able to write all the things God taught me or that I feel convicted of, or excited about, or motivated about, BUT I will try to give a few highlights of this week!

I'll start with my favorite, which was a clinic called Extreme Exposure to the Word by Greg Carlson! He is a very funny, passionate man of the Lord and I feel so blessed by what he shared with us! He gave us an article by Ron Frost about reading the Bible! When one man was asked how he gained all his biblical knowledge, he laughed and just said, I just read my Bible. Then he was asked well, 'how much reading- how do you approach it?' And he said, he tries to read through it 2-3 times a year! Needless to say, the article was SO challenging to me and I do feel like the Lord has given me a hunger for His Word and so Brooke and I are going to do a read though by the time I leave Slovenia, which is less then 3 months away! I am sooooo excited!!! And as sad as it is... this will be my first time to read the Bible ALL the way through! I have attempted many times and always failed! SO, I am ready, with the help of the Lord, to hear the Word of God and watch it transform my life!!!! I need accountability if anyone wants to check up on me these next few months!

I also went to an awesome clinic called Leading Disciples to Freedom and it was for yourself and/or for your disciples! So it spoke a lot to me! Amy Ellenwood did this clinic and did a great job! It was a lot about being in tune with the Holy Spirit in order to be set free by Jesus! The only ONE that can heal our heart is the ONE who made it! Once the lies we have believed about ourselves or others or God, and sins are exposed, by the Spirit, to the light, the power it had in our life is BROKEN! So it was really encouraging! I feel like this is somethign that I experienced at the beginning of the summer when Johnny and Brooke prayed with me... The sin was exposed and brough into the light and Jesus has been able to heal and continues to heal me! Praise God!

The last but certainly NOT LEAST, was a clinic called Discipling Girls by Connie Patty. It was a very practical clinic, which was so nice! We MUST rely fully on the Spirit, make yourself available to Him and He will use you! If you have any questions about this I would love to give you some tips that Connie gave us! But the biggest thing that stuck out to me that applies to ALL discipleship is that it is sacrifical. Jesus payed paid the biggest price by sacrificing his life and I believe that is what He calls us to as well, to give our life! Sounds easier then it is :)

These were just 3 of 13 clinics. Then there were 9 main seminars which included, The Finish Line, Mapping the Course, The First Lap, Good Shoes, Clearing the Hurdles, Training on the Run, Making the Handoff, Strength Training, and The Long Run. Talk about overload of good stuff!! Some serious meat and potatoes, if you will!

Ok... I'll leave ya this, my eyes full of tears...

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that YOU will not grow weary and lose heart." Hebrews 12:2-3

Amen!

2009-09-12T04:59:00.000-05:00

Last night we had our first youth group! And its so encouraging that we even have a group!! I think there was about 20 people there all together, including helpers! We are trying to decide what to call it, so as soon as we vote for a name, I will let you know! I think it went really well! We played games, did the theme song, Johnny talked, and then we all discussed what we wanted for this group! It was a success if you ask me!! I brought my camera to take a picture of the group and didn't have my memory card in my camera so that's a bummer!!!! But there is always next time :)

Tonight we are going to an outreach musical thing that is put on by a few people from church! It is a musical about God's grace! I think Maja and her sister, Lara, are coming with! So that should be fun! Then church tomorrow, and we leave for Fall Conference on Monday and will be gone all week! So you can pray for safe travels!! I can't wait to tell you all about what God teaches me at Conference!!

Much Love!!

09.09.09

2009-09-09T03:47:00.000-05:00

Feeling excitement this day... another cool fall morning, with warm coffee, and great people! I'm excited to connect with Terry and Lori today AND can't wait to go to Maja's house today and help her with her English assignment! And maybe get a little Slovene teaching as well!
Yesterday was a great day as well! I got to go to Bovec, which is where some of Prince Caspian was filmed! I have been waiting to go there since I got here, so it was a much awaited visit!! And I was like a little kid excited!!!! I went with Justin, Erin, and one of Erin's friends. (My pastor and his wife) and they are great!! It was a beautiful day!!This is Erin. And the picture that I took with both of them did not turn out :(

Much love and appreciation from Slovenia!! So thankful for your love, prayers, and support! I have been feeling it the past few days! The Lord is allowing me to feel your prayers especially today :)

I LOVE SUNDAYS!!

2009-09-06T07:29:00.000-05:00

I just got the best feeling... I was downstairs in the kitchen and the window was open and there is a slight crisp-ness to the air... FALL!!! I have never been more excited for cool weather!! I am just so excited for a new season, literally and figuratively!! Today is a great day! It was great to be at church!! It was good to see people and great to see Maja and Anja there (without me inviting)!! I really just felt peace today and I don't feel like I have felt that recently, so I was very thankful for that! And now watching football on Sunday afternoon... THE BEST!! I am just so excited to get into a routine!! This week I will meet with a few people and Friday night we are hanging out with students! I am really excited to see them all!! Then we leave for conference on Monday and will be gone until Friday or Saturday! I am really looking forward to Fall Conference in Czech. It is a great time of fellowship and learning about the Lord!! Can't wait!!
We, Johnny, Brooke, Kam, and I, just got back from vaca yesterday in Bol, Croatia! Absolutely beautiful!! It was so restful and relaxing! The Lord blessed us with exactly what we all needed!! We got to lay out, eat yummy food, go tubing, get a massage, and rest on a beautiful island! But like I said before, its great to be back! I feel refreshed and ready for this next season!! Ok thats all for now, but more to come!!

When we fear the Lord and do as He commands, He blesses us!!

missing today!

2009-08-22T15:05:00.001-05:00

my brother is moving into the dorms today and its really hard sitting here in this thunderstorm (literally) by myself just wishing i was with him and my family today... maybe its silly but this is something that i have been praying for, for a long time and something that i will continue to pray fervently for!!! the Lord knows ALL about it and i am forever grateful!! i hope jake knows how proud i am of him!! i love him so much!!

