Adventure

ad·ven·ture
verb

• engage in hazardous and exciting activity, esp. the exploration of unknown territory.

Once upon a time I used to be safe.  I used to color inside the lines.  I used to "follow the leader wherever he may go." (tee-dum, tee-dee, a tee-da-lee-dum-dee-day...just a little Peter Pan sing-a-long side note). However, now, I am adventuring.  I am stepping outside of my comfortable boundaries and seeking to live life to the fullest!  I'm letting go, not planning, and flying by the seat of my pants. 

 It is completely new, utterly exhilarating, and absolutely terrifying.

In the past few weeks I have left everything I ever knew to be "home".  I have moved to a place filled with exotic food trucks, fantastical fountains, concrete artwork, and outlandish beings.  And now this is "home".  What an entirely electrifying experience!

I spend each day reminding myself, "This is real life! You really did this!  You really did step out of your comfort zone and take this giant leap!"  I did.  And I am loving it! 

Don't get me wrong.  There are moments that I freak out and questions my decisions.  There are moments that I miss the familiarity and the pleasures of home.  There are moments that all I want is to be curled up on Nanee and Papa's couch eating BlueBell ice cream, drinking Dr. Pepper, and watching Aristocats with Lily.  But in not taking this leap, I would have disappointed myself.  I would have always wondered.  I would have become complacent.  I never want to become complacent.  I want to always grow, always learn, always explore.

I want to always adventure.  

And adventure I will! 

So here I go... 

Romance

These past few weeks I've been reading the book Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge.  Each day I have learned something new or had my eyes opened to something, but what I read this morning really grabbed my attention and painted a beautiful picture of our romance with Christ.

"Can there be any doubt that God wants to be sought after?  The first and greatest of all commands is to love Him (Mark 12:29-30, Matt. 22:36-38).  He wants us to love him.  To seek him with all our hearts.  A woman longs to be sought after, too, with the whole heart of her pursuer.  God longs to be desired.  Just as a woman longs to be desired.  This is not some weakness or insecurity on the part of a woman, that deep yearning to be desired. 'Take me for longing,' Alison Krauss sings, 'or leave me behind.'  God feels the same way.  Remember the story of Martha and Mary?  Mary chose God, and Jesus said that is what he wanted.  'Mary has chosen what is better' (Luke 10:42).  She chose me.

Life changes dramatically when romance comes into our lives.  Christianity changes dramatically when we discover that it, too, is a great romance.  That God yearns to share a life of beauty, intimacy, and adventure with us.  'I have loved you with an everlasting love' (Jer. 31:3).  This whole world was made for romance--the rivers and the glens, the meadows and beaches.  Flowers, music, a kiss.  But we have a way of forgetting all that, losing ourselves in work and worry.  Eve--God's message to the world in feminine form--invites us to romance.  Through her, God makes romance a priority of the universe. 

So God endows Woman with certain qualities that are essential to relationship, qualities that speak of God.  She is inviting.  She is vulnerable.  She is tender.  She embodies mercy.  She is also fierce and fiercely devoted.  As the old saying goes, 'Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.'  That's just how God acts when He isn't chosen.  'I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not share your affection with any other god!' (Ex. 20:5 NLT).  A woman's righteous jealousy speaks of the jealousy of God for us.  Tender and inviting, intimate and alluring, fiercely devoted.  Oh yes, our God has a passionate, romantic heart.  Just look at Eve."

I want to be a Mary--passionately in love with my beautiful Savior who loves me so deeply in return and never too busy to spend time alone with Him.   

See you when I see you...

Wellllllll.....It's that time of year again.  Finals week...the week that I get all weepy and sappy and a little bit depressed because I have to say goodbye to everyone for the summer.  Except this year is a little different.  This year I have friends who are leaving and not coming back next year.  Friends who RUINED my plans for having another whole year before we had to do these final goodbyes...really guys??!  Kiddingggg...except not really! Ha.  

But as much as I make this out to be the worst week of my life and act like the world is coming to an end (yeah, yeah, I know I'm dramatic) it's really been a good week in some ways.  I've been giving a lot of thought to these wonderful friendships I have here and the blessings that these friends have been in my life.  And as I've been doing that I thought I'd share a little bit about these sweet people I'm going to miss so much! 

