Here we go, sophomore year!

Thank God for godly friends.

     

     Today is the day! Well, yesterday was technically, but I found some free time to blog today. This week I began my my sophomore year at North Central University and I could not be more excited. I love schedule and structure, so I'm thankful to be back in school. This year I am commuting instead of living the dorm life, which is so great for me. I love North Central, but it's so nice to be able to go home to some "me time" (not to mention a full kitchen). I've found I'm much more efficient with my free time, school work, and time with the Lord this way. I've also been blessed with an awesome after-school nanny job for the entire school year! Check out the cool God story here! Going into this school year I made goals. I hope by sharing them over the world wide web I am kept more accountable. If anything, may they encourage and challenge you to make some goals for yourself!

1. Be frugal and save the money I make!
   
   "Who am I and what can I do without? Rather than who am I because of what I can acquire."
2. In the words of a wise youth leader and friend, Josiah Kennealy, "be early to bed and early to rise." My time with God in the mornings must be and continue to be a major priority above all else.
3. Be organzied, so that I can be successful in school. I want to honor God with my schoolwork and the motivation/dedication I have towards it. 
4. I've been reading a lot lately about loving the Gifter more than His gifts. I want to love and desire God far more than the blessings He has given me. He deserves all the honor and praise!

Here's to a great year!

Always.

Filled 150 water balloons with my nanny kids this summer and put
them all on the trampoline! So fun - this photo does not do it justice!

     "Don't worry about it. You will be just fine. I've got it." These were the words I felt God press upon my heart a few Saturday's ago as I spent time in prayer, unsure of what my job situation was going to look like this coming school year. Last year I regularly over-worked myself. I missed out on a lot of opportunities to bond with my floor and others at NCU, as well as free time on weekends (gotta love retail jobs) to plan events for my youth group girls, let alone just have "me time." Meanwhile, I had been nannying all summer and was so sad to see my wonderful summer job come to an end. I wished there was someway I could still nanny over the school year, but figured it wasn't possible with my 18 credit schedule. So, I applied at a couple places around where I live, but to no avail. No one ever called me.
     Which brings me back to... "Don't worry about it. You will be just fine. I've got it." As difficult as it was, I told God that I trusted Him and knew He'd provide in the ways that I need. Sure enough, only hours later, that evening I received a message from a woman looking for after school childcare four days a week! I responded to her message almost instantly, had an interview the next day after church, and the following evening I had the job. Man, is God faithful or what? Always has been and always will be. Always.

8 Things I Wish I Knew as a Freshman...

Funky Night at NCU - Freshmen year!

     Crazy to think that only a year ago I was packing up my things and getting ready to move downtown into a little dorm room with my good friend, Sarah. Oh boy, were my feelings ever a roller coaster! One day I was thrilled beyond belief to move out, live on a college campus, and feel like an adult! The next I was balling my eyes out not wanting to leave my family, best friends, dog, etc. My freshmen year of college was probably the biggest year of growth I've experienced thus far. During my first few weeks at North Central University last fall, I received a little card in my mailbox titled, "7 things I wish I knew when I was a freshman..." written by the Delta Kappa girls. As cheesy as it sounds, I kept it on the wall above my desk all year. Much of the points were full of wisdom and comforted me in difficult moments that first, semi-intimidating year of "real life" as my dad calls it.
     Whether you're getting ready to head out on your first college adventure these next couple weeks, or second, third, or fourth, I hope you are able to learn from me, as well as glean one or two nuggets of wisdom from my:

8 Things I Wish I Knew as a Freshman...

1. You REALLY don't need to bring every article of clothing you own, or a game/appliance/etc. that you "might" use. You don't need to bring so much stuff to college. Trust me, your roommates will thank you.
2. If you want to make new friendships, pursue and work for them! Don't be nervous - everyone is in the same boat. 
• Also, I know this is elementary knowledge, but seriously, be YOURSELF. Be conscious of the people and influences you hang around. You will become like the people you spend the most time with.
3. Save and spend money wisely.
• On a similar note, don't overwork yourself in order to "make money to pay for everything." I did that and missed out on many opportunities and events to build relationships with others. Just be frugal.
4. Just because your roommates stay up late every night, doesn't mean you should. You thought you were sleep-deprived in high school? Oh no, my friend. Take naps and go to bed at a decent time.
5. Make spending time with God everyday an absolute PRIORITY - above all else! Plan to wake up 20-30 minutes early and read the Bible, pray, listen to a worship song. You are going to face stepping stones and challenges during this season of my life. May God be your solid foundation and who you find your identity in.
6. As sad as this sounds, yes, some of your high school friendships will fade, but THAT IS OKAY. Don't worry/stress so much over the transition of high school friendships into college. Keep in touch with ones you truly care about, but know that you will make new friends in college if you choose to make an effort.
7. You don't have to read everything! You will drown in reading if you read every single reading assignment given. Get together with a couple classmates, split up the reading, then come back together and fill each other in on each section.
8. Have an older leader or mentor that you keep in touch with regularly (perhaps weekly). Allow them to keep you accountable, encourage you, lift you up in times of difficulty, pray for you, and give you advice.

...Actually...posting...a blog?

     Yes, indeed! This is my first blog post in almost TWO MONTHS! This summer has been crazy busy with mission trips, camp counseling, family vacations, nannying, and more, but so great. I have been learning so much. As stated in my last blog post, in June I traveled to Costa Rica for 10 days, along with a team of 31 leaders and high school students from my youth group. We worked alongside an amazing missionary family, the Dahlager's. We had the privilege of ministering to over 6,000 students through personal interaction, school assemblies, church services, and an outreach concert.
     I, personally, had never been on a mission trip before this trip. It changed my life forever! Here is just a snippet of cool stories and things I learned:

• Missionaries are selfless, sacrificial, and deserve much more honor than they receive. Many take their families and give up a regular American lifestyle in order to share with others around the world the hope and freedom they have in Jesus.
• PRAYER IS POWERFUL. One night we did a presentation in an alternative school. This was the only school we were told we couldn’t talk about God. We were also given a shorter time slot than we had in the other schools. While part of our team was setting up the band equipment, the rest of us began to pray around the building. Just before the presentation, something miraculous happened – the director of the school extended our time slot and gave us permission to talk about God! The band rocked out, two other team members and I shared our testimonies, and one of our youth pastors, Micah, shared a powerful message. Micah made sure the students knew that regardless of what had happened in their lives, they still have value. People were crying, God was moving, and lives were changed. At the end of the night, a student told the director that a month ago her father shot her mother. Her mother had survived, but the girl was so devastated that she had been planning to commit suicide that very night, but she had found hope again! Only God could have orchestrated all this. Only God could have changed the mind of the director at the last minute, allowing us to talk about God.
•    I feel very called to work in women’s ministry – writing and speaking. This was confirmed to me throughout the trip, as I was given the opportunity to share my testimony, a righteous victory over an eating disorder, with other 6,000 students! It was so cool and rewarding to be able to talk with, pray over, and encourage students struggling with their self-image. I am currently working on a book for women regarding self-worth.
•    Want less; give more. We should make the most of the time and resources that we have been blessed with. What better way than to love on and bless other people? I am so passionate about missions!

Hanging out with some girls before our big outreach concert!

We went zip-lining on one of our last days!

Sharing my testimony in one of the high schools!

Our team at the airport right before we left!