'til I see You
the greatest love that anyone could ever know
it overcame the cross and grave to find my soul
until i see you face to face and grace amazing take me home
ill trust in You

with all i am i live to see your kingdom come
and in my heart i pray you'll let your will be done
until i see you face to face and grace amazing take me home
ill trust in You

i will live to love You
i will live to bring You praise
i will live a child in awe of You

You are the voice that calls the universe to be
You are the whisper in my heart that speaks to me
until i see you face to face and grace amazing take me home
ill trust in You

i will live to love You
i will live to bring You praise
i will live a child in awe of You
i will live to love You
i will live to bring You praise
i will live a child in awe of You

You alone are God of all
You alone are worthy Lord
And with all i am my soul will bless Your name

-Hillsong

Wow!

2009-08-21T08:14:00.000-05:00

So about a month ago, there was about 10 consecutive days where this married couple kept coming to my mind right before I would go to bed. So I would pray for them and then go to sleep. I had NO CLUE why the Lord was bringing these 2 random people to my mind. I don't have regular contact with them and I really didn't even know what to pray or why I was praying for them, but I just kept praying for protection over them! So it stopped for a few nights and then they came to my mind again one night when I was trying to go to sleep. So I decided to get up and send them an email and tell them they were on my heart and I was praying for them and had no idea why... I sent it and went to sleep and didn't really think about it again until yesterday when I got an email from the wife telling me that the reason she hadn't written back until now was because she was waiting for her results back from a breast biopsy! She had breast cancer a couple years ago, so she assumed that the test would come back saying she had cancer again BUT Praise the Almighty God, it was benign!!! Wow!! I am pretty much speechless in my awe for how the Holy Spirit works!! Thank you Lord that she is okay! :)

gone

2009-08-19T10:15:00.000-05:00

brooke and johnny just left for kids camp an hour ago and i am all alone for the next week... i have spent the past hour talking to stephen and its been great catching up with him!! i am listening to the one and only kris allen!!! i have church in 30 minutes... i cant decide if i should walk or ride a bike... i think ill take the bike... it just sucks riding it back up the hill :) maybe i will blog more this week since i will be alone more... but i am trying to be really intentional with meeting girls for coffee and making plans!! so i think im going to the pool tomorrow and grabbing ice cream or something with maja and hopefully meeting up with dasa tomorrow or friday!! i think i may try to cut my bangs by myself tonight... a little scary but what do ya do!? well... more to come im sure!

happy birthday johnny!!!

happy birthday dad!!

2009-08-12T04:39:00.001-05:00

This my dad!! He was born August 12, 1956. I am really thankful for him! He is a huge support in my life...I love that I can talk to him about everything!! I like asking his advice and asking his perspective on things, even though I may not always agree :) We still love each other!! He is not perfect and neither am I! Thank goodness WE have a Father that is perfect!! Thank you Lord, for giving me my dad!! He is a blessing from YOU!!
My dad's love for me has given me a great picture of the way my Heavenly Father loves me! I know that a girls father affects her in so many ways and I am truly blessed to say my dad did a great job in raising me! We have a very special relationship and I hope he feels so loved this day, along with every other day! I miss him a lot today and I wish I could be with him! But the Lord has given me a great opportunity to serve Him in Slovenia and I am thankful and wouldn't change it for anything!!! I know its a sacrifice for you, too, that I am here. Thank you for your support!! Thank you for raising me in the way of the Lord!! I love you DAD!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

12:36 am

2009-08-11T17:29:00.000-05:00

I can't sleep.
I need a hair cut.
I saw The Proposal tonight and laughed kind of a lot for some reason...
I want to see Funny People and 500 days of Summer.
My blogs are always way too serious.
And I still am procrastinating updating about the 2 weeks I was gone because there is simply too much to share and I don't know how to get in words so I'm just not doing it... I mean how do I blog about 2 weeks of learning about the N.T., the Holy Spirit, the Trinity, spiritual gifts, and growing and experiencing my first bit of culture shock and spending the day completely alone in the mountains talking to God... ahhh there is so much! I am overwhelmed...
I love the book I am reading right now so much that I am reading it slow because I don't want it to be over, but you would think if someone loved a book they would read it as fast as they could... I am weird. (oh the book is called An Echo in the Darkness, its a part of a trilogy called Mark of the Lion by Francine Rivers and its freaking awesome!!!!)
I keep wondering what I should do in December even though its months away.
I am learning to feel content and its a great thing!
However, sometimes I miss my family and friends so much that my heart hurts.
Johnny, Brooke, and I ran up to the castle this morning... it kicked my butt! 20 minutes of uphill... but we did it!
I love falling asleep when there are things going on around me, like I did yesterday and today. Johnny was working on pics and Brooke and I were reading on separate couches and there was great music playing. And then I fell asleep. Like my favorite thing ever is falling asleep, next to my dad, on the couch, during football season, on a Sunday afternoon, after a big meal! (that was a lot of prepositions :)
I HATE having to get up in the middle of the night to go pee! But sometimes its nice to be like 'ahhh, I still have four hours to sleep'
Now its 12:52 am and I need to pee. And then I am going to try to go to sleep!
NIGHTERS!!!

This is in Bohinj, Slovenia and I wanted to share it with you because I think its BEAUTIFUL and so are YOU :)

8.2.09

2009-08-07T10:36:00.000-05:00

(I didn't have internet when I wrote this but I had to get it out so I typed it and wanted to share it)

8.2.09- rough morning… I just spent about 30 min in the bathroom crying… just really missing family and friends that KNOW me… its been so hard being here with people who I feel like I am a stranger to. Just really just missing home today!