Love love love her!!!

Let's start out with the ever so animated Kristina Villines! :)  For anyone who knows her, the word "animated" doesn't really do her justice, but it's the closest thing in my mind to describing her!  Kristina was one of the first people I met when I came to Tech!  Taylor Thompson and I walked over to the Wesley Foundation for Frogappoloza not having ANY clue what we were getting ourselves into! ha.  We were a little late so we grabbed some food and sat on the ground beside Kristina Villines.  She immediately started talking to us and getting to know us.  And that was the beginning of a beeeeeeautiful friendship! Lol.  Some of my favorite memories with Kristina include driving to Nebo, windows down, singing "My Heart Will Go On" at the top of our lungs and making sure that everyone within five miles could hear us; cuddling as close as we possible could to each other at the Great Frog Getaway on tiny bunk beds that were pushed together as we almost froze to death; taking our age to age kids to Sonic together; giggling in the back of Ching Zeng's class; the best eyebrow waxing jobs EVER!; being thrown over her shoulders and dropped on my head while trying to take piggy pack pictures; and getting tackled and then nuzzled.....Kristina knows how to give the BEST hugs!! :)  You'll always be my little cuddle buddy and the best nuzzler ever! :)  Luuuuuv you sis!

Next...Faithyyyyy!  Ohhhh Faithy! :)  I have had THE best time making memories with Faith Newton throughout this past year!  I've known her since freshman year, but for some reason we didn't start hanging out till recently?  That was stupid because we were definitely meant to be friends!   I literally think I laugh more with Faith that just about anyone.  We can just look at each other and die laughing.  And I love it!  Last semester we went to a concert which brought about my obsession with Eden's Edge.  Faith has me hooked on them!  Sooo...she can't complain when it's all I want to listen to now!  Haha.  I love our "feet aren't touching the floor" moments with Rachel and walking around downtown Little Rock (including the Kroger) laughing at everything..even if it wasn't actually all that funny?  "Please, remove your aprons before entering the restroom."  Lol.  And the recent river trips have been memories I'll never forget!  "I'm going through the rapiiiiiiiidddsssss!"  Let's be honest, I wouldn't be nearly as good at navigating rapids if it wasn't for your expert advice on finding the "V"!  I'm so thankful to have gotten to know the sweet, hard-working, loyal, fun-loving Faithy this past year and I will miss her SO much next year! :(  Don't forget me in D.C.!!!!!

Oh Torpuppy!!  Your turn! hehe. Victoria (Tori) Wehunt....I just wanted to use the full name for effect! lol.  I don't actually know if I should start of with something sappy or something funny.  Because...let's be honest, we've had plenty of both!  Together, the two of us probably produce enough tears to supply all the rivers in Arkansas with enough water to float year round!  And we don't even have to be sad!  Usually, it's just because of some Khloe and Lamar episode or something like that! Ha.  We are "two minds in one body"!  All I have to do is look at Tordawg from across the room and I know know exactly what she's thinking and she knows what I'm thinking!  We're just good like that!  She shares my love for taking pictures, coloring, country music, kids, the animal shelter, snow cones, Sonic happy hour, the lake, and the Kardashians!  We've been on too many road trips to count them all--Florida, Passion, Magtown, Harrison....just to name a few!  And Tor...you've successfully added Beaches to my list of favorite movies!  LOVE! :)  Thank you for being a best friend since freshman year!!  You're one of the few people who's stuck by this attitude-filled, sassy, mouthy, emotional, obnoxious person that I am! lol.  I love you so much and if you don't come down and see me from Fort Smith I WILL grab Kiwi and Jilliann and track you down and I'm sure they will be happy to assist me in yelling at your whiiiiiiile sitting on you and finding your belly button!! Kay? ;)

