Totally Tubular

Well it was a big success. I am a fan of snow tubing. I screamed the whole time down the mountain, every time i went down. I think the men that worked there thought i had something wrong with me, cause i wouldnt stop screaming.


We had a great time with the middle schoolers. They are just so sweet. I mean, they are rowdy, crazy, and they sometimes smell funny.. but my heart just loves them. They are at the age where they really still want to be loved. Some people think that middle school is just a "holding tank" till High school, where they can really learn how to live the Christian life, but I truly think that this is the age to let it all sink it. Help them learn how to have a good foundation. That way, in High School, they can have a head start :) I am a big believer in Middle Schoolers.





I was in charge of 8 girls this past weekend. Whew. I cant believe i didnt lose any of them. Some of them wanted to play hide and go seek around the hotel the whole time, others wanted to just be wherever the boys were, and then the others wanted to go hang out on the balcony to look at the snow! How am I supposed to keep my eye on them if they all want to do different things??



Well, I made it through the weekend without losing any of them.

We had some really great conversations too. Its hard being a middle school girl. Friendships are up and down, families these days are crazy, and of course the boy you like doesnt like you back. It was neat to hear the girls talk about their lives and for me to remember what it was like to be that age
I love my job so much. Praise the LORD!!!! He has blessed me in so many ways. I mean, who gets PAID to go hang out with cute kiddos on the tubing slopes?.... THIS GIRL!

Snow Tubing!

In the morning, the sweet little middle schoolers of Southside Fellowship and I are going snow tubing! I have never been snow tubing, so I am quite excited. The only problem I have realized is that I dont know what you wear when you go tubing. That is the problem with living in the South. We aren't used to cold weather. I have no fancy skiing clothes. I have no long johns. I do have some sweat pants and jeans! Maybe i'll figure something out with that combination. My dad did give me some of his old ski bibs... 23 years old and he's still taking care of me. So whatever I am wearing, i'm sure I will be a sight flying down the mountain.

I'll be sure to post some pictures!

Sisters Blog

My sister Cyndee just wrote a sweet blog about our mom.

Read it here:

Cyndee's Blog

What gets me out of bed...

He holds ALL the stars in the sky.

He tells the sun when to rise.

God is Faithful.

Valentine

I have always loved Valentines Day. Not because I have had so many dates, or boyfriends on Valentines, but because I have a sweet dad.

He has always made it fun for us kids. Ever since I can remember, he has sent us roses on Valentines (even to Troy, my brother). He is the sweetest man. He has loved us so well over the years. The little things he does, means alot to a daughter like me. Dad's like mine are rare. I am very thankful for him.

Comfortable

I feel like I have always had a heart for others. I learned how to love from my mom. She loved the people that no one else did. And she GENUINELY loved them.

I live a pretty comfortable life. I drive a jetta, live in a nice neighborhood, have a good job, and have plans every night of the week. Sometimes I get so stuck in that. Being comfortable. I dont think it is a bad thing to drive a jetta, live in a nice neighborhood, or have a good job. Don't get me wrong, the Lord has blessed me! But I never want to get so stuck in it, that I forget about poverty in the world. Not just in Africa, but 20 minutes down the road.

James 1:27 Real religion is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world.

I don't want to look at these pictures, and just feel saddened for these sweet kids, and poverty stricken people, but I really want to be proactive and help. Sometimes the needs are so huge, we get overwhelmed and just do nothing. Let's not fall into that trap. I want to help and love, even though I do not know necessarily that means for me yet.

I would love to someday work at an orphanage, or work with refugee's. People that are not wanted.

In our youth group we are trying to look beyond ourselves, and other people who are starving, and thirsty, and being used as slaves. It is exciting to see the students want to help.

The Lord really placed these types of people on my heart when I was in college. First of all, I had a radical roomate named Bethany George. She was CRAZY (but in a good way). She had such a heart for hurting people. She gave up so many material things, to bless others. She just didn't care about all that stuff. It inspired me. I took classes that she took. About urban ministry and refugees in the world. I had to do things in those classes that changed me forever. It changed the way I thought about homeless people, and people that are kicked out of their own countries.

We will see what the Lord does with this passion in my heart.