Later that day ☺ I went for a walk and wrestled with God a bit… (Which is a really cool picture that someone shared with me and I’ll share it with you. When you are wrestling with someone you have to be close to him or her. You can’t wrestle from across the room. So I just have this picture of being really close with the Lord. But just remember that HE always wins ☺) But I was just feeling frustrated… and asking God if YOU are enough for me, then why don’t I feel like you are and just feeling kind of angry… Like He says in His Word He is enough and people say that and I have experienced that and I can tell people about it, BUT at that moment, I felt nothing.

(God wants to put you in a place where you can hear and see Him the best and I think that is what He was doing because He had my full attention that day :) I think I experienced that first hand this day)

So then we went to our 430 class and Hondo talked about how our feelings are not an accurate guide to reality. That is why God gave us THE BOOK… Its ALWAYS TRUE and it never changes, the way our feelings do. If there was a purpose of Jesus suffering (which its CLEAR that there was and is) then maybe just maybe there is a purpose in ours! There’s a purpose in the midst of your sufferings!!!!!!

If you don’t tell the Lord what you are struggling with then how can you let the Holy Spirit comfort you? And if you don’t tell people that something is wrong then how can they know how to comfort you? I HATE that we all wear masks. I mean I can only speak for myself, but I just feel like I am supposed to always have it together. And let’s just get honest! I DON’T!! Maybe there is a fear in telling people you need something because you are afraid of rejection or their reaction. There is something that I long so deeply to be known by people, why don’t I feel like its enough to be known by God because he knows me in a way no else does because he created me… Then when Ana and I met for our Gospel Buddy time, the Lord divinely put us together for that moment of sharing in suffering and sadness and exhaustion and taking off our masks together and just getting it out through our tears!

That night we had a camp fire and I shared and because I shared others were able to comfort me and put their arm around me as a SOBBED!! Thanks John☺ And Matt hugging me and saying, “I’ve been there and I feel your pain”. And Trisha being a great listener and understanding the struggle with basically being a baby again because we are illiterate and can’t do anything on our own!!! So it was a pretty cool day… really hard but really encouraging at the same time.

So I got to debrief this day with Brooke a few days ago and she was just like 'sara, if you don't tell people your story, they can't know you'. So really if I want people to know me, I have to tell them and let them in. Hmmm... sit on that for awhile :)

Bohinj and debrief!

2009-08-07T04:53:00.000-05:00

(I typed up this blog July 28th and I will put pics up on Facebook)

I went to Intern Debrief with the summer interns that were in Slovenia and I found out Tuesday night that I was going to and we left Wednesday and came back late Thursday! (July 22-23) I didn’t think that I would be a part of that because I am not a summer intern and I wasn’t with the summer interns all summer, except the first 10 days I was here because we had the amazing race and training together. And they were now all going home! I am starting to have a complex because I am in my own category pretty much everywhere I go… haha… (that is something I debriefed about during our time)

But it was an awesome time for me! We went to Bohinj (which is absolutely one of the most beautiful places ever) and stayed at this farmhouse b&b! It was so cute and nice! We went up on this gondola thing and spent some alone time at the top of this mountain reflecting on the summer. It was a really good time for me to be quiet and just think. When we were done, we went to dinner at this restaurant and just sat around all evening and told stories, just laughing and enjoying rest! When we got back to the b&b, we played a long but fun game of phase 10! The next morning we got up and had breakfast and then debriefed the summer for the next 3 hours! It was really cool to see what God had done in their lives! I shared last and basically cried the whole time. Oh well! HA! So we left and went to lunch and the rest of the day, swam in the clearest, most FREEZING cold water ever. The kind that takes your breath away when come up! Oh and finished our game of phase 10! It was a beautiful couple days! I came home late Thursday night and crashed.

Friday, got up early and went to a water park with the students from high school camp! It was so good to see them! We played hard and I got lots of water up my nose☺ Then got home and packed and Johnny and I left for Kriz, which is held at a place called Kranjskja Gora, around 6. (KRIZ will be my next blog) Needless to say, at this point IM STILL EXHAUSTED!!! It is seriously go, go, go, non-stop!

But I would love to share some of what I shared at intern debrief about some feelings and things God has taught me this summer because I believe that the Lord works through our vulnerability and authenticity. So here I go! One struggle I’ve had recently is ‘my place here’. I feel like everyone has had a specific role and I’ve just kinda been wherever. ESI (extended summer intern) is just kinda a weird position. I feel incredibly blessed to be here. Like most times when I look outside, I’m like, ‘is this seriously my life right now?’ I really am trying to soak up every up every single second! I'm really not sure how to put into words whats inside. Right now the only concrete things that I can say that the Lord is teaching me is DIE TO SELF and LOVE even when you feel like you can’t. I have had so many moments (like right now) that I feel very alone. There is NO ONE else in the same position as me and having someone to relate to right now would be really nice, but I think it’s a part of what God wants to teach me.

So a short summary of things I shared:

• No one else is in the exact same position as me/ feeling out of place at times, yet know this is where God has called
• Still learning from things that were taught at intern training
• How powerful my prayer time was with J and B and how the Lord is still using that
• Camp exhaustion and being homesick
• Dying to self
• Am I fully surrendered?
• This waiting position I'm in and trusting the Lord provide

After I shared, David gave me a really encouraging way to look at being away from my family! We are a lot alike, in that we are wired for family, and he said that he looks at it like its his tithe or his offering. Kind of like a drink offering, it doesn’t burn or smell and it doesn’t make smoke, its pretty much invisible. No one else sees it but the Lord and it is PRECIOUS to Him! So I have a great new perspective on how to look at feeling homesick! Thank you Lord!!!