Last but not least I have to talk about Rach--Rooms, Razzie, Rackel, Squeaky, Sweet Baby Rae Rae!  You have a lot of names ya know?  lol.  This girl has been with me as long as Tordawg and has put up with at least as much of my attitude too!  She helps me to pull it together when I'm an emotional baby about the most ridiculous things and she always bears with me during allllll my obnoxious photoshoots! haha.  A few words of wisdom from Rach include "It is what it is"..."Bubble!! Get in a bubble!!"...and "STOP APOLOGING!"...just to name a few.  We have basically made it through the whole world of Mario together.  That's a pretty darn loooong journey!  We have been friends long enough for me to watch sweet little Allie grow up...right before my eyes....*sniff*.  She used to be a wittle puppy and now she's jumping through hula-hoops over my back!  I can't believe it!  Rachel's sweet family has basically adopted me and let me visit more times than I can count (mostly because Zac reeeeally likes cookies! Ha).  I'm so thankful to you, Rach, for looking past the weirdy, homeschool-ness (lol) and choosing to be my friend anyway! haha. I'm so proud of you for all of your hard work and for making it to D.C.!!  I'm gonna miss you like crazy and if you ever decide that you miss Russellville too much and just need to move back, I'll make a spot on the floor of my single in Tucker for a twin-sized air mattress!  But do NOT expect me to make room in my closet for you! haha. Kiddinggggg! (kinda.)  Looooove you!

As much as I hate these "see ya laters", they are a part of life and something I have to learn to deal with.  In the perfect words of Jason Aldean:

"God made this whole world round

And maybe it's that way

So the paths we go down

Yeah, will cross again someday.

See you when I see you

Another place, some other time.

If I ever get down your way,

or you're ever up around mine.

We'll laugh about the old days

And catch up on the new.

I'll see you when I see you.

And I hope it's someday soon."

New Directions

I've started to write this post more times than I can count and have failed, but I think I am finally going to be able to do it today. As many of you know, I have worked at Camp Solgohachia for the past four summers and can't say enough good things about it. I went to day camp and resident camp there as a kid with my church group and "grew up" to be a counselor! And it has been more than I ever could have hoped for!

Camp stretched me in so many ways. It taught me flexibility and the ability to think on the spot, whether that be making up a goofy game to kill 10 minutes of time between the end of an activity and lunch or answering the oh so thought-provoking questions that 9-year-olds ask. It taught me selflessness..that I'm not the only one who is tired and maybe there is another counselor who could really use a little break with the kids in the shade while I take a turn with the kids out on the pond. Through camp I learned to be real. Kids know when you're actually listening to them and when you're just pretending to listen while your mind is otherwise preoccupied. Camp taught me to give my all, to go hard or go home. Don't just walk of the zipline platform, jump off! Backwards!!! (No matter how scared you are!) I learned to keep pushing. Even when I'm tired, even when I'm emotionally drained, even when I don't know what to do with a situation...stop, ask God for guidance, and keep going! I have learned countless, irreplaceable lessons that I will never forget.

Not only did I learn so much from the situations, but I learned so much through my fellow counselors. God blessed us with an AMAZING group of people last year! And not only were those people great great great counselors, but they were and still are sweet friends that hold a special place in my heart! God brought us all together for a summer to learn from and help each other, and then sent us back to our homes, schools, and separate towns to take what we learned and share it; to live life better than before.

My bosses were outstanding. John and Alfie Thomas have hearts for the Lord and their kids and this camp unlike anything I've seen before. Their passion and drive is inspiring and their prayer life pushes me to want to greatly improve my own. Brandon came to our camp, where things had been done in much the same way for a long time, and put much effort, thought, and hard work into making it a better place where kids can learn about the love of the Father. And he did an outstanding job! He made so many improvements and as someone who has been going there my whole life it was awesome to see the place come alive and be revamped! Mike and Cindy and Teresa loved us like we were their own kids and made all of us counselors feel like we were at home even in those long weeks and days when we couldn't be home with our families! They took us in and made us into one big family. :)

And then there are the kids...oh the kids! My favorite part of it all! They have made me laugh and cry and do both at the same time over and over again! So many of them not only allowed me the opportunity to make an impact in their lives, but they also impacted mine. They have shown me, each in there own little way, a little taste of the kingdom of God and His abounding love! And so many of these kids also came with church groups led by leaders who still, even during the school year, contact me to ask how I'm doing and pray for me! What a blessing!!!

My heart literally cannot express with words the deep love I have for this place and for this ministry.

So why then, am I not going back this summer?

Because this summer God is leading me in a new direction. Just last week I was offered a position at River Valley Therapy and Sports Medicine in Russellville, as a therapy aide. And I took it. I have been looking for a job for during the school year to begin really saving money and to improve my resume and gain some great experience. And this is perfect!! I started training last week and start work tomorrow. I will work the rest of this semester and all through the summer, and Lord willing still have a job when school starts back. As I've been training this week I've really enjoyed what I've been learning and I think this job is going to be a great fit for me. It's what I've been praying for and I believe this is God's way of telling me it's time to move on..or at the very least take a little camp break and I think this is right.

Don't get me wrong...I am going to miss camp. I already miss it. And unlike the past years when I was able to hang on knowing that in a few weeks I would be at training, this year I have to keep reminding myself that the void that comes from a lack of camp in my life isn't going to be filled this summer...at least not in the same way. My desire is to continue to keep up with the lives of my sweet little kiddos through facebook and the occasional visits. Of course I'll see all the great pictures John always uploads throughout the days in the summer and miss being there. And I'm sure I'll have a meltdown...or two...knowing that I'm missing out on all the fun and the sweet relationships that are being built. But I KNOW that camp will be awesome this year, as always, and that lives will be changed! And while I won't physically be there, camp will always be dear to my heart and something I pray for regularly.

So...this is my little update on life, my summer plans, and why I won't be at camp for those of you who have been wondering. For all of you who will be returning, both counselors and campers, I'll miss you all so much but will also be praying that you have a WONDERFUL time! :)

Well it's spring break!! Yeaaaa! :) I got home last night and have already been shopping with mom and am having a good break. However, I still had a little bit of homework to do; a team project that's due tonight in one of my online classes.

This week our team was given a scenario with a crisis between two companies and told that our PR firm was called in to handle the crisis. We were given some specifics about the two companies and some guidelines and have to turn in a report of how we would carry out crisis response. As I've been sitting here working on it I realized how much I LOVE what I'm doing in school!! Even this morning I had someone ask me about school and was just saying that I have loved this semester more than any other probably, simply because I'm actually enjoying my school work.

It's so crazy to look back over all the things I've talked about doing from my 10-year-old days of wanting to open a "flower shop", to my 15-year-old days of wanting to be a marine biologist at Sea World, to thinking I wanted to be an Occupational Therapist my senior year of high school, and now here I am studying Public Relations and LOVING it! It just makes me so happy when I think about how worried I was going into college and even just last year when I wasn't really enjoying my major and thinking that I was doing all this work to end up with a job I didn't really like all that much and now knowing I've finally found something that is not only a great fit for me, but something I really believe I can excel in!

This girl, who doesn't like to read, was just thinking how excited I am to have this break to catch up and actually read through my PR book more thoroughly than I have been able to while I've been at school! How does that happen?! I don't know, but what I do know is that I am so thankful that God finally brought me to this place and gave me some reassurance for why I'm in school. I never thought I would be a working girl. Always just wanted to settle down and have a family. And while I definitely want a family some day, I now have this new found desire to work and to travel and to enjoy life doing something I really like and am good at!

Random little post, but I just got a burst of excitement and wanted to jot these thoughts down to remember someday! :)

A Little Recap

It's been a little while since my last post, but I'm going to try to pick this back up. I thought I'd share a couple of highlights from the year so far!

First of all, John Michael's birthday was January 14th. He turned 13....he's getting SO old! Well back in probably October I heard that Rascal Flatts were coming to Little Rock in February, along with Hunter Hayes and Sara Evans. Rascal Flatts has always been a common bond between the two of us. I've loved them since I can remember and somewhere along the way I got John Michael hooked on them too and he literally bought me a CD of theirs every Christmas or birthday (I'm convinced for his benefit as much as mine! haha.) until I owned them all. So naturally, when I heard that they were coming I knew I couldn't miss the opportunity to spend a night at one of their concerts with him!

Because I went back to school January 11th, I gave him the tickets a little bit early. I wrapped them in a Victoria's Secret sack...his response when I handed it to him was, "Really??! You had to wrap it in THIS?!" Bahaha. Such a funny sister! :) I had gotten him all hyped up over this gift the weeks before, mentioning that I had never spent this much money on any of my siblings' birthday presents before and that it was gonna be his best gift ever and little comments like that along the way so it was a much anticipated gift! When he finally opened them he was so confused at first, then he realized what they were and said "Umm....is this what I think it is?!"