camp #2

2009-08-07T04:40:00.000-05:00

So Monday (the 13th) we went and picked up another team of 7 and they were from Washington! So we had two teams here at once. So we, Johnny, Brooke and I, were doing debriefing with one team and orientation with another team! So we made it through that, and the TN team left early Wednesday (July 15th) morning and then we started our Jr. High Day Camp at 10am and went until about 10:30pm and did that until Saturday! I was relieved about this camp because I was not going to be in charge of teaching or leading a small group, I was just going to be in charge of the late night’s and I was so excited about that! Well I think the KEY to missions is a little thing called FLEXIBILTY!!!!!!!!!! So Brooke and I ended up teaching, but it was good. We had two really sweet girls!! We only had 5 students show up, so it was really small but I think it was a success. This was the first time to do a Jr. High camp, in Celje, so it was the ground-breaking work! ☺
The day camps look a little different. We started around 9 getting stuff ready and the kids came at 10! We would literally play games with them for 2 and a half hours and then go get lunch together. We would teach English from 2-5 and then have an activity for them that went with the theme for the day! Then have dinner, our discussion time, and our late night activity! Then they would go home around 9:30 pm and we would clean up and go home! Fun, but exhausting!!!!!!!!!
OH and how could I forget? For both camps, Brooke and I taught the theme song every night! It was “Wake up, Wake up” by Everyday Sunday! The dance was awesome! Good times! We laughed a lot!
So that camp ended Saturday night! Sunday we had church and a beautiful afternoon of rest!!!! Oh how Sundays afternoons and evenings are becoming my favorite time of the week ☺ Tuesday we went and visited a school that one of the moms from one of the kids from the Jr. High camp, works at, if that makes sense. It was a horticulture school. So she gave us a tour of the place and it was really interesting and then she taught us all how to make bouquets of flowers. I know now that that is not a gift of mine!! After we were done with that, we took a couple kids to the pool and hung out with them for awhile. That night we debriefed with the team and went for ice cream. A packed but fun day!

These were plums that were so so yummy!! Brooke and I picked and ate a lot :)
Learning how to make a bouquet. There is a great reason why I should never work with flowers :) Mine was terrible but it was fun!! But the tiny baby spiders that were crawling everywhere were not so fun :)

here we go!!

2009-08-07T04:27:00.000-05:00

A team of 12 from Nashville, Tennessee got here July 3! The got here safely with NOT ONE PIECE OF LUGGAGE and didn’t get their luggage for FIVE days but were troopers about it!! They were and are AWESOME!! I quickly begin to feel like I had known some of them my whole life, Kirby, Jenn, and Paige!! I miss them already! So we did orientation with the team for 2 days and then loaded up a bus and went to camp, 16 students, the team of 12, 4 translators, 5 JV staff members, and the pastor and his wife. So total I think there were 39 of us!

So a typical day at camp looks like this:
8: Breakfast and we sing a song before every meal!
9-12:30: English class until with a 15 minute break in between and every other day the second half of class was a workshop of some sort… ex, cooking, knitting, photography, beading, etc… I had a class of 3 girls, Karmen, Maja, and Petra. Kirby was my helper and Polona was my translator! ☺
1: lunch
1:45-3:30: games where we were split into colors and teams (My team was blue and we won the overall games!!)
3:30-5:30: free time
5:30: a mixer game
6: dinner
7: evening program where we sang fun songs and then went through the story of God, starting with the fall of Lucifer all the way to the church today. So Johnny would tell the story and Andre would translate. (They did an INCREDIBLE job btw!) So we started with the Fall of Lucifer and demons, then creation, then the fall of man, Noah, Abraham, Moses, kings and prophets, birth, life, and death of Jesus, resurrection and church. Then talked about how we can join and be apart of this story. I CAN’T STRESS enough the power of the Spirit moving in these students and in ME. We saw kids the first day of camp say that they don’t like to talk about God to fully engaging to the story by the end of the week!! And ONLY by the power of the Holy Spirit!! And its because the story of God is ALIVE AND ACTIVE!! I think we so often forget the power of Scripture!
Then whenever we were done with discussing the story we would have a late night theme party! So we did like game night, 1950’s night, Asian night, bunko night (I was partners with Petra and we WON the whole thing but only because she was throwing bunkos like crazy!, movie night, coffee night, and Slovenia’s Got Talent! All were fun!

If I can have a moment of real honesty… By God’s grace alone did I survive that week of my life. We left on Sunday the 5th and came home late Saturday (the 11th) night and then had church Sunday (where 9 of the 16 students showed up!!!) and an follow up picnic with them (where 3 more came!!) When I was at camp, I was out of my comfort zone in every way. I was a teacher and leading a discussion group, living, eating, and breathing with 39 other people for 7 days, so basically just on 24/7, LITERALLY. And feeling this FALSE responsibility that I shouldn’t have felt, but I did. So when I finally got to take a breath later that afternoon when we got home, I lost it!! I cried and cried! I have never felt more exhausted in every way, spiritually, mentally, and physically! And it was the first time that I felt SO homesick. So I called my dad just crying from exhaustion and really missing family and friends! So I got a little time to rest that afternoon and evening and the Lord truly allowed those few hours to be enough to get me through the next week…

Also and most importantly, one of the students accepted Christ! There were lots of steps made!! Praise the Lord!! I am SOOOO excited to see what these next few months hold with the relationships that I have made!

Hopefully soon I will have some pictures up on facebook!

ONE FULL MONTH!

2009-06-27T15:13:00.000-05:00

So how am I now that I am a month into living in Slovenia? Loving it! Thank you for asking :) It has been a very enjoyable first month. Of course, I have my moments that I miss home and friends and family, but I wouldn't trade where I am for anything! Why get in a hurry, if you are where you want to be? I feel blessed beyond words to be here.

Camp is quickly approaching... We leave on July 5th. We had a team meeting yesterday, just talking out logistics. I have been working on my English lessons for class. I am excited! I think it will be fun! However, I know why I didn't pick the profession of teaching :) Even though this is a lot different because its more just like planning activities to have conversational English! I just don't have the gift of creativity like many of my friends, so its interesting!!