The night of the concert we drove through McDonalds (his choice) for dinner on the way. When we got to the door they scanned our tickets and told us we needed to go to the box office. I was getting a little worried that something was wrong with the tickets, but when we got to the box office we were pleasantly surprised to hear that our seats had been upgraded from the upper bowl to the third row on the lower row on the second closest section to the stage!! Then our good friend Mr. Brad got us into the Dog Pound and we were able to get some pretty cool pictures as well as touch all of the band members hands!! Pretty cool "first concert" for him! :) We had a wonderful time and it was a blessing to get to spend that evening with my first little brother!

Another little adventure from the year is that we got some snow a couple weeks ago! And snow during the school year is always an exciting thing. The anticipation of getting a day off kills us. We sit by the tv watching the names of schools scroll across the bottom while checking our school email and facebook every five minutes...or maybe every two? haha. This year wasn't any less exciting than all the others have been! haha.

It kinda came at a bad time because I'd been sick and wasn't quite over it and by the time we got up and got out to play in it, it was sleeting. So the combination of cold, snow, wind, sleet, and a cough probably wasn't the greatest for me, but it was all worth it for the 20 minutes of fun we got, sledding with friends! :)

These girls are some of my very best friends here!! Both new and old friends, they have blessed my life and I'm so thankful for each one of them. These freshman girls have already found a very special place in my heart and we've bonded quickly over 3 a.m. doughnuts, Bachelor watching parties on Monday nights, lunch in the caf, driving around singing in the car, and snow days! And I can't say enough how thankful I am for Tori, Rachel, and Kiwi who have been there since freshman year! Oh...and I can't forget Jilliann...she was playing with Ruthie (her little sister) on this day so she didn't make the picture, but I love her too! ;) haha.

This year has started off great and I can't wait to see what the rest of it brings! I know that awesome adventures and new chapters in life are ahead of me! Eeeeek! :)

Inspired

Wow...it's been a long time since my last post! As much as I love to blog, it really is something I am not very consistent at. It comes and goes with the different seasons of my life depending, especially on how busy I am.

This morning, however, I find myself blessed with the much needed "chill time" that comes with Christmas break. I have spent a good part of the week simply staying home and enjoying crafting, cooking, and spending time with family and friends. Around the holidays I always immerse myself in recipes and cooking, spending hours pouring over cookbooks and watching The Food Network (the TV in my room literally never changes channels unless the boys go down there to watch something).

I was particularly inspired this morning when I woke up and saw Ree Drummond on my TV! "ho is Ree Drummond?" you ask. ONLY MY SINGLE MOST FAVORITE PERSON IN THE COOKING INDUSTRY!!!!! lol. Ok...so I realize I might be a little over excited, but I literally jumped out of bed, ran into the family room, and said, "Mom!! The Pioneer Woman has a show on Food Network and she's on right now!!" She said, "Yeah, I think I knew that?"....not nearly as excited as I was but laughing a little bit at me, still in my t-shirt and sweats, with messy hair and sleepy eyes, jumping around in excitement. So needless to say, it was a good way to wake up! :)

I then sat, glued to the TV until the show ended...and yes...sadly, it did end. But no worries, I went straight to her website and have spend the last hour and half reading recipes and looking at her photography and just pouring over her life a little bit. haha. When I was home over Thanksgiving break, I actually re-read her cookbook "The Pioneer Woman" (which I had already read twice before) and made a few of her recipes...LOVE her cinnamon roll recipe!

It seems that over the holidays I always seem to get re-inspired in the kitchen! I never lose my love for cooking, but cooking with minimal ingredients and tools in a small apartment kitchen isn't quite as fun as being home where the supplies seem unlimited compared to my tiny few at school and I rarely get stuck needing something I don't have! Last year I made Christmas dinner and this year I wouldn't pass up that opportunity to do it again! I've been thinking and planning the meal all week and today is the day that I get to make the final grocery list for mom to get all my ingredients! :) I'm pretty excited to be back in the kitchen, where I'm happiest and can't wait to share picture of the finished Christmas dinner tomorrow night!