Today, I really felt like I lived in Europe because I took the train all ALONE. I helped the Patty's with some cleaning at their new house they are renovating. Johnny and Brooke are the photographers for a wedding all day and night, so they dropped me off for the day! Apparently, Slovene weddings are long... Brooke just said the activities are going on until wee hours in the morning... so I have gotten some time alone... ANYWAY... back to my train experience all by myself. I just took a train from Ljubljana to Celje and I really enjoyed it. I was a little nervous about getting on the right train but it was no big deal and the ride was so enjoyable. I read my awesome book, "A Voice in the Wind" by Francine Rivers, its a trilogy and cant put it down!! Check it out if you are in need of an awesome novel!! It was a beautiful ride. So we get to Celje and I was just going to walk home because its not that far from the train station... well I forgot my UMBRELLA and walked home in the rain... but for some reason I enjoyed it... I did a little singing in the rain :) It helped me feel a little bit of indepence and confidence about living in another country!!

I just talked to Andrea for almost 2 and a half hours on skype... it was so refreshing and awesome... it was seriously like we were just hanging out together... I was finishing up broccoli salad and did all the dishes and hung up my laundry and brushed my teeth while we talked... and she cleaned her room and ate lunch... I am SOOOOOO incredibly thankful for technology!! And for my incredible friend Andrea Green!! She is one of the most caring people I know and has the biggest heart for ministry!! It is really encouraging to see her desire to serve! One of the biggest desires of my heart is to do ministry with her someday. Lord knows :) we talk about it often!! Anyway... I love you Andrea and I know that the Lord has INCREDIBLE things in store :) Thank you for your heart and friendship. Don't know what I would do without you!!! LOVE YOU!!!

Ok thats all for now!! I gotta work on my lesson plans :)

yay!!!!

2009-06-19T07:53:00.001-05:00

SO... yesterday and today we set up a table with flyers to advertise for camp and handed them out to teenagers in the center (equivalent to a downtown area). We feel like it has been a success... We thought that even if ONE student signs up to go to camp, it would be worth our hours of handing out flyers!! WELLLLLLLLLLLLL GUESSS WHAT??!?!?! We had one sign up!! And she said that her friend is going to sign up as well!!! I think right now we have around 22 students signed up! So its a total success!!! (And we are doing the same thing 3 days next week too)

There was a group of teenagers that were kinda hanging out with us and I (with the help of Brooke's pushing) started up a conversation with a girl named Maja. We talked for awhile... just basic things because she doesn't know a ton of English but can definitely hold a conversation! I really feel encouraged that she simply just talked with me... cause yesterday she didn't want to have a conversation with us at all!! So for whatever reason, she decided to come stand by me today and I got a chance to start getting to know Maja!! Then Johnny made friends with another student and I think they are grabbing coffee tomorrow!! This is what its all about!!!

YET...

2009-06-15T08:12:00.000-05:00

"Yet, the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show me compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are ALL who WAIT for him." -Isaiah 30:19

Justin (the pastor of Calvary Chapel which is the church I attend here in Celje) spoke on Isaiah, chapter 30, Sunday and I feel like from this verse the Lord revealed some things to me. There is a part of my life that is in waiting and to be honest, I feel pretty impatient and a part of me doesn't believe that He will provide. So yesterday, I spent some time before Lord, kind of wrestling with this. He has been so patient with me as He allowed my eyes to see to what is true and to see what lies I was believing. As I was having a hard time giving this part of my life FULLY to the Lord, I started to think to myself, "Okay, what is true and what is not true about what I am believing right now?" I was believing that the Lord would not provide. I was believing that I knew better. I was believing that I needed to be in control. Then as I asked the Lord to reveal truth to me and this is what I began to see...

ONE, that the LORD ALWAYS provides. I never go without. "...but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment." -1 Timothy 6:17
TWO, the Lord gives PERFECT gifts. "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father..." - James 1:17
THREE, God has PERFECT timing. "And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" -Esther 4:14
FOUR, His plan is ALWAYS better then mine and better then what I think or imagine. "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us..." -Ephesians 3:20

These are specific verses that at one point in my life, the Lord has used to reveal truth to me. So these are things that not only, God has said through his Word, but also things that I have personally experienced. And they are just a few of the promises that I am standing on!
Here are a few more :)
Psalm 27:14
Psalm 130:5
Psalm 40:1
Romans 8:25

And not to say that I still won't struggle and everything is going to be easy... BUT I have truth to turn to in those moments of weakness! So maybe that is a little encouragement for you today :)

Much love from sunny celje!!! :)

Update!!

2009-06-11T03:51:00.000-05:00

I have now been in Celje for over a week!! And it has been awesome!! It is a little slow right now because the kids are still in school, so we have been doing random stuff. We made a list of supplies for camp and went through the themes for each night! It is going to be so fun!! One night is an Asian theme and Brooke and I might learn a giesha dance :)

We had a prayer meeting Wednesday morning and Bible study that night. It was about the Holy Spirit and was a great time of learning for me!! Other then that I have just had time to get adjusted to Celje.

So lately its been coffee shops, learning a few Slovene words, running, picking cherries, birthday parties, church, and picking cherries!! Oh btw, Brooke and I signed up to run the half marathon in Ljubljana in October!!!!! We have already started training and she is great with pushing me!! It is such a blessing to have her and to have the ability to run!!! Thank you Lord for the ability to run!!

Picking cherries is a highlight because we get to climb this huge awesome cherry tree and then make YUMMY homemade cherry pie from scratch!!!! Thursday was awesome!! We picked about 12 pounds of cherries from the cherry tree and pitted like half of them, including the worms! YUCK!!! But they are still yummy!!

Then went on an incredible hike!!!! SOOOO MAD that the camera I brought to take pics with DIDN'T have my memory card so I have NO pictures to show for the incredible hike I took. But I will do it again soon bc it was awesome and challenging and BEAUTIFUL!!!!

Friday we went to Ljubljana to help the Patty's, a missionary family here, with their house they just bought. They completely gutted it and are now renovating it. So Johnny and I sanded 5 door frames and I primed almost an entire room by myself. (Brooke was at softball practice). It may not sound like much but sanding little tiny cracks and crevices is not easy, but we did it with the joy of getting to serve!!

Today is Saturday and has been a really busy, but great day!! We left at 8 this morning to go the the warehouse to sort out camp supplies! It was a little overwhelming but got me really excited for camps!!! We were doing that til about noon. Then we had a staff cookout and celebrated Rachel's birthday! Brooke and I got sunburned! Josh Patty, who is our country leader, prayed with us and we had a great talk just about this summer and the road ahead of us. He said expect trials because we are going onto a battle field that is opposing the enemy. We will experience really big, significant, eternal things in a very small country. Something that one of the other missionaries, Joel said, was that some kids will have NO IDEA how simply registering for camp will completely change their life forever. I am so exciting to get to be a part of God's kingdom building!!!

So then we left from there to go to another birthday party for a girl from church! Her name is Polona and she is awesome!! I am hoping that she will be my translator at camp!! I played with a PRECIOUS little girl named Naomi and she wore me out!! Haha it was so funny watching her try to say one, two, three with me right before I would throw her in the air!! She is not quite 2 yet and just about the cutest thing ever!! So after a very long day, I am finally sitting on the couch trying to catch up with emails, getting ready for bed and for church tomorrow!
NIGHT!!!!

COVERED!!!

2009-06-07T06:45:00.000-05:00

Last night Johnny, Brooke, and I spent some significant time in prayer over my life and areas that the enemy had a stronghold. The Lord truly spoke simply because we asked Him to and then sat and waited! The Lord is covering me in His blood and I am walking in victory knowing that He has already won the war! I am claiming His promises in Ephesians 1:3-14 over my life. Maybe I am the only one who struggles with my identity and the sins and yuck in my past, but maybe, just maybe, I'm not the only one. And not to say I don't sin anymore because I do, but I am walking in the freedom of Christ because this is who God says I am...

I am:
blessed
chosen in Him before creation
holy
blameless
predestined
adopted as His daughter
redeemed by His blood
forgiven
included
sealed by His promise
the praise of His glory

Wow! If that doesn't move you, I am not sure what will. Romans 3:23 says, "for we have ALL sinned and fall short of the glory of God". But He also says, "I have come that you may have life, and have it to the full".

I am walking in the fullness of life. I am choosing the tree of Life because it is a decision. Will I choose to take God's grace or will Jesus have died in vain because I won't accept His sacrifice? My shame, my guilt, my sins were nailed to a cross a long time ago, and I am fully extending my arms out to take His grace and accept His perfect sacrifice!!

I pray that if you are struggling with something today, that you choose to accept the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross. Love you all!!

1. repentance

2009-06-05T12:51:00.000-05:00

So Dave Patty is the founder of JV and has such a gift for sharing the Word of God in a refreshing and challenging way! He spoke about five things we need to take with us as we go into this summer and forever really :) But I just want to cover the first one right now...

Repentance... (Not an easy message to hear, right?) BUT this is what prepares the way for the work of the Lord. The Lord really opened my eyes to a lot of sin in my life I had not recognized. But let me tell the joy in this... 1 John 1:8- confess, He is FAITHFUL to forgive.

Repentance is NOT:

remorse- feeling bad about something... I feel bad about ______
regret- wishing you hadn't done ______
repair- I'll fix that or do better next time
(These 3 things are so easy for me to do and to think that its all better but that isn't what repentance is)

We need to really call the sin what it is... Call it what the Lord would call it. And then dunk it, cleanse it, baptize it, in Christ. And then TURN and head the other direction.

The hope of the message, THE POWER OF REPENTANCE BRINGS FREEDOM!!!

True repentance:
restores relationships (Isaiah 59: 20-21)
produces healing (Psalms 32:5-9)
brings blessing (Matthew 3:

So I pray that God makes me repentant because this is what prepares the way of His work . I want my life to be so full of Him, that there is no room for me.

new friends!

2009-06-05T09:14:00.000-05:00

Wow!! How does so much happen in a week!! Crazy! Ok well I'll just jump right in!
Ill start with my new friends. First, is kaylanne (but pronounced kaylynn). She is a summer intern in Poland... I want to go visit her but I do not think there will be time in the summer! BOO!! But she is from Littleton, which I have family there, and she goes to Baylor and thats only like 5 hours from OKC, so I will still see her! We met when we landed in Zurich. I had noticed that she had been on my flight and we were in the bathroom together and she was brushing her teeth but I just had to ask if she was with JV and she WAS!!! YAY! My first friend!! We connected immediately!! She is so sweet and is going to be incredible in Poland! Kids will absolutley love her!

Ok so this pic is Brittney, Laura, and Brooke! These girls made me laugh so much!! I had a great time with them! The 3 of them are full time missionaries with JV. Brittney is in Ukraine, Laura is in Slovakia, and of course, Brooke is with me! I am excited that I will get to see them a couple more times while I am here... They will be at Fall Conference and Thanksgiving Conference!
This is Mateja and she is from Slovenia and is an angel!! She was saved a English a few years ago and now is one of the most mature believers I know! She is 20 and wise beyond her years!! She was my life saver at so many times during the amazing race! I will get to continue building a friendship with while I am here and I am so excited about it! She is beautiful!!

Pure excitement!!

2009-05-30T07:01:00.000-05:00

(This is where I am right NOW, on the top floor! The view is unreal but pictures will not do it justice. It is absolutely breathtaking!!!)

So today we started training for this summer!! And it has made me so excited and confident in my decision to be here and invest 7 short months of my life doing this! We first had a session about our theme for the summer which is "Stories", I think :) In which, is how we will be sharing the Gospel at camps this summer. Caesar Kalinowski is part of a church in Tacoma, Washington called SOMA, I believe, and is just a very powerful teacher of the Word! He is taking us through the story of God and I have already been moved by it! I am excited to continue learning more about the Lord in a new and fresh way!! We also had our first session on teaching English and it seem a little challenging but so exciting! It is amazing to me how much I take for granted the fact the I am from the US and that speaking English is a dream of so many people outside of the states! I am thankful that the Lord is using my native language to connect with students in Eastern Europe to futher His Kingdom!! Something that I think is no big deal, God uses to move and change people! Man, I have a long ways to go!! I am so inadequate to be here, but God uses our willingness to be used by Him!

So I feel like there is still so much to tell, but obviously do not have time to tell every detail... So if you have more specific questions, email me at sara.schakelaar@gmail.com and I will do my best to answer :)

Please know that I feel your prayers over me and for that I am soooo thankful!!

4 COUNTRIES IN 2 DAYS!!!

2009-05-29T09:17:00.000-05:00

WOW!!!!! Oh my gosh!!!! I seriously don't even know how to begin to say how these past few days have been... I honestly am not even sure what day it is... I think its friday :) and its 3:25pm and 8:25 am in oklahoma... time difference is so wierd to me!!! So one word to describe me right now is EXHAUSTED!! I mean physically I can barely walk because of how much walking we have been doing!! RIGHT when I got off the plane in Vienna, we got out luggage and started the amazing race... We walked so much for the next 8 hours and then slept for 5 and DIDNT EAT and woke up and did it again!!! I am not complaining... PROMISE!! It has just been so insane!! My legs have NEVER been more sore in my entire life!! I have been in FOUR different countries in the past two days... We started in Veinna, Austria, and we walked around Veinna for literally like 8 hours!!! Then ended up in Bratislava, Slovakia and stayed in a hostile there. Then yesterday spent the day in Budahpest, Hungary, and today we woke up and finihsed the race around Bratislava! Got a train and I am currently in Czech at the same place where I came in the fall for the conference!! So its been awesome but exhausting!! So I miss you all so much!!! I wish I could talk to all of you and tell you everything... but there is my small update!!! Sorry if this doesn't make any sense... :)

LOVE LOVE LOVEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

kelly michelle ross

2009-05-21T22:55:00.000-05:00

I had to say goodbye to one of the best friends I have ever had in my entire life tonight. Well first of all, she is the most gorgeous person I have ever seen and on top of that, she is the most non-judgmental, loyal, caring, loving, fun, best friend a girl could seriously ask for. She makes me laugh so hard but then she can also be the best person to talk about difficult things. She has a heart bigger then words. She has been there for me in ways no one else could be and has loved me through it all! I hope she knows how incredibly thankful I am for her. the Lord has truly blessed me with kelly michelle ross!!!!! I will miss her so much it will hurt. Tonight we talked about how the worse thing in the whole world is missing someone. I mean I said that but I think she agreed :) But I think in way its incredible because it shows you how much someone means to you. and then on the flip side of that, the best thing in the world is seeing that person that you have missed so terribly that your heart feels like someone is literally squeezing it when you think about that person. There have been a few times in my life that I am so excited to see someone that I have missed so bad that I am shaking when I finally get to see them. Its the best!!! But if missing my whole life is what I have to do to experience the Lord in a way that I never have before then so be it. I will miss so many people, too many to name. But in reality 6 months and 19 days isn't that long. I will be back before I know it!! And the Lord will take care of every drop of loneliness I will experience. HE KNOWS ALL ABOUT IT!! Thats what my grandma always tells me, He knows all about it, sara. And I believe it!! I believe. :)

chillin...

2009-05-11T19:08:00.000-05:00

Airports are so bitter sweet to me!! And today I can't figure out what I feel, but probably for many reasons. Im sitting in the Denver International Airports. One of my favorite airports, probably because its so familiar to me and I just like it!! Its nice and I feel safe. Its just like a good feeling because I am either going home to colorado or home to oklahoma and I love going to both of those places. However, in two weeks from tomorrow, it could be a different story. It could be my first sad experience in the great DIA! The 26th I leave okc and fly to denver and then to washington dc and then to zurich and then to vienna!!! I cried last I left the country and it was only for 3 weeks. I was sitting in the chicago airport and called scott bawling like a baby!! And of course, he had the perfect words. But this time is different all the way around!! I will not be staying for only 3 weeks, it will be almost 7 months. I AM SO EXCITED!!! (OH MY... i just saw a bird flying around in the terminal... how the heck did it get in here?? weird) And if we are honest. I am sad. sad. sad. for some reason. But I am just sure that it will quickly fade!!! :) the optimist coming out in me!!
K I am going to go do some more people watching!!! Lata!!

...

2009-05-07T23:01:00.000-05:00

I am sitting here all alone at 11pm on Thursday night wondering how and where to I begin to start saying thank you to each and every person that helped me get this night together. I mean I guess I could just start going through my phone and calling every single person that helped and came tonight to my fundraiser and gave me about $1700!!!!!!! I mean I am in awe of the generosity that EVERYONE has blessed me with!!! But thank you isn't enough. It's just not but I am not sure what else I can say except from the bottom of my heart. THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! becca, amanda and colby, elizabeth, lauren, amy, kel, katy and brett, michelle, allie, caleigh, andrea and evan, larissa, misty and chad, scott, clay and till, justin, melissa, ashley, jennifer, mitch, krysta, cheri, melissa, eunice, and im sure im missing more people but thats just to name a few... THANK YOU!!! I LOVE YOU ALL!!!

3 WEEKS and counting!!!

2009-05-05T15:03:00.001-05:00

So I discovered that blogging is a bit overwhelming and that is why I haven't in awhile! How do you decide what is worthy enough for spending time blogging about that maybe, just maybe, a few people would like to read about!

Well I did find something that is worth my time in sharing! And its all because my friend Becca told me to :)

This Thursday evening I am having a dessert benefit thing for raising my financial support. I still have about half way to go in the large amount of $14,ooo. But can I just be real honest right now! The Lord has given me a peace beyond understanding about this large amount of money, and not just the money but about His call for me right now! I think a HUGE part of that peace is because of the community that the Lord has blessed me with! For this fundraiser, there are approximately 20 people helping bring this all together by bringing desserts, drinks, paper goods, etc. A couple is playing music for me, someone is helping welcome people, people helping me set up and get every detail worked out!!

The way that I got the room was totally from the Lord! Or more the fact that it is actually going to be FREE!! That is a miracle in and of itself. But why am I surprised, when I know how God is faithful! I called a few churches and one simply would not let me and one cost a lot of money to just use a room. But my good friend Katy Bradley suggested the Hearth Room at SNU and every detail has worked out beautifully! At first I was going to have to pay just like $10/hour for this room which is the best deal I have found and then I was maybe going to have to pay for catering and the Lord opened doors where I do not have to pay one penny!!! Wow!! But I have said from the beginning of this whole process, I am believing before I see, which is totally just practicing faith! (NOT THAT I HAVE IT DOWN) BUT He has been faithful throughout this whole journey! I won't lie and say I haven't worried or stressed at some points, but the Lord has just continued to reassure me that He isn't leaving me and He is bigger then anything I could dream up!

So I am leaving for SLOVENIA in exactly 21 days. Well actually I will fly into Vienna for training and then go to slo a few days later I think? ha!! Ahhh I am so excited!!!

Say a prayer :)

Lataaaa!!!

friday night...

2009-04-17T22:35:00.000-05:00

the more i seek you,
the more i find you,
the more i find you,
the more i love you.
i want to sit at your feet,
drink from the cup in your hand,
lay back against and breath,
feel your heartbeat,
this love is so deep,
its more then i can stand,
i melt in your peace
its overwhelming.
-kari jobe

This friday night, as I sit on the couch, I'm a bit overwhelmed, not in a stressed out way, but more in a 'I need Jesus' in a desperate way. The God of the UNIVERSE wants and desires a relationship with me. How do I accept that? I'm so guilty in everyway. I deserve death, but for some reason the Lord continues to give me my every breath. I do not deserve my life, but since the Lord continues to give it to me, I want to give it back to Him.
I need a healing. I need a new. I need a fresh. I need Him. I don't want to be sad. Fill me with YOUR joy Lord!! I know you are good, I know you are faithful, I know you are there, even when I am sad and overwhelmed and can't see. I know and believe before I see. I think that is what faith is. Give me faith Father!

phil. 2:3

2009-04-14T08:52:00.000-05:00

life is funny. people are funny. the things we do... the things we do out of selfishness or angry or sadness... we are strange people. dont you wonder... why the heck did i just do that? or why the heck did he/she/ they do that? i think probably about 95% of my mistakes are made out of pure selfishness to try to make myself feel better. how gross. how does God not get so fed up with forgiving me? how does He not get tired of picking me back up and setting me on my feet time after time? i get sick of myself for crying out loud, HOW DOES HE NOT? i mean i know i deserve a good kick in the butt most of the time... and maybe occassionally i will get that, but the majority of the time God just says, 'sara, get up. i forgive you. i love you. no. matter. what. i'm not giving up on you, so dont give up on yourself.' Lord, teach me to 'do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility, to consider others better then myself.' -phil 2:3 and give me the strength to do that.

cant sleep

2009-04-10T00:43:00.000-05:00

its 12:43 am... I should be sleeping. I am getting up to run 4 miles with amanda and elizabeth in the morning and I just want to be sleeping. But I guess since I have this time, I should reflect on today and how incredibly grateful I am for a family who supports me beyond what I deserve. Thank you grandma, papa, grandma, grand-dad, mike, lisa, ryan, steph, mark, michelle, danny, tacey, kenny, bobby, angie, tammy, dave, nicole, justin, melissa, mom, dad, sis, thomas, sheri, peggy, elizabeth, johnny, brooke, caleigh, becca, and anyone else who was praying and fasting for me today!! It was a beautiful day and did feel covered in prayer! I had a new sense of energy today and of gratefulness. (I think I am waking up andrea with my typing and I should probably stop) but I just wanted to say thank you and words are nothing to show my appreciation and thankfulness!!

blessed beyond words!

2009-04-08T20:17:00.000-05:00

I got a phone call on Monday from my cousin Justin, who is basically like my older brother, telling me that he has called together my family to fast for me on Thursday! So tomorrow my whole family is fasting for ME and praying for my journey to Slovenia. They are giving me the money that they would have spent on food that day plus whatever else they were planning on giving me! WOW!! I mean how does someone even begin to say thank you!! I have told a few friends and they are going to be joining in fasting and some in prayer with us tomorrow! So if anyone would like to join in fasting or prayer tomorrow, that would be awesome!! I hope Justin knows how much he has blessed my life! He is the most thoughtful person I know!! I love you cuz!!

just for you girl!

2009-04-07T15:13:00.000-05:00

How are you supposed to start your very first sentence of a brand new blog? I guess I could start with thanking Amanda Taylor (who I am dedicating this first blog to) for introducing me to blogging and then tell about how much we laughed trying to think of a title for my blog... Since I am going to SLOvenia, we thought we should try to be clever and come up with a title that rhymes with slo... hahaha!! So being that Amanda is very creative, we went to the rhyming dictionary online and looked up things that rhymed with slow... Needless to say, she was creative in her ryhmes and I got quite the laugh out of it... but none made the cut! I made the final decision to be Joyfully... (obviously)

I guess ultimately I picked that word because I wanted it to be a reminder... through good and bad, God is still God and He is still good and I can rest in the sheer JOY that my God is faithful to never leave or forsake me! I have something to be joyful about and I want to live my life in that way that people see the JOY He ALONE brings :)

So be encouraged today that even when we are "faithless, HE WILL REMAIN FAITHFUL" - 2 timothy 2:13

hi my name is sara and i will grow in slo and make cookie dough and then go mow or maybe sew fo sho ya know